Improvements in Means for Cleaning Fur as Used in the Manufacture of Hats and for other purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1895-Accepted, 15th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Cleaning Fur as Used in the Manufacture
of Hats and for other purposes.
We, WILLIAM WARBURTON of 124 Hall Street, Stockport, in the County of
Chester, Manager, HENRY HERBERT TURNER, ALBERT TURNER and ARNOLD
TURNER, all of Denton in the County of Lancaster, Hatters Machinists, do hereby
declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
Our improvements refer to the cleaning and blowing of rabbit and other animal
fur as used for the manufacture of hats and for other purposes and have for their
object the removal from such fur of " kemps "and other objectionable matter
mixed therewith having a higher specific gravity than that of the pure fur.
In accordance with our invention we apply a wooden or similar trunk to the
outlet end of the fur blowing machine now in general use and we affix said trunk
at such an angle that its end furthest away from the machine is higher than the
end nearest the machine. At the bottom of the trunk and arranged at a corre-
sponding angle we arrange an endless apron made of moleskin or other similar
material which corresponds to the width of the trunk and travels over rollers at or
near either end. The top portion of this apron travels towards the machine or in
a direction away from the outlet end of the trunk.
"
Through the trunk the fur from the machine is blown or exhausted say by a
pipe from a blower or fau at the entrance end of the trunk and the pure fur which
is very light passes directly through the trunk and into a fur chamber at the outlet
end and by an automatic delivery into a skip or other receptacle, but the "kemps
and heavier impurities fall on to the travelling apron aforesaid which travelling in
an opposite direction effectually retains the same and carrying them forward
deposits them into a box or receptacle placed beneath it.
To effectually remove the "kemps collected by the apron and which adhere
thereto a set of travelling combs, or card fillets are arranged beneath the under
or returning half of such apron and beneath the combs a brush is mounted, the
combs working against the apron and the brush cleaning the combs.
The working parts may be operated from the blowing machine by belts and
pullies or toothed gearing.
Instead of the trunk being at an angle it may be arranged horizontal with the
travelling apron only fixed at an angle.
Dated this 8th day of August 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Cleaning Fur as Used in the Manufacture
of Hats and for other purposes.
We, WILLIAM WARBURTON of 124 Hall Street, Stockport, in the County of
Chester, Manager, HENRY HERBERT TURNER, ALBERT TURNER and ARNOLD
TURNER, all of Denton in the County of Lancaster, latters Machinists, do
hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to
[Price 8d.]

page_text: be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our improvements refer to the cleaning and blowing of rabbit and other animal
fur as used for the manufacture of hats and for other purposes and have for their
object the removal from such fur of "kemps" and other objectionable matter
mixed therewith having a higher specific gravity than that of the pure fur.
In accordance with our invention we apply a wooden or similar trunk to the
outlet end of the fur blowing machine now in general use, and we affix said trunk
at such an angle that its end furthest away from the machine is higher than the
end nearest the machine. At the bottom of the trunk and arranged at a corre-
sponding angle we arrange an endless apron, made of moleskin or other similar
material which corresponds to the width of the trunk and travels over rollers at
or near either end. The top portion of this apron travels towards the machine, or
in a direction away from the outlet end of the trunk.
"
Through the trunk the fur from the machine is blown (or exhausted) say by a
pipe from a blower or fan at the entrance end of the trunk and the pure fur which
is very light passes directly through the trunk and into a fur chamber at the outlet
end and by an automatic delivery into a skip or other receptacle, but the "kemps
and heavier impurities fall on to the travelling apron aforesaid which travelling in
an opposite direction effectually retains the same and carrying them forward and
coming in contact with a scraping or brushing device deposits them into a box or
receptacle placed beneath.
And in order that our said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and
will now proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and
letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of our improved fur cleaning
apparatus shewn on a scale of about one inch = one foot.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of a part of our improved
apparatus.
In accordance with my invention (A) is the delivery end of an ordinary fur
blowing machine, to which is joined the, by preference wooden trunk (B). This
trunk as illustrated is of considerable length and is fixed at an angle of about 30°.
