Improvements in Machines for Working Hides, Skins, and other like Goods.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1887
Complete Left, 31st Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 22nd June, 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Working Hides, Skins, and other
like Goods.
I GUSTAVE BARUELLE fils, of Decize, Nièvre, France, Tanner, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
The object of this invention is to construct a machine adapted for working hides,
skins and other goods and by means of which various operations such as unhairing,
scraping, fleshing, &c., can be effected mechanically with the aid of a suitable tool.
The improved machine comprises as characteristic features first a combination of
rods and bars whereby the tool is given a rectilinear motion during that part of its
travel which corresponds with its passage over the material under treatment; secondly
an arrangement for holding the material while it is submitted to the action of the
tool; thirdly an arrangement whereby the work table can be raised or lowered at will
so as to allow the tool to exert a greater or less pressure; fourthly an arrangement
whereby the table while prevented from moving horizontally under the action of the
tool will yield or give vertically under the pressure of the tool; and fifthly a multiple
tool holder, which may be called the tool revolver, consisting of a plate or cylinder
carrying several different tools any one of which can, as required, be brought into
position for use by a partial revolution of the revolver.
I will proceed to describe a machine in which my improvements are embodied. A
horizontal shaft turning in bearings imparts to and fro motion by means of cranks or
arms to a rod or bar. This rod or bar is jointed at one point of its length to the
upper ends of two oblique rods whose lower ends are jointed to a fixed part; the
effect of this is that an arc of a circle is described around the point where the oblique
rods are connected to the first named rod or bar. To this rod or bar is connected one
end of a bar on whose other end the tool revolver is carried. The arrangement of
these parts as above described gives a particular direction to the tool in its travel; it
first travels in a straight line along the work table, then it rises, passes in a curved
line to the back of the table and then redescends to again travel along the work table

page_text: and so on.
The material to be acted on is placed on the part of the table along which
the tool thus travels.
'
The table is composed of three main parts, ciz.: an upper part on which the hide
or other article is placed, an under part, and an intermediate part composed of a set
of boards or laths which act as a spring. The under part is so constructed that it will
always allow of the same amount of bend or yield whatever be the point at which the
tool operates. The three parts are connected together by bolts which at their lower
end enter one of the legs or vertical supports of the table. The other end of the table
bears on another leg or support but is not fixed to it so that this end can slide while
the table yields slightly under the pressure of the tool. In order to avoid friction the
movable end of the table has two half round bars or irons which slide on a similar bar
at right angles thereto on the leg or vertical support.
The height of the two legs that support the table can be adjusted according to the
pressure it is desired the tool should exert. For this purpose each of the legs slides
in a sort of sheath formed of half round bars supported by a frame against which bars
similar bars on the legs bear. The lower ends of the legs are fitted with rollers which
rest on inclined blocks carried by a joist or beam to which a horizontal longitudinal
movement can be given by means of a lever handle within reach of the workman.
This lever is held in the required position by a fixed notched bar. A slight movement
of the handle will free the lever. The joist or beam is supported on lower beams,
rollers being interposed to diminish friction. These two beams can be moved farther
from or nearer to each other 50 as to allow the joist or upper beam to yield more or
less under the pressure of the tool; the pressure being transmitted to the joist by the
table legs.
The tool revolver is attached to a fixed plate on the end of the carrying bar and
comprises a revolving plate to which the tools are connected by means of holis; there
may be four or other number of tools, namely, for example, a knife, a roller, a brush
and a scraper. The movable plate has at that side which faces the fixed plate a set of
double notches corresponding in number to the tools and into which the forked end of
a spring lever jointed to the back of the fixed plate can enter. When it is wished to
change the tool the tail of the lever is pressed upon, the ends of the fork become
disengaged from the notches and the movable plate can be turned round to bring
another tool opposite the work table. On ceasing to press on the lever tail the spring
causes the fork to enter another pair of notches and the tool is firmly held in
position.
Instead of being in the form of a plate the tool revolver can be in the form of a
cylinder on the periphery of which the several tools are placed. When it is desired
to change the tool it suffices to turn the cylinder round to bring the fresh tool into
position, suitable stop devices retaining it in place.
While the hide or other article is being submitted to the action of the tool it is held
by an apparatus in front of the machine formed of two jaws or grippers. The upper
jaw is fixed to two uprights capable of moving by means of rollers on a rail on the
ground. The other jaw is carried by two other uprights jointed to the uprights that
carry the upper jaw and they are each fitted with a claw or dog. When it is wished
to close the jaws the dogs take behind a cross piece which can be lowered by means of
a pedal. The cross piece being lowered the lower jaw is drawn away by hand from
the upper jaw. The gripping apparatus can be moved away from the machine along
the rail above described. There is a box in front of this apparatus to receive the
hides after they have been worked.
T
J. C. MEWBURN,
169, Fleet Street, London,
Agent.

