IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SCOURING, SETTING, OR GLASSING LEATHER OR BEAMING HIDES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Augustus Lockwood, of Fall River, in the County
of Bristol, in the State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SCOURING, SETTING,
OR GLASSING LEATHER OR BEAMING HIDES."
Sealed the 29th December 1876, and dated the 21st July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Augustus Lockwood
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st July 1876.
FREDERIC AUGUSTUS LOCKWOOD, of Fall River, in the County of Bristol, in the
State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR SCOURING, SETTING, OR GLASSING LEATHER OR BEAMING HIDES."
My present improvements relate to a class of machines in which the skin or
leather is placed upon a stationary table while the superimposed operative
mechanisms or dressing tools are suspended from a beam surmounting the table, the
tool stock or carrier being susceptible of a universal freedom of motion in any
direction, by which means access is readily had to all parts of the skin, my
machine being distinguished from other classes which perform the same labour in
that the tool supporting carriers of the latter move in arbitrary paths of motion,
while the various movements and changes in position which are requisite to
manipulate all parts of the skin are imparted to the table which supports such
skin.
Heretofore in the employment of machinery for performing the operations
before named great labour devolves upon the attendants, and the process is com-
paratively slow.
My object in devising this machine has been mainly to relieve the attendant of
the constant labor and watchfulness which has heretofore been imperative, as well
as to render the machine to a great extent self-operative, and more rapid in executing
its various functions.
In my machine the tool carriage is suspended from and slides upon a rigid
beam, which departs horizontally from and slides vertically within or upon an
upright truck disposed at one side of the said table, and travelling to and fro of the
latter upon suitable rails secured to the frame of the machine, and forming part of
same, the tool carriage being swivelled to the cross head from which it is suspended
[Price 18 27.1

page_text: from the beam, and the arrangement of the whole being such that said carriage is
susceptible of vertical, lateral, or rotary adjustment with respect to the table, or a
skin placed upon the latter.
The various mechanical details by which I effect the adjustment of the tool
carriage and dressing tools, and render the machine to an eminent degree automatic
in its functions will be herein-after duly explained.
The horizontal table is of a size to receive one or more skins, as occasion may
demand, as owing to the great range and freedom of movement of my tool carriage
I am not confined within arbitrary bounds, but am enabled to treat two or more
skins upon one table and shift the position of the carriage from one to another, and
thus while one skin is being manipulated permit the finished one to be removed,
and a fresh one substituted, by which means I avoid the loss of time heretofore
incident to the cessation of the functions of the machine while a skin is being
removed and another supplied.
The table is supported upon a stage, which is erected upon the floor of the apart-
ment or the foundation of the machine, whatever the latter may be; and I make
provision for levelling the table, or adjusting it to sloping or irregular floors or
foundations. *
It is desirable that the said floor should be sloping and depressed at rear, in order
that refuse water and liquids may pass off.
To compensate for the inclination of the floor, I dispose the front ends of the
lower beams of the stage upon metallic blocks, and I screw through the said ends
of the beam screws to bear upon said blocks, by which means the irregularities or
inclinations of the floor are overcome.
To further aid in the perfect adjustment of the table its braces or rails may be
combined with the staging in a similar manner; and to accomplish this I form
upon one or both ends of such rails feet through which screws pass, and bear upon
the upper bars of the stage.
In rear of the table I dispose an upright standard or truck, whose movements
are guided by a horizontal rail or way secured to the rear ends of the beams, and
parallel to the edge of the said table.
Flanged wheels or trundles are interposed between the truck and rail to reduce
friction, while a second series of rollers are pivotted to the feet of the truck, and
roll upon or agginst the front edge of the said rail, and serve as rolling bearings to
retain the wheels in place upon the rail, and overcome the great friction incident to
the leverage of the truck over the upper rail as a fulcrum.
To ensure the perpendicularity of the truck I employ a hooked clasp, which
extends forward from the truck and engages a ledge erected upon the rear upper
edge of the stage; and in connection with such clasps I pivot to the adjacent
parts of the truck antifriction rollers, which travel against the rear edge of the
ledge.
The open horizontal beam or crane, which supports the tool carriage is composed of
side beams and suitable outer cross bars formed upon its front and rear end with
flanges or splines to enter vertical grooves in the inner faces of the upper ends of
the side posts of the truck, by which means the said bean, while assuming a
horizontal position, is permitted to slide vertically upon the truck with respect to
the table.
To effect the requisite traverses with a comparatively slow movement in either
direction of the truck upon the rail, in order that the dressing tools nay, while in
active operation, be presented to any and all parts of the skin or skins which may
be upon the table, I secure to the rear side of the stage and below the level of said
table a horizontal toothed rack; and engaging this rack I employ a barrel pinion
which is secured to the lower end of a vertical rod, which in turn is mounted in
bearings at top and bottom of the truck, the upper bearing being a horizontal cross
bar or shelf, which unites the upper portions of the side posts of the truck.
the upper extremity of the rod I affix a bevelled gear, which engages a bevelled
pinion in turn affixed to the inner end of a short horizontal shaft, such shaft being
To

page_text: supported in a furcated standard erected upon the cross bar before named, and
in the present instance to the right of the rod looking from the front of the
table.
To the opposite or outer end of the shaft, which protrudes through the adjacent
beam, I affix a bevelled gear which at bottom engages a bevelled pinion affixed to
or making part of a sleeve or tube, which is mounted loosely upon the lower part
of an upright clutch shaft, such shaft being supported in bearings projecting laterally
from the outer side of the said beam, and provided at its upper extremity with a
pulley.
A second bevelled pinion making part of a sleeve engages the upper part of the
gear, and, like its counterpart, the pinion is mounted loosely upon the upright
clutch shaft, the adjacent cuds of two sleeves being toothed or otherwise fashioned
to intercept and lock to an intermediate similarly formed sleeve or tubular slider,
which encompasses and slides loosely, but does not rotate upon the shaft, and
serves to transmit the rotations of the shaft to one or the other of the pinions upon
the sleeves, according to the direction the beam is to travel over the skin, or to
remain neutral between them when the skin is to be operated upon continuously
in one spot or not at all.
To effect the adjustment or shipping of the intermediate slider I employ a long
shipper rod, which is pivoted approximately near its centre, and straddles at its
rear end the said slider, while its front end is bent into an arm or spur, which
enters a continuous groove or channel created in the periphery of a horizontal disc
or hub, such disc or hub being affixed to the lower end of a spindle which is
mounted in bearings, the said disc being situated in a line with the axis of rotation
of the tool carriage.
The form of the groove or channel in the periphery of the horizontal disc is very
peculiar. It is composed of a general neutral passage or portion, which is con-
centric with the periphery of the disc, and occupies its greater part. The disposition
of this neutral passage with respect to the shipper rod, slider, and gear, which
engages with the pinions on the sliding sleeves, being such that when the spur of
each rod is in such passage the slider is intermediate between the sleeves, and
consequently the rotations of the shaft have no effect upon the gear, and the truck
and tool carriage remain stationary with respect to the table.
The channel further embraces two portions or turnouts, each of which departs
from the neutral passage to such an extent as to elevate or depress the front end of
the shipper rod sufficiently to force the slider into engagement with and clutch one
or the other of the sleeves. The spur of the shipper rod can enter either of the
said turn-outs only from one direction, as the entrance to the latter is stopped upon
either side of central disposed gates by sloping steps or inclined planes. My object
in this is, that the position of the shipper when the latter is in its normal position
(that is, when its spur is situated in the intermediate passage) may be instantly
changed, and by clutching the slider to one or the other of the sleeves cause the
dressing tools to instantaneously move over the skin.
In order to obtain a clear understanding of the operation of this portion of my
improvements the reader's attention must be called to the fact that the turn-out
actuates the shipper in such a direction as to cause the beam and tool carriage to
travel to the right, while the opposite or twin turn-out causes the said truck and
carriage to travel to the left. Bearing this in mind the operation of the parts as
hereafter stated will be readily understood.
As I propose to employ for purposes hereafter stated a second shipping apparatus
disposed upon the opposite side of the beam, I desire that the disc shall operate
both rods by reversing the position of such disc, that is to say, rotating it through
180 degrees of a circle, so that the turn-outs shall operate the second shipper rod.
As it is imperative that the shipper rod shall remain in an idle or neutral position
while the opposite rod is acted upon I employ the neutral passage, and as I prefer
that the movement of either shipper rod in the act of shipping the slider shall
commence only when the spur of such rod is intermediate between the turn-outs in

