Improvements in Leather Dressing Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1898
1
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Leather Dressing Machines..
We, OTTO FELIX FEIX, Mechanic, and GODFREY GOTTSCITALK, Manufacturer,
both of Gloversville, in the County of Fulton and State of New York, United
States of America, 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in leather dressing machines for removing
the flesh and refuse from skins or hides; and the prime object of: the present
invention is to simplify the construction of the machine, insure regularity and
uniformity in the speed of the parts relatively to each other 'and promote the
efficiency of operation and the ease and control of the working devices.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved feed and stretching
mechanism by which the hide or skin may be strained transversely as it is fed
to the abrading roll so as to insure the skin or hide being fed in a taut condition
uniformly throughout its width to the abrasive devices."
A further object of the invention is to provide means which act in conjunction
with a yieldable. pressure roll to keep the latter free from accumulations of refuse
and prevent the skin or hide from doubling or folding around said pressure roll.
A further object of the invention is to provide means by which the stretching
and pressure rolls may be adjusted to permit of the removal of the work in an
easy and convenient manner, and, also, to carry the loose abrasive material and
refuse away from the abrasive devices without liability of the skin being' drawn
away from said devices.
With these ends in view, the invention "consists in the novel combination of
elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts, which will be herein-
after fully described and claimed.
To enable others to understand the invention, we have illustrated a preferred
embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming 'a' part of this *speci-
ficátion, and in which :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a leather dressing machine embodying our
invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the stretching and feed mechan-
ism and the pressure roll, illustrating a portion of the abrading roll and the "work
table.
Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of the front end of the machine showing
the peculiar form of the stretching and feed rolls and certain of the parts which
co-act therewith.
Figure 4. is a detail fragmentary view of one form of the equalizing roll which
co-acts with the vieldable pressure roll.
Figure 5 is a detail view of a part of the cleaning brush.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail of the suction 'box.
Figure 7 is a similar view of a portion of one of the adjusting bars for the

page_text: yieldable pressure roll and showing a pressure-bar for one of the stretching rolls
loosely connected with said adjusting bar.
Figure 8 is a detail view of one of the bearing plates by which the stretching
and feed rolls and the equalizing roll are mounted in the frame work of the
machine.
Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in each of the
several figures of the drawings.
1 designates the frame-work of the machine on which all of the operating
appliances are mounted. The abrasive roll, 2, has its shaft, 3, journaled in
suitable bearings, 4, which are rigidly secured to the frame; and this abrasive roll
has its surface covered by a layer of abrasive material of any suitable character.
To one end of the shaft, 3, is rigidly secured a driving pulley, 5, around which
passes a belt that drives the abrasive roll; and from this shaft, 3, is driven the
gearing by which the yieldable pressure roll and the set of co-acting stretcher
rolls are driven. Hitherto the feed and pressure rolls have been driven by belt
gearing; but to insure uniformity and regularity in the speed of rotation of the
several rolls, we have discarded the belt gearing and employ in lieu thereof the
spur gearing shown more particularly by Figure 1.
The pressure roll, 6, of our improved machine is arranged beneath the work-
table and in close relation to the abrasive roll, 2, to co-act with the latter. This
pressure roll has its working surface, 7, formed of yieldable material, preferably
rubber, which is arranged in a layer continuously around the periphery of said
roll. The pressure roll is yieldingly held under spring pressure in active engage-
ment with the abrasive roll, and to properly support this pressure roll in place
so as to permit the roll to be moved manually away from the abrasive roll and
thereby withdraw the work from said rolls, we employ the adjusting bars, S.
These bars are arranged in vertical positions alongside of the frame and at the
ends of the pressure roll, and said bars are fulcrumed near their upper ends, as
at 9, to the frame, 1, The upper extremities of the adjusting bars are enlarged
to produce the heads, 10, which form the lower halves of the journal bearings
that receive the shaft, 11, of the pressure roll, 6, and this pressure roll is thus
mounted in the pivoted bars, 8, for adjustment therewith toward or from the
abrading roll. The pivoted bars and the pressure roll are normally held by the
stems or spindles, 12, and the pressure springs, 15, to maintain the roll, 6, in
active relation to the abrading roll. The stem or spindle, 12, is suitably connected
to one of the pivoted adjusting bars, and the threaded length of said stem or
spindle passes through a guide-opening or slot, 13, formed at the front side of
the frame, 1. A hand-wheel, 14, is provided on the outer protruding end of this
stem or spindle and the pressure spring, 15, is fitted loosely on the spindle so as
to have one end seated against the hand-wheel and the other end bear against a
fixed plate on the stem which slides in an arm, 15", fixed to the frame. The
adjusting nuts, 16, are screwed on the threaded length of the stem or spindle so
as to bear against the frame around the opening, 13, therein, and by proper adjust-
ment of these nuts the play of the stem or spindle and the tension of the spring, 15,
may be regulated within the limits desired by the operator.
