Patent GB-640732-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in fur pelt or skin stretching apparatus
IPC: C14B1/44
Filed: 1947-11-10
Abstract: 640,732. Fur-pelt stretching-machines. DONNER, C. H. Nov. 10, 1947, No. 29894. Convention date, July 1, 1946. [Class 76] A machine for stretching and smoothing fur pelts or skins preparatory to cutting the fur or hair therefrom, comprises a pair of rotated initial stretcher rolls 12 and 13 each having axially - spaced annular stretcher flanges 18 and 19 (Fig. 2) projecting from their peripheries, the stretcher flanges of one roll being in staggered and intervening relation to those of the other roll, a rotated ironing and smoothing means having longitudinally reciprocated ironer members 42 and 43, Fig. 3, mounted around the periphery thereof and a driven carrier means adapted to receive the skins discharged from the rolls 12 and 13 and to carry them into operative engagement with the said ironing and smoothing means and thence for discharge from the machine. A framework 10 has side members 11 which support stationary bearings 15 for the shaft 14 of the lower stretcher roll 12 and adjustable bearings 17 for the shaft 16 of the upper roll 13. Rotary movement is transmitted from the lower to the upper stretcher polls by the intermeshing gears 20 and 21. The relative spacing of the rolls 12 and 13 is adjustable by means of a hand wheel 30 operating the shaft 24 and 27 through bevelgears 25 and 28. The transmission shaft 27 is supported on bearings 26 which are upwardly yieldable against the tension of the compression springs 31, thus enabling the stretcher rolls 12 and 13 to separate in the event of any hard material passing between them. A feed table 32 is connected to the framework 10 and a feed roller 33, Fig. 4, is driven by the upper stretcher roll 13 through the gears 34, 35 and 36. The ironing and smoothing means, Fig. 3, comprises a non-rotatable transverse shaft 38 fixed in bearings 39 in the framework 10 and upon which is secured a cam cylinder about which is rotatable a carrier cylinder 41 having keyed thereto two sets of longitudinally-reciprocable ironer members 42 and 43, which simultaneously rotate with, and reciprocate upon, the carrier, each set moving from the medial portion of the carrier outwardly in opposite directions. This is accomplished by each set of ironer members co-operating with a correspondingly shaped but oppositely pitched oblique cam race (not shown). The ironer members 42 and 43 have blunt teeth 44 and 45 respectively extending in the direction to which the members move. The skin, after discharge from the stretcher rolls 12 and 13, is guided by blades 37, Fig. 4, on to an endless carrier apron 53 supported on pulleys 54, 57 and 60 in such a manner that the skin is pressed on to the underside of the ironing and smoothing roll and is discharged down the shoot 77. The tension between the apron 53 and ironing means may be regulated by the vertically adjusting tightener pulley 60. Mounted to run parallel to and for co-operation with the apron 53 are endless conveyer belts 63 and 70. Suitable power transmission means comprises a power shaft 78 in bearings 79 in the lower part of the framework 10. , The shaft has a drive gear 81 meshing with a driven gear 84 driving a sprocket and chain transmission 85 to rotate the lower stretcher roll 12 (and hence the upper stretcher roll 13). The ironing mechanism is rotated by a chain and sprocket transmission 86 extending between the power shaft 78 and carrier roll 41. A further driven gear 90 meshing with the drive-gear 81 co-operates with a sprocket and chain transmission 91 adapted to drive the pulley 57 and hence the carrier apron 53. The conveyer belts 63 and 70 are driven through a gear 92, Fig. 3, fixed on a hollow shaft extension 88 of the carrier roll 41 of the ironing and smoothing means, meshing with the driving gears 93 and 94 of the conveyer belts 63 and 70, respectively.