US2305879A - Leather working machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 22, 1942. J. E. LEACH LEATHER -WCRKING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 22, 1942. J. E. LEACH 2,305,879

LEATHER WORKING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 22, 1942. J. E. LE ACH 2,305,879

LEATHER WORKING MACHINE Filed July 50, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 22, 1942. J. E. LEACH LEATHER WORKING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1940 '6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 22, 1942. J. E. LEACH LEATHER WCRKING MACHINE;v

Filed July 30, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 22, 1942. J. E. LEACH ,3

LEATHER WCRKING MACHINE Filed July so, 1940 e Sheets-Sheet e Patented Dec. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEATHER WORKING MACHINE John- Edgar Leach, Bristol, Pa., assignor to Fulton County Machine and Supply 00., Inc., Gloversville, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 30, 1940, Serial No. 348,590

" of one of theelements of the mechanism shown 2 Claims.

This invention relates to leather shaving and like machines, and a principal object of the invention is to provide an efficient and generally improved machine of this class.

A specific object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of this character, novel and improved means for maintaining the blades of the work cylinder in sharp condition, said sharpening means constituting an operative part of the machine and obviating hand-sharpening operations and interruption of the machine during the sharpening process.

Another object is to provide novel and improved means for guiding the work to the work cylinder and'for maintaining a constant relation between the elements of the guiding and feeding mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for adjusting the machine for different thicknesses of skin or leather and to regulate the depth of cut.

The invention resides further in certain structural and mechanical details hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machine made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view embracing that portion of the machine indicated by the line 3-3, Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the same line as Fig. 4 and illustrating certain details of mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of one of the elements shown in Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial sectional view illustrating a detail of mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9, Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of one of the details of mechanism shown particularly in Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view illustrating a modification within the scope of the invention;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line I2-l2, Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional plan view of that portion of the machine shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspective View on which is mounted an electric motor 2'. tor is connected through belts 3 and pulleys 4 and in the immediately preceding figures.

With reference to the drawings, the machine comprises a suitableframe I, at the rear end of This mo- 5 with a shaft 6 which is journaled in suitable bearings I also at the rear of the frame. At each end of the shaft 6 is a pulley 8, and these pulleys are connected through belts 9, 9 with pulleys II, II at opposite ends respectively of a shaft I2, this shaft being journaled in suitable bearings I3, I3 at the top forward end of the frame. The shaft I2 carries a Work cylinder I4 which in the present instance is provided with a series of spirally arranged cutting blades I5, see Figures 3 and 4, and these blades constitute the active leather-shaving elements.

Mounted at the top and in the mid section of the frame I is a transverse guide I6, and slidably mounted on this guide is a carriage II. Journaled in the opposite ends of the guide It is a screw shaft I8, and this shaft passes freely through a pair of spaced flanges I9 which depend from the bottom of the carriage I! through a longitudinal opening 2| in the member I6. Confined closely between these flanges is a nut 22 which meshes with the threads of the shaft I8, the nut being restrained against rotation so that when the said shaft is rotated, the nut and with it the carriage I! will be advanced transversely of the machine upon the guide I6 and in one or other direction, depending upon the direction of rotation of the screw shaft I8.

As shown in Fig. l, the shaft l8 carries at one end a gear 23, and this gear meshes with a pinion 24 which is mounted on a stub shaft 25, this latter shaft being journaled at one end in a bearing formed between the top of the frame I and the base of the guide member I6, and at the other end in a bracket 26 secured to the inside of the casing, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The stub shaft 25 carries three pulleys 21, 28 and 29, of which the pulley 28 is secured to the shaft, while the pulleys 2! and 29 are idlers and are free to rotate upon and with respect to the shaft. A corresponding set of three pulleys 3| are secured to the shaft 6 in alignment with the pulleys 21, 28 and 29, see Fig. 4, and between the two groups of pulleys extend two belts 32 and 33, the belt 33 being crossed as illustrated. In Fig. 3, it will be noted that the fiat belt 32 is engaged with the idler pulley 21, while the twisted belt 33 engages the intermediate active pulley 28. These two belts are adapted to be shifted, by meanshereinafter described, to positions in which the flat belt 32 engages the active pulley 28, while the twisted belt 33 engages the other idler pulley 29. The direction of rotation of the shaft 25, therefore, will depend upon which one of the belts 32 and 33 is at the moment in engagement with the active pulley 28.