The pressure roll is driven positively by gear connections with the abrading
roll, and in Figure 1, we have shown the shaft of the abrading roll as provided
with a gear-pinion, 17, while the shaft of the pressure roll has a gear wheel, 18,
said gears, 17, 18, being operatively connected to the train of idle gears, 19,
whereby the pressure roll is driven in an opposite direction to, and at a slower 5
speed than, the abrading roll. The pressure roll rotates at a very slow speed
because the train of gears, 19, materially reduces the speed of the roll, 6, as com-
pared with the speed of the roll, 2, the latter being designed to rotate at a com-
paratively high speed varying from seven hundred and fifty to one thousand
revolutions per minute.
20 designates the bearing plates which are secured to opposite sides of the
frame adjacent to the abrading and pressure rolls, so as to extend above the
5

page_text: table, 21, over which the work is fed to the stretching and feed rolls 22, 23.
The bearing plates are secured rigidly to the sides of the frame, 1, and they serve
to directly support the upper feed roll, 22, and as the means for attachment of
the devices by which the lower feed roll and the equalizing roll are supported
within the machine. Near their upper ends these bearing plates are provided
with vertical slots, 24, which receive the bearings, 25, for the upper feed and
stretching roll, 22. The bearings, 25, for the ends of the upper roll, 22, may be
adjusted vertically in the slot, 24, of said plate, 20, by adjusting screws one of
which is shown at 26 in Figure 8. The lower stretcher-roll, 23, is carried by
angular arms, 27, each of which is formed with an opening, 28, that constitutes
a journal bearing for one end of the shaft for the lower roll, 23, and these angular
arms are pivoted, as at 29, to the bearing plates, 20. The arms, 27, lie between
the bearing plates and the ends of the pressure roll, and to the free ends of said
arms are loosely connected the upper ends of the adjusting rods, 30. Around
these adjusting rods are loosely arranged the coiled pressure springs, 31, which
act against the arms, 27, and force the lower roll, 23, into engagement with the
upper roll, 22, and said adjusting rods, 30, are attached, at their lower ends, to
a foot-pressure bar, 32, which is connected loosely by the bolts, 33, to the short
arms, 34, on the lower extremities of the adjusting bars, 8.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the pressure roll is carried
by a pair of swinging adjusting bars against which act springs on the adjusting
stems that normally hold the pressure roll in engagement with the abrading roll;
and one of the stretching rolls is normally pressed in engagement with the other
stretcher roll by the springs which are connected with devices for controlling
the movable stretcher roll. The pressure roll may be adjusted away from the
abrading roll by the operator pressing against the foot-bar in a direction to
overcome the resistance of the springs, 15, and move the headed upper ends of
the bars and the roll, 6, away from the abrading roll, thus permitting the operator
to withdraw the work from the pressure and the abrading rolls. The stretching
rolls, 22, 23, may also be separated for easy removal of the work by applying
pressure to the foot-bar, 32, in a downward direction, thereby depressing the outer
ends of the angular arms, 27, against the tension of the springs, 31, and retracting
the lower stretcher roll, 23, away from the upper stretcher roll, 22. The adjust-
ment of the pressure roll and the stretcher roll, 23, may take place simultaneously,
but if desired the lower stretching roll may be moved independently of the pressure
roll, because the foot-bar is loosely connected with the adjusting bars for the
pressure roll.
The upper stretching roll, 22, is driven positively from the pressure roll through
the intermeshing gears, 35, 36, which are secured to the shafts of said stretching
roll, 22, and the pressure roll, 6, while the lower stretching roll, 23, is driven in
an opposite direction to the upper stretching roll, 22, by frictional contact or
engagement between the pairs of rolls.
