Improvements in Machines for Stretching, Scraping, and Finishing Hides or Skins.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Stretching, Scraping, and Finishing
Hides or Skins.
I, NICHOLAS WEBER, of 737 Western Avenue, Lynn, in the County of Essex and
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 machines for stretching or softening a hide or skin by a
scraping action on the flesh side thereof, produced by the operation of a roll of
yielding material, and a blade or scraper arranged in suitable relation to said roll to
press an interposed sheet or piece of leather directly against said roll, means being
employed whereby said roll and blade are moved alternately backward and forward
in unison, and means whereby said roll and blades are closed upon the interposed
material during the backward movement, as shown in British patent 7,268 of 1885.
The invention consists in the organization of mechanism hereinafter described and
claimed, whereby the roll and blade are reciprocated and are alternately closed upon
the material and separated therefrom.
The invention also consists in a polishing blade attached to the holder which
carries the roll, and arranged to bear on the grain surface of the skin near the point
where the skin is grasped by the roll and scraping blade, said polishing blade
operating to smoothen and brighten said grain surface, as I will now proceed to
describe.
Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 shows
a plan view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3
is a side elevation partly in section of the opposite side of the machine, portions of
the driving wheel being broken away to show more clearly some of the operative
parts. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the portions of the mechanism in a
different position.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all of the figures.
In the drawings-
a represents the frame of the machine, in which is journalled a driving shaft b
with its attached driving wheel c. To said driving wheel c is attached a connecting
rod d, which rod is connected at its other end to a carrier e. Said carrier is adapted
to be reciprocated in guides formed in the frame of the machine, and is provided
with standards 2 2 3 3, and an arm or extension 5. hi represent two arms which
are pivoted at 77 to the frame a, their upper ends being pivoted to a guide rod j.
Said guide rod is adapted to be reciprocated by means of a cam k on the driving
shaft through a lever pivoted at its lower end to the frame, and a rod m con-
necting the guide rod and the lever 1, the arrangement being such that when said
guide rod is reciprocated it will be raised and lowered by the oscillations of the
arms on their pivots. n represents a slide fitted to move on the guide rod j, to
which slide is pivoted an arm o, which is attached to and adapted to give a partial
rotary motion to a rock shaft p. Said shaft has a toe or cam q formed on it,
and is journaled in bearings on standards 33 of the carrier. The camp bears
against an adjustable metal plate r, which is pivotally connected at one end to a
castings which supports the beam t, said plate having on its under side at the
point of contact with cam y a slightly rounded projection or chafing piece u.
t represents the holder for the roller or upper jaw, said holder being a lever or
beam, preferably of wood, bolted to the casting s, the latter being pivoted to the
arms 22 of the carriage e. Said beam is adapted to be oscillated on its bearings
and is normally held in a raised position by a spring v, as shown in Figures 2
and 3.

page_text: w represents the upper jaw, which is preferably a roller of yielding material, as
rubber, as in the patent above mentions. Said roller is adapted to rotate in suitable
bearings in a casting a¹ secured to the under side of beam t.
6 represents a table having secured at its outer end a rubber cushion c¹, to enable
the operator to better hold the skin during the scraping action, by bearing the same
against said cushion with his body. Said table has an opening in the centre thereof
to permit the jaws to operate on the skin (see Figs. 1 and 4).
To the rock shaft P. is attached an arm which is connected at its outer end with
a rod e¹. Said rod e is connected at its other end with the holder f¹ of the lower
jaw or scraper g. The holder f1 and scraper gl are constructed and arranged to
operate substantially as shown in the said British patent No. 7,268 of 1885, the
holder being pivoted at ¹ to the outer end of the arm 5 of the carrier e. k repre-
sents a cam secured to driving shaft and rotated thereby said cam has a groove h¹,
the path of which is formed to impart motion to guide rod j through the medium of
lever and connecting rod m. A trundle roll on the lever enters the cam groove,
so that the said lever is oscillated by the rotation of the cam.
:
The operative devices are shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 in the position they occupy
just before the jaws close and grasp the skin, while in Fig. 4 the jaws are shown as
closed upon the skin.
