Improvements in Machinery for Dressing or Working Hides, Skins, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Dressing or Working Hides, Skins,
and the like.
I, WILLIAM TURNER, of Gledhill Avenue, Everett, in the State of Massachusetts,
one of the United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows;-
My present invention is an improved machine for dressing hides, skins,
etcetera, and has for its main object the provision of means for working hides
and skins uniformly throughout the area of the hide, so that any thin portions
thereof will be worked as thoroughly and satisfactorily as the rest of the hide.
Machines of this general type i.e. machines arranged to work a considerable
area of hide at once, have heretofore been constructed with cylinders or movable
working surfaces which were rigid, moving in one fixed unvarying plane, the
result being that hides and skins when worked thereby have been worked under
the supposition that they were of unvarying thickness throughout, but inasmuch
as hides have more or less thin portions, these said thin portions have been
improperly worked or not worked at all by these machines.
My invention may be used either with movable or travelling working surfaces,
that is to say, with revolving or rotating working surfaces in opposite pairs or
otherwise, or it may be and preferably will be used in a machine having the
working surfaces extending in opposite, approximately parallel planes and free to
move only toward and from each other, without a relatively travelling move-
ment, my invention therefore also including mechanism by which the working
members are automatically adjusted to permit the necessary movements of the
hide on its table, (and by this term I mean anything that holds the hides) and
to permit a relatively rapid passage of the hides thereto.
One novel and important feature of my invention resides in combining with
the work table, one or more working members having a number of independent
working blades extending in a plurality of series transverse to said work table,
the blades of alternate series being independently yielding and the blades of the
other series being fixed.
It is new with me to provide a plurality of working blades arranged to simul-
taneously engage a hide, said blades extending in a substantially flat plane and
having a considerable area to work a large extent of hide at once, certain of said
blades being independently yielding, whether in series or not, relatively to the
other blades, means to hold them yieldingly against the work so that they will
operate alike upon thin and thick places thereof, and means to impart a relative
travelling movement to the work table and said blades, said movement being
communicated preferably to the former.
My invention includes the provision of a working member having a number
of independent and relatively short working blades extending in a series entirely
across the work table, said blades being independently yielding relatively to
said table and to. each other; or certain of said blades here and there throughout

page_text: the extent of the working member may be yielding and others thereof may be
rigid.
I prefer that each blade should be provided with a stop to engage ledges over-
hanging them, springs being provided normally maintaining said blades project-
ing with their stops against said ledges; also the yielding blades normally project
slightly beyond the plane of the fixed blades when the latter are employed.
My invention also includes the provision of two opposite flat working surfaces
arranged to operate on opposite sides of the table, transverse ways therefor, means at
each end of said working surfaces and adjacent each side thereof to cause said re-
spective ends to remain parallel to each other in their movements on said ways,
and means, independently or not, operating at the middle of each end of one
of said surfaces, tending to move said surfaces towards each other.
Also the supporting frame for the working surface is provided with a projec-
tion adjacent its working face, combined with an endless carrier and with the
work tables carried thereby, said carrier having wedges at suitable intervals to
engage said projection and remove said frame to permit the adjacent table to enter
beneath the same; also wedges carried by said carrier at suitable intervals to
engage said projection and remove said frame, to permit the hides to be shifted;
and my invention includes broadly means including a wedge, whether located
as just stated or not for moving the working surface away from the work table,
and means, whether a wedge or not, operating when said working surface is
removed, for shifting the hide on the table, said shifting means including a stop
and a device engaging it, one being moved by the other; I provide in connection
with the working tables aprons shiftable ou said tables, and besides providing
means to shift the apron beneath the working member while the latter is removed,
I provide means for simultaneously shifting in a reverse direction an opposite
apron which had been previously shifted; my preferred means for shifting the
apron including a dog and an intermediate gear nesting into each other and
having a slot-and-pin connection, and a stop stationary relatively to the table and
arranged to engage said dog to shift the apron; the apron is flexible and is
provided with a lock, in the form of the dog and cooperating parts mentioned, or
otherwise; and preferably the apron has interposed between it and the table
against which it rests means to prevent the clinging of the apron to the table
when the apron is shifted, said means being preferably in the form of a sheet
metal backing.
