Improvements in Machines Employed in the Manufacture of Leather for Setting, Scouring, Striking or Pinning, Printing, Rolling, Slicking, Fleshing, Unhairing, Whiting, Shaving, and Brushing.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 9th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 6th Apr., 1889
"7"
Improvements in Machines Employed in the Manufacture of Leather
for Setting, Scouring, Striking or Pinning, Printing, Rolling,
Slicking, Fleshing, Unhairing, Whiting, Shaving, and Brushing.
I, JOSEPH HALL of Burley Engine Works, Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to improve the construction and efficiency of
machines employed in the manufacture of leather so that as a result more and better
work is done in the same time and with less fatigue to the attendant.
This invention is particularly applicable to machines in which the table containing
the leather or skin operated upon is capable of being moved up and down and in any
required horizontal direction relatively to the tool. According to this invention I so
construct and arrange the mechanisms for effecting the motions of the table that the
workman is able during the working of the machine to produce any of the said
motions either by hand or by machinery and either together or separately. I also
construct and arrange the tool holder or holders so that the point of coming into
action or ceasing action during the stroke can be controlled by the attendant without
stopping the machine. Instead of this or in combination therewith I arrange the
crank pin which by the connecting rod imparts motion to the tool holder in such
manner that its eccentricity or stroke can be adjusted according to the width of
material operated upon while the machine is at work.
In this invention I obtain all the motions of the table by preference from one
driving shaft and convey motion therefrom by suitable bevel wheel or other gearing
having clutches or equivalent means for starting and controlling any one of the motions,
the handles therefor being arranged conveniently for the attendant and so also the
handles or hand wheels for effecting the motion by hand.
When my invention is applied to the machine described in the Specification of my
Patent No. 2262 of 1883 I prefer to alter the direction of motion of the bottom
carriage so that it shall work at right angles to the one therein described that is to
say us in my Patent Specification 5619 of 1886 whereby I obtain room for a stronger

page_text: or broader base of framing I also prefer to impart the rising and falling motion to
the top table or to the intermediate carriage instead of to the bottom carriage and to
effect such rising and falling motion by means of the eccentric gear described in my
Patent Specification No. 5619 of 1886 but by preference so that the eccentric spindle
is turned by worm and worm wheel gear whereby I obtain a safer and casier motion.
In order to reduce the cost and increase the convenience of use in such machines I
sometimes combine two tables (having the three stated motions and these effected in
the manner described) with one framing so that the two tables are arranged one on
one side and the other on the other side of the frame or standard and so that the
tools over the two tables are either worked from one crank or crank pin or from two
separate ones.
The adjustment of working stroke of the tool holder or holders in the case of
machines constructed on the lines of my Patent 5619 of 1886 may be effected by
mounting the wiper in such manner that it can be shifted relatively to the wedge
shaped block.
For this purpose I in one arrangement connect the wiper by a rod with a double
armed lover or eccentric having sliding adjustable fulcrum and which is connected to
a point in the connecting rod that works the tool holder.
This part of my invention can also be adapted to other constructions of tool holder
where two tools are mounted in a holder hung on a fulcrum pin such for instance
as the one described in the Specification of my aforesaid Patent of 1883 or in other
tool holders similarly mounted and whether with two or more tools. I then make a
rigid or yielding connection between the tool holder and the connecting rod actuating
it whereby I am enabled to reverse the tools whilo running at a higher speed than
heretofore possible partly because I do away with any secondary connecting rod from
the crank pin the weight and hence the momentum being reduced.
To vary the stroke of the tool holder and connecting rod at the crank pin end I
arrange the crank pin on a lover or revolving disc the fulcrum of which is situated
in the crank pin disc between its centre and circumference. This lever or revolving
disc is capable of adjustment round its fulcrum and the crank pin therein will thereby
be brought nearer to or further from the centre of the crank disc thus producing a
shorter or longer stroke as required.
DL1 ou 1
P
1000

page_text: Improvements in Machines Employed in the Manufacture of Leather
for Setting, Scouring, Striking or Pinning, Printing, Rolling,
Slicking, Fleshing, Unhairing, Whiting, Shaving, and Brushing.
I, JOSEPH HALL of Burley Engine Works Leeds in the County of York Engineer
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 :-
The object of this invention is to improve the construction and efficiency of machines
employed in the manufacture of leather so that as a result more and better work is
done in the same time and with less fatigue to the attendant.