Our improved machine has the stretching rolls, 22, 23, constructed in a peculiar
manner to strain the hide or skin transversely as it is fed from the table to the
abrasive appliances. By reference to Figure 3, it will be seen that the upper
stretching roll, 22, has its working surface formed with spiral grooves, 38, 38ª,
the grooves, 38, extending in one direction from the middle of the roll toward one
end of said roll, while the other grooves, 38", extend from the middle of the roll
in an opposite direction toward the other end thereof. The other roll, 23, consists
of a single solid steel roller which is smooth externally and is arranged to engage
frictionally with the surface of the spirally-ribbed companion roller. This
groove and ribbed roll grasps the hide or skin as it is moved from the table between
the rolls, and said grooves and ribs of the roll, 22, acting in conjunction with the
oll, 23, serve to strain the skin transversely to the line of feed, in an uniform
manner, thereby feeding the skin in a taut condition to the abrasive appliance
and preventing the skin from wrinkling.
The upper stretcher roll, 22, has its axis located above the face of the table,

page_text: i
while the lower roll, -23, which co-acts therewith is situated between the table
and the pressure roll, thus causing the skin to pass between the stretching rolls
before it reaches the abrasive appliance. Between the lower stretching roll, -23,
and the pressure roll, 6, we have interposed an equalizing roll, 40, which co-acts
with the yieldable pressure roll, 6, and serves to present the skin in a smooth
condition to the pressure roll. This equalizing roll has its shaft journaled in the
hangers, 41, which are adjustably attached by the pivots, 42, to the bearing
plates 20 and said hangers are provided with segmental slots, 43, through
which are passed the adjusting bolts, 44, which are screwed to the bearing
plates, 20, whereby the equalizing roll may be adjusted toward or from the pressure
roll. This equalizing roll may consist of a single solid steel roller substantially
as shown by Figure-2, but for treating some kinds of skins we find it desirable
to employ a sectional or built-up roll of the character represented by Figure 4.
This sectional roll embraces a solid core, 45, and a series of roll sections, 46,
which are threaded loosely on the core and are confined in contact "with each
other endwise by suitable stop devices. The hangers, 41, may be adjusted to
release the roll, 40, from the pressure roll 6, thereby making provision for the
removal of one style of roll and the substitution of another roll, after which the
hangers should be restored to their normal conditions to place the equalizing roll
in contact with the yieldable surface of the pressure' roll.
"
I
To properly direct the hide or skin through the "rolls we employ a series of
guide-plates, 47, 48, and 49, each guide-plate having flanges, 50, at the ends
thereof by which they may be firmly secured through the medium of bolts or
screws to the frame. We preferably provide the guide-plate with a straight,
working surface. Theiplate, 47, is 'arranged below the upper roll, 22, to present'
its working surface opposite to the face of the lower stretching roll, 2; the
plate 48, is arranged below the roll, 23, and above the pressure roll, 6, to present
its working face opposite to the surface of the equalizing roll, 40, while
the plate, 49, is attached to the frame below the equalizing roll, 40, and to present
its working face to the yieldable surface, 7, on the pressure roll.
51 designates a brush head which is arranged below the table contiguous to
the pressure roll, G. This head may consist of a suitable wooden bar or metallic
plate firmly fastened by screws against the underside of the table, and to one
face or side of this head is secured a series of brushes, 52, the bristles of which
are arranged to have frictional contact with the yieldable surface of the pressure
roll. This brush device sweeps the surface of the pressure roll free from the
accumulation of any refuse and abrasive material from the roll, 2, and said brush
also serves the important purpose of preventing the skin or hide, should it be
carried partly around with the roll, 6, from doubling or folding around said roll
thereby obviating injury to the hide.
We have also provided our machine with means by which the refuse and the
loose abrasive material are carried off, and to this end a suction box, 53, is arranged
within the frame-work, 1, below the abrasive and pressure rolls. The upper open
end of this suction box' has a grate or foraminous top, 54, through which is drawn
the refuse and loose abrasive material which passes between the rolls, 2, 6, but
this grate prevents the skin or hide from being drawn into the suction box. "This
suction box is designed to be operatively connected by a flue or pipe with a suction
fan, not shown, and to permit of the ready removal of the contents of said box
we provide it with a slide door, 55, which normally is closed.