My invention includes each and all of the above enumerated features, taken
both independently of each other and together in one organized machine.
The machine in its preferred form of construction includes a working member
or set of members as the case may be, and a carrier in the form of an endless
chain passing about sprocket wheels at either end of the machine, the working
member comprising opposite frames consisting of end plates or castings having
flanges to embrace and slide on parallel uprights or guideways supported on the
main frame of the machine said plates being secured to cross beams or braces
joined together by girders to which are secured timbers supporting the working
blades, the parts of the machine being constructed of wood and metal, or other
suitable material.
The two frames are connected together at each end by means of links arranged
oppositely in pairs and pivotted respectively to the opposite ends of double bell
cranks, centrally pivoted to a cross plate on the side of the main frame of the
machine, the two bell cranks being connected to rise and fall together by means
of a rod.
The two frames or parts of the working member are held normally towards each
other so as to be in proper relation to engage and work the hide or other
material to be worked upon, counterweights being preferably employed for that
purpose adjustably mounted on the outer ends of levers pivotted on the cross
bars at each side of the machine.
My preferred construction of working surface consists of an alternate arrange-

page_text: ment of fixed and unyielding blades and yielding blades, the former comprising
sections of T-irons firmly secured on the outer faces of the timbers referred to in
reverse diagonal and parallel arrangement, slanting in opposite directions from
the middle portions of each timber, the successive courses or series thereof on
the successive timbers being preferably arranged in staggered order.
The yielding blades are carried by arms extending forwardly therefrom, to act
upon the hides moving past them, said arms being let into recesses and pivotally
mounted on transverse rods, and the rear or swinging knife-edge of the blade
being normally held forward in working position by springs engaging rearwardly
projecting flanges which overlie the springs, these flanges serving as stops to engage
holding blades or ledges secured to the timber to prevent the yielding blades
from being entirely projected by their springs.
I prefer to arrange the yielding blades at a different angle from that occupied by
the fixed blades, and also prefer that the yielding blades shall be staggered
relatively to the fixed blades and relatively to each other in the succeeding series
thereof, and I also prefer to arrange the respective blades in alternate order, the
yielding blades succeeding the fixed blades alternately, although in each and all
of these respects I wish it understood that I am at liberty to arrange the blades
at any angle relatively to each other, or straight across if desired, and that I am
at liberty to use either the fixed or yielding blades alone whenever advantageous
to particular kinds of work, or desired for other reasons, and furthermore that I
may employ the yielding blades in connection with other forms of work surfaces.
I believe it to be broadly new with me to provide a large number of yielding
working members, tools or other devices to engage the hide and operate on thick
and thin portions thereof alike, conforming themselves by their yielding action
to work thin portions with the same effectiveness as thick portions.
The carrier chains are provided at intervals with supporting members, tables
or work holders on which the hides are thrown to be carried thereby between
the working blades.
Each of these tables comprises a main frame or support' which may be a board
extending from one side thereof to the other, and having at its forward end a
bar pivottally secured to the chain at each end of the bar and at its rear end on
brackets carrying an intermittent gear, and an operating trip or dog, the latter
being journaled on a rod extending from a bracket to the frame, and the former
being journaled on a rod extending across the table and having a pulley at each
end thereof.
On the table is an apron having a portion at one end free to bend to permit
the apron to be shifted sufficiently to bring into contact with the working blade
that portion of the skin or hide carried thereon which would otherwise not be
worked, the apron for this purpose passing over a roll at the forward end of the
table and being actuated by means of a strap secured to the apron on the upper and
lower sides of the table at each edge thereof and fastened to the pulleys before
mentioned so that when the depending edge of the dog comes into engagment with
a stop the dog will rotate the pulley by reason of the slot-and-pin engagement
between the said dog and gear, and will thereby shift the apron slightly, bringing
the before unworked surface of hide into position to be worked.
The dog projects at its inner face in alignment with the gear, said parts being
formed to nest into each other, so that when the table is shifted to either of its
extreme positions, it is firmly locked in its said position by the engagement of the
dog with a concaved portion of the gear on a dead centre.
In practice I have found that the pressure of the working tools or blades causes
the apron to become so firmly pressed against the board or frame of the table as
to require undue power in order to shift it thereon; accordingly, in order to
reduce this frictional resistance, I provide a metallic backing for the canvas or
other apron, which prevents the apron from unduly clinging to the frame of the
table.
It will be understood that the hides are thrown over the table as the latter

page_text: comes up at the end of the machine, and are carried by the table forward between
the parts of the working member, and in order that the carrier may operate with
freedom and relative rapidity, 1 provide the frames with opposite projections
adjacent their working surfaces, each preferably having a friction wheel or roll
to be engaged by a slightly wedge-shaped enlargement which acts to slightly
separate the working surfaces just as the forward edge of the work table is ready
to enter between them, the wedge leaving the friction wheels, however, before the
table has entered to any extent, and thereby permitting the working surfaces to
be pressed together by their weights, so as properly to work the hide or other
material carried by the table.
As the table progresses, other wodge pieces engage the friction wheels or rolls,
removing the working surfaces from contact with the hide for an instant while the
dog is engaged by the stop before explained, and the hide is shifted slightly to
work the part thereof previously resting over the end of the table.
After the hide has been carried past the working surfaces, it is necessary that
the apron shall be shifted back to its original position, in order that the operation
already described may be repeated for another hide, and for this purpose a second
stop is provided in the path of the returning table, acting in the same manner
as the previous stop but engaging the dog from the opposite side.
Dated the 29th day of July 1898
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Machinery for Dressing or Working Hides, Skins
and the like.
I, WILLIAM TURNER, of Gledhill Avenue, Everett, in the State of Massachusetts,
one of the United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My present invention is an improved machine for dressing hides, skins,
etcetera, and has for its main object the provision of means for working hides
and skins uniformly throughout the area of the hide, so that any thin portions
thereof will be worked as thoroughly and satisfactorily as the rest of the hide.
Machines of this general type-i.c. machines arranged to work a considerable
area of hide at once, have heretofore been constructed with cylinders or movable
working surfaces which were rigid, moving in one fixed unvarying plane, the
result being that hides and skins when worked thereby have been worked under
the supposition that they were of unvarying thickness throughout, but inasmuch
as hides have more or less thin portions, these said thin portions have been
improperly worked or not worked at all by these machines.
My invention may be used either with movable or travelling working surfaces,
that is to say, with revolving or rotating working surfaces in opposite pairs or
otherwise, or it may be and preferably will be used in a machine having the
working surfaces extending in opposite, approximately parallel planes and free to
move only toward and from each other, without a relatively travelling move-
ment, my invention therefore also including mechanism by which the working
members are automatically adjusted to permit the necessary movements of the
hide on its table. (and by this term I mean anything that holds the hides) and
to permit a relatively rapid passage of the hides thereto.

page_text: One novel and important feature of my invention resides in combining with
the work table, one or more working members having a number of independent
working blades extending in a plurality of series transverse to said work table,
the blades of alternate series being independently yielding and the blades of the
other series being fixed.
It is new with me to provide a plurality of working blades arranged to simul-
taneously engage a hide, said blades extending in a substantially flat plane and
having a considerable area to work a large extent of hide at once, certain of said
blades being independently yielding, whether in series or not, relatively to the
other blades, means to hold them yieldingly against the work so that they will
operate alike upon thin and thick places thereof, and means to impart a relative
travelling movement to the work table and said blades, said movement being
communicated preferably to the former.
My invention includes the provision of a working member having a number
of independent and relatively short working blades extending in a series entirely
across the work table, said blades being independently yielding relatively to
said table and to each other; or certain of said blades here and there throughout
the extent of the working member may be yielding and others thereof may be
rigid.
I prefer that each blade should be provided with a stop to engage ledges over-
hanging them, springs being provided normally maintaining said blades project-
ing with their stops against said ledges; also the yielding blades normally project
slightly beyond the plane of the fixed blades when the latter are employed.
My invention also includes the provision of two opposite flat working surfaces
arranged to operate on opposite sides of the table, transverse ways therefor, means at
each end of said working surfaces and adjacent each side thereof to cause said re-
spective ends to remain parallel to each other and their movements on said ways,
and means independently or not operating at the middle of each end of one
of said surfaces, tending to move said surfaces towards each other.
Also the supporting frame for the working surface is provided with a projec-
tion adjacent its working face, combined with an endless carrier and with the
work tables carried thereby, said carrier having wedges at suitable intervals to
engage said projection and remove said frame to permit the adjacent table to enter
beneath the same; also wedges carried by said carrier at suitable intervals to
engage said projection and remove said frame, to permit the hides to be shifted;
and my invention includes broadly means including a wedge whether located
as just stated or not, for moving the working surface away from the work table,
and means, whether a wedge or not, operating when said working surface is
removed, for shifting the hide on the table, said shifting means including a stop
and a device engaging it, one being moved by the other; I provide in connection
with the working tables aprons shiftable on said tables, and besides providing
means to shift the apron beneath the working member while the latter is removed,
I provide means for simultaneously shifting in a reverse direction an opposite
apron which had been previously shifted; my preferred means for shifting the
apron including a dog and an intermediate gear nesting into each other and
having a slot-and-pin connection, and a stop stationary relatively to the table and
arranged to engage said dog to shift the apron; the apron is flexible and is
provided with a lock in the form of the dog and cooperating parts mentioned or
otherwise; and preferably the apron has interposed between it and the table
against which it rests means to prevent the clinging of the apron to the table
when the apron is shifted, said means being preferably in the form of a sheet
metal backing.
My invention includes cach and all of the above enumerated features, taken
both independently of each other and together in one organized machine.
In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents in side elevation a preferred embodiment of
my invention;

page_text: Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, parts being broken away to show the
details of construction;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the working surface showing one arrange-
ment of the blades;
Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the working member taken on the
lines 4-4, Figs. 2 and 3.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of the yielding working blade;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in broken detail showing in side elevation the table
for carrying the hides or skins together with the means for shifting the latter
thereon;
Fig. 6 is a broken detail, in plan, of the parts shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the shifting and locking
gear in the opposite position from that shown in Fig. 5; and
Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8-8, Fig. 1.
The frame A may be of any convenient or usual form being herein shown as
elongated horizontally in order to accommodate the working parts of the machine
within the space of one ordinary story of a building.
The operating or working parts of my machine comprise in general terms, two
portions, viza working member B or set of members as the case may be, and
a carrier for carrying the hides or skins to be operated upon by the working
member, the carrier being herein shown as consisting of an endless chain c, passing
about sprocket wheels c', &, at either end of the machine, and receiving motion
from a power shaft although I do not intend to restrict my invention in these
respects.
have herein shown the working member B as comprising opposite
frames B1, B2, shown in enlarged sectional detail in Fig. 4, each consisting of
end plates or casting b, see Fig. 1, having end flanges 6 to embrace and slide on
the parallel uprights or guideways be provided therefor in the main frame of the
machine, these end plates or castings being secured to cross beams or braces b³,
joined together by girders b, and across the latter are secured the timbers 5, on
which are secured the blades 6º, b.
I have herein shown various of the portions of the frames of the working member
as composed of wood, although it will be understood that any other suitable
material may be used in their construction.
The two frames B1, B2 are herein shown as connected together at each end by
means of links arranged oppositely in pairs, and pivotted respectively at 69, 610,
to the opposite ends of double bell cranks 612, 613, centrally pivotted to a cross
plate 6 on the side of the main frame of the machine; and in order that the front
and rear sides of the frame B1, B2, may rise and fall together the two bell
cranks at each end thereof are connected together by a rod 615.
The two parts B1, B2, of the working member are held normally towards each
others so as to be in proper relation to engage and work the hide or other material
to be operated upon; counterweights w, w, being herein shown for that purpose,
adjustably mounted at 616 on the outer ends of the levers 617, pivotted at bis on
cross bars at each side of the machine, and connected to the upper part B of the
working member by links 619
From the above description it will be evident that the weights w, w¹, con-
stantly tend to hold the frames B1, B2 towards each other, while at the same
time they permit them to yield away from each other whenever necessary, and
also permit one end thereof to yield relatively to the other end to accommodate
unevenness of material being carried between them.
Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 where the arrangement and construction of my
improved working surfaces are shown, it will be seen that in the preferred embodi
ment thereof, as herein shown, the latter consist of an alternate arrangement of
fixed and unyielding blades 66, and yielding blades 67, the former being herein
shown as sections of T-irons firmly and immovably secured on the outer faces of
the timbers in reverse diagonal and parallel arrangement, slanting in opposite

page_text: directions from the middle portion of each timber; the successive courses or
series thereof on the successive timbers being preferably arranged in staggered
order relatively to the next preceding and following series, so that there will be no
part of the skin that will not be operated upon thereby.
The yielding blades are herein shown as carried by arms 620 extending for-
wardly therefrom, it being understood that the hides are carried past the working
members in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3, these arms being let into
recesses, provided therefor, see Fig. 4, and 4*, and pivottally mounted on
transverse rods 6, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and in section in Fig. 4;
the rear or swinging knife edge of the blade being normally held forward in
working position by suitable means, springs s being herein shown for that pur-
pose, engaging rearwardly projecting flanges 623 which overlie the springs,
these flanges serving as stops to engage blades 24, secured to the timber to
prevent the yielding blades 6 from being entirely projected by their springs.
४
I prefer to arrange the yielding blades at a different angle from that occupied
by the fixed blades 66, and also prefer that the yielding blades should
be staggered relatively to the fixed blades and relatively to each other
in the succeeding series thereof, as shown; and I also prefer to
arrange the respective blades in alternate order, the yielding blades
succeeding the fixed blades alternately, although in each and all of these respects
I wish it understood that I am at liberty to arrange the blades at any angle
relative to each other, or straight across if desired, and that I am at liberty to
use either the fixed or yielding blades alone whenever advantageous to particular
kinds of work, or desired for other reasons, and furthermore that I may employ
the yielding blades in connection with other forms of work surfaces.
I believe it to be broadly new with me to provide a large number of yielding
working members, tools or other devices to engage the hide and operate on thick
and thin portions thereof alike, conforming themselves by their yielding action
to work thin portions with the same effectiveness as thick portions.
Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, it will be
seen that the carrier chains c are provided at intervals with supporting members,
tables or holders D on which the hides are thrown to be carried thereby between
the working blades.
Each of these tables comprises a main frame or support d, herein shown as a
board extending from one side thereof to the other, and having at its forward
end a bar d, pivotally secured at to the chain at each end of the bar, and at its
rear end on brackets d³ carrying an intermittent gear , and an operating trip
or dog, the latter being journalled on a rod do, extending from the bracket d³
to the frame d, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, and the former being jour-
nalled on a rod extended across the table and having a pulley at each end
thereof, for a purpose to be presently described.
The table d has a channel do at each edge thereof, this channel being herein
shown as formed by the projecting flanges or edges of a sheet iron covering №10,
although any other means may be provided, if desired.
This channel cooperates with a pin on the chain c to guide the table in proper
position in its travel, the guide and pin cooperating to maintain the table level
as it is passing between the working blades and to prevent its dropping.
On the table I have provided an apron d3, having at a portion free to bend
to permit the apron to be shifted sufficiently to bring into contact with the
working blades that portion of the skin or hide carried thereon, which would
otherwise not be worked.
The apron for this purpose passing over a roll at the forward end of the
table, and being actuated by means of a strap or straps d¹, secured to the apron on
the upper and lower side of the table, see Fig. 5, at each edge thereof and fastened
at d to the pulleys ds, so that when the depending edge of the dog do comes into
engagement with a stop c, shown in dotted lines in Figs 1 and 5, the dog will
rotate the pulleys & by means of the slot and pin engagement d¹8, see Fig. 5,

page_text: between the said dog and the gear d and will thereby shift the apron d from the
position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown at the extreme right Fig. 1; Fig. 5
showing the apron partly shifted.
The dog projects at its inner face in alignment with the gear 4, as will be
evident by viewing Fig. 6, and the dog and gear are formed to nest into each
other, as is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7, so that when the table is shifted to either
of its extreme positions it is firmly locked in its said position by the engagement
of the dog with a concaved portion of the gear on a dead centre.
In practice I have found that the pressure of the working tools or blades,
extending as they do in flat planes, causes the apron to become so firmly pressed
against the board or frame as to require undue power in order to shift it
thereon; accordingly in order to reduce this frictional resistance I have herein
provided a metallic backing for the canvas or other apron d, this backing
being secured to the apron and preventing the latter from unduly clinging
to the frame of the table.
It will be understood that the hides are thrown over the table as the latter
comes up at the left hand end of the machine, Fig. 1, and are carried by the table
forward between the parts of the working member, and in order that the carrièr
may operate with freedom and relative rapidity I have herein shown the
frames B1, B3, as provided with opposite projections adjacent their working sur-
faces, each preferably provided with a friction wheel 2, which wheels or rolls
are engaged by a slightly wedge-shaped enlargement, shown in dotted lines
in Fig. 1, and in full lines in Fig. 6, which acts to slightly separate the working
surfaces just as the forward edge of the work table is ready to enter between
them, the wedge leaving the friction wheels 25, however, before the table
has entered to any extent, and thereby permitting the working surfaces to be
pressed together by their weights w, w¹, so as properly to work the hide or other
material carried by the table.
As the table progresses, wedge pieces engage the friction wheels or rolls 623,
removing the working surfaces from contact with the hide for an instant while
the dog is engaged by the stop c', as before explained, and the hide is shifted.
After the hide has been carried past the working surfaces it is necessary that
the apron should be shifted back to its original position in order that the operation
already described may be repeated for another hide, and for this purpose I have
provided a second stop c² in the path of the returning table, this stop acting
in the same manner as the stop but engaging the dog from the opposite
side, and thereby shifting the apron in the opposite direction from its previous
movement.
The operation of my machine as above described, is as follows, viz:-
-
As a table D is brought around to sprocket wheels c' an operator throws a hide
over the table so that a portion of the hide will rest on top of the table and a portion
thereof will hang beneath the same.
The table proceeds, and as it is about to enter between the opposite frames B¹, B³,
the wedge enters between the friction rolls 625, thereby separating the working
surfaces so as to permit the table and the hide carried thereon to enter between
the surfaces without the latter striking the front edge of the table and hide.
The hide is partially worked as it proceeds between the working surfaces
until the wedges come into engagement with the friction rolls 625, and the
stop simultaneously therewith engages the dog d³, which several engagements
cause the working surfaces to separate slightly and the hide to be shifted between
the same, so that that portion of the hide which was previously around the forward
edge of the table has, by this movement, been shifted on top of the table, and a
portion of the hide which was previously below the table and which had already
been sufficiently worked by the lower working blades has taken the place of the
previously unworked portion of the hide at the front edge of the table; the work-
ing surfaces are then brought forcibly into engagement again with the hide by the

page_text: passage of the wedges beyond the rolls 25, and the working of the hide is
then completed by the further forward movement of the table.
are
As shown, the wedges are near the front end of the table and the rolls
located to come in contact therewith when the hide is about half way through the
working surfaces, so that after the hide has been shifted it still has to pass
through the remainder of the working surfaces and thus be acted on.
The hide having arrived at the upper or right hand end of the machine Fig. 1,
is removed by an attendant, and the table proceeds in its travel until its dog dis
engaged by the stop when the apron is thereby shifted back again to its original
position to again receive another hide or skin.
As the hide proceeds between the working surfaces the blades thereof operate
alike upon the thick and thin places thereof, for the reason that certain (or,
if desired, all) of the blades are made independently yielding, so that when a thin
place is brought beneath the working surface the blade, at that point, follows the
thin surface, and presses with a uniform pressure against the same.
