Improvements in or relating to Machines for Pressing, Flattening, or Ironing Seams of Stitched Leather Goods.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Pressing, Flattening,
or Ironing Seams of Stitched Leather Goods.
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM S. KING, residing at Minneapolis, in the
State of Minnesota, and doing business at Rochester, Monroe County, State of
New York, both in the United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists essentially in so constructing the machine that one roll or
wheel may readily yield to adapt itself to irregularities in the material passing between
it and its companion roll; in the employment of a flexible shaft for said roll whereby
it is enabled to yield; in regulable gauge and pressure devices; and in the employment
of removable and interchangeable rims or bands for one or both rolls or wheels, whereby
the machine may be quickly adapted for different classes of work.
The objects of this invention are to simplify the construction and improve the action
of this class of machines, and to make such provision for variations in the stock, for
knots, cross seams, etcetera, as shall effectually guard against injury to the work or to
the machine.
To this end, those parts which are subjected to strain or pressure, or which apply
pressure to the work, are made elastic or capable of yielding, and adapting themselves
to the abnormal conditions as they arise.
The manner in which such provision is made, or, in other words, the preferred
ombodiment of the improvements, will be readily understood from the following
description:
A C-shaped frame has bearings for an upper and a lower shaft which are arranged
in a horizontal position in alignment with each other normally.
The upper shaft carries a cone pulley through which motion is imparted by belt to
said shaft, and it also carries a pinion, which, meshing with a gear wheel on the lower
shaft, gives motion to the latter, the relative sizes of the pinion and gear being such
as to produce a differential speed of the two shafts, the quicker speed being given to
the upper shaft.
The arrangement may obviously be reversed, however, but in such case the relation
of the pressing or ironing and the work supporting or sustaining wheels should like-
wise be reversed. These and similar minor points of construction, as for instance, in
the form of the frame,-the character of the belt wheel, and the plane of the wheels,
belong to the province of the mechanic and may he varied at will.
The lower shaft carries, at its forward end and outside of the frame, a wheel or
disc, keyed or otherwise made fast upon the shaft and having in its periphery a trans-
verse notch or seat, one or more. Closely encircling the wheel or disc is a hoop or
band, preferably, though not necessarily, of brass, having a rib or lug, one or more,
to fit the seat or seats formed in the periphery of the disc, the interlocking of these
parts causing the hoop or band to turn with and as a part of the wheel or disc.
The band may be fastened in place in any convenient manner, mere friction being
sufficient if the band be closely fitted and firmly pressed to place, but a firmer hold
being secured by very slightly heating the band and permitting it to shrink upon
the disc.
The reason for making the hoop or band removable is that some seams have a welt:
Introduced between the parts joined, while others have not, and when operating upon

page_text: welted work, a groove is necessary in the supporting hoop to receive the welt, while
for plain work such groove is undesirable. By making the hoops or bands inter-
changeable, one machine is rendered capable of working upon different kinds of seams.
The upper shaft is made in two parts or sections, one being carried in fixed bearings
in the frame, and the other carried at its outer end in a swinging or adjustable box or
bearing, mounted upon a rock-shaft which is supported in suitable ears or bearings in
the frame, parallel with, but at one side of, the upper shaft.
Projecting from the rock-shaft is an arm or lever by which it may be rocked to
lift the free end of the swinging bearing or box, and, consequently, the upper shaft,
against the pressure exerted by a spring, secured at one end to the frame and bearing
at its other end upon the swinging box.
The pressure of the spring is adjusted by means of a screw passing through a web
of the frame, and bearing upon the spring, and the descent of the swinging bearing
or box, and, consequently, of the upper shaft, is determined by a stop screw passing
through a suitably threaded hole in the frame and bearing at its end against the lever.
The two sections of the shaft are kept from slipping out of proper relation by
forming, one, with a conical socket, and the other, with a conical point of slightly
more acute angle than the socket in which it is seated, the difference in angle
permitting the slight movement necessary to the movable section. The sections are
connected by a strong spiral spring wound about their proximate ends and made fast
to cach a short distance from such ends.
