Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Fleshing and Frizing Raw Hides and Skins, and for Staking and Striking Out Finished and Half Finished Leather.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 6th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Fleshing and Frizing
Raw Hides and Skins, and for Staking and Striking Out Finished
and Half Finished Leather.
We, JOHN PULLMAN, WILLIAM ROBERT PULLMAN, and ARTHUR PULLMAN,
all of 17, Greek Street, Soho Square, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In preparing thick skins, such as buffalo, cowhide, chamois, and the like, they
are treated in the usual way, and the flesh and epidermis are removed from the two
sides these operations being known as "fleshing" and "frizing."
This has ordinarily heretofore been effected by hand by means of knives, and the
present invention has for its object improved machinery or apparatus by which the
desired results are obtained more quickly, cheaply, uniformly, and effectively, than
has heretofore been the case.
The improved machinery, consists of a sufficiently strong frame of wood or metal,
the lower part of which carries a table upon which the skin is supported and held,
whilst from the upper part of the side frames, at a considerable height above the
table, is pivotted and suspended an oscillating frame driven backward and forward
by steam or other convenient power. The lower transverse edge of the oscillating
frame is provided with a guide in which can move from side to side of the machine
as desired, a frame or carriage carrying a short pivotted transverse knife blade the
lower edge of which scrapes, cleans, and reduces to the proper thickness, the skin
below it, and the carriage is provided with cords which after passing round guide
pullies upon the axis in which the suspended frame oscillates are brought down and
wound in opposite directions round a drum in a convenient position for the person
attending the machine, who can by turning the drum in one or the other direction
cause the carriage to travel along its guide, and so bring the knife into operation
above any part of the width of the skin below, as may be desired.
In travelling backward and forward the suspended frame and knife take a curved
path, and the supporting table below is made concave, having a corresponding
curvature. As it moves forward in one direction the knife edge acts upon the
surface of the skin, whilst as it moves backward it turns back upon its hinge and
passes over without acting upon the skin. In order that the skin may be kept
constantly stretched, we make at or near the outer edge of the supporting table a
transverse bar or rail upon which the edge of the skin is adjusted, another
horizontal corresponding bar hinged at one end being then turned down upon it and
fastened so that the edge of the skin is firmly gripped and held between the two
bars. And upon both sides of the suspended oscillating frame, in front of and at
the back of the guides in which the knife carriage travels, we fix brackets in which
revolve spindles,. parallel with the guides. These spindles have fixed upon them
beating rollers or drums having projecting blades or ribs, preferably of wood,
extending from end to end of the rollers.
Upon the spindles are fixed pullies, and corresponding driving pullies are carried
upon, or concentric with, the transverse axis to which the suspended oscillating
frame is hung, and cords or belts pass round the pullies so that when the driving
pullies are driven at the proper speed and in the proper directions the blades or
ribs strike the surface of the skin, and tend to keep the latter stretched so as to
present a proper surface for the desired action of the knife blade.
We make the sides of the suspended oscillating frame adjustable so that the
exact height can be adjusted, this being preferably done by making the upper ends

page_text: slide in brackets which carry the pivots upon which the frame oscillates. Projecting
lugs attached to the side frames are connected to similar lugs upon the brackets
last described by adjustable screws by which the lugs can be drawn together or
separated, and the exact position of the knife carriage guides at the lower end of
the oscillating frame, and consequently of the knife blade, is thereby adjusted.
The suspended frame is made to oscillate by means of a transverse shaft at one
end of the frame of the machine. The shaft is driven at the proper speed by
pullies and belts or equivalent means from the main driving shaft of the machine,
and carries at its ends discs or crank pins operating connecting, rods the other ends
of which are pivotted to the two sides of the lower end of the suspended oscillating
frame.
We make the concave table which supports the skin as already described,
capable of being raised or lowered and adjusted in the exact position required to
produce the best effect upon the skin which is being treated.
For this purpose we preferably provide the table with guide bars or projections
below which can rise and fall through a sufficient distance in corresponding guides
formed upon or fixed to the frame of the machine.
