Improvement in Machines for Softening, Stretching, or Working Leather or Skins.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application; 13th: Oct., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Machines for Softening, Stretching, or Working
Leather or Skins.
I, CHARLES BOUTHÉON; of 31 Boulevard St. Marcel, Paris, France, 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:-
This invention relates to an improvement in machines fór softening, stretching
or working leather and skins. Such improvement consists in a modification in the
movement by means of which the operation of softening, stretching or working is
effected.
This new movement is regularly horizontal and rectilinear, which imparts to the
tool great stability and gives it a steady travel without shocks and quicker than
with machines hitherto employed: The effects which it produces are caused by
the action of a cam acting at the periphery of a disc which operates the softening,
stretching or working nechanism thus regulating its movement.
The modified form of machine is shown in side elevation in the. figure on the
annexed sheet of drawings.
It is composed of a carriage B' which has a horizontal' to and fro movement
between two guides C, D, supported on a' frame A. This carriage at it's forward
end carries two jaws by which the work is effected as hereinafter d'escribed; such
jaws being articulated to the said earringe by the axes P, P. The to and fro
movement is iniparted to the carriage by means of the connecting rod H, one end
of which is connected to such carriage by the axis M, while its other end is
connected to an axis G fixed on the periphery of a disc F, keyed to a shaft which
carries a toothed wheel (not shown in the drawing) gearing with a pinion to which
movement is imparted in the usual manner by a pulley situated at the rear of the
machine. This same axis G on the periphery of the disc F at the same time
carries one end of another adjustable connecting rod I, the opposite end of which
is articulated by an axis S to two small connecting rods H, H, which are them-
selves articulated at their opposite ends by means of two axes T, T, to any suitable
point of each of the jaws F, F". The end of the said connecting rod I articulated
as described to the axis G of the disc is made in one with a cam L the projections
or contour of which bears against a roller K.
The lower jaw F1 is provided with two blades N, O, the blade N being curved
inwards and the blade O being straight and slightly lower. The upper jaw F"
carries a pressure roller J of india rubber.
The axis S which serves to connect together the connecting rod I and the small
connecting rods H, H", is formed in one with a guide rod Q, which moves
borizontally in a seat in the carriage B, and also in a support R connected to such
carriage, and this rod is surrounded by a spiral spring V, the expansion of which
has the effect of returning it to the position in which it produces the opening of
the two jaws F', F.
Further, a table U fixed to the frame A, extends forward between the two
jaws F, F, and parallel to such jaws, being cut away longitudinally by a slot through
which the closing of the two said jaws for operating on the work takes place.
The work is in principle effected in the same way as in other machines of the
same kind, but by means of the differential action hereinafter described.

page_text: The disc F in revolving on its axis, through the connecting rod H forces the
carriage B forward, the two jaws of which are then open through the expansion of
spring V, which being free from all pressure has forced the small connecting
rods H, H to a vertical position, on account of the connecting rod I having
effected a movement identical in its travel to that of the connecting rod H. The
disc continuing its rotation draws back the carriage B, but at this moment the
cam L being by the travel brought to the maximum throw of its projections causes
the connecting rod I to travel a smaller course than that of the said connecting
rod H. The difference of travel of the said connecting rod I thus causes it to pull
through the axis S on the two small connecting rods H¹, H", at the same time
compressing the spring V, and the two jaws F, F" thus drawn together at once
under the influence of this pull close, and press upon the skin stretched by the
workman above the slot in the table U. In the return backward movement the
blade N of the jaw F¹ effects its work, the blade O serving to regulate the position
of the skin, in conjunction with the pressure roller J, and to prepare it for the
action of the blade N.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner. the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In a machine for softening, stretching or working leather and skins, the com-
bination of a cam L bearing against a roller K arranged at the periphery of a
disc which through an axis G carries two connecting rods H, I; a carriage B
carrying two jaws F¹, F" for effecting the work, such carriage being moved
horizontally between two slides C, D, of the frame of the machine by the con-
necting rod H actuated by the disc F; the connecting rod I having for its
object, under the influence of the projections of the cam L and by the intermediary
of an axis S and of small connecting rods H¹, H", to pull the two jaws F1, F
during their backward movement, by the effect of the difference of travel of the
said connecting rod I, which has the result of closing the two said jaws during
their backward movement and effects the work on the leather or skin, all substantially
as specified.
Dated this 13th day of October 1896.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant..