IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL LEATHER OR THE LIKE, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL LEATHER OR THE
LIKE, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by
Hezekiah Smith Chase, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America,
Gentleman.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th May 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ARTIFICIAL LEATHER OR THE LIKE, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A commu-
nication from abroad by Hezekiah Smith Chase, of Boston, Massachusetts, United
States of America, Gentleman.
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of artificial
leather or the like, and comprises a compound and appliances employed in such
manufacture.
I take about two pounds of gutta percha, and dissolve it with the aid of heat in
one gallon of naphtha, adding naphtha from time to time as the gutta percha gets
too stiff. The temperature required for this purpose is such as to cause the solution
to be moderately warm to the hand, and the heat may be applied through a steam-
pipe which is inserted in the tank hereinafter mentioned, or by means of a jacket
or in any other suitable manner. After this solution is made it is placed in a
covered tank and ground with a masticator so as to be of uniform quality.
In preparing this body for the surfacing material either dark or white gutta
percha may be used, the dark being preferable for such colors as russets, and the
white," so called, for light colored tints or for cream coloured fabrics. India-rubber
may be substituted for gutta percha to a limited degree, not sufficient to materially
alter the oil-proof quality desired, while increasing the stiffness of the fabric.
Into the solution of gutta percha and naphtha I put from three quarters of a
pound to one and one half pounds, more or less, of zinc white or chalk or other
mineral body of light colour in powder, and the whole is then ground.to uniformity
T .

page_text: of texture and quality. From time to time in the course of these operations, if the
material becomes too thick and stiff to work, naphtha is added in small quantities
so as to keep it in a good working condition of thin plasticity. This body of
surfacing material may then be stored in cans or vessels for use, and when required
for use is heated to about the same temperature as at first, namely, to about the
temperature at which it is moderately warm to the hand.
If russets or cream colored fabrics are desired they may be very slightly
tinted.]
If fabrics are desired to have a special color about one ounce, more or less, of
suitable aniline or aniline fat color is employed, with three gallons of the body
prepared as above set forth. The coloring matter is properly dissolved and stirred
into the warm material, which is thereby colored substantially throughout. The
aniline fat colors serve advantageously for this purpose, while the common dry
aniline colors will not serve as well. This solution when prepared is then spread
upon the surface of close cloth fabric by the use of mechanism substantially as
hereinafter described.
After the fabric has been spread with this composition, if the color is compara-
tively dull in consequence of the gutta percha being of a dirty shade, a brilliant
color may be produced upon it in the following manner, that is to say :-The fabric
when dried is varnished with spirit varnish containing aniline in solution. The
ordinary solution of shellac in alcohol may be used, or the solution in methylc, or
indeed any of the alcohols. The coating of tinted varnish is to be thin and light,
and the cloth so surfaced is next run through a pebbling machine to produce the
desired texture of the surface, and after pebbling is again varnished. The pressure
and power of the pebbling machine, while producing texture of the surface, also
produces this result, namely, the coloring material is very thoroughly incorporated
with the surface of the fabric, and thereby the color of the surface is made per-
imanently brilliant and positive instead of dull, as when only gutta-percha is used
without the surface finish. After pebbling the fabric is again varnished with spirit
varnish, either with or without color, as may be desired.
The russets and cream colors are very slightly tinted in the surface color rather
for the purpose of getting brilliancy than purity of shade, while the fabrics that
have aniline fat colors embodied in their substance are surface-colored to produce
the purity of shade, as well as to add to the brilliancy of it. The method of surface
finish described is applicable to india-rubber surfaced cloth as well as to gutta-
percha surfaced cloth. Pebbling may.be dispensed with if desired.
The mechanism which I prefer to employ in dissolving gutta-percha and india-
rubber is shewn in Figures 5, 6, and 7 of the accompanying Drawings, and comprises
an agitating device arranged within a tank, and when gutta percha is used means
for heating the mixture during the agitation. When an absorptive solvent like
naphtha is employed it is necessary that the mingling of the india-rubber or gutta-
percha therewith be effected in a close tank.