This invention is particularly applicable to machines in which the table containing
the leather or skin operated upon is capable of being moved up and down and in any
required horizontal direction relatively to the tool. According to this invention I so
construct and arrange the mechanisms for effecting the motions of the table that the
workman is able during the working of the machine to produce any of the said motions
either by hand or by machinery, and either together or separately. I also construct
and arrange the toolholder or holders so that the point of coming into action or
consing action during the stroke can be controlled by the attendant without stopping
the machine. Instead of this or in combination therewith I arrange the crank pin
which by the connecting rod imparts motion to the tool holder in such manner that
its eccentricity or stroko can be adjusted according to the width of material operated
upon while the machine is at work.
In this invention I obtain all or nearly all the motions of the table from one driving
shaft and convoy motion therefrom by suitable bevel wheel or other gearing having
clutches or equivalent means for starting and controlling any one of the motions, the
handles therefor being arranged conveniently for the attendant and so also the handles
or hand wheels for effecting the motion by hand.
When my invention is applied to the machine described in the Specification of my
Patent No. 2262 of 1883 1 prefer to alter the direction of motion of the bottom
carriage so that it shall work at right angles to the one therein described that is to say
as in my Patent Specification 5619 of 1886 whereby I obtain room for a stronger
or broader base of framing. I also prefer to impart the rising and falling motion
to the top table or to the intermediate carriage instead of to the bottom carriage
and to effect such rising and falling motion by means of the eccentric gear described
in my Patent Specification No. 5619 of 1886 but my preference so that the eccentric
spindle is turned by worn and worm wheel gear whereby I obtain a safer and easier
motion.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side view of a machine constructed
according to this part of my invention Figure 2 is a front end view of the table and
carriage Figure 3 a plan of machine and Figure 4 a plan of lower part of carriage,
(the top table being removed).

page_text: The bottom frame A A³ is mounted on wheels A¹ which run on rails A¹ and are
supported from the transverse frames A of the carriage. On the inner sides of the
frames A are formed ledges or rails for the wheels B to run on; these wheels run on
gudgeons B eccentric on the ends of their spindles B³ which are supported in
bearings that are fixed to the underside of the undertable C. By turning the
spindles B the latter is raised or lowered and therewith also tho working table D
which on its underside has a circular path for the conical wheels of the under
table to run on. The table D can thus be turned round on the undertable () which
is capable of being raised and lowered by the eccentric gudgeons B¹ of the wheels B
which can traverso on the rails on the frames A while the whole of the machine so
far described is supported on the wheels A¹ and can run in and out on the rails A².
The aforesaid four motions viz. the traversing the in and out the rising and the
revolving motions can be effected either by hand or by machinery with the aid of
suitable mechanism.
The up and down motion is generally effected by the hand wheel E which by bevel
wheels transmits motion to the spindle E2 having worms E³ ³ which gear with
worm wheels Et on the aforesaid spindles B³ with eccentric gudgeons B¹. Instead of
the eccentric shafts B2 for raising and lowering the table I may use shafts with
eccentric bearing bosses thereon. The rising and falling motion of the table may also
be effected by machinery by suitable mechanism (such for instance as by hydraulic or
other fluid pressure applied thereto).
The traversing motion and in and out motion are effected from the shaft F by
bevil gear F and shaft F2 the latter having a longitudinal groove or feather for
connecting the actuating wheel F³ thereto while permitting the machine to travel
in and out.
