IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PreparinG AND DRESSING LEATHER
Year: 1884

page_text: I SAM HALEY of the firm of Thomas Haley and Company, Railway Iron Works
Bramley, near Leeds, in the County of York, Machine Makers do hereby declare
the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PreparinG
AND DRESSING LEATHER" to be as follows:—
This Invention has reference to that class of machinery employed in scouring,
resetting, stoning, and otherwise preparing and dressing hides and leather and my
improvements in such machinery relate
Firstly. To a new construction of headstock or compound tool holder, and in
the means or method of operating same.
The headstock which consists of a carriage carries one or more tool holders
consisting of a vertical standard which along with the carriage is caused to move
back ward and forward by means of a rod and eccentric on a crank pin attached to
a rotary face-plate, the tool holder being also arranged to oscillate upon a atud or
shaft passing through the lower end of carriage; the bridge elevating and
depressing the said tool holder at the end of each backward and forward motion
thereof, so as to change the position of the tools.
A horizontal rod passes through the upper end of the vertical standard or tool
holder, and upon each end of this rod is an india rubber cushion made adjustable
by lock nuts so as to allow the tool holder to yield if elevated or depressed too
much.
The bottom of the tool holder is provided at each side thereof with suitable
recesses in which are secured the tools for operating upon the leather. A hinged
jaw or auxillary tool holder is attached to and in front of the vertical tool holder
in which jaw is secured another pair of stones or sleakers whereby the tool holder is
made compound or double acting; and is provided with eight stones instead of
four as at present.
" "
The beadstock is arranged so that two, four, or eight stones may be in operation
as may be required, and this is effected by having part of the tools locked and
disconnected as is the case with the present construction of headstock.
The upper end of the hinged jaws or auxillary tool holders are also provided'
with india-rubber cushions made adjustable by lock nuts, thereby giving elasticity
to all the tool holders, allowing for unequal thickness in the leather and other
irregularities.
In addition to the carriage and tools having a backward and forward motion I
cause the tool holders to rock or oscillate upon the stud shaft at its lower end,

page_text: independantly of the reciprocatory motion it receives from the crank rod; and this
I effect by means of another connecting rod operated by an eccentric placed upon
the same pin as the connecting rod employed for giving the reciprocatory motion
to the carriage to which the tool holders are attached.
This eccentric is so set and timed as to cause the tool holder to oscillate and
remove the tools off the leather just before the crank rod has reached the end of
its stroke, and also to cause the tool holder to oscillate in the opposite direction
and place the tools on opposite side of carriage into contact with the leather, just
after the crank rod has commenced to return; the effect of this is to gradually
remove the tool after completing a stroke, and to softly and gradually place them
on again just after commencing a stroke.
The construction of tool holders herein described enables me to place the tools
or stones nearer together than formerly, consequently an increased length of cross
stroke is obtained by the same throw of crank.
Secondly. This part of my Invention relates to the carriage and table upon
which the leather is placed for operating upon; and consists in the employment of
a double set of carriages and tables so that whilst one set is in operation the other
set can be getting prepared ready for operation by which means the working
power of the machine can be doubled.
Each set of carriages and table are arranged to move independantly of each
other the bottom radial carriage of each set being able to move in a radius from
one end whilst the carriage above it, moves by means of a screw backward and
forward in a straight line, parallel with the bottom carriage, but in addition to
this the table upon which the leather is placed, and which is mounted upon the
middle carriage is provided with a central pin or stud working in a socket, so that
the upper table can have a rotary motion by which means all parts of the leather
can be brought under the action of the tools.
In order to move the top carriage and upper rotary table in and out of position
a screw for giving a backward and forward motion to the middle carriage is
provided and fixed to the bottom of the radial carriage, at one end of which is a
bevil friction wheel placed in and out of contact with a continuously revolving
central bevil friction wheel whereby the upper table can be moved in and out of
position for being operated upon by the scouring tools.
When the bottom carriage and tablo are removed from under the tools to a
position at right angles the bevil friction wheel on the end of the middle carriage
will have been lifted out of contact with the central revolving wheel by means of
the carriage passing up an incline or wedge, which removes the wheels from
contact.
Thirdly. This part of my Invention consists in means or methods to be employed
in raising and lowering the tables so as to place the surface of the leather in
contact with the tools, and this I accomplish by means of wedges or inclined
blocks placed underneath the tables. The inclined surfaces of these wedges rest
upon the axle of the upper carriage, the wedges being also connected together by
rods, one end of each rod being also connected to a lever placed in an inclined
position in such manner that by means of a hand wheel and spur gearing the lever
is placed into a horizontal position consequently throwing out the rods, causing the
wedges to rise upon the shaft, and lift the table thereby. The reverse motion will
of course withdraw the rods and lower the table.
• 100A