page_text: order that I may lower or raise the rod according to the direction in which I desire
to move the tool carriage I employ the sloping steps in order that the spur of the
rod may when the disc is turned in one direction ride over such sloping steps. But
for this or an equivalent arrangement the spur of the shipper rod would while the
turn-outs are being brought into position to act upon it after leaving the opposite
rod be liable to enter the wrong one and start the tool carriage in the wrong
direction.
By allowing the shipping of the rod to be accomplished only from the point
intermediate between the two turn-outs I avoid what would otherwise be serious
objections, since the dressing tools might inadvertently be caused to act upon a
portion of a skin which was already sufficiently manipulated. We thus see that
the operator by simply turning the hand disc is enabled with little exertion to
completely control the movements of the tool carriage to and fro of the table from
right to left, or vice versa.
When a large skin is to be manipulated it will frequently occur that the tool
carriage may be allowed to travel over and act upon the skin without the attendance
of the operator, thus enabling the latter while such movement is taking place to
remove the skin which may have been completed and substitute a fresh one.
Should the operator allow the carriage to travel too far serious results would
follow, and to guard against such a result I employ a means of arresting the
movement of the said carriage when it has reached the extreme point to which it is
desirable it should move, and in furtherance of this object I provide a horizontal
shipper lever which I pivot at about its centre to the lower bearing of the upright
clutch shaft, the inner end of such lever being pivoted to the rear extremity of a
horizontal rod, and extends forward into close proximity to the hand wheel or disc.
When the hand wheel is adjusted to bring the shipper rod into the turn-out the
truck begins to travel to the right and continues this movement without further
attention on the part of the operator until the outer or free end of the lever arrives
at and abuts against a post erected at the right of the table, when a continued
movement of the truck turns such lever upon its fulcrum, and in so doing drives
forward the rod which abuts against a spur of the hand wheel and rotates the latter
upon its axis to such an extent that its neutral passage point embraces the end of
the shipper rod, the sleeve is released from engagement with the sleeve, and the
rotations of the gear cease, and the travel of the tool carriage is arrested.
If but one shipping apparatus were employed the long neutral passage in the
hand wheel would be unnecessary, and in the present instance its purpose is only
to receive the end of the shipper rod and retain the latter in an inoperative position
while the turn-outs are being brought into a position to act upon the opposite rod.
The shipping mechanism which I have already described is to control the move-
ments of the tool carriage and tools with a slow movement in order to operate to
the best advantage upon a skin, and as it is very desirable that comparatively rapid
movements should be imparted to such carriage while it is being brought into
position to act upon a skin, or while moving from a finished skin to a fresh one, I
employ a second shipping mechanism to effect such rapid movement. This second
mechanism is a counterpart of the first in detail and operation, and is disposed upon
the opposite side of the beam.
As the operation of this second shipping mechanism is precisely similar to the
first it is believed it will be readily understood without further explanation, and I
would merely add that the pulley at the top of its upright clutch shaft is of much
less diameter than that of the similar pulley of the first shipping mechanism in
order that the respective movements of the tool carriage and truck may be corre-
spondingly rapid.
To effect the vertical adjustment of the beam and tool carriage and tools, and
thus adapt the latter to act with equal effect upon skins of varying thicknesses I
employ an eccentric which I pivot to a start projecting from the rear end of the
beam and bearing upon a roller pivotted to the top of the cross bar before alluded
to. The pivot of the eccentric is a short horizontal shaft which passes through the

page_text: start and bears at one end a bevilled gear which engages a bevilled pinion, which
in turn is affixed to the rear end of a long horizontal shaft which is disposed within
the upper part of the beam and protrudes through the front end of the latter where
it is provided with a hand wheel by which its rotations are readily effected. By
turning this hand wheel in one or the other direction the beam and the tool
carriage and tools are raised and lowered at pleasure.
To effect the requisite traverses of the tool carriage to and fro of the beam, which
are necessary to enable the dressing tools carried by the carriage to reach and
operate upon all parts of the skin I proceed as follows:-The main support of the
tool carriage is an arched or trussed beam or yoke which is suspended at its crown
or centre from the lower end of an upright shaft, such shaft in turn depending from
the centre of a cross head or carriage which slides within the beam upon suitable
guides or ways applied to the inner sides of the latter, while the shaft near its
lower part revolves in a hanger depending from the beam.
To the upper and lower part of the upright shaft I mount loosely two sleeves,
upon each of which I form bevelled pinions, while alongside the said shaft and
capable of engaging these pinions I pivot upon a horizontal shaft a bevelled gear.
Between the sleeves and encompassing the upright shaft I dispose a tubular slider.
The arrangement and operation of this mechanism is precisely the same as that
before referred to as a portion of the mechanism for effecting the lateral traverses of
the truck.
To the outside of the gear I affix a toothed pinion, which engages a horizontal
toothed rack extending from end to end of the beam while swivelled at one end to
the slider. I employ a T shaped lever or shipper, which is pivotted at its bend to
a bracket projecting forward from the front side of the cross head, the lower arm
or handle of such lever straddling a rigid arm which extends forward horizontally
from an annular frame or plate upheld by the hanger before referred to, a friction
shoe being applied to the lever and impinging against the arm to prevent accidental
misplacement of such arm or clandestine engagement of the slider with one or the
other of the sleeves.
The upright shaft being in rotation by means of a pulley affixed to its upper end,
it is obvious that when the lower arm or handle of the lever is pushed outward by
the attendant the slider will be thrown into engagement with the upper sleeve,
consequently the tool carriage will be driven forward upon the beam, while a
reverse movement of the handle will reverse the movement of said pinion and gear,
and the tool carriage will be moved in an opposite direction, the friction of the said
handle upon the arm being sufficient to retain the slider in contact with the pinion
which it engages.
When the slider is in engagement with one or the other of the sleeves the tool
carriage will travel automatically along the beam, and to stop this movement as
the carriage reaches its extreme position in either direction, should the attendant
fail to do so by changing the shipper, I provide a means of automatically effecting
the requisite throw of the shipper, which means, in the present instance, consist in
the employment of two horizontal rods or bars which extend inward from each end
of the beam and approach within a short distance of the finger of the lever. The
rods are so arranged that as the tool carriage approaches its extreme position in
either direction the finger abuts against one or the other of the said rods, and the
continued movement of the carriage moves the lever upon its fulcrum until the
slider is removed from engagement with the sleeve, as the case may be.
The driving pulley from which the machine derives motion is mounted upon a
shaft within an open frame or head disposed upon the top of a post bolted to and
forming part of the table frame at the left end, the rotations of such pulley being
imparted to a bevelled gear affixed to the outer end of said shaft, and engaging a
second bevelled gear, which in turn is affixed to an upright stud erected upon the
top of the open head before named, a pulley being secured to or making part of
the last named gear.
An idle pulley is pivotted to the top of the post before nained, as erected at the

