Improvements in Machines for Polishing or Glazing Leather.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Polishing or Glazing Leather.
I, FRANZ BREIDENBACH, of 17, Gerichtstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Leather Dye Works Proprietor, 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:-
In machines for the polishing or glazing of leather which work by passing a
roller attached to the free end of a vertically swinging rod, under heavy pressure
across the surface of the leather, the defect has made itself manifest that the
manipulated surface, in consequence of the not always uniform thickness of the
leather is subjected at different places to unequal pressure. In this way there is
produced, not only an irregular stretching of the upper skin with the consequent
formation of ridges on it, but the places which are harder pressed; that is, where
the roller bears with the greatest force, also receive a higher polish than the
places which are treated less vigourously. Further the appearance and the utility
of the finished article is more or less deteriorated. It happens moreover, that in
consequence of the direct action of the roller on the texture of the leather, at
each change in the direction of the swinging carrying-rod a blow is given by the
roller on the part of the leather which it first touches, whereby indentations are
produced that are very difficult to get rid of. On this account also the most
careful guiding of the leather under the roller acting upon it is necessary, that
is to say at each change in the direction of the latter it is to be directed towards
the part to be treated by starting always at the middle of the surface. By the
dropping of the lubricating substance from the bearings, of the roller, as it passes
rapidly backwards and forwards under great presure, sometimes spots of grease
are made on the upper surface of the leather which is unprotected, which especially
in the case of brightly coloured goods are very difficult or impossible to remove.
All these objections are removed by the present improvements.
These are
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation in outline of the machine.
Fig. 2, plan of same.
The fundamental idea of the whole arrangement is not to allow the smoothing
or pressing roller to bear directly on the surface of the leather, but on a covering
protecting that surface.
Underneath the traverse of the press roller c which is attached to the swinging
lever a and actuated by the rod is a thin band of sheet brass or other suitable
material of a breadth equal to or somewhat greater than the length of the roller
and placed parallel to its stroke. The end of this band which is towards the
frame e of the machine is fixed between a clamp f from which either spiral springs
or elastic cords g extend which again are firmly attached to the frame by clamps h
or in any other manner
In the same manner by using clamps f¹ and spiral springs or clastic cords g'
the band is fixed at the opposite end by a detachable connection to an arm & which
stretches out from the frame o at a point i rather beyond the furthest point of

page_text: oscillation of the roller. This arm k is at the same time a carrier for the roller
which takes up in several folds the free end of the band which extends beyond the
clamp f. For placing the band exactly in its right position it is arranged to
be adjustable within fixed limits.
For the manipulation of the leather m it is placed with the right side upwards
between the band and the upper surface of the table n when the latter which
is adjustable vertically upon the upright supports o is in its lowest position. By
then elevating the table the band d lies directly upon the surface of the leather
against which it is pressed with great force by the roller c which is at once set
in action at the places where this is in contact. This pressure coming only
indirectly on the leather and being distributed by the intervening material whilst
the surfaces of the roller and the leather do not touch each other, combined with
the rubbing to which the surface of the leather is subjected by the motion back-
wards and forwards of the band d caused by the roller pressing upon it and
assisted by the action of the spiral springs g¹ is the means of obviating all
the defects which are produced in the finished goods by the appliances hitherto
in use.
The polish or glaze on the surface of the leather is now perfectly
uniform and the ridges are entirely obviated or are inconsiderable; the leather
can now be brought under the pressure of the roller, starting from any arbitrary
place on its surface and may be spread out so that every place is subjected during
an equal time to the influence of the roller. The oil also which may happen
to drop from the axle of the roller is caught by and rendered harmless by the
band which lies as a protection under the places of leakage and over the leather.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
The employment in machines for polishing and glazing and manipulating
leather of a band d of brass or other material swinging freely and attached at
both ends by means of spiral springs or elastic cords g g¹ to points of suspen-
sion h, i, and occupying a position immediately over the leather to be manipulated
and close under and parallel to the stroke of the operating press-roller preventing
direct contact between the surfaces of the roller and of the leather and obviating
the objectionable form of the impressions made on the texture of the leather which
results from the revolution of the roller substantially as described.
LOTOV
FATA
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Lodox bon
LOTA1 Tha
WM. P THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.