Improvements in the Method of and Means for Tanning Hides and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1897-Accepted, 14th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Tanning Hides and
the like.
I, JOSEPH FORSTER of Howley Cottages, Warrington, in the county of Lancaster,
Tanner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved method of and means for tanning hides,
skins and the like, and its principal objects are:-To prevent crumpling, to pro-
duce a more uniform product, and to reduce the time required to complete the
transformation of the raw materials into leather.
I attain these objects according to my Invention, by subjecting the skins or
hides, during their immersion in the baths in which they are treated, during the
preliminary and actual processes of tanning, or in the actual processes only, and
in the drying process, to a motion which is the resultant of two components
horizontal and vertical.
I may obtain this motion in various ways, and will describe one particular con-
struction of apparatus which I may employ in connection with the actual tanning,
for the purpose of my Invention, by way of example only.
Thus, I may construct a frame having a width equal to or somewhat greater
than that of the pits, and a length equal to or greater than that of a row or range
of the pits. This frame is mounted on wheels adapted to run on special rails
parallel with the row of pits, and from it the hides or skins undergoing treatment
in the pits are suspended vertically and parallel with each other. The rails upon
which the wheels run consist of a series of inclines. A horizontal reciprocal motion
being given to the frame by any suitable means. it will be lifted and lowered verti-
cally by the travel of the wheels up and down the inclined planes. This motion
is repeated and continued, preferably without intermission, during the whole of
the process. The hides or skins being vertically suspended and parallel in the
liquor, and partaking in the motions of the frame, it will be obvious that they
cannot cling together, and that they will not be crumpled. The peculiar motion
also tends to keep the liquor uniform throughout the bath.
In practice it will generally be convenient to arrange the apparatus in pairs,
connected in such a manner that the weight of the descending apparatus and of
the hides or skins suspended the 'efrom, will aid the ascent of the other, with its
load.
I am fully aware that skins and hides have been kept in motion during tannage,
for many years past, by rocking, by horizontal translation, and by various other
means, all of which however are open to objections which are avoided by the
peculiar motion herein before described.
Dated this 5th day of October 1896.
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Means for Tanning Hides and
the like.
i
I, JOSEPH FORSTER of Howley Cottages, Warrington, in the county of Lancaster,
Tanner, 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.
This Invention relates to an improved method of and means for tanning hides,
skins and the like, and its principal objects are:-To prevent crumpling, to pro-
duce a more uniform product, and to reduce the time required to complete the
transformation of the raw materials into leather.
I attain these objects according to my invention, by subjecting the hides or
skins, during their immersion in the baths in which they are treated, during the
preliminary and actual processes of tanning, and in the drying process, to a motion
having horizontal and vertical components.
Imay obtain this motion in various ways, and will describe one particular con-
struction of apparatus which I may employ in connection with the actual tanning,
for the purpose of my Invention, by way of example only. This apparatus is,
indicated by the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section; and Figure 2, a plan.
Figure 3 represents one of several possible modifications, in sectional elevation.
As illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, I may construct a frame F, having a width
equal to or somewhat greater than that of the pits P, and a length which may be
that of one of the pits or thereabouts or of two or more of the pits.
As shewn by the drawing there is a separate frame for each pit, and the several
frames over a line of pits are connected together in train by the couplings,C.
The frame or frames is or are mounted upon wheels W, adapted to run on rails R,
which are specially arranged, parallel with each line. of pits. The hides or
skins S, which are undergoing treatment, are suspended vertically and parallel
with each other, from the frames, so as to be submerged in the pits. The rails R
upon which the wheels run, consist of or include a series of ramps or inclines I I.
A horizontal reciprocal motion being given to the frame by any suitable means,
it will be lifted and lowered vertically by the travel of the wheels up and down. the
inclined planes II. This motion is repeated and continued, preferably, without
intermission, during the whole of the process. The hides or skins being vertically
suspended and parallel in the liquor, and partaking of the motion of the frame,
it will be obvious that they cannot cling together and that they will not be
crumpled. The peculiar motion also tends to keep the liquor uniform throughout
the bath.
In practice it will generally be convenient to arrange the apparatus in pairs,
connected in such a manner that the weight of the descending frame or train of
frames with the skins suspended therefrom, will aid the ascent of the other with
its load. Two trains of the frames are shewn in the plan view Figure 2, and aro
respectively moved by the two cranks A A, set at an angle of 180°, and connect-
ing rods BB. The cranks are rotated by the shaft D, which may be driven. from
any suitable source of power by a belt running upon the pulley E.
The apparatus may be modified in very many ways without departing from my
invention. Thus, the ramps or inclines instead of being of considerable length as;
illustrated by Figure 1, may be comparatively short as shewn by Figure 3, accor-
ding to which there is a separate pair of inclines F for each pair of wheels. Or,
the whole arrangement.may be reversed, that is to say the wheels may rotate in

page_text: fixed bearings alongside the pits and reversed ramps or inclines may be fixed upon
the under sides of the frames in such positions that they will come over the wheels.
I am fully aware that skins and hides have been kept in motion during tannage,
for many years past, by rocking, by horizontal translation, and by various other
means, all of which however are open to objections which are avoided by the
peculiar motion hereinbefore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In the processes of tanning hides and skins, the hereinbefore described method
of moving the skins or hides in the baths, which consists in imparting to the ver-
tically suspended hides or skins a reciprocal motion having horizontal and vertical
components; substantially as set forth.
2. Apparatus for moving hides and skins in the baths during the processes of
tanning, constructed and operated to impart to the vertically suspended skins and
hides a reciprocal notion having horizontal and vertical components, substantially
as set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings.
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.