page_text: right of the table, the purpose in securing this standard and the head to their
respective posts being to render them interchangeable, and perimit the driving
power to be placed upon either side of the machine, while the method of securing
the head adjustably to its support is to enable the angle of the driving pulley to be
changed at pleasure, and adapt it to the position of the pulley from which it
derives power.
The idle pulley also serves as a belt tightener as its position is
easily changed.
At various positions upon the top of the beam I pivot idle pulleys or rollers
serving in connection with the other pulleys to enable me to drive the entire
machine with one belt.
I will now describe the mechanism immediately connected with or composing the
tool operating agencies. To the extreme lower end of the upright shaft I affix a
crank to the pendant wrist pin, of which crank I pivot a horizontal spur gear,
which constitutes an epicycle and travels within and engages an annular toothed
rack or epicycloidal wheel, which in turn is upheld by a horizontal ring plate
secured to the arched bar, and disposed concentrically with the axis of the upright
shaft. From the under side of the gear or epicycle, and near its periphery,
depends a stud, while pivotted or swivelled at its upper end to this stud is an
upright post erected centrally upon a barrel or tubular slider, which encompasses
and slides to and fro upon a horizontal rod or beam spanning the arms of the
arched bar.
As the dressing tools which operate upon the skin are carried by the slider, and
as the latter is caused by the epicycloidal wheel to travel upon its beam in
reciprocating rectilinear paths of moment in a horizontal plane, the tools are
compelled to travel over and wipe upon the skin in a right line, while the rotary
motion, of which the arched support is susceptible, combines to admit of a universal
freedom of motion to the tools in any direction.
The upper part of the arched bar is provided with a semicircular plate which is
received within a rabbet in the under side of the ring plate, and is formed with
notches. Operating with these notches is a spring latch pivotted to the arm herein-
before referred to as extending forward from the ring plate. In connection with
this spring latch I employ a bent lever or catch bar, which is pivotted at its bend
to the front end of the said arm, and has its upper end converted into a hook to
seize hold of the said latch and prevent it from engaging the notches.
When it becomes desirable to change the path of motion or angle with which the
tools act upon a skin, the operator depresses the handle of the latch and removes it
from the notch, in which it may at the same time be when it is seized by the catch
bar and retained in this position. The operator is now enabled to readily turn the
tool carriage and tools about in the arc of a circle and permit such tools to act
upon the skin in any desired direction.
When it is desired that the tools shall describe a number of strokes in any one
direction the catch bar is raised and the latch is elevated by a spring interposed
between the two and forced into one of the notches.
The tool carriers or stocks are two in number in order that the machine may be
double acting, that is, operate upon a skin with equal effect at each traverse of the
tool supporting carriage, each being suspended from and pivotted at its inner corner
or edge to one end of the barrel or slider before named, and in order that each
backward going tool may be lifted from off the skin while the opposite tool is
acting upon the latter, each tool stock has pivotted to its outer edge by a pivot
the lower end of a rod, the upper end of which is pivotted by a pin and, slot
connection to the outer end of a sleeve, which encompasses the adjacent end of an
oscillating beam, such oscillating beam being disposed longitudinally over the
barrel and pivotted at its centre to the post of such barrel by a pivot.
The pivot by which each tool carrier is connected with its rod plays within a
vertical slot created in such rod in order that some play may be permitted the tool
in passing over inequalities in the skin, and thus preserve the adjacent parts of the
machine from the undue thrusts and strains to which they would otherwise be

page_text: liable, a spring being combined with each rod and tool carrier to retain the latter in
close contact with the skin, and aid in relieving the thrusts and strains before
alluded to.
As the oscillating beam must tilt from one sloping position to the other with
each traverse of the tool supporting barrel or slider it becomes necessary to provide
a means of alternately locking such beam in position while one traverse is being
made and one tool is acting upon the skin, and when such traverse is completed of
unlocking or releasing the said beam and permit it to change its position and lower
the opposite tool into contact with the skin, and at the same time elevate from off*
such skin the tool which has completed its traverse, to effect this result I employ
a horizontal annular cam plate or ring which is affixed to the under side of the
epicycle or gear, and concentric with the stud before named, the under surface or
side of the ring being deeper upon one half than the other, and operating in
connection with rigid studs crected upon the oscillating beam, the disposition of the
deepest portion of the cam with respect to the other portions of the tool operating
mechanism being such that as the slider reaches its extreme position in one
direction, and the outgoing tool arrives at its extreme limit, the said cam recedes
from the adjacent stud and permits that end of the beam to rise, and at the same
time wipes against the opposite stud and depresses the end of the beam upon
which the latter is erected. The value of this cam movement for effecting the
oscillations of the oscillating beam is that it is simple, durable, and inexpensive;
certain in operation, and noiseless.
In order that the operator may, while the machine is in motion, elevate either of
the dressing tools to such an extent as to raise it above the skin during its outgoing
movement, or to lower it into action thereupon, and thus cause a cessation of the
operation of the machine, or put it into operation, I extend the ends of each pivot
at the upper end of the rods of the tool carriers into slots which incline outwardly,
and are created in the ends of each sleeve. By pushing in either of the sleeves upon
the oscillating beam the inclined slots act upon the adjacent pivots to elevato the
rod and dressing tool, while an outward movement of the slider upon the beam
lowers the tool into action.
To enable the operator to readily effect these movements of the sleeves dispose
upon each side of and in the same plane with the oscillating beam a horizontal rail,
which is supported at each end by a hanger depending from the ring plate before
alluded to, and I combine with each rail two horizontal bolts, each of such bolts
being forced outwardly by a spring, and being so arranged that when one is pushed
inward by the attendant its inner end shall protrude beyond the inner face of the
rail, and so as to intercept a stud projecting outwardly from the side of each slider.
Supposing one tool to be in its depressed or working position, and effecting its
outgoing or active movement, and it is desired to raise it out of action, the attendant
in such case pushes inward the bolt, which may be in advance of and nearest to the
stud projecting from the adjacent sleeve, and as the slider or carrier completes its
traverse this stud is intercepted by the bolt and pushed inward upon the oscillating
beam to its fullest extent, the result being, as before stated, that the inclined slot acts
upon the pivot by which the rod of the tool carrier is suspended, and elevates this
rod and the outer or working edge of the dressing tool.
Should it be desired to lower said tool into working position advantage should
be taken preferably of the point in the outgoing traverse of the slider when the
latter has nearly completed its movement, at which time the bolt last named is
again pushed inward, and as the slider completes its traverse in this direction the
stud upon the sleeve is intercepted by the bolt and pushed inward upon the oscillating
beam, and the adjacent tool lowered.
In order that each bolt may be readily operated from the opposite side of the tool
carriage I connect with each a rod, which extends across such carriage, and is
provided with a handle at its extremity.
As one of the functions to be performed by this machine is that of scouring
leather I employ in addition to the other tools a brush, which is disposed interme-

