Improvements in Machines for Unhairing and Green-shaving Hides and Skins.
Year: 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Unhairing and Green-shaving Hides
and Skins.
I, JOSEPH WARREN VAUGHN, of Peabody in the County of Essex, State of
Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Mechanic, 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:-
My invention relates to that class of machines which are employed in the manufacture
of leather for unhairing and green-shaving the hides and skins; and it consists in a
novel construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and
claimed, by which a more effective device of this character is produced than is now in
ordinary use.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine, the table being shown in
position for receiving the hide or skin.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same, as viewed from the right.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the table detached, the parts being shown in position
for receiving the hide or skin.
Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the dotted line x, x, in Figure 1
as viewed from the right.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of the table detached, the parts being shown in the
position they assume when the table has received the hide or skin and performed its
forward movement beneath the roll.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of the machine, as viewed from the left.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of one of the arms in which the roll is mounted,
detached

page_text: Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the counter-balancing weights detached,
and
Figure 9 is a diagram showing a portion of the table enlarged.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the
drawings.
A, A, represent the stills or bed-pieces, B, C, D, E the main posts, F, G, the auxiliary.
posts, H a beam, and I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, the girders, these parts being properly
connected and constituting the body or frame-work of the machine.
Arranged longitudinally of the machine and journalled horizontally in suitable boxes
supported by the girders, M. P, is a shaft. R provided at its right-hand end (as viewed
from the front of the machine), with the large gear S, and at its left-hand end with
two arms T, U.
These arms project at right angles to the shaft are adjustably connected thereto by
clamps, 12, and provided at their outer or free ends with anti-friction rolls, 13. The
arm, T, is also provided with an anti-friction roll, 14, which is journalled on its inner
side near the outer end and adapted to strike a cam-shaped projection 15, on the outer
face of the post, B, and thereby prevent said arm from bending or springing
laterally when it strikes the cam on the shipping-bar as hereinafter described.
Mounted on the shaft R, and rigidly secured thereto, are hubs 16; and projecting
radially from said hubs, at one side thereof, are a series of spokes, 17, standing
at right angles to the shaft R, and carrying at their outer ends the segment of a
cylinder 18, which is preferably composed of iron and cast integral with the spokes and
hubs, said segment being arranged longitudinally of the machine, and in parallelisın
with the shaft R.
A series of wooden staves 19, are arranged longitudinally on the segment 18, and
secured thereto by bolts (not shown) said staves being curved laterally, or in cross-
section, to correspond with the curvature of the segment.
A coating of felt or similar material 20, is secured to the staves, and over this is
placed a covering of leather 21, to form a cushion for the hide or skin.
Pivotted at the lower ends to swing freely on the shaft R, there are two upwardly
projecting arms, 22, which are connected by a horizontally arranged bar, 23; and
secured to the outer or free ends of said arms there is a horizontally arranged cross-
bar which projects laterally towards the front of the machine to form the jaw 24.
A horizontally arranged cross-bar 25, is secured to two of the spokes 17, near the
front edge of the segment, 18, as best seen in Figure 3, said bar being provided with
a longitudinal groove or socket 26, adapted to receive the jaw, 24, said jaw and socket
constituting a clamp in which one edge of the hide or skin is grasped, as hereinafter
more fully set forth.
Each end of the bar 23 projects beyond the arms 22; and attached to the inner
face of each of the posts BD, near its upper end, there is a stop 27, the projecting
ends of said bar resting against said stops when the table is in position to receive the
hide or skin.
A vertically arranged bar 28 is rigidly secured to the spokes 17 near each end of
the segment 18, as best seen in Figures 3 and 6 the upper end of each of said bars'
being provided with a counter-balancing weight 29, and with a rubber cushion 30,
said cushions being adapted to strike stops or projections 31, secured to the rear sides
of the arms 22.