The driving shaft G of the machine mounted in the framing O actuates by means
of a belt or other equivalent transmission gear the shaft F. Mounted on the shaft F
is a bevel wheel F1 which gears with another bevel wheel F on the shaft F. This
shaft F is provided with a suitable feather or groove and one end of said shaft is
mounted in suitable bearings attached to the carriage A. A³ so that the carriage may
move in and out as shown on the drawings. Or instead of fixing the shaft F" in its
bearings near the bevel wheel gearing F and allowing the carriage A A³ to slide in
and out upon it the bevel wheel gearing end of the shaft may be provided with a
feather which would take into a key way in its bevel wheel F, whilst the other end of
the shaft would be held rotatably rigid in its bearings in the carriage A A. Referring
again to the drawings it will be seen that the shaft F has mounted thereon a tooth
wheel F which is held in suitable position on the carriage AA so as to travel therewith
while sliding along the feather of the shaft F. This wheel F³ gears into a wheel F¹
mounted in suitable bearings on the framework A A' and on the shaft of the wheel Fis
mounted a bevel wheel F which gears with two corresponding bevel wheels Fe and F
normally running loose on their axle and provided with suitable clutches F sliding on
a feather on shaft F and working when desired into corresponding parts on the bevel
wheels F and F by means of a suitable handle, but for the sake of clearness I have
refrained from showing any of the clutch handles. When the clutch F8 grips for
instance the bevel wheel F the shaft F will revolve in one direction and when
the clutch is reversed and takes into the bevel wheel F7 the shaft F will revolve in
the opposite direction. The shaft F has keyed thereon tooth wheels F10 which gear
with the wheels F" fixed on the carriage axles F on which also are fixed the carriago
wheels A', by which it will be seen the carriage A A³ can be worked in and out
automatically, or under some circumstances the carriage may be worked in and out by
hand power. It is evident that the said carriage may also be moved by means of a
screw working into a nut on the carriage A A³, the said screw being provided with
suitable reversing gear, and with a groove similar to that in the shaft for actuating
the other motions Or two separate shafts might be used for effecting the several motions,
one might be in the form of a screw working in a nut at a fixed point, not on the
carriage and the other in the form of a feathered shaft, the latter being for actuating
the top carriage and the table, whilst the screw would take the place of the shaft F as

page_text: far as concerns moving the carriage in and out and do away with the shaft Fº and
wheels and F".
For effecting the traverse of the carriage C herein before mentioned, the shaft F by
the wheel F communicates motion to the tooth wheel H mounted on shaft H'. This
shaft H' is mounted in suitable bearings on the frame A³ and is provided at its end
with a bevel wheel H' which gears with bevel wheels H³ and H' mounted on a vertical
shaft H with a clutch H' thereon similar in its action to that lettered FB and described
with reference to the mechanism for running the carriage A A³ in and out. The
functions of the clutch H are for reversing and stopping automatically the traverse of
the under table Cupon the carriage A A. The vertical shaft H has a pinion H'
keyed thereon which gears with a rack H which is attached to the undertable C.
Instead of a rack and pinion I may use a rope or chain or in fact any other equivalent
means for traversing the said undertable C.
For revolving the table D motion is transmitted from the shaft F by means of the
tooth wheel on to tooth wheel H and from thence to the intermediate transmission
wheel K which gears with a tooth wheel K¹ fixed on a shaft K³ mounted in suitable
bearings on the frame A A³.
At one end of the shaft K is fixed a bevel wheel K³ which gears with another
bevel wheel K' mounted on a feathered shaft K'. This shaft K' is mounted in
bearings on the frame parts A and bevel wheels K K can slide with a feather on
said shaft and gear into K which is keyed on a vertical shaft Kº. A pinion K⁰ is
mounted on the upper end of the shaft K and gears with the large wheel K" fixed on
the spindle D of the table D. A clutch K¹ similar in action to those already
described is mounted on and takes into the groove in the shaft K to allow the under
table C to traverse on the frame A A³. A suitable bracket on the undertable C serves
to support the shaft K and the shaft K°.
It is evident that although I have only illustrated one form of clutch through out
the Specification, any suitable friction or other clutch mechanism may be applied.
Figure 5 sheet 5 is a diagrammatic plan illustrating a modification in the mode of
driving in which the power is transmitted from the pulley a through shaft F to
pinions F communicating motion to belt or chain pulleys b and c whilst the inter-
inodiate pulleys d e and by means of suitable clutches on their shafts and reversing
mechanisins serve to transmit the several in and out, traversing and circular motions.
The band F Fig. 5 thus takes the place of the shaft F in the proviously described
arrangements.
In order to reduce the cost and increase the convenience of use in such machines I
sometimes combine two tables (having the three or more stated motions and these
effected in the manner described) with one framing O so that the two tables are
arranged one on one side and the other on the other side of the frame or standard and
so that the tools over the two tables are either worked from one crank or crank pin or
from two separate ones. Figure 6 sheet 6 is a side view of a double machine of this
description, some principal parts being distinguished by the same letters of reference
as in figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
The adjustinent of working stroke of the tool holder or holders in the case of
machines constructed on the lines of my Patent 5619 of 1886 may be effected by
mounting the wiper in such manner that it can be shifted relatively to the wedge-
shaped block.