page_text: diate between such tools and centrally of the carriage, and is suspended from such
carriage by side cheeks which slide in guides formed upon the sides of the carriage,
the brush being depressed toward or upon the table of the machine by springs
applied in a proper manner, and being susceptible of vertical adjustment in order to
bring it into action upon a skin or retain it in a position above the same.
To effect this vertical adjustment of the brush at such times as the machine may
be in operation I mount upon each end of a horizontal shaft which passes through
the carriage a double pointed wiper cam, which wipes against the under side of a
shelf which constitutes the upper part of each cheek, while to the outer face of each
cam I affix a double ended lever or tripper.
The longest axes of the two cams are in a common plane, but the axes of the
trippers are at right angles to each other; consequently, the longest plane of one
tripper is parallel to that of the cam to which it is attached, and that of the opposite
tripper at right angles to its cam.
Below the under side of the ring plate and diagonally upon opposite sides of the
rails I dispose two horizontal bolts, which are pressed outward by suitable springs,
the inner ends of these bolts when pressed inward protruding toward the carriage
to such an extent as to intercept the trippers.
Supposing the brush to be in its highest and inactive position, in which event
both cams are in a vertical position, and maintaining the brush at such elevation,
one of the trippers being also vertical and the other horizontal, as the carriage
begins its traverse in either direction the bolt which is adjacent to the vertical
tripper is pushed inward, and the tripper intercepts such bolt, and is knocked over
by it into a horizontal position, the opposite tripper being brought to an upright
position, thus removing the points of the cams from below the shelves, and per-
mitting the springs to lower the brush upon the skin to be treated.
It
If the brush is to be elevated the opposite bolt is to be pushed inward, and
intercept the opposite tripper which is in an erect position, this tripper being
knocked over, the position of the two cams reversed, and the brush elevated.
will thus be seen that without stopping the movements of the machine I am enabled
to throw out of action one or both the tools and the brush, or to bring into action
any or all these objects.
In some cases I propose to dispense with the springs arranged as stated, and
employ spiral springs placed over the brush to depress the latter, and provide means
for preventing the too free turning of the brush.
J
In order to remove from each dressing tool such foreign matter as might other-
wise adhere to and interfere with its thorough working I combine with it a
scraper, which passes over or across its working edge at each traverse of the tool
carriage, and this scraper in the present instance consists simply of a bent wire or
rod. The inner ends of tlie arns of this wire are coiled to provide springs by which
to elevate the lower portion or scraper, and the extremities of the arms are inserted
in the upper side of each tool stock. An eye is formed at each bend or corner of
the bent rod, and in these eyes I insert the ends of a rod, while through such ends
I pass the legs of a yoke, the extremities of such legs being inserted in ears
erected upon the top of each tool stock.
The outer end of each yoke terminates in a curved prong or nose, which when
the tool carriage reaches its extreme outward position wipes against the under side
of a stud which is secured to the lower end of each arm of the arched bar, the
contact of the nose with the said stud serving to lower the scraper and force it
across the edge of the tool, and thereby scrape or clean from the latter any foreign
matter which may have accumulated upon it.
I have further added to this machine a device for relieving certain portions of it
of the strain and thrusts which would ordinarily result from the crank upon the
upright shaft herein-before frequently mentioned passing its dead centre, and such
device consists in the employment in combination with the barrel or slider of two
horizontal rods affixed one to each end and upon opposite sides of such slider, each
rod projecting somewhat beyond the respective end of the slider, and being provided

page_text: at its extremity with a piston to operate in connection with an air cylinder. The
disposition of the rods, pistons, and cylinders are such that as the tool carriage
reaches its extreme outgoing position the advance piston enters the cylinder a short
distance, and encounters the air in the latter.
As the opposite or outer end of each cylinder is closed by a valve which opens
inward it follows that as the piston enters the cylinder its advance is obstructed by
the air in the latter, which air constitutes a cushion to receive and lessen the thrust
of the crank as it passes its dead centre.
As the piston reverses its movement and leaves the cylinder the valve opens and
permits of a free circulation of air through such cylinder, and obviates the noise and
relieves the gearing from the thrusts which would otherwise ensue as the piston
leaves the mouth of the latter.
I do not in any sense restrict myself to the construction of my machine as herein
described, as a great variety of changes may be made in this respect. I consider my
Invention to include in its scope the principle of a stationary table or support for
the skin, with the superdisposed operative machinery susceptible of the requisite
variable movements.
For instance, in the above description, I have explained the beam for supporting
the tool carriage as supported by a vertical truck, which latter travels upon a rail
to and fro of the table, but the beam may be hung at its rear end upon a pivot
so as to swing in the arc of a circle, and in this manner present the operating tools
to various parts of the table, though by this method I do not obtain so extended a
movement.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the. Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederic Augustus Lockwood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th January 1877.
FREDERIC AUGUSTUS LOCKWOOD, of Fall River, in the County of Bristol, in the
State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR SCOURING, SETTING, OR GLASSING LEATHER OR BEAMING HIDES."
My present improvements relate to a class of machines in which the skin or
leather is plated upon a stationary table, while the superposed operative mechanism
or dressing tools are suspended from a beam surmounting the table, the tool stock
or carrier being susceptible of a universal freedom of motion in any direction, by
which means access is readily had to all parts of the skin, my machine, as herein
shown, being distinguished from other classes which perform the same labor in that
the tool supporting carriers of the latter move in arbitrary paths of motion, while
the various movements and changes in position which are requisite to manipulate
all parts of the skin are imparted to the table which supports such skin.
Heretofore in the employment of machinery for performing the operation before
named great labor devolves upon the attendants, and the process is comparatively
slow.
My object in devising this machine has been mainly to relieve the attendant of
the constant labor and watchfulness which has heretofore been imperative, as well
as to render the machine to a great extent self-operative and more rapid in executing
its various functions.
In the machine herein shown the tool carriage is suspended from and slides upon
a rigid beam, which departs horizontally from and slides vertically within or upon
an upright truck disposed at one side of the said table, and traveling to and fro of
the latter upon suitable rails secured to the frame of the machine, and forming part
of the same, the tool carriage being swiveled to the cross head from which it is
suspended from the beam, and the arrangement of the whole being such that said
carriage is susceptible of vertical, lateral, or rotary adjusment with respect to the
table or a skin placed upon the latter.

page_text: The various mechanical details by which I effect the adjustment of the tool
carriage and dressing tools, and render the machine to an eminent degree automatic
in its functions will be herein-after duly explained.
The Drawings accompanying this Specification represent in Figure 1 (sections A
and B) a side elevation; in Figure 2, a plan; and in Figure 3, a rear elevation of a
machine embodying my improved construction.
Figure 4 is a section of the machinė above the operating table.
Figure 5 is a diagram, and Figure 6 a section of the irregular channel of the
governor wheel as developed upon a plane surface.
Figures 7 and 8 are side views, and Figure 9 a section of the end of the oscil-
lating beam, and the adjustable sleeve thereon, to be herein-after explained.
Figure 10 is a section of the air cylinder and plunger, to be explained.
Reference being had to the above-mentioned Drawings it will be seen that A
represents a horizontal table of a size to receive one or more skins, as occasion may
demand, as owing to the great range and freedom of movement of my tool carriage
I am not confined within arbitrary bounds, but am enabled to treat two or more
skins upon one table, and shift the position of the carriage from one to another, and
thus while one skin is being manipulated permit the finished one to be removed,
and a fresh one substituted, by which means I avoid the loss of time heretofore
incident to cessation of the functions of the machine while a skin is being removed,
and another supplied.
The table A is supported upon a stage B, which is erected upon the floor G of the
apartment or the foundation of the machine, whatever the latter may be, and as I
have made provision for leveling the table A, or adjusting it to sloping or irregular
floors or foundations, I have in the accompanying Drawings represented the said
floor as sloping and depressed at rear, which is desirable, in order that refuse water
and liquids may pass off.
To compensate for the inclination of the floor C I dispose the front ends of the
lower beam D of the stage B upon metallic blocks E, and I screw through the said
ends of the beam screws F to bear upon said blocks, by which means the irre-
gularities or inclinations of the table are overcome.
To further aid in the perfect adjustment of the table A. its braces or rails G may
be combined with the staging in a similar manner, and to accomplish this I form
upon one or both ends of such rails, feet H, through which screws I pass, and bear
upon the upper bars J of the stage.
In rear of the table A I dispose an upright standard or truck K, whose movements
are guided by a horizontal rail or way L secured to the rear ends of the beam D,
and parallel to the edge of said table.
Flanged wheels or trundles M are interposed between the truck K and rail L to
reduce friction, while a second series of rollers N are pivoted to the feet of the
truck, and roll upon or against the front edge of the said rail, and serve as rolling
bearings to retain the wheels M in place upon the rail L, and overcome the great
friction incident to the leverage of the truck over the upper rail as a fulcrum.
To ensure the perpendicularity of the truck K I employ a hooked clasp O, which
extends forward from the truck, and engages a ledge P erected upon the rear upper
edge of the stage B, and in connection with such clasps I pivot to the adjacent
parts of the truck antifriction rollers Q, which travel against the rear edge of the
ledge P.
The open horizontal beam or crane which supports the tool carriage is shown at R,
as composed of side beams R³, R, and suitable outer cross bars formed upon its
front and rear end with flanges or splines S to enter vertical grooves T in the inner
faces of the upper ends of the side posts U, U, of the truck K, by which means the
said beam, while assuming a horizontal position, is permitted to slide vertically
upon the truck with respect to the table Â.
To effect the requisite traverses with a comparatively slow movement, in either
direction of the truck, upon the rail L, in order that the dressing tools may while
in active operation be presented to any and all parts of the skin or skins which