Below the table, we arrange two parallel shafts provided with suitable cams
upon which the table is supported.
The cams shafts are coupled together and to a lever by pressing which the table
can be slightly raised, always remaining parallel to its original position, and above
the end of the lever we arrange a screw turning in a nut fixed to the frame of the
machine, and provided with a wheel or handle by which it can be turned by an
attendant so that the lever can be depressed and the table raised, and vice versa.
In order to put the machinery or apparatus in operation, the skin to be treated
is firmly fixed by its edge to the concave table, in the manner described, and the
suspended frame being made to oscillate at the required speed the pivotted knife
at its lower end acts upon the skin below it and scrapes or cuts away and removes
the surface of the latter where required. At the same time the attendant.can (by
means of the cords and drum already described) bring the knife above any part of
the width of the table, and can raise or lower the latter so as to obtain precisely
the required action upon all parts of the skin.
When one side of the skin has been completely operated upon in this way, it is
reversed and the other side similarly treated, and the whole of the operations are
very quickly, evenly, and effectually performed.
The method of construction and arrangement described may be varied more or
less. For instance, instead of the frame which carries the transverse guide and
knife carriage and knife being suspended as described, it may be made to reciprocate
backward and forward rectilinearly in guides, the rising and falling adjustable
table below being flat instead of concave.
Or, the knife carriage may be made to move in the transverse guide by means
of a screw passing through it and turning in bearings in the ends of the guide, the
screw being turned in either direction by means of pullies and cords actuated as
required by an attendant.
The details of the improved machinery or apparatus described may be varied
more or less to suit the varying circumstances and conditions in which it is to be
used.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Fleshing and Frizing
Raw Hides and Skins, and for Staking and Striking Out Finished
and Half Finished Leather.
We, JOHN PULLMAN, WILLIAM ROBERT PULLMAN, and ARTHUR PULLMAN,
all of 17, (reck 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 :-
In preparing thick skins, such as buffalo, cowhide, chamois, and the like, they are
treated in the usual way, and the flesh and epidermis are removed from the two
sides respectively, these operations being known as "fleshing" and "frizing."
This has generally heretofore been effected by hand by means of knives, and the
present invention has for its object improved machinery or apparatus by which the
desired results are obtained more quickly, cheaply, uniformly, and effectively, than
has heretofore been the case.
The improved machinery consists of a sufficiently strong frame of wood or metal,
the lower part of which carries a table upon which the skin is supporting, whilst
from the upper part of the side frames (or from the ceiling) at a considerable
height above the table, is pivotted and suspended an oscillating frame driven
backward and forward by steam or other convenient power. The lower transverse
edge of the oscillating frame is provided with a guide in which can move from side
to side of the machine as desired, a frame or carriage carrying a short pivotted
transverse knife blade or other instrument, either sharp or blunt as may be required,
the lower edge of which scrapes, cleans, and reduces to the proper thickness, the
skin below it, and the carriage is provided with cords which after passing round
guide pullies upon the axis in which the suspended frame oscillates are brought
down and wound in opposite directions round a drum arranged in a convenient
position for the person attending the machine, who can therefore by turning the
drum in one or other direction cause the carriage to travel along its guide across the
machine, in the direction required, and so bring the knife or other instrument into
operation above any part of the width of the skin below, as may be desired.
In travelling backward and forward the suspended frame and knife take a curved
path, and the supporting table below is 'made concave, having a corresponding
curvature. As the knife edge moves forward in one direction it acts upon the
surface of the skin, whilst as it moves backward it turns back upon its hinge and
passes over the latter without acting upon it. In order that the skin may be kept
constantly stretched, we arrange near the outer edge of the supporting table a fixed
transverse bar or rail upon which the edge of the skin is adjusted, another horizontal
corresponding bar hinged at one end being then turned down upon or against it and
fastened so that the edge of the skin is firmly gripped and held between the
two bars.
