US2366242A

US2366242A - Machine for treating sheet materials

Info

Publication number: US2366242A
Application number: US485001A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edgar David
Original assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Current assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1943-04-29
Filing date: 1943-04-29
Publication date: 1945-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 1962-01-02

Description

Jan. 2. 1945. D. EDGAR MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL 1943 e Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 29,

Jan. 2. 1945. D. EDGAR I MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1943 Jan. 2. 1945.

D. EDGAR MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 29, I943 Jan. 2. 1945. D. EDGAR I MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 29, 1943 Jan. 2. 1945 D.EDGAR MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL Filed April 29, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 L tk.

Jan. 2. 1945. D. EDGAR 2,366,242

MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL Filed April 29, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Jan. 2, 1945 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE- MACHINE roe TREATING SHEET j MATERIALS Davie Edgar, Lynn, Mass, assig'nor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,

N. J. a corporation of New Jersey Flemington,

Application April 29,1943, Serial 485,001 t t 2 71 Glaims.

eration performed obviouslyneed not be. limited.

to a putting-out operation but may consist in some other formof treatment. of sheet materials. The machine illustrated shows blades for a putting-out operation. However, other forms of tools for treating sheet materials could welfbe substituted and the numberof; tools as wel'las the) typev of tool carrying members could be changed without departingufrom the spirit and scope of this invention.

Itis an object of the inventionzto provide a machine in which sheetmaterial to be treated may: be spread out in a single plane and passed into'and through a treating zone in which zone progressive overlapping areas of, the-material may be treated by suitably arranged tools against which the material may be pressed,the pressure being applied while a given piece of material has ,entered thetreating zone and being released when such piece of sheet material has been ade quately treated, after wh-ich such piece of'material maybedischarged. v Still a' further object is: a provision of such" a machine in which the presence of each work piece ofsheet material entering the machine will initiate the application of pressure ofjsuch work piece against the treating tools and the completion of adequate treatment oi that work piece will terminate such application of pressurepermitting free discharge of suclrwork piece pre- I liminary' tothe reception of the next piece to betreatedi Q; 1

For the purposes'in view and inaccordance with further features of the invention the illustrated machine is provided with a table over which the sheet materialis-conveyedin passing through the treating zone' and means for: lifting thetable to press a piece of sheet materialagainst the tools, the said means also serving as a means;

for lowering thetableand relieving'thepressure after that piece of material has been trea'tedi Preferably, but not necessarily; fluid pressure means is provided for lif tingland lowering the table. Further novelty is to berecognized in an arrangement of parts in which detector or feel'er beihglaid out on a single plane -or' continuou'a;

on. ta -4i) surface by an operator, and while solaid out, .is passed by suitable conveyor means through a treating zone wherein. suitabletool sets are provided "for actingoutwardly in at least four di- 5 verging directions or paths on the sheet material from a central area in the treating zone,

after which the material'isdischarged from that zone. A feature. of the invention consists. in

providing an arrangement of 'setsof individual tools which maybe said. to be. mounted for diverging, paths of movement ateach. side '01' the center line of the single plane or continuous sure face of. the sheet material support. Such sets may be described; as beingin. X formation. They 1-5 thereby conform generallywith' the. flanks or sheet materialsuch as hides or skins. In ac.-

cordance with a further feature the diverging sets of tools in thex formation are made ad justable withrelation. to each other to suit given. conditions such as the type ofthematerial to be treated, rate of passage of the material through the machine and the nature of the treatment. In accordance with another feature.

of the invention there is provcided an arrangement oftool sets inaddition to those of the formationandmounted in the same" plane to i t minimize the possibility of any portion of the sheet'material escaping treatment- In accordance with still another feature of. I

the" invention novel means is provided forholding' sheet material inpo'sitiori on and in relation to aconveyor-belt" during treatment of the material against any undue j shifting under the ac-U tionof the treatingtoolson the material.

The above and other features ofthe invention",

including novel detailsof construction and combinations of parts willflnow be more'particularly desen'bed; connection with the accompanying draWingsandPOinted out inthe claims. 40 In the drawings; r i 1 Fig; 1 isa view insideelevationfofwa machine in whi'clrthe intention is em-bodied showing the main putting out tool members turned to per mit easy: and clear illustration, and with the;

vworh support or table in lowered? or inoperative position; i i l i i Fig. 2 is'an elevati'onal view oi the" left end of. the machine shown in Fig; 1, with-the'worksupa port or table: in operative: position and including the forward end of the conveyorbelt arrange;

V ment upon. which theflsheet. material is; introduced by the operator for-treatment by'the' ma Fig. =3 is a" plan View: of the machine shown in Fig. 1", some-aofii the parts" being broken away to 3 3 show more clearly the'construction thereof:

Fig. 4- is an enlarged plan view taken along the line Iv -IV of Fig:' 1", two'supporting: beams 7 Being merely block'edsin:fcrpurposesof clarity; Fig. is an emlargedplantview oi the tool carrying member shown in the upper left-hand corner of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of any one of the four long diverging :tool members shown in Fig. 3, the supporting frame portion being in section;

Fig. 7'is a sectional view along the line VII I VII of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line VIII- VIII of Fig. 6; v

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan View of some of the structural details including the switch members for controlling the operation of the work table and also showing one of the two short tool members, this member being also shown in the left half of Fig. 3. In Fig. 9 the main frame members of the machine are not shown for purposes 204 together with longitudinal parallel upper channel beams I6'are shown (Fig. 1). The main frame members I0, I2, I4 and 204 are duplicated on the other side of the machine and together with suitable transverse stiffening beams such as IB-and form 'a rigid and sturdy frame. Columns 22 (Fig, 1 are mounted upon the members I4 on each side of the machine and at their tops support back-to-back spaced channel bars 24 at their outer ends, These back-to-back channel bars are suitably mounted at their otherends to the main frame ofthe machine and are angularly placed as. shown in Fig. 3. back-toeback channelbars 24 serves as a support forthe outer end of a tool member or tool carrierdesignat'ed generally by

character

26, 28,

mposition to vary the angular position of that Each set of a bracket 42 to and beyond a set of brackets I8 and 80. The upper edge, the lower edge, and the" innermost end, face. 82 of each plate 60 is adapted to serve as a narrow bearing surface for the rollers of a chain 86. Angle bars 88 (Fig. 8) are mounted on the p1ate'60 and suitably spaced therefrom .by spacers 90 and bolts 9|. The angle bars '88 serve as guiding means for the chain 86 by engagement with U-shaped members 92 secured to the chain. The U-shaped members 92 tened and supported the putting-out tools or blades 94.

The blades 94 are herein shown as mounted on every other link of the chain. How ever, the-blades or tools may be mounted nearer orfarther apart as occasion demands. The tools 94, of the illustrated machine, are in the form of angle bars, each angle bar having both its edge faces beveled to form a dull edge. When one edge of a bar is unduly worn, that bar can be reversed in position topresent the other edge to the material being treated. Other forms of tools may obviously be substituted and be mounted differently, as hereinbefore stated. In addition to the above-described sets of working tools which diverge horizontally to constitute what may be described as an X formation, two additional but shorter sets of tools are located in the same plane as those in the X formation and in line with the central portion of the machine, as shown in Fig.

3 as well as in Fig. 1. These two additional sets 130 or32 (Fig. 3). The space 34 between the backs tool carrying member in the X formation and thereby, suit various sizes of hides to be treated or to suit various conditions. Bolts 36 (Figs. 3 and 8), for each of such sets, are. utilized for this purpose. They pass through the .slots 34 (Fig. 3) between the channel bars 24 and also through slots 31-. in the central portions of plates 38. (Figs. 5 and 8). Rods 40 depend from the plate 38 and

adjustably support brackets

42 and 43 by means of nuts 44 and 46 (Fig. 8). bracket 42 carries bearing 48 and bracket 43 carries bearing 50 inwhich bearings a shaft 52 is journaled. Upon the shaft 52is mounted a sprocke et wheel 54 having a hub 56. On the

opposite ends'ofthe brackets

42 and 43 are suitable flanges 58 (Figs. 5 and 6) to which a plate 60 is secured by means of bolts 62 and 64. Slots 66 and ;68 areprovided in the plate 60 by which adjustmentmay be made to compensate for wear in a chain to be described. The other or inner ends of the long

tool carrying members

26, 28, 30 and 32 are supported from transverse plates 10 by means of bolts 12, plates 14, dependent rods "I6 and brackets 18 and 80 (Fig. '7). Slots II (Fig.

- 4) in plates I0 and slots 13 in plates I4 permit The a are identical in structure but opposed in posi-. tion. Each short set is provided with two

plates

96 and 98 extending from the under side of one machine frame member I6 to the under side of the other machine frame member I6 (Fig. 3).

The construction and support of these sets is clearly shown in Figs, 9 and 10. A horizontal plate 99 is centrally bolted to plate 96 and a second horizontal plate ml is similarly bolted to plate 98; Two rods I00 depend from the plate 99 and by means of brackets I04 support one end of a vertical plate I06. The brackets I04 are vertically adjustable on the rods I00, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. This end of the plate I05 has its narrow end and bottom edge utilized as the means on which the rollers ofla chain I08 7 ear. Two rods I02 depend from the plate II and support vertically adjustable brackets H0 and III. The brackets H0 and I II support two bearings I I4 and I I2 in which a shaft H6 is journaled. Sprocket IIB with hub H9 is mounted on the shaft II6. Plate I06 is secured to the brackets H0 and III by bolts I20 which extend through lengthwise slots in the plate so as to permit horizontal adjustment of the plate and I the chain I08. I The chain I08 carries putting-out tools I24 which are similar to the putting-out tools 94. Here again, other types of tools, such as brushes, for example, may be used, depending upon the treatment desired for the sheet material.

.In each of the six sets of tools an endless roller chain 86 or I00 is provided which passes over a driving sprocket 54 or H8 and around a suitably formed andfixed plate 60 or I06 whereby the lower run of the chain is adapted to be in running engagement with the lower edge of said plate. It is .to be understood that six sets of tools are not necessary and that the four longer sets (in the X formation) may Well be sufiicient for some types of work. The two shorter sets are added, inthe preferred arrangement shown, to insure that no part of sheet ma eri l s thrq ehethe ma hi e 1.. :es

form part of each chain and to them are fascape adequate treatment, as will further appear. The inner ends of the tool sets in the X. formation may be located in various positions, by

modifications not shown in the. drawings, to minimize the possibility that some portion. of the sheet material would not be treated. With this end in mind, the tool sets may be arrangedin such a Way that tool set 30 would extend across the longitudinal center line of a belt 200 carrying I the sheet materialand the jtool set 32 would be located at a position farther along thebelt to clear the tool set 30. .

Sets

26 and 28 may be also located in such a way that one. or both of them :extend across the center line of the belt 200 and yet do not interefere with each other.

Such an arrangement is possible with orw'ithout a. change in angularities of the toolsets with re.-

.spect to one another. In the specific embodi- ,ment shown in the drawings (Figs. 3 and 4), the

individual blades or tools 94. of set 30 are. operatively arranged to alternate with the individual tools .94 of the set 32 to preclude non-treatment.

of any Workpiece area. The tools of sets 26 and 20 are arrangedsimilarly. I g 1 Motive power for the six sets of tools shown in the drawings is derived from. a motor I26 mounted upon the main frame members I6.

The motor shaft I 28 drives a sprocket I30 and by means of chains I and I42, together with sprockets I32, I34 mounted on the shaft Iand sprocket. I36 on shaft I44, rotate the shaft I44. Arrows in Fig. 1 show the directions of rotation.

The latter shaft, in turn, drives shafts I46 and I48 by the use of universal joints, as shown in Fig. 3, and they, in turn, drive the sprocket shaft 52 of each of the

tool carrying members

30 and 32 by the use of additional universal joints. The ,sprockets I32 and I34 are mounted on shaft I50 which is suitably mounted in brackets I52 and I54 on thelongitudinal frame members I6fi(Figs.

1' and 3). On the shaft I 50 and keyedtheretd is a gear I56 (Fig. 3) which is in mesh with a gear I58 fast to a shaft I60" which is mounted in brackets adjacent and similar to the brackets I52 and I54 for supporting the shaft I50. Shaft I60 has mounted thereon a sprocket I62 which,

. "through chain I64 and sprocket I 66, drives a shaft I68. Shaft I68 is suitably mounted in bearings on the frame of the machine and drives the tool carrying chains of members 26. and 28 'in thesame manner as is done by shaft I44 with respect to the

members

30 and 32; Theabove description pertains solely to the driving o'fthose setsof tools in the X formation and the use of the universal joints permits adjustment of the angles of diversion of such sets. Shafts I46-and [I48 andtheopposite corresponding: shafts are all telescopically arranged.

The short set of tools, shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and injthe left-hand side of'Fig.1, is driven from the shaft I44 by sprocket I38 and" chain I12, sprocket I14 and sprocket II8,the latter two sprockets being keyed to shaft II 6. The other short chain of tools is similarly driven but from theshaft I68, sprocket I'I0, chain I16, sprockets a shaft I84. A sprocket I86 as they are merely round bars belt200 (Fig. .2) is driven at a uniform an proper speed through the machine. 7 I

A flat table 202 (Figs. 1 and 2) is mounted withinthecolumns 22 for vertical up-and-down movement; A plate 204 is placed on both sides of the machine to serve as a stiffening member for the machine frame and brackets 205 mounted on the plate 204. lend rigidity tothe standards 22 to which they are affixed. The table 202 is mounted,;upon four brackets 2I0, for vertical movement within the side plates 204. The brackets 2I0 rest uponwthe. arms 2I2'of bell cranks 2I4. (The bell cranks are keyed. tothe ends of shafts 2I6 suitably journaled on. the

frame members I4. The depending arms. of the bell cranks 2I4 are pivoted at their lower ends to a bar or bars 2I8. It is to be understood that only twobell cranks (one at each end of the table 202) and one bar 2I8 need be used. At one end of the bar or 'bars 2I8 is afluid-operated mech- 'anism 220 (Fig. 2) which is arranged to oscillate the bell cranks. 2M and thus to raise and lower the table 202 into and out of'operative relationship with the blades 04 and I24.

At the forward end of the machine (Fig. 2)

is mounted an extension 222 of the table 202.

A similar extension 223 is located at the other end of the machine and is partially shown in Fig. 1. Both extensions are mounted for verti- I cal movement with the table 202.: The'stiffening members. or side plates 204 extend from theforward end of the machine (Fig. 2) and are supported at their ends onstandards 206. The latter structure serves as asupport for an idler pulley structure designated generally as 208. The broad work carrying. belt 200, passes upwardly over a'pulley 2I0 and thence into contactzwith the top surface of table 202and its extensions 222 and 223, therebypassing beneath the putting-out tools!" and I24 and out the discharge or rear end of the machine. The belt 200, being endless, will flex about a driven pulley. (not shown) at the rear and exterior to the machine and pass back through the machine over idler rollers 224 mounted on the machine frame in The. stretch of the belt ;200 is adequate to allow the vertical suitable brackets 226 (Fig. l).

motion of the table 202 Without using spring loading means on the belt. However, conventional means for maintaining a uniform tension in the belt 200 may be used if desired. The belt may be made of rubber or other suitable material. Wiper bars 225 (the ends t in contact with rollers 224) may be usedto aid in keeping the belt clean. 1 l I Extending" transversely of and located substantially midway between the ends of the table 202 is a holding roll 230 which isljournaled and verticallymovable in brackets 232 bolted to the sides of thetable, A slight clearance- (less than the thickness of workjto be treated) is left between the bottom of the roll 230 and the upper surface of the conveyor belt 200 to permit passage of the sheet material therethrough. The

roll 230may be rubber covered if desired and itmay be held down in its lowermost position in the brackets 232 by its own weight or it may .be yieldingly held down by spring means.