A chain 32, is secured near each end of the bar 24, as shown at 33, said chains
passing downward over the rear of the bar 23, through sheave-blocks, 34, secured to
the segment, 18, near its forward edge, and thence respectively between sheaves 35
and 36, journalled in the upper ends of the arms, 28, as best seen in Figures 3 and 5,
said chains being provided at their lower ends with weights 37, which constantly tend
to force or draw the arms, 22, forward and keep the ends of the bar 23, against the
stops 27.
Two straps, 40, are secured at, 46, to the rear of the bar 23, said straps passing in front
of a guide-roll, 41, and over pulleys, 42, mounted on a shaft, 43, which is journalled

page_text: horizontally in hangers, 44, suspended from the ceiling of the room in which the
machine is placed, said straps being provided with weights, 45, at their free ends to
maintain a constant but yielding tension on the straps, the object of said straps and
weights being to keep the hide or skin in proper position on the table as it rotates.
The guide-roll, 41, is journalled in suitable bearings (not shown) supported on the
girders, O, L.
The segment, 18, mounted on the shaft R, I, denominate, for convenience of
reference, the table V.
Pivotted at 50, on each of the girders, L and O, there is a horizontally arranged
arm, 51, said arms being respectively provided at their rear ends with weights, 52,
and jointed at their forward ends to the upper ends of rods, 53, as shown at 54, the
lower ends of said rods being jointed at, 58, to arms, 55, on a treadle-rod, 56, which
is journalled horizontally on the girders, N, Q and provided with an ordinary treadle
or foot-piece, 57.
A roll, W, mounted on a shaft, 60, is journalled horizontally in suitable boxes
disposed midway between the pivots, 50, and ends, 54, on the arms, 51, said roll being
provided with a series of long metallic flangos, 61, which start at the centre and pass
spirally around the same to either end thereof, each of said flanges being provided with
a series of short or auxiliary flanges, 62, arranged, at an angle thereto, as fully shown
in Figure 1.
The body of the roll is preferably composed of wood, and the flanges may be
secured thereto in any suitable manner. When the machine is used for unlairing,
the flanges should extend the entire length of the body of the roll, but when it is used
for green-shaving it is preferable that they should cover the central portion only or,
for instance, that portion lying between the straps, 40. The edges of the flanges
should also be sharper or more angular when used for green-shaving than when used
for unhairing.
The shaft 60, on which the roll, W, is mounted projects beyond the girders, O, L,
and is provided at the right-hand end with a sprocket-wheel, 65, and the left-hand end
with a sprocket-wheel 66.
A main-driving shaft, 67, is journalled horizontally at the rear of the machine on
the girders O, L, I, said shaft being provided at its right-hand end with a main
driving pulley, 68, a large fast pulley, 69, a smaller fast pulley, 70, and a sprocket-
wheel 71, (but partially shown) and at its left-hand end with a sprocket-wheel, 72.
The sprocket-wheel, 71, at the right-hand end of the main shaft, 67, is connected
by a chain belt, 73, with a sprocket-wheel, 65, on the right-hand end of the roll-
shaft, 60, and the sprocket-wheel, 72, at the left-hand end of said main-shaft, 67 is
connected with the sprocket-wheel, 66, on the left-hand end of said roll-shaft, by a
chain-belt, 75.
A counter-shaft, 76, is journalled horizontally near the front of the machine in
suitable boxes supported by the girders, J M, said shaft being provided at its outer
end with a small sprocket-wheel 77, and centrally with a large fast pulley, 79, a large
loose pulley, 80, a small fast pulley, 81, and a small loose pulley 82.
A horizontally arranged shaft, 83, is journalled at the rear of the machine in suitable
bearings supported on the posts, G, E, said shaft being provided at its inner end with
a pinion or small gear, 84, which intermeshes with the large gear, S; and at its outer
end with a large sprocket-wheel, 85, which is connected with the small sprocket-
wheel 77, on the counter shaft, 76, by a chain-belt 86.
The large fast pulley, 69 on the main-shaft, 67, is connected with the pulleys, 81
and 82, by a belt 87, and the small fast pulley 70 on said main shaft is connected with
the pulleys, 79 and 80 by a crossed belt, 88.