In operation, the several rolls are driven by the belt from any suitable source
of power and through the train of gears. The hide or skin to be treated is flattened
out on the table and fed between the stretcher rolls, 22, 23, which strain it uni-
formly in opposite directions. The hide passes between' the plate, 47, and roll, 23,
thence between the roll, 40, and plate, 48, thence between the rolls, 6, 40, thence
between the plate, 49, and roll, 6. and finally between the rolls, 6, 2. The fleshy
side of the hide is subjected to abrasive action of the surface on the roll, 2, and
is held in contact with the latter by the spring-pressed roll, 6, the yieldable

page_text: surface of which gives sufficiently to permit any irregularities or inequalities of
the skin to pass between the co-acting rolls. The suction through the box, 53,
carries off the refuse and loose abrasive material, but the grate of the box prevents
the skin from passing into the same. The brush keeps the surface of the roll, 6,
free from accumulations and prevents the hide or skin from doubling around
said roll. The pressure roll may be adjusted away from the abrading roll, or
the lower stretching roll may be moved away from the unner stretching roll to
permit the work to be removed.
We also provide the machine with a removable cover, which is of segmental
metallic construction arranged to embrace the abrasive roll closely, and this cover
is flanged at, 56, to rest upon the frame, to which it is securely fastened by bolts
or otherwise. This cover has an inwardly-extending scraper, 57, arranged to
nearly touch the roll and keep the same free from accumulations of dust and loose
abrasive matter.
Slight changes may be made in the form of some of the parts while their
essential features are retained and the spirit of the invention embodied. Hence
we do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown, reserving
the right to vary therefrom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is: 1
1. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with an abrading roll and
a pressure roll, of a set of co-acting stretching rolls one of which is provided
with oppositely-inclined grooves and ribs on its working face, substantially as
described.
2. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with an abrasive roll and a
pressure roll, of a pair of co-acting stretcher rolls, one of which has its working
surface formed with spiral grooves which are inclined in opposite directions and
is driven positively, and the other roll normally held in frictional engagement
with the first roll under yieldable pressure, substantially as described.
3. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with an abrasive roll, of
stretching and feed rolls, and an equalizing roll disposed between the stretching
roll and the pressure roll, substantially as described.
4. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with an abrasive roll and
a pressure roll, of a set of co-acting stretcher rolls, an equalizing roll between
the stretcher rolls and the pressure roll, and guide-plates having their working
faces opposed to corresponding faces of the rolls, substantially as described.
5. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with an abrasive roll, of a
pressure roll having a yieldable working face, and an equalizing roll which
co-acts with said pressure roll, substantially as described.
6. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with an abrasive roll and a
pressure roll, of the adjustable hangers supported in fixed relation to the pressure
roll, and an equalizing roll journaled in said hangers in operative relation to the
pressure roll, substantially as described.
7. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with abrasive and pressure
rolls, of a set of co-acting stretcher rolls, and means for adjusting one stretcher
roll in parallel relation to the other stretcher roll, substantially as described.
8. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with an abrasive roll, of
adjusting bars mounted for movement toward or from said abrasive roll, a pressure
roll journaled in said bars, and springs acting against the bars to normally main-
tain the pressure roll in active relation to the abrasive roll, substantially as
described.
9. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with an abrasive roll, of the
pivotal adjusting bars, a pressure roll journaled in said bars, pressure springs
acting against the bars, the pivoted arms, a pressure bar loosely connected to
the adjusting bars, spring-pressed rods between the pressure bar and the pivoted

page_text: arms, and a set of stretcher rolls one of which is mounted in the adjusting arms,
substantially as described.
10. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with an abrasive roll, of
a pressure roll, and a, brush which normally sweeps. the working face of the
pressure roll, substantially as described.
11. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with an abrasive roll, of
a pressure roll having a yieldable, working face, means for sustaining said pressure
roll in relation to the abrasive roll, a table, and a fixed: brush-head supported
beneath the table and carrying brushes which sweep the surface of said pressure
roll, substantially as described.
12. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with an abrasive mechanism,
of a suction box, in close relation to said mechanism, for the purpose described,
substantially as set, forth.
13. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with abrasive and pressure
rolls, of a suction, box, situated below said rolls adjacent to the meeting faces
thereof, and; provided with a grate, or foraminous covering, substantially as
described.
14. In a leather dressing machine, the combination with an abrasive mechanism,
of an equalizing roll having a plurality of sections threaded on a core, substantially
as described.
soon day or October 1898.
WM: P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord, Street, Liverpool, Agents. for the.. Applicants.