THE MANUFACTURE BY MACHINERY OF TUBES FROM LEATHER OR OTHER SUITABLE FLEXIBLE SUBSTANCE, CHIEFLY FOR COVERING THE DRAWING ROLLS OF SPINNING MACHINERY, BUT ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Collins, of the City and County of
Hartford, in the State of Connecticut and United States of
America, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "THE MANUFACTURE
BY MACHINERY OF TUBES FROM LEATHER OR OTHER SUITABLE FLEXIBLE
SUBSTANCE, CHIEFLY FOR COVERING THE DRAWING ROLLS OF SPINNING
MACHINERY, BUT ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 23rd January 1854, and dated the 19th September 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Collins
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 19th September 1853.
I, CHARLES COLLINS, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "THE MANUFACTURE BY MACHINERY OF TUBES FROM LEATHER
OR OTHER SUITABLE FLEXIBLE SUBSTANCE, CHIEPLY FOR COVERING THE DRAW-
ING ROLLS OF SPINNING MACHINERY, BUT ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
Heretofore the cots or covers of the rollers of drawing frames in
spinning machines have been manufactured by hand; in this hand
process the leather of which the covers are made is cut into pieces of
A

page_text: the proper size, and of a rectangular shape; the edges of the pieces are
then bevelled and cemented together so as to form a cylindrical tube
of a size suitable for covering the barrel of a roller; this system of
manufacturing, like other hand processes, is defective, as the quality of
the product and the cost of manufacture depend upon the skill of the
workman. The object of the present Invention is to produce an article
of uniform quality by means of automatic machinery, which receives
the leather or other material. in strips, and the cement in bulk. The
strips of leather are by the operation of the machine worked into the
required shape, and the edges cemented together; the manufactured
article is then delivered in the form of finished tubes. In the machine
I have devised for this purpose the mechanical devices by which the
cutting, shaping, bending, and cementing of the leather or other mate-
rial are effected are all caused to perform their proper functions in
their proper order by the revolution of a cam shaft to which motion
is imparted by any convenient prime mover.
The various operations effected by the machine are as follows:-
First, griping the extremity of the strip of leather presented to it;
second, measuring off a piece of the proper length to form a tube;
third, seizing the piece measured off; fourth, severing it from the rest
of the strip by an oblique cut which leaves the edges bevelled; fifth.
applying the cement to its bevelled edge; sixth, bringing the opposite
bevelled edges in contact with each other; seventh, pressing them
with a heated iron to dry the cement and compress the seam; eighth,
releasing the tube thus formed, and allowing it to drop from the
machine when the latter commences the construction of another
tube.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
and of an order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Charles
Collins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th March 1854. g
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
CHARLES COLLINS, of South Glastenbury, in the County of Hartford,
and State of Connecticut, and United States of America, Manufacturer,
send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said Charles Collins, Her special
licence that I, the said Charles Collins, my executors, adminis
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Collins;
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make;
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"THE MANUFACTURE BY MACHINERY OF TUBES FROM LEATHER OR OTHER
SUITABLE FLEXIBLE SUBSTANCE, CHIEFLY FOR COVERING THE DRAWING ROLLS
OF SPINNING MACHINERY, BUT ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Collins, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Collins, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):
Heretofore the cots or covers of the rollers of drawing frames in
spinning machines have been manufactured. by hand; in this hand
process the leather of which the covers are made is cut into pieces of the
proper size, and of a rectangular shape; the edges of the pieces are
then beveled and cemented together so as to form a cylindrical tube
of a size suitable for covering the barrel of a roller; this system of
manufacturing, like other hand processes, is defective, as the quality of
the product and the cost of manufacture depend upon the skill of the

