IMPROVEMENTS IN FLESHING MACHINES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Kitchin, of Leeds, in the County of
York; for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLESHING MACHINES
EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER."
"
Sealed the 20th October 1873, and dated the 24th April 1873.
L'
PROVISIONAL, SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Kitchin' at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition; on
the 24th April 1873..
I, MATTHEW KITCHIN, of Leeds, in the County of, York, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLESHING
MACHINES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER,” to be as follows :—.
•
The object of my Invention is to remove from skins or hides the
fleshy substance that adheres to: the inner side thereof, as, hereafter
described.
I provide a drum, cylinder, or table, mounted by- preference-hori-
zontally in adjustable bearings; carried within'- suitable framework.
Above, the drum, cylinder, or table, and in bearings on a sliding carrier

page_text: is fitted so as to revolve freely a spiral or other suitable revolving cutter.
A reciprocating traversing motion is imparted to the sliding carrier by
friction or other suitable gearing.
In some cases a cutter without a rotary motion may be employed.
To reverse the traversing motion a suitable tappet arrangement of
ordinary construction is employed. The drum is raised or lowered by
treadle or other suitable known mechanical motion. At the end of the
drum is provided a clamp for the purpose of retaining the hide in
position during the fleshing process.
The hide is laid over or on the drum, cylinder, or table as straight as
possible, and then brought up to the cutter by treadle or other suitable
mechanical means. The cutter is then caused to traverse across, thereby
removing in its progress the fleshy substance. The movement of the
cutter is continued until all the fleshy matter is removed from the
hide.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Matthew Kitchin in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATTHEW
KITCHIN, of Leeds, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Matthew Kitchin, Her special licence
that I, the said Matthew Kitchin, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Matthew Kitchin, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS. IN FLESHING
MACHINES EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Matthew Kitchin, my executors or

page_text: 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 Matthew Kitchin, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that is to
say:
The object of my Invention is to remove from skins or hides the
fleshy substance that adheres to the inner side thereof, as hereafter
described.
I provide a drum, cylinder, or table, mounted by preference hori-
zontally in adjustable bearings, carried within suitable framework.
Above the drum, cylinder, or table, and in bearings on a sliding carrier,
is fitted so as to revolve freely a spiral or other suitable revolving cutter
or scraper. A reciprocating traversing motion is imparted to the sliding
carrier by friction or other suitable gearing.
In some cases a cutter or scraper without a rotary motion may be
employed.
To reverse the traversing motion a suitable tappet arrangement of
ordinary, construction is employed. The drum is raised or lowered by
treadle or other suitable known mechanical motion. At the end of the
drum is provided a clamp for the purpose of retaining the hide in
position during the fleshing process.
The hide is laid over or on the drum, cylinder, or table as straight, as
possible, and then brought up to the cutter by treadle or other suitable
mechanical means. The cutter is then caused to traverse across, thereby
removing in its progress the fleshy substance. The movement of the
cutter is continued until all the fleshy matter is removed from the
hide.
In order that my Invention may be more completely understood,
reference is given to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 an end elevation.

page_text: 1
I provide a drum or cylinder a, mounted on a 'shaft b; by preference
horizontally, in adjustable bearings d, carried on framework c. Above
the drum or cylinder a, and in bearings d on a sliding carrier e, is fitted
so as to revolve freely a spiral or other suitable cutter or scraper f.
Motion is transmitted to the revolving cutter or scraper f through bevil
wheel gearing g and driving pulleys h. The sliding carriere is fitted so
as to slide freely within the slides i.. A-reciprocating sliding motion is
imparted thereto by means of friction or other suitable gearing. In the
Drawing I have shewn the reciprocating motion imparted by means of a
straight or open belt j and a crossed belt k. These are alternately moved
onto the driving or fast pulley 1, whereby the motion of the screw:m is
reversed at pleasure. By this means the required backward and forward
motion is imparted through the screw m and nut n to the sliding
carrier e. The reversing motion may be either actuated by the attendant
through-the rod o and lever p, which is carried on the framework by
means of the brackets q, or by any suitable tappet motion or equivalent
arrangement. The drum or cylinder a may be raised or lowered by
treadle acting on the bushes or bearings & through the rod t änd
link u.
.
Other suitable known meclianical motion may be employed for raising
the cylinder or drum a.
At the end of the cylinder or drum-a is.provided a clamp, which may
be constructed as shewn. v is the bracket, which may be secured in
any position on the shaft b by the set screw.w; in this bracket is held
by means of the pin or stud x the dog or clamp y....The required
pressure is given to this dog or clamp y by means of the spring z; when
relieved from the hide it is kept back by means of the stop lever 1,
having the notch 2, into which the pin 3 passes, whereby the clamp or
dog is kept back clear of the hide. When the hide has been placed on
the drum or cylinder a, as shewn in dotted lines, the lever 1 is raised,
which frees the pin, and allows the dog or clamp to press on to the hide,
being actuated by the spring z.
Any other, suitable means may be employed for retaining the hide in
position.
The hide is laid on the cylinder or drum a, as shewn in dotted lines, 3
as straight as possible, and then brought up to the cutter, by the treadler
or other suitable means. The cutter is, then caused, to traverse over the
↑

page_text: hide, at the same time the rotary motion being given to it in the manner
herein-before described, the fleshy substance is thereby removed. The
movement of the cutter or scraper is continued until the fleshy matter is
removed.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be performed, I would remark in conclusion that I
do not limit myself to the exact details, limits, or configuration of parts
I have explained and shewn, as the same may of course be varied or
modified without in any way departing from the nature of my In-
vention; but what I do claim and desire to be secured to me by Letters
Patent are,-
Firstly. The arrangement and application of an adjustable table,
cylinder, or drum, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Secondly. The arrangement, construction, and application of a carrier
having a reciprocating sliding motion in combination with a spiral or
other revolving or fixed cutter or scraper, substantially as and for
purposes herein set forth.
Thirdly. The arrangement, construction, and combination of the
various parts forming the machine, substantially as and for purposes
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Kitchin, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twenty-second day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
MATTHEW KITCHIN