page_text: may be upon the table A, I secure to the rear side of the stage B and below the
level of said table a horizontal toothed rack V, and engaging this rack I employ a
barrel pinion W which is secured to the lower end of a vertical rod X, which in
turn is mounted in bearings Y, Z, at top and bottom of the truck K, the upper
bearings Y being a horizontal cross bar or shelf which unites the upper portions or
the side posts of the trucks. To the upper extremity of the rod X I affix a beveled
geer a which engages a beveled pinion b in turn affixed to the inner end of a short
horizontal shaft c, such shaft being supported in a furcated standard & erected upon
the cross bar Y before named, and in the present instance to the right of the rod x
looking from the front of the table A.
To the opposite or outer end of the shaft c which protrudes through the adjacent
beam RI affix a beveled geer e which at the bottom engages a beveled pinion f
affixed to or making part of a sleeve or tube g which is mounted loosely upon the
lower part of an upright clutch shaft h, such shaft being supported in bearings i, j,
projecting laterally from the outer side of the said beam R', and provided at its
upper extremity with a pulley Z.
A second beveled pinion m making part of a sleeve n engages the upper part of
the geer e, and like its counterpart (the pinion f) is mounted loosely upon the
shaft, the adjacent ends of the two sleeves g and n being toothed or otherwise
fashioned to intercept and lock to an intermediate similarly formed sleeve or tubular
slider o which encompasses and slides loosely but does not rotate upon the shaft h,
and serves to transmit the rotations of the shaft to one or the other of the pinions g
and n, according to the direction the beam R is to travel over the skin, or to remain
neutral between them when the skin is to be operated upon continuously in one
sport or not at all.
To effect the adjustment or shipping of the intermediate slider ó I employ a long
shipper rod 2, which is pivoted approximately near its center to the outer side of
the beam R, and straddles at its rear end the said slider, while its front end is bent
into an arm or spur 7 which enters a continuous groove or channel » created in the
periphery of a horizontal disk or hub s, such disk or hub being affixed to the lower
end of a spindle t which is mounted in bearings w, v, secured to the front end of
the beams R³, R*, which constitute the main part of such beam, the said disk being
situated preferably at the center of the said beam R and in a line with the axis of
rotation of the tool carriage.
The front of the groove or channel is very peculiar, and is shown in the
developments which constitute Figures 5 and 6 of the Drawings. As shown in
such Figures the channel is composed of a general neutral passage or portion
which is concentric with the periphery of the disk and occupies its greater part;
the disposition of this neutral passage with respect to the shipper rod p, slider o,
and geer e, being such that when the spur q of each rod is in such passage the
slider is intermediate between the sleeves g and m, and consequently the rotations
of the shaft h have no effect upon the geer and the truck and tool carriage remain
stationary with respect to the table.
The channel further embraces two portions or turn-outs ม and each of which
departs from the neutral passage x to such an extent as to elevate or depress the
front end of the shipper rod p sufficiently to force the slider o into engagement with
and clutch one or the other of the sleeves g and n.
the
It will be seen on careful examination of the construction of this channel 7 that
starting from the neutral intermediate point a between the turn outs y and
spur g of the shipper rod can enter either of the turn-outs only from one direction,
as the entrance to the latter is stopped upon either side of central-disposed gates b¹, b₁,
by sloping steps or inclined planes c, d. My object in this is that the position of
the shipper, when the latter is in its normal position (that is, when its spur q is
situated in the intermediate passage a¹), may be instantly changed, and by clutching
the slider o to oue or the other of the sleeves g or n cause the dressing tools to
instantly move over the skin.
In order to obtain a clear understanding of the operation of this portion of my

page_text: improvements attention is called to the fact that the turn-out y actuates the shipper
in such a direction as to cause the beam R and tool carriage to travel to the right,
while the opposite or twin turn-out z causes the said truck and carriage to travel to
the left. Bearing this in mind the operation of the parts, as hereafter stated, will
be readily understood.
As I propose to employ, for purposes hereafter stated, a second shipping apparatus
disposed upon the opposite side of the beam R, I desire that the disk s shall operate
both rods by reversing the position of such disk, that is to say, rotating it through
180 degrees of a circle, so that the turn-outs y and z shall operate the second
shipper rod.
As it is imperative that the shipper rod p shall remain in an idle or neutral
position while the opposite rod is acted upon I employ the neutral passage x, and as
I prefer that the movement of either shipper rod in the act of shipping the slider o
shall commence only when the spur of such rod is intermediate between the turn-
outs Y and 2, in order that I may lower or raise the rod according to the direction
in which I desire to move the tool carriage, I employ the sloping steps c¹, d', in
order that the spur of the rod may, when the disk is turned in one direction, ride
over such sloping steps; but for this or an equivalent arrangement the spur of the
shipper rod would, while the turn-outs are being brought into position to act upon
it after leaving the opposite rod, be liable to enter the wrong one and start the tool
carriage in the wrong direction.
By allowing the shipping of the rod to be accomplished only from the point
intermediate between the two turn-outs I avoid what would otherwise be serious
objections, since the dressing tools might inadvertently be caused to act upon a
portion of a skin which was already sufficiently manipulated. We thus see that the
operator by simply turning the hand disks is enabled with little exertion to
completely control the movements of the tool carriage to and fro of the table from
right to left, or vice versa.
When a large skin is to be manipulated it will frequently occur that the tool
carriage may be allowed to travel over and act upon the skin without the attendance
of the operator, thus enabling the latter, while such movement is taking place, to
remove the skin which may have been completed and substitute a fresh one..
Should the operator allow the carriage to travel too far serious results would
follow, and to guard against such results I employ a means of arresting the move-
ment of the said carriage when it has reached the extreme point to which it is
desirable it should move; and in furtherance of this object I provide a horizontal
shipper lever e¹, which I pivot at about its center to the lower bearing j of the
shaft h, the inner end of such lever being pivoted to the rear extremity of a
horizontal rod f1, which is disposed between the beams R³, R', and extends forward
into close proximity to the hand wheel or disk 8.
When the hand wheels is adjusted to bring the shipper rod p into the turn-out y
the truck K begins to travel to the right, and continues this movement without
further attention on the part of the operator until the outer or free end g¹ of the
lever e arrives at and abuts against a post ¹ crected at the right of the table A,
when a continued movement of the truck turns such lever upon its fulcrum, and in
so doing drives forward the rod f¹ which abuts against a spur i of the hand wheel 8,
and rotates the latter upon the axis to such an extent that its neutral passage
point a¹ embraces the end of the shipper rod, the sleeve o is released from engage-
ment with the sleeve n, and the rotations of the geer e cease and the travel of the
tool carriage is arrested.
If but one shipping apparatus were employed the long neutral passage x in the
hand wheel would be unnecessary, and in the present instance its purpose is only
to receive the end of the shipper rod and retain the latter in an inoperative position
while the turn-outs are being brought into a position while the turn-outs are being
brought into a position to act upon the opposite rod.
The shipping mechanism which I have already described is to control the move-
ments of the tool carriage and tools with a slow movement in order to operate to

