second feed conveyor 46 so that the hide is sandwiched between both of the belts 12 48 in the operation of the machine 8 the hide as it moves further rearwardly beyond the rearmost end portion of the feed conveyor 10 is retained on the lower surface of the lower run of the belt 48 by suction applied by the suction box 52 the amount of suction exerted by the suction box 52 is the same as that exerted by the suction box 18 in which about 450 cubic feet of air per minute are withdrawn through the suction box 52 giving a suction amounting to a water gauge static head of about 2 34 the hide is carried on the lower run of the second belt 48 over the third dust removing means 56 and dust is blown from the lower surface of the hide by a jet of air issuing from the slot of the third dust removing means 56 the dust being removed through the front exhaust duct 58 of the third dust removing means 56 the operation of the third dust removing means 56 is thus similar to that of the first dust removing means 16 after the hide has passed over the slot of the nozzle device 57 of the third dust removing means and beyond the rearmost edge portion of the suction box 52 the rearmost edge portion being disposed slightly rearwardly of the slot of the third nozzle device 57 the hide falls.