For this purpose 1 construct the wiper with adjustable lever or lever's or eccentric
which is connected to the connecting rod that works the tool holder.
Figure 6° sheet 7 is a side view of one arrangement, T being a double armed wiper
mounted on an eccentric on the pin T¹ of the connecting rod Y said pin being mounted
in eccentric bearings & actuates the tool holder.
The wiper is connected in eccentric bearing on the connecting rod Y and by means
of a wormi T on a spindle T with a hand wheel the cams S can be turned to one side
or the other thus altering the centre and therefore the position of the wiper arms T
relatively to the said curved cams S on the inner sides of bow shaped tool holder
levers RR and R' R' each end of same being elastically and adjustably suspended by

page_text: the rods Ras in my patent 561988 with adjusting nuts R and helical springs R³. By
altering the position of the wiper arms T the position of the two tools is adjusted as
required. Figure 7 shews a modified arrangement in which the cams S are adjusted
instead of the wipers and are connected to links 8' which are pivoted to the worm-
wheel T. In Figure 8 the worm T3 is arranged to gear with a sector wheel T which
is fixed on the eccentric R² formed or fixed on the fulcrum pin R³ of the bow shaped
lever R the double toolholder R¹ being mounted on the eccentric R².
This part of my invention can also be adapted to other constructions of tool holder
where two tools are mounted in a holder hung on a fulcrum pin such for instance as
the one described in the Specification of my aforesaid Patent of 1883 or in other tool
holders similarly mounted and whether with two or more tools. I then make a rigid
or yielding connection between the tool holder and the connecting rod actuating it
whereby I am enabled to reverse the tools while running at a higher speed than here-
tofore possible partly because I do away with any socondary connecting rod from the
crank pin the weight and hence the momentum being reduced.
Figures 9 to 12 sheet 7 shew 5 such forms. In figure 9 the connecting rod Y
from the crank disc U to the pin T on the sliding tool holder head Z has a rod con-
nection Z the other and of which works in a link (and is capable of adjustment
therein) on a pivot and by a spring or other yielding part Z connected to one side
of the tool holder R the other sido thereof being by a screwed bolt adjustably con-
nected to a fixed point on the head Z. While the latter is moved backwards and
forwards the varying angularity of the connecting rod Y will impart the required
vibrating motion to the tool-holder lifting the same alternately off the skin in the
backstroke. T³ and T are stops of well known construction for limiting the travel of
the tool holder.
Figure 10 shows an arrangement in which the connecting rod Y is jointed to the
head Z in a similar manner with a bell crank lever Z as here shown (or it might be by
any other equivalent device mounted on the pin T¹) connected to the connecting rod Y
by means of a spring Z so that the required vibrating motion will be imparted to the
toolholder R.
Figure 11 shows another arrangement of tool holder similar to one patented in my
patent of 1883. In this case the connecting rod is provided at its extremity with a
projection Z to which is attached one end of a spring Z and the other end thereof
being fixed on the tool-holder head whilst the tool holder itself is attached somewhat
about at the middle thereof. T3, T4, represent stops which are used for stopping the
vibrating action of the tool holder R.
Figure 12 represents a fourth arrangement in which the connecting rod Y is as
usual pivotted at T and is connected near that point with the spring Z³ the upper
part of which at Z³ is fixed to the tool holder head and the lower part to the tool
holder R. The apparatus is provided with stops T³, T* which may be inserted, when
it is required to raise the tool from the work.
Figure 12 shows a modified arrangement, in which the tool holder is pivotted on
the head down below working in between two stops T³, 14 above. Motion is given by
the projection Z on the end of the connecting rod Y to the spindle upon which are
placed the springs Z³ one on each side of the top of the tool holder, the spindles being
provided with adjustable nuts and lock nuts at their ends for regulating the con-
pression of the springs.
To vary the stroke of the tool holder and connecting rod at the crank pin end I
arrange the crank pin on a lever or revolving disc the fulcrum of which is situated
in the crank pin disc between its centre and circumference. This lever or revolving
disc is capable of adjustment round its fulcrum and the crank pin therein will thereby
be brought nearer to or further from the centre of the crank disc thus producing a
shorter or longer stroke as required. Figure 13 is a side view and figure 14 a part
sectional plan of such an arrangement V being the crank pin disc and Ui a lever which
is pivotted thereto at U' and formed with a tooth sector part Vs into which gears the
worm X on a spindle X with a friction head X³. The end of the connecting rod Y
is pivotted thereto at Y'. By contact with one side or the other of the interior of a

page_text: drum such as to be described with reference Fig. 16, the spindle ¹² is caused to
rotate thereby bringing the centre Y' nearer to or further from the centre of the disc V
and thus altering the stroke of the connecting rod Y and of the tool holder to which
its other end is connected.