A horizontally arranged shipping-bar, 90, is fitted to work in suitable bearings on
the posts, B, D, at the front of the machine, said bar being provided at its left-hand
end with an elipsoidal cam, Y, which is so arranged as to be alternately engaged by
the arms, T, U, on the shaft R, and thereby cause said bar to slide to the right or left,
as the case may be..

page_text: A horizontally arranged rocking-shaft, 91, is journalled in suitable bearings on the
posts F, G, at the right-hand end of the machine, said shaft being provided with a
downwardly projecting arm 92, at its forward end which is jointed at its lower end,
as shown at 93, to one end of a pitman-rod, 94, the opposite end of said rod being
pivotted at, 95, to the shipping-bar 90.
A downwardly projecting arm 96, is secured to the rocking-shaft, 91, at the rear of
the post, F, and pivotted to the lower end of said shaft there is a shipping-bar, 97
arranged in parallelism with the bar, 90, and provided with a stud, 98, which projects
from said bar at the left-hand side of the crossed belt, 88.
An upwardly projecting arm, 99, is also secured centrally on the rocking-shaft 91 ;
and jointed to the upper end of said arm, as shown at 100, there is a rod, 101, which
is jointed at its inner end, as shown at 102, to a vertically arranged shipping bar, 103,
pivotted in a bracket 104, on the girder J, said bar being provided at its lower end
with studs 105, in the usual manner, between which the belt 87, runs.
A vertically arranged shipping-lever, 106 provided with a handle, 107, at its upper
end is pivotted at 108, to a cross-bar, 109, the lower end of said lever being jointed to
the shipping-bar, 90, as shown at 110.
A cross bar 112 (a portion of which is represented as broken away) is secured to
the posts, F, D; and pivotted to said bar at 113, there is a lever 114, provided at its
upper end with a handle, 115, and at its lower end with studs, 116, in the usual
manner, between which the crossed belt, 88, runs, the hand-levers, 114, and, 106,
being designed for shipping the belts by hand, when necessary.
A stop, 120, is secured to the framework of the machine beneath the rear end of
each of the arms, 51, to prevent said arms from dropping too low; and there are also
adjustable stops or plates, 125, secured to the tops of the girders, L, O, beneath the
forward ends of said arms to regulate the descent stop of the roller, or stop it at
any desired point in, its downward movement when pressure is applied by the
treadle 57.
In the use of my improved machine, the hide or skin to be operated upon is placed
on the table V, with one of its ends or sides slightly over hanging the bar 25, at the
forward or upper edge of said table.
Power is then applied to the main driving pulley 68, and the crossed belt, 88,
shipped from the loose pulley, 80 onto the fast pulley 79, by the hand-lever, 114,
thereby causing the table, V, to be revolved from the front towards the rear of the
machine.
The bar, 23, being forcibly held against the stops, 27, by the weights 37, and
chains 32, when the table V has proceeded far enough towards the rear to engage the
jaw, 24 that portion of the hide or skin which overhangs the bar, 25, will be forced by
said jaw into the groove 26, and thereby firmly clamped.
The roll, W, is now caused to press on the hide by means of the treadle, 57, said
roll being revolved in a direction opposite to that in which the table is revolving or in
such a direction as to oppose the passage of the hide or skin beneath it, thereby
unhairing or green-shaving it, as the case may be, in a manner which will be readily
obvious without a more explicit description.
When the table has revolved far enough to submit all portions of the hide or skin
to the action of the roll W, the arm U, will be brought into contact with the outer
edge of the cam, Y, on the shipper bar 90, thereby causing said bar to slide to the
right and ship the belt, 88, onto the loose pulley, 80, and the belt 87, onto the fast
pulley, 81, thus causing the movement of the table to be reversed.
The foot of the workman is now removed from the treadle, 57, thereby permitting the
weights 52, on the arms 51, to raise the roll W, out of contact with the hide or skin and
as the table continues to revolve towards the front the bar 23, on the arms, 22, is
again brought into contact with the stops 27, at the front ends of the girders O, L,
thereby stopping the advance of said arms. The table, however, continues to advance
a short distance, or until the cushions, 30, on the arms 28, strike the stops or
projections, 31, on the arms 22, the jaw 24, in the meantime being withdrawn from

page_text: the socket or groove, 26, and the hide or skin released, after which it is removed and
replaced by another preparatory to repeating the operation.
When the table V is returning after the hide or skin has been advanced beneath
the roll W, as described the arm T is brought into contact with the inner edge of the
cam Y, and the bar 90, moved to the left, thereby shipping the belt, 87, onto the loose
pulley, 82, at the moment the table reaches its normal position, said cam being also
brought thereby into proper position to be again acted upon by the arm U as before
described.
The hand-shipping lever 106, enables the movements of the table to be reversed by
the workman at any desired point without waiting for the automatic shipping of the
belt 87, by the action of the arm, U, on the cam, Y, as described.
As the table V, rotates from front to rear the straps 40, are wrapped around the
hide or skin at the rear of the roll W thereby keeping it in position and preventing it
from dropping from the table at the rear of the machine when the table is in the position
shown in Figure 5, the straps being kept taut by the weights, 45, during both the
advance and return movements of the table.
I do not confine myself to the use of a clamp constructed precisely as shown and
described for securing the hide or skin to the table, as any suitable device for that
purpose may be employed. Neither do I confine myself to the specific devices shown
and described, for shipping the belts; nor to the use of a roll, W, constructed in any
special manner, as any suitable roll may be employed for scraping or shaving the hide
or skin, as the case may be ; nor to constructing the table in the manner shown and
described, although I deem the same preferable.
Neither do I confine myself to using a semi-cylindrical table, as a cylindrical table or
roll for holding the hide or skin may be employed if provided with suitable means for
clamping or securing the hide or skin thereon; nor to the use of a treadle for causing
the scrapers or cutters on the roll W to press on the hide or skin as the table rotates,
as any suitable mechanism for that purpose may be employed. The table may also be
provided with means for moving it towards the roll, W, to press the hide or skin
against the scrapers or cutters, instead of moving said roll towards the table, if
preferred, without departing from the spirit of my invention. A spring or springs
may be used in place of the cords 32, and weights 37, if desired. The groove in the
bar 25, may also be omitted. Either of the stops 31 or 32 may be omitted by
increasing the size of the other; or said stops may be transposed if desired.
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 :-
First. In a machine for unhairing or green-shaving hides or skins, the combination
of a rotary table; means for securing a hide or skin to said table; a journalled roll
provided peripherally with scrapers or cutters; means for causing said scrapers or
cutters to press against a hide or skin on said table; and operative mechanism for the
table and roll, substantially as described.
Second. In a machine for unhairing or green-shaving hides or skins, the combination
of a rotary table; means for securing a hide or skin to said table; a journalled roll
provided peripherally with scrapers or cutters; means for causing said scrapers or
cutters to press against a hide or skin on said table; means for reversing the
movements of the table; and operative mechanism for the table and roll substantially
as set forth.
Third. In a machine for unhairing or green-shaving hides or skins, the combination
of a rotary table; incans for securing a hide or skin to said table; a journalled roll
provided peripherally with scrapers or cutters; means for causing said scrapers or
cutters to press against a hide or skin on said table; means for reversing the
movements of the table; means for moving the scrapers or cutters away from the
hide or skin; and operative mechanism for the table and roll, substantially as
-described.
Fourth. In a machine for unhairing or green-shaving hides or skins, the combination

page_text: of a rotary table; means for automatically securing a hide or skin to said table; a
journalled roll provided peripherally with scrapers or cutters; means for cutting said
scrapers or cutters to press against the hide or skin; and operative mechanism for the
table and roll, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. In a machine for unbairing or green-shaving hides or skins, a rotary table
means for automatically securing a hide or skin to said table; means for automatically
releasing a hide or skin from said table; a journalled roll provided peripherally with
scrapers or cutters; means for causing such scrapers or cutters to press against a hide
or skin ou said table; and operative mechanism for the table and roll, substantially as
described.
