Year: 1888

page_text: We, GEORGE V. ANDERSON, and CHARLES W. GOUERT, both of Wilmington,
Delaware, United States of America; Inventors 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in the class of machines adapted for staking
and softening skins, and consists of means whereby the machines are of reduced
height, more compact, simplified, and of increased effectiveness, substantially as will
be hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 represents a partial side elevation, and partial vertical section of a machine
for staking and softening skins embodying our invention.
Figure 2 represents a partial top view and partial horizontal section of a detached
portion thereof.
Figure 3 represents a section of a portion on line, a figure 1.
Figure 4 represents a view of a portion of a modification, on a reduced scale.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A, represents the frame of the machine, and B, the driving.shaft mounted thereon,
said shaft carrying a sprocket wheel B'.
C, D, represent parallel counter shafts which are mounted on the upper portion of
the frame A, the shaft C, carrying a pinion E, and sprocket wheel F.
Passing around the sprocket wheels B' F, is an endless chain G, whereby the
power of the shaft B, may be transmitted to the shaft C.
The shaft D,,carries a spur wheel H, and cam J, said wheel H, meshing with the
pinion E, whereby power is communicated.to.said shaft D.
K represents a rising and falling beam which is vertically arranged and guided
[DQ77

page_text: on the frame A and connected with the same by means of links K' are bell cranks
or elbow levers L which are mounted on brackets or hangers M secured to the
frame. Connected with the elbow lever are links N, which are pivoted to a beam P,
which is vertically arranged and receives horizontal motions, due to the action of the
links N K', elbow levers L, and beam K, the latter having at its upper end rollers Q,
which engage with the rim of the cam J, whereby motions are imparted to said
beam K.
The beam P, carries at its ends, rollers R, which ride on horizontal ways P¹, attached
to the frame A whereby the beam is guided in its motions.
The upper end of the beam is connected with a sliding frame S, which is guided
horizontally on the frame A, and carries a head T, opposite to which latter is a
bed U, supported on the frame, said head and bed constituting a clamp by which
the skins are held during the staking action.
The faces of the head and bed are V shaped or angular, and clad with rubber or
other suitable elastic or flexible material, whereby their holding power is increased.
The frame S, consists of side rods S¹, and end bars S2, S3. The bar S³, is
loosely fitted on the rods S', and bears against spiral springs S', encircling said rods,
the latter carrying nuts a, whereby the location of the bar S3, and tension of the
springs S, may be adjusted.
The bar S3, also carries a bearing piece S³, for the upper end of the beam P,
whereby as the beam advances, the frame is also advanced, so that the head T, is
forced against the bed U, the springs S4, compensating for any irregularity in the
skins between the clamp, and preventing injury to the parts thereof, due to any
excessive strain that may be occasioned.
The lower end of the beam P, has fitted on it a vertical slide V, to which is attached
a horizontally arranged movable cross head W, which is mounted on a rising and
falling carriage X, the latter being guided on the uprights of the frame A, and
receiving motion from a rod Y, which is attached to said carriage and to a crank
wheel Z, the latter being keyed or otherwise secured to the counter shaft D.
The slide V, is connected with the cross head W, by means of a horizontally
arranged bolt V, which is secured to said slide, and enters an eye W', rising from the
cross head, said bolt carrying suitable nuts b, whereby the connection of the slide and
cross head may be adjusted.
The end of the cross head opposite to the slide has secured to it an arm W whose
under end carries the knife A¹.
Rising from the carriage X, is a standard X', on which is mounted a swinging
arm X2, whose upper end carries the knife B2, and whose lower end is connected by
à link X³, with the cross head W, it being seen that as the cross head is moved, the
knives A¹, B2, are caused to approach and separate as the case may be, said knives
projecting towards each other, so as to act upon the skin when advanced towards each
other to full extent.
It will be noticed that as the carrier X is raised or lowered, the cross head W, the
knives A¹ B2, and the slide V, are carried by the same, said slide V, moving up and
down on the side of the beam P, as the latter advances and recedes.
The operation of the machine is as follows:
Power is communicated to the shaft B, whereby the parts of the machine are set.
in motion.
A skin is placed adjacent to the face of the bed U, and the head T, advances
towards the same. The carriage X also rises, and when it is at its highest point, the
beam P, has advanced to its full extent, whereby the head T, presses the skin against
the bed U, and firmly clamps the same. The knives now close against the opposite
sides of the skin, after which the carriage begins its descent, and the knives following
he same act upon the skin performing the staking and softening operation.
When the carriage has completed its descent, the cross head W, is drawn back
by the returning beam P. The arm W of the knife A¹, follows said cross head,
and owing to the link X³, and arm X2, the knife B2, is swung outwardly, when the