page_text: workman. The object of my Invention is to produce an article of
uniform quality by means of automatic machinery, which receives the
leather or other material in strips, and the cement in bulk, combines
the two, and delivers them in the form of finished tubes. In the
machine I have devised for this purpose the mechanical devices by
which the cutting, shaping, bending and cementing of the leather or
other material are effected are all caused to perform their proper
functions in their proper order by the revolution of a cam shaft, to
which motion is imparted by any convenient prime mover. The said
machine is illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1, represents a view in perspective of said machine; Figure 2,
represents a plan; Figure 3, a back elevation; Figure 4, an end ele-
vation; and Figure 5, a vertical transverse section of the same, the
section being taken at the line x, x, of Figure 2.
The various operations effected by the machine are as follows:-
First, griping the extremity of the strip of leather presented to it;
second, measuring off a piece of the proper length to form a tube;
third, seizing the piece measured off'; fourth, severing it from the rest
of the strip by an oblique cut which leaves the edges beveled; fifth,
applying the cement to its beveled edges; sixth, bringing the opposite
beveled edges in contact with each other; seventh, pressing them
with a heated iron to dry the cement and compress the seam; eighth,
releasing the tube thus formed, and allowing it to drop from the
machine when the latter commences the construction of another
tube.
The frame of the machine consists, as represented in the accompanying
Drawings, of two cast metal end frames A, A', and of the rails B, B', B²,
B³, which connect them together. The upper rails a, a, of the end frames
are also connected by a pair of longitudinal bearers C, C', and the upper
front and back rails B, B', are connected by a similar pair of transverse
bearers D, D', at right angles with the first pair C, C. The cam
shaft E, which communicates movement to the various acting members
of the machine, extends from one end of the main frame to the other,
its journals being supported in suitable boxes b, b, on the lower end
rails; one of its extremities is fitted with a cog wheel F, which gears

page_text: into a pinion F, secured to a sleeve G. The latter turns upon an
axle secured to the adjacent end plate A, and is fitted with a cog
wheel F, which gears into a pinion F, on a second sleeve G', to
which a loose pulley H, and a fast pulley H', are secured, that are put
in motion by a belt from the prime mover. A pair of guides c, c, are
secured to the upper face of the upper front rail B, at such a distance
apart as will admit and guide the strip of leather of which the tubes
are to be made. Immediately behind these guides is a stationary pair
of nippers by which the leather is held firmly, while a measured portion
sufficient to form a cover is severed from the strip. This pair of
nippers is composed of two jaws, the upper I, being immovably
secured to the bearers D, D', while the lever I', is hinged to a cross
bar e, on which it turns as an axis from and towards the upper. This
movable jaw is connected by a pair of rods f, with a pair of arms g,
projected from a short rock shaft i, beneath, whose journals are
supported by brackets J, J, secured to the rail B, and which is caused
to rock by means of a cam K, on the cam shaft acting through the
intervention of a treadle L, rod j, and arm g. The operation of these
devices being such that as the cam K, is turned with the cam shaft E,
the movable jaw is alternately depressed and allowed to rise, which
latter movement is effected by a pair of helical springs M, M, acting
upon the arms g, g. In order to prevent the strip of leather from
dropping from the machine when the lower jaw I', is depressed a false
jaw or clamp plate I2, (Figure 8,) is hinged beneath the stationary
jaw I, a little in advance of the movable jaw; this plate is pressed by
a spring M, towards the under face of the plate of the stationary jaw
with sufficient force to prevent the leather strip from dropping by its
weight from the machine when the movable jaw I; is depressed.
Immediately opposite the stationary nippers are the movable nippers;
these consist of two jaws I, I, the upper of which is secured to a
carriage N, which is caused to slide towards and from the stationary
nippers on guides secured to the bearers D, D'. In order to effect this
movement the carriage is connected by a rod j, (Figure 7,) with an
upright arm k, which is projected from a short shaft i, beneath, whose
journals are supported by brackets J¹, projected from the hinder

