Improvements in Machines for Cleaning Intestines.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Cleaning Intestines.
I, HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of 67 Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a communication to me
from abroad by James Cunning, of Indinapolis, in the State of Indiana, United
States of America, Manufacturer, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improvement in machines for cleaning intestines.
The object is to provide an effective, durable and cheap machine which shall be
capable of drawing the intestines between the scraper and an adjustable table
without any danger of tearing or breaking them, and in which the scraper wheel
shall be kept free from any liability to clog by the winding of the exterior
membrane thereon, or the intestines themselves, and which shall be automatically
cleansed while at work.
A further object is to provide an improved scraper blade adapted to use in
connection with the above machine.
With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of con-
struction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and pointed
out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a view of the machine in elevation,
partly in section, Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation, Fig. 3 is a detached view of
different forms of sprinklers, and Figa 4, 5 and 6 represent the improved scraper
blade; Fig. 7 represents a modification of the supporting frame. A, A¹ represent
the under and upper sections respectively of a supporting frame conveniently of
the stand form having an adjustable table B, constructed of any suitable material,
metal or wood.
The table B is provided at or near its edge with a smooth roller b¹, jourualled in
bearings attached to its corners. A revolving drum or cylinder C is secured on a

page_text: shaft c journalled at one end in bearings d¹d attached to the end of an over-
reaching arm E; or the arm E may depend from the ceiling or a beam overhead.
A drive-pulley D is secured on the shaft c, preferably between the two bearings d.
I prefer to construct the entire shaft c of tubing, as I find such construction
more economical, but it is only essential that that portion of it which extends
through the bearing & and into the cylinder should be hollow. When constructed
of tubing throughout, a plug e is inserted in the open end forming a water-stop at
the end of the cylinder. At its opposite end the shaft c communicates with a
water-supply pipe F, leading from a tank or reservoir located above the machine.
Or the water might be conducted into the opposite end of the hollow shaft or axle,
and this I find in some instances to be the preferable construction.
The periphery of the cylinder C is provided with a series of knives or scrapers G,
located lengthwise of the cylinder and constructed as follows:
The drum or cylinder C is provided on its periphery with a series of longitudinal
ribs or flanges f set either obliquely or radially to the surface.
To the sides of each of the ribs or flanges fis bolted a pair of thin metallic
plates f between which are clamped in radial adjustment the yielding scrapers G.
The latter are preferably formed of rubber but may be of any tough flexible
material which will yield when unusual pressure is exerted thereon. Or, the
yielding scrapers G may be secured by means of a stiffening plate or rib or flange
projecting within them, as shown in Fig. 6, the rubber or other flexible material
being either molded around the stiffening plate or provided with a recess adapted
to receive the same.
In both instances the blades or scrapers G are securely attached to the plates by
means of bolts f* which secure the plates, when two are employed at each rib or
flange, and the yielding scrapers, to the ribs or flanges, the said plates serving as
washers.
The freedom with which the scrapers yield will depend upon the distances,
which the plates f¹ are set back from their working edges; I find it preferable to
extend the plate at the back of the scraper somewhat nearer the edge than the
plate at the front extends, in order to prevent the forming of a sharp bend and at
the same time give it the required stiffness. The effect of the yielding scraper is to
adjust itself to the different thicknesses of the intestine, exerting a constant
pressure on every part as it passes beneath it and preventing the tearing which is
liable to occur when a bunch of the intestine or of any foreign substance chances
to pass beneath it. In certain classes of work rigid knives may be advantageously
employed instead of the yielding scrapers.
The adjustable table B, hereinbefore described, is adapted to be adjusted toward
and away from the face of the cylinder C by means of a set screw h, a cam or
other convenient device. Thus as the scraper blades become worn down too near
the face of the cylinder' they may be set out by means of the bolts f³, and the
distance between the edge of the blades and the face of the table B, by means of
the set screw h, may be regulated at any moment to suit the different sizes of
intestines to be scraped.
A pair of rollers I are journalled in suitable bearings, near the roller edge of the
table B, with their faces in close proximity to each other, adapted to cramp the end
of the intestine between them and draw it beneath the scrapers over the roller in
the edge of the table B.
An oblique shaft H provided with bevel-gear k on one end, and with a pinion
on the other end, is adapted to engage a bevel-faced pinion m, on the shaft of one
of the rollers I, and a worm n, on the shaft c, whereby the rotary motion of the
shaft c is transmitted to the rollers I.
The portion of the pipe E within the cylinder C is provided with slots or per-
forations o through which the water from the tank or reservoir above the machine
'escapes onto the scrapers and other portions of the cylinder, through perforations c¹,

page_text: formed in the shell of the cylinder and prevents the winding thereon of the outer
membrane or membranes, which is or are forced off from the intestine by the
scrapers, and which have hitherto proved quite a nuisance in rotary scrapers. The
water also keeps the scrapers and cylinder free from any other scraps. or dirt,
which may have a tendency to cling thereto, and causes the scrapers to work more
easily, and with less liability to cut or tear the intestine as it is drawn beneath
them.
The water pipe and sprinkler Q located outside of the cylinder forces the water
on to the scrapers in such a direction as to keep them and the surface of the
cylinder clear, and in conjunction with the jets within the drum or cylinder
serves to keep the surfaces of the table and scrapers free from clogging and
constantly cleansed.
It is evident, that the sprinkler from above might be omitted, and that other
slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several
parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention,
hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the construction herein set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1.) In a machine for cleaning intestines, the combination with a scraper and a
support for holding the intestines in contact with the scraper, of a pipe for con-
ducting water into the interior of the scraper cylinder, substantially as set forth.
2.) In a machine for cleaning intestines, the combination with a cylinder having
scrapers on the periphery thereof, and a support for holding the intestine in
contact with the scrapers, of a sprinkler for throwing water from within the
cylinder onto the scrapers, to thereby keep them free and clean, substantially as
set forth.
3.) In a machine for cleaning intestines, the combination with a rotary cylinder
provided with scrapers on its periphery and a table for holding the intestine in
contact with the scraper, of a water pipe extending through the end of the cylinder
to throw water from within the cylinder onto the scrapers, for the purpose
substantially as set forth.
4.) The combination with the rotary cylinder provided with a ljustable scrapers
on its periphery, of an adjustable table for holding the intestine in engagement
with the scrapers, substantially as set forth.
5.) In a machine for cleaning intestines, the combination with a rotary drum or
cylinder, of a series of yielding scrapers secured to its periphery, substantially as
set forth.
6.) In a machine for cleaning intestines, a yielding scraper secured to a stiffening
plate, substantially as set forth.
7.) In a machine for cleaning intestines a yielding scraper secured between
stiffening plates, substantially as set forth.
8.) In a machine for cleaning intestines, the combination with a rotary drum or
cylinder provided with a series of longitudinal ribs or flanges on its periphery, of
a series of flexible scrapers secured to the ribs or flanges, substantially as set
forth.
9.) In a machine for cleaning intestines, the combination with a rotary drum or
cylinder provided with longitudinal flanges thereon of a series of yielding scrapers
secured to the flanges and provided with stiffening plates, substantially as set
forth.
10.) The combination with the rotary scraper and the table for supporting the
intestine in engagement therewith, of a water-pipe for discharging water onto the
exterior of the scraper-cylinder, and the two rollers for grasping the intestine and
drawing it beneath the scraper, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 11.) The combination with the rotary scraper, the pipe for conducting water
onto the exterior of the scraper, the table, and the rollers for drawing the intestine
beneath the scraper, of the shaft and gear for communicating the rotary motion of
the operating shaft to the rollers, substantially as set forth.
12.) The supporting frame for an intestine scraper consisting essentially of the
lower section A and upper section A', constructed and arranged substantially as
set forth.