The belt-shifting device is illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 9. It consists of a rod 34 which extends in parallel relation to the guide l6 and shaft I8 and which is slidably supported in the opposite sides of the frame I. This rod has attached thereto forks 35 and 35 which respectively embrace the belts 32 and 33. The proximate end 31 of the rod 34 is flattened to rectangular shape and projects through a correspondingly shaped opening in the frame I, and this flattened extremity is provided towards its outer end and on the under side thereof with two notched recesses 38 and 39. Pivotally secured at 4| to the wall of the frame I is a lever 42, one end of this lever carrying a weight 43 and the other a knife edge 44 which is adapted to engage the notches 38 and 39, as best illustrated in Fig. 9. When the end 44 of the lever 42 engages the notch 38, the rod is in the longitudinal position of adjustment shown in Fig. 3. When the rod is shifted longitudinally to an extent bringing the lever end 44 into the notch 39-, the forks 35 and 36 will have been moved to an extent such that the belt 33 is shifted to the idler pulley 29 and the belt 32 to the active pulley 28. This shifting of the belts will obviously result in a reversal of the direction of rotation of the shaft 25, and since this shaft is operatively connected through the pinion 24 and gear 23 with the screw shaft l8, shifting of the belts as described will also result in a reversal of direction of the latter shaft.

The carriage |1 carries a depending arm 45, the lower forked end of which embraces a flanged collar 45 slidably supported on the rod 34, the saidarm being confined between the terminal flanges 41, 41 of the collar. Supported on opposite ends of the rods are coiled springs 48 and 49, the outer end of the spring 49 bearing against the end of the belt shifter 3535, and the outer end of the spring 48 against a collar secured to the proximate end of the rod 34. When the carriage H has advanced in the one direction to an extent bringing the collar 43, through the arm 45, into operative engagement with the spring 49, the spring will be compressed and will eventually exert sufficient pressure against the belt shifter 3536 to shift the belts 32 and 33 as previously described so that the belt 32 will engage the pulley 28 and the belt 33 the idler pulley 29. This will effect a reversal of the screw shaft l8 as previously set forth and will actuate the carriage |1 toward the opposite side of the machine until the forked arm 45 is eventually brought into operative engagement with the spring 48. Increasing pressure on this spring will eventually cause a shifting of the rod 34 and of the belt shifter 3536 to return the belts 32 and 33 to the position shown in Fig. 3, thus again effecting a reversal of the screw shaft l8 and of the carriage H. The weighted lever 42 in coaction with the notches 38 and 39 restrains the rod 34 against movement until the springs 49 have been compressed to a certain extent, and the energy thus stored in the springs effects a desirable quick action of the belt shifter. transverse shuttle movement of the carriage I1 is continuous during the operation of the machine.

The aforedescribed The carriage H has an upper relatively mov able section 52 which is adjustable on the inclined face 53 of the carriage through the medium of a hand wheel 54. This upper section 52 carries an electric motor 55 which is connected through a belt 56 and pulleys 51 and 58 with a shaft 59 journaled in the lower portion of the adjustable carriage section 52. This shaft carries an abrasive wheel 6|, the peripheral face of which is adapted to contact the outer edges of the blades I5 of the rotary shaving cylinder l4, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As the carriage I1 is traversedon the guide l6 as described above, the rotating abrasive wheel 6| will be carried longitudinally across the face of the shaving drum, and will thereby maintain the outer active edges of the blades |5 in sharp condition. Adjustment of the abrasive wheel 6| into proper contact with the blades of the drum I4 is effected by adjustment of the upper section 52 of the carriage |1 through the medium of the hand wheel 54 as previously described.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the cross carriage 52 is held to the carriage H by dovetail guides 32, 62. The hand wheel 54 is attached to a shaft 63 journaled in the wall of the carriage 52, and

this shaft carries a bevel pinion 64' which meshes with a bevel gear 65 on a screw shaft 66 also journaled, at 81, on the carriage 52. The screw shaft 65 engages a nut 68 which is fixed tothe carriage l1, so that when the shaft is turned, thecarriage 52 is adjusted on the guides 62 for the purpose set forth.

