AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR GLAZING MOROCCO LEATHER
Year: 1863

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Ange Capello at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th February
1863.
I, ANGE CAPELLO, Currier, of No. 4, Rue du Repentir, Marseilles, in tho
Empire of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR GLAZING MOROCCO LEATHER," to
be as follows: —
The machine by which I effect the object of my Invention is composed of
the glazer and the sleeker, differing from each other only in their lower
part. A piece of wood placed horizontally pivots on two pins, and the main
balance beam is fixed to this piece by two bolts; it is composed of a triangle
V and of a piece of wood placed perpendicularly, which may rise and fall
according to the requirements of the works between the sides of the triangle
which support and guide it in grooves. A piece of iron fixed to the lower part 1
of the balance beam fills in some measure the office of a connecting rod pro-
ducing the swinging motion.
I will now describe the glazer. The end of the main balance beam is
furnished at the bottom with two sheet-iron plates carrying two bearings, in
which rolls a pin carrying a glass, crystal, wooden, or other roller, according to
the leather and the nature of the work. This roller is between two iron plates
which fix it to the pin by a nut, and outside the plate which is fixed to the end
of the main balance a toothed wheel is fastened on the same pin. When the
balance beam is pushed on one side, a catch prevents the toothed wheel and
the roller from turning; this latter dragging along the board. On this board
is placed the leather which is being glazed, and while travelling the distance

page_text: (about a yard), the roller glazes one strip. When the main beam has arrived
at the end of this journey, and that by the motion of another small beam, it is
brought to the other end of the board, the catch flies on to the teeth of the wheel,
and the roller then runs on the leather without glazing it. When it has again
arrived at the other end it glazes another strip, and so on continuously, and when
the entire skin is glazed, the apparatus is arrested while another is substituted.
The board as well as the piece of wood which pivots must be flexible. This
board rests on two small boards which are on two wooden screws, serving to
raise or lower the board at will. The main beam should be about three yards
long, as there is advantage in placing the balance as high as possible, and
consequently giving it greater length. The lower part of the main balance
is cut and held near the other by a pivot. This section is set in two cheeks; a
bolt with nut holds a plate or rather a slide bolt, which facilitates the changing
of the roller.
I will now describe the sleeker or smoother. I have said that the upper
part is the same as that of the glazer, namely, a piece of wood on two pins or
spindles; a triangle attached to this piece and another piece of wood which
may rise and fall, sliding in the triangle. The lower part finishes differently
to that of the glazer, it is set in a groove (or cheeks,) and pivots on a bolt, and
by its arrangement when the balance moves forward, one part remains stiff and
causes the roller to rub and press on the leather in smoothing it. When tho
balance moves in the contrary direction this part opens by the aid of a spring,
so that the glass roller remains lifted and no longer touches the leather. The
roller in the glazer rolls on a pivot, whereas this one is set in cheeks between
which it is pressed by a spring. The main balance of the sleeker or smoother
may come and go with great speed, but for the glazer an average speed is
required. The motion is communicated to the small balance, which gives it
to the connecting rod, and this latter to the main balance. Any motive power
may be used. With the means hitherto used the workman is obliged to regu-
late or guide the leather beneath the roller and to put the beam in motion,
which leaves an interval between each operation; but by my method the
workman places the leather on the board or carrier, and the balance beam
works continuously without his co-operation, and further, instead of smoothing
only very narrow strips, I smooth them twice as wide and much sleeker.