page_text: I, SAM HALEY of the firm of Thomas Haley and Company, Railway Iron Works
Bramley, near Leeds in the County of York, Machine Makers, do hereby declare
the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING
AND DRESSING LEATHER" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention has reference to that class of machinery employed in scouring,
resetting, stoning, and otherwise preparing and dressing hides and leather; and my
improvements in such machinery consist in a new form of tool holder, and in the
employment of compound connecting rods for operating same, and in the means to
be employed for moving the table.
In order that my Invention may be more clearly understood I herein give
reference to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings wherein Fig. 1 is elevation of
one side of machine, Fig. 2 elevation of opposite side, Fig. 3 plan view, and Fig. 4
front view of a machine constructed according to my Invention. 1 is the frame-
work or standard of the machine, 2 is the upper table on which the hide is placed,
and 3 is a vertical standard employed to carry the tool holders 4 for receiving the
adjustable stones 5.
The standard 3 is capable of rocking upon a stud 6 supported at each end by
the sides or frames of the carriage 7, which carriage has a groove at each side and
fits upon prejections 8 on which it is caused to reciprocate or move backward and
forward by means of connecting rod 9 attached by pin 10 to face plate 11 such
reciprocatory motion causing the stones 5 to rub on the surface of the leather so as
to perform the well known operations of scouring, resetting or otherwise preparing
leather.
In order to remove the stones off the leather at the end of each backward and
forward stroke the tool holder 3 is caused to oscillate upon the supporting stud 6
in such manner as to lift the tools from contact with the leather just before the
crank rod 9 has reached the end of its stroke, and also to cause the tool holder to
oscillate in the opposite direction and reverse the position of tools, just after the
crank rod has commenced to return, the effect of which is to gradually remove the
tools after completing a stroke, and to sftly and gradually place them on again
just after commencing a stroke and this is accomplished by means of another
connecting rod 12, one end of which is attached to the upper part of the standard 3,
whilst the other end is connected to and operated by eccentric 13 working upon
the pin 10, which also carries crank arms 9.
The eccentric 13 is provided. with a slot and by means of nut 14 the position of
the eccentric can be set and adjusted so as to allow the stones 5 to be removed on
or off the leather sooner or later according to requirements.
The connecting rod 12 is not rigidly attached to the standard 3, but the parts 15.
and 16 of the said rod slip onto a rod 17 which is connected to the standard, the
spiral springs 18 and 19 with adjustable nuts 20 and 21 being employed to keep
the parts together, but not too stiff to prevent the tool holders oscillating in either
direction if the unequal thickness of leather requires it. The standard 3 is also
made capable of carrying additional or auxiliary tool holders 22 hinged upon studs 23
and carrying another set of stones 24 whereby the scouring and rubbing of the
leather is increased,.the additional tool holders are also allowed to oscillate upon their
studs if the unequal thickness of the leather demands it by means of india-rubber
cushions 25 kept in position by lock-nuts 26 as will be well understood on reference
to Fig 5 which is an enlarged view of the parts

