Improvements in Machinery employed in Splitting, Levelling, Bevelling, Edging, Burnishing, and other Processes in the Manufacture of Leather.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec.. 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery employed in Splitting, Levelling,
Bevelling, Edging, Burnishing, and other Processes in the
Manufacture of Leather.
I, JOSEPH HALL, of Burley Engine Works, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements to be hereafter described which are more
or less applicable in common to machines employed in the various operations in the
manufacture of leather, such as for instance, splitting, levelling, bevilling, edging,
burnishing, and the like.
These improvements refer in the first place to the variable feed motion, whereby
instead of having to stop the machines, for changing the wheels which regulate
the feed, I employ one or more sets of gearing or pulleys (arranged to run at
varying speeds) provided with suitable clutches or their equivalents, which may be
thrown in and out of gear by any suitable arrangement of levers or their
equivalents thereby enabling the speed of the feed to be varied without stopping
the machine.
In the second place, my improvements refer to the mode of retaining the leather
or hide whilst being operated upon. In order to provide for any inequalities in the
thicknesses of leather instead of making the support or centre of the rubber roller
perfectly parallel in a longitudinal direction I construct it of any desired form or
forms of irregular surface or surfaces, such as for instance, curves, or inclines, or
curves and flats, or curves and inclines, and the like. And I arrange the sectional
rollers so that their peripheries shall be supported by any desired number
of curved and yielding springs interposed between the axle and the internal
periphery.
In machines arranged with the top head gear jointed to the main framework
of the machine in order that it may be readily lifted out of the way for cleaning
purposes, I provide any suitable catch device for readily securing the head gear in
its working position, and easily releasing it whenever it requires to be raised.
I also arrange that the machines shall be self contained; that is, instead of the
driving pulleys and knife sharpening apparatus being arranged on independent
shafts and fixed away from the machine, bearings are provided on the main
framework of the machine whereby the whole of these parts may be carried
thereby.
I also provide a knife fence or guard between the belt of the knife sharpening
apparatus and knife to prevent the former being cut in case of it slipping off the
pulley.
I also provide for the grinder plates being readily adjusted onto the knife by any
suitable adjusting and locking arrangement.
The cleaning plates and caps of these machines may also be provided with slot
holes or slits whereby they may be easily and readily removed, thus saving time
whenever the machine requires to be cleaned.
My improvements also refer to the mode of arranging the cutters or burnishers
of machines employed for levelling, edging, and burnishing whereby the said parts
will readily adjust themselves to any varying thicknesses of material operated upon.
For this purpose the cutters or buruishers are made in two parts which are kept in
contact with each other by means of any suitable elastic arrangement whereby they
adjust themselves to the varying thicknesses of the material.
I also mount one or more guide or pressure plate or plates in suitable supports

page_text: provided with any suitable elastic arrangement so as to become a regulating guide
for the cutter or burnisher.
The herein described invention may when preferred may be wholly or in part
applied to and combined with the machines described in the Specification of
Letters Patent granted to me Nos. 1503 dated 2nd February 1886, and 645 dated
15th January 1887.
Dated the Twenty-sixth day of December 1891.
JOSEPH HALL,
By W. Fairburn Hart,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery employed in Splitting, Levelling,
Bevelling, Edging, Burnishing, and other Processes in the
Manufacture of Leather.
I, JOSEPH HALL, of Burley Engine Works, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements to be hereafter described which are more
or less applicable in common to machines employed in the various operations in the
manufacture of leather, such as for instance splitting, levelling, scudding, edging,
burnishing, coiling and the like.
In the first place my improvements refer to the method of splitting the leather
which are shown applied to a machine illustrated in the drawings.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 an end elevation, Fig. 3 a plan of machine
looking at the top. Figs. 4 and 5 are end elevations of improvements to same
machine.
J is the framework of the machine, in bearings j, j of which are mounted the
pulleys K K round which the endless band knife k work. Motion is imparted to
the pulleys K K from driving pulley L (L' being a loose pulley) on main driving
shaft L through bevel gearing 1, 7 and shaft 1. On framework J is also mounted
so as to slide freely, if desired, the table M and in fixed bearings the india rubber
roller M' which at Figs. 1 to 3 is shown arranged over the table.