page_text: the best advantage upon a skin; and as it is very desirable that comparatively.
rapid movements should be imparted to such carriage while it is being brought
into position to act upon a skin, or while moving from a finished skin to a fresh
one, I employ a second shipping mechanism to effect such rapid movement. This
second mechanism is a counterpart of the first in detail and operation, and is
disposed upon the opposite side of the beam R, and consists of a beveled pinion 66,
short horizontal shaft c", furcated standard d', beveled gear e, beveled pinion fo
sleeve, clutch shaft h, bearings ", pulley ", second beveled pinion mo, and
sleeve, tubular slider oº, shipper rod 2, and its spur q, shipper lever e', and rod ƒ7.
As the operation of this second shipping mechanism is precisely similar to the
first, it is believed it will be readily understood without further explanation; and
I would merely add that the pulley is of much less diameter than that of the
pulley 1, in order that the respective movements of the tool carriage and truck may
be correspondingly rapid.
To effect the vertical adjustment of the beam R and tool carriage and tools,
and thus adapt the latter to act with equal effect upon skins of varying thick-
nesses, I employ an eccentric j₁ which I pivot to a start ³, projecting from
the rear end of the beam R, and bearing upon a roller pivoted to the top of the
cross bar Y before alluded to. The pivot of the eccentric j¹ is a short horizontal
shaft m', which passes through the start ¹ and bears at one end a beveled gear n¹
which engages a beveled pinion o¹, which in turn is affixed to the rear end of a
long horizontal shaft p¹, which is disposed within the upper part of the trussed
beam R and protrudes through the front end of the latter where it is provided with
a hand, wheel g¹, by which its rotations are readily effected. By turning the hand
wheel q' in one or the other direction the beam R and the tool carriage and tools
are raised and lowered at pleasure.
To effect the requisite traverses of the tool carriage to and fro of the beam R,
which are necessary to enable the dressing tools carried by the carriage to reach
and operate upon all parts of a skin, I proceed as follows:-The main support of
the tool carriage is an arched or trussed beam or yoke ¹, which is suspended at its
crown or center from the lower end of an upright shaft s¹, such shaft in turn
depending from the center of a cross head or carriage t¹ which slides within the
bean R upon suitable guides or ways u², u, applied to the inner sides of the latter,
while the shaft near its lower part revolves in a hanger v¹ depending from the
beam R.
gear b
To the upper and lower part of the shaft s¹ I mount loosely a sleeve w¹ or x¹,
upon each of which I form beveled pinions y¹ or ¹, while alongside the said shaft,
and capable of engaging these pinions, I pivot upon a horizontal shaft a² a beveled
Between the sleeves w¹, x¹, and encompassing the shaft s¹, I dispose a
tubular slider c², the arrangement and operation of shafts &¹ and a² and pinions y¹, ¹,
gear b, sleeves w¹, 1, and slider c, being precisely the same as that of the shafts c
and h, pinions f and m, gear e, sleeves g and n, and slider o before referred to as
a portion of the mechanism for effecting the lateral traverses of the truck K.
To the outside of the gear bº I affix a toothed pinion d² which engages a hori-
zontal toothed rack e², extending from end to end of the beam R; while swiveled
at one end to the slider c² I employ a Ț shaped lever or shipper f2 which is pivoted
at its bend, as shown at g² to a bracket ³, projecting forward from the front side
of the cross head t¹, the lower arm or handle of such lever straddling a rigid
arm which extends forward horizontally from an annular frame or plate up-
held by the hanger v¹ before referred to, a friction shoe 2 being applied to the lever
and impinging against the arm to prevent accidental misplacement of such arm or
clandestine engagement of the slider c² with one or the other of the sleeves w³, 1.
The shafts being in rotation by means of a pulley p² affixed to its upper end,
it is obvious that when the lower arm or handle
by the attendant the slider c will be thrown
sleeve w¹, consequently the gear 62 and pinion d
of the lever f is pushed outward
into engagement with the upper
will be rotated, and the latter

page_text: act upon the rack e² to drive the latter and the tool carriage forward upon the
beam R, while a reverse movement of the handle will reverse the movement of
said pinion and gear, and the tool carriage will be moved in an opposite direction,
the friction of the said handle upon the arm being sufficient to retain the slider
in contact with the pinion which it engages.
When the slider c³ is in engagement with one or the other of the sleeves w¹, x¹,
the tool carriage will travel automatically along the beam; and to estop this move-
ment as the carriage reaches its extreme position in either direction, should the
attendant fail to do so by changing the shipper, provide a means of automatically
effecting the requisite throw of the shipper, which means, in the present instance,
consist in the employment of two horizontal rods or bars m, n, which extend
inward from each end of the beam R and approach within a short distance of the
finger o² of the lever f2. The rods m³, n³, are so arranged that as the tool
carriage A approaches its extremo position in either direction the finger o² abuts
against one or the other of the said rods, and the continued movement of the carriage
moves the lever upon its fulcrum until the slider c² is removed from engagement
with the sleeve wl or xl, as the case may be.
The driving pulley from which the machine derives motion is shown at q² as
mounted upon a shaft, within an open frame or head s", disposed upon the top
of a post t2, bolted to and forming part of the table frame at the left end, the
rotations of such pulley being imparted to a beveled gear u² affixed to the outer
end of said shaft, and engaging a second beveled gear w³, which, in turn, is affixed
to an upright stud erected upon the top of the open head 82 before named, a
pulley being secured to or making part of the last-named gear w².
An idle pulley is pivoted to the top of the post before named, as erected at
the right of the table A, the purpose in securing this standard a³ and the head 8°
to their respective posts being to render them interchangeable and permit the
driving power to be placed upon either side of the machine, while the method of
securing the head & adjustably to its support is to enable the angle of the driving
pulley to be changed at pleasure and adapt it to the position of the pulley from
which it derives power. The pulley also serves as a belt tightener as its position
with respect to the pulley y' is easily changed.
At various positions upon the top of the beam R I pivot idle pulleys or rollers,
these latter being shown in Figure 2 of the Drawings at bs, cs, d³, and e³, and serving
in connection with the pulleys l, p, q, y, and z to enable me to drive the entire
machine with one belt. This belt is shown at f³ as passing about the series of
pulleys in the order shown in Figure 2 of the Drawings, by which means the
pulleys, p, q, and y2 are rotated in the direction of their arrows.
I will now describe the mechanism immediately connected with or composing the
tool operating agencies. To the extreme lower end of the shaft s¹ I affix à crank g³,
to the pendent wrist pin of which crank I pivot a horizontal spur gear h³, which
constitutes an epicycle, and travels within and engages an annular toothed rack or
epicycloidal wheel 23, which in turn is upheld by a horizontal ring plate j³ secured
to the arched bar 71, and disposed concentrically with the axis of the shaft s¹. From
the under side of the gear or epicycle h³, and near its periphery, depends a stud ³,
while pivoted or swiveled at its upper end to this stud is an upright post m³,
erected centrally upon a barrel or tubular slider n³, which encompasses and slides
to and fro upon a horizontal rod or beam o³ spanning the arms of the arched
bar ¹.
As the dressing tools which operate upon the skin, and which are shown at p³, p³,
are carried by the slider n³, and as the latter is caused by the epicycloidal wheels h³
and to travel upon the beam o³ in reciprocating rectilinear paths of movement in
a horizontal plane, the tools are compelled to travel over and wipe upon the skin in
a right line, while the rotary motion of which the arched support is susceptible
combines to permit of a universal freedom of motion to the tools in any direction.
The upper part of the arched bar is provided with a semicircular plate q³,