page_text: rail B. This shaft is also fitted with a pair of arms g¹, g, which
extend from it in opposite directions, and are connected by rods with
treadles L, L, each of which is moved by a separate cam on the cam
shaft E. The one cam K', acting on the treadle L', moves the arm k,
and the nipper carriage forward or towards the stationary nippers; the
other cam K, moves the two backwards or from the stationary nippers.
The upper uipper jaw (I³, Figure 7,) is fixed to the carriage N, while
the lower I, is pivotted to the upper, and is pressed towards it by a
spring m, acting on its shank. This spring tends to keep the lower
jaw in contact with the upper, and thus to enable the two to seize
the extremity of the strip of leather. The lower jaw is moved from
the upper by a bar 'n, on which the shank of this jaw traverses in
moving forward. This bar is supported in an inclined position by two
arms go, which project from a short shaft i2, whose journals turn iu
hangers secured to the bearer D; this shaft has a third arm k, projected
from. it, which is connected with a treadle L, to which motion is
imparted by a cam K³, on the cam shaft; this cam acting through the
treadle upon the rock shaft i, holds the inclined bar n, in such a
position when the carriage is moving forward that the shank of the
movable nipper jaw I', traversing its inclined surface is raised to
depress the jaw; when the nipper carriage has reached its most forward
position the cam passing the shoe on the treadle allows the traverse
bar n, to be depressed by the action of the nipper spring m, and con-
sequently permits the lower jaw to close. In order to hold the portion
of the leather strip measured out by the action of the movable nippers
it is secured by means of two clamps, which act in conjunction, the one
on its under, the other on its upper surface. The lower clamp o, has
the form of a thick plate, which is pivoted to the bearers D, D', at the
extremities of its lower edge, it is moved into an erect position to hold
the leather by means of a rod which connects it with an arm 9%, on the
rock shaft. The other clamp consists of a strip of metal o¹, whose
butt p, is pivoted to a standard P, on a movable carriage N¹, while its
other extremity is passed through a stationary guide 7, secured to the
adjacent bearer. The butt p, of this clamp has an arm r, depending
from it, which is pressed outwards to raise the clamp by a spring

page_text: inserted between it and the adjacent face of the standard P. The
upward movement of this clamp by the action of this spring is limited
by the stationary guide 2, through which it is passed. In order to
bring this clamp in a position to act with the lower clamp o, and to
remove it when its action is completed, the carriage N, to which the
clamp standard is secured is constructed to slide on guides secured to
the bearer C, C', and is caused to move alternately towards and from
the bearer D'. This alternate movement of the carriage is effected in
a manner similar to that of the nipper carriage before described by
means of two cams K, K, which act upon treadles L, L'; the latter
are connected by rods j,, with the opposite short arms g', g', of a
three-armed or 1 shaped lever, which is pivoted at the junction of its
arms to a bracket J, secured to the end rail; its longest arm K', pro-
jects upwards, and is connected by a rod with the carriage N', so that
as the treadles L', and L', are alternately depressed by the revolution
of their respective cams K, and K', the upper arm of the three-
armed lever and the carriage connected therewith is moved alternately
towards and from the adjacent bearer D¹. When the carriage N¹, is
nearest to the bearer, the upper clamp is directly over the lower, but
by the action of the clamp spring is separated a short distance there-
from. In order to press it down towards the lower a second carriage
N2, similar to the first one (N',) is constructed to slide on guides alter-
nately to and from the other bearer D. This carriage is moved by two
cams K, K, which act upon treadles L', L', and the latter are con-
nected by rods ",, only one j', of which is seen in the Drawing,
with a three-armed lever, whose upper arm, is connected with the
carriage N, so that as the cams (K, K',) alternately depress their
respective treadles (L, L) this three-armed lever and the carriage N'
connected therewith is moved alternately towards and from the adjacent
bearer D. This carriage has a standard P¹ secured to it immediately
opposite the clamp standard of the other carriage, and an inclined
block s, is secured to this standard, whose inner face, as the carriage is
moved towards the bearer D, passes over and depresses the other extremity
of the clamp O', thus forcing it towards the face of the other clamp o,
beneath. The inclined block 8, in passing over the extremity of the

