IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR REMOVING WOOL OR HAIR FROM AND FOR WORKING OR PREPARING HIDES AND SKINS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John William Willans Shaw, of Rochdale, in the
County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY
FOR REMOVING WOOL OR HAIR FROM AND FOR WORKING OR PREPARING HIDES
AND SKINS."-A communication from abroad by Mr. J. Watteau,
of Antwerp, Belgium.
Sealed the 30th January 1872, and dated the 6th December 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Willans
Shaw at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 6th December 1871.
I, JOHN WILLIAM WILLANS SHAW, of Rochdale, in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR REMOVING WOOL OR HAIR FROM AND FOR WORKING
OR. PREPARING HIDES AND SKINS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a machine capable of performing the several
operations hereafter mentioned, by the substitution of one cylinder for
another, as described.

page_text: The machine consists of a frame supporting a drum round which the
skin to be operated on is wrapped (one end being fixed across the drum),
and near this drum is mounted a cylinder provided with a series of
helical wood blades by which the wool or hair is stripped or removed
from the skin. The journals of the drum are supported in plummer
block bearings carried on slides capable of being moved along suitable
ways on the framework by means of screw rods geared together and
operated by a suitable handle, whereby the drum may be caused to
approach or recede from the cylinder as required. A travelling creeper
or endless cloth is placed beneath the cylinder to receive the fleece and
convey it to the rear of the machine where the fleece is rolled up by
means of a curved plate fixed to the framework or by a cylinder
provided with curved blades. Above the first or main cylinder a second
cylinder is mounted provided with india-rubber blades to act on the
skin after the blades of the main cylinder and remove any wool or hair
which may have escaped their action, a suitable receptacle being
provided into which the said wool or hair is thrown. Or the india-
rubber bladed cylinder may be substituted for the cylinder with wooden
blades and used alone to remove the wool or hair from the skin.
Power may be applied direct to the main cylinder, the drum and the
other cylinders or rollers being driven therefrom by suitable gearing.
In order to adapt the machine for the purpose of burring the wool on
sheep skins, I substitute a cylinder furnished with helical comb teeth
for the helical wooden bladed cylinder; the cylinder with india-rubber
blades being also dispensed with, or it may be employed in combination
with the comb toothed cylinder if thought necessary. By the employ-
ment of a cylinder having helical metal blades or cutters in lieu of
wooden blades, the machine is rendered suitable for fleshing or shaving
hides or skins and dressing the same on the flesh side.
For the purpose of softening the hides or skins and dressing the same
on the grain side, either the cylinder with helical wooden blades or
india-rubber blades, or blades made of rounded zinc may be employed.
To perform the operation of "stretching," the drum to which the hide
is applied would be covered with sheet metal, zinc for instance, while a
cylinder furnished with helical iron, steel, zinc, or copper blades is
used.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John William Willans Shaw in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 6th June 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WILLIAM WILLANS SHAW, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John William Willans Shaw, Her special
licence that I, the said John William Willans Shaw, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John William
Willans Shaw, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR REMOVING WOOL OR HAIR FROM
AND FOR WORKING OR PREPARING HIDES AND SKINS," a communication to
me from abroad by Mr. J. Watteau, of Antwerp, Belgium, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John William Willans
Shaw, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John William Willans Shaw, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the three
Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to machinery principally designed for removing
wool or hair from skins, but also capable of performing the several other

page_text: operations hereafter mentioned, by replacing some of the working parts
by others specially adapted to the operation to be performed.
In employing this machine for removing wool or hair from skins, it is
necessary that the skin should be previously subjected to treatment by
a process which will have the effect of loosening the hair or wool at the
roots, and so facilitate the complete removal of the wool or hair by the
machine. For this purpose the composition for which I obtained Letters
Patent in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland bearing date
December 22nd, 1871, No. 3477, is eminently adapted, and is the com-
nosition which I employ.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one arrangement of machine, and Figure
2 is a plan of the same. Figure 3 is a rear elevation of a machine of
slightly modified construction, and Figure 4 is a side elevation of the
same. The machine consists principally of a slowly rotating drum,
round which the skin is wrapped, and of a rapidly rotating shearing or
stripping cylinder provided with spiral or straight projecting edges or
knives, to the action of which the skin on the drum is subjected, the
drum and cylinder being arranged parallel to one another, and made
relatively adjustable to regulate the action of the machine.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A is the framing of the machine, and B
is the drum on which the skin is placed as hereafter described, and
presented to the stripping cylinder C. The journals of the drum and
and
cylinder are supported in suitable bearings B' and C', respectively,
the drum and cylinder are capable as before stated, of being adjusted at
any required distance apart by making the bearings of one or the other
movable. In the Drawing the bearings B' are shown as fitted to slide
upon guides B³, fixed on frame A, on which they are adjusted by means
of screw rods a, one to each bearing. Each rod a is connected to and
turns freely in a plain socket a¹ on the bearing and screws through a nut
or socket a² fixed on the frame A, both rods a being provided with a
chain wheel a³ to receive an endless chain by which they are geared
together and operated simultaneously from a winch handle a on one or
other rod a. It is obvious that the cutter cylinder may be made movable
if preferred, in which case the bearings of the drum B would be fixed.

