IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR BRUSHING, POLISHING OR SCOURING LEATHER
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 2nd Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1888
I, HARRY THOMAS ROBERTS of Seed Hill Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Currier do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
BRUSHING, POLISHING OR SCOURING LEATHER to be as follows:-
29
This invention has reference to machines employed for brushing, polishing or
scouring leather, and consists in the means for and method of pressing the leather
against the rotary brush, and in adjusting such pressure as and when required.
In order to carry out my invention, I dispense with the ordinary roller which was
placed under the rotary brush, and instead thereof, I place a table which is binged in
any suitable manner to the rear of the machine. I prefer this table to be slightly
inclined from the front to the back of the machine, so that the leather may be
easily fed between the rotary brush and table, and delivered at the rear of the
machine.
In order to adjust the table so as to allow different or varying thicknesses of leather
to pass between the said table and the rotary brush, I may employ a treadle, placed in
front of the machine, and connected by suitable levers to the table, so that the
attendant, by simply depressing the said treadle with his foot, can raise the table and
so,force the leather against the brush, whereby the required pressure is obtained.
For the purpose of holding the table in the position to which it has been raised or
lowered, weights, pins, or other means may be used. Instead of a treadle and levers,
suitably arranged hand levers, cams, wedges, or other known devices may be employed
for raising and lowering the table.
When scouring leather, the same description of machine is employed, with the
exception, that the rotary brush is provided with a number of stones, placed at short
distances apart and projecting to the ends of the bristles.
Although I prefer to give the requisite pressure to the leather by means of a table,
as hereinbefore described, I may make the table a fixture and obtain the pressure by

page_text: raising or lowering the rotary brush, which in this case would be mounted in loose
bearings.
By the means above described, I am enabled to adjust the table so that the required
pressure can be immediately given to any thickness of leather fed to the machine,
whereby the loss of time occasioned by the present method of raising and lowering
the roller by means of set screws placed at each side of the machine, is prevented,
and the employment of a slightly inclined table, instead of a roller, allows the leather
to be easily fed to, and delivered from the machine.
Dated this 1st day of Auril 1887.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Brushing, Polishing, or Scouring
Leather.
I, HARRY THOMAS ROBERTS of Seed Hill Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Currier, 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 has reference to machines employed for brushing, polishing or
Scouring leather, and consists in the means for and method of pressing the leather
against the rotary brush, and in adjusting such pressure as and when required.
In order to carry out my invention, I dispense with the ordinary roller hitherto
placed under the rotary brush, and instead thereof, I place a table which is hinged in
any suitable manner to the rear of the machine. I prefer this table to be slightly
inclined from the front to the back of the machine, so that the leather may be easily
fed between the rotary brush and table and delivered at the rear of the machine. In
order to adjust the table so as to allow different or varying thicknesses of leather to pass
between the said table and the rotary brush, I may employ a treadle placed in front of
the machine and connected by suitable levers to the table, so that the attendant, by
simply depressing the said treadle with his foot, can raise the table and so force the
leather against the brush, whereby the required pressure is obtained.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood, reference is herein made
to the accompanying sheet of drawings where, Fig. 1, is cross section of a machine
for brushing, polishing or scouring leather constructed according to this
my said
invention. A is the framework of the machine, B the rotary brush supported in
bearings at each end of the machine and receiving rotary motion by means of pulley C
and strap a from any suitable source; and D is the strap guide pivotted on a bracket
bolted to the framework. The invention consists in combining with the rotary
brush Ba table E either adjustable or fixed, though I prefer it to be adjustable
so that by means of treadle and levers or their equivalents, the said table can be
raised and lowered too and from the brush according to the thickness of leather
being operated upon, and the pressure required to be given thereto.
The accom-
panying drawing shews an adjustable table preferably hinged to the rear of the
machine. To the underside of the table is connected one end of a rod or lever b,
the opposite end of which is connected to the extremity of a short lever arm e mounted
on the cross shaft d placed in front of the machine, such shaft also carrying the
treadle e. When the attendant depresses the treadle e with his foot, the short lever
arm c is raised, thereby raising the rod or lever and consequently the table E which
forces the leather against the brush.
For the purpose of holding the table in the position to which it has been raised or
lowered, pins g, weights or other means may be used.
Instead of a treadle and levers, suitably arranged hand levers, cams, wedges, or other

page_text: known devices may be employed for raising and lowering the table. If the table is
made a fixture, I may obtain the requisite pressure by raising and lowering the
rotary brush, which, in this case, would be mounted in loose bearings.
When scouring leather, the same description of machine is employed, with the
exception that the rotary brush is provided with a number of stones, glasses, or other
pieces of suitable material placed at short distances apart and projecting to the
ends of the bristles as shown in cross section Fig. 2, and longitudinal part section and
elevation Fig. 3.
By the means above described, I am enabled to adjust the table so that the required
pressure can be given to any thickness of leather fed to the machine, whereby the loss
of time occasioned by the present method of raising and lowering the roller by
means of set-screws placed at each side of the machine is prevented, and the employ-
ment of a slightly inclined table, instead of a roller, allows the leather to be easily fed
to and delivered from the machine.
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 :-
:-
Firstly. In a machine for brushing or polishing leather, the combination with a
rotary brush, of an adjustable or fixed table such as E, substantially as shewn and
described.
Secondly. In a machine for scouring leather the combination, with a rotary brush,
having pieces of stone, glass or other suitable material placed at short distances
apart thereon and projecting to the ends of the bristles, of an adjustable or fixed table
such as E substantially as set forth.
Dated 30th day of December A D 1887
TASKER & CROSSLEY.
Halifax, Agents.