page_text: The carriage or headstock 7 is arranged so that two, four, or eight stones may be
in operation as required, and this is effected by having part of the tools locked and
disconnected as is the case with the present construction of headstock. To
accomplish this a box or bridge 27 is employed in which works certain sliding
bars 28 and 29 attached to rods 30 and caused to slide in and out when required
by levers 31 connected to and operated by handle 32, thus when the tools have to
operate upon the leather at each backward and forward motion the sliding bars 28
and 29 are both withdrawn from the box 27 which allows the upper end of the
standard 3 to rock in either direction upon its stud 6, the connecting rod 12 lifting
the tools off and placing them on again as previously explained but if the tools
have only to operate upon the leather at each forward stroke only, then the sliding
bar 28 must be withdrawn, or if at each backward stroko only, then sliding bar 29
must be withdrawn, and if none of the tools are required both sliding bars must
remain within the box 27 so that the upper end of the standard 3 can neither move
to the right hand nor to the left.
In addition to the leather being stoned brushes 33 are employed for brushing
the said leather, these brushes are attached to certain suitable framework 34, and
pressed in contact with the leather by spiral springs 35 passing over rods connected
to the framework.
The peculiar construction of tool holder herein shewn and described enables me
to place the tools nearer together than formerly, consequently an increased length
of cross stroke is obtained by the same throw of crank.
The tables on which the leather is placed are in duplicate or double sets, as will be
seen on reference to plan view Fig. 3 so arranged that whilst one. set is in operation
the other set can be getting prepared ready for operation by which means the
working power of the machine can be doubled.
The upper table 2 (see Figs. 1 and 2) has a central stud 35 on the underside
which fits into a socket on the carriage 36 in which socket it is free to revolve or
rotate at the will and discretion of the workman, whereby various parts of the
leather can be brought under the action of the tools. The carriage 36 has a to and
fro motion given to it by screw 37 which passes through a nut on the underside of
the carriage, the said screw being operated by bevilled tooth or friction wheels 38
which receive their motion by other bevil wheels 39 driven from shaft 40 pulley
and strap 41 from the main driving shaft 42.
When the workman desires the carriage 36 to move either in or out, he moves
the handle 43 which through the intervention of the horizontal rod 44 causes the
vertical rod 45 to oscillate and thereby move the strap fork 46 in such manner as
to transfer the strap 41 from the fast to the loose pulley, or visa versa, by which
means the series of bevil wheels sets the screw 37 in motion and consequently
causes the carriage 36 to travel in or out as required.
In addition to the table or carriage 36 having an inward and outward motion, it
has also a radial motion which is obtained by the bottom carriage 47 which
properly speaking carries the carriage 36 and table 2. One end of this carriage 47
fits loosely upon the vertical shaft 48 upon which it is free to oscillate at the
command of the workman which he accomplishes by pushing or pulling the said
carriage, the front bearing wheels 49 and rollers 50 running freely upon metal
rails 51.
It will therefore be seen that the table 2 has a variety of motions comprising
circular, backward and forward and a radial motion, the latter being obtained by the
lower carriage moving upon the shaft 48, by these means any part of the leather
can be readily brought under the action of the tools, whilst by setting the screw 37
in motion the leather can be caused to travel against the action of the tools in
either direction, consequently a most powerful effect of the stones is placed on the
said leather,
When employing two sets of tables and carriages as shown in the Drawings,
wedges or inclines 52 are employed, placed in such positions that when one set of

page_text: carriages are moved sideways out of contact with the tools, a projection 53 under-
neath the carriages comes into contact with and rides up the said inclines by
which means the bevil wheel on the end of screw 37 is raised from contact with
the driving bevil wheel 38 and thereby rotary motion of the screw is prevented.
Another part of my Invention consists in the means or method to be employed
in raising and lowering the tables so as to place the surface of the leather in and
out of contact with the tools; and this I accomplish by means of wedges or inclined
blocks 54 placed underneath each end of the carriage 36.
The inclined surfaces of these wedges rest upon the axles 55, and they are each
connected by rods 56 and 57 to a lever 58 keyed or otherwise fastened onto cross
shaft 59, on which shaft is also a spurr wheel 60 in gear with a pinion wheel 61.
It will therefore be seen that on turning the hand wheel 62 in either one or other
direction that the gear wheels will cause the lever 58 to oscillate, the effect of
which will be to throw the rods 56 and 57 either in or out whereby the wedges
are caused to ride upon the axles 55, and so raise or lower the table as and when
required.
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,
Firstly The employment of the compound connecting rods 9 and 12 for
operating the tools in leather dressing machinery, whereby the said tools, in
addition to having a reciprocatory motion are taken off the leather before the
completion of each stroke, and placed on again immediately after commencing a
stroke, substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly-The means herein shewn and described for giving a radial motion to
the table 2 for purposes set forth.
Thirdly The employment of the screw 37, or its equivalent whereby the table 2
is moved self-actingley against the action of the tools, in manner substantially as
herein shewn and described.
Fourthly The employment of two sets of tables and carriages in one machine,
whereby the working capacity of said machine is increased.