Improvements in Machinery for Treating Skins, Hides, Leather, and like Substances.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Treating Skins, Hides, Leather,
and like Substances.
I JOSEPH HALL of Burley Engine Works Leeds Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improvements consist of a special roller or rollers constructed with a
continuous spiral of left and right hand character, formed or fixed on the longi-
tudinal direction or length of the roller. These spirals may be termed the long
or main spirals. Arranged in connection with the said main spirals are short
pieces placed at varying angles and positions, so as to obtain as nearly as possible a
perfect imitation of hand labour.
The main spirals may meet or join each other like an ordinary right and
left hand spiral or a long spiral may join a shorter one or piece as aforesaid,
whereby the abutting of the spirals or pieces form angles of varying centres in
relation to the longitudinal length of the cylinder. By suitably arranging the
long spirals and short spiral pieces in relation to each other, an increased number
of abutting angles is obtained. The said spiral rollers may have fixed centres or
movable ones, so as to allow the rollers to turn upon a straight, curved, inclined
or cylindrical face or bed for carrying the skin. Also the rollers may be carried
either by fixed or movable bearings and made to travel instead of the table.
also employ an arrangement, whereby when the table (that is, wheu a vertical
table is used) is raised, it passes between two rollers, having spirals and pieces
such as aforesaid, thereon. The said arrangement consists of a top nipping bar
(which is caused to act automatically) holding the skin in position, when unevenly
laid on each side of the table, which prevents the dragging away of the skin and is
released in the descent of the table. Hitherto the skin passing through the
rollers has a part, which it has not been possible to work upon, except by moving
it into position by hand, but I provide an arrangement, whereby the movement
may be done automatically or otherwise at will, and which consists of an apron
or other such device (which carries the skin) controlled by suitable mechanism so
as to move the part unoperated upon into the position, where it may be operated
upon. I impart this movement preferably hy means of a roller, which has either a
revolving intermittent or a rocking motion given to it by any suitable mechanism.
Also I provide an arrangement of means, whereby a positive up and down motion
of the vertical table may be obtained. This is carried out by a suitable clutch
arrangement or other suitable device, whereby I obtain a quicker return of the
table on its return movement or the table may be taken up quicker and allowed to
fall by its own gravity.
Dated the 24th of February 1896.

page_text: holding the skin in position when unevenly laid on each side of the table F which
prevents the dragging of the skin and is released on the descent of the table..
This automatic motion is imparted as follows,--When the levers for putting in
action the mechanism for operating the table are actuated, self-acting catches K.
engaging and disengaging in recesses L formed in the uprights M of the machine,
act to bold the nipping bar J when the pressure is desired on the skin by engaging
in the recess, and the catches are disengaged by the descent of the table. The
catches K are preferably pivotted to the ends of the nipping bar, or they may be
attached to the table F or other suitable position.
Hitherto the skin passing through the rollers A has a part H which it has not
been possible to work upon except by moving it into position by hand, but. I provide
an arrangement whereby this movement may be done automatically or otherwise at
will, and which consists of an apron N, or other such device (which carries the
skin) controlled by suitable mechanism, so as to move the part H unoperated upon
into the position where it may be operated upon. I carry out this movement
preferably by means of a revolving, intermittent, or a rocking motion given to the
apron by any suitable mechanism. Also I provide an arrangement of means
whereby a positive up and down motion of the vertical table may be obtained.
This is carried out by a suitable clutch arrangement, or other suitable device,
whereby I obtain a quick return of the table on its return movement, or the table
may be taken up and allowed to fall by its own gravity.
The table F carrying the apron N may have a fixed top edge as in Fig. 8, or a
roller F working on balls, rollers, or antifriction balls F, or on its own bearings,
may be employed to form the top edge of the table.
In Fig. 10, an arrangement is shown for giving a continuous movement to the
apron N on the table F from the bottom of the table F, this consists of a ratchet
wheel O, arranged on the table and a pivotted weighted catch P, which by means
of a set screw R can be adjusted to regulate the action of the catch P upou the
teeth of the ratchet wheel O, when the table rises and falls. The catch P is carried
on a fixed stud P in the side or other convenient place or position. By releasing
the said catch P no motion is imparted to the apron N, or the same may be done
by not allowing the table to fall below a certain distance or part, see Fig. 4.
My arrangement of mechanism for imparting an intermittent motion to the
table F consists of suitably formed levers which are preferably bent at an angle
forming two parts S & S¹, and connected to the base of the table F. In con-
nection with the said levers are spring bolts T & T working in the said frame.
Beneath the said spring bolts are spring catches Y, having pins Y engaging and
disengaging the said spring bolts, as afterwards further explained.
The said spring bolts are connected to levers U which are pivotted at W and
joined at W to vertical rods X having collars T3. The table F has stops T²
(T are guides or bearings for the rods X) or a spring cushion stop.
The spiral rollers A are carried in bearings A' by levers A which are joined
at A to vertical rods H' which are operated by the action of the machine so as to
bring the said rollers or cylinders to and from the skin. The rollers or cylinders A
are driven in opposite directions from one counter shaft V by pulleys S2 and S³
and S and S, and belts S & S'. The bearings A carrying the rollers or
cylinders A may have elastic supports A for keeping the tension on the belts.