By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that when the driving wheel c is rotated in
the direction of the arrow marked thereon, the cam will be so rotated that the lever
will be moved in the direction of the arrow marked on guide rod j (Fig. 3) and will
move said rod endwise, the arms or links at the same time raising the rod to tho
position shown in Fig. 4. This upward movement of the rod also raises the
slide n, causing the latter, by its connection with the arm o of the rock shaft p, to
partially rotate said shaft and raise the cam or toe piece q against the chafing iron u
on the under side of beam t, thereby raising the rear end of said beam and
depressing the outer end of the same and the roll or upper jaw w thereon, as will be
clearly understood by reference to Fig. 4. The partial rotation of shaft
P just
described also causes rod e¹ to be drawn back by arm d', and to thereby raise the
lower jaw or scraper into position to engage roll w on the interposed skin (see Fig. 4).
The scraping devices remain in the position just described while the carrier e is
moving forward to stretch and scrape the skin. The cam k is formed to hold the
lever stationary during the backward stroke of the carrier, and thus causes the
guide rod to remain in its raised position, the slide a moved thereon with the
carrier, during the entire forward stroke. The carrier having completed its backward
movement, the cam k moves the lever to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which
movement lowers guide rod j, thus causing the slide n to rotate the rock shaft P and
thereby move the cam q and the arm d' so as to allow the beam to be raised by spring v
and cause the rod e to depress the lower jaw holder, the jaws being entirely
separated from the skin and free to return to their starting position on the skin.
The movements above described are continued, the raising of guide rod ; during the
backward stroke of the carrier closing the jaws upon the skin, and the lowering of
the same opening the jaws during the forward stroke. The rode is made in
two sections connected by a right and left threaded nut k¹, so that the length of said
rod may be varied to regulate the degree of pressure of the lower jaw upon the
skin when said jaw is raised.
I have also provided an adjustable device to regulate the extent of the downward
movement of the beam t, the same consisting of a screw 9 passing through the rear
end of the beam and bearing on the pivoted plater, and thereby permitting the
adjustment of the beam, as will be readily understood.
It will be seen that the driving shaft is arranged at one end of the machine and
at about the same height as the guides on which the cross head or carrier e slides,
so that the force exerted through the connecting rod in reciprocating the cross head
and jaws is always as nearly in line with the direction of movement of the cress
head as possible, hence the power is applied to the best advantage, and the jar and
noise attending the operation of the machine are reduced to the minimum.

page_text: By reference to Fig. 4 it will be noticed that when the rock shaft p and its cam q
and arm are in position to close the jaws, the cam is in a vertical position, so that
all the pressure which attends the closing of the jaws upon the skin is supported by
said cain, the rock shaft and the bearings of the rock shaft in the cross head, the
slide n and guide rod; being relieved of all strain. The wear of said slide and guide
rod and of the supports of the latter is therefore reduced to the minimum. When
it is considered that the slide n is in constant movement of the guide rod, the advan-
tage of having the slide and rod relieved from the pressure occasioned by closing the
jaws, will be apparent.
The casting a which supports the journals of the roll is adjustable lengthwise
of the beam or levert by means of screws ', which secure said casting to the beam,
and slots 2 (Fig. 4) in the casting through which said screws pass. Adjustment
of the roll at right angles to its axis is thus permitted. This adjustability enables
the line of contact of the scraping blades with the roll to be varied as may be
desired.
I have here shown the lower jaw as composed of two blades, g' g². The blade g¹
is provided with a thin scraping edge adapted to remove the surplus matter from the
flesh side of a skin interposed between it and the roll w, while the blade g2 is blunt
at its upper edge and serves only to remove wrinkles from the skin in advance of
the point where the scraping blade acts. The lower jaw may have only one blade if
preferred, that being the scraping blade.
The slide n is provided with a gib n² which bears against the under edge of the
guide rod j, and with screws n³ n³ whereby said gib may be adjusted to compensate
for wear.
To effect the finishing and polishing of the skins, I secure to the holder of the
roll or upper jaw a blade of of any suitable material, adapted, when rubbed upon the
grain surface of a skin, to impart a finish or burnish thereto. I prefer to make
said blade of vulcanized fibre, but it may be made of any hard and close grained
wood, or of hard rubber, or of any other suitable material.
The blade is arranged to bear upon the upper surface of the skin near the point
where the skin is grasped by the jaws, its lower edge projecting below the upper
edge of the lower jaw or scraper, so that it will deflect the skin and exert a suitable
pressure thereon, as shown in Fig. 4, the outer end of the skin being held by the
operator against a bolster or cushion on the bed or table of the machine, as shown
in the British patent before mentioned.