And upon both sides of the suspended oscillating frame, in front of and at the
back of the guides in which the knife carriage travels, we fix brackets in which
revolve transverse spindles, parallel with the guides.
These spindles have fixed upon them beating rollers or drums having projecting
blades or ribs, preferably of wood, extending from end to end of the rollers.
Upon the spindles are fixed pullies, and a corresponding driving pulley (or
pullies) is carried upon, or concentric with, the transverse axis to which the
suspended oscillating frame is hung, and cords or belts pass round the pullies so that
when the driving pullies are driven at the proper speed and in the proper directions
the blades or ribs strike the surface of the skin, and tend to keep the latter stretched,
from the part where it is clamped so as to present a proper surface for the desired

page_text: action of the knife blade, and also to prevent its loose edge being drawn back by
the return movement of the blade.
We make the sides of the suspended oscillating frame adjustable so that the exact
height can be adjusted, this being preferably done by making the upper ends slide
in brackets which carry the pivots or sockets upon which the frame oscillates.
Projecting lugs attached to the side frames are connected to similar lugs upon the
brackets last described by adjustable screws by which the lugs can be drawn
together or separated, and the exact position of the knife carriage guides at
the lower end of the oscillating frame, and consequently of the knife blade, is
thereby adjusted.
The suspended frame is made to oscillate by means of a transverse shaft at one
end of the frame of the machine. The shaft is driven at the proper speed by
pullies and belts or equivalent means from the main driving shaft of the machine or
it may itself constitute the main shaft, and it carries at its ends discs or cranks
provided with crank pins operating connecting rods, the other ends of which are
pivotted to the two sides of the lower end of the suspended oscillating frame.
We make the concave table which supports the skin as already described, capable
of being raised or lowered and adjusted in the exact position required to produce
from time to time the best effect upon the skin which is being treated.
For this purpose we preferably provide the table with guide bars or projections
below, which can rise and fall through a sufficient distance in corresponding guides
formed upon or fixed to the frame of the machine.
Below the table, we arrange two parallel shafts provided with suitable cams or
levers upon which the table is supported.
The cam shafts are coupled together and to a lever by pressing which the table
can be slightly raised, always remaining parallel to its original position, and above
the end of the lever we arrange a screw turning in a nut fixed to the frame of the
machine or to a separate support and provided with a wheel or handle by which it
can be turned by an attendant so that the lever can be depressed and the table
raised, or moved in the required direction, and vice versa.
The accompanying drawings are in illustration of our invention.
Figure 1 is a plan of the machine, and Figure 2 a front view, and Figure 3 a
side view.
a is the frame of the machine, which may be of wood as shewn, or of metal, or
partly of wood and partly of metal. b (Figures 1 and 3) is the concave table upon
which the skin is supported whilst being treated.
c is the suspended frame, pivotted on the shaft d (Figures 1, 2, and 3) and driven
backward and forward at the required speed by connecting rods e, e, pivotted to its
lower end, and actuated by crank pins ff, upon the shaft g, which turns in suitable
bearings h, h, and is driven by steam or other convenient power.
k
i is a transverse guide at the lower end of the oscillating suspended frame c, in
which fits and can travel from side to side a carriage & carrying a short knife blade
or other suitable instrument pivotted to the carriage k at m.
The carriage k has attached to it the ends of a cord or cords n (Figures 2 and 3)
which after passing round pullies o, o, carried by the frame c, are brought up and
round pullies p, p, turning loosely upon the axle or shaft d (from which the frame c
is suspended) and are then conducted over suitable guides to a drums (Figure 2)
round which they are wound in opposite directions and are then fixed to it. The
drums is in such a position that it can be conveniently turned in either direction,
by means of a wheel or handle, by the person attending to the machine.
a fixed transverse bar or rail upon which the edge of the skin adjusted, and is
a similar bar pivotted at one end at w, so that it can be brought against the skin and
retained in its position by the catch r, the skin being firmly held between the two
bars and v.
u is
0
In Figure 6 is shewn a modified arrangement by which instead of a hinged bar to
an excentric bar y is used, turning in bearings at its ends and provided with a
handle and lever, so that when turned in one direction the skin is released, whilst

page_text: when turned in the other direction the skin is firmly held between it and the bar a
which is preferably slightly hollowed as shewn to grip the skin more firmly without
injuring it.