page_text: which is received within a rabbet in the under side of the ring plate j³, and is
formed with notches, while operating with these notches is a spring latch s³,
pivoted to the arm 2, herein-before referred to as extending forward from the said
ring plate j. In connection with this spring latch & I employ a bent lever or catch
bar t, which is pivoted at its bend to the front end of the said arm, and has its
upper end converted into a hook to seizo hold of the said latch and prevent it
from engaging the notches
When it becomes desirable to change the path of motion or angle with which the
tools act upon a skin, the operator depresses the handle of the latch and removes it
from the notch 2, in which it may at the same time be, when it is seized by the
catch bar t, and retained in this position. The operator is now enabled to readily
turn the tool carriage and tools about in the arc of a circle, and permit such tools
to act upon the skin in any desired direction.
When it is desired that the tools shall describe a number of strokes in any one
direction, the catch bar t is raised and the latch is elevated by a spring v³ inter-
posed between the two, and forced into one of the notches 73.
The tool carriers or stocks are two in number, in order that the machine may be
double acting, that is, operate upon a skin with equal effect at each traverse of the
tool-supporting carriage, and are shown at w³, ³, respectively, each being suspended
from and pivoted at its inner corner or edge to one end of the barrel or slider n
before named; and in order that each backward going tool may be lifted from off
the skin while the opposite tool is acting upon the latter, each tool stock has pivoted
to its outer edge by a pivot 68 the lower end of a rod y3, the upper end of which is
pivoted by a pin-and-slot connection 23, 7, to the outer end of a sleeve at, which
encompasses the adjacent end of an oscillating beam *, such beam being disposed
longitudinally over the barrel n³, and pivoted at its center to the post m³ of such
barrel by a pivot c'
The pivot bs, by which each tool carrier is connected with its rod y³, plays within
a vertical slot d', created in such rod in order that some play may be permitted the
tool in passing over inequalities in the skin, and thus preserve the adjacent parts of
the machine from the undue thrusts and strains to which they would otherwise bo
liable, a spring e being combined with each rod and tool carrier to retain the latter
in close contact with the skin, and aid in relieving the thrusts and strains before
alluded to.
As the oscillating beam b* must tilt from one sloping position to the other with
each traverse of the tool-supporting barrel or slider n³, it becomes necessary to pro-
vide a means of alternately locking such beam in position while one traverse is
being made and one tool is acting upon the skin, and when such traverse is com-
pleted, of unlocking or releasing the said beam, and permit it to change its position
and lower the opposite tool into contact with the skin, and at the same time elevate
from off such skin the tool which has completed its traverse. To effect this result I
employ a horizontal annular cam plate or ring f, which is affixed to the under side.
of the epicycle or gear h³, and concentric with the stud 13 before named, the under
surface or side of the ring f' being deeper upon one half than the other, as shown
at g, h, and operating in connection with rigid studs i, j, erected upon the oscil-
lating beam b, the disposition of the deepest portion or cam g with respect to the
other portions of the tool operating mechanism being such that as the slider n³
reaches its extreme position in one direction, and the out-going tool arrives at its
extreme limit, the said cam g' recedes from the adjacent stud or j, and permits
that end of the beam to rise, and at the same time wipes against the opposite stud
and depresses the end of the beam upon which the latter is erected. The value of
this cam movement for effecting the oscillations of the beam b' is seen in the fact
that it is simple, durable, and inexpensive, certain in operation, and noiseless.
In order that the operator may, while the machine is in motion, elevate either of
the dressing tools to such an extent as to raise it above the skin during its out-
going movement, or to lower it into action thereupon, and thus cause a cessation of

page_text: the operation of the machine or put into operation, I extend the ends of each
pivot into slots, which incline outwardly, and are created in the ends of each
sleeve a. By pushing in either of the sleeves at upon b, the inclined slots j' act
upon the adjacent pivots 27 to elevate the rod y and dressing tool, while an outward
movement of the slider upon the beam lowers the tool into action.
To enable the operator to readily effect these movements of the sleeves a¹, I
dispose upon each side of and in the same plane with the beam ba horizontal
rail, which is supported at each end by a hanger depending from the ring plate
before alluded to, and I combine with each rail two horizontal bolts m, each of
such bolts being forced outwardly by a spring n", and being so arranged that when
one is pushed inward by the attendant, its inner end shall protrude beyond the inner
face of the rail, and so as to intercept a stud o projecting outwardly from the side
of each slider.
Supposing one tool to be in its depressed or working position, and effecting its
outgoing or active movement, and it is desired to raise it out of action, the
attendant in such case pushes inward the bolt which may be in advance of and
nearest to the stud projecting from the adjacent sleeve o, and as the slider or
carrier completes its traverse this stud is intercepted by the bolt, and pushed
inward upon the oscillating beam * to its fullest extent, the result being, as before
stated, that the inclined slot acts upon the pivot 27 to elevate the rod y³, and the
outer or working edge of the dressing tool.
Should it be desired to lower said tool into working position, advantage should
be taken, preferably, of the point in the outgoing traverse of the slider n when the
latter has nearly completed its movement, at which time the bolt last named is
again pushed inward, and as the slider completes its traverse in this direction the
stud upon the sleeve is intercepted by the bolt and pushed outward upon the
beam and the rod y³, and the adjacent tool lowered.
In order that each bolt may be readily operated from the opposite side of the tool
carriage I connect with each a rod g, which extends across such carriage, and is
provided with a handle h at its extremity.
As one of the functions to be performed by this machine is that of scouring
leather I employ in addition to the other tools a brush, which is disposed
intermediate between such tools, and centrally of the carriage, and is suspended
from such carriage by side cheeks, which slide in guides forward upon the sides of
the carriage, the brush being depressed toward or upon the table of the machine by
springs applied in a proper manner, and being susceptible of vertical adjustment
in order to bring it into action upon a skin, or retain it in a position above the
same.
To effect this vertical adjustment of the brush at such times as the machine may
be in operation, I mount upon cach end of a horizontal shaft which passes through
the carriage a double pointed wiper cam, which wipes against the under side of a
shelf which constitutes the upper part of each cheek, while to the outer face of each
cam I affix a double ended lever or tripper.
The longest axes of the two cams are in a common plane, but the axes of the
trippers are at right angles to each other, consequently the longest plane of onc
tripper is parallel to that of a cam to which it is attached, and that of the opposite
tripper at right angles to its cam.
Below the under side of the ring plate and diagonally upon opposite sides of the
rails I dispose two horizontal bolts, which are pressed outward by suitable springs,
the inner ends of these bolts when pressed inward protruding toward the carriage
to such an extent as to intercept the trippers.
Supposing the brush to be in its highest and inactive position, in which event
both cams are in a vertical position, and maintaining the brush at such elevation,
one of the trippers being also vertical and the other horizontal, as the carriage
begins its traverse in either direction the bolt which is adjacent to the vertical
trippers is pushed inward, and the trippers intercept such bolt and are knocked over