A pressing or ironing wheel is carried at the outer end of the upper shaft, directly
in line with the wheel or disc and its hoop or band. This wheel is preferably
formed of or bound with brass, but as its surface is the same for all classes of work,
it is not necessary or desirable to make the ring or hoop removable, in the event of its
being separate from the body.
When the machine is to be used, the stop screw is set to bring the peripheries of
the wheels on discs on the lower shaft and the pressing or ironing wheel on the upper
shaft (or of their rims) into close proximity, but preferably not into actual contact,
the adjustment depending, however, upon the stock to be passed between the wheels.
A seam guide, the stem or shank of which plays freely through a guiding arm or
support projecting from the frame, is free to rise and fall as the work requires. To
prevent the guide from turning laterally it is furnished with two ears between which
the edge of the pressing or ironing wheel passes. A guiding rib or feather may also
be applied to the shank or stem if desired.
The lower end of the guide is bifurcated, and its two members made thin enough
to be quite elastic and to yield to comparatively slight pressure. The slot or opening
between them bevelled to facilitate the entrance of the seam between them, and
their ends are so fashioned as to extend well up into the bite or angle of the wheels
or rollers, so as to carry the seam in an upright position directly to the pressing or
ironing point.
Under former constructions the seam guide has been bifurcated and made with elastic
members, but the members have been fastened to spring from each other, and have
been held in fixed relation by an adjusting screw swivelled in one and threaded into
the other, near the lower ends. Such construction prevented any yielding action of
the members while the machine was in operation, and consequently the guide was
not infrequently bent or broken or the stock injured by it.
This construction, on the other hand, gives constant and adequate support, but
permits the prompt and easy separation of the members to allow the passage of knots,
cross seams, or other enlargements.
By this provision, and by arranging one wheel or roller so that it may move away
from the other at all times in the event of a thicker body passing through than the
machine is primarily adjusted for, the two sources of difficulty experienced with prior
machines are avoided, the second of these difficulties being the breaking of the seams
by undue pressure due to the unyielding support of the rollers and the consequent
excessive pressure put upon thick portions.

page_text: It is not intended that the invention shall be restricted to the precise details herein
set forth. For instance, the supporting, instead of the ironing, roll can be made to
yield, or both may be so arranged.
So too, a continuous shaft may be substituted for the two part shaft, suitable
bearings and gearing already well known to mechanics being adopted to afford the
requisite movement.
Dated thin with dose of N
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Pressing, Flattening,
or Ironing Seams of Stitched Leather Goods.
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM S. KING, residing at Minneapolis, in the
State of Minnesota, and doing business at Rochester, Monroe County, State of
New York, both in the United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
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 consists essentially in so constructing the machine that one roll or
wheel may readily yield to adapt itself to irregularities in the material passing
between it and its companion roll; in the employment of a flexible shaft for said roll
whereby it is enabled to yield; in regulable gauge and pressure devices; and in the
employment of removable and interchangeable rins or bands for one or both
rolls or wheels, whereby the machine may be quickly adapted for different classes
of work.
In the annexed figures
:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved machine;
Figure 2 a front end or face view;
Figure 3 a vertical transverse section taken immediately back of the pressing
wheels;
Figure 4 a perspective view of the seam guide;
Figure 5 a detail view of the flexible shaft ; and
Figure 6 perspective views of the removable hoop or band for the working
roller.
The objects of this invention are to simplify the construction and improve the action
of this class of machines, and to make such provision for variations in the stock, and
for knots, cross seams etcetera, as shall effectually guard against injury to the work or
to the machine.
To this end those parts which are subjected to strain or pressure, or which apply
pressure to the work, are made elastic or capable of yielding and adapting themselves
to the abnormal conditions as they arise.
