IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR REMOVING THE FUR, HAIR, OR WOOL FROM THE SKINS OF RABBITS, SHEEP, AND OTHER ANIMALS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR REMOVING THE FUR, HAIR, OR
WOOL FROM THE SKINS OF RABBITS, SHEEP, AND OTHER ANIMALS." A com-
munication from abroad by Michel Walch and François Antoine Baradel, of
Paris, in the Republic of France.
Sealed the 29th December 1877, and dated the 13th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th July 1877.
26
WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR
REMOVING THE FUR, HAIR, OR WOOL FROM THE SKINS OF RABBITS, SHEEP, AND
OTHER ANIMALS." [A communication from abroad by Michel Walch and François
Antoine Baradel, of Paris, in the Republic of France.]
This Invention relates to an improved arrangement of mechanism for cutting or
removing from the skins of animals the fur, hair, or wool with which they are
clothed, instead of effecting this object by manual labour, as heretofore.
By means of the improved machine, the cutting or shaving operation is effected
in a better and more complete manner than by manual labor; there is moreover
a larger yield of useful fibre, and less dust is produced than by the ordinary
processes.
One of the great advantages of the Invention is, that the cutting or shaving
operation may be effected without any preliminary preparation of the skins.
The essential features of the mechanism are,—
(1.) A long straight cutting blade with a knife edge, which is mounted in a vertical
plate to which a horizontal motion and also a vertical motion is imparted by means
of pins mounted excentrically on rotating plates driven from any convenient part of
the mechanism.
(2.) The cutting blade is pressed by springs against a long hone or stone for
sharpening the cutting edge, so that when the blade is worked up and down against

page_text: the side of the hone, its edge will be kept sharp, and in good order for cutting the
hair from the skin.
(3.) There is a counter blade for assisting in keeping the skin or fleece in place
during the cutting operation. A vertical motion is also given to this blade as well
as the cutting blade, and the amount of vertical motion of both blades is regulated
and adjusted by screw stops.
(4.) The skin or fleece to be operated upon is placed under a wooden bar and
over the top of the hone or sharpening stone. A certain amount of elasticity is
given to these parts by means of springs, so that they will yield to any irregularities
in the thickness of the fleece or skin.
(5.) The skin is drawn forward through the machine by two grooved or fluted
rollers which lay hold of it, and by their rotation draw it forward. The hair, fur,
or wool that is cut or shaved off the skin or fleece is deposited in a curved tray or
receiver placed conveniently for the purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th January 1878.
.
WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR
REMOVING THE FUR, HAIR, OR WOOL FROM THE SKINS OF RABBITS, SHEEP, AND
OTHER ANIMALS." A communication from abroad by Michel Walch and François
Antoine Baradel, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to an improved arrangement of mechanism for cutting or
removing from the skins of animals the fur, hair, or wool with which they are
clothed, instead of effecting this object by manual labour, as heretofore.
By means of the improved machine, the cutting or shaving operation is effected
in a better and more complete manner than by manual labor; there is moreover
a larger yield of useful fibre, and less dust is produced than by the ordinary
process.
One of the great advantages of the Invention is that the cutting or shaving
operation may be effected without any preliminary preparation of the skins.
The essential features of the mechanism are,―
(1.) A long straight cutting blade with a knife edge, and mounted in a vertical
plate to which a horizontal motion and also a vertical motion is imparted by means
of pins mounted excentrically on rotating plates driven from any convenient part of
the mechanism.
(2.) The cutting blade is pressed by springs against a long hone or stone for
sharpening the cutting edge, so that when the blade is worked up and down against
the side of the hone its edge will be kept sharp and in good order for cutting the
hair from the skin.
(3.) There is a counter blade for assisting in keeping the skin or fleece in place
during the cutting operation. A vertical motion is also given to this, blade as well
as to the cutting blade, and the amount of vertical motion of both blades is regulated
and adjusted by screw stops.