If the alternate arrangement of rigid and yielding blades in successive rows
is employed, such as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it will be evident that the working
edges of the blades 66 will determine the general plane of the working surface,
these rigid blades being held apart according to the thicker portions of the hide;
if the hide had absolutely uniform thickness the working edges of the blades b
would lie in precisely the same plane with the edges of the blades 66, but inasmuch
as hides invariably have relatively thick and thin places the blades 67 will be
projected forward by their springs whenever a thin spot comes opposite to them,
being constructed to project normally beyond the plane of the edges of blades 66,
and will yield back into the said general plane when the thicker portions of the
hile reach them.
In other words, these yielding blades (and by that term I mean any working
tool) follow every unevenness of the hide with a uniform pressure so as to ensure
that no matter how irregular and uneven a hide may be every portion thereof will
receive proper attention and be duly worked.
I regard this feature of my invention as a very valuable one, inasmuch as it
enables me to produce far superior results and to do so rapidly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a machine of the class described, having a work table, the combination
therewith of a working member having a number of independent and relatively
short working blades extending in a series entirely across said table, said blades
being independently yielding relatively to said table and to each other, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a machine of the class described, having a work table, the combination
therewith of a working member having a large number of relatively short work-
ing blades throughout its extent, said number having a considerable area to work
a large extent of hide at once, certain of said blades here and there throughout
the extent of the working member being yielding and others thereof being rigid,
substantially as described.
3. In a machine of the class described, having a work-table, the combination
therewith of a working member having a number of indepdently yielding work-
ing blades, each having a top, holding blades on the working member overhanging
said stops, and springs normally maintaining said working blades projected with
their stops against said holding blades, said member also having a number of
fixed working blades, said yielding blades normally projecting slightly beyond the
plane of said fixed blades, substantially as described.
4. The combination with an endless carrier, provided with one or more work
tables, of two sets of working blades arranged in opposite parallel planes to

page_text: operate on opposite sides of the work table, certain of said blades being yielding
relatively to others adjacent thereto and to the table, substantially as described.
5. The combination with a work table and means to move it, of two opposite
flat working surfaces arranged to operate on opposite sides of said table, transverse
ways therefor, means at each end of said working surfaces and adjacent each
side thereof to cause said respective ends to remain parallel to each other in their
movements on said ways, and means operating at the middle of each end of one
of said surfaces, tending to move said surfaces towards each other, substantially
as described.
6. In a machine of the class described, a frame adapted to support a working
surface, said frame being provided with a projection adjacent its working face,
combined with an endless carrier and with the tables carried thereby, said carrier
having wedges at suitable intervals to engage said projection and remove said
frame to permit the adjacent table to enter beneath the same, substantially as
described.
7. In a machine of the class described, a frame adapted to support a working
surface, said frame being provided with a projection adjacent its working face,
combined with an endless carrier and with the tables carried thereby, said
carrier having wedges at suitable intervals to engage said projection and remove
said frame to permit the adjacent table to enter beneath the same, said table
having a shifting apron and means to shift the same, and a second wedge adjacent
the table to again remove said frame, said second wedge engaging said projection
simultaneously with the shifting of said apron, substantially as described..
8. In a machine of the class described, a working surface movable to and from
the work, an endless carrier, work-tables and their aprons carried thereby, means
including a wedge, for moving said working surface away from a work table, and
means operating when said working surface is removed for shifting the apron
on said table, said shifting means including a stop and a device engaging
it, one being moved by the other, substantially as described.
9. In a machine of the class described, a working member movable to and from
the work, an endless carrier, work tables carried thereby, aprons shiftable on said
tables, a wedge for moving said working member out of working position to
permit an apron to be shifted, means to shift the apron beneath said member while
the latter is removed, and means for simultaneously shifting in a reverse direction
on opposite apron which had been previously shifted, substantially as described.
10. In a machine of the class described, a table comprising a frame, a flexible
apron thereon, means to shift said apron and means to lock said apron in its
shifted positions, substantially as described.
11. In a machine of the class described, a table comprising a frame and an
apron, and means to shift the apron on the table, and means interposed between
said apron and said table against which the apron rests throughout its hide-
receiving area, to prevent the clinging of the apron to the table when it is shifted,
and thereby enable it to be shifted with minimum power, substantially as
described.
12. A machine for working hides and leather, constructed and operating, sub-
tantially as shown and described.
T 001 low of Anil 1800
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant..