Improvements in or connected with Tanning.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 18th June, 1898
Improvements in or connected with Tanning.
I, ADOLFO MARIO, of Madonna di Campagna, Turin, Italy, Tanner, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The tanning industry has, during the latter years, made very considerable pro-
gress as regards rapidity, and several rapid processes are employed, and attempts
have been made to render such processes of greater practical use. However all
those processes, whether they be based upon the use of chemical agents, or on the
use of the "barrel," have not given sufficiently satisfactory results, so that although
the employment of said processes have been continued by single individuals, the
said processes have been generally abandoned.
The process which forms the subject of my present invention, is based on a
simple physical effect, and may be employed with the same good result,, either by
the users or employers or slow tanning processes, or by those who employ rapid
tanning processes.
According to my invention the tannin is caused to be absorbed by the skins,
(whatever may be the degree of richness. of the tannin supply), by suspending the
said skins from a board or pivot, in a trench or trenches containing tannin, and
suitably constructed for the purpose. The skins are given a rotary movement
about the said board or pivot, and the said akins are consequently rotated about
their own axis alternately to the right and to the left hand, in such a manner as
to promote a constant opening and closing of the pores both on the side of the
epidermis (grain side) as well as on that of the hypo-dermis (flesh side) and so as
to readily promote the absorption of the tannin by the skins, and the consequent
combination of the tannin itself with the gelatine.
The length of the tannin process will be determined by, and will vary according
to the richness of the tannin solutions employed, as well as by and according to
the degree of heat at which said solutions may be supplied.
1
By my invention I may effect the tauning as aforesaid with tannin solutions,
or with liquid extracts of tannin, of any degree of richness desired, whilst giving
to the skins as previously stated, and which are hung separately from a board; or
plank, or pivot, a rotary movement, with reversal or not.
Dated this 96th day of June 1897

page_text: I, ADOLFO MARIO, of Madonna di Campagna, Turin, Italy, Tanner, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The tanning industry has. during late. years made very considerable progress
as regards rapidity of tanning, several rapid processes are employed, and attempts
have been made to render such processes of greater practical use. However all
these processes, whether they be based upon the use of chemical agents, or on the
use of the barrel or pressing, have not given satisfactory results,, so that the said
processes have been generally abandoned.
Now the process which forms object of my.invention is based on a simple phy-
sical effect and may be employed with the same good result either by the partisans
of slow tanning, or by those who believe in rapid tanning.
This process is founded on the principle of making the skins absorb the tannin,
they being located in a vat, or a series of vats (whatever may be the degree of
tannic richness of the liquid employed), and the skins being suspended from a rol-
ler, and a counter weight being attached to the lower ends, the skins being then given
a rolling and unrolling movement about the said roller, and consequently rolling
and unrolling upon themselves. This movement which is alternate to the right
and to the left effects a constant opening and closing of the pores both on the side
of the epidermis (grain side) as well as on the side of the hypo-dermis (flesh side),
thus favoring the absorption of the tannin by the skins and the consequent com-
bination of the tannin itself with the gelatine of the skin,
My invention is described by the following drawings Fig. 1 being a. vertical
longitudinal seotion showing the general arrangement of the apparatus. Fig. 2
is a transverse section of one of the vats drawn to a somewhat larger scale than the
previous figure and shewing the reversing apparatus, Fig. 3 shews one of the rollers
detached, to illustrate means for fixing the skins thereto, and Figs. 4 shew detail
views of brackets detached.
The invention comprises features which may be stated as follows:
1. A series of vats, marked in the drawing with the letter A, in which are con-
tained tannic liquids of different graduations suitable for tanning.
2. The revolving rollers B are arranged in the vats A to which rollers. the skius
to be tanned are suspended. The movement given to these rollers is in contrary
directions to one another, in such manner, that while one set of rollera roll up the.
skins the other set of rollers un-rolls, and that at a considerable economy of motive
power.
3. Oscillating frames C driven by-the rods E are provided in each vat, the object
of which is to agitate the liquid in such manner as to maintain it at one even
temperature throughout.
4. A thermo-syphon apparatus represented by the letters L, M, N, O, to main-
tain the temperature of the liquids contained in, the vats.
5. The motor apparatus for the inversion of the motion marked with the let-
ters abcdefghilm n, which by means of the toothed wheels d¹ and p simul-
taneously drive the rollers. Bi and the frame. C.