Mounted at the front end and at each opposite side of the frame is a bracket 1|. Secured in each of these brackets is a guide rod 12, and supported for sliding movement on the rod is a member 13. Each of the members 13 has a forwardly projecting arm 14, and mounted on thesearms and extending transversely of the machine is a table 15. As shown in Fig. 3, the upper surface of this table is provided with a series of grooves 16, the function of which will be hereinafter described. Supported in each of the brackets 1| for longitudinal sliding movement is an adjusting rod 11, the inner end portion of this rod having threaded engagement with the associated member 13. The inner extremityof the rod 11 is adapted to bear against the back of the bracket 1|, and the rod thereby constitutes an adjustable stop to limit the movement of: the member 13 in one direction.

Operatively connected to each of the members 13 is a bell crank lever 18, see Figs. 2 and-4, and this lever is connected, through anadjustable rod 19, with a lever 8| to a rock shaft 82 journaled in and extending between the side plates of the frame I. The rear end of each of the levers 8| is weighted, as indicated at 83, and the forward ends of the said levers 8| jointly support a treadle 84. Normally the weights 83 hold the rear ends of the levers 3|, to which the connecting rod 19 isattached, in a depressed position whereby, through 1| may be regulated, or rather the extent to which the members13 may move; towards the When the rear ends" rear ends of the brackets. of i the levers 8 l are elevated: lay-pressure on' 'the treadle 84, the members 13, together with the table I which is supported thereby, will be traversed in the brackets II towards the front of the machine.

Journaled in the members "I3 is a feed roll 85, preferably rubber covered, and this roll is adapted to cooperate with the work cylinder I4, as best shown in Fig. 4. The extent to which the roll 85 is permitted to approach the work cylinder I4 is controlled by the adjustment of the rods H in the manner previously described. Preferably there is sufficient play between the members I3 and the guide rods I2 to permit slight independent adjustment of the opposite ends of the roll so as to bring the surface of the roll into accurate alignment with the periphery of the work cylinder I4.

The outer ends of the adjusting rods 'II are provided with dials 86 which cooperate respectively with pointers 81 supported on the arms I4 of the members I3. As shown in Fig. 8, the dials 86 are adjustable upon the rods 'I'I angularly, and are held securely in adjusted position by means of a lock nut 88. These dials provide for accurate adjustment of the feed roll 85 with respect to the work cylinder I5 and also the opposite ends of the feed roll so as to bring the latter into accurate alignment with the work roll. The feed roll 85 is rotated through the medium of a belt 89, see Fig. 1, which operatively connects a pulley 9i on the shaft 92 of the feed roll with a pulley 93 carried by a stub shaft 94 which is journaled in a bracket 95 secured to one of the side plates of the frame I. The stub shaft 94 carries on its inner end a gear 96 which meshes with a pinion 9? on a shaft 98 journaled in the frame and carrying at its outer end a pulley 99, this pulley being connected through a belt IOI with a pulley I02 on the shaft 6. It is apparent that the belt 89 provides for the traversing movements of the feed roll 85 previously described.

