A Machine for Shearing the Water Hairs of Pelts.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1894-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Machine for Shearing the Water Hairs of Pelts.
I, JOHN WASHBURN SUTTON, Mechanical Engineer of Brooklyn in the County
of Kings, and 167 Wooster Street, New York City, both in the State of New
York, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
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 certain improvements in machines for plucking furs
which improvements are designed with the view of facilitating the working of the
machine adjusting the pelt quickly to the required position towards the operative
parts of the machine and permitting the interruption of the cutting off of the
water hairs whenever this is desired during the working of the machine.
The invention consists of a machine for removing the water hairs from pelts of
all kinds which comprises a fixed stretcher bar means of stretching and intermit-
tently feeding a pelt over said stretcher bar a rotary brush located above the
stretcher bar and near the edge of the same a reciprocating guard comb helow the
stretcher bar a rotary separating brush likewise below the stretcher bar mechanism
for moving the said brush and guard comb into a position in upward and forward
direction towards the edge of the stretcher bar and over the portion of the pelt
below the same a vertically reciprocating knife a rotary knife arranged to cut off
the projecting water hairs in conjunction with the vertically reciprocating knife
and a card arranged on the arm of the rotary knife at some distance from the same
so as to pass over the portion of the pelt in position on the stretcher bar.
The invention consists further of mechanism for adjusting the apron to which the
pelt is applied so as to adjust the .pelt quickly on the stretcher bar and bring any
portion of the pelt into proper position relatively to the working parts of the
machine. The invention consists further of certain operating mechanism connecting
the driving shaft with the reciprocating guard comb and separating brush whereby
the same are operated at the proper time. The invention consists further of means
of withdrawing the vertically reciprocating knife so as to lower it and prevent its
action. The invention consists lastly of certain mechanism by which the motion
is transmitted to the working parts of the machine--all of which mechanisms will
be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.
'
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved machine for plucking pelts.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the
Fig. 3 is a detail side view partly in section of the mechanism for withdrawing
the operating pawl and check pawl from the ratchet wheel by which the pelt is
adjusted on the stretcher bar.
Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 4-4 Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is likewise a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of Fig. 1 on
line 5-5 Fig. 1 showing the mechanism for lowering the vertically reciprocating
knife so as to throw the same out of action.
Fig. 6 is a detail vertical transverse section on line 6-6 Fig. 4.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail vertical sections showing the operating parts of the
machine in their relative position towards the pelt on the stretcher bar said figures
showing respectively the position of the parts before the cutting off of the water hairs
akes place during the act of cutting them off and after same are cut off.
Fig. 3 is a detail side view partly in section of the mechanism for withdrawing
the operating pawl and check pawl from the ratchet wheel by which the pelt is
adjusted on the stretcher bar.
Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 4-4 Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is likewise a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of Fig. 1 on
line 5-5 Fig. 1 showing the mechanism for lowering the vertically reciprocating
knife so as to throw the same out of action.
Fig. 6 is a detail vertical transverse section on line 6-6 Fig. 4.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail vertical sections showing the operating parts of the
machine in their relative position towards the pelt on the stretcher bar said figures
showing respectively the position of the parts before the cutting off of the water hairs
akes place during the act of cutting them off and after same are cut off.

page_text: Fig. 10 is a detail front view of a portion of the guard comb arranged below the
stretcher bar and
Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively a vertical longitudinal section and a plan of the
adjustable bearing for the rotary brush above the stretcher bar.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
In the drawings:-A is the frame of the machine and A¹ is the main driving
shaft which is journalled in suitable bearings of the frame A and provided with a
fixed and a loose belt pulley A3 and A³ upon either of which the driving belt A
can be shifted by means of the bell shifting lever A³ that extends to the front or
working end of the machine. A belt A passes over a pulley A' on the shaft A'
and over a pulley A8 on a short shaft A' located at the working end of the machine
which shaft A has a crank handle A10 for turning it in case the machine is to be
worked by hand for adjusting the different parts before power is applied to the
machine. A pinion B on the main shaft A' engages a cog-wheel B and transmits
rotary motion to the cam shaft C which by means of the bevel cog wheels B² Br
transmits rotary motion to a shatt B3 which is mounted at one side of the
main frame the shaft P³ transmitting by the bevel cog wheels B* B* rotary
motion to a shaft B³ mounted transversely at the working end of the machine.