The mechanism for controlling the operation of the fluid-operated means for raisingand lowering the work table 202 is illustrated particularly in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9 and '10. The forward exten sion 222 of the table202 i sprovided with side (not showm by means of which the conveyor only are shown solenoid 348 and with a, switch 342..

members 300 which serve to support transversely extending angle bars 302 (Fig. 3). The bars 302, in turn, support two members 304 (Figs. 9 and in positions above the table 202 and in fixed relation thereto.

Vertical guide brackets

306 and 308 are mounted as shown and support switch rods 3H) for endwise movement. Brackets 308 also support switches 312 which are adapted to be actuated by adjustable stops 3l4 on the rods 3I0. Pivotally connected to the rods 310 at 3I6 are extension rods 318. The opposite end of each extension rod 3l8is bent to form apivoted connection with the upper end of one arm of a bell crank 320. The other arm of each bell crank 320 has pivotally connected thereto a wheel 322. Each bell crank is pivotally con-- nected at 324 (Fig. 10) to an arm 326, the arms 326 being pivotedby means of bolts 328 to the members 304. Adjustment screws 330 are provided whereby the angular positions of the arms 326 may be regulated to give the minimum clear ance desired between the wheels 322 and the conveyor belt 200. Brackets 232 (Fig. 1.) support the roll 230 for vertical movement in guideways shown as already described. At the sides of each bracket 232 is pivoted at 332 a bell-crank lever 334. The upper bent-over end 336 of each lever 334 extends over an upstanding pin 338 mounted on each journal block of roll 239. The other end 340 of each lever 334 extends over and controls a switch 342. A coil spring 344 positioned at each switch 342 is under compression and serves to keep the lever end 336 in contact with pins 338 at all times. A source of power such as switch box 346 (Fig. 2) is provided by which a solenoid 348 is operated through suitable elecvalve mechanism 352 which controls the passage of fluid from a source of pressure 354 to cylinder .and piston mechanism 220 for the reciprocation of bar or bars 2! 8 and the lifting or lowering of the following elements as a unit: the table 202, the table extensions 222 and 223, the switches 3l2 and 342, and the levers and other operating mechanisms for said switches. Each switch 3l2 is connected into the circuit in series with the The lifting of one of the wheels 322 and one end of the roll 230 away from the table 202 serves to close the switches and to operate the solenoid. The solenoid, thus operated, serves to shift the slide valve in mechanism 352 to the right as viewed in Fig. 2. The arrangement is such that such shift will admit fluid pressure from the source of fluid pressure 364 into the lefthand end of the cylinder 220 and thereby lift the table 202 and its associated elements by means of the bar M8 and the bell cranks 2l4. Lowering of a wheel 322 and/or one end of the roll 233 will interrupt the current passing through the solenoid, in which case spring 356 will shift the valve of mechanism 352 to the left as viewed in Fig. 2. This will establish a differential in pressure within the mechanism 220 to bring about a lowering of the table 202 with its appurtenances. As stated before, means other than that shown could be used to bring about the lifting and lowering of the table 202 and its extensions 222 and 223.