When it is desired to stop the table F in its descent to prevent the automatic
movement of the table, I insert a wedge Z which is done by operating a band-lever Z
pivetted on the hollow shaft Z. As soon as the bottom of the table F comes in
contact with the said wedge the table is arrested. The wedge can be withdrawn
by withdrawing the lever." By this means the table F is prevented from coming
in contact with the levers S & S₁ and draw bolts T & T also the catch P.
I also employ an improved clutch arrangement having a double action, see Figs. 11
and 12, or I may use an ordinary single clutch as shown in Fig. 4.
Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, this arrangement provides a positive reversing
motion for the table F. The arrangement consists of a central boss V connected

page_text: with a lever V1 by pin and slot arrangement, or a slot R¹, see Fig. 13, may be
formed in the boss V. The lever V joins on to a vertical lever V, which is
controlled by the movement of the table. The boss V is carried on a shaft V
which has fast and loose pulleys V & V and clutch boxes V with spring
fingers V adapted to engage with the boss V when the clutch is put into operation.
The vertical lever V1 terminates in a balance weight. The vertical rod V has
two spring stops R & R and the table Fa stop R
In Fig. 4 the clutch arrangement is single acting, the table F being raised by
the mechanism and allowed to fall by its own gravity.
The starting motion is given by disengaging the spring handle V (which has a
stop V) from a bar H'. The bar H' normally rests on the stop V and is joined
to a rod V which is joined to a lever V₁ for controlling the clutch arrangement.
The bar H is also coupled by chain to a vertical rod H having a stop or finger H,
the said rod H is pivotted at A to the levers A³.
The frame of the machine carries pulleys H over which pass chains H, these
chains are secured to the axles of the rollers A and pass to a pulley H3 which is
carried by a rod H10 connected to a lever H" joined to arm H which by a
link H joined to arm H" connects it to the treadle shaft H. The shaft H³ is
for bringing the rollers A together by foot-treadle H.
In this arrangement the handle V, must be cleared off the stop V every time
the ascent motion is required. When the handle V3 is cleared off the stop V the
bar H is allowed to drop, by this means the rod V2 depresses the end of lever V₁
and puts the clutch into operation, the ascent of the table F then commences as
hereinafter more particularly explained, by the action of the driving mechanism
which is put into motion by the operation of the clutch, the ascent of the table
continues until the stop T on the table F comes into contact with the stop or
finger H, which causes the rod H to rise, and being coupled at A to levers A
causes the rollers A to separate and then lifts by means of slack chain the bar H¹
into the stop V, the table F then falls by its own gravity and the clutch is released.
To move the apron automatically the wedge Z is withdrawn by lever Z. Motion
is given to the table F by chains V from chain wheels V13 on shaft V driven
by chain wheels V" from chain wheels V10 on counter shaft V.
When
When the table ascends the lever S' is in contact with the spring bolt T (which
is projected, while the other one T", is withdrawn) and thus is depressed or caused
to radiate from the horizontal position, and carries the apron N with it.
the stop T on the table F lifts stop T on rod X, the spring bolt T is withdrawn
by lever U and is held by pin You spring Y. Simultaneously the stop T comes
in contact with the stop H and throws the rollers A apart, by levers A3 and at
the same time lifts the bar H' on to the spring catch V and releases the boss V
from the clutch finger V. The table then descends by gravity and its motion is
controlled by an ordinary brake arrangement. On reaching the bottom, the arm S
is horizontal and depresses the spring Y carrying pin Y, thus allowing bolt T
to project. The ascent of the table is again effected by moving the handle V
and so on.
In the arrangements shown in Figs. 11 & 12 the putting in or out of gear of
the two separate clutches is effected through the action of the table F. On the
ascent the stop R comes into contact with the spring stop R³ on the rod V. This
causes the counterbalance lever V₁ to tilt the vertical rod carrying the ball which
falls to the right and causes the boss F to engage the clutch. On the descent the
other clutch is put into operation by the stop acting on the spring stop R³.
The clutch arrangements are for arresting the automatic motion, so that the
machine may be worked as a stationary one by means of the hand levers J & J2
putting the respective clutches out of operation. W & W' are speed wheels for
causing a quick descent motion. The wheel W gearing with the wheel W' which
is carried on an an independent shaft W2 which also carries a chain wheel V13 as
in Fig. 4. The shaft V also carries a chain wheel V13, these chain-wheels are
joined to the wheels V" by chains as in Fig. 4.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
1. In machinery of the kind referred to, the combination or employment of
rollers or cylinders having a series of main or long spirals and a series of short
pieces arranged at varying angles and positions, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
2. In machinery of the kind referred to, imparting a rocking motion to the table
or apron for carrying the skin or the like substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
3. In machinery of the kind referred to, arranging the rollers or cylinders A in
moveable bearings, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In machinery of the kind referred to, the combination of nipping bar J
arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In machinery of the kind referred to, the method of and arrangement of
means, for driving the rollers in reverse directions without toothed gear and from
one countershaft, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. In machinery of the kind referred to the construction and arrangement of
double action clutch operating for the purposes substantially as set forth.
7. In machinery of the kind referred to, imparting a positive motion to the
table or cylinder, carrying the material substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
8. The improvements in machinery for treating leather skins and the like,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 30th dox of Datober 1896
JOSEPH HALL.