The following is a detailed description of the apparatus employed in carrying
out the invention..
A. Vats for tanning.
11

page_text: E.DK course of tanning.
G. A weighted bar to keep the skin stretched.
H. Pipe for the admission of tannic liquid.
I. Pipe for the exit of same.
L, M. Heating apparatus.
N. The circulation pipe for the hot water coming from the heating apparatus.
abc. An arrangement of fixed and loose pulleys forming part of the apparatus
for reversing the motion.
dd p p. Pinions or wheels to work by the chains g and t, the rollers B, and
the frame C.
e. Forks for shifting the driving belt from one pulley to another.
f. Toothed cam disc for actuating the lever i to cause it to operate the forks e.
g. Bearing for an endless screw h.
h. Endless screw which works the disc f..
. Lever for reversing the motion.
Spring for effecting the automatic return of the reversing lever.
mn. Supports for the reversing apparatus.
o. Support for carrying the axis of the toothed pinions d¹ p.
p. Toothed pinion carrying the chain which puts in movement the rollers B
and the frame C, the latter by means of the rod E.
9. Chain for connecting the pinions d and d
t. Chain for connecting the toothed pinions
Details of each of the rollers B (see also Figs. 4.).
with the pinions p of the rollers B
2. Toothed pinion with flange to prevent the skin being damaged.
Tr. Trunnions of the axle or roller.
ss. Movable part of the roller mounted on hinges closed by an internal or
recessed bolt S³, and serving to hold the skins, by teeth, which when closed take
into the holes formed for that purpose in the fixed part of the axle or roller.
Practically the operation is as follows:-
The skins should be submitted to treatment with lime as well as to the action of
running water, unless it is considered necessary to give them any special treatment
to prepare them for the tanning.
After that, the skins, (to the lower end of which there has been fixed weighted
bare G), are then suspended one to each of the rollers B, the latter being then
put in motion.
After a fixed period which is regulated in accordance with the richness of the
tannic liquid employed, and during which time the skins may be either moving or
kept at rest, the said skins are moved for the first to the second vat and then from
the second to the third, and so on, till they reach the last vat and are tanned.
Naturally the first vat is supplied each time that it is free, with fresh skins
which are substituted for those which have been passed to the second vat and there
is thus established an uninterrupted course of tanning.
To effect the passage of the skins from one vat to another, it is not necessary to
detach them from their roller, for these rollers are adapted to be carried by any of
the supports D D', thus rendering this operation of the greatest simplicity and
rapidity.
The number of the vats A is not limited and can be regulated by the tanner accord-
ing to the tannic richness of the liquid he desires to employ. It consequently
results that by employing liquid of a high density the number of the vats need not
to be so numerous, and the tanning is much more rapid than when liquids of
weaker nature are employed.
As soon as the skins are out of the vats, they are completely tanned, and
ready for any sort of currying.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The method or process for tanning, consisting in suspending the skins separ-
ately on revolvable rollers, causing the skins while immersed in tanning solution,
of proper strength to be rolled in one direction thereon, unrolled, and then again
rolled in a reverse direction to the first rolling, the skins being thus rolled about
themselves, whereby the opening and closing of the pores is automatically effected,
and the skins maintained in a forced state of continuous absorption, and the tan-
ning thereby accelerated; as set forth.
i
2. In apparatus for tanning, the combination with a series of vats; of remov-
áble rollers capable of being revolved thereon, mechanism of revolving the rollers
alternately in reverse directions, mechanism for mechanically and simultaneously
reversing the direction of the revolving motion of the rollers, means for removably
suspending the skins to the rollers, weights capable of being attached to the free
ends of the skins to keep same stretched, and bearings for the rollers which will
allow the latter to be interchangeable in position as set forth.
3. In apparatus for tanning, the combination with a series of vats; of removable
rollers capable of being revolved thereon, mechanism for revolving the roller alter-
nately in reverse directions, mechanism for mechanically and simultaneously
reversing the direction of the motion of the rollers, means for removably
suspending the skins to the rollers, weights capable of being attached
to the free ends of the skins to keep them stretched, and bearings for
the rollers which will allow the latter to be interchangeable in position, means
for agitating the liquid in the vats and means for maintaining the liquid at a pro-
per temperature, all substantially as and for the purposes described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
enna