IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Staniland Stocks and Benjamin Stocks, both of
Leeds, in the County of York, Leather Dressers, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF LEATHER."
Sealed the 7th June 1878, and dated the 7th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Staniland Stocks and
Benjamin Stocks at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th
March 1878.
JAMES STANILAND STOCKS and BENJAMIN STOCKS, both of Leeds, in the County
of York, Leather Dressers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER."
Our Invention has for its object saving of labour and the production of a better
quality of leather, such improvements being applicable not only to the tanning
operation of leather, but also to other processes of preparing or treating hides or
skins, such as depilating or unhairing the same, and where the skins or bides
require to be operated upon in tan or other pits containing tanning or other liquid
ingredients, all as hereafter described.
We construct a frame of wood or other suitable material and shape, and on its
surface we mount any required number of hooks or pegs; to these hooks or pegs
are slung or otherwise attached any required number of hides. When a sufficient
number of hides or skins are attached, these, assuming a vertical position, are
lowered into a pit or tank of tan or other liquor.
During the processes of manufacturing leather it is sometimes necessary to change
or transfer the skins or hides from one tank or pit to another, or to raise them
therefrom for the purpose of examining them or expediting the processes, or as each
process in itself is completed to remove the hides or skins from the frame.
In order to raise the hides from the tanks or pits and to transfer them, when
required, to other tanks or pits, we provide a lifting and traversing apparatus in con-
031

page_text: junction or in combination with the herein-before mentioned frame, by which it (the
frame), with its load of hides or skins, may be raised from the pits, and, when required,
transferred to other pits or tanks for the purpose of completing the tanning or other
operations, motion being given to the apparatus either by hand or power. A
travelling crane moved in a longitudinal and transverse direction and with lifting 5
movement may be applied for this purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Staniland Stocks and Benjamin Stocks in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 3rd September 1878.
JAMES STANILAND STOCKS and BENJAMIN STOCKS, both of Leeds, in the County
of York, Leather Dressers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER."
Our Invention has for its object saving of labour and the production of a better
quality of leather, such improvements being applicable not only to the tanning
operation of leather, but also to other processes of preparing or treating hides or
skins, such as depilating or unhairing the same, and where the skins or hides
. require to be operated upon in tan or other pits containing tanning or other liquid
ingredients, all as hereafter described.
We construct a frame of wood or other suitable material and shape, and on its
surface we mount any required number of hooks or pegs; to these hooks or pegs
are slung or otherwise attached any required number of hides. When a sufficient
number of hides or skins are attached, these, assuming a vertical position, are
lowered into a pit or tank of tan or other liquor.
During the processes of manufacturing leather it is sometimes necessary to change
or transfer the skins or hides from one tank or pit to another, or to raise them
therefrom for the purpose of examining them or expediting the processes, or as each
process in itself is completed to remove the hides or skins from the frame.
In order to raise the hides from the tanks or pits and to transfer them, when
required, to other tanks or pits, we provide a lifting and traversing apparatus in
conjunction or in combination with the herein-before mentioned frame, by which it
(the frame), with its load of hides or skins, may be raised from the pits, and, when
required, transferred to other pits or tanks for the purpose of completing the
tanning or other operations, motion being given to the apparatus either by hand or
power.
And in order that our Invention may be more completely understood, reference is
given to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters and marks thereon.
DecoTNWAY

page_text: Figure 2 represents a plan of the frame or apparatus; Figure 3 a side elevation
of the same.
Figure 4 shows the arrangement of tanks and apparatus generally.
a is the frame, which is constructed of wood or other suitable material, the shape
thereof varying in accordance with that of the tanks. On its surface we mount a
number of hooks or pegs b; these, of course, may be placed in any other convenient
position on the frame a; c, c, are stretchers for stiffening or strengthening the
framework; & represents one of a number of hides, which is slung, hung, or other-
wise attached to the hooks or pegs b on the framework a, and in this position it is
passed into the tank e, which has previously been charged with tan, liquor, or other
ingredients required in the tanning or other operation.
The number of hides operated upon in each tank depends upon the size of the
tank e and framework a.
The hides, by our arrangement, assume a vertical position in the tank or pit e.
During the process of manufacturing leather it is sometimes necessary to transfer
the hides or skins from one tank to another, or to raise the hides from the pits or
tanks e for the purpose of examining them or expediting the process, or as each
process is completed to remove the hides or skins from the frame.
In order to raise the hides or skins we employ an ordinary travelling crane f,
which may be either worked by hand or power, and arranged so as to be able to
lift the frame a from one tank to another, such tanks or pits e being arranged as
shewn at Figure 4, or in any other convenient manner.
The travelling crane or lifting apparatus may be attached to the frame a by
means of the lifting chains or "slings" g.
Suitable supports are provided in the pit for carrying the frame a and preventing
it being lowered too far.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and shewn by Drawings
how the same may be carried into effect, we would have it understood that we do
not limit ourselves to the exact limits, details, or configuration of the parts we have
explained and shewn, but what we claim is,-
First. The arrangement, construction, and application of frame a and parts
connected therewith for carrying the hides or skins during the tanning or other
operations, substantially as herein set forth.
Second. The combination of the lifting apparatus or travelling crane with the
frame a for the purpose of transferring the hides or skins from one tank or pit e to
another, or for the purposes of examining the hides or skins, or expediting the
process, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Stocks, for myself and on behalf of
the said James Staniland Stocks, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Second day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
BENJAMIN STOCKS. (L.S.)