Immediately above the feed roll 85 is a pinch roll I03, this roll being adapted to engage the peripheral surface of the feed roll. The pinch roll I03 is supported at its opposite ends in journals I04, and as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, each. of these journals is slidably supported in a journal-box I05 secured to the fixed frame I through the medium of screws I06. Each of the journals I04 is adjustably supported in the box through the medium of a threaded rod I01 which extends upwardly through a hollow adjusting screw I08 threaded into the top of the box I05. The inner end of the rod IN is pivotally secured to the journal I04 through the medium of a retaining screw I09, and the upper end of the rod is provided with adjusting and lock nuts III and II2, the adjusting nut III engaging the top of the hollow screw I08. This latter screw is fixed in adjusted position in the box I05 through the medium of a lock nut II3. A spring H4 is confined between the top of the journal I04 and the inner or lower end of the adjusting screw I08 and exerts a resilient pressure tending to hold the journal in a depressed position with respect to the adjusting screw I08. The normal position of the journal in the box, therefore, may be determined by adjusting the position of the screw I08 in the journal box, and the tension of the spring II4 may be regulated by adjusting the rod I01 in the adjusting screw E08.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pinch roll I03 is provided with a series of circumferential recesses I15, and these recesses provide for passage between the pinch roll and the feed roll 85, and past the bite of these rolls, of a corresponding series of fingers II6, which as shown in Fig 5 follow the curve-of the feed roll and extend into proximity to the blades I5 of thework cylinder I4. The fingers II6 are supported by and depend from a bar II! which is secured to the inside of an angle bar II8, the ends of this bar being rigidly secured respectively to the journals I04. The function of the fingers II6 will be hereinafter described. It will be noted that the angle bar II8 also functions to support the forward end of a guard plate I i9 which extends upwardly and rearwardly over the work cylinder I4 and the grinding wheel 6|.

Mounted on the rear inner end of the table I5 through the medium of brackets I2I is a guard plate I2, this plate extending across the full width of the machine between the side members of the frame I, and preventing access to the feed roll 05 and pinch roll 83 except through a narrow slot I23 at the lower edge of the plate I22 and between the lower edge and the upper surface of the table 15. This slot is preferably only of sufficient width to permit ready passage of a skin to the machine, but prevents the fingers of the operator from contacting either of the rolls.

Below the work'cylinder I5 and in peripheral contact with the latter is a rotary brush I24, this brush being supported at opposite ends in journals I25 supported respectively on bars I26, the

rear ends of which bars are pivotally secured on a rod 52? extending transversely across the frame I. The forward ends of the bars I26 are supported on brackets I28 secured to the frame I through the medium of adjusting screws I29 whereby the forward ends of the bars may be adjusted vertically to in turn adjust the position of the roll I24 with respect to the work cylinder. The cylindrical brush I24 is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 4 by means of a belt I3I which operatively connects a pulley I32 on the brush shaft with a pulley I33 on the shaft 98. The bars I26 also constitute a support for a series of rods I34 which extend upwardly and over the body of the rotary brush I24, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and between the bristles of the brush, these rods being secured in transverse bars I35I 36 secured to and extending between the bars I26. The function of the brush I24 and of the rods I34 will be hereinafter described.

A second rotary brush I3! is journaled in brackets I38 depending from the under side of the table 75, and this brush peripherally engages the feed roll 85. The shaft of the rotary brush I31 carries a pulley I39 which is connected through a crossed belt I4I with a pulley I42 on the shaft 98 whereby the brush is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. It will be noted further that the transverse bar I2'I constitutes a support for a hopper I43, the open top of which immediately underlies the work cylinder I4 and the immediately associated rolls.

In the operation of the machine as described above, the operator, after depressing the treadle 84, slides the skin rearwardly on the table 15 under the guard plate I22 and into the space between the pinch roll I03 and the feed roll 85. In placing the skin upon the table, the grooves I6 in the surface of the latter preclude the trapping of air between the skin and the table top and give assurance that the skin will lie flatly upon the table. After inserting the skin as described above, the treadle 84 is released, with the result that the weights 8'3 carry the feed roll rearwardly into engagement with the pinch roll and into close proximity to the blades I5 of the work cylinder I4. The adjustment of the rods 'I'I as previously described determines the spacing of the surface of the feed roll 85 from the edges of the blades I5 of the work roll, and thereby determines the depth of cut. The clamping of the skin in the bite of the feed roll 85 and the pinch roll I83 draws the skin inwardly towards the work cylinder, and the fingers II 6 prevent any tendency of the skin to turn upwardly around the pinch roll, and insure that the skin shall be fed flatly and without folds to the work cylinder. As the skin passes downwardly between the feed roll and the work cylinder, the rotary brush I24 takes effect to throw the lower edge of the skin forwardly towards the front of the machine, and the rotary brush I31 precludes the skin from feeding upwardly with the feed roll, and guides it downwardly onto the rods I34, which in turn guide the skin outwardly at the front of the machine. During the operations described above, the grinding wheel BI is being traversed between the opposite sides of the machine and in engagement with the outer or cutting edges of the blades I5. The various adjustments previously described give assurance of uniform operation on the skin by insuring proper and accurate alignment between the blades of the work cylinder and the opposed surface of the feed roll 85.

