IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING LEATHER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denham, of Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Tanner and Currier, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR CUTTING LEATHER."
Sealed the 21st December 1876, and dated the 24th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denham at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th June 1876.
•
CHARLES DENHAM, of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Tanner and Currier,
⚫ IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING LEATHER."
My improvements consist in constructing machinery having a bed or table upon
which the leather is placed and subjected to pressure by means of a descending plate
actuated by either screw, levers, or weight.
The leather is cut by means of a knife sliding in a dovetail or groove along the
edge of the table or plate. The width of the strip of leather required to be cut is
determined by an adjustable gauge, against which one edge of the leather is placed
before being cut. I may employ self-acting means for feeding forward the leather
after each stroke, and may also work the machine by either hand or steam power.
"
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Denham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd December
1876.
CHARLES DENHAM, of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Tanner and Currier.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING LEATHER.”
My improvements consist in constructing machinery having a bed or table upon
which the leather is placed and subjected to pressure by means of a descending
plate actuated by either screw, levers, or weight.
The leather is cut by means of a knife sliding in a dovetail or groove along the
edge of the table or plate. The width of the strip of leather required to be cut is
determined by an adjustable gauge, against which one edge of the leather is placed
וו....D

page_text: before being cut. I may employ self-acting means for feeding forward the leather
after each stroke, and may also work the machine by either hand or steam power.
In order that my Invention may be better understood I will proceed to describe
the Drawings annexed hereto.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation, Fig. 2 a front elevation, Fig. 3 a plan, and Fig. 4 a
cross section of a machine or apparatus constructed according to my Invention for
cutting parallel pieces of leather.
A is the stationary bed or table upon which the leather is placed to be cut into
strips; B is the knife or tool holder sliding in V or dovetail grooves formed in the
plate or frame C, having a cutting knife b; this plate or frame has a slight upward
and downward movement given to it by cranked arm levers D operating upon the
vertical rods E connected both to the crank and the plate C; G is a guide plate for
the purpose of determining the width of the piece of leather required to be cut.
This guide plate can be adjusted so that any desired width of leather may be cut to
the greatest nicety by being moved nearer to or further from the tool box by simply
turning the handle H and screw I working in a boss or nut J attached to the
stationary table A. K are slideable supports, to which the screws and bevel wheels
are attached.
The action of the machine is as follows:-A piece of leather is placed upon the
table A, with one edge brought up against the adjustable guide plate G; the
attendant pulls forwards the rod L connecting the two cranked arms D together.
The motion of this crank draws down the vertical rods E connected by link e to
the plate C; bringing the said plate down upon the leather, and aided by the
weight M holds the leather firmly upon the table, when the tool box is slided along
the groove in the plate C, the knife therein cutting the leather in its traverse from
one end to the other. The rod L is then put backward, acting upon the cranked
arms D, and releasing the leather, which is again pushed up against the guide G to
be operated upon as before, and so on, one piece being cut after another.
security against the leather slipping whilst the knife is cutting I have pins placed
underneath the plate C, entering corresponding holes in the table, which effectually
prevents the leather from slipping in the smallest degree. For the convenience of
the attendant a rule or index is marked upon the slideable support K, and a finger d
is attached to the framework of the machine for measuring the various widths of
leather.
As a
Having now described the nature of this my said Invention I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein shewn and
described, as the same may be varied without departing from the main features of
this Invention, as for instance, I may easily arrange the plate C to lift different
heights.to suit the various thicknesses of leather; I therefore claim as my Invention
the apparatus herein shewn and described for cutting leather.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Denham, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
A. B. CROSSLEY,
Clerk to W. Tasker,
Halifax.
CHAS. DENHAM. (L.S.)