IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IMITATION LEATHER AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benno Beer, of Berlin, in the German Empire, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IMITATION LEATHER
AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Sealed the 1st October 1878, and dated the 1st April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benno Beer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st April 1878.
BENNO BEER, of Berlin, in the German Empire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF IMITATION LEATHER AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR."
The apparatus is constructed as follows:-On a long bed plate or on two long
girders are mounted appliances for holding, tightening, and working an endless
band or form having the pattern on, which band passes round a large horizontal
band drum at one end of the machine, and round a smaller horizontal band drum
adjustable in its bearings at the other end, so that the bottoms of both drums are
about level. Above the latter drum I place a smaller band drum or roller ad-
justable in its bearings; the band passes round it, and thence between two other
small rollers, one mounted over the other, the lower one so that it can be fixed in
position and both adjustable in their bearings; all of them are adjustable in such a
manner as to ensure the even and tight running of the endless band.
Under the upper part of the band there is a wooden or other table with friction
rollers on, and the lower part of the band is supported on friction rollers.
Between the upper friction rollers and the band there is a long iron plate affording
a bed for the band.
Above or on the top of the machine there is a reel or drum for the fabric which is
to be coated with the material; this reel is made to be easily lifted out and replaced
by another; one end of the reel spindle fits in a chuck provided with a brake for

page_text: regulating the even and tight delivery of the fabric which is to be passed round the
upper of the aforesaid small rollers.
Above or at the top of the machine is also arranged a hopper or vessel containing
the coating substance or mixture, and formed with double walls for hot water
circulating therethrough serving to keep it warın.
The coating substance flows out from an aperture in the vessel on to the endless
band, or form being guided sideways; it then passes between the two small rollers
(the lower one of which has the fabric to be coated wrapped round it) and the
endless band or form in the required thickness of layer.
On the way to the band drum at the other end of the machine the layer of
coating cools down, and the fabric is wound on to one or more reels as a finished
article, which is then dried as required.
In order to transfer a pattern of a material like leather or damask on to a form
negatively, the original as well as the form are stretched on the machine. The
original is then coated lightly with oil in order that the substance for coating the
imitation fabric may easily leave it.
The hopper contains a mixture of glue, glycerine, and wood acid. The coating
process is then done in the same way as above described, but the imitation material
cannot be separated from the original in less than 24 hours. The surface is then
vulcanised and hardened with liquor, ferri acetici; when dry, it is suitable for
use.
The coating mixture for the above-described manufacture consists of glue, colour,
glycerine, linseed oil, soap, gallus, Aleppo, and chromic acid.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benno Beer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st October
1.878.
BENNO BEER, of Berlin, in the German Empire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF IMITATION LEATHER AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR."
The apparatus is constructed as follows, and will be fully understood by reference
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section;
Figure 2, a plan; Figure 3, an end view from the left-hand of the machine; and
Figure 4, a vertical cross section on line A, B, Figure 1:-On a long bed
plate or on two long girders P are mounted appliances for holding, tightening,
and working an endless band or form Q having the pattern on, which band
passes round a large horizontal band drum A at one end of the machine, and
round a smaller horizontal band drum B, or adjustable in its bearings at the other
end, so that the bottoms of both drums are about level. Above the drum B I place
a smaller band drum or roller C adjustable in its bearings; the band Q passes round
it and thence between two other small rollers E and D, one mounted over the other,
the lower one E so that it can be fixed in position and both adjustable in their
bearings; all of them are adjustable in such a manner as to ensure the even and tight
running of the endless band. For this purpose the frames R, R, which carry the
drum pulley A can be adjusted in position by means of the screws F and nuts F',
thereby tightening the band Q as required.
Under the upper part of the band Q there is a wooden or other table R¹ with
friction rollers on, and the lower part of the band Q is supported on friction rollers
mounted on the girders P.
Between the upper friction rollers on the table R' and the band there is a long
iron plate affording a bed for the band; this plate goes between the rollers E and D.
The driving gear operates on the drum A. and thus drives the band and the other
drums and rollers.
Above or on the top of the machine there is a reel or drum G for the fabric which
is to be coated with the material; this reel is made to be easily lifted out and
replaced by another, the spindle of the same resting at one end H in an open
bearing, the other end of the reel spindle fits at J, see Figure 4, in a chuck provided
with a brake K for regulating the even and tight delivery of the fabric which is to
be passed round the upper of the aforesaid small rollers E and D.
Above or at the top of the machine is also arranged a hopper or vessel L, Figure 1,
containing the coating substance or mixture and formed with double walls, as shown
by dotted lines for hot water circulating therethrough serving to keep it warm.
The vessel L is for the sake of clearness omitted in Figures 2, 3, and 4.
The coating substance flows out from an aperture in the vessel L on to the
endless band or form Q, being guided sideways by the adjustable slides M; it then
passes between the two small rollers D and E (the lower one of which E has the
fabric to be coated wrapped round it), and the endless band or form Q in the
required thickness of layer.
On the way to the band drum A at the other end of the machine the layer of
coating cools down, and the fabric is by means of the handles O wound on to one
or more reels N as a finished article, which is then dried as required.
At a temperature of about 75° Fahrenheit, this takes in some cases about twenty-
four hours. The machine can coat upwards of one hundred yards an hour.
In order to transfer a pattern of a material like leather or damask on to a form
negatively, the original as well as the form are stretched on the drums and rolls
A, B, C, E, of the machine, the required tension being obtained by the aid of the
nuts F. The original is then coated lightly with oil in order that the substance
for coating the imitation fabric may easily leave it.

page_text: The hopper L contains a mixture of glue, glycerine, and wood acid; the coating
process in then done in the same way as above described; but the imitation
material cannot be separated from the original in less than twenty-four hours. The
surface is then vulcanised and hardened with acetate of iron (liquor ferri acetici);
when dry, it is suitable for use.
The coating mixture for the above-described manufacture consists of glue, colour,
glycerine, linseed oil, soap, gallus, Aleppo, and chromic acid,
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, I declare
that I claim,
First. The method of manufacturing imitation leather and the materials employed
therein, substantially as set forth.
Second. The construction of the machine or apparatus, substantially as set forth,
In witness whereof, I, the said Benno Beer, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
DENTA DHAD