I
The blade o may be secured to the upper jaw holder by any suitable means.
have here shown an arched plate p₁ as the securing device, one end of said plate
being bolted to the casting a¹ and the other end to the blade o¹.
It will be seen that while the closed jaws are moving on the skin the finishing
blade o is imparting a finish or luster to the grain surface. Heretofore it has been
the invariable custom, so far as I am aware, to impart a finish to skins after they have
been stretched and softened, by a blade attached to a handle and rubbed over the skin
by the muscular force of a workman.
By combining the blade with the jaws which stretch and soften the skin, I cause
both operations to be performed at once and by one machine, thus materially reducing
the expense of preparing skins for use.
It is obvious that the blade of may be used with reciprocating and opening and
closing jaws of any suitable construction.
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:
1. The combination of the carrier adapted to reciprocate in guides on a supporting
frame, means for reciprocating the carrier, the jaw holder pivoted to an arin on the
carrier, the beam or levert pivoted to the carrier and provided with the yielding roll
or jaw at its outer end arranged over the scraping jaw, a spring which normally
aises the lever and roll, the rock shaft p journalled in the carrier and having a cam g

page_text: bearing on the rear end of the levert and an arm or lever d¹ connecting with the
lower jaw carrier, the arrangement being such that a partial rotation of said rock
shaft will either close or open the jaws according to the direction of such rotation,
and means whereby the rock shaft is held in position to close the jaws during the
forward movement of the carrier and to open the jaws during the return movement,
as set forth.
2. The combination of the carrier, means for reciprocating it, the upper and lower
jaw holders, each pivoted to the carrier, the spring for raising the upper jaw holder,
the rock shaft p journalled in bearings on the carrier and provided with the cam q
and arm, the adjustable shoe interposed between the cam and the upper jaw
holder t, the adjustable rod e' connecting the lower jaw holder with the arm d, a cam k
rotated by the driving shaft of the machine, and intermediate mechanism controlled
by said cam, whereby the rock shaft is held in position to close the jaws during the
forward movement of the carrier and in position to open the jaws during the return
movement of the carrier, as set forth.
3. The carrier, the upper and lower jaw holders pivoted thereto, the rock shaft
journaled in bearings on the carrier and having the cam y and arms o d¹, the rod e
connecting the arm d' with the lower jaw holder, and the spring u for raising the
upper jaw holder, combined with the slide n connected with the arm o, the guide
rod mounted on links hi, the cam k on the driving shaft, the lever adapted to be
oscillated by the rotation of the cam, and the rod m connecting the lever 7 with the
guide rod, all arranged and operating substantially as described.
4. The beam or lever carrying the roll or upper jaw and provided with the
adjustable bearing piece u, combined with the cross-head or carrier, the rock shaft
journaled therein and the cam on said rock shaft arranged to bear on the bearing
piece u, as set forth.
5. The combination of the cross-head or carrier, a holder f¹ having the lower jaw
and pivoted to the carrier the beam or levert having the upper jaw, and also pivoted
to the carrier, the rock shaft journalled in bearings in the carrier and provided with
the cam and arm d¹, a rod connecting the arm with the lower jaw-holder, a
driving shaft connected by a rod d with the cross-head and arranged substantially
as described relatively to the point of connection of said rod with the cross-head,
and mechanism substantially as described operated by the driving shaft whereby the
rock shaft is held with its cam in a vertical position during the forward move-
ment of the cross head and in a depressed position during the return movement of
the cross head, as set forth.
6. The combination of the carrier or cross head, fixed guides therefor, the upper
and lower jaws carried thereby, a connecting rod pivotally secured to the cross head,
a driving shaft, a balance wheel on said driving shaft connected with the rod, said
shaft being arranged at substantially the same height as the guides of the cross head,
whereby the force imparted through the connecting rod is approximately in the line
of movement of the cross head, and mechanism substantially as described whereby
the jaws are closed during a forward movement of the cross head and opened during
a backward movement, as set forth.
7. The combination in a leather scraping and stretching machine of the yielding
jaw or roll arranged to bear on the grain side of a skin, a scraping jaw arranged to
bear on the opposite side of the skin, holders for said jaws, the finishing or polishing
blade secured to the holder of the yielding jaw or roll and arranged to bear on
the grain side of a skin at one side of the line of contact of the said jaws with the
skin, and mechanism for reciprocating and opening and closing said jaws, whereby
the finishing blade is caused to rub and polish on the grain side of the skin while
said jaws are closed thereon, as set forth.
NICHOLAS WEBER.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.