AN IMPROVED FUR CLIPPING MACHINE
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, of 52 Chancery
Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of my Invention for "AN IMPROVED FUR CLIPPING MACHINE" and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
"This Invention relates to devices for the removal, by clipping, of coarse or water
hairs from seal and other skins, and its object is to provide a machine whereby the
work may be done with greater ease and celerity and with more uniformity than
by other machines in use.
Some fur clipping machines are constructed with shears for clipping the hairs,
the fur or soft hairs being blown aside by intermittent air blasts and so held by
combs while the shears operate; the shears however closing gradually from pivot
to point along the line of hairs presented, tend to push and bend the said hairs
aside and downward in advance of the closing point of the cutting edges, so that
the hairs are not so closely or cleanly cut from the skin as is desirable.
Other fur clipping machines are constructed with rotary cutters mounted on a
carriage which is designed to be reciprocated to and fro from one end of the
machine frame to the other over the skin-the cutters operating on the hairs
progessively as the carriage moves.-In machines of this construction, however,
the cutting of a row of hairs occupies considerable time, and more power is
required for the reciprocation of the carriage and cutters than for the operation of
shears.
-
My Invention comprises an improved device for rapidly clipping the hairs, and
in combination therewith, a device for delivering a constant and regular air blast;
and further comprises an adjustable straining bar and frame for supporting the
skins under the action of the cutters or knives; all of which will be hereinafter
fully set forth.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying Drawings forming part of the
Specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all
the Figures.
Figure 1, is a front elevation of the machine, with parts broken away to exhibit
other parts.
Figure 2, is a partly sectional side elevation of the same.
hit then norks

page_text: Figure 4, is an enlarged plan of cutter bars and supporting plate, showing in
dotted lines the position of the bars when the upper bar is moving laterally for
clipping.
Figure 5, is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the straining bar adjusted
in position.
Figure 6, is an enlarged sectional elevation of certain details of the mechanism.
Figure 7, is an enlarged, partly sectional elevation showing the clamp for and
the method of securing the edge of a skin to the chains.
Figure 8, is an enlarged front elevation of the same.
A, represents the frame of the machine on the inner faces of the upper horizontal
timbers of which are secured opposite each other, iron angle plates a. a.
B, represents a plate that supports the clipping or cutter bars B1, B2; this plate
is made sufficiently strong and rigid to prevent said bars from sagging or bending,
and is made of sufficient width for the convenient attachment to it of the mechanism
whereby it and the clipper bars are moved and operated.
On the underside of the plate B, at each end thereof is formed a strengthening
rib b, having two sockets 61. 61. in each of which an anti-friction roller c, is held
on a horizontal stud c'; and in a socket d, in each rib b, is held on a vertical
stud d, an anti-friction roller d². The rollers c. c. rest on the horizontal portions
of the plates a, a, while the rollers d³, bear against the vertical faces thereof, so
that the supporting plate B, and the clipper bars B1, B2, may be moved back and
forth with a minimum of frictional resistance.
The clipper bars B1, B2, are provided with teeth f, f, for clipping the coarse hairs.
The lower clipper bar B', extends the whole length or distance between the
sides of the machine frame and has no lateral movement, while the upper clipper-
bar B2, is made shorter than the bar B', so that it can be laterally reciprocated for
the clipping operation.
The bar B, is rigidly held to the supporting plate B, by counter-sunk screws g,g,
and the bar B, which is provided with longitudinally slotted holes h, h, is held in
place by screws or bolts h', h¹, that pass down through said holes and through the
bar B', into the plate B-the said slotted bolt holes h. h permitting the required
lateral movements of the upper cutter bar B
Rearward of the bars B1, B2, and journaled in boxes d³, d³ fixed on the top of
the machine frame is a horizontal shaft C, secured on which are two or more
eccentrics C¹, C¹, whose respective straps C extend. forward and have their eyed
ends hinged by bolts i, i, in lugs i, i, that are rigidly secured on the rear edge of
the supporting plate B. And on about the centre of the shaft.C, is secured a
cam D, laving a peripheral, irregular spiral groove k. Connection is made between
this cam D and the plate B, and bars B1, B2, by a lever D₁ which is constructed
with a depending stul k in one end and a slot 2 in the opposite end.
.
The said lever D₁, is pivoted to the supporting-plate B, near the rear edge
thereof, by a pivot ³; its stud k, is engaged in the groove of the cam D, and
a stud projecting upward from the upper cutter bar B2 engages in the slot k².
Hence when the shaft C, is revolved the plate B and cutter bars B1, B2 are at the
first half revolution thereof and by the throw of the eccentrics C¹, C', moved
forward with the teeth of the cutter bars in the same vertical planes-with the
teeth open. The extent of this forward movement is about half an inch to the
point where said teeth f, f. engage the hairs which are to be clipped, then
the cam D, operating through the lever D' throws the upper bar B2 to the right
(looking from the rear of the machine forward,) a distance of about one eighth
of an inch, thus closing the upper edges of the upper teeth over those of the lower
teeth whereby the hairs engaged between them will be clipped.
On the next half revolution of the shaft C by the consequent reverse motion
of the eccentrics C₁, C₁, and cam D, the cutter bar teeth begin to open, that is, the
upper cutter bar B2 begins to move to the left, and simultaneously the two
bars B1, B2, and plate B begin to be drawn rearward, to the same extent they
had before been moved forward; this reverse lateral motion of the cutter bar B

