Patent GB-347617-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for grading and evening, fleshing or similarly treating sheet material, such as leather
IPC: C14B1/00
Filed: 1929-12-21
Abstract: 347,617. Cutting leather. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd., Union Works, Belgrave Road, Leicester.- (United Shoe Machinery Corporation ; 205, Lincoln Street, Boston, U.S.A.) Dec. 21, 1929, No. 39125. [Class 31 (i).] Splitting-machines.--In a machine for grading &c. leather workpieces, all workpieces are graded, those within predetermined limits are fleshed, and those above the maximum limit are evened. A shoe engaged by the top of the workpiece controls the closing of the gate and fingers engaged by the bottom of the workpiece control the opening of the gate and the grading mechanism. The blank is passed heel first under a gate 40 flesh side downwards through measuring rolls 3, 4. Before the blank reaches a shoe 46 and has left the gate a ratchet wheel 34 is free to move in either direction as a pawl 38 is controlled by the adjustable shoe 46 and the gate controls a pawl 37. When the blank raises the shoe 46 the pawl 38 becomes operative and as the measuring roll 4 rises at the thin part of the blank the pawl 38 retains the wheel in adjusted position. When the gate drops from the end of the blank the pawl 37 locks the wheel. Further movement of the lower measuring roll is taken up by a spring 27 between the arm 19 and the shaft 25. The wheel 36 sets a slide bar 33 carrying wedgeblocks 50. To flesh and grade blanks between say, 3¢ and 6 irons at the thinnest part, the wedge 50 co-operates with wedges 53 and the fixed knife 18 cuts off a uniform layer depending upon the distance between the roll 17 and the knife 18. If the detected grade of the blank is thinner than the lower limit, flat surfaces 48, 49 of the wedges co-operate and blanks smaller in thickness are not cut whilst parts above the thickness are fleshed. If the detected grade of the blank is above the maximum thickness the bar 33 is positioned by a stop and the roll 16 is lifted until stops 62 engage fixed abutment 63. As the thick blank passes strong springs 66 on the bottom roll are compressed and the knife cuts off the underside of the blank all material above the maximum thickness. The roll 16, 17 may be shaped as in Fig. 11 in order to split the margin of the blank and to leave the middle of the blank of the original thickness. The grade-stamping mechanism is similar to that described in Specification 17808/09, [Class 31 (i), Cutting and severing machines &c.]. Additional hand-set wheels 113, 114, Fig. 7 (not shown), positioned by detents 117 are carried on the grade-marking wheel-shaft 81 to indicate the tannage of the batch. In order to open the gate to admit a blank while the preceding blank is between the splitting-rolls 16, 17 the following mechanism is provided. The shoe 46 is lifted by the blank and a bar 90 is swung by a lever 94 with pin 96 to allow the gate to drop. When the rear end of the blank is free of the shoe 46 the bar is swung by a spring 93 under the gate arm. When the end of the blank is free from fingers 97 the latter rise and allow the bar 90 to rise and open the gate. Specifications 176,895 and 327,948, [both in Class 31 (i), Cutting and severing machines &c.], also are referred to.