Sixth. In a machine for unhairing or green-shaving hides or skins, a rotary table;
means for automatically securing a hide or skin to said table; means for automatically
releasing a hide or skin from said table; a journalled roll provided peripherally with
scrapers or cutters; means for causing said scrapers or cutters to press against a hide
or skin on said table; means for reversing the movement of said table; means for
moving said scrapers or cutters away from the hide or skin; and operative mechanism
for the table and roll, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. In a machine for unhairing or green-shaving hides or skins, the combination
of a frame-work or body; a semi-cylindrical table journalled horizontally in said body;
a roll provided with scrapers or cutters and journalled in parallelism with said table in
pivoted arms mounted on said body; a clamping mechanism for automatically
securing the hide or skin to said table; means for automatically releasing the hide or
skin from said table; a treadle mechanism for depressing said roll and exerting a
pressure on a hide or skin disposed on said table; means for elevating said roll or
moving it away from said table; an automatic shipping mechanism adapted to reverse
the movements of the table and stop it when it has returned to its normal
position; and a hand-shipping mechanism for starting the machine substantially as
described.
Eighth. In a machine of the character described, the pivotted arms, 22, provided
with the jaw, 24, in combination with the bar, 25, a stop for said arms, and means for
forcing said jaw against the hide or skin to clamp or secure it to the table, substantially
as set forth.
Ninth. In a machine of the character described, the pivoted arms, 22, provided with
the jaw, 24, and bar, 23, in combination with the grooved bar 25, cords 32, weights, 37,
and stops 27, substantially as described.
Tenth. In a machine of the character described, the arms, 28, provided with stops 30,
in combination with the stops, 27, and pivoted arms, 22, provided with the stops, 31,
and bar, 23, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. In a machine of the character described, the table, V, having the
segment, 18, provided with the staves, 19 and covered with felt, 20, and leather, 21,
substantially as described.
Twelfth. In a machine of the character described, the straps, 40, provided with the
weights, 45, in combination with the pulleys, 42, and table, V, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
Thirteenth. In a machine of the character described, the arms, T U, mounted on
the shaft, R, in combination with the shipping bar, 90, provided with the cam Y,
substantially as set forth.
Fourteenth. The roll, W, journaled in the pivoted arms, 51, provided with the
weights, 52, in combination with the treadle mechanism for depressing said roll and
causing it to press on a hide on the table, V, substantially as described.
Fifteenth. In a machine of the character described, a table mounted on the shaft, R,
provided with the gear, S, in combination with the shaft, 83, provided with the
pinion, 84, and sprocket-wheel, 85, shaft, 76, provided with the sprocket-wheel, 77,
and pulleys, 79, 80, 81. and 82, shaft, 67, provided with the pulleys, 69, 70;
belts 86, 87, 88, and shipping mechanism for the belts, 87 and 88, substantially
as set forth.

page_text: Sixteenth. In a machine of the character described, a table mounted on the shaft, R,
provided with gear, S, in combination with the shaft, 83, provided with the pinion, 84
and sprocket-wheel, 85; shaft, 76, provided with the sprocket-wheel, 77, and
pulleys, 79, 80, 81, 82; shaft, 67, provided with the pulleys, 69, 70, and sprocket-
wheel 71, roll, W, mounted on the shaft, 60, provided with the sprocket-wheel, 65;
belts 86, 87, 88, 73; and shipping mechanism for the belts, 87 and 88 substantially
as described.
Seventeenth. In a machine of the character described, the arms, UT, mounted on
the shaft, R; the shipping-bar, 90, provided with the cam, Y; the rocking-shaft, 91,
provided with the arms, 92, 96 and 99; the bar 97, pivoted to the arm, 96, and
provided with the stud, 98; the pivoted lever 103, provided with the studs, 105, the
bar 94, pivoted to the bar 90, and arm, 92; and the har, 101 pivoted to the arm, 99,
and lever, 103, for automatically shipping the belts, 87 and 88, substantially as
set forth.
1
1
1330
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.