Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Treating Skins in the Manufacture of Leather.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 31st Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Treating Skins in the
Manufacture of Leather.
We, JOHN PULLMAN, and ARTHUR PULLMAN, both of 17, Greek Street, Soho
Square, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Our present invention relates to improvements in the machinery or apparatus
used in the processes of treating skins, for the manufacture of leather, such as what
are known as "striking out," "putting out," "scouring," "setting out," "unhairing,"
shaving," fleshing," "trizing." or "scudding."
66
A very effective method of treating skins by these processes, consists in causing
them to travel past, and in contact with, cylinders or drums of the kinds described
and claimed in the Specifications of Letters Patent granted respectively to
W. R. Lake (as a communication from Joseph Warren Vaughn, dated December 12th
A.D. 1882, No. 5936, and to Joseph Warren Vaughn, dated April 16th A D. 1886,
No. 5344.
The cylinders or drums described in these said Specifications are provided with
spirally arranged flanges (continuous, or broken into short flanges or sections,)
starting from a circumferential line at or near the middle of the length of the
cylinder, and passing in the same direction round it to either end, and having
on their rear sides a series of short auxiliary flanges, standing at an angle to the
main flanges.
We have found that in order that such cylinders or drums should operate
upon the skins with the greatest efficiency and economy, the whole of the latter
should be made to pass horizontally or nearly so at one operation under the rotating
knife cylinder, and our present invention has for its object more especially the
combination with cylinders or drums of the kind described, of novel apparatus by
which such movement of the skin is effected as soon as the latter has been raised
by a workman to the required height so as to come in contact to the proper extent
with the revolving helical biades upon the cylinder.
For this purpose we arrange the axle of the cylinder or drum, provided with
helical flanges of the kind described, in horizontal bearings in which it is made to
revolve at the proper speed and in the required direction when required by any
convenient power.
Below the cylinder we arrange a flat table, horizontal or nearly so, upon which
the skin to be treated is placed, its edge being held by a suitable gripper or clamp
at the front edge of the table. The lower side of the table is provided with slides,
moving in longitudinal guides forming a frame one end of which turns upon a
transverse pivot at the back of the frame of the machine, whilst the other end is
brought forward to a position at a considerable distance in front of the drum or
cylinder, where it can rise and fall to a sufficient extent in a fixed guide.
To the lower side or other convenient part of the pivotted guides or frame just
described, is connected a vertical rod operated by a treadle in a convenient position
to be used by the workman attending the machine, and the pivotted guides are
preferably provided with a balance weight so that they can be readily raised aud
lowered.
The operation of the apparatus so far as described is as follows:-
The pivotted guides being lowered to their lowest position by the workman
removing the pressure of his foot from the treadle, he then draws forward the table
which slides upon them, and fixes the skin upon it by means of the clamp or clip at

page_text: its front end. He then pushes the sliding table with the skin upon it to the other
end of the guides, beyond the revolving drum or cylinder helically-flanged as
described. By pressure upon the treadle he then raises the pivotted slides, together
with the table and the skin, up to the revolving blades, and at the moment when
the table has risen sufficiently to allow the blades to operate most effectively upon
the skin, it is made to travel forward under them upon the guides, until the whole
of the length of the skin has been operated upon, the blades upon the cylinder or
drum moving in a direction opposite to that in which the table moves.
The guides may then be lowered, and the table and skin pushed back and the
operation repeated, or the skin may be removed and a fresh one substituted.
Accurately and easily adjustable stops are preferably arranged by which the
exact height to which the table and skins are raised is determined.
Although it is possible to obtain excellent results with the apparatus described
by moving forward the table carrying the skin against the revolving helical blades,
by hand, we prefer to arrange the guides so that when they have been raised by
the treadle to the exact position at which the skin can be most effectively operated
upon, driving gear is automatically set in motion by which the table is moved
forward, at the proper speed, under the revolving cylinder to the front of the
machine.
For this purpose a transverse axis or shaft may be arranged at or near each end
of the pivotted guides, these shafts having fixed upon them, chain wheels round
which pass endless chains, to the upper sides of which the travelling table is
attached.
Upon one of these transverse shafts is fixed a toothed wheel which, when the
pivotted guides have been raised to the proper position for the blades or flanges to
operate upon the skin, is brought into gear with a corresponding driving toothed
wheel upon a shaft turning in bearings and driven by any convenient power. The
teeth of the wheels described are preferably made of considerable depth, so that
the pivotted guides may be raised somewhat more or less without affecting their
proper action.
Or, instead of toothed wheels, friction wheels may be used, the chain wheels and
chains being set in revolution when the friction wheels are brought into contact
as the pivotted guides are raised.
We do not however, confine ourselves to the particular arrangement described
for causing the table with the skin to move forward upon the guides. For instance,
the guides may carry toothed racks gearing with toothed wheels upon a transverse
axle or a shaft upon the travelling table. This shaft also carries a pulley or chain
wheel, driven by a chain or cord passing round pullies or wheels at the ends of the
guides, the axle of one of which carries a toothed wheel or friction wheel which is
brought into gear, or contact, with a corresponding wheel made to revolve con-
tinuously by any convenient power, so that when the guides are raised by the treadle
as already described, the cord or chain is set in motion and the table made to travel
forward.
Or, a toothed rack or racks may be formed upon or attached to the upper side of
the sliding table, which when the pivotted guides are raised to their proper defined
position come into gear with corresponding revolving toothed wheels.
Instead of sliding, the table may be provided with wheels running upon rails on
the pivotted guides.
We do not confine ourselves to the precise form, arrangement, and proportions, of
the different parts of the apparatus, which may be varied more or less as may be
found advisable.