A represents the vat or tank, which is adapted to be tightly closed during the
dissolving process. It is provided with a suitable opening at the top for introducing
the material to be mingled, and with an outlet at the bottom for withdrawing the
product. The mixing device or agitator embraces two series of revolving blades
a, a¹, fastened to their respective shafts a², a³, and they are adapted to be revolved
thereby, and also to be moved around in the vat or tank in a circle having a centre
midway between the shafts. The mixing blades are preferably sharpened upon
their working or front edge, and are slightly curved or inclined to a horizontal
plane, and they are arranged upon each shaft to overlap or extend beyond each
other during their revolution in such a manner that those on one shaft pass between
those on the other as they revolve with their shafts. The shafts have bearings in
the frames b, b', which are connected by rods b³, and the upper frame is keyed to
the main shaft. Each shaft has a gear-wheel c, which engages with the gear-
wheel C, and the main shaft d, which extends from without the tank through the
upper frame, serves to revolve it and the gear-wheels c upon the two shafts a³, a³,

page_text: and as they revolve around the stationary gear-wheel C they serve to revolve the
agitating arms while they are moving around the tank.
There is attached to the lower part of the frame two arms e, bearing scraping
devices e', which are inclined to the plane of the bottom of the tank, and which are
so arranged in relation to each other that, acting together, they scrape the upper
surface of the bottom of the tank and raise any deposit, so that it may be acted
upon by the beaters. The inclined surface of the beaters also assists in lifting the
heavier portions of the composition towards the upper part of the tank, so that the
dissolving and intermixing of the solvent with the india-rubber or gutta-percha is
easily and thoroughly accomplished. When gutta-percha is used I arrange within
the tank a coil F¹, through which steam or hot air may be passed. Any other
desirable method of applying heat to the mixture may be employed.
The masticator or triturating machine is shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the
accompanying Drawings, and is employed in working and triturating the dissolved
india-rubber or gutta-percha.
At the
The solution of india-rubber or gutta-percha is placed in a tank A provided with
a cover to prevent evaporation, and with suitable means for removing the solution
when the work of trituration is finished. Upon the spindle B is mounted a toothed
cylinder C, so fixed that it does not revolve when the spindle is turned.
bottom of the cylinder is a yoke D, and at the top is another yoke D', each of
which yokes is adapted to be revolved around the spindle B. On one side of the
cylinder between these two yokes is mounted another toothed cylinder F, whose
teeth mesh into the teeth of the cylinder C. This cylinder F, upon turning the
spindle, revolves between the two yokes by means of the meshing of its teeth with
those of the cylinder C. On the other side of the cylinder C between the two
yokes are mounted inclined blades E, which lie in a vertical plano tangentially to
the cylinder C, and are inclined at a considerable angle to the plane passing through
the axes of the two cylinders C and F. These inclined blades, whose forward edges
sweep near the tank, serve to gather the solution from the circumferential part of
the tank, and draw it in towards the centre, and thereby cause it to be more
effectually and quickly ground and mixed than it otherwise would be.
On the lower yoke D, at the opposite sides, intermediate between the cylinder F
and the blades E, are mounted paddles G, G¹, whose plane is inclined to a vertical
plane passing through the axis of the cylinder C and also to the horizontal plane of
the machine. These blades serve to stir up the mass of the solution from the
bottom and to throw it upward, and by means of these inclined blades the exterior
of the mass is drawn in towards the centre of the machine.
If desirable, in lieu of two toothed cylinders, there may be three or more toothed
cylinders, in which case it would be best to have the centre one revolved upon its
own axis, and thereby move the others lying adjacent upon fixed axes, while the
blades E and G would be fastened to yokes or hubs and compelled to revolve
around and beneath the cylinders, drawing and throwing the material upon the
rollers from the exterior and from the bottom of the tank.
This last described construction is shewn in Figure 4.
The mechanism for spreading the solution upon the cloth or paper is shewn in
Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 of the accompanying Drawings, and it
comprises a spreading device, means for feeding the cloth or paper and for passing
it over a drying device, means for equalizing the tension upon the cloth or paper
and its rate of motion during the spreading operation, and other details in
construction which will be described.
The cloth to be covered with the composition is wound upon the feed-roll A,
which is suitably mounted upon the frame B of the machine.
