IMPROVEMENTS IN CURING HIDES AND SKINS, AND IN TANNING AND WASHING AND CLEANING HIDES, SKINS, AND OTHER MATTERS
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
RICHARDSON FANSHAWE the younger, late of Joinville-le-Pont, in the Kingdom
of France, but now of Statfield Street, in the Parish of Christchurch, in the
County of Surrey, Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Tenth day of June, in the fourth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry
Richardson Fanshawe, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and autho-
rity, that I, the said Henry Richardson Fanshawe, my exors, admors, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Henry Richardson Fanshawe, my exors, adiñors, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CURING HIDES AND SKINS, AND
IN TANNING AND WASHING AND CLEANING HIDES, SKINS, AND OTHER MATTERS;"
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Henry
Richardson Fanshawe, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, to be
inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Richardson Fanshawe, do hereby declare that the nature of my
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon (that is to say):-
In tanning hides and skins it is well known that tannin matter, when once
it has penetrated hides or skins, is quickly taken thereby, and the liquor is
reduced in strength; hence it is desirable to remove the spent or weakened
tanning liquor from hides or skins as quickly as possible, in order to allow of
fresh quantities of stronger liquor being imbibed, otherwise the spent or
weakened liquor remaining in the hides or skins materially tends to prevent
the entrance of fresh tanning liquor, and many attempts have been made to
improve and quicken the process of tanning hides and skins by causing
successive quantities of tanning liquor to penetrate hides and skins by means of
hydrostatic and other pressure, and several Patents have been obtained for
Inventions relating to such modes of using pressure. And I mention these
matters in order to state, that although I use pressure for like purposes, I do
not claim the same, excepting when brought into action in some one or other
of the modes herein-after described, my Invention having for its object certain
means of constructing and working machines, whereby hides and skins are
alternately submitted to tanning liquor to absorb the same, and then by
pressure to remove the weakened or spent liquor that the hides or skins under
process may again be in the most favorable state for imbibing fresh quantities
of tanning liquor. And, in order that my Invention may be most fully under-
stood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, represent three sections of a tan pit and machinery for
tanning hides and skins. The skins a, a, a, are laid flat on each other, in the
ordinary way, with fine bark dusted between them. In some cases I pass a
cord or rope through each corner of the hides or skins,, keeping them separated
by means of knots, or by leather or wood or other washers, by which means
the lifting of the plunger 6 will cause the hides and skins to be lifted and
separated. This mode is shewn at Figures 1 and 2, whilst in Figure 3 the
hides or skins are separated by the downward movement of the plunger b, and
the pressure is obtained by the upward movement of the plunger b, the
plungers 6 being worked slowly up and down by an excentric action or

page_text: other suitable means.. In using either of these means the quantity of hides
or skins to be operated on at one time being laid one on the other in the
pit, the pit is to be filled with tanning liquor to a height above the hides or
skins, and when desired, the tanning liquor may be kept heated by steam or hot
3. water in pipes y, and when it is desired to examine the progress of the process,
the tanning liquor is to be run off, and the hides or skins examined. In
carrying on the process of tanning, the tanner will commence by using weak:
tanning liquor, and will progressively use stronger liquor, according as
required, and as is well understood by tanners. By either of these arrange-
ments of mechanical means it will be evident that the hides and skins will be
alternately allowed to absorb tanning liquor, and have the spent or weakened
liquor expressed therefrom, and thus will hides and skins, when operated on by
the machinery above described, be more quickly tanned by the circumstance.
of having the weakened liquor expressed from time to time from the hides and
skins, whereby the hides and skins under process more quickly absorb fresh
and stronger tanning liquor.
I will now describe the second part of my Invention, which relates to a
mode of applying machinery for rolling on hides and skins, the machinery
being in form something like a rolling mill for grinding. c, Fig. 4 & 4, is a
large cog wheel, which moves on an axis at d. This wheel c is driven by a
cog wheel e, which is put in motion by a steam engine or other suitable power.
ff, are two rollers of wood or other suitable material. These rollers move on.
screw axes g, g, in such manner that they rotate on their axes g as the wheel c:
is moved round, and at the same time the rollers f move towards and then
from the centre of the machine by means of the double screw cut on each.
axis g; a projecting stud from one of the rollers f, entering into the spiral;
groove or screw of one of the axes g, causes the roller as it rotates on its axis;
to pass along the screw, and when the stud arrives at either end of its axis g,
it will, by the reverse spiral groove or screw, pass back to the other end of its
axis 9, and this is the action which takes place in respect to each of the rollers
f, by which means the hides or skins which are placed at the bottom of the
circular pit or vat will be progressively pressed on, by which any tanning:
liquor which may be contained will be expressed, and when the rollers pass
off any parts of the hides or skins under process, those parts so relieved from
pressure will again absorb fresh tanning liquor; and the tanning liquor sup-
plied to this circular pit may be heated when desired by means of hot water or
steam in the pipes for that purpose, as is shewn in the Drawing. And it
should be stated, that the axes 9 do not revolve, but they are capable of sliding
and down in slots.
up