page_text: movable clamp tends to force it' and the carriage (N.) from which it
projects backwards or away from the bearer D'.
In order to prevent
this backward movement the carriage (N',) when it arrives at its most
forward position is held there by a pair of hooks P, P, which are pro-
jected from a rock shaft is, secured to the bearers C, C¹, and which
hold the clamp carriage until it is to be moved backwards by the
óperation of the appropriate cam.
The hooks arc moved upwards to
catch upon the hinder extremity of the clamp carriage by means of a
helical spring M³, which act upon a short arm projected from the rock
shaft ; they are depressed to release the clamp carriage, and are
retained in their depressed position until the clamp carriage is again
moved forward by means of a cam K", upon the cam shaft acting
through the intervention of a suitable treadle L, and rod j", the last
of which is attached to the outer extremity of one of the hooks. The
portion of the strip which has been measured out by the movable
nippers, and secured by the clamps, is severed from the rest of the strip
by a knife. This knife Q, is secured to a round bar R, which is con-
structed to slide in standards secured to the two bearers D, and D¹; its
projecting edge lays upon the upper face of the stationary nipper jaw I,
and is pressed thereon by means of a weighted arm t, extending from
the knife bar R. When the knife is not operating it occupies the
position in which it is represented at Figure 1, at one extremity of the
nipper jaws, whence it is moved towards the opposite extremity of the
jaws, after which it is returned to its first position. In order to effect.
this movement, and at the same time to permit the weighted arm t, to
press the knife edge downwards, the knife bar is connected by a loose
shackle t, with the upper arm, of a three-armed lever, which being
pivoted at the center of its arms to a standard J, on the lower front
rail B, is moved alternately in opposite directions by means of two
cams K³, K³, which act upon the short arms g³, g, of the lever through
the intervention of treadles L, L, and rods j³, j, so that as the cams
K8, and K, alternately depress their respective treadles the upper arm
of the lever, and the knife bar connected therewith, are moved alter-
nately in opposite directions to move the knife along the upper jaws,
and to return it to the position whence it started. The cement by

page_text: which the edges of the portion severed by the knife are secured to each
other is placed in a cistern s, which is mounted upon the bearers D, D';
the sides of this cistern are slotted to admit and support the journals of
the two rolls T, T¹. The larger (T) of the rolls has a pulley u, secured
to its axle, which is encircled by a cord V, leading from a similar
pulley ', on the cani shaft, so that as the latter revolves the roll is
caused to turn upon its journals. The barrel of this roll dips into the
cistern beneath, and is grooved to enable it to retain more effectually
the cement which adheres to it in revolving. The barrel of the
other roll (T) bears against that of the first one (T), its office
being to spread the cement equally upon the latter, and to detach
any superfluity. The sides of the cement cistern extend beyond
its front to support a shaft i³, to which a pair of arms 10,
are secured; the latter support the journals of a roll (T), which,
by the rocking of the shaft, is caused to bear alternately upon
the roll T, and upon the adjacent bevelled edge of that portion of
the strip severed by the knife. In order to effect this rocking or
vibration of the shaft, it is fitted with a pinion, whoso teeth
engage with corresponding teeth on the front arm of a lever K*.
The latter is pivoted to a standard J³, secured to the bearer D',
and its hinder arm is connected by a rod with a treadle L10, which
is depressed by a cam K, on the cam shaft E. The cam acts
to depress the lever and to turn the roll forward (or in the direction
indicated by the arrow a),
which movement its barrel is brought in
contact with the adjacent edge of the strip held by the clamps. The
roll is then returned to its first position or in contact with the cistern
roll T, by means of a spring M, which acts in opposition to the cam.
The opposite edges of the piece severed from the strip by the knife aro
brought into contact with each other by means of two pairs of fingers
U; U, the one pair seizing the piece in front and the other pair
behind the clamp o, o¹. Each pair consists of two prongs a, a, which
tend naturally to diverge from each other, and are secured by their
buts to one extremity of a spindle it, which is supported in a standard
upon the clamp carriage.. The opposite extremity of each spindle is
fitted with a pinion W, whose teeth engage with those of a rack y, on

