IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BOARDING OR SOFTENING AND GRAINING LEATHER, AND FOR STOCKING OR SOFTENING RAW OR DRIED HIDES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Blakey, of Leeds, in the County of York,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BOARDING OR
SOFTENING AND GRAINING LEATHER, AND FOR STOCKING OR SOFTENING RAW OR
DRIED HIDES."
Sealed the 31st October 1873, and dated the 12th May 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Blakey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th May 1873.
I, JOHN BLAKEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
BOARDING OR SOFTENING AND GRAINING LEATHER, AND FOR STOCKING OR SOFTENING
RAW OR DRIED HIDES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of improvements in leather boarding or
softening and graining machines, as hereafter described.
Between suitable framework I provide two conductors, by preference
one directly above the other and at a suitable distance apart. To one

page_text: or both conductors a backward and forward reciprocating motion is
given which may be imparted thereto by cranks, eccentrics, or their
equivalents. When both conductors are made to move their movements
By the movement of the
are simultaneous but in opposite directions.
conductor or conductors in this manner the leather as it passes from one
to the other is being continually folded, by which means the softening,
or what is commonly known as the boarding and graining of the leather,
and the stocking or softening of raw or dried hides is produced. The
leather is drawn through the conductors by drawing rollers which I
cover, by preference, with cloth, caoutchouc, or other suitable soft or
the leather may be
upon
flexible substance. The pressure of the rollers
varied or modified by means of regulating screws or their equivalents.
I also produce the same effect on the leather by another arrangement of
the machine as hereafter described.
Between suitable framework I mount a table, by preference horizontally.
The leather is drawn over the table by drawing rollers of a similar
mentioned
construction to those described for the herein-before
machine.
At a suitable distance from the table and vertically I mount a plate,
The top edge of which is on or about a level with the top of the table:
I provide a plunger above the table and plate to which a vertical
reciprocating motion is given by cranks, eccentrics, or their equivalents.
This plunger is arranged to pass between the table and plate forming
thereby a folding in the leather at every stroke. I provide another
plunger underneath the table which has a horizontal reciprocating
motion imparted to it in a similar manner to the upper plunger. As
soon as the upper plunger has folded the leather and withdrawn from
the fold the lower plunger comes up to the fold and compresses, tho
folds being produced in rapid succession as the leather is drawn across
the table.
The combined effect of the plungers produces the required boarding
and graining of the leather, and the stocking or softening

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Blakey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th November 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BLAKEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her.
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of May, 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 John Blakey, Her special licence.
that I, the said John Blakey, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said John Blakey, 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 MACHINERY FOR
BOARDING OR SOFTENING AND GRAINING LEATHER, AND FOR STOCKING OR SOFTENING
RAW OR DRIED HIDES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Blakey, my executors or 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 John Blakey, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
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:-
My Invention consists of improvements in leather boarding or
softening and graining machines, as hereafter described.
. Between suitable framework I provide two conductors, by preference,
one directly above the other, and at a suitable distance apart. To one
or both conductors a backward and forward reciprocating motion is

page_text: given which may be imparted thereto by cranks, eccentrics, or their
equivalents. When both conductors are made to move their movements.
are simultaneous but in opposite directions. By the movement of the
conductor or conductors in this manner the leather as it passes from
one to the other is being continually folded, by which means the
softening, or what is commonly known as the boarding and graining of
the leather, and the stocking or softening of raw or dried hides is
produced. The leather is drawn through the conductors by drawing
rollers which I cover, by preference, with cloth, caoutchouc, or other
suitable soft or flexible substance. The pressure of the rollers upon the
leather may be varied or modified by means of regulating screws or their
equivalents. I also produce the same effect on the leather by another
arrangement of the machine, as hereafter described.
Between suitable framework I mount a table, by preference hori-
zontally. The leather is drawn over the table by drawing rollers of a
similar construction to those described for the herein-before mentioned
machine.
At a suitable distance from the table and vertically I mount a plate,
the top edge of which is on or about a level with the top of the table. I
provide a plunger above the table and plate to which a vertical
reciprocating motion is given by cranks, eccentrics, or their equivalents.
This plunger is arranged to pass between the table and plate, forming
thereby a folding in the leather at every stroke. I provide another
plunger underneath the table which has a horizontal reciprocating
motion imparted to it in a similar manner to the upper plunger. As 2
soon as the upper plunger has folded the leather and withdrawn from
the fold the lower plunger comes up to the fold and compresses it, the
folds being produced in rapid succession as the leather is drawn across
the table.
The combined effect of the plungers produces the required boarding or :

page_text: machinery constructed according to the second part of my Invention,
and Figure 3 is an end elevation, and Figure 4 is a front clevation of tho
same, viz., of that part illustrating the second part of my Invention.
Between suitable framework a I provide two conductors b and c,
by preference one directly over the other as shewn, these are made
adjustable and may be placed at any required distance apart. In order
to allow for the varying thicknesses of leather the sides e and f of the
top and bottom conductors are made adjustable. To one or both of
these conductors a backward and forward reciprocating motion is
given..
In my Drawing I have shewn an arrangement for imparting the
required motion to the upper conductor b, which motion is transmitted
through connecting rod g and adjustable crank pin h, from the disc i by
adjusting the crank pin the stroke or motion of the upper conductor
may be varied.
Any equivalent means may be employed for imparting the required
motion. When both conductors are made to move, their movements aro
simultaneous, but in opposite directions. By the movement of the
conductor or conductors as herein described, the leather as it passes
from one to the other is being continually folded, by which means the
softening or what is commonly known as the boarding and graining of
the leather, and the stocking or softening of raw or dried hides is
produced. The leather is drawn through the conductors b and c by.
drawing rollers ; which I cover, by preference, with cloth, caouchouc,
or other suitable soft or elastic substance. The pressure of the rollers.
on the leather may be varied or modified by means of regulating screws
of ordinary construction or their equivalents. I also produce the same
effect on leather by another arrangement of machine which I call the
second part of my Invention, and is shewn at Figs. 2, 3, and 4.
'
Between suitable framework a I mount a table b, by preference
horizontally. The Icather is drawn over the table b by drawing rollers c
of a similar construction to those described for the herein-before
mentioned machine.
At a suitable distance from the table b and vertically I mount a
plate d, the top edge of which is on or about a level with the top of the
table. I provide a plunger e made of steel or other suitable material,.

page_text: Fourthly. The arrangement, construction, and combination of the
various parts forming the machine and shewn at Figs. 1, 2, and 3,
substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Blakey, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Eleventh day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.