A suitable method of constructing the india rubber roller M' is shown at
Figs. 6 to 10 in which views Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional elevations. Figs. 8 and 9
enlarged part sectional elevations of rollers, and Fig. 10 an end elevation of
Fig. 9.
In order to provide for any inequality in the thicknesses of the hide or skin,
instead of making the support or centre m of the india rubber roller M¹ perfectly
parallel in a longitudinal direction it may be constructed of any desired form or
forms of irregular surfaces, such as for instance curved as shown at Fig. 6, or of
inclines, or of curves and flats, or of curves and inclines combined, or the like.
Through the centre m is passed a hollow or other shaft m¹. Or instead of making
the centre or core m curved or inclined as shown at Fig. 6, it may be made as
shown at Fig. 7, that is to say, the core or centre in this case is made much smaller
and may consist of a hollow and perforated shaft m² as shown so as to form a
chamber between the shaft and the inner periphery of the india rubber surface M¹,
which chamber may be filled with compressed air, or with water, fluid, india rubber,
hair, or it or their equivalents. In either case, on the shaft m¹ is mounted each
end thereof on a screw, formed in or on the said shaft, a flanged hoss m³ (see
Figs. 7 and 9) which may or may not be secured by lock nuts. On the flanged
boss m² are mounted preferably a pair of clamps m³ made in sections if desired,
and held in position by a screwed cap m³ tapered or otherwise, or any other
convenient arrangement of clamp or retaining device may be employed for holding

page_text: the india rubber roller M' in position. Between the clamps m³ the india rubber
roller M¹ is placed, and the tension of which is regulated by means of the flanged
bosses m³ m² being screwed in opposite directions until the outer surface of the india
rubber roller M is perfectly taut and parallel. In some cases the centre m may be
constructed as follows:-On a hollow shaft m' may be cast or otherwise fixed at
each end thereof a short curved or other block shaped somewhat like the ends of
the centre m shown at Fig. 6 so as to leave a chamber between them and the
peripheries of the shaft m' and the india rubber M', thus combining all the
advantages of the methods shown at Figs. 6 and 7. The compressed air, or water,
fluid, or its equivalent may be introduced and retained in the chamber by any
convenient means, or the chamber may be filled with india rubber to give a greater
amount of elasticity from end to end.
To avoid stopping the machine for changing the wheels which regulate the feed
I employ one or more sets of gearing or pulleys arranged to run at variable
speeds. In the drawings at Figs. 1 to 3 I have shown two sets of spur gearing,
but I distinctly wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to this
particular arrangement of variable feed motion. In the method shown on main
driving shaft L is mounted and keyed two pinions of different sizes which
are geared with the wheels 11, also of different sizes, mounted loosely on the
intermediate shaft L' carried in bearings on framework J. On the shaft L³ is
keyed a pinion arranged to gear with a train of wheels for rotating the india
rubber roller M'. At the opposite end of shaft L is a pinion geared into a
train of wheels for operating the bottom feed roller N and nipping roller O.
On the shaft L³ is mounted so as to slide freely on a key or feather a clutch /B
which by means of handle 1° may be moved to the right or left hand, and made to
engage with a clutch or 12 formed respectively on or attached to the bosses of
wheels, by which the speed may be varied as required.
For the purpose of facilitating the entrance of the skin the top head gear P,
carrying india rubber roller M and sectional roller T (to he hereafter described),
is jointed to the main framework Jat and may be raised from or lowered to
its work by means of a treadle p (mounted on shaft p¹) which is connected to head
gear P by a rod p² as shown. When the machine is employed for splitting tanned
hides the head P may be locked or retained to its work by any convenient device.
The machine may also be arranged to be self-contained; that is, instead of driving
pulleys and knife sharpening apparatus being arranged on independent shafts and
fixed away from the machine, bearings are provided on the framework J for
the reception of the main driving shaft L and counter-shaft R for operating emery
wheels RR. Suitable pulleys being provided on the driving and counter
shafts for the purpose.