The manner in which such provision is made, or in other words, the preferred
embodiment of the improvements will be readily understood upon referring to the
drawings, in which,
A indicates a C-shaped frame, having bearings for an upper shaft B and a lower
shaft C, which are arranged in a horizontal position in alignment with each other
normally.
The upper shaft B carries a cone pulley D, through which motion is imparted
by belt to said shaft, and it also carries a pinion, a which, meshing with a gear
wheel b on shaft C, gives motion to the latter, the relative sizes of the pinion a and
gear 6 being such as to produce a differential speed of the two shafts, the quicker

page_text: speed being given under the arrangement shown in the drawings to the upper
shaft.
The arrangement may obviously be reversed, however, but in such case the
relation of the pressing or ironing and the work supporting or sustaining wheels
should likewise be reversed. These and similar minor points of construction, as for
instance, in the form of the frame, the character of the belt wheel, and the
plane of the wheels belong to the province of the mechanic and may be varied
at will.
The lower shaft C carries at its forward end and outside of the frame A, a wheel
or disc E, keyed or otherwise made fast upon the shaft and having in its periphery
a transverse notch or seat c one or more. Closely encircling the wheel or disc E
is a hoop or band F, preferably, though not necessarily of brass, having a rib or
lug done or more to fit the seat or seats c formed in the periphery of the disc, the
interlocking of these parts causing the hoop or band to turn with and as a part of the
wheel or disc E.
The band may be fastened in place in any convenient manner-mere friction being
sufficient if the band be closely fitted and firmly pressed to place-but a firmer hold
being secured by very slightly heating the band and permitting it to shrink upon.
the disc.
The reason for making the hoop or band removable is that some seams have a
welt introduced between the parts joined, while others have not, and when operating
upon welted work, a groove is necessary in the supporting hoop to receive the welt,
while for plain work such groove is undesirable. By making the hoops or bands
interchangeable one machine is rendered capable of working upon different kinds
of seams.
The upper shaft B is made in two parts or sections e and f, the former carried
in fixed bearings in the frame A and the latter carried at its outer end in a
swinging or adjustable box or bearing g mounted upon a rock-shaft G, which is
supported in suitable ears or bearings in the frame A, parallel with, but at one side
of the shaft B.
Projecting from the rock-shaft G is an arm or lever G₁, by which it may be rocked
to lift the free end of the swinging bearing or box g, and consequently the shaft B,
against the pressure exerted by a spring H, secured at one end to the frame A and
bearing at its other end upon the swinging box.
The pressure of the spring H is adjusted by means of a screw I passing through a
web of frame A, and bearing upon the spring H, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and
the descent of the swinging bearing or box and consequently of shaft B is determined
by a stop screw J, passing through a suitably threaded hole in the frame A, and bearing
at its end against the lever G, as also shown-in Figures 1 and 3.
The two sections e and f of the shaft B are kept from slipping out of proper relation-
by forming one with a conical socket h, and the other with a conical point of slightly
more acute angle than the socket, in which it is seated, the difference in angle
permitting the slight movement necessary to the section f. The sections are connected
by a strong spiral spring K wound about their proximate ends and made fast to each
a short distance from such ends, as shown in Figures 1 and 5.
L indicates the pressing or ironing wheel carried at the outer end of shaft B, directly
in line with wheel E and its hoop or band. This wheel is preferably formed of or
bound with brass, but as its surface is the same for all classes of work, it is not
necessary or desirable to make the ring or hoop removable, in the event of its being
separate from the body.
When the machine is to be used, the screw J is set to bring the peripheries of the
wheels EL, (or of their rims) into close proximity, but preferably not into actual
contact, the adjustment depending, however, upon the stock to be passed between the
wheels.
M indicates a seam guide, the stem or shank j of which plays freely through a
guiding arm or support N projecting from the frame A, the guide being free to rise
and fall as the work requires. To prevent the guide from turning laterally it is

page_text: furnished with two ears 7, between which the edge of wheel L passes, as indicated in
Figure 4. A guiding rib or feather may also be applied to the shank or stem j, if
desired.
