A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR HOLDING LEATHER BUTTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1885

page_text: I JESSE COOPER of Wollaston in the County of Northampton Carpenter and
Builder do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR HOLDING LEATHER BUTTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The said invention relates to the holding of leather butts so as to facilitate the
process of cutting the same, and to other similar purposes. At present the butts
are generally held down on the cutting bench by heavy weights placed on them.
These weights have to be frequently lifted, and their position changed, and to effect
this the workman has to lean over the bench, often subjecting himself to considerable
strain, his position not being suitable for lifting. He has also frequently to press
the butt against the cutting beach with the side of his body in order to hold the
butt tight when cutting. My invention is for a new or improved apparatus for
holding the butts, and I will now describe it with reference to the drawings filed
here with. It consists of two wooden gripping rails moved in the slotted posts of
a wooden frame, and worked by two levers and two springs. The frame A is
fastened to the cutting bench by a back rail B which is adjusted to the height of
the under side of the top of the cutting bench C. By means of two wedges D. D,
affixed to the under side of the lower gripping rail E and sliding in the slots of the
uprights, a parallel vertical motion is obtained, by which the space between the two
gripping rails can be varied to suit the thickness of the leather required to be held.
The Rail E is kept in the position required by means of two thumb screws F. F.
The upper gripping rail G is lifted by means of two springs H. H, one at each end,
affixed between it and the lower gripping rail E. The end of the leather butt or
other substance to be held is passed through the space between the two rails. The
upper rail G is then pressed down by the levers I. I, and the butt is gripped and
securely held. The levers work on two oak blocks K. K. The dotted line L. L
shews position of upper rail G when released by levers and raised by springs. The
levers when thus at rest occupy the positions indicated by dotted lines M. M. In
section, the curved dotted line N. N represents a coiled leather butt the end of
which is passed between and gripped by the two rails G and E; O is the pin
forming the fulcrum of the lever I; and F the thumb screw securing position of
ונ

page_text: rail E. In end elevation the curved dotted line N. N again represents a coiled
leather butt, and H one of the springs which lift the rail G. The meeting faces of
the two gripping rails G and E are made slightly convex longitudinally and
transversely in order (1) to ensure a more perfect grip, and (2) to facilitate the
passage of the leather between the rails. The butt being firmly held by the two
gripping rails may be cut with ease by the workman standing in front of the frame.
In order to draw the butt through, piece by piece, as the cutting proceeds, it is
only necessary to work one of the levers, sufficient play being obtained between the
rails at the opposite end by a slight rounding of the end of rail G.
Lines, pulleys and weights may be substituted for the springs shewn for the
purpose of lifting rail G, or screws or a cam action may also be substituted for the
like purpose, in which latter cases the levers and adjusting wedges might also be
dispensed with; or any other suitable means may be employed to obtain the motion
required for adjusting gripping and releasing. The rail marked A" is intended as
a fence against the spring of a coiled butt, and can be dispensed with when cutting
flat material. The apparatus is suitable and adaptable for holding substances other.
than leather.
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
1. The construction of an apparatus consisting essentially of two rails between
which rails the leather butt or other substance to be held is passed, and by which
it is gripped and held securely for cutting or other purposes, all substantially in
the manner herein before described, and as set forth in the drawings accompanying
this specification.