In the operation of the machine, motor I26 is viewedin Fig.2, and the hide is carried thereby at a uniform rate over the table 202 and its extensions 222 and 223 in their lowered or inoperative position. When the leading edge of the hide passes beneath the wheels 322, bell cranks 320 are turned counterclockwise about pivots 324, shifting one or both rods 3) to the left (Fig. 10) and closing the switch or switches 3l2. Nothing happens at this stage, however, as switches 342 are open and the table. 202 stays down. In the meantime, motor I26 maintains all the tool sets in motion, the lower runs of which are passing outwardly from the center of the machine. As the hide passes under the roll 230, pins 338 lift the lever ends 336 against the action of springs 344 and cause the closure of switches 342. Closure of one or both sets of switches (a set consisting of a switch 3l2 and av switch 342) establishes a current through the solenoid 348 and brings about the lifting of the table by fluid pressure to cause the hide to come ,in contact with three sets of tools, as will be causes the belt 200 and the six sets of toolsto readily understood. Wheels 322 are placed as close to the roll 230 as is practicable in order that as short a hide as one may desire to treat can be handled. The'switch arrangement permits an interval to elapse between the time of introduction of the hide and the time for lifting of the table 2412 and also causes the table to drop at the proper time. in position on the conveyor belt 200 against the tendency of any set or sets of tools to pull the hide excessively or unduly. Such retention is essential is essential to prevent a-piling-up of the hide and to assure a smooth passage of the hide through the machine. As long as wheels 322 and roll 230 areheld up by the hide, the table 202 will remain in its hide treating oroperative position. After the leading edge of the hide has passed roll 230, tool sets 26 and 28 begin to take,

hold and treat the hide .and their operation is soon supplemented by the last short tool set. The hide continues its travel beneath the tools with the result that the entire hide area-is subjected to the action of the tools. Each. set of tools is so operated as to act from a central portion of the hide outwardly. The short chains or sets of tools may be omitted but their use is preferred to insure that no portion of the hide misses treatment and they also tend to maintain' the hide in tension along the backbone line when the hide is introduced in that position. The longer sets of tools serve to put out the hide along the general lines or directions, of the flanks, which is the most approved procedure in the manufacture of leather. It can be easily seen that with such structure the largest of hides can be treated.

Side leather, for example, measures up to twelve feet, and over, in length and can be treated in this machine. Whenthe trailing edge of the hide passes from beneath the wheels 322, switches 312 are opened, the circuit is broken and the table is lowered by fluid pressure as spring356 operates the valve mechanism 352. the table terminates the operation of the blades on the hide. By this time the next hide placed on the conveyor belt 200 a short distance from the first hide will have almost reached the wheels 322 and after it has passed beneath the wheels 322 and the roll 230 the table 2 02 is again raised for treatment of that piece of Work. With a speed of 20 feet per minute of the conveyor belt 200 the machine will produce sides of leather (with an average over-all measurement of eleven feet) per hour.- This allows the operator sum- Roll 230 serves to retain the hide Lowering of I formity in results. i

Having described my invention, what I, claim as new and desire tosecure cient time to place the work pieces on the belt.

With a conveyor speed of 20 feet per minute the following adjustment and setting of the machine is most advantageous:

If the speed of the conveyor 2Ull'wer e changed all the above figures must necessarily be changed because a new revolution of forces would become necessary. A variation inthe materials treated may also require a differentadjustment. j

' Water and/or other loose metenin on the work pieces is put out fromv the central portion of each piece toward the edges thereof and suchwater and/or loose material either drops from the belt at once or is removed vby' asuitable scraper (not shown) or by gravity during the return run of thebelt. Theends of bars 225 are shown in Fig. 1. Such wipers may aid. in cleaning the belt as heretofore stated. 1 s With such a machine a large. output of work ispossible andvarious sizes of work pieces may be fully treated with a minimumamount of attention by the operator. Inthe case of hides or skins, the treatment may be along the-lines of.

stretch of the work piece, a form of treatment recognizedin the art o-f leather manufacture as being advantageousfand preferable. The tools produce treated areas .on the Work pieceswhich areas. are in progressive and overlapping rela tionship, an 'effect which is the United States is: f i i i 1. In a machine for treating sheet material, a

conductive, to uniby Letters Patent of movable work supporting means having a single continuous surface, a plurality of, sets of tools mounted for simultaneous movement parallel to 5. In a machine for treating sheet materia1,a

work supporting means having a continuous sur face, a plurality of sets of tools mounted for movement in X formationin a plane adjacenfi and, parallel to said surface, means to guide the tools in such movementyand means for moving the work supporting means inand away from operative position with respect; to the sets of tools. I w I i x 6.In a machine for treating sheet material, a table for supporting work; pieces, a plurality of sets of tools mounted formovement in X formationin a plane adjacent andparallel to said table, means for movingthetable in and away from operative position with respect to the toolsfand means to maintain work pieces inposition with respect to the table against undue shifting, because ofthe actionof the tools; i a "I. In a machine such as set. forth in claim 6 l in which the means to maintain the workpieces in position comprises a member extending transverse to the table and arranged to bear down upon a work piece supported by said table.