The belt motion is worked by a rod S on the top of the machine so as to be
moved by the attendant from either side thereof. The rod is connected to a
lever S' fulcrumed to the framework of the machine. The lever S¹ is in turn
connected by link S to the belt fork S. When the machine is made with a
hinged head P the lever S' is provided at S' with joint, but not otherwise.
I also provide a knife fence or guard between the belt of the knife sharpening
apparatus and the knife to prevent the former being cut in case of it slipping off
the pulley as shown at Figs. 11 and 12. I also provide for the grinder plates
being readily adjusted onto the knife by any suitable adjusting and locking
arrangement as shown at Fig. 13.
The cleaning plates and caps of these machines may also be provided with slot
holes or slits whereby they may be easily and readily removed, thus saving time
whenever the machine requires to be clean as shown at Fig. 14.
At Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown in separate views, for sake of clearness, an
arrangement of nipping roller and spreading arrangement and means for moving
the table M in and out of action. Portions or all of these means may either be
combined with the machine shown at Figs. 1 to 3 or applied to other makes of
leather splitting machines.

page_text: At Figs. 5 and 5 the india rubber roller M' is shown mounted over the section
roller T. O is the nipping or drawing roller which may be supported in
adjustable bearings. N the bottom feed roller for supporting the skin as it
passes to knife k and U the spreading roller for preserving the skin level after it
has entered the machine. The roller U is supported by levers u fixed on shaft V,
on which are mounted toothed wheels or quadrants v geared into racks attached
to table M. On shaft V, is a lever for actuating levers u. When the lever v
is depressed in direction of arrow the spreading roller U will be raised and at the
same time table M will be brought by the rack and pinion against the bottom feed
roller N, ready for operation. A rotary motion is given to the spreading roller U
by means of a wheel on india rubber roller M₁ gearing into a wheel and from
a wheel, on the same pin, gearing into wheel on the end of spreading roller
shaft. The wheels are by means of links free to move radially but at the
same time remain in gear with wheels and v7. For the purpose of cleaning
bottom feed roller N and nipping roller O, scrapers W, W' are provided and they
are arranged that they may readily be moved out of action when not required for
cleaning purposes.
The section roller T is constructed so that its periphery may be supported by
any elastic medium, such as for instance a number of curved yielding springs t
interposed between the axle t' and the internal periphery as shown at Fig. 15, or
in jaws (the latter of which is hinged so that it can be readily cleaned) such as
are shown at Fig. 15 which permits of the roller working upwards but not below
a predetermined point. It will be readily understood that in place of the spread-
ing roller U an endless apron U₁ armed as shown at Fig. 16 may be used.
I desire it to be understood that the herein described arrangement may be varied
by the use in each case of their mechanical equivalents, also in place of the endless
band knife a reciprocating motion may be imparted to a straight knife, and it may
be sharpened at each end of its stroke.
My improvements further refer to machines for edging burnishing, and coiling,
whereby the said will readily adjust themselves to any varying thickness of material
operated upon as well as provide more uniform tension and speed.
At Figs. 17 and 18 are respectively a side elevation and a plan of an edging,
burnishing and coiling machine.
17, is the framework of the machine in bearings in which is mounted the centre
coil shaft 18 slotted as shown and mounted in driving cup 53 and retaining cup 54.
On the end of cup 53 is mounted the spur wheel 19 gearing into pinion 20 on
shaft 21, on which is mounted wheel 22 gearing into pinion 23 on shaft 24 which
receives a rotary motion from any suitable source through pulley 25. Views of the
driving arrangements are shown separately at Figs. 19 and 20, which are
respectively an elevation and a plan of driving arrangement, which can be made
differential by the application of cone 25 and pulley 66. On the framework 17 is
mounted a combined press and pressure plates consisting of a screw 66 (armed with
a hand wheel 27) working in the uprights 28. At the lower end of screw is a
pressure plate 29 which by suitable mechanism becomes a rigid press and a yielding
guide. In the pressure plate 29 (see Fig. 21) is formed a recess 30 for the reception
of a collar 31, formed on or attached to the end of the screw 26. The recess is of
such a depth as to allow of the collar being forced by the screw to the bottom of the
recess whenever the press is required to be rigid. But when it is used as a guide
the screw and collar are raised so as to permit of the plate 29 yielding; the
necessary tension may be imparted thereto by springs 32 (mounted if desired on
rods 33) attached to the upper portion of the pressure plate 29.