page_text: the upper extremity of a rod, whose lower extremity is perforated to
traverse upon a bar, beneath. Each of these transverse bars, is
supported by a pair of arms g1, which project from a rock shaft 3, ".
These rock shafts (3, 1) extend from one end of the machine to the
other, and are supported in suitable hangers by the adjacent bearers
C, C¹. The one , nearer the front of the machine is fitted with an
arm g, that is connected by a rod 1, with a treadle L", beneath which
is depressed by means of a cam K", on the cam shaft; the other rock
shaft, is fitted with a similar arm 7", which is operated by an appro-
priate cam K, and treadle L¹. The cams act to depress the tra-
verse bars z, z, which, when the cams have ceased to act, are returned
to their upper positions by means of springs M², M2, acting upon
appropriate arms g¹³, secured to the respective rock shafts, . When-
ever the traverse bars z, z, are depressed the racks y, y, are drawn
downwards to turn their spindles, and the fingers connected therewith,
in the directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 4, to the positions in
which they are there represented. When the cams have ceased to act
the traverse bars are raised by the action of their respective springs;
and the racks being turned in directions the reverse of those indicated
by the arrows are moved to the positions in which they are drawn in
Figure 3. By these movements the pinions on which the racks act, and
the pinion spindle, and the pairs of fingers connected therewith, are
made to describe in alternately opposite directions half circles, of which
the axes of the pinion spindles are the centers. As the finger spindle
standards are secured to the clamp carriage N¹, they are caused to
move alternately from and towards the adjacent bearer D¹. When the
carriage is advancing towards the bearer the fingers occupy the posi-
tions in which they are represented at Figure 3; and when the carriage
has attained its nearest position to the bearer the cams K", K, act to
turn the finger spindles and consequently the fingers to the positions in
which they are represented at Figure 1. By this operation the opposite
sides of the portion of the strip severed by the knife and embraced
between the fingers are turned over and inwards towards each other.
As the front pair of fingers U, is moved a little before the other the
opposite edges of the severed piece are made to overlap each other upon

page_text: the upper face of the upper clamp, as shown at C¹, Figure 9. In order
that the fingers (which, as before stated, naturally diverge from each
other) shall hold the severed piece with sufficient firmness to enable
then to turn up its edges the carriage N2, is provided with two
standards P3, P³, immediately opposite the finger spindle standards on
the clamp carriage N. Each of these secondary standards P3, P³,
supports a spindle 7, whose axis is in line with that of the opposite
finger spindle; and each of these secondary spindles 7, is fitted with a
pinion W, whose teeth engage with an appropriate rack y', similar in
every respect to those W, y, described for actuating the finger spindle
pinion, and actuated in the same manner and at the same moment by
traverse bars ', secured to the same rock shafts which actuate the
opposite finger spindle racks. These secondary spindles therefore
turu simultaneously with the finger spindles opposite them; each
is fitted at its inner extremity with a pair of plates b, having a wedge-
shaped space between them, within which the diverging extremities of
the opposite pair of fingers are received as the carriage N2 nears the
bearer D; while as this carriage N, continues to approach the bearer
the inclined faces of the plates b, sliding over the extremities of the
fingers force the latter towards each other with sufficient force to
enable to pinch the severed piece between them. As the spindles
, are moved simultaneously with the finger spindles they aid
the latter in turning the fingers and the severed piece pinched
between them. The cement by which the edge of the severed piece
is coated by the roller T, is in a liquid form, which requires the
aid of heat and pressure to make it set or adhere. These two
agents are made to act simultaneously by means of a pressing iron
F, which is connected by two equal arms f, f, with a shaft G, whose
journals are supported in standards H, on the front rail B. The
pressing iron F, is hollow; the arms f, f, the journals of the shaft G,
and the standards H, H, are also hollow; a current of steam is
passed through this hollow pressing iron F, by connecting with one of
the hollow standards H, a steam pipe which conducts steam from
any convenient or suitable steam generator. Two arms li, h, are pro-
jected from the extremities of the pressing iron towards the back of

