AN IMPROVED MACHINE TO BE USED IN CURRYING LEATHER
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED MACHINE TO BE USED IN CURRYING LEATHER.”—A com-
munication from abroad by Césaire Renard, of 13, Boulevart St.
Martin, Paris.
Scaled the 5th July 1870, and dated the 28th January 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners' of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 28th January 1870.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
› County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MACHINE TO BE USED IN CURRYING LEATHER,'
to be as follows:-
"
This Invention relates to an improved machine for stretching tanned
leather in the process of currying.
Figure 1 of the accompanying: Drawings shows a front elevation of the
machine; Figure 2, a side view, and. Figure 33.a longitudinal section
of same, while Figures 4 and 5 show details hereinafter referred to.
The same letters of reference apply to all the Figures.

page_text: The machine is intended as a substitute for the several hand
operations hitherto required. The machine consists of a holder B, to
which the several tools are to be fixed. The tool holder is made of
sufficient size to form a fly wheel, and may have several arms if desired,
the number represented in the Drawing being that most convenient for
the diameter adopted, although I may either reduce or increase the
number of its arms as required. The tool carrier B is fixed on a shaft
provided with fast and loose pulleys c, c, to which motion is imparted
from a driving pulley. The tool may be started or stopped at will by a
clutch disposed within reach of the workman. The machine is supported
overhead in a cast-iron framing, consisting of two supports A, A,
connected by a horizontal cross bar having a socket at its centre, in
which is received the plain part of a screwed stem G. This screw has a
toothed wheel D at its upper end set in motion by a pinion E, while the
other end of the screw is received in a nut on an arched frame attached
to the bearings of the driving shaft, which latter slide in vertical grooves
in the main framing A. The parts being thus arranged the pinion E on
being rotated by hand wheel F will turn the wheel D in one, or other
direction, and with it the screw G, by which means the bearings of the
driving shaft and its attachments may be readily raised or lowered for
the purpose of regulating the height of the tool holder above the table.
The tools H, four of which are shown in the Drawings, each consist of
a brass or other metal plate of a slightly curved form jointed at one end
on the tool carrier. The plate above mentioned is provided with teeth
inclined in the same direction as the motion of the machine. Springs
are also inserted, as seen, between the plates and the tool carrier.
Instead of the tools of metal above mentioned I may use stone.
bevelled to an edge, or it may be small stones in the form of teeth
placed in a metal setting. I also sometimes employ the arrangement of
tool illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the Drawings for some species of
work. To the tool carrier is attached a turned metal stem I whose end
is received in a metal part J carrying the tool. This stem is acted on
by a spring K, so as to exert the necessary pressure on the skin. A
cross piece L is fitted to slide on stem I, having a rod or stem M at either
end fixed to the part J before mentioned. Further in order to ensure
the uniform pressure of the tool I place a spring N on stem I, which has
a tendency to project the part L in a forward direction, and imparts the
necessary elastic action to the tool. The following is the action of the
machino-On motion being imparted to the tool carrier B by the

page_text: °
driving pulley in the direction indicated by the arrows the first tooth of
the plate H acts on the skin, and when the first tooth moves out of
action the second acts on the skin and depresses the spring, the action
being the same for the remaining teeth, and in this manner (notwith-
standing the rotary action of the tool carrier) the teeth will continue to
stretch out the leather in a horizontal direction, and produce the same
effect as if the operation were performed by hand. The tool, Figures 4
and 5, is applied as shown in the Drawings, and consequently acts on
the skin in advance of the lug on which it is mounted. The tools need
no attention, and the workman has simply to shift the position of the
movable table o, and turn it so that the different parts of the skin may
be brought under the action of the machine. The table is of the same
kind as those employed by curriers carried on a framing of wood provided
with 3, 4, 5, or more legs according to the nature of the operation.
Handles of wood or leather are fixed around the table to facilitate
moving the same. In order to render the table legs firmer they are
provided with metal or wood stays, and are also mounted on castors P
as shown, so as to turn in any direction. The table runs on a perfectly
level floor, which may be of iron or hard paving. The machine, as
above described, is applicable for preparing all kinds of leather.
-
The following are the advantages derived from the use of this
machine:-1st, great facility of handling the leather, to which the work-
man can give his undivided attention, the tool being self-acting; 2ndly,
the work is more rapidly executed; 3rdly, the stretching is uniformly
good, as the tools adapt themselves to all thicknesses of skins, and all
kinds of leather are equally well worked in the machine; 4thly, the
subsequent smoothing of the grain is dispensed with; and, lastly, I
would remark that the pressure may be applied or removed and the
action of the tool regulated without stopping the machine.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Mer
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Ierself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melvillo Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED MACHINE TO BE USED IN CURRYING LEATHER," a communication to
me from abroad by Césaire Renard, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to an improved machine for "striking" or
stretching tanned leather in the process of currying.
Figure 1 of the accompanying shows a front elevation of the machine;
Figure 2, a side view, and Figure 3, a longitudinal section of same,
while Figures 4 and 5 show details herein-after referred to. The same
letters of reference apply to all tho Figures.
The machine is intended to be used as a substitute for hand work in
the operations of skiving and striking leather. The machine consists of
a frame or holder B, to which the several tools are to be fixed. The
tool holder is made of sufficient size to form a fly wheel, and may have
several arms if desired, the number represented in the Drawing being