The lower end of the guide M is bifurcated, as shown in Figure 4, and its two
members made thin enough to be quite elastic and to yield to comparatively slight
pressure. The slot or opening between them is bevelled, to facilitate the entrance of
the seam between them, and their ends are so fashioned to extend well up into the bite
or angle of the wheels or rollers, so as to carry the seam in an upright position directly
to the pressing or ironing point.
Under former constructions the seam guide has been bifurcated and made with
elastic members, but the members have been fastened to spring from each other and
have been held in fixed relation by an adjusting screw swivelled in one and threaded
into the other, near their lower ends. Such construction prevented any yielding action
of the members, while the machine was in operation, and consequently the guide was
not infrequently bent or broken, or the stock injured by it.
This construction on the other hand gives constant and adequate support, but permits
the prompt and easy separation of the members to allow the passage of knots, cross
seams or other enlargements.
By this provision and by arranging one wheel or roller so that it may move away
from the other at all times in the event of a thicker body passing through than the
machine is primarily adjusted for, the two sources of difficulty experienced with prior
machines are avoided, the second of these difficulties being the breaking of the seains
by undue pressure due to the unyielding support of the rollers and the consequent
excessive pressure put upon thick portions.
It is not intended that the Invention shall, be restricted to the precise details herein
set forth. For instance, supporting instead of the ironing roll can be made to yield,
or both may be so arranged.
So too, a continuous shaft may be substituted for the two part shaft B suitable
bearings and gearing already well known to mechanics being adopted to afford the
requisite movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a machine for pressing seams, the combination of a work supporting roller
and an ironing roller, the former having its working face or periphery formed by a
removable hoop or band, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In combination with a suitable supporting frame and with shafts mounted therein,
an ironing roller or wheel carried by one of said shafts, a supporting roll carried by
the other shaft, and a removable band encircling the supporting roll and constituting
the working surface thereof.
3. In a seam pressing machine, the combination with a work supporting wheel and
an ironing wheel, one movable toward and from the other, of a yielding support for
the removable wheel, and an adjustable stop adapted substantially as shown to regulate
the approach of the movable roll.
4. In a seam pressing machine, the combination with a work supporting wheel and
an ironing wheel, one movable toward and from the other, of a yielding support for
the movable wheel, a spring acting upon said support, and a stop to limit the approach
of the movable wheel.
5. In a seam pressing machine, the combination with a work supporting wheel, and
an ironing wheel, one movable toward and from the other, of a yielding support for
the movable wheel, a spring acting upon said support, means for varying the force of
the spring, and an adjustable stop to limit the approach of the movable wheel.
6. In a seam pressing machine, the combination with the main frame of the shaft C
journalled therein and provided with a work supporting wheel, a divided shaft B,
journalled at one end in the frame, and provided at its outer end with an ironing

page_text: wheel, a rocking bearing for the free end of the divided shaft, and gearing connecting
the shafts.
7. In a seam pressing machine, the combination with the main frame, of the shaft C
journalled therein and provided with a work-supporting wheel, a shaft B comprising
two parts e and f connected by a coiled spring K-the part e being journalled in the
frame, and the part ƒ being provided with an ironing wheel-a rock-shaft journalled in
the frame, and a box or bearing carried by the rock-shaft and adapted to receive the
support of the part of the divided shaft.
8. In combination with frame A, shaft C provided with a work-supporting wheel,
a divided shaft B provided with an ironing-wheel, a rock-shaft G provided with a
bearing for the end of shaft B, and an arm C³, a screw J adapted to bear against the
arm, a spring H secured to the frame and adapted to hear upon the movable box or
bearing, and a set screw 1, for varying the tension of the spring.
9. In a seam pressing machine, the combination with a main frame and work.
supporting and ironing wheels, of a seam guide provided with ears as 11 to embrace
the ironing wheel to prevent wabbling.
Datad this 5th day of Decembar 1980.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.