Instead of the bar u being fixed, it together with the loose bar or a loose bar
only (whether hinged or excentric) may be carried by a frame which can be moved
in or out horizontally to or from the table b, and can be retained in any desired
position by means of a rack and pall. By this method of arrangement a fresh part
of the skin can be submitted to the action of the knife without the necessity for
first releasing and then re-fixing it between the holding bars.
1, 1, are revolving beaters, shewn on a larger scale in Figure 4, the axles of
which turn in bearings 2, 2, in the lower end of the frame c, and pullies 3, 3, are
fixed upon the axles of these beaters and driven by a strap 4 which passes round
them and round a pulley 5 upon the spindle or shaft d to which the frame c is
suspended, and which is itself driven by a belt and pullies from the driving shaft of
the machine.
Figure 4 shews the method which we prefer to use for adjusting the exact height
of the suspended oscillating frame c. One of the sides of the frame is represented
at 6 and has attached to it a bracket 7, and the upper end of the side 6 is guided in
the bracket 8 which oscillates or turns upon the shaft d.
The brackets 7 and 8 are connected by a screw 9 by turning which the bracket 7
together with the side 6 can be raised or lowered slightly.
The other side of the frame is provided with a similar device, and by this means
the position of the transverse guide carrying the knife carriage can be exactly
adjusted when required.
The concave table is preferably covered with sheet metal on its upper concave
surface which carries the skin. It is provided below with projecting bars 10
(Figure 3) working in guides 11, so that it can rise and fall slightly. 12 and 13
(Figure 3) are two parallel transverse horizontal shafts or spindles turning in
bearings 14 and 15 below the table b. The spindles 12 and 13 have fixed upon
them near each end cams or levers 16, 17, upon which the table is supported, and
the spindles are also connected together by levers 18, and connecting link 19, so
that all the cams or levers 16, 17, rise and fall simultaneously. A lever 20 is also
fixed upon the spindle 12 its outer end being arranged below the lower end of a
screwed vertical spindle 21 working through a nut 22 in the fixed frame 23, and
provided with a wheel or handle 24 in the neighbourhood of the drum s already
described, so that the same attendant can attend to both of them without moving
from his place. When the wheel 23 is turned the lever 20 is depressed and the
cams or levers 16 and 17 are turned so as to raise the table b slightly. When the
wheel is turned in the other direction the table is, on the other hand, lowered.
In order to put the machinery or apparatus in operation, the skin to be treated
is firmly fixed by its edge to the clamps formed by the bars and v near the edge
of the concave table in the manner described, and the suspended frame c being
made to oscillate at the required speed the pivotted knife at its lower end acts
upon the skin below it and scrapes or cuts away and removes the surface of the
latter where required. At the same time the attendant can (by means of the
cords and drums already described) adjust the position of the knife laterally
above any part of the width of the table b, and can raise or lower the latter by
turning the wheel 24 so as to obtain precisely the required action upon all parts of
the skin. When one part of the skin has been treated it can be reclamped in a
fresh position, and another part treated in the same way.
When one side of the skin has been completely operated upon in this way, it is
reversed and the other side similarly treated if required, and the whole of the
operations are very quickly, evenly, and effectually performed, the attendant having
complete control of all the adjusting devices without moving from where he is
situated.
The method of construction and arrangement described may be varied more or
less. For instance, instead of the frame which carries the transverse guide and

page_text: knife carriage and knife being suspended as described, it may be made to recipro-
cate backward and forward rectilinearly in guides, the rising and falling adjustable
table below being flat instead of concave.
In this form of construction, the methods of varying and adjusting the position
of the knife carriage and the height of the table, remain the same as those already
described. We preferably however make the backward and forward stroke of the
frame shorter, in which case the revolving beaters described need not be used.