page_text: Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Treating Skins in the
Manufacture of Leather.
We, JOHN PULLMAN, and ARTHUR PULLMAN, both of 17, Greek Street, Soho
Square, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturers, 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 and
accompanying drawings, that is to say :-
Our present invention relates to improvements in the machinery or apparatus
used in the processes of treating skins, for the manufacture of leather, such as what
are known as "striking out," "putting out," "scouring," "setting out, unhairing,"
shaving," "fleshing," "frizing," or "scudding."
66
*
A very effective method of treating skins by these processes, consists in causing
them to travel past, and in contact with, revolving cylinders or drums of the kinds
described and claimed in the Specifications of Letters Patent granted respectively
to W. R. Lake (as a communication from Joseph Warren Vaughn), dated
December 12th A.D. 1882, No. 5936, and to Joseph Warren Vaughn, dated
April 16th A.D. 1886, No. 5344.
The cylinders or drums described in these said Specifications are provided with
spirally arranged flanges (continuous or broken into short flanges or sections)
starting from a circumferential line at or near the middle of the length of the
cylinder, and passing in the same direction round it to either end, and having on
their rear sides a series of short auxiliary flanges, standing at an angle to the main
flanges.
We have found that in order that such cylinders or drums should operate upon
the skins with the greatest efficiency and economy, the whole of the latter should
be made to pass horizontally or nearly so at one operation under the rotating knife
cylinder, and our present invention has for its object more especially the com-
bination with cylinders or drums of the kind described in the said Specification, of
novel apparatus by which such movement of the skin is effected as soon as the
latter has been raised by a workman to the required height so as to come in contact
to the proper extent with the revolving helical blades or flanges upon the revolving
cylinder.
We
We use an arrangement of the kind illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
which are in illustration of our invention, and in which Figure 1 is a side view,
Figure 2 a plan, and Figure 3 an end view (from the back) of the machine.
arrange the axle a of the cylinder or drum b provided as illustrated with helical
Hanges of the kind described in the aforesaid Specifications, in horizontal
bearings c, c', in which it is made to revolve at the proper speed and in the
required direction when required by any convenient power.
Below the cylinder we arrange a flat table d, horizontal or nearly so, upon
which the skin to be treated is placed (as indicated at c in Figure 2) its edge being
held by a suitable gripper or clamp at the front edge of the table d.
This gripper or clamp is preferably of the kind shewn separately in Figures 5
and 6, and hereinafter described.
The lower side of the table d is provided with slides moving in longitudinal
guides, forming a frame one end of which turns upon a transverse pivot g at
the back of the frame of the machine, whilst the other end is brought forward to a