8. In a machine for treating hides comprising member for a hide to betreated, and means for l varying the clearance between the twoplanes to bring such hide into or out from engagement with the tool sets. r

9. In a hide treating machine comprisinga frame, atleast four treating tool carrying mem bers mounted thereon for divergent path's of operation ina first plane upon awork piece such as a hide," four of said tool members adapted to operate tools from acentral area *of said hide into and along the shank areas, a table lying in a second plane parallel to said first plane to serve as a backing-up member for the hide to be treated, and means forevar'ying the clearance between the two planes to bring the work piece into: or out from engagement with thetools.

said surface and along at least four; diverging directions from a central,area on said surface, means to drivethe tool sets in the said directions to treat sheet material supported on saidsurface, and means for moving the supporting means during the treatment.

2. In a machine for treating .sheet material, a supporting means having a .singlecontinujous surface, a plurality of tool v sets mounted in .;X. formation and each tool set comprising a series of individual tools mounted for outward actionin the X formationlon sheet material placed on said surface.

3. In a machine for treating sheet material, a

supporting means having asingle plane surface for supporting a sheet of material to, be treated,

a plurality of tool setsmounted forloutward movement along at least four diverging paths in a plane adjacent and paralleltto said surface,

means to, drive the tool sets in said paths, and means for moving the supporting means relative to the plurality of tool sets.

4. In a machine for treating sheet material, a supporting means having a singlecontinuous sur v face for supporting-a ,sheetof material to be treated, a plurality of power dllVBll'stOOl sets mounted for outward movement along at least four divergin paths. in. aplane adjacent and parallel to said surface, the positions of said tool "J i 10. 'In a hide treating machine, four treating f tool carrying members mounted in Xtformation" for divergent operation from a central area of a spread out hide toward the shank areas of said hide, said mounting being in a-first plane, addirtional treating tool carryingmembers arranged to place the hide undertension-along the back bone line'duringsaid operation, a table lying in hide treating tools.

11. In a hide treating machine comprising aframe, four hide treating tool carrying members mounted thereon in X formation for divergent paths of operation in a first plane, a table lying,

ina second plane parallel to said first plane to serve as a backing-up member for a work piece to be treated by the tools, means for varying the clearance between the two planes to bring such a work piecednto or out from engagement with f the hide treating tools, and means controlledby thepresence of the hide upon thetable to lift:

the table into operative position.

" 12.111 a hide treating machine comprising a frame, four treating tool carrying members mounted thereon in x formation for. divergent paths of operation in a first plane, a table lying in a second plane parallel to said first plane to serve as a backing-up member for a work piece to be treated, means for varying clearance between the two planes to bring such a work piece into or out from engagement with the hide treating tools, and conveying means for moving the hide along the table.

v13. In a putting-out machine comprising a frame, a table mounted on said frame, at least four sets of putting-out tool mounted parallel to said table for simultaneous and diverging paths of movement in a horizontal plane, and a conveyor fortransferring a work piece such as a hide across the surf-ace of the table, the distance between the horizontal plane of tool move: ment and the table being variable to bring the work piece into and out from engagement with the putting-out tool sets.

14. In a putting-out machine comprising a frame, a table mounted on said frame, four sets of putting-out tools mounted in X formation and parallel to said tablefor diverging paths of movement in a horizontal plane, and a conveyor belt for transferring a spread-out piece such as a hide across the surface of the table, the said paths of movement conforming generally with the shank areasof the work piece, and means for varying the distance between the horizontal plane of tool movement and the conveyor belt to bring the work piece into and out from engagement with the putting-out tool sets.

15. In a putting-out machine comprising a frame, a table mounted on said frame, at least four sets of puttin'g-out tools mounted parallel to said table for diverging paths of movement 'in a horizontal plane and conforming with the shank areas of a spread-out hide" to be treated, additional sets of tools mounted in said horizontal plane to maintain the hide under tension along the backbone line during the treating operation, a conveyor for transferring the hide across the surface of the table, and means to bring the table, conveyor and'hide into operating position in cooperation with the tool sets.

16. In a putting-out machine comprising ,a frame, a table mounted on said-frame, at least four sets of putting-out tools mounted parallel to said table for simultaneous and diverging paths of movement in a horizontal plane, a conveyor belt for transferring ahide across the surface of the table, and yieldable means to lift the table and conveyor to bring the hide into andout from engagement with the putting-out tool sets.

1'7. A machine of the type set forth in claim 16, in which said conveyor belt is operable to transfer the hide while said hide is being worked upon iv the putting-out tools to produce progressive overlapping treated areas on the hide.

18. A machine of the type set forth in claim 16, including holding means tending to retain the hide in position relative to the conveyor belt while being worked upon by the putting-out tools.

19. In a machine for treating hides, a support forming a backing for a hide, a plurality of tools operating-in a common plane for treating a hide on said support, means for lifting the support to press the hide against said tools and for moving the hide along said plane relatively,to said tools while maintaining the hide in pressing engagement with said tools, and said tools being-arranged-in at least four diverging sets thereby to produce progressive overlapping treated areas on the hide.

20. In a machine of the class described, a support for backing a hide, a plurality of tools arranged in sets diverging in a horizontal plane for operating upon a hide backed by the support,

means for moving the support and hide parallel to said horizontal plane, means operating in timed relation to the movement of the hide for efiecting relative movement of the support and tools to press the hide between them, and means for moving the tools in outwardly directed paths in said plane while the hide is thus held under pressure thereby to produce progressive overlapping treated areas on the hide.

21. A machine of the type described in .claim 20 including means tending to retain the hide in position relative to the means for moving the hide to resist any excessive strain placed upon the hide by one or more of the tool sets.

22. A machine of the type described in claim.

20, in which the sets of tools are adjustable to vary the angles of divergence.

23. In a machine for treating, hides, a yieldable support for backing a spread-out hide, at least four diverging sets of tools for operating upon the hide backed by the support, means for moving each set of tools during said operating the said latter means being firmly mounted with the sets of tools on a fixed frame, and means for moving the support into and out of operative relationship with the sets of tools.

24. In a machine for treating hides, a support for backing a spread-out hide, four diverging sets of tools, one set arranged to operate outwardly on each flank portion of the hide, twoadditional "sets of tools arranged to pull both ways along ated by fluid pressure.

the backbone line of the hide, and means for moving the support together with a hide thereon by and in engagement with the tools, said movement being in the same direction as the backbone line. 25. In a machine for treating sheet material, in combination, 'a smooth support for sheet material to be treated, a conveyor belt arranged to carry uch sheet material across and over the surface of the smooth support at a uniform rate, tools mounted parallel to the smooth support to operate upon the sheet material when the latter is moved into material treating position, and means motivated by the leading edge of the sheet material to move the sheet material, belt and support into said material treating position when the sheet material has been conveyed into position opposite that of the tools, said means also being operable by the trailing edge of the sheet material to move the sheet material, belt and support away from said material'treating position after adequate treatment by the tools.

26. In a machine for treating sheet material, a frame, sets of individual tools mounted thereon in X formation, each set being arranged to perform work outwardly in said X formation, a conveyor belt adapted to support pieces of work for successive presentation to the sets of tools, a table over which the conveyor belt is arranged to slide, said table being adapted to serve as a backing-up member during treatment of the work pieces by said tools, means to move the conveyor during the work treating operation, and means operating in timed relation with the position of each work piece relative to the, tool sets to lift the table to press the work piece on the moving conveyor against the tools'and to. lower the table when treatment of each work piece is adequate.

27. A machine of the type described in claim 26, in which the means to lift the table is oper- DAVID EDGAR.