page_text: The skin is secured by a clip which holds it by the butt end across the
drum, and the latter is covered with sheet india-rubber, all as described
hereafter.
The stripping or shearing cylinder may be made of hard wood,
or preferably of cast-iron with projecting edges of the form shown in
Figure 5 cast and fixed thereon, or cut by a suitable machine. These
edges may either be formed helically as shown in Figure 2, which is
preferable, or they may be made straight. D is a travelling creeper or
endless cloth or lattice passing over rollers b, b, mounted in bearings
between the sides of frame A, the purpose of said cloth being to receive
the wool or hair as it is pulled from the skin by the stripper cylinder C,
and convey it to the rear of the machine, where the fleece is rolled up if
thought desirable by contact with a plain tin roller D, Figure 1, mounted
in bearings between the sides of frame A, and driven by a crossed band
from a pulley on the axle of the helical cylinder C.
Power may be applied by a winch handle C³, or otherwise, to the axle
of the cylinder C, which carries a pinion d, which gears with an inter-
mediate spur wheel e turning on a stud fixed to frame A, and having on
its boss a pinion e¹ gearing with a spur wheel ƒ keyed on the axle of
the drum B. A spur wheel g, keyed to the other end of the axle of
the cylinder C, gears with a pinion g¹ fixed on the journal of roller b,
and imparts motion to the endless cloth D.
The machine represented in Figures 3 and 4 is somewhat differently
arranged, being an improvement on the machine above described. The
same letters of reference, wherever they recur, indicate similar parts.
A is the frame; B, the drum; and C, the shearing cylinder as before.
Both drum and cylinder are rotated in the same direction, which is
preferably that indicated by the arrows, to facilitate the sorting of the
wool; but in the machine shown in Figures 1 and 2 they are to be
rotated in the opposite direction, as indicated by the arrows in those
Figures. The skin wrapped round the periphery of the drum is carried
round with it between it and the shear cylinder C. To ensure the
passage of the skin it is necessary to secure its leading edge, which is
held to the surface of the drum by a flap or clip h, hinged at h¹ to the
drum, and extending the entire width of the same. This flap forms part
of the periphery of the drum, and covers a recess h³ therein. The flap is
opened and closed by a hand lever i fixed to its pivot at one end of said

page_text: flap. At a convenient distance from the end of this lever is a bracket i¹
fixed to an arm of the drum, which bracket serves to retain the lever i,
and hold the flap h in the closed position. The edge of the flap which
comes in contact with the skin, as shown, is notched or serrated to hold
the skin more securely. The drum of the machine shown in Figures 1
and 2 is also provided with a similar appliance, although it is not shown
in the Drawing.
The skin is secured in a pendent position with the wool side outermost
as shown in the Drawing, Figure 3, and the drum being rotated as
indicated by the arrow the skin is carried round to the cylinder C, which
is rapidly rotated also as indicated. In order that the latter may strip
off the wool or hair without injuring the skin it is necessary that it
should be accurately adjusted at the proper distance from the drum.
For this purpose the cylinder C is mounted in a swinging frame con-
sisting of the two side levers E, each mounted on a centre or stud k fixed
to the framing. These levers are provided with bearings at their upper
ends to receive the journals of the cylinder C. The latter is pressed
towards the drum B by the action of strong springs, one of which is
attached at one end to the lower extremity of each lever E, and at the
other to the framing. One of these springs is shown at 7; it is attached
at to a lug on lever E, and at the other end to a fixed arm & on the
framing of the machine. The tension of the spring is regulated by
means of nuts screwing on the stems by which the spring is terminated
as shown. An adjustable nut m fixed on the stop n serves to regulate
the distance of the cylinder C from the drum B, according to the thick-
ness of the skin to be operated upon. The said cylinder may be swung
back from the drum when required by means of a treadle F keyed on
the cross shaft o mounted in brackets p on the framing, and to which
shaft are keyed the curved arms q in contact with levers E, as shown.
To prevent the free end of the skin falling down and overlapping as it
approaches the cylinder C, I provide a roller r, carried in pendent arms ¹
hung on centres in uprights & on frame A, and weighted at right angles,
as shown, to keep the roller in contact with the skin on the drum.
When the drum and cylinder are running in the reverse direction to
that indicated by the arrows this roller is not required, but in this case
a leather winged clearing roller t is used to clear the shearing cylinder C
of any portions of the wool which may adhere thereto. This roller is