After the leather has passed through the combined press and pressure plate it
passes to the cutters 33* mounted on a suitable traversing framework 34, operated
in the usual manner by screws 35, as at Fig. 22, in which latter view a circular form
of cutter and burnisher is shown. At the sides of the cutters 33* are attached com-
pensating plates 36 (shown at Fig. 23) for guiding the leather whilst being edged
or burnished. The compensating plates consist of a plate 36, controlled by

page_text: spring adjustment which may if desired be of a similar construction to that
described for the press. The leather then passes forward to the burnishers which
are mounted in the reciprocating frame 37, working in the slides 38. A recipro-
cating motion is imparted to the frame 37 by the eccentric 39, mounted on shaft 40,
to which a rotary motion is imparted through pulley 41, from any suitable source.
On the frame 37 the burnishing tools 44 are arranged so that they may be readily
adjusted thereon by means of a right and left hand screw 42, rotated by hand
wheel 43. The cutters and burnishers may be made in two parts as shown at
Figs. 24 to 26, which are respectively side and end elevations) of stationary cutters
and burnishers the two parts may be dovetailed together to prevent them forming a
line at the joint and they are kept in contact with each other by means of any
suitable elastic arrangement such as springs 45 as shown at Figs. 24 and 25.
I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to dovetailing the two
portions of the cutters or burnishers together as other equivalent mechanical means
may be employed for the same purpose, also the stationary cutters or burnishers
shown at Figs. 24 and 25 may be mounted on the machine in elastic arns so as to
perinit of them yielding laterally.
The leather after leaving the burnishers passes over guide roller 46 to anti-
friction rollers 47 and 48 carried in the arms 49 mounted on shaft 50 and they are
so arranged that roller 48 shall slide upon the periphery of the coil. As the coil
increases in the friction rollers and arm 49 are raised, motion being at once
conveyed to bevel gearing 51 and from thence to the spur gearing 52 for traversing
the belt on the cone pulley for regulating the speed of the coil. The coil may be
easily removed from the machine by means of the clutch and clapper arrangement
as shown at Fig. 18. The coil shaft 18 is made to fit into cups 53 and 54 (mounted
in bearings 56 and 56ª on the framework 17) which are recessed for receiving the
ends of the centre coil shaft 18. The cup 54, is prolonged to form a clutch 55, and
between the collar 54% of the cup 54 and the bearing 56 is a recess, into which,
when the coil shaft 18 is in position, is placed the clapper 57, which is pivoted to
the framework at 58. When it is desired to remove the coil from the machine the
clapper is raised, and the cup 54 moved in the direction of arrow 2 by the clutch 55
being operated by handle 59, fulcrumed to the framework, thereby permitting of the
coil being readily removed from the machine.
When desired the stationary cutters and reciprocating burnishers may be dis-
pensed with, and the circular cutters and burnishers, such as are shown at Figs. 26
and 27, used in their place. These circular cutters are driven as shown at Figs. 28,
and 22, from a pulley 60 through a belt 61 to pulley 62, and by mounting pulleys 63
on the spindles carrying the cutters or burnishers the latter may be driven as shown
at Fig. 28. Also when desired the driving belt or cord may be provided with a
compensating weight and pulley 64.
I would have it understood that instead of driving the centre coiling shaft as
described a differential driving motion for coiling the leather may be obtained by
means of a specially constructed belt and pulley as shown at Figs. 29 to 31.