page_text: The next part of my Invention has for its object the use of a rotary machine
for receiving a number of hides and skins, and by its rotation to successively
bring the hides and skins alternately to absorb tanning liquor when the hides
and skins are not being pressed on, and then, by pressure of a rolling surface,
to express the spent or weakened tanning liquor."
Figure 5 shows a side view, Figure 6 an end view, Figure 7 a side section,
and Figure 8 a transverse section of a machine arranged according to this part
of my Invention. h, h, is the pit to contain tanning liquor; i, the pipe to
supply tanning liquor thereto; j, pipes for heating the liquor when desired by
the circulation of hot water or steam; k, k, is the outer cylinder or frame
for receiving the hides 1, 1, which are secured at each end by wires m, m,
passed through them; such wires being affixed to the cylinder k, the hides or
skins are introduced and removed through the doors n, n, which are kept
closed when the machine is at work. o is what I call the rolling cylinder,
which is of sufficient weight to press out the liquor from the hides or skins as
they are progressively brought under the rolling cylinder o by the rotatory
motion communicated to the cylinder or frame k, such rotatory motion being
communicated to the cylinder k by any convenient means.
The rolling
cylinder is retained in its place by means of the two side plates p, p, which
have holes or slits q, q, formed through them for the passage of the tanning
liquor. And it will readily be understood that the hides or skins carried by
the frame or cylinder k will be imbibing liquor at one part of the revolution,
and then have the liquor expressed therefrom. And it may be desirable to
remark, that this revolving machine may, if desired, be placed in a pit deep
enough to be wholly covered with tanning liquor, or be only partially covered,
as is shewn by the Drawing. And although I prefer the use of wires for
affixing the skins or hides around the frame, yet they may be affixed by
straps or tapes running from side to side, or by other convenient means, taking
care that they are free to separate one from another, as it is desirable to have
several hides or skins one on the other all around the frame or cylinder k. It
will be evident that in place of having the pressing or rolling cylinder to press
at the lowest point, it may, by causing it to move on an excentric, be made to
press the skins or hides between its outer surface and the inner surface of the
frame or cylinder k at the upper part of the cylinder or frame k, or at any
other part of the inner surface thereof. And although I prefer the arrange-
ment shewn in the Drawing, I do not confine myself thereto so long as the
mode of acting on a series of skins or hides placed within a revolving cylinder
or frame, and acted on by a pressing revolving surface, be retained; and
sometimes I apply a series of skins or hides to the external surface of a

page_text: revolving cylinder or frame, and by means of an endless pressing band, or by
a pressing roller, I express the spent or weak liquor from the hides and skins,
as will readily be understood on examining Figure 9, which represents the
section of a machine according to this construction, k being a cylinder or
frame, on the external surface of which a series of hides or skins are attached
by wires passing through holes in their ends (or they are to be fastened on the
frame by other convenient means), the ends of the wires, when wires are used,
moving in slots formed in plates r, r, so as to allow of the wires coming close
to the cylinder or frame k at the point where the hides or skins are pressed.
s is an endless cloth of strong canvas or other suitable material, which receives
power
motion from the drum t, which is driven by any suitable power, or the
may be applied to the axis of the cylinder or frame k; and it will be evident
that, by the rotation of the cylinder or frame k, the hides or skins will in their
being carried round be alternately subjected to pressure, which will express
the spent or weak liquor therefrom, and then they will be released from
pressure, and allowed to absorb fresh tanning liquor. Or, in place of using a
pressing band, or such like surface, a pressing roller may readily be applied to
express the spent liquor. I would remark, that I have found it desirable to
coat the pressing surfaces with india-rubber to the extent of from half an inch
to an inch thick, which renders the pressing surface somewhat elastic; or, in
place of india-rubber, felt or woollen cloth may be used.
Having thus described the Invention, as far as it relates to the tanning of
hides and skins, I would state that the machine, Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, are
also applicable for the curing, washing, and cleaning hides and skins, and
other matters, by simply using other liquors suitable for effecting those
objects.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that what I
claim is,
First, the mode of subjecting hides and skins alternately to be pressed on
and relieved from pressure by means of a plunger b, as described in respect to
Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Secondly, I claim the mode of subjecting hides and skins alternately to
pressure, and relief from pressure, by rolling surfaces, which also traverse from
and to the centre of the machine, as described in Figure 4.
And, thirdly, I claim the mode of applying hides or skins inside or outside
of a revolving cylinder or frame, and subjecting them to pressure either by a
rolling surface or endless band, as described in respect to Figures 5, 6, 7, 8,