Thence it is passed
over the roll a which also has bearings on the frame B under the spreading knife C,
which is hinged at one end to one side of the frame and extends across it at right
angles to the line of movement of the cloth or paper, and is fastened at the other
end to the frame by a set screw or any other locking device that will permit of its
being readily unfastened for the purpose hereinafter stated, and thence it passes

page_text: over the roll a¹ and over the drying apparatus consisting of a coil of steam or hot
air pipes & covered with a plate D for equalizing the distribution of the heat.
In lieu of steam pipes and a superposed plate, steam pipes alone may be employed,
or a suitable box having a comparatively large heating surface in which hot air or
steam is introduced. The cloth then passes over the large tension drum E and
thence to the receiving roll F, which is located immediately below the feed-roll.
The tension drum and feed roll have bearings in the frame B or upon any other
suitable support. The surfacing composition is fed from a reservoir G located
above the knife upon the cloth or paper in sufficient quantity to entirely cover it
in front of the knife from edge to edge, and in some instances it drips over the
edges of the cloth or paper into pans placed to receive it. The working edge of the
Knife is somewhat below the upper surface of the roll a, consequently the com-
position by the inclination of the cloth and its movement is kept in contact with
the front portion of the knife-blades. To provide the best spreading action the
cloth is then passed over the roll a² located somewhat above the working surface
of the spreading knife.
The heating. device dries the composition, and the drum, by its large surface,
maintains an even degree of tension upon and controls the movement of the cloth
in connection with a suitable braking action upon the feed roll, as the frictional
surface of the drum is so great that it is impossible for the receiving roll as it
grows larger with the cloth to draw the cloth over the drum at a greater rate of
motion than the motion of the surface of the drum.
The tension drum is located generally from twenty-five to forty feet from the
receiving and feeding rolls, and there may be intermediate supporting rolls between
the heating device and drum, if necessary. This enables the cloth and composition
to be thoroughly dried before it is wound on the receiving roll, but as it is often
desirable in the manufacture of artificial leather to apply successive coats of
composition I have employed mechanism for reversing the operative parts of the
machine, so that the cloth after receiving a coating of composition may be returned
and rewound on the feed roll in a position to be again fed through the machine.
For operating the receiving roll and the feed-roll when it acts as a receiving roll
to draw back the cloth after the application of one coat of composition I arrange
upon the shafts A' the gear-wheels A³, and between the two a small gear-wheel H
which is fastened to the pulley h, and which with the pulley has a bearing on the
short shaft projecting outwardly from the lever H. A short stud h on the end
of the shaft and a nut h³ serve to hold the lever and shaft to the plate H2, the said
plate being provided with a slot h through which a screw stud passes, and in
connection with the nut and the thumb screw h on the end of the shaft serves
to clamp the mechanism in any desired position in relation to the two gear
wheels A³. The pulley h is driven by the belt M, pulley m, and shaft m¹. When
it is desired to convert the feed roll into a receiving roll for rewinding the fabric
the thumb screw is loosened and the pinion disengaged from the gear-wheel and
engaged with the gear-wheel on the shaft of the feed-roll.
The mechanism for creating a drag on the feed roll and on the receiving roll
alternately consists of the brake shoe N, having two working surfaces n, one of
which is adapted to engage with the periphery of the friction wheel n³ on the feed
roll A, and the other of which is adapted to engage with the periphery of the
friction wheel n, on the receiving roll shaft, and the same is secured upon a
weighted arm n³ in such a manner that it may alternately engage with either of
said wheels as desired. Any, other desirable mechanism for creating a drag on the
feed-roll when it operates as such or upon the receiving roll when the cloth is
unwound therefrom by the feed roll may be employed.
The drum E is connected with the driving shaft m¹ by means of the gear wheel c,
or the shaft e¹, the intermediate gear wheels e, e³, on the short shaft e¹ and the
pinion e on the shaft.. It has provision for revolving freely thereon. A clutch e
pivoted to the yoke e', and operated by the lever slides upon a fast feather on
the shaft, and engages with the pins e on the face of the pinion, and when it is

page_text: desired that the arm may be positively revolved the clutch is made to engage with
the pins on the pinion.
It will be observed that the mechanism last described is very valuable in
applying successive coatings of a composition, particularly when the composition
is quite thin, as the fabric is passed twice over the drying device, once as the
composition is being applied and once upon the rewinding of the fabric preparatory
to again feeding it through the machine. It will further be observed that the
device for equalizing the tension upon the cloth is very simple and very efficient,
as the frictional surface of the drum is so large that the strain of the receiving roll
is not enough to cause the cloth to slip thereon.