In this arrangement the belt 65 is wound outo, and its ends made fast to two
pulleys 66, and 67, and it is constructed as follows:
In each edge of the belt 65 are cut recesses 68, or it is formed of links provided
with projections 69, as shown at Figs. 32 and 33 which are respectively an elevation
and a plan. When the link form of belting is used the projection will be made
thicker than the remainder of the link. In the belt 65 shown with recesses 68 at
Figs. 29 to 31, the projections 69 are fixed to the edges of the belt and allowed to
stand above its surface as shown at Fig. 31, (which view shows two layers or coils
of the belt 65 opened out, and drawn with the projections 69 in position in the
recesses 68) so that when the belt 65 is wound on to one of the pulleys 66 or 67
some of the projections 69 will pass into the recesses 68 of the coil that has been
previously wound on to the pulley. The projections 69 are retained in the
recesses 68 by means of a second belt 70 of ordinary construction and which is
arranged to pass over the coils of the link or recessed belt 65 in the same manner

page_text: as an ordinary driving belt; and which as the belt 65 is unwound from one pulley,
Bay 66, on to the other pulley, say 67, retains the same tension, and provides for a
differential motion being imparted according to the size of the coils on the pulleys.
I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the precise formation of
the belt 65 herein described and illustrated as various equivalent methods may be
employed.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
:-
1. The improved construction of machine for splitting and levelling skins or
hides substantially as described, whether self-contained or otherwise, having means
for varying the feed, and for providing for any inequalities in the skins, the hinging
of the top head gear to the framework, the protection of the knife belt sharpening
apparatus, the adjustment of the grinder plates, and the method of readily getting
at the parts to be cleaned, substantially as described and illustrated at
Figs. 1 to 16.
2. The application and use of the variable motion to the feed of the splitting
and other machines, whereby the feed can be regulated whilst the machine is at
work substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.
3. In leather splitting machines, the application and use of an india rubber roller
with yielding periphery substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3,
6 to 10.
4. In leather splitting machines, the application and combination of the feed and
nipping rollers, the spreading arrangement and means for moving the table or
endless apron in and out of action substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 4 and 5,
5. The improved constructions and arrangements of section rollers having
yielding elastic supports, and hinged supports for cleaning and adjusting purposes
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 15^.
6. The application, combination, and use of the knife guard a substantially as
described and herein set forth.
7. In leather splitting machines, the improved construction and arrangement of
top head gear P hinged to the framework of the machine substantially as described
with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.
8. In leather splitting machines, and in combination therewith the improved belt
motion substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.
9. The improved construction of machines for edging, burnishing, and coiling
leather having a combined rigid press and yielding guide, the divided and yielding
cutters and burnishers, the regulating guides, the antifriction guides, the differential
speed regulating and the centre coil shaft driving and releasing apparatus sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figs. 17 to 31.
10. In machines for edging burnishing and coiling leather the application and
combination therewith of the combined rigid press and yielding guide substantially
as described with reference to Figs. 17 18 and 21.
11. In machines for edging burnishing and coiling leather the improved con-
struction and arrangements of the divided and yielding cutters and burnishers,
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 24 and 27.
12. In machines for edging burnishing and coiling leather the improved con-
struction and arrangements of the dividing yielding cutters and burnishers, and
the mechanism for driving the same substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 22 and 28.
13. In machines for edging burnishing and coiling leather the application and
combination therewith of the antifriction rollers on arms 49 and the mechanism for
controlling and operating the belt guide substantially as described.
14. In machines for edging burnishing and coiling leather the application and
combination therewith of the slotted centre coil shaft, the retaining and releasing

page_text: mechanism, and the differential driving gear substantially as described with reference
to Figs. 17 to 20 and 29 to 31.
15. In machines for edging burnishing and coiling leather the application and
combination therewith of the differential belt driving motion constructed and
arranged substantially as described to Figs. 29 to 31.
16. The improved constructions and arrangements of machinery employed in the
manufacture of leather as shown.
Dated the Twenty-seventh day of September 1892.
JOSEPH HALL,
By W. Fairburn Hart,
Agent.