page_text: and the rearward motions of the plate B and bars B1, B2, being completed at one
and the same time;-and in this manner the cutter bars continue to be operated
during the working of the machine.
The teeth f, f, are made quite narrow so as to taper but slightly from gum to
point that they may, as nearly as possible, engage the hairs to be cut at right
angles and so clip them without bending them down or aside, and consequently
clip them closer or shorter than is commonly done by other machines.
It will be seen that as the lower cutter bar B¹, is moved forward it operates,
as do the combs in other machines of this class, to hold the fine hairs or fur down
away from the cutting teeth.
'
On the shaft C is a pulley C from which a belt C³, runs over a pulley E that
is secured on the main driving shaft E¹, which shaft E¹ is suitably journaled on
the frame A. And also on said shaft E', is a fly wheel E2, to which motion is
given by means of power applied to a treadle F-pivoted in boxes -through
pitman F, and wrist pin l.
I use in combination with the cutter bars, a continuous air blast to blow the
soft hairs or fur away or aside from the water hairs, and the blower designed for
this purpose is of peculiar construction and is arranged above the said cutter bars.
Its drum or cylinder G which is fixed on standards m.projecting upward from the
frame A, has in each end a central opening provided with register valve m¹ to
regulate the ingress of air; and its egress nozzle m², is made gradually tapering
or narrowing flatwise to its mouth, as shown, for the purpose of somewhat
retarding the blast and thereby equalizing its pressure at the point of delivery
throughout the length of the said drum which extends from one side to the other
of the frame A.
•
The blower fan shaft n, which is journaled in brackets n¹ secured on the ends
of the drum G, extends centrally through the said drum and carries spiders
provided with fans n² as shown.
On the outer end of this shaft n is fixed a pulley H to which power is transmitted
from the fly wheel E2 by a belt H¹.
That part of the improved machine over which the skins are to be stretched or
strained while being clipped consists in part of a frame I provided with pintles o,
at each lower corner by which it is held in lugs o' fixed on the frame A in such
a manner that its top can be turned forward and downward as shown in dotted
lines figure 2, for the ready and easy adjustment of a skin over it. By this device.
much time and trouble is saved in arranging the skins in position for clipping and
in afterwards removing them.
A chain or other suitable device o² attached at one end to the frame A and at
the other to the straining frame I prevents the latter from being turned down too
far; and latches o³ fixed on the frame A are designed to catch and hold the frame I
in an upright position during the clipping operation.
A further improvement is in making the bar K over which the skins are
stretched or strained vertically adjustable and for this purpose the upper edge
of the frame I is provided with a longitudinal groove in which the bar K is set
and supported by set screws p. p. so that on turning said screws the bar K can be.
slightly raised or lowered as the thickness of the skin may demand and be held
rigidly at the desired elevation.
Beneath the plate B and extending across the frame A on which it is suitably
journaled, is a horizontal shaft L, having fixed on it near each end sprocket
wheels L, L, and journaled on the lower part of the frame A is a shaft M,
provided with two sprocket wheels M', M. Chains N, N, for drawing the skins
over the bar K, are passed about the wheels L¹, M¹.
On the outer end of the shaft L is a ratchet wheel O, and on the corresponding
end of the shaft C, is an eccentric P whose strap P¹, serves as a pawl and engages
with the ratchet wheel O as shown to give it motion.
Hence as the shaft C, revolves continuously the shaft L is made to, revolve and
the chains N, N, to move intermittently.

page_text: When the machine is to be operated a skin, represented at Q Figure 2, is
adjusted on the bar K and a clamp R provided with hooks q is fastened along one
edge thereof, while weights s are secured on the opposite edge of said skin to keep
it at a proper tension; then the clamp hooks q are engaged in links of the
chains N, N.
Then when the machine is put in operation the cutter bars being drawn back
to permit the feeding of the skin over the straining bar K-the skin is inter-
mittently drawn over the said bar K,-the air blast continually blowing aside the
soft fur that is presented along the line of the said bar, leaving the stiff hairs
erect and at each intermittence of the motion of the said skin the cutter bars B', B
complete their forward motion and their teeth engage the hairs that are to be
clipped, and at the completion of this forward motion the upper bar B3 moves to
the right whereby all the stiff or water hairs along the line of the upper edge of
the bar K are simultaneously cut off by and between the upper and lower
teeth f. f.
In the devices for transmitting motion to the cutter bars, to the fan, and to the
skin that is to be operated upon, I do not confine myself to the precise construction
herein shown and described, as it is obvious that other devices for these purposes
may be employed without departing from the spirit of my Invention. The
straining frame may also easily be made vertically adjustable instead of the
straining bar being so arranged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A fur clipping machine comprising the follow elements, a cutter bar adapted
to be reciprocated forward and backward; a cutter bar adapted to be reciprocated
forward, backward and laterally; a device adapted to give a continuous air blast,
an adjustable straining frame; an adjustable straining bar; and suitable mechanisms
for feeding and straining the skin or fur, all constructed and arranged substantially
as set forth.
2. In a fur clipping machine, as a means for removing the water hairs from
skinis or furs, toothed cutter bars adapted to be reciprocated substantially as set
forth.
3. In a fur clipping machine, a device for supplying a continuous air blast
provided with a nozzle narrowing or tapering flatwise to its mouth, substantially
as herein shown and described, said nozzle being designed for equalizing the air
pressure along the line of delivery as set forth.
4. In a fur clipping machine the combination with reciprocating cutter bars
adapted for clipping coarse hairs from furs or skins of a device for delivering a
continuous and regulated air blast of even pressure, substantially as set forth.
5. In a fur clipping machine a straining frame adapted and arranged to be
swung downward substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. In a fur clipping machine the combination with a suitable supporting frame
of a straining bar adapted to be vertically adjusted substantially as herein shown
and described.
7. In a fur clipping machine means substantially as herein shown and described
of straining a fur or skin over the straining bar,, consisting of movable endless
chains N N, clamp R, hooks q, and weights s all arranged and operating as set
forth.
Dated this 4th day of March 1884.