The cords which actuate the knife carriage in its guide pass over pullies directly
above the frame and at as great a height as convenient, before passing down to the
drum worked by the attendant, and in this way the movement of the cords by the
horizontal reciprocation of the frame is not sufficient to be injurious.
In both arrangements, instead of cords used as described the knife carriage may
be made to move in the transverse guide by means of a screw passing through it
and turning in bearings in the ends of the guide, the screw being turned in either
direction by means of pullies and cords actuated as required by an attendant, in the
manner already described. Pads of india rubber or other elastic material may be
interposed between the table and its supports.
Instead of the table being made to rise and fall as required it is evident that it
may be fixed and the suspended and oscillating or reciprocating frame may be made
to rise and fall for the purpose of adjusting the vertical position of the knife.
Or, the suspended knife may be made to rise and fall in the carriage in which it
is fitted. For this purpose the bearings to which it is suspended may be made
capable of moving up and down in the carriage, by means of a vertical screw
carrying a bevilled toothed wheel driven by a second bevilled toothed wheel sliding
freely upon a transverse shaft but prevented from turning upon the latter by means of
a longitudinal key or feather. The transverse shaft is carried in bearings in the
sides of the oscillating frame, and is rotated in either direction to raise or lower the
suspended knife, by means of a pulley at one end round which passes a cord or belt
passing round a pulley or pullies upon the shaft to which the frame is suspended,
and actuated by cords passing down to a point near where the attendant is stationed,
so that he can raise or lower the knife whilst the machine is in motion, in a manner
similar to that already described.
The details of the improved machinery or apparatus described may be varied
more or less to suit the varying circumstances and conditions in which it is to
be used.
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 machinery or apparatus for fleshing and frizing raw hides and skins, and
for staking and striking out finished and half finished leather:
1. The combination of a reciprocating frame provided with a moveable knife
carriage and knife, the transverse position of which can be varied whilst the
machine is in motion, with a rising and falling table upon which the hide, skin,
or leather, is supported, the position of the table being adjustable whilst the
machine is in motion, substantially as described.
2. The combination of the oscillating suspended frame having its lower end
provided with a transverse guide for a moveable carriage carrying a pivotted
knife, means for traversing the knife carriage to any desired part of the trans-
verse guide by an attendant whilst the machine is in operation, adjustable
attachments by which the vertical position of the lower end of the oscillating
suspended frame can be exactly regulated and an adjustable rising and falling
table upon which the hide, skin, or leather, to be treated is supported, the height
of such table being regulated and adjusted by an attendant whilst the machine
is in operation, substantially as described and shewn.
3. In combination with the oscillating frame, transverse guide and moveable
, carriage and knife, the cords operating the latter, and passing over pullies upon

page_text: the axis of suspension of the oscillating frame, and thence to a drum operated
by an attendant, substantially as described and shewn.
4. The combination with the oscillating suspended frame, transverse guide and
moving carriage and knife, of a transverse screw supported in the ends of the
guide and passing through the moving carriage, and pullies and cords by which
the screw can be revolved in either direction by an attendant, for the purpose-
of altering the position of the knife carriage in the guide, substantially as described.
5. In combination with the oscillating suspended frame, the revolving drums or
beaters carried in bearings in the lower end of the frame, and made to revolve
by cords or belts passing round pullies turning upon the axis of suspension by
corresponding pullies driven by the driving shaft of the machine, substantially
as and for the purpose described and illustrated.
6. In combination with the oscillating suspended frame, transverse guide, and
moveable carriage and knife, arranged and operating as described, the adjustable
table for supporting the hide, skin, or leather, and capable of being raised or
lowered as desired by the attendant, and the attachment for firmly holding the
hide, skin, or leather, substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated..
7. The method of arranging and operating revolving drums or beaters before
and behind the reciprocating knife for the purpose of keeping the hide, skin, or-
leather, operated upon, properly stretched, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 4th day of February 1893.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants..