Patent GB-498481-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in fur-unhairing machines
IPC: C14B1/24
Filed: 1937-07-08
Abstract: 498,481. Endless-belt conveyers. UNITY MACHINE CORPORATION. July 8, 1937, No. 19052. Convention date, July 9, 1936. [Class 78 (i)] [Also in Groups VIII and XXIV] In a machine for cutting off the fur from pelts and skins and comprising a conveyer belt and brushing and cutting devices, the conveyer is driven at relatively high speed until a pelt reaches the cutting position, the speed being then automatically reduced but again increased when the cutting operation on that pelt is completed. The fur-carrying apron or belt 17 is provided with spikes 18 and flexible pockets 20, which enable it to pass round a stretcher-bar 16, and it is driven intermittently by a ratchet device 22, 25 operated from the main shaft 11 by a connecting rod 23 so as to turn a shaft 26 geared to the driving puttey 13 of the belt. A brush 30, Figs. 1 and 6, is mounted adjacent the cutting point and is carried by arms 33 pivoted to rockers 35 actuated by rods 53 the forked lower ends of which embrace the shaft 11 and carry rollers 55 engaging cams 57 thereon. The rods 33 have rollers 49 which engage fixed cams 50 so that the brush 30 is constrained to move between the full and broken line positions as shown in Fig. 6. The brush is rotated by gearing including befts 38, 43 and gears 40, 41 and 44-47. The hair is cut by a blade 58 carried by rocking arms 59 and co-operating with a rotary blade 62 carried by arms 63 mounted on a shaft 64. The knife 58 is oscillated by an eccentric 65 and connecting rod 66, Figs. 10 and 11, and the knife 62 is rotated by gearing 67-69 of which the gear 69 is loose on the shaft 11 but fixed to a collar 70 loose on the shaft 11 and fixed to the eccentric 65, Fig. 11. The collar 70 and eccentric 65 are locked to a flange 75, fast on the shaft, by a sliding bolt 72 and when this is withdrawn the shaft rotates without actuating the knives. The apron is speeded up automatically as the gaps between pelts pass the cutting point and in connection with this movement brush-rollers 76, 77 are provided. The roller 76 is carried by pivoted arms 78. Adapted to bear against the roller 76 is a shoe 81 carried by arms 82 secured to a lever 83 fast on a shaft 84 to which is also secured a lever 86 under the stress of a spring 85. A switch arm 87 is also fast on the shaft 84 and carries a contact 88 which engages a fixed contact 89. The roll 77 is mounted on an arm 90 fast on a shaft 91 which also carries a spring-stressed lever 96 and contact arm 92 carrying a contact 93. The apron 17 is driven at high speed between cutting operations from a shaft 97, by a chain 99 and a sprocket 100 on the shaft 26 provided with a free wheeling device. The roller. 13 and associated gear are carried by levers 103 stressed by springs 104 to keep the apron taut. The shaft 97 is driven from the shaft 11 by a chain 106 and a sprocket 107 coupled to the shaft by a clutch operated by an electromagnetically operated lever 111, the circuit of the electromagnet being so connected that it is de-energized when both switches 88, 93 are open. The shaft 97 has a sprocket 114 mounted thereon by a free wheel connection and drives, through a chain 116, a flywheel 118 on a shaft 119, Figs. 1, 8, and 9. This flywheel is provided with centrifugally acting control weights 120, 122, pivoted at 121, 123 and connected by linkages 126-128 to rods 130 which bear against a thrust-bearing 132 slidable on the shaft 119 and engaging a pivotally-mounted lever 133 connected by a rod 134 to an arm 135 of a bell-crank lever. The other arm 139 of the lever engages a lever 137 the end 141 of which moves into engagement with a cam surface on the bolt 72 to withdraw it from its socket in the flange 75 and thus disconnect the sprocket 69 and stop movement of the knife blades The lever 133 is also connected by a rod 142a to a bell-crank 143 adapted to pull in and let out a connection 145 attached to an arm 146 mounted on a shaft to which are also secured a counterweight 151 and arms 148, Fig. 6, carrying a spiked roller 149 which is by this means caused to contact with a pelt and act as a brake to prevent it from being shifted by the action of the brush 30. The machine is also provided with a roller 153 to press pelts against the apron, and a beater 161 to knock sheared pelts from the apron. A handlever 155 engaging the lever 137 is provided for effecting manual stoppage of the knives. In operation, the switches 88, 93 being closed, the shaft 97 is driven by the shaft 11 and the pulley 13 is driven continuously. The flywheel 118 is also driven and the pins 130 are moved to actuate the lever 137 to withdraw the bolt 72 and declutch the eccentric 66 and gear 69 whereby the knives are stopped and the roller 149 raised from the apron. As a pelt 19 comes under the brush 76 the shoe 81 is raised to rotate the shaft 84 and open switch 88, and when the pelt passes beneath the brush 77 the switch 93 is opened and the clutch of the pulley 107 released. When the flywheel 118 has slowed down the lever 137 is allowed to drop and the eccentric 65 and sprocket 69 are driven from the shaft 11, the rods 130 are withdrawn to permit the bolt 72 to enter its socket and the knives are set in motion, and the brake roller 149 allowed to drop into contact with a pelt. When the pelt has been cut and passes the roller 76 the switch 88 is closed, the knives are stopped and the continuous movement of the apron recommences.