page_text: .
that most convenient for the diameter adopted, although I may either
reduce or increase the number of its arms as required. The tool
carrier. B is fixed on a shaft provided with fast and loose pulleys a, c, to
which motion is imparted from a driving pulley.. The tool may bo
started or stopped at will: by a clutch disposed within reach of the
workman. The machine is supported overhead in a cast-iron framing
consisting of two supports A, A, connected by a horizontal cross bar
having a socket at its centre, in which is received the plain part of a
screwed stem G. This screw has a toothed wheel D at its upper end set
in motion by a pinion E, while the other end of the screw. works in a
nut on an arched frame attached to the bearings of tho driving shaft,
which latter slide in vertical grooves in the main framing A. The parts
being thus arranged the pinion E on being rotated by hand wheel F
will turn the wheel D in one or other direction, and with it the screw G;
by which means the bearings of the driving shaft and its attachments may
be readily: raised or lowered for the purpose of regulating the height of
the tool holder.. above the table. The tools H, four of which are shown
in the. Drawings, cach consists of a brass or other metal plate of a
slightly curved form jointed at one end to the tool carrier. The plate
above mentioned is provided with teeth inclined in the direction of
motion of the machine. Springs are also inserted, as scen, between the
plates and the tool carrier.
°
:
Instead of the tools of metal above mentioned I may use stone having
a serrated surface, or it may be small stones in the form of teeth placed
in a metal setting. I also sometimes employ the arrangement of tool
illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the Drawings for some species of work.
To the tool carrier is attached, a turned metal stem I, whose end is
reccived in a metal part J carrying the tool. This stem is acted on by
a spring K, so as exert the pressure on the skin. A cross piece L iş
O fitted to slide on stem I, having a rod or stem M.at either end fixed to
the part J. before mentioned. Further in order to ensure the uniform
pressure of the tool I place a spring N on stem I, which has a tendency
to project the part L in a forward direction, and imparts the necessary
resilient action to the tool. The following is the action of the
5 machine:-On motion being imparted to the tool carrier B by the
-driving-pulley-in-the-direction indicated by the arrows the first tooth of
the plate H acts on the skin, and when the first tooth moves out of
action the second acts on the skin and depresses tho spring, the action

page_text: being the same for the remaining teeth; and in this manner (notwith-
standing the rotary action of the tool carrier) the teeth will continue to
stretch out the leather in a horizontal direction, and produce the same
effect as if the operation were performed by hand. The tool, Figures 4
and 5, is applied in the direction shown by the arrow in the Drawings,
and consequently acts on the skin in advance of the lug on which it is
mounted. The tools need no attention, and the workman has simply to
shift the position of the movable table o, and turn it so that the different
parts of the skin may be brought under the action of the machine. The
table is of the same kind as those employed by curriers for a similar
purpose, and is carried on a framing of wood provided with three, four,
five, or more legs according to the kind of work. Handles of wood or
leather are fixed around the table to facilitate moving the same. In
order to render the table legs. firmer they are provided with metal or
wood stays, and are also mounted on castors P as shown; so as to turn 1
in any direction. The table runs on a perfectly level - floor, which may
moreover be plated with iron, or made of hard paving. The machine as
above described is applicable for aiding in the removal from the skin of
the lime and other impuritics by washing, and also in preparing leather
on both the flesh and grain side.
+
.
2
The following are the advantages derived from the use of this
machine: 1st, great facility of handling the leather, to which the work-
man can give his undivided attention, the tool being self-acting; 2ndly,
the work is more rapidly executed; 3rdly, the stretching is uniform, as
the tools adapt themselves to the varying thickness of the skin, and 2
all kinds of leather are equally well worked by the machine; 4thly, the
softening of the leather with a. graining board preparatory to the
striking operation is dispensed with; lastly, I would remark that
the pressure may be applied or removed, and-the-action-of the--tool
on the skin prolonged or shortened without stopping the motion.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declaro that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the bercin-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
3
1st. The tools (properly so called) herein-before described-and-
applicable for the purpose specified, whether made of metal or stone, 3
or both combined, as also converting the rotating motion of said tools
into a partial horizontal motion by the action of a spring, all as herein-
before described and illustrated in the Drawings annexed.

page_text: 2ndly. I claim the tool holder rotating on a shaft and provided with
a number of arms, substantially as shown and described.
3rdly. I claim regulating the pressure on the skin by means of
bearings sliding in guides in the framing, as herein-before described.
4thly. I claim the improved movable table arranged as described in
combination with the metal or other floor for supporting the same, all
as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of
July, in the year of our Lord One thousand. eight hundred and
seventy.
Witness,
W*. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)
15