The shaft B has radial arms B to the ends of which the rotary blade D is bolted
or screwed. A brush D' of the same length as the blade D is supported by means
of angle-pieces D2 on the arms B in such a manner that it is located a short
distance from the cutting edges of the blade D and so that the end of its bristles
extend slightly beyond the circle described by the cutting edge of the blade during
the rotary movement of the same. A knife edged stretcher bar E is fastened trans-
versely on the machine frame A the edge of the stretcher bar being a short distance
from the circle described by the edge of the blade D as shown in Figs. 7, 8 & 9.
A rotary cylindrical brush F is arranged directly above the stretcher bar E and
at a short distance back of the edge of the same. The ends of the shaft F1 of said
brush are mounted in stationary bearings on plates F2 which are hinged to plates F³
that are fastened by screws F which pass through longitudinal slots F³ in the
plates F³ into supports of the main frame A so as to permit the proper adjust-
ment of the brush towards the edge of the stretcher bar E. The hinged plates F
have apertures F through which a wrench or other implement can be passed to
tighten or loosen the screws F1 as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.
Thumb screws F7 pass through the notches in the free ends of the plates F2 and
screw into threaded bushings of the plates F³ while helical springs Fs are interposed
between the plates F2 F3 and press the plates F2 in upward direction. By turning"
the thumb screws F in one direction or the other the bearings for the rotary brush F
can be readily raised or lowered so as to adjust the brush according to the kind or
condition of the pelt under treatment. The brush F is rotated by means of cords
or belts F and suitable pulleys from the main shaft A'.
The cam shaft C carries at each end a cam C¹ which acts on anti-friction rollers C²
projecting from the sides of horizontally-reciprocating bars G which are guided by
slots C³ on the cam shaft C. The bars G are connected by intermediate threaded
rods G2 and nuts and jaw nuts g g with cross-heads G' said cross-heads being guided
in brackets 92 of the frame A. The rods G and nuts g g serve for adjusting
distance of the cross-heads G₁ from the shaft C. To the cross-heads G' are
pivotted the rear-ends of two-lever arms H and J each of which is again connected
by
a pivot link H' and J' with fixed supports on the main-frame A as shown in
Figs. 4 and 7 by which the motion of the lever arms H and J is properly governed.
The free ends of the arms H are curved upward and provided with bearings in
which the shaft of a cylindrical separating brush K is mounted which brush is
rotated from the main shaft A' by means of endless cords or belts K¹ which pass
over pulleys on, the main shaft and on the brush shaft said belts passing over
idlers K³ which are connected by tension springs K2 with the floor or other fixed
point so that said belts are at all times kept taut as shown in Fig. 2.
To the ends of the arms J is attached an upwardly projecting metallic comb L.

page_text: which is shown in detail in Fig. 10. A vertically reciprocating knife M extends
across the main frame and is supported by a transverse knife-holder M' which is
guided in slotted ways M2 in the sides of the main frame A.
Elastic buffers M³ of any suitable construction are provided on the main frame
at the lower end of the ways M² so as to cushion the knife holder M' when the
knife is lowered and moved away from the stretcher bar. The edge of the knife K
is vertically below the edge of the stretcher bar E as shown in Fig. 7. The knife
holder M is supported on adjustable blocks N₁ mounted on the front ends of
pivotted cam levers N one on each side of the main frame which levers are provided
at their rear ends with tappets N2 that are actuated by cams N³ on the cam shaft C.