page_text: by it into a horizontal position, the opposite tripper being brought to an upright
position, thus removing the points of the cams from below the shelves, and
permitting the spring to lower the brush upon the skin to be treated.
If the brush is to be elevated the opposite bolt is to be pushed inward and
intercept the opposite tripper, which is in an erect position, this tripper being
knocked over, the position of the two cams reversed, and the brush elevated. It
will thus be seen that without stopping the movements of the machine I am
enabled to throw out of use one or both the tools and the brush, or to bring into
action any or all these objects.
In some cases I propose to dispense with the spring arranged as stated, and
employ spiral springs placed over the brush to depress the latter, and to prevent too
free turning of the brush and retain it in a given position, I allow the point of
the cam 68 to enter a notch in the outer end of the head or bar o from which the
brush is suspended.
In order to remove from each dressing tool such foreign matter as might otherwise
adhere to and interfere with its thorough working I combine with it a scraper,
which passes over or across its working edge at each traverse of the tool carriage;
and this scraper in the present instance consists simply of a wire or rod q* bent
into the form shown in perspective in Figure 4 of the Drawings. The inner ends
of the arms, of this wire are coiled, as shown at 81 to provide springs by
which to elevate the lower portion or scraper t, and the extremities of the arm
are inserted in the upper side of cach tool stock w³ or x³. An eye is formed at
each bend or corner of the rod 7%, and in these eyes I insert the ends of a rod w³,
while through such ends I pass the legs of a yoke y, the extremities of such
legs being inserted in ears, erected upon the top of each tool stock.
The outer end of each yoke terminates in curved prong or nose a³, which when
the tool carriage reaches its extreme outward position wipes against the under side
of a stud b, which is secured to the lower end of each arm of the arched bar, the
contact of the nose with the said stud serving to lower the scraper t and force it
across the edge of the tool, and thereby scrape or clean from the latter any foreign
matter which may have accumulated upon it.
I have further added to this machine a device for relieving certain portions of it
of the strain and thrusts which would ordinarily result from the crank ³ passing
its dead center; and such device consists in the employment in combination with
the barrel or slider n³ of two horizontal rods e affixed one to each end and upon
opposite sides of such slider, each rod projecting somewhat beyond the respective
end of the slider, and being provided at its extremity with a piston d³ to operate
in connection with an air cylinder e secured to the lower part of the adjacent arm
of the arched standard. The disposition of the rods c³, pistons d³, and cylinders es
is such that as the tool carriage reaches its extreme outgoing position the advance
piston enters the cylinder a short distance and encounters the air in the latter.
As the opposite or outer end of each cylinder eo is closed by a valve f³ which
opens inward it follows that as the piston enters the cylinder its advance is
obstructed by the air in the latter, which air constitutes a cushion to receive and
lessen the thrust of the crank g³ as it passes its dead center.
As the piston reverses its movement and leaves the cylinder the valve f opens
and permits of a free circulation of air through such cylinder, and obviates the
noise, and relieves the gearing from the thrusts which would otherwise ensue as
the piston leaves the mouth of the latter.
I do not in any sense restrict myself to the construction of my machine as herein
described, as a great variety of changes may be made in this respect. I consider
my Invention to include in its scope the principle of a stationary table or support
for the skins with the superdisposed operative mechanism susceptible of the requisite
variable movements. For instance, in the above description I have explained the
beam for supporting the tool carriage as supported by a vertical truck, which latter
travels upon a rail to and fro of the table, but the beam may be hung at its rear
end upon a pivot so as to swing in the arc of a circle, and in this manner present

page_text: CLAIMS.
First. In machinery for scouring, glassing, or setting leather or beaming hides, a
tool carrier or stock, and a table or bed for supporting the skin to be operated upon
under such an arrangement that the variable movements whereby the tools are
caused to travel over the skin are imparted to the tool carrier or stock in lieu of the
table, substantially as and for purposes stated.
Second. In machinery for purposes herein described the combination of an open
or slotted crane swinging in the arc of a circle or otherwise moving and a carriage
capable of traversing such crane and constituting the suspensory of the tool sup-
porting carriage or frame, substantially as and for purposes stated.
Third. In machinery for scouring, setting, or glassing leather or beaming hides
the combination with the table A of the upright truck or its equivalent bearing
the tool operating mechanism and traveling to and fro of said table, substantially
as and for purposes stated.
Fourth. In machinery for scouring, setting, or glassing leather or beaming hides
the combination with the skin supporting table of a rigid horizontal beam, supported
at one end and susceptible or not of variable or adjustable movements in right
lines vertically or horizontally, bearing a tool carriage, substantially as and for
purposes stated.
-
Fifth. In machinery for scouring, setting, or glassing leather or beaming hides
the combination with a stationary skin supporting table of a horizontal rigid beam
overhanging the table and an upright truck, or its equivalent, disposed to one side
of the latter, the beam carrying the tool carriage and being supported by and
sliding vertically upon the truck, and the latter susceptible of traverses to and fro
of the table upon suitable rails or ways, substantially as and for purposes stated.
Sixth. In machinery for scouring, setting, or glassing leather or beaming hides
automatic or power-driven feed, substantially as herein described, or its equivalent,
whereby the operating tools are caused to travel over the table in the various
directions required at equal or variable speeds, essentially as and for purposes
stated.
Seventh. The combination with the various elements of the machine as herein
organized of mechanism, substantially as described, for automatically estopping the
travel of the tool carriage or beam, essentially as and for purposes stated.
Eighth. The method of mounting or supporting the table A, substantially as
shown in the employment of the screws I or F, whereby the stage or support of
such table is adapted to inclined or irregular floors or foundations, and the table is
adjustable with respect to the plane in which the tools move, essentially as and for
purposes stated.
Ninth. In machinery for scouring, setting, or glassing leather or beaming hides
the combination with the work supporting table or bed of a tool carrier or stock
and its driving mechanism vertically adjustable with respect to the table, sub-
stantially as and for purposes stated.
Tenth. The combination of active and idle pulleys l, p², 2², y², b³, e³, d³, and ³,
substantially as shown, whereby the tools may be operated in different positions
with respect to the table with one belt in addition to the belt of the driving
pulley, essentially as and for purposes stated.
Eleventh. The combination of the pulleys 22 and 2 with the standards or
columns and t², substantially as herein shown, whereby the positions or angles
of such pulleys are readily adjusted, and they become interchangeable with respect
to each other and to the machine, essentially as and for purposes stated.
Twelfth. The combination with each dressing tool and its stock, or both, of a
scraper, operating automatically to remove from the working edge of the tool
accumulations of foreign matter, substantially as and for purposes stated.
Thirteenth. The combination with machinery of the class hercin-before mentioned

page_text: of air cylinders and pistons, or their equivalents, substantially as shown and
explained, whereby the thrusts and strains consequent upon the crank passing its
dead center are cushioned and lessened and the machine relieved from their effects,
essentially as and for purposes stated.
Fourteenth. In machinery for scouring, setting, or glassing leather or beaming
hides the epicycloidal wheels h³, 13, for imparting reciprocating rectilinear motions
to the tool stock in a horizontal plane from the rotary motion of the driving shaft,
substantially as and for purposes stated.
Fifteenth. In machinery for scouring, setting, or glassing leather or beaming
hides the combination with the tools or tool holders of an annular cam, arranged
and operating to oscillate or alternately elevate and depress the tools, substantially
as and for purposes stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Augustus Lockwood, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of November, 1876.