page_text: the machine; these are connected by rods g, g, with a cross head J
beneath, which is depressed by means of a cam K, on the cam shaft
acting through the intervention of a suitable treadle L", and rod j
The cam acts to depress the pressing iron F, upon the overlapping
beveled edges of the severed piece, and to squeeze the latter between
its face and the adjacent face of the clamp o', beneath. This clamp is
of such form that the pressing iron F, is held for some time in contact
with the steam to enable the heat of the pressing iron to dry the
cement. When the cam has ceased to act the pressing iron is elevated
to its first position, as shewn at Figure 1, by means of a pair of
springs M, which are coiled upon the rods g. 9, and act upon the
cross head. In order to manufacture tubes, such, for example, as the
covers of drawing rolls, with this machine, the cement, which may
consist of a solution of isinglass in alcohol, prepared in the usual
manner, is placed in the cistern (S); a current of steam from some
convenient source is passed by means of a pipe under the cistern, and
through the hollow pressing iron (F); the cam shaft (E) is caused to
revolve by means of a driving belt, which imparts motion to the fast
pulley (H) from some convenient driving shaft, and the cistern roll (T)
is caused to revolve by the cord (V) which encircles its sheave (u) and a
corresponding sheave upon the cam shaft. A strip of some suitable
material, leather for example, whose breadth is equal to the length of
the tubes to be made, is introduced between the lower face of the fixed
jaw (I) of the stationary nippers, and the upper face of the clamp
plate (12) beneath, which latter is depressed by the hand of the attendant
as the cam shaft revolves, and the lower jaw (I) of the stationary
nippers is depressed by the action of its appropriate cam (K); the
strip of leather is pushed forward by the attendant until its end
projects about a quarter of an inch beyond the face of the stationary
nipper jaw. As the cam shaft continues to revolve the movable
nippers are moved forwards, and opening as they advance by the
action of the inclined traverse bar (a) upon the shank of the lower jaw
receive the projecting extremity of the strip of leather between their
open jaws. As soon as this operation is effected the traverse bar (n,) is
depressed by the action of its appropriate cam (K³) to allow the lower

page_text: spring jaw of the movable nippers to seize the extremity of the
leather strip between it and the upper jaw. The movable nippers are
now moved backwards by the action of the appropriate cam (K2), and
draw the leather strip with them until the further backward motion
of the nipper carriage (N) is arrested by a stop (L), which being hinged
to the back rail (B') of the frame, and connected by a rod (?) with the
hinder arm of the traverse bar (n), was depressed within the range of
the carriage when the traverse bar (n) was depressed. When the nippers
have been stopped at the position which they have now reached, the
portion of leather (B, Figure 9,) drawn out from the stationary nippers
(and which I shall hereafter call the sheet) is of just sufficient length
to form one tubular cover. As the cam shaft continues to revolve the
clamp carriage (N¹) begins to advance by the action of its appropriate
cam (K); as it advances the upper clamp is moved over the upper
surface of the sheet measured out by the movable nippers, and two
pairs of diverging fingers (U, U',) being advanced with the clamp
carriage, the one pair (U) in front, and the other pair (U') behind the
clamp, embrace the corresponding portions of the leather sheet between
their upper and under fingers respectively. Simultaneously with this
movement of the clamp carriage the under jaw (I') of the stationary
nippers is permitted to rise and clamp the strip of leather, as the
cam (K) by which it was depressed passes the shoe of its appropriate
treadle (L), and by the same operation the lower clamp (O) is also raised
to an erect position. As soon as the clamp carriage (N') reaches its
most forward position the hooks P, P, are permitted to rise by the
movement of their appropriate cam (K"), and hold the carriage in its
place. The carriago is now advanced by the action of its appropriate
cam (K); as it nears the adjacent bearer (D) the inclined block (s)
passes over the extremity of the upper clamp (O), and depresses it upon
the face of the leather sheet, which, being supported beneath by the lower
clamp (0) is firmly held between the two. Simultaneously with this
clamping of the sheet the pairs of conveying plates (b, b,) passing over
the diverging extremities of their respective pairs of fingers (U, U',)
force the fingers of each pair to approach each other, and pinch the
portions of the sheet which they have taken in between them. As the