In Figs. 11 to 15, inclusive, I have shown a modification within the scope of the invention. In this case, the function of the fingers H6 is performed by a rigid angle bar I44 which extends transversely of the machine below a pinch roll I45 and in proximity to the surface of a feed roll I46. The respective opposite ends of the pinch roll I45 are journaled in this instance in a bearing I41 carried by a bracket arm I48 which is pivotally secured at I49 to a bracket I5I mounted on the frame. The free end of the arm I48 is supported by a set screw I52 which is adjustably secured in a lug I53 on the said arm [48 and bears upon a lug I54 on the fixed bracket I5I. A rod I55 extends loosely through the lug I53 and downwardly through a bracket I56 on the frame I, and a nut I51 on the said rod I55 engages the under side of the bracket I55 and acts as a stop preventing upward movement of the said rod. A spring seat I58 is held in position on the upper end of the rod I55 by means of a nut I59, and a spring I6I is confined between the seat I58 and a corresponding seat I62 which bears against the top of the lug I53 of the arm I48. This spring Ifil exerts pressure tending to hold the arm I48 in the depressed position, wherein the set screw I52 engages the lug I54. I

The bar I44 is rigidly secured at each end to a collar I63, which as best shown in Fig. 13 embraces the bearing I41. The sleeve I63 has an arm I64'containing a segmental slot I65 concentric with the sleeve. In assembly and as shown in Fig. 13, the arm I64 lies flatly against the face of the bracket arm I48, and is secured to the latter by means of a screw I66 which passes through the slot I65. When the screw I66 is loosened, the collar may be adjusted around the bearing I41, with the result that the bar I44 is adjusted with respect to the surface of the feed roll I 46. It will be apparent that the bar I44 functions to guide a skin inserted between the feed roll I46 and the pinch roll I45 flatly to the work cylinder I67, and prevents the skin from curling up around the pinch roll I 45. In all other respects, the mechanism shown in Figs. 11 to 15, inclusive, corresponds to that disclosed in the preceding figures.

While the invention is herein described and illustrated in its application to a leather shaving machine, it will be apparent that it is equally applicable to other machines of the same general character, such, for example, as buffing machines, and term work cylinder is, therefore, to be construed to cover other characters of work element than the bladed shaving cylinder herein illustrated.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a rotary work cylinder, of a pressure roll coactive with the work cylinder to maintain the work in operative engagement with said cylinder, 2. pinch roll coactive with the pressure roll to feed the work to the cylinder, pivoted arms providing journals for said pinch roll, and means for adjusting said arms to regulate the normal position of said pinch roll with respect to the pressure roll, and a guide member mounted on said arms for adjustment about the axis of said pinch roll, said guide member extending continuously from the surface of the pinch roll, and from a line on said surface in proximity to the nip of said roll with the pressure roll, toward the work cylinder, said guide means following the contour of and lying throughout in proximity to the surface of the pressure roll and terminating in proximity to the nip of the pressure roll with the work cylinder.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a rotary work cylinder, of a pressure roll coactive with the Work cylinder to maintain the work in operative engagement with said cylinder, a pinch roll coactive with the pressure roll to feed the work to the cylinder, an adjustable support for the pinch roll, said support comprising cylindrical journal elements for the roll, a guide member journaled on said elements and adjustably secured to said support, said guide comprising a rigid element extending continuously from the surface of the pinch roll, and from a line on said surface in proximity to the nip of said roll with the pressure roll, toward the work cylinder, said guide means following the contour of and lying throughout in proximity to the surface of the pressure roll and terminating in proximity to the nip of the pressure roll with the Work cylinder.

JOHN EDGAR LEACH.

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