page_text: mounted in bearings in levers E above cylinder C, and is rotated against
the same in the opposite direction thereto by toothed gearing from the
shearing cylinder C, as shown. As the skin in this case approaches the
cylinder C on the under side it must be provided with teeth inclined in
the opposite direction, as in the machine shown in Figure 1, in which
case the skin when it is first attached to the drum B would hang with
the flesh side outwards or towards the operator. It is however preferred
to construct and drive the machine as described and indicated in
reference to Figures 3 and 4, as in this case the wool or hair after being
O separated is deposited on the lattice creeper D¹ in such a manner as to
permit of its being readily sorted whilst on the creeper, the roller D¹
employed in the other machine being dispensed with. Manual or steam
power may be applied to drive the machine. If manual power is to be
employed it is applied through an arrangement of gearing similar to
that already described in reference to Figures 1 and 2, and consisting of
a winch handle or hand wheel H keyed on the axle of cylinder C,
and a pinion d keyed on the same shaft and gearing with an inter-
mediate spur wheel e mounted on a stud fixed to an arm or lever E and
carrying a pinion e¹ which gears with the spur wheel ƒ fixed on the end
of the drum shaft. In this machine the spur wheel g keyed on the
other end of the shaft of cylinder C gears with an intermediate wheel g²
carried on a stud fixed to lever E, which wheel g² gears with spur wheel
g' on the lattice roller shaft b, which in this machine is prolonged and
carries a pair of pullies I, I, both running loose thereon. Power is
applied to pulley I when steam power is employed, and is transmitted
through the medium of a pinion u fixed to the boss of said pulley and
gearing with a spur wheel u' keyed on the extremity of the shear
cylinder shaft. To avoid confusion in Figure 3 I have shown in blue
lines so much of the gearing as is situated on the farthest side of the
machine.
Figure 5 shows a cross section of the stripping cylinder, in which the
shane of the strinning odons or knives is cleanly coon.
Figure 5 shows a cross section of the stripping cylinder, in which the
shape of the stripping edges or knives is clearly seen. They are rounded
on the outer surface and slightly undercut or shaped like ratchet teeth,
the extreme edge being blunted so as not to cut the staple but pull it
from the skin. The action of these edges is so softened and regulated
by the yielding of the india-rubber clothing of the drum and the
elasticity of the spring / that the wool can be pulled or sheared from
the most delicate skin by this machine.

page_text: Figure 6 shows an automatic apparatus which may be applied to the
machine shown in Figures 3 and 4 for supplying skins to the drum.
This arrangement is necessary to ensure a continuous motion of the
drum in case the machine is driven by steam power, and it necessitates
an alteration in the means used for opening and closing the clip which
secures the skin to the drum. K is an endless apron or lattice passing
round rollers K', K³, mounted in suitable supports in the frame of the
machine. At L is shown a wheel mounted on a stud fixed to an arm of
the frame and having on its face next the drum a series of radiating
arms L'. This wheel is operated as hereafter described, and drives the
lattice creeper K by gearing with a pinion K³ on the journal of roller K².
Above this roller and resting on the creeper is another roller M working
loosely in upright guides, which serve the purpose of retaining it in its
position and also allow it to move upwards according to the thickness
of the skin passing through. When it is necessary to feed the machine
the skin is placed upon the creeper with its edge against the loose
roller M. Fixed to the drum B is a slotted bracket N carrying a roller
N¹, which in rotating with drum B comes in contact with an arm L' of
the wheel L. On the near face of this wheel project studs L³, each arm
having one.
O is a lever with a catch with which roller N¹ first comes
in contact, and which drops down when released from said roller to the
position shown in dotted lines, where it will be seen the lowest stud L³
comes in contact with the catch on said lever and prevents any further
rotation of the wheel L, causing the creeper to remain stationary while
the loose roller M revolves, allowing the skin to pass away and acting as
a drag, so as to bring the skin in more even contact with the drum. It
will be seen that by the time roller N¹ comes into contact with the
nearest arm of the wheel L, it has raised the lever sufficiently to
disengage the catch and allow the wheel L to be partially rotated and
cause the skin to be drawn in so as to fall down with the end within the
longitudinal flap h, which is arranged as shown. This clip or flap has
fixed on its axis a lever x, which by the rotation of the drum in the
direction denoted by the arrow is brought into contact with a roller x¹
fixed to the frame, whereby the flap h is caused to open at the right
moment so as to be ready to receive the skin as described. The flap is
closed by a spring y secured to the drum as soon as the lever x leaves
roller x, and the skin is carried on to the drum. The skins are supplied
by hand to the creeper K, on which they are placed with the wool side

page_text: I also claim the general arrangement and combination of parts of the
machines shown in the Drawings, and the adaptation thereof to the
several purposes specified, substantially as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John William Willans Shaw, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
JOHN WILLIAM WILLANS SHAW. (L.S.)