IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BURRS FROM AND OTHERWISE TREATING SKINS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Baird, senior, of Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BURRS FROM AND OTHERWISE TREATING SKINS."
Sealed the 16th September 1879, and dated the 20th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Baird at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th March 1879.
JOHN BAIRD, senior, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BURRS FROM AND
OTHERWISE TREATING SKINS."
This Invention has for its object the removal of burrs from skins in an expeditious
manner, and so as to avoid as much as possible the injuring of the skins or the
wool, or other fibre or hair on them. The improved apparatus may also be
advantageously used for treating skins so as to straighten or comb out the wool or
hair thereon.
In the improved apparatus there is mounted at one end of a horizontal rectangular
framing a transverse horizontal shaft which is driven at a considerable velocity,
and which has fast on it a roller or cylinder armed with four or other suitable
number of rows of teeth of a peculiar short broad form, obtained by giving an
undulated shape to the edge of a strip of metal, and by slightly bending over or
hooking the points to throw out the burrs. In the spaces between the rows of
undulated teeth there are fixed on the roller a number of edge teeth having
rounded ends, in shape like the external form of a wire staple. These teeth are
fixed edgeways with their flat sides parallel to the ends of the roller or cylinder, and
at right angles to the undulated teeth. The skin is presented to the roller or
cylinder by means of a movable frame hereinafter described, and the edge teeth
open or divide the wool or fibres, and the other teeth strike out the burrs. The
movable frame is mounted in guides or otherwise, so that it can be moved towards
or from the toothed roller, and at a part of it facing the toothed roller there are
fixed a number of curved blade springs which, when the frame is moved forward,

page_text: press the skin against the toothed roller, but each spring can yield independently
of the others, so that the skin will not be injured in consequence of its inequalities.
These curved blade springs may be covered with leather. The movable frame is
also fitted with one or two main springs which allow it to yield backwards as a
whole when necessary. A bar with one or more notches is jointed to the movable
frame, and serves by engaging one or other of the notches on a catch at the back of
the main framing for holding back the movable frame when required to vary the
pressure of the main springs on the movable frame. When the machine is in
operation, the workman throws the skin over a loose roller carried above the
movable frame, and lowers or draws it up as he finds it necessary between the
movable frame and the toothed roller.
When the apparatus is to be used for simply combing out the wool or hair on a
skin, there is substituted for the toothed roller herein before described a roller with
teeth of one kind, namely, the teeth set edgeways.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Johu Baird in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th September
1879.
JOHN BAIRD, senior, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BURRS FROM AND
OTHERWISE TREATING SKINS."
My said Invention has for its object the removal of burrs from skins in an
expeditious manner, and so as to avoid as much as possible the injuring of the
skins or the wool or other fibre or hair. on them. My improved apparatus may
also be advantageously used for treating skins so as to straighten or comb out the
wool or hair thereon.
In my improved apparatus there is a rapidly revolving roller which is arined
with rows of projections or teeth of two different kinds, rows of one kind of teeth
alternating with rows of the other kind, and the skin is submitted to the action
of the roller by means of a movable frame or spring bearer provided with a number
of springs which are covered with leather or cloth, such springs allowing the
different, parts of the skin to yield independently of each other. Above the movable
frame or spring bearer there is mounted a plain roller which is free to turn, and
the operator standing at the back of the machine, that is, at the side further from
the toothed roller, throws the skin over the plain roller and allows it to pass down
between the spring bearer and the toothed roller, and raises and lowers it as he
finds necessary.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings
to be hereinafter referred to, and representing my improved apparatus. In these
Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
. Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a plan of the burring
apparatus, and Figures 2 and 3 are front and side elevations. Figures 4, 5, 6, are
full-sized views of one of the two kinds of teeth, and Figures 7, 8, 9, are full-sized
views of the other kind of teeth.
The framing of the machine consists of a pair of parallel end frames 1 connected
by tie rods 2, and at the front upper part of the machine there is carried in
bearings in the end frames 1 a horizontal shaft 3, having fixed on it a roller 4, of
wood or other suitable material. This roller 4 is armed with eight rows of teeth,
four of the rows of teeth being of the kind shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, and the other
four of the kind shown in Figures 7, 8, 9. The two kinds of teeth are arranged
alternately round the roller 4, and are by preference made of steel. The teeth
shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, are of a peculiar short broad form obtained by giving an
undulated shape to the edge of the projecting strip of metal and by slightly
bending over or hooking the points to catch on and throw out the burrs. The
flange on which these teeth (hereinafter termed the broad teeth) are formed is in
one piece, with a flange by which the length or set of teeth is fixed by screws to
the roller 4. The teeth shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, are edge teeth having rounded
ends, in shape somewhat like the external form of a wire staple. These teeth are
fixed edgeways with their flat sides parallel to the ends of the roller by means of
right-angle flanges formed one on each tooth. The edge teeth open or divide the
wool or fibres, whilst the broad teeth strike out the burrs. Facing the inner side
of the toothed roller 4 there is a spring bearer 5, which consists of a movable frame,
having its ends fitted to slide horizontally in guide slots 6 formed in the end
frames. 1. To the frame 5 there are fixed a number of blade springs 7, which are
curved so as together to present towards the toothed roller 4 a rounded elastic
surface, each part of which can yield independently. The blade springs 7 are

page_text: covered with leather or cloth, a part of which is supposed to be removed in Figures
1 and 2. The spring bearer 5 is as a whole pressed towards the toothed roller 4 by
one or more large springs 8, abutting against a plate or frame piece 9 near the back
of the machine; and a handled rod 10 is jointed to the spring bearer 5 at the
middle of its back for drawing the bearer back by this handled rod 10, being made
with one or more notches on its underside to engage upon the plate 9, so as to hold
the spring bearer 5 more or less back when required. Above the spring bearer 5,
and a little nearer the back of the machine, there is mounted a plain' roller 11
which can turn freely, its end journals resting in open bearings formed for them in
upwardly projecting parts formed on the end frames 1. The workman standing at
the back of the machine (that is, at the left hand in Figure 3) throws the skin over
the roller 11, and so that it passes down between the toothed roller 4 and the spring
bearer 5, the latter being drawn back to allow of this being easily done; and he
next allows the bearer 5 to be moved forward by its spring or springs 8, and as the
toothed roller 4 operates, he draws the skin upwards and over the plain roller 11,
and lowers it again, should he perceive that any part requires further treatment.
I find that a suitable and effective speed for the toothed roller 4 is 900 revolutions
per minute, but it will no doubt be found desirable to vary the speed in different
cases. The shaft 3 of the toothed roller 4 is provided with fast and loose pulleys
12 for a driving belt.
When my improved apparatus is to be used for simply combing out the wool or
hair on a skin, there is substituted for the toothed roller (4) a roller with teeth of
one kind, namely, the kind shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, and which are set edge-
ways.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details
herein described and delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and original,
and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of apparatus for removing
burrs from and otherwise treating skins, substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described and as shown in the accompanying Drawings.
2. The construction of the toothed burring roller (4) with alternate rows of
broad teeth and edge teeth, substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described.
3. The construction and arrangement of the spring bearer (5), substantially in
the manner hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Baird, senior, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent, .
Glasgow.
JOHN BAIRD, SEN". (L.S.)