page_text: cam shaft still continues to revolve the knife (g) is moved forward by
the action of its appropriate cam (K) and advancing in an inclined
position along the faces of the stationary nipper jaws severs the sheet
from the rest of the strip; as the knife is greatly inclined to the face of
the leather the cut made by it is at an acute angle therewith, and the
edges produced by its action are beveled. Simultaneously with this
movement of the knife the traverse bar (n) begins to rise, thus opening
the jaws of the moyable nippers. As this traverse bar rises the stop
(L) which is connected therewith is correspondingly raised, and the
nipper carriage is moved further backwards by the continued action
of its appropriate cam (K) to draw the nipper jaws out of the range
of the vibrating cement roll (T2). The latter, which has received a
coating of cement by laying in contact with the revolving cistern
roll (T) is now moved forward by the action of its appropriate cam
(K), and rolling over the adjacent or hinder edge of the sheet of
leather covers it with a thin coating of cement. As this operation is
being effected upon the hinder edge of the leather sheet, the front rock
shaft ("), which by means of the traverse bar (z, z,) racks y, y, and
pinions W, W, turns the finger spindles it, i', is depressed by the
action of its appropriate cam to turn inwards the front fingers with
the front portion of the sheet enclosed between them; by this move-
ment the front edge of the sheet is turned over upon the upper face
of the upper clamp o¹, the sheet being thus bent into the form repre-
sented at C, Figure 9. As soon as this operation is effected the hinder
rock shaft i, begins to move in a corresponding manner, thus moving
the hinder pair of fingers, which turn the hinder cemented edge of the
sheet over upon the front edge, already laying upon the upper clamp;
by this movement the shaft is bent into the form represented at C',
Figure 9. As now the cam shaft still moves outwards, the heated
pressing iron F, is depressed by the action of its appropriate cams
Ks, upon the overlapping edges of the sheet beneath, thus compressing
the two together, and at the same time drying the cement. The leather
cover is now completed, and as the cam shaft continues to revolve the
knife q, is moved back by the action of the cam K, to its first posi-
tion; and as the cement roll passes its appropriate treadle shoe the

page_text: vibrating roll is moved back by the spring until its barrel bears against
the cistern roll T, from which it receives a fresh coating of cement.
The pressing iron cam K¹³, now passes its appropriate treadle shoe, and
the iron is raised by the springs. As the pressing iron rises the two
clamp carriages N', and N2, are moved back to their first position, and
the lower clamp O, is depressed by the action of the cam K, which
also depresses the movable jaw I', of the stationary nippers. By
these movements the finished cover, which has the form represented at
D, Figure 9, is released, and is permitted to drop into a spout M, by
which it is discharged at the back of the machine. As the finished
cover drops the movable nippers are advanced by the action of the
cam K, to seize the newly beveled extremity of the leather strip pro-
jecting from the stationary nippers, while at the same time the rock
shaft is, and i, are moved by the cams K", and K1, to turn back the two
pairs of fingers U, and U¹, to their first positions. The several mem-
bers of the machine are now in the proper position to commence the
construction of a new cover which is effected by the repetition of the
above-described operations. The several cams by which the different
members of the machine are operated all effect their proper duties in
the formation of a cover during a single revolution of the cam shaft;
hence at every revolution of the latter a complete cover is formed; and
as the several members of the machine perform their duties with
mechanical precision, all the covers formed will be symmetrical and
uniform. It is obvious that almost endless modifications may be made
in the construction and arrangement of the machine herein-before
described without changing the principle upon which it operates. I
have contrived numerous equivalent and analogous devices for almost
every one contained in the machine I have described, and as some of
these equivalent devices may be deemed by certain constructors better.
suited to accomplish the desired result, I will mention such of them as
in my opinion are most likely to be adopted. As it may not in some
cases be convenient to carry the steam through the hollow pressing iron
F, on account of the leakage of condensed steam, it may be advisable
to make a solid pressing iron, and let it raise into or against a fixed
metallic heater during the intervals between its descent to press and

page_text: dry the seams. In the above-described machine the treadles are al
placed beneath the cam shaft, and are depressed by the rotation of the
cams; this arrangement of the treadles may in some cases be reversed
and a portion of these may be arranged above the cam shaft, and be
raised by the rotation of the cams. The movable jaw of the stationary
nippers may, if deemed best, be operated by such a treadle, and may be
guided in its movement by stationary guide rods, which depend from
the fixed jaw, and pass through suitable perforations or eyes in the
extremities of the movable jaw. In this case the rods upon which the
movable jaw is supported, and which will project upwards from the
treadle or from the cross head moved thereby, should be arranged in
such manner as to allow the jaw to rock upon their extremities to
accommodate itself to variations in the thickness of the leather. The
lower jaw of the travelling nippers may have a friction wheel pivoted
to its shank to enable it to move with less friction upon its appropriate
traverse bar; it may be replaced by a rising and falling arm, which may
be projected from a rock shaft at the back of the machine, and may be
raised and lowered by the action of a suitable cam. The stationary
clamp I have described may be replaced by a bar clamp fixed to the
clamp carriage, so that it is moved beneath the sheet of leather simul-
taneously with the movement of the present upper clamp above the
sheet. In order to prevent the yielding of this bar clamp to the
pressure of the pressing iron it may be made to move over fixed rests
secured to the transverse bearers of the frame. In the practical
operation of a machine for operating upon heavy leather a weighted
lever may not be sufficient to hold the knife in its proper position. In
such cases I secure an arm to the knife rod, and to the extremity of
this arm I fit a friction wheel, which, as the arm moves, runs upon an
adjustable rail secured to the front rail of the main frame. By adjust-
ing this traverse rail I am enabled to force the knife downwards upon
the nipper jaws with any required degree of pressure. In the machine
I have described the spindle of the fingers which turn the edges of the
leather sheet are operated by racks acting upon the adjacent faces of
their respective pinions, and these racks are connected with treadles
placed beneath the cam shaft; this arrangement may be. reversed, the

