IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SHEARING OR CLIPPING THE WOOL OR HAIR. OF ANIMALS, AND IN THE MEANS FOR OPERATING THE SAME
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Arthur Dallison Renshaw at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 21st April 1868.
I, ARTHUR DALLISON RENSHAW, of No. 9, Fetter Lane, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SHEARING OR CLIPPING THE WOOL OR HAIR.
OF ANIMALS, AND IN THE MEANS FOR OPERATING THE SAME," to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to an apparatus for shearing sheep and clipping
the hair of horses and other animals by the action of reciprocating
cutters, which move across the edges of fixed cutters and work in both
directions.
The said Invention consists chiefly, first, in the employment of anti-
friction balls or rollers between the working parts of the apparatus to
prevent friction, without the frequent lubrication which has heretofore
been found necessary in such apparatus.
Secondly. In the use of an adjustable presser bar for keeping the fixed
and moving cutters properly in contact.

page_text: Thirdly. In the peculiar arrangement of a comb for regulating the
length of the hair to be cut and for guiding the same properly between.
the cutters.
Fourthly. In the employment in connection with the said cutters of
driving mechanism for imparting a rapid reciprocating motion to the
same without impairing the facility with which the apparatus is adjusted
to work in any desired position. The said mechanism is provided with
a barrel or roller, which is supported to turn in a bearing secured by a
strap arround the waist of the operator. Upon the barrel is wound a
cord whose end is brought into a convenient position to be pulled i
by the hand of the operator. The barrel is turned in one direction by.
unwinding this cord, and in the other direction by a spring; the
motion thus obtained is imparted to the cutters through an elastic or
weighted cord or band, which is connected to an eccentric or cam or
lever fixed on any convenient part of the cutting apparatus.
My Invention consists, fifthly, in passing the said cord or band
through the handle which supports the cutters, such handle being made
hollow or tubular for that purpose.
The fixed cutters are formed on or rigidly attached to a metal plate
which is connected to the handle or rod, whereby the apparatus is held
when in use. The reciprocating cutters are fitted to work in close
contact with the fixed cutters, and the edges of the cutters are so
formed and arranged that each pair of cutters works together with an
action similar to that of a pair of scissors. The cutters may be formed
by cutting out the apertures between them in the edge of a steel
plate, or each cutter may be formed separately, and a number of them
secured on a back or stock. The fixed and reciprocating cutters are
kept parallel with each other by guide pins or other suitable devices
which allow one plate to slide freely endwise upon the other. It is
necessary that the fixed and reciprocating cutters should be kept closely
in contact otherwise they will not cut properly, and for this purpose
I attach to the apparatus an adjustable presser bar, whose pressure
upon the cutters is regulated by a screw or other suitable device. To
give to the reciprocating cutters a rapid motion I employ the barrel
provided with a cord and spring, as before mentioned. I prefer to form
the barrel, or the part thereof upon which the actuating cord is wound,
of smaller diameter than the part of the barrel or the pulley around
which is passed the cord or string connected with the pulley upon the

page_text: lever or eccentric which moves the cutters. To allow the said cutting
apparatus to be used at any required distance from the driving
mechanism it is necessary that the said cord or string should be made
of some elastic material, or should be otherwise made or provided with a
compensating means to allow the required adjustment of the apparatus
in working to be conveniently effected. For this purpose the cord which
passes over the pulleys is provided with a weight which may be enclosed
in a case or tube at the side of the operator.
My apparatus may also be constructed either to be manipulated by
hand only or worked by driving mechanism operated by steam or other
motive power, the connection between the apparatus and such driving
mechanism being made by cords, bands, or wires arranged and operating
in such a manner as to allow the apparatus to be freely moved in any.
direction to adapt it to the position and form of the animal being.
sheared. The fixed cutters and the plate to which they are attached
may be made in one piece with the shank or bar whereby they are
connected to the handle, or may be attached to the same by screws,
rivets, or other suitable fastenings. The guide pins or studs may be
secured in the fixed plate and project upwards into apertures or slots
made in the moving plate of the proper length to allow sufficient motion
to the reciprocating cutters. Antifriction balls are placed between the
cutter plates at the rear of the same. These balls are made of steel, iron,
or other sufficiently hard material, and are preferably fitted to roll in
grooves in one or both of the plates. The moving plate is only in contact
with the fixed plate for a short space beyond the bottom of the teeth or
cutting edges, and therefore moves freely upon the friction balls. One
end of the adjustable arm or presser bar rests on a suitable projection
upon the shank or stock, and the other end presses on the moving cutter
plate; the said bar is kept in place by a screw pin, which is secured in
the fixed plate and passes through slots in the moving, plate and the
presser bar, a nut on the end of the screw pin affording a convenient
means whereby the pressure of the forward end of the said bar upon the
moving plate is increased or diminished. The foot of the presser bar is
provided with a friction roller, or with a ball similar to the balls between.
the plates, or the said foot or end of the bar may be formed with lateral
branches or projections, and provided with two or more of such balls or
rollers. The cord or string which passes round the pulley fixed on the
eccentric is extended through the handle, which is made hollow and

page_text: provided with guide pulleys for keeping the cords in their places, while
the apparatus is turned in any required angle with reference to the
driving mechanism. When a lever is employed to move the cutters it
may be operated by a pulley carrying an occentric pin. The said pulley
being fitted to turn upon a pin or stud arranged in front of the handle,
and being caused to rotate by a cord or band passing round it and over
a pulley connected with the driving mechanism, or the said lever may
be provided with a handle, the apparatus being then manipulated by
hand like other shearing implements for various purposes. The screw
pin before-mentioned serves as a fulcram for the lever, whereby the
reciprocating cutters are operated. The boss or centre of this lever may
be arranged to lie in an aperture formed in the reciprocating plate, and
provided with a finger or stud to act upon the moving plate. When this
lever is worked by a handle the cutters are moved by it 'in one direction,
and drawn in the opposite direction by a spring, which is secured to the
presser bar or other convenient part of the apparatus, and bears against
a pin projecting from the top of the plate. The apparatus may be
provided with a guard or cover to protect the mechanism and keep the
hair or wool from becoming entangled with the same. If desired, this
cover may be of steel and made to serve the purpose of the presser bar,
in which case it is slotted to receive the end of the screw pin, and is
provided with antifriction balls or rollers, and forced down upon the
moving plate by the nut on the-end of the screw pin. The comb may
be attached to the said cover or to the fixed plate, the teeth of the comb
being extended beyond and overhanging the points of the cutters. The
said comb is made adjustable by means of screws or other devices to
regulate the length to which the hair or wool is cut.