page_text: (4.) The skin or fleece to be operated upon is passed under a wooden bar and over
the top of the hone or sharpening stone. A certain amount of elasticity is given to
these parts by means of springs, so that they will yield to any irregularities in the
thickness of the fleece or skin.
(5.) The skin is drawn forward through the machine by two grooved or fluted
rollers which lay hold of it, and by their rotation draw it forward. The hair, fur, or
wool that is cut or shaved off the skin or fleece is deposited in a curved tray or
receiver placed conveniently for the purpose.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the machine.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine.
And, Fig. 4 is a transverse section of some of the principal working parts, drawn
upon an enlarged scale.
The machine is formed of two cast-iron side standards A, A, connected together
by cross pieces B, B. All the mechanism is placed at the upper part of the framing,
and it consists of the driving gear and the several parts constituting the cutting or
shaving devices. The driving gear consists of two toothed wheels C and C¹,
actuated by means of a winch handle D placed at the end of the shaft E mounted
in the bracket frame F. The pinion C is keyed on the countershaft G to which it
imparts motion. On the other end of this shaft G is mounted the fly wheel C³, and
by means of two sets of bevil gear wheels H the rotation of the shaft Gis transmitted
to two shafts I placed at right angles to the former, and carrying at their ends
plates J provided with crank pins which are adapted to the ends of the cutting
blade K.
It will be seen that by this arrangement the cutting blade will receive a move-
ment which will be alternately in a horizontal direction, and then gradually in a
vertical direction. This blade works in a groove made in the vertical plate K¹, which
is drawn forward by three helical springs L, whereby its contact is ensured with a
long sharpening stone or hone M, which is caused by three springs N (smaller than
the former ones) to press against the blade. By this means the use of a perfectly
well sharpened knife or cutting instrument is insured. In front of the blade K
there is, a counter blade O, moveable or adjustable in a vertical direction by means
of the piece attached to the blade K, and which comes against a similar piece o
placed at the lower part of the support o' of the counter blade.
A flat spring P, Fig. 3, as well as two small helical springs p, are used to keep
the counter blade up to and level with the top or upper surface of the hone or
long sharpening stone.
The skins to be operated upon are placed above the curved surface of a
concave trough Q, Fig. 1, which is intended to receive the hair or fibres resulting
from the cutting or shaving operation. The skins are first of all directed by
the hand until they are laid hold of by the two grooved or fluted rollers R,
which are pressed together by means of the springs r, Fig. 4, so that they are
capable of yielding to the irregularities in the thickness of the skin.
The upper roller R carries at the end of its shaft a ratchet S actuated by a click
or pawl T, provided at its other end with a collar or strap which surrounds an
excentric at the end of the counter shaft G. The two rollers R are geared together
by means of two toothed pinions U, and their action is regulated by a break con-
sisting of a grooved pulley V keyed on to the end of the first roller, the tension being
given by a cord v, acted on by the spring. v.
Two arched frames X are mounted longitudinally on the side standards, and are
connected by the transverse bar or rail x pierced with holes, through which pass
four rods for guiding a cast-iron bar or table x¹, to the under side of which is secured
a bar or block of wood.
By means of its two central rods, and by the action of the screw y actuated by the
hand wheel y'; the table x¹ governs the pressure necessary for the passage of the
skin. In order that the edge of the knife or cutting instrument in its action should
never reach the table ', the two ends of this latter are provided with pieces of

page_text: iron a, for limiting in height the stroke or action of the knife, thus protecting the
skin and also the wooden block. The counter blade o is also stopped in its course
upwards by means of two bolts b provided with screws and nuts which may be
adjusted at will, and against which bolts the ends of the counter blade are made
to abut.
The skin is made to pass between the wooden block and the upper surface of the
hone or sharpening stone M, and the hair or fur having been pressed down by
coming in contact with the counter blade O will be cut or shaved off level with the
epidermis, and will be collected in the concave trough Q.
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, as aforesaid, and having explained the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent
as aforesaid,―
The general construction, arrangement, and mode of operating the several parts
constituting the machine for cutting, shaving off, or removing the hair, fur, or wool
from skins, as above shewn and described.
I claim particularly the mode of constructing, mounting, and operating the blades
and of sharpening the knife or cutting instrument while the machine is in use.
Also, the mode of protecting the knife and counter blade, and of regulating the
pressure of the drawing rollers between which the skins pass, and whereby they are
drawn forward through the machine, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
.
W. E. NEWTON. (LS.)