The top end terminates in the collecting chamber (C) into which the fur, after
passing through the trunk, is delivered. The trunk is of rectangular cross section,
and at each end is fitted with a roller (D), around which an endless creeper or
apron of moleskin or other similar material (E) is passed, one half passing through
and along the floor of the trunk, and the other half passing outside the trunk as
illustrated. To the lower roller (D') revolving motion is imparted by a strap (F),
shaft (G), pulley. (H) and strap () from the fur blowing machine, hence the
endless apron (E) being sufficiently taut travels continuously through the trunk (B).
This motion however is in a direction corresponding to that of the arrows (J),
hence the upper half of the apron will travel towards the fur blowing machine, and
in a direction opposite to the current of fur blown into the trunk. Owing to this
opposite movement, and to the nature of the material of which the apron (E) is
made of, and also owing to the force of the fan not being sufficient to propel them
completely through the trunk, the "kemps" or other impurities fall onto and are
caught by the said apron.
Under the continuous traversing movement of the apron the kemps are carried
outside the trunk and under the action of a revolving brush (K) removed from the
working face of the apron. This brush revolves either in an opposite direction to,
or at a greater speed than the apron, hence it effectually removes the kemps.
To remove the kemps from the brush we employ a comb (L) arranged to act
upon the surface of the bristles as illustrated and adjustable in its degree of contact
therewith by the nut (M) and screwed rods (N). Two or more brushes and combs
may be used for cleaning the apron. To catch the kemps as they are removed
from the brush (K) a basket or other receptacle is placed beneath the comb. If

page_text: desired the comb (L) may be arranged to act on the apron direct, and the brush
be used for clearing the comb.
In lieu of inclining the trunk it may be arranged more or less horizontally and
with the apron only at an angle, and instead of the apron being at one continuous
angle various parts of its length may be set at various angles. The inclination of
the apron or that of the trunk may be made adjustable by suitable lifting or
lowering devices applied at either end.
The fur chamber (C) is fitted with a travelling creeper, driven by belt (O) from
shaft (G) on to which the cleaned fur is delivered from the apron (E) which passes
the fur forwards into a basket or hopper placed to receive it.
To adjust the tension of the apron (E) the bearings of the roller (D') are
mounted in slides (P) on the sides of the trunk and having elongated slots (Q)
which are adjustable to and fro in such slides, and are capable of being fixed at
any desired position therein by clamping nuts and bolts (R).
To prevent the "kemps" falling off the edges of the apron on to the floor of the
trunk, narrow strips of American or similar cloth (S) are fixed to the sides of the
trunk, and loosely overlying the edges of the apron so that they may freely travel
beneath.
To facilitate the cleaning or examination of the trunk interior the upper part is
made in removable sections (1), (2) and (3) forming shutters or lids, and secured
by swivel latches (4).
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we wish it to be understood
that we are aware that a trunk set horizontally and fitted with a fixed cloth also
set horizontally has been used, and that we make no claim to such arrangement,
and that what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
65
1st. In means or apparatus for cleaning rabbit and other animal fur, or removing
kemps" and other impurities therefrom, the use in combination with a fur blowing
machine and fur receiving chamber of a trunk or elongated hollow casing arranged
at an angle or with the delivery end higher than the inlet end, and fitted with an
endless travelling apron of moleskin or the like, mounted and operating
substantially as herein before described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
2nd. In combination with the aforesaid inclined trunk or hollow casing, and
endless travelling apron the use of a revolving brush (K) and comb (L) mounted
and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
3rd. The combination and arrangement of parts or their equivalent forming our
improved fur cleaning apparatus substantially as set forth aud illustrated.
Dated this 8th day of May 1805
WILLIAM WARBURTON,
HENRY HERBERT TURNER,
ALBERT TURNER,
ARNOLD TURNER,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.
WILLIAM WARBURTON,
HENRY HERBERT TURNER,
ALBERT TURNER,
ARNOLD TURNER,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.