page_text: treadles may be arranged above the cam shaft, and the racks may be
made to act upon the opposite or outer faces of their respective pinions.
In some cases the continued pressure of the pressing iron may be re-
placed with advantage by a series of blows struck in quick succession
upon the same, and this hammering motion may be readily imparted to
the pressing iron by altering the shape of the cam which depresses it.
In the foregoing description I have stated the steam is conducted
beneath the cement cistern; this has been found advisable in order to
keep the cement warm and fluid. I have also found it advisable to
cover the cistern as far as practicable both to prevent evaporation and
to keep out dust. In order to construct drawing roll covers of different
dimensions with this machine its several members may be made
adjustable in any of the well-known modes employed in the construc-
tion of machinery; parts of the machinery I have described may also
be employed separate from the others for the purpose of preparing the
leather for this machine or for other purposes; thus, for example, one
of these parts or machines of two forceps and the knife may be em-.
ployed to sever the material into sheets or blanks ready for bending
and cementing; while another, consisting of the clamps, fingers, and
cementing apparatus may be employed to receive prepared sheets or
blanks and to unite theire dges. The first machine may also be adapted,
to dividing skins or other material into strips of a suitable breadth for
forming tubes by increasing the breadth of the forceps, and giving a
greater stroke to the knife. It is also obvious that the mechanism
described may be modified to form two or more tubes simultaneously
by increasing the dimensions of the several parts sufficiently to admit
and act upon two or more strips of material which are fed to the
machine side by side. If the various treadles are fitted with anti-
friction wheels for the cams to act on, the machinery would require
less power to operate it, and would run more smoothly and steadily.
Having thus described the construction and operation of my ma-
chinery for forming flexible tubes, what I claim as my Invention, and
desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-
First, the method of forming tube blanks or sheets of the
proper size
and form for tubes from leather or other suitable material by means of
B

page_text: the movable and stationary nippers and inclined knife, or the equivalents
thereof, operating automatically, substantially as herein set forth.
Second, I claim the method of forming flexible tubes from prepared
sheets or blanks by means of fingers, clamps, and cement, or their equi-
valents, acting substantially as herein set forth, to bring the edges of the
sheet into contact, and to unite the same.
Third, I claim combining in a single machine the operations of
forming the leather or other material into blanks, bringing the edges of
the same into contact, and uniting them so as to form a tube at a single
operation, substantially as herein set forth.
Fourth, I claim the clamp by means of which the material is held,
and upon which it is formed into a tube, constructed and operating in
such manner that it shall, in addition to its movements towards the
other clamp, also have a longitudinal movement to withdraw from the
finished tube, substantially as described.
Fifth, I claim the combination of the reciprocating diverging fingers
with the reciprocating conveying plates, or their equivalents, by whose
action the fingers are made to seize the sheet of material, substantially
as herein set forth.
Sixth, I claim the method of coating the edge of the sheet with
cement by means of a roller or its equivalent which receives the cement,
and applies it to the edge to be cemented, substantially in the manner
and for the purpose herein set forth.
Seventh, in combination with a clamp, or its equivalent, for
supporting the edges of the sheet of material to be united, I claim a
reciprocating pressing iron actuated, substantially as herein set forth, to
press the edges together and to set the cement.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name
and affixed my seal this First day of March. A.D. 1854.
CHARLES COLLINS. (L.B.)
Witness, P. H. WATSON.