Patent GB-901143-A (GB)
Title: An improved apparatus for processing hides and skins
Inventor: LEWIS THOMAS MALDWYN
IPC: C14B1/02
Filed: 1959-01-30
Abstract: 901,143. Processing hides. -NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Jan. 25, 1960 [Jan. 30, 1959], No. 3331/59. Class 76. [Also in Group XXX] An apparatus for processing hides comprises an endless conveyer, a series of transverse hidesupporting rods supported by said conveyer, clamping means for securing the edge of a hide to each rod in turn, and at least one processing station positioned below the conveyer, each station comprising upper and lower feed rollers, means for intermittently driving the rollers in opposite directions, means for opening the rollers to permit each rod in turn to pass therebetween and means for processing the hides at each side of the rollers. A preferred embodiment for removing hair and flesh from hides comprises an endless conveyer in the form of two endless chains 20 trained over sprocketwheels 21 mounted on transverse shafts 22. Each link of the chain is provided with outer rollers 20a and an inner roller 20b which run between guide tracks 23 and 24, respectively. At regularly-spaced distances the conveyer carries a series of transversely-extending frames 27 each of which is fast on a transverse spindle 28 journalled in bearings provided in brackets projecting from the links of the chain. Fastened on each spindle 28 is a series of radially-extending parallel arms 28a with right-angled extrusions 28b which carry a transversely-extending hide supporting rod 34. At the feed end of the apparatus there are rails 40 with rollers to support a hide frame 42 each side of which is provided with a series of upwardly-extending pins 43 which pass through holes punched in the hides. The frame can be fed forward step-bystep by means of a pneumatic piston-andcylinder assembly 43a. Also at the feed end there is suspended by means of a pair of side arms 45 pivoted at 46 a hide-receiving roller which extends transversely across the machine. Pneumatic means 48 and 49 are provided to move forward and then disengage the leading hide 48a. Located between the ends of the conveyers are two similar processing stations A and B (only A is shown) each comprising an upper roller 50 and two lower rollers 51. Hair is removed at station A by conventional hairremoving means a indicated diagrammatically and flesh is removed at station B. The upper rollers are provided at the ends with spur wheels which when said rollers are lowered mesh with spur wheels on the ends of the lower rollers. In operation, the bide frame 42 with its full complement of hides is located by contact with steps 65 and the steps are then swung clear by means of a chain 68 trained over a sprocket wheel 69. A reverse switch is now closed and the conveyer driven so that a frame at the feed end is moved backwards to a hide receiving position as shown in full lines. Simultaneously the preceding conveyer frame is moved so that its rollers 32 contact the abutment 33h in the gaps 33c. The reverse movement of the conveyer is stopped by the opening of a limit switch 2A by a roller 32 at station A, at the same time switch 2B is opened and a solenoid is energized and compressed air supplied to the assemblies 43a, 48 and 49 so that the hide frame is indexed one step forward and a hide is draped on the roller 47 with its leading end between the hide supporting rod and clamps of the frame at the feed end of the machine. The operator then moves a gear lever so that after a slight delay the conveyer moves in a forward direction and subsequently the top rollers 50 are raised. When the hide is between the top and bottom rollers of station A the operator then moves the gear lever to close the switches and the hide at station A is fed backwards, the hair on the trailing part being removed. Similarly at station B the flesh on the trailing part is removed. At the appropriate moment the conveyer is again moved forward and the drive to the rollers reversed by the manual operation of the gear lever. The second half of the hide, which is now the trailing half, is now subjected to treatment at both stations. The treated hide is finally discharged from the apparatus. The gear lever may be automatically operated by electrical means controlled by alight sensitive cell on which is directed a light beam which is interrupted by a hide at a processing station.