Improvements in Machines for Staking, Softening, and Stretching Leather and Skins.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 16th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Staking, Softening, and Stretching
Leather and Skins.
I, SAM HALEY, of the Firm of Thomas Haley and Co., of Railway Foundry,
Bramley, in the County of York, Engineers and Iron Founders, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to machines for staking, softening and stretching leather,
the object of my present improvements being to simplify the machine; to make
the operative parts better adapted for the work the machine has to perform; to
construct and actuate the bottom jaw tool so as to allow of a fixed support for
the leather or skin under the staking tool and give a full unobstructed table; and
to apply and actuate the clamp for holding the leather during the staking operation
in such a manner that, when opened, ample clearance will be given for the free
and easy manipulation and adjustment of the leather or skin.
For the purpose of my said invention I employ a disc mounted on the main
driving shaft and having a stud secured eccentrically thereto. To said stud is
attached a connecting rod centred near its opposite end to a stud or pin secured to
the tool carrier or headstock which is adapted to be slided backwards and forwards
in ways in the main frame by said connecting rod at every revolution of the disc.
The ways in which the headstock or tool carrier slides are normal to the plane of
the table which is set at an angle as ordinarily. On the front end of the con-
necting rod is formed or attached a finger or short lever which extends into a
recess or slot and is adapted to engage with the slide carrying the staking tool.
At every revolution, the throw of the disc oscillates the connecting rod slightly
upon its centre and causes the finger or lever to depress the staking tool slide at
the forward end of its stroke and to elevate it again at the rear end of the stroke,
any excess of movement above that determined upon by the position of an adjust-
able stop piece, being taken up by means of a compensating spring, which said
spring also gives the desired pressure on the leather or skins under treatment. The
power of the spring may be increased or reduced, or an additional spring or springs
employed, to vary the amount of pressure on the staking tool. The staking tool is
bolted to the slide and can be removed and another staking tool substituted therefor.
The bottom jaw tool comprises two bent rods or staples projecting over a fixed
central piece and clear thereof, the ends of the rods or staples passing down each
side of said fixed central piece and being secured to a slide supported in ways
underneath the table, and adapted to be reciprocated backwards and forwards in
unison with the staking tool by means of a connecting rod attached at its opposite
end to a slide to which is also secured an arm extending upwards over the table
and bolted to the headstock or tool carrier from which the requisite motion is
obtained.
་
The two bent rods or staples of the bottom jaw tool are set at a certain distance

page_text: apart to form a recess or space into which the staking tool can descend and press
the leather, the latter being passed over the said bottom jaw tool and held at the
front and on the top of the table by a suitable clamp or jaw actuated at the proper
time, to close it upon the leather, by a cam on the main shaft which acts on a link
or rod having a flexible or yielding connection with a lever coupled to the clamp
or slide carrying same, the clamp being opened when released by the cam, by a
weight or its equivalent.
At the
A compensating spring connected with the clamp slide and lever allows com-
pensation for movement of the clamp grip to the full extent of stroke.
close of the forward movement of the reciprocatory headstock, the leather is first
clamped tight against the top of the table, at the front thereof, by the closing of
the clamp, then the staking tool descends and engaging with the leather or skin,
presses it into the recess or slot in the bottom jaw tool at the same time that both
move to the rear, whereby the leather or skin is staked, softened and stretched
throughout the stroke of the staking tool. On the completion of the backward
stroke, the clamp and staking tool are elevated and the attendant can then manipu-
late and adjust the leather to any desired position or angle on the table in readiness
for the next stroke, there being nothing whatever to obstruct him or to interfere
with the movement of the leather. A step or guide in front of the bottom jaw
tool serves to guide the leather over said tool when being introduced or its position
changed.
In order to adjust the bottom jaw tool with respect to the staking tool to any
desired degree of keenness I make the connecting rod which actuates same, in two
sections, with threaded ends and couple them by a union nut, the rotation of which
in one or the other direction will lengthen or shorten said rod and adjust the
position of the bottom jaw tool accordingly.
By constructing and actuating the bottom jaw tool in the manner set forth, I
dispense with the endless apron or belt at present employed to fill up the central
space in the table, and in lieu thereof provide a fixed central piece to support the
leather which is very advantageous and simplifies the machine.
The bottom jaw tool may be made in one piece if preferred, and the slots or
openings in which the end or ends work can be protected by caps or plates.
Improvements in Machines for Staking, Softening, and Stretching
Leather and Skins.
I, SAM HALEY, of the Firm of Thomas Haley and Co., of Railway Foundry,
Bramley, in the County of York, Engineers and Iron Founders, 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:-
This invention refers to machines for staking, softening and stretching leather
and skins, the object of my present improvements being to simplify the machines
to make the operative parts better adapted for the work the machine has to
perform; to construct and actuate the bottom jaw tool so as to allow of a fixed
support for the leather or skin under the staking tool and give a full unobstructed
table; and to apply and actuate the clamp for holding the leather, during the

page_text: staking operation, in such a manner that, when opened, ample clearance will be
given for the free and easy manipulation and adjustment of the leather or skin.
Such being the nature and object of my invention I will now proceed to describe
the same fully for which purpose reference is hereafter had to the annexed sheets
of drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:-
Fig. 1 is side elevation of a leather staking softening and stretching machine
having my improvements applied;
Fig. 2 is plan view of the table bed shewing the bottom jaw tool and fixed
central plate under same for supporting the leather under the staking tool;
Fig. 3 is enlarged longitudinal section of the table bed and parts taken on
line 1, 2, of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is transverse section taken on line 3, 4, of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is enlarged detail of the staking head and parts; and Fig. 6 is plan and
Fig. 7 front elevation of same.
Referring to the drawings, letter a represents the main frame of the machine, b,
the driving shaft, and c the table or bed whereon the leather or skin to be staked
is laid. On the shaft b I mount a disc or face plate d having a wrist pin d¹
secured eccentrically thereto. To said wrist pin is coupled a connecting rod e
which is centred near its opposite end to a stud or pin f secured to the staking
head g.
At every revolution of the disc or face plate d the connecting rod e
slides the staking head g to and fro along the smooth surfaces of ways a¹ in the
frame a to the full extent of its stroke, the said ways a being normal to the plane
of the table c, which is set at an angle as ordinarily.
The connecting rod e is continued a short distance beyond the centre f to form
an arm or finger el which passes through a slot h¹ in the staking tool slide h and
is adapted by pressure against either end of said slot to move the slide up and
down in ways formed in the staking head g. The throw of the disc or face plate d
as it revolves, oscillates the connecting rod e slightly upon its centre f and causes
the finger or arm el to move downward and depress the staking tool slide at the
forward end of the stroke, and at the rear end of the stroke to move upward
again and elevate the staking tool slide, any excess of movement above that deter-
mined upon by the adjustable stop piece i being taken up by means of a compen-
sating spring or springs attached at j¹ to the connecting rod e and passing into
the slot in the slide h, said spring or springs also giving the desired pressure on
the leather or skin under treatment. The power of the spring or springs may be
increased or reduced, or an additional spring or springs employed to vary the
amount of pressure to be brought to bear on the staking tool.
The staking tool is represented at k and is preferably detachable, being bolted
or otherwise suitably secured to the lower end of the siide h.
In conjunction with the staking tool k is a bottom jaw tool comprising two bent
rods or staples 1, 1, which extend crosswise over and clear of a fixed steel, brass, or
other suitable metal plate m placed centrally of the table and secured to the bed c¹
(Fig. 3) of the table to form a rigid support to the leather throughout the full
stroke of the staking tool.
One end of said plate is attached to a tightening cross bar c² which is firmly
held in the table bed by screws 3 passing through screw threaded openings formed
in the tightening bar and by means of which said bar can be adjusted to tighten
or stretch the plate m to the degree required and prevent it from buckling. The
bent ends of the staples pass down between the longitudinal edges of the central
fixed plate m and the sides of the opening ct in the bed c¹ and are secured to, or
driven into tapered holes in the bottom jaw tool block n which is supported in ways
in the bed underneath the central fixed plate m, and is adapted to be slided to and
fro therein to the full extent of the stroke of the staking tool and synchronously
therewith, by means of a connecting rod attached at one end to the said bottom
jaw tool block and at the opposite end to a block o sliding in ways o¹ in the frame-
work a to which last named block is secured a rod or arm n² extending upward

page_text: over the table.and bolted to the staking headstock g from which the requisite
reciprocatory motion is therefore obtained.
'
The leather or skin to be staked or softened is laid on the table and over the
two staples 1, 1, as indicated by the strong broken line p in Fig. 1. The, said
staples are set at a suitable distance apart so that the staking tool k can descend
into the space between them and press the leather down therein, as shewn at
Fig. 5.
""""
After laying the leather on the table and starting the machine, the outer edge
of the leather is gripped or clamped, against the top of the table by a jaw or
clamp connected to a slider supported above the table in a bracket r secured
to the front of the main frame a, in which bracket the slide is free, to move
vertically.
The said clamp is actuated at the proper time, to close it upon the, leather, by
a cam's mounted on the main shaft b and acting on a bowl on the end of a link,or
rods connected to one end of a lever s centred at 3, the opposite end of said
lever passing through a slot in the slider and forcing down such slide when the
longer radii of cam s come in contact with the bowl on the rod s¹, the "dwell" on
the cam holding the clamp firmly against the leather during the forward stroke
of the staking mechanism."
The clamp is raised or opened, when released by the cam, by means of a counter-
balance weight st, or its equivalent. A compensating spring or springs ₺ secured
to the levers and resting against the lower end of the slot in the slider allow
compensation for varying thicknesses of leather. The grip of the clamp is regu-
lated by the nuts s on link or rod s¹. After the leather has been clamped ready
for the forward stroke of the staking tools, which is in the direction of the arrow
in Fig. 1, the staking tool descends and, engaging with the leather, presses it into
the space between the staples 1, 1, at the same time that both tools move forward
to the end of the stroke, whereby the leather or skin is staked, softened and stretched
throughout the stroke of the staking tools, the leather, during the stroke, being
supported by the fixed central plate m. On the completion of the forward stroke
the clamp, and staking tool k are elevated clear of the leather, the said staking
tool and the bottom jaw tool then making their return stroke, during which the
attendant can change the position of the leather or skin to bring another portion
opposite the staking tool in readiness for the next forward stroke of such tool,
the position of the clamp 9 giving a clear unobstructed table so that there is
nothing to interfere with the free movement of the leather.
. "
To the rear staple of the bottom jaw tool is secured a steel or brass plate which
inclines or slopes therefrom to the surface of the fixed central plate m, this sloping
plate being provided for the purpose of preventing the leather or skin, should the
tool go beyond it, from being caught or taken up by the tool on making the return
or backward stroke, and thus creased, crushed, or otherwise doubled up or damaged,
the inclined plate causing the leather to ride up same and over the staples 1, 1,
and thereby always ensuring the position of the leather over the bottom jaw tool.
}
In order to adjust the bottom jaw tool with respect to the staking tool k to any
desired degree of keenness, I make the connecting rod n¹ in two pieces with
threaded ends and couple them together by a union nut or pitman ³, the rotation
of which in one or the other direction will lengthen or shorten said rod, and adjust
the position of the block n and therefore of the staples 7, 1, I may make one of said
staples adjustable, if desired.
By constructing and actuating the bottom jaw tool in the manner set forth, I
dispense with the endless apron or belt at present employed to fill up the central
space in the table and in lien thereof provide a fixed central plate giving a rigid
support to the leather throughout the stroke of the staking tool, this being very
advantageous and simplifying the machine. The arrangement and actuation of
the clamp from above the table and the method of operating the staking tool
further improve the efficiency of and simplify the machine.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be carried into effect, I declare that what I
claim is:-
Firstly. In leather or skin staking machines a metal plate such as m secured
centrally to the table or bed of the table under the path of the staking tool and
occupying a position under and clear of the bottom jaw tool together with means
for tightening said plate substantially as herein shewn and described and for the
purposes set forth.
Secondly. In leather and skin staking machines, the arrangement, construction
and operation of the bottom jaw tool comprising two bent rods or staples extending
transversely over and clear of the fixed central leather supporting plate and
secured at each end to a sliding block which is supported and adapted to be recipro-
cated in ways underneath the fixed central plate, means for adjusting the bottom
jaw tool and a sloping or inclined plate such as u secured to one side of the said
tool for picking up the leather on the return stroke and causing it to ride over the
staples or tool substantially as herein shewn and described.
Thirdly. In leather or skin staking machines the application and employment
in combination with the staking tool, of a slide carrying same, a staking head in
which the said slide is supported and movable endwise, a connecting rod centred
to the staking head and having a projecting end or finger such as e adapted to
engage with the ends of a slot in the staking tool slide, and compensating springs
such as all arranged, operated and operating in the manner and for the purposes
substantially as herein shewn and described.
Fourthly. In leather or skin staking machines the application and employment
of a clamp arranged and working from above the table to clamp the leather on
a plane or parallel line with the table top and against same and when open to be
quite clear of the table together with the means for closing and opening said
clamp, for compensating for varying thicknesses of leather or skin, and for adjust-
ing the grip of the clamp substantially as herein shewn and described.
Fifthly. The general arrangement operation and combination of the parts com-
prising my herein described improvements in machines for staking, softening and
stretching leather and skins, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 15th day of February 1898.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Patent Agents.