Each cam lever N is fulcrumed to slide-plates O which are guided by slots non
headed screws n' at the inner sides of the frame A as shown in Figures 4 and 6.
The lower ends of the slide plates O are pivotally connected with the upper end
of a toggle lever O' the lower end of which is pivotted to the main frame A as
shown in Figures 4 and 5 while the knuckle joint is connected by a link 02 with a
fixed arm 03 on a rock shaft O that is mounted on the main frame and provided
at each end with a handle lever 05 for turning it. When the handle lever 05
the slide plates O and the parts connecting the same are in the position shown in
Fig. 5 the tappets N2 of the levers N are out of the path of the cams N³ and the
knife M is not reciprocated but remains stationary in its lowermost position. When
the slide plates () are raised by placing the handle lever 05 in the position shown
in Fig. 5 the tappets at the rear ends of the levers N are placed into the path of
the cams N³ and the knife M is raised at the proper time and permitted to drop
when the cams have passed over the tappets N2 so that the front ends of the
levers N descend until the knife holder M¹ is arrested by the buffers N³.
The apron P on which the pelt a to be treated is spread and fastened is attached
at its ends to two drums Q and R which are so mounted transversely on the main-
frame and supported in suitable bearings of the same. The apron P passes from
the roller Q over a tension roller S supported by means of helical springs S¹ on
stationary arms S2 of the main-frame A then over and around the stretcher bar E
to the roller R. Cog-wheels Q' and R' are mounted on the shafts of the drums Q
and R and are engaged by a pinion R' on a shaft carrying a ratchet wheel R³ that
is engaged by a check pawl T pivotted to the main frame A while an actuating
pawl T is pivotted to a lever T2 which is fulcrumed at T3 to the frame and
provided at its upper end with a curved part T which is acted on by a roller T on
the cog-wheel B'. A spring t connects the lower end of the fulcrumed lever T2
with the main-frame and presses the lever T2 against a fixed buffer bracket t. The
shaft of the ratchet wheel R³ also carries a pendent frame U which is provided
with two arms having at their ends flanges U₁ extending over the rim of the ratchet
wheel R³ which flanges are provided with notches for receiving the ends of the
pawls T T as shown in Figures 2 and 3. When the frame U is swung into the
position shown in Fig. 3 the flanges U¹ engage the ends of the pawls and prevent
them from acting on the teeth of the ratchet wheel R³. At each rotation of the
cog-wheel B¹ the roller T engages the upper end of the lever Toscillates the same
and moves the pawl T¹ into one or more teeth of the ratchet wheel R³ so that when
the roller T's has passed the end of the lever T2 the spring returns it to its former
position and turns the ratchet wheel T3 by the pawl T¹ which motion is transmitted
by the pinion R2 to the cog wheels Q and R and drums O and R so that the
apron P is intermittently fed over the stretcher bar E being successively unwound
from the drum Q and wound up on the drum R.
When the frame U hangs vertically as shown in Fig. 2 the pawls T and T¹ are
not engaged by the notched flanges V₁ and are free to engage the teeth of the
ratchet wheel R³. When the frame V is moved into the position shown in Fig. 6
a pinion which is in mesh with the cog-wheel Q' can be turned by its crank
handle V and thereby the apron and the pelt thereon be shifted in either direction
into any required position as may be necessary for working the apron on one drum
and unwinding it from the other.

page_text: Ine operation is as follows:
The pelt a having been stretched and secured on the apron P and having been so
adjusted that one end of the same is near the stretcher bar E the machine is started.
At each rotation of the cam shaft C the pawl T¹ is actuated and the ratchet
wheel R³ turned for the distance of one tooth whereby the roller Q is turned so as
to unwind a short length of the apron while the roller R is turned in the opposite
direction so as to wind up a corresponding length of the apron. In this manner
the apron and with it the pelt are fed intermittently over the edge of the stretcher
bar E so that narrow strips of the pelt are subjected successively to the action of
the operating devices. During the forward motion of the pelt the rotary brush F
which is located above the stretcher bar exerts a very peculiar action-upon the fur
and the stiff hairs of the pelt. It stirs up the fur and hairs and causes the hairs to
rise and free themselves from the surrounding fur or soft hairs which latter are
straightened by the continuous action of the quickly rotating brush and laid down
flat on the pelt. The rotary brush M below the stretcher bar is next moved by
the lever arms H and cross heads G in forward and upward direction as shown in
Fig. 7 so as to brush back the fur and separate it from the stiff hairs which project
from the pelt in the direction of the stretcher bar. The separating brush K is then
moved in backward and downward direction so as to be out of the path of the
guard comb which is moved from its lowermost position in upward and backward
direction until it arrives at the underside of the pelt close to the edge of the
stretcher bar as shown in Fig. 8 in which position it retains the soft fur and protects
it against the action of the cutting knives. The knife M is next raised until its
cutting edge is in close proximity to the edge of that portion of the pelt which is
at the time in front of the edge of the stretcher bar. When the rotary blade D
arrives with the cutting edge in front of the stretcher bar as shown in Figure 8 the
cutting edges take hold of the stiff hairs and shear them close to the skin of the
pelt without cutting off any portion of the soft hair. The apron is next actuated
and the next adjacent strip of pelt fed forward and placed over the edge of the
stretcher bar. The vertical cutting knife recedes then from the stretcher bar
while the rotary knife moves on until the brush D¹ arrives in front of the pelt and
sweeps across the part in front of the edge of the stretcher bar.
The brush D' draws out the fur and hairs from under the upper rotary brush
and places them in proper condition tor the action of the lower separating brush
which is then moved up towards the lower edge of the peit so as to brush back the
fur below the edge and separate it from the stiff hairs while the upper brush keeps
down the fur above the edge of the stretcher bar. The separating brush is then
moved back again and the guard comb moved up so as to protect the fur while the
next cutting action of the knives takes place and so on.
A novel and important feature of the present construction is the arrangement of
a rotary brush above the stretcher bar which brush is placed close to the edge of
the stretcher bar and which serves to brush the fur back from the edge of the bar
while it allows the stiff hairs to rise and project above the fur. When the brush
which is supported back of the rotary knife passes the edge of the stretcher bar it
draws out from under the stationary card all the fur and hair on that section of the
pelt that was on the edge of the bar. Some of the fur however is only partly
drawn out owing to the varying thicknesses of the pelts. This partly drawn out
fur lays in the form of a loop which stands out far enough to be reached by the
knives but not far enough to be drawn down by the rotary brush below the stretcher
bar and so would be cut off by the knives. With the rotary brush above the
stretcher bar this looped fur is drawn back and laid down before the knives reach
it so that the cutting of the fur is prevented and only the stiff hairs are removed.
When a pelt is put on the apron and the machine is started it requires a few
rotations of the shafts until a perfect separation of the fur from the stiff hairs on
the front section of the pelt acted upon takes place.
If the knives were to act on this portion of the pelt it would be injured as some
of the fur would be cut off with the hairs.

page_text: Formerly guard plates of thin metal were used to prevent the cutting of this fur
but they covered up the pelt so that the progress of the work could not be seen..
For dispensing with the covering plates the mechanism of interrupting the motio:1
of the reciprocating knife is introduced which has the advantage that the knife is
prevented from rising until the separation of the fur and hairs is accomplished by
the other operative parts of the machine. As soon as this separation is obtained
the reciprocating knife is thrown instantly into action by moving the handle lever O'
forward and setting its actuating mechanism in motion. This has also the further
advantage that the action of the cutting knives can be instantly interrupte.I
whenever this should be required in case one or the other of the brushes or the-
rotating card or the guard comb should fail to properly perform its work or when
for some reason or another a portion of the pelt should not be subjected to the
action of the cutting knives. The entire machine is thereby more completely
under the control of the attendant and performs its work in a very quick effective.
and reliable manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of a fixed stretcher bar means for intermittently feeding a
pelt over the same a rotary brush mounted above the stretcher bar near the edge
of the same and knives for cutting off the hairs projecting from the pelt in front of
the edge of the stretcher bar substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of a fixed stretcher bar means for intermittently feeding a
pelt over said stretcher bar a rotary brush mounted above the stretcher bar near
the edge of the same a vertically reciprocating knife a rotary knife and a brush
applied to the supporting arms of the rotary knife back of the same substantially
as set forth.
3. The combination of a fixed stretcher bar means for intermittently feeding a
pelt over the same a rotary brush above the stretcher bar near the edge of the
same a rotary separating brush below the stretcher bar and mechanism by which
the separating brush is moved upward and forward into a position close to the edge
of the presser bar substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of a fixed stretcher har means for intermittently feeding a
pelt over said stretcher bar a rotary brush above the stretcher bar a rotary
separating brush below the stretcher bar mechanism for moving said brush upward
to the edge of the stretcher bar and back below the same a reciprocating guard
comb below the stretcher bar a vertically reciprocating knife and a rotary cutting
knife substantially as set forth.
5. The combination of a fixed stretcher bar means for intermittently feeding the
pelt over the same a rotary brush above the stretcher bar near the edge of the
same a rotary separating brush below the stretcher bar a reciprocating guard comb.
also below the stretcher bar mechanism whereby the separating brush is moved
upward and forward to the edge of the stretcher bar and back again and mechanism
by which the guard comb is moved upward and under the stretcher bar near the
edge of the same substantially as set forth.
6. The combination with a stretcher bar means for intermittently feeding a pelt
over the edge of the same a rotary brush mounted above the stretcher bar and
near the edge of the same a cam shaft cams on said shaft reciprocating cross heads.
guided on the main frame and operated by said cams lever arms pivotted to said
cross heads below the stretcher bar a rotary brush mounted in the ends of one set
of arms a comb mounted on the ends of the other set of arms and pivot links.
connecting the arms with the frame whereby said brush and comb are moved
towards and away from the edge of the stretcher bar substantially as set forth.
7. The combination of a stretcher bar means for intermittently feeding a pelt
over the edge of said bar a rotary brush mounted above the stretcher bar and near
the edge of the same hinged plates on which the shaft of said brush is mounted

page_text: springs for pushing said hinged plates upward screws for pressing them downward
and means for adjusting the said plates and brush in horizontal direction substantially
as set forth.
8. The combination of a stretcher bar means for intermittently feeding a pelt
over the same a rotary brush above the stretcher bar a rotary separating brush
below the same a guard comb also below the stretcher bar a rotary cutting blade a
vertically reciprocating knife and mechanism for throwing the reciprocating knife
instantly in or out of action substantially as set forth.
9. The combination of the stretcher bar means for intermittently feeding the
pelt over the same a rotary brush above the stretcher bar a rotary brush below
the same a guard comb a rotary cutting knife a vertically cutting knife a cam
shaft cams on the said cam-shaft intermediate lever arms for reciprocating said
knife slidė plates to which the lever arms are fulcrumed and means for raising or
lowering said slide plates so as to throw the lever arms of the vertical knife in or
out of action substantially as set forth.
10. The combination of a stretcher bar an apron stretched over the same to
which the pelt is attached drums to which the apron is attached a pawl and ratchet
mechanism connected with said drums a cam shaft means for actuating said pawl
and ratchet mechanism from said cam shaft a pendent frame pivotted to the shaft
of the ratchet wheel and provided with guard flanges for engaging the actuating
pawl and check pawl of the ratchet wheel and throwing said pawls out of engage-
ment with said ratchet wheel and means for ratating the drums when said pawls
are out of engagement so as to permit the quick adjustment of the apron on the
drums in either direction substantially as set forth.
Dated this 7th day of June 1894.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.