The brake is used as a retarding mechanism in the sense that it prevents the free
revolution of either of the feed or receiving rolls upon their respective shafts, and
acts as a drag for creating a tension in connection with either of the rolls which is
acting as a receiving roll and the drum.
Any suitable mechanism may be used for revolving the drum in lieu of that
herein described, and any known means may be employed in disengaging the
actuating mechanism of the drum from its operating devices in lieu of the
clutch.
The mechanism herein described for dissolving, triturating, and for applying the
dissolved and triturated compounds may be used in the manufacture of any fabrics
of a nature similar to that described.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. A close texture fabric surfaced on one side with dissolved gutta-percha
and white or light coloured mineral matter, stained with aniline fat or other color
throughout the body of the surfacing compound, and surface colored by varnish
tinted with aniline compressed into the surface of the fabric, the said fabric being
also pebbled, substantially as above described.
Second. As a means for staining in any desired tint a surfacing compound of
dissolved gutta percha, the combination with said surfacing compound of white
or light colored mineral matter and aniline fat, substantially as herein described.
Third. As a means for coloring the surface of waterproof cloth or artificial leather,
a coating of varnish stained with aniline and applied to and subsequently forced
into the surface of the fabric under pressure, substantially as above described.
Fourth. As a means for increasing the brilliancy of the surface color of artificial
leather the application of two consecutive coats of varnish, one coat being stained
with aniline color and mechanically compressed into the surface of the compound,
and the other applied after such compression, substantially as herein described.
Fifth. The improved material composed of a fabric coated with one or more
layers of gutta-percha solution, and mineral matter and surface colored by aniline
and pebbled, substantially as herein set forth.
Sixth. A fabric coated with one or more layers of gutta-percha solution,
mineral matter, and aniline fat, prepared and applied substantially as above
described.
Seventh. The combination of a tank with revolving mixing blades arranged to
be moved in the tank around a centre midway between their supporting shafts,
substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Eighth. The combination in a tank of revolving blades arranged upon a moving
support, with scraping blades, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Ninth. The combination in a tank of a mixing device, consisting of revolving
blades arranged to be moved in the tank around a centre, midway between their
supporting shafts, and means for applying heat to the tank, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
Tenth. The combination in a tank of meshing toothed triturating rollers, with
revolving blades E arranged at a tangent to the surface of one of said rollers, and

page_text: inclined across a plane passing through the axes of said rollers, substantially as
herein described for the purposes specified.
Eleventh. The combination in a covered tank with the toothed triturating
rollers of the blades G, G¹, exterior to the same, and inclined to the plane of the
bottom of the tank, substantially as above described and for the purposes
set forth.
Twelfth. In a machine for the manufacture of artificial leather, the combination
of a feed roll and its retarding, mechanism, the spreading devices, the equalizing
drum, and a receiving roll, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination in a machine for the manufacture of artificial
leather of a feed-roll, the spreading knife arranged between two supporting rolls,
the equalizing drum, and a receiving roll, all arranged to operate as above set
forth..
Fourteenth. The combination of the feed roll, the spreading device, the heating
mechanism arranged between said spreading device and the equalizing drum, the
equalizing drum and the receiving roll, substantially as above described and for
the purposes specified.
Fifteenth. The combination in a machine for manufacturing artificial leather of
the feed-roll, tension drum, receiving roll, and retarding mechanism, adapted to be
alternately applied to either roll, according as the cloth is wound or unwound
therefrom, substantially as herein described.
Sixteenth. The combination in a machine for manufacturing artificial leather of
the feed roll, the tension drum, the receiving roll with the roll-driving mechanism,
adapted to be alternately engaged with either of the gear-wheels according as the
cloth is to be wound by the receiving or unwound by the feed roll; substantially as
above described and for the purposes set forth.
Seventeenth. As a device for equalizing the tension upon a fabric in connection
with a feed roll and a receiving roll, the drum provided with the frictional surface,
whereby the strain on the cloth between the receiving roll and the drum is relieved,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Eighteenth. A fabric coated with one or more layers of gutta percha solution and
mineral matter, colored or uncolored, and prepared and applied substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.