page_text: knives are separated simultaneously therewith, the head T recedes, whereby the clamp
is opened, and the skin released. The skin may now be turned or shifted and then
returned to the bed, so that as the machine continues its operation, the carriage
rises, the head advances so that the skin is again held, the knives also closing. so
that the skin is further staked or acted upon, the operation being continued as long
as desired.
In lieu of the two rollers Q, which engage with the rim of the cam J, we may
employ one roller Q and a spring Qas shown in figure 4, whereby the rising
and falling motions of the beam K, may be effected without however producing
different results from those hereinbefore stated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
First. In a machine for staking and softening skins, the clamp and knife-moving
beam P, connected with operating mechanism, consisting of elbow levers pivoted to said
beam and the frame of the machine, and another beam connected with said levers
and engaged by a cam, said parts being combined substantially as described.
Second. In a machine for staking and softening skins, a knife secured to a stand
and supported on a sliding cross head, and an opposite knife pivoted to a standard and
connected by a link with said cross head, whereby said knives advance and recede, the
parts named being combined, substantially as described.
Third. In a machine for staking and softening skins, a rising and falling carriage,
a sliding cross head mounted thereon, a blade secured to said cross head, an opposite
blade secured to a supporting arm which is mounted on said carriage and pivoted to
said cross head, and a slide mounted on a movable beam connected with said cross
head, the parts named being combined, substantially as described.
Fourth. In a machine for staking and softening skins, consisting of a driving shaft,
counter shafts with a pinion spur wheel, cam and crank wheel respectively thereon,
sprocket wheels on the driving shaft, and one of the counter shafts and an endless
chain on said wheels, a rising and falling beam, an advancing and returning beam,
elbow levers connected with said beams, a slide fitted on the second named beam, a
cross head attached to said slide, a rising and falling carriage supporting said cross
head, a rod connected with the aforenamed crank wheel and said carriage, a blade
attached to the cross heads, and another blade having its supporting arm mounted
on a standard on the carriage and connected by a link with said cross head, the parts
enumerated being combined substantially as described.
Fifth. In a machine for staking and softening skins, a sliding cross head carrying
a knife, and a rising and falling carriage supporting said head, in combination with a
movable beam, and a slide which is fitted on said beam and connected with said cross
head, said parts being combined substantially as described.
Sixth. In a machine substantially as described, the carriage X, the cross head W,
the slide V and beam P, in combination with the bolt. V, and eye W₁ which connects
said head and slide, substantially as described.
Seventh. In a machine for staking and softening skins, a frame with driving shaft
journalled therein, a shaft carrying a cam and connected with and operated by the
driving shaft, a vertical rising and falling beam operated by the rotation of said cam,
a vertical beam connected to said rising and falling beam by a bell lever, and links
adapted to move horizontally, and a knife and pad connected with and adapted to
move with said horizontally-moving beam; said parts being combined, substantially
as described.
Eighth. In a machine for staking and softening skins, a frame with driving shaft, a
cam operated by rotation of said shaft, a rising and falling beam actuated by rotation
of said cam a vertical beam connected by links and levers to said rising and falling
beam and adapted to move horizontally, a vertical slide on said horizontally moving
beam, a cross head connected to said slide and having an arm with knife, and a

page_text: !
swinging arm having a pad and linked to said cross-head, said parts being combined,
substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination of a frame, a horizontally moving beam with a vertically
moving slide thereon, a cross head connected to said slide having an arm with knife,
a standard secured to the frame, a swinging arm pivoted to the standard and having a
pad at its upper end, and linked at its lower end to the cross head, substantially' as
and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 16th day of October 1888