page_text: position at a considerable distance in front of the drum or cylinder b, where it can
rise and fall to a sufficient extent in a fixed guide or guides h, h¹.
To the lower side or other convenient part of the pivotted guides or frame f₁ƒ³,
just described, is connected a vertical rod i operated by a treadle k in a convenient
position to be used by the workman attending the machine, and the pivotted guides
are preferably provided with a balance weight (shewn in Figures 1 and 2 upon the
treadle lever k) so that they can be readily raised or lowered.
The guides h, h', are shewn provided with adjustable stops by which the exact
height to which the frame f, f', can rise is definitely determined.
For this purpose
projections 1, 1, are shewn fixed to the ends of the frames f,, and projecting
laterally under the adjustable stops m carried by screws n, so that their exact height
can be readily adjusted and fixed.
The operation of the apparatus so far as described is as follows:
-:
The pivotted guides f, f, being lowered to their lowest position by the workman
removing the pressure of his foot from the treadle, he then draws forward the
table d which slides upon them, and fixes the skin upon it by means of the clamp or
clip at its front end. He then pushes the sliding table d with the skin upon it to
the other end of the guides f, f', beyond the revolving drum or cylinder 6 helically
flanged as described. By pressure upon the treadle he then raises the pivotted
guides, f, together with the table d and the skin, up to the revolving blades, and
at the moment when the table has risen sufficiently to allow the blades to operate
most effectively upon the skin as determined by the stops, m, it is made to travel
forward under them upon the guides f,f', until the whole of the length of the skin
has been operated upon, the blades upon the cylinder or drum ↳ moving in a
direction opposite to that in which the table moves.
The guides may then be lowered, and the table and skin pushed back and the
operation repeated, or the skin may be removed and changed end for end, or a fresh
one substituted.
The position of the stops m can be varied as desired during the process.
Although it is possible to obtain excellent results with the apparatus described
by moving forward the table d carrying the skin, against the revolving helical
blades by hand, we prefer to arrange the guides f,, so that when they have been
raised by the treadle k to the exact position at which the skin can be most,
effectively operated upon, driving gear is automatically set in motion by which the
table is moved forward at the proper speed, under the revolving cylinder to the
front of the machine.
For this purpose a transverse axis or shaft g, o may be arranged at or near each
end of the pivotted guides f,, these shafts (one of which g is shewn forming the
pivot upon which the frame turns) having fitted upon them, chain wheels p, p²,
round which pass an endless chain r, or chains, to the upper side of which the
travelling table d is attached, as indicated at Figures 1 and 3.
is a support
which carries the upper part of the endless chain. Upon the transverse shaft o
is fixed a toothed wheel which, when the pivotted guides f, f', have been raised
to the proper position for the blades or flanges to operate upon the skin, is brought
into gear with a corresponding driving toothed wheel or pinion u (Figure 1) upon
a shaft turning in bearings and driven by any convenient power as shewn at r, v.
The teeth of the wheels described are preferably made of considerable depth, so
that the pivotted guides f, f', may be raised somewhat more or less without
affecting their proper action.
Or, instead of toothed wheels, friction wheels may be used, the chain wheels and
chains being set in revolution when the friction wheels are brought into contact as
the pivotted guides are raised.
We do not however confine ourselves to the particular arrangement described for
causing the table with the skin to move forward upon the guides. For instance as
an obvious modification, the guides may carry toothed racks gearing with toothed
wheels upon a transverse axle or a shaft upon the travelling table. This shaft
also carries a pulley or chain wheel, driven by a chain or cord passing round

page_text: pullies or wheels at the ends of the guides, the axle of one of which carries a
toothed wheel or friction wheel which is brought into gear, or contact, with a
corresponding wheel made to revolve continuously by any convenient power, so
that when the guides are raised by the treadle as already described, the cord or
chain is set in motion and the table made to travel forward, as in the arrangement
already described.
Or, a toothed rack or racks may be formed upon or attached to the upper side of
the sliding table d which when the pivotted guides are raised to their proper defined
position come into gear with corresponding revolving toothed wheels.
Instead of sliding, the table may be provided with wheels running upon rails on
the pivotted guides.
In Figures 1, 5, and 6, the travelling table is shewn provided at its front end
with bearings in which turns a shaft fitted with excentrics c, and having
handles y.,, are handles fixed to the front edge of the travelling table d,
by which the latter, with the skin can be moved backward and forward upon the
guides, f'.
A is a bar or plate between which and the end of the table d the skin is held,
and is firmly gripped by the pressure of the excentrics against the back of the
bar A, so that the skin can be instantly gripped or released by turning the
handles y.
A catch or projection may be attached to the table d, which coming in contact
with an inclined cam will depress the table and the pivotted frames, and throw the
wheel t out of gear with the driving pinion at the end of the stroke.
We do not confine ourselves to the precise form, arrangement, and proportions,
of the different parts of the apparatus, which may evidently be largely varied
more or less as may be found advisable to suit different circumstances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
In machines or apparatus for treating skins for the manufacture of leather, by
processes such as what are known as "striking out," 3966 putting out," "setting out,"
7966
unhairing,' shaving," "fleshing," "frizing," or scudding,"
66
66
1. The combination with a revolving cylinder or drum having spirally arranged
flanges of the kind herein described, of a device by which the skin to be treated is
brought into the proper position to be acted on by the spiral flanges, such device
consisting of a pivotted frame provided with guides in which the table to which
the skin is fixed can be moved backward and forward, a treadle or lever by which
the pivotted frame can be raised or lowered, and adjustable stops by which the
exact height to which the pivotted frame is raised can be accurately determined,
all arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose described
and illustrated.
2. The combination with a revolving cylinder or drum & having spirally arranged
flanges of the kind herein described, of the frame f,f¹, pivotted at g, tabled moving
in guides in the frame f, f, and having a clamp for holding the skin to be treated
and handles, ¹, by which the table is moved, treadle k and connecting rod i, and
adjustable stops m, all arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for
the purpose herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In combination with a revolving cylinder or drum having spirally arranged
flanges of the kind herein described, pivotted frame, f¹, moveable table d provided
with a clamp for holding the skin to be treated, treadle k and connecting rod i, and
adjustable stops m, the endless chain » passing round chain wheels p, p, wheel t and
revolving pinion u, and means for connecting the moveable table d to the chain r
ats, substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3,
and 4, of the accompanying drawings.
4. In combination with the table d moving backward and forward in the
frame f,, the moveable bar A, and excentrics x, for the purpose of readily

page_text: holding and releasing the skin to be treated, substantially as described and
illustrated.
Dated this 27th day of February 1894.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.