page_text: 1 GUSTAVE BARUELLE fils, of Decize, Nièvre, France, Tanner, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to construct a machine adapted for working hides,
skins and other goods and by means of which various operations such as unhairing,
scraping, fleshing, &c. can be effected mechanically with the aid of a suitable
tool.
The improved machine comprises as characteristic features: first, a combination
of rods and bars whereby the tool is given a rectilinear or practically rectilinear
motion during that part of its travel which corresponds with its passage over the hide
or article under treatment; secondly, an arrangement for holding the hide or article
while it is submitted to the action of the tool; thirdly, an arrangement whereby the
work table or that part of it on which the work is effected can be raised or lowered at
will so as to allow the tool to exert a greater or less pressure; fourthly, an arrange-
ment whereby the table while prevented from moving horizontally under the action
of the tool will yield or give vertically under the pressure of the tool; and, fifthly,
a multiple tool holder which may be called the tool revolver consisting of a plate or
cylinder carrying several different tools any one of which can as required be brought
into position for use by a partial revolution of the revolver.
The accompanying drawings which I will now proceed to describe represent a
machine in which my improvements are embodied. Figure 1 is a longitudinal section
and Figure 2 a plan of the machine. Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a transverse
section and a horizontal section of the work table. A horizonal shaft A turning in
bearings B, B on the frame Cimparts to and fro motion by means of a crank or arm 1)
to a rod or bar E. This rod or bar is jointed at F to the upper ends of two rods G G
whose lower ends are jointed to a fixed part; the effect of this is that an are of a
circle is described around the point F. To the rod or bar E is connected one end of
a bar H on whose other end the tool revolver is carried; the bar H is strengthened
by the stay J. The arrangement of these parts as above described gives a particular
direction to the tool in its travel as is indicated by dots in Figure 1; it first travels
in a straight line along the work-table L, then it rises, passes in a curved line to the
back of the table and then redescends to again travel along the work-table and so on.
The material to be acted on is placed on the part of the table along which the tool
thus travels.
Z is the table in the middle of which is the work table proper; this is composed of
three main parts, viz.: an upper part L on which the hide or other article is placed,
an under part M, and an intermediate part N composed of a set of boards or laths
which act as a spring. The under part M is of such form, as seen in the drawings,
that it will always allow of the same amount of bend or yield whatever be the point

page_text: at which the tool operates. The three parts are connected together by bolts 0 which
at their lower end enter one of the legs or vertical supports P of the table L. The
other end of the work portion of the table bears on another leg or support P¹ but is
not fixed to it so that this end can slide while the table yields slightly under the
pressure of the tool. In order to avoid friction the movable end of the table has two
half round bars or irons a which slide on a similar bar bat right angles thereto on
the leg or vertical support P
table L.
The table L can be more or less raised in order that the tool in passing over it may
exert more or less pressure according to the nature or thickness of the hide or skin
to be operated. With this object the lower ends of the legs P P are fitted with
rollers U, U which rest on inclined blocks R, R on.a carrier S movable on rollers V V
on beams S¹ S¹. The carrier S is connected to a lever T pivoted at a and jointed to
a lever handle X within reach of the workman. The end of the lever X carries a
roller which can move in a curved guide m; the lever X also carries a finger n which
can engage with any of a set of notches cut in the curved guide. The spindle of the
roller has a weight at each side which compels the finger to enter and stop in a notch
when the lever X has been moved. The workman by moving the lever in the one
direction or the other can move the carrier S and thereby more
or less raise the
The tool revolver is attached to the end of the bar H. It may be of the form
represented on a larger scale in Figures 5 and 6 which are respectively a side view
and a front vi w; it may carry four or other number of tools; four are shown by
way of example in the drawings, viz. a roller v, a scraper y, a brush and a tool i
for softening and compressing the hide or other article. The tool carrier is composed
of a hub or stock o fixed to the bar H and receiving a shaft pon which is mounted
a disc q which carries the tools. In order to maintain the tool carrier in a suitable
position so that the tool may act uniformly upon the hide or skin on the table the disc of
has opposite each tool a conical hole into which enters a bolts acted on by a spring s.
When it is desired to change the tool the bolts can be disengaged from the hole by
pushing the knob or handle n and the holder can then be moved round. The tool i is
composed of a central board or piece of wood Y (see Figures 7 and 8) to which are
secured by means of screws or bolts 21 two pieces of hard wood Z2 cut with indenta-
tions. The indentations are preferably cut at both top and bottom of the pieces Z² as
shown so that these can be reversed when desired. It is these pieces Z2 that act upon
the hide or article so as to soften and compress it during the travel of the tool along
the work table L, Figure 1. This tool can be used as a hand tool if it be provided
with handles Y as seen in Figures 7 and 8; the handles are not required when the
tool has to be fitted to the tool revolver.
"
2
While the hide or other article is being submitted to the action of the tool it is held
by an apparatus in front of the machine formed of two jaws or grippers C D¹
Figures 1 and 2. The jaw C is fixed to two uprights E capable of moving by
means of rollers F on a rail on the ground. The other jaw 11 is carried by two other
uprights G jointed to the uprights and they are each fitted with a claw or dog H.
When it is wished to close the jaws the dogs H¹ engage behind a cross piece I¹ which
can be lowered by means of a pedal J. The cross piece being lowered the jaw D¹ is
drawn away by hand applied to the handle I from the jaw C. The cross piece 1¹ is
lodged in two caps N' which can be separated when required by screws 0¹. In order
to allow of the removal of the whole hide holding apparatus the box B¹ in which the
hides A are received is fitted with a knob or projection M which can be pushed
against by the knee so as to cause the apparatus to travel by its rollers F along the
rail above described. The uprights E are held in place by a cross piece R' fixed to
the frame of the machine between rollers T', fixed to arms V₁.
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, in respect of machines for working hides, skins, and other like goods, is :-
1. A combination of rods and bars substantially as hereinbefore.described whereby

page_text: the tool is given a rectilinear motion during that part of its course in which it travels
over the hide or article under treatment and a motion in a curved direction during the
other part of its course.
2. The arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described for holding the hide or
other article while it is being submitted to the action of the tool.
3. The arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described whereby that part of tho
work table on which the work is effected can be raised or lowered at will for the purpose
explained.
4. The arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described whereby that part of the
work table on which the work is effected is enabled to give or yield vertically under
the pressure of the tool but is prevented moving horizontally.
5. A multiple tool holder or tool revolver constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described.
6. The improved machine arranged and operating as hereinbefore described and
represented in the accompanying drawings for working hides, skins, and other like
goods.
J. C. MEWBURN,
169, Fleet Street, London,
Agent.