Figure 15 is a side view and Figure 16 a vertical section of another such arrange-
inent in which the joint pin Y' of the connecting rod Y is fixed in a disc V₁. This
disc is in a circular recess in the crank disc V an annular groove being provided for
the end of the pin Y to be guided in. The disc V₁ can be shifted round_and
thereby the stroke of the connecting rod Y altered by means of the worm X on
spindle with friction head X'. This friction head X is actuated by means of
an axially sliding non-revolving disc X' provided with projecting rims XX" which
are brought into contact with the friction head X' by means of a foot lever or any
equivalent device of any convenient_construction-A disc X of like construction is
applicable to the apparatus shown in Figures 13 and 14 as already stated. The disc V'
may obviously be mounted in or on the crank disc V in many other ways so that it
can be shifted round by means of a worm for altering the stroke as shown for
instance by Figures 17 to 20 Sheet 5. In this case I am able to dispense with the
sliding disc X³. V₁ is the worm wheel carrying the crank pin Y¹. X is the worm on
shaft which also carries bevel wheel X' gearing with the wheels X and X' all of
which are mounted in a suitable bracket. The bevel wheels X and Y³ run loose on a
shaft X which slides within crank shaft G. A clutch X' is mounted on the shaft X®
so as to gear either with one or other of the two bevel wheels or not at all. The
shaft works longitudinally in bearings under the control of the attendant who
gives the desired direction of motion to worm X by the action of the clutch, the
bevel wheel X giving one direction and X the opposite when midway between
them the wheel X³ will be stationary as regards its own individual motion and locked
in that position by means of a toothed stop X, which hold in suitable guides is moved
in gear with the teeth of X' when the clutch is in the middle by reason of the inclined
plane thereon and out of gear when the clutch is in gear with either of the
wheels X or X-a spring X keeps it pressed down.
I may also apply the clutch mechanism as just described with a stop or check to
the bevel wheel gearing for working the carriage A A³ in and out, thus locking the
said carriage in any desired position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that :
I am aware that wedges and various other kinds of devices have been used for
about twenty years for raising and lowering the table of a machine used in the
manufacture of leather the tool of which has a reciprocating motion over the
surface of the table. I am also aware that double connecting rods have been used twenty
years ago in machines for the same purpose, one of the rods moving the head and
the other lifting the tool on and off the work, both rods being worked from the
same crank pin. I am also aware that it has been proposed as early as 1882 to work
the carriage with the table thereon in and out by means of screws relatively to the
reciprocating tool. I am also aware that it has been proposed to alter the length of
the stroke of the tool holder head during the motion of the machine but what I
do claim is :
First. The improved construction of machine for the purposes described having
means for actuating either by power or by hand the in and out movement of the
carriage A A³, the traversing of the lower or under table C, the rising and falling
movement of the said lower table C and the revolving of the upper table Ď
substantially as described.
Second. The combination of two tables and their several parts with one framing as
described with reference to Figure 6.
Third. The application and use of worm and worm wheel or sector to the setting of
the tool holders whereby they can be adjusted while at work substantially as described
with reference to Figures 6" 7 and 8.

page_text: Fourth. The improved constructions and arrangements of connecting rods with
yielding pivotted tool holders substantially as described with reference to Figures 9
to 12".
Fifth. The application and use of worm and worm wheel or sector lever to the
shifting of the driving or crank end of the tool operating connecting rod nearer to it
or further from the centre and thus varying the stroke while the machine is at work
substantially as described with reference to Figures 13 to 16.
Sixth. The improved construction of mechanism for varying the distance of the tool
driving crank pin from the centre while the machine is at work substantially as
described with reference to Figures 17 to 20.
Seventh. The application and use of the clutch stop mechanism a substantially as
described.
Eighth. The improved construction and arrangements of machinery employed in the
manufacture of leather as shown.
Dated this 9th day of January 1889.
JOSEPH HALL.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.