Improvements in and relating to Machines for Opening Skins.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 23rd Oct., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Opening Skins.
We, CHARLES EDGAR SACKETT, of Danbury, Fairfield County, Connecticut,
U.S.A., Machinist, and JAMES MARSHALL, of Fall River, Bristol County, Massa-
chusetts, U.S.A., Manufacturer, 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:-
The object of our invention is to provide a new and useful method of opening
cased skins, principally those of the Coney and Hare, which are used in very large
numbers in the manufacture of hatters furs. These skins are stripped from the
animals with the fur turned inside, and are dried in that state, and packed flat
in bales. They require to be split up one side before the fur can be operated upon
for dressing or cutting. The operation of opening them has been and still is largely
performed by hand by drawing them down over a slotted horn and slitting the skins
with a hand knife. Machines have been patented for this purpose having a cutting
device driven by power; but the skins still have to be drawn down over the horn
by hand until they come in contact with the cutting device, and then drawn across
the cuting device throughout the entire length of the skins by hand.
Our invention aims to provide an automatic feeding device that will guide and
carry the skins up to the cutting device, and continue to feed the skins automatically
to the cutter throughout their length independent of the operator who can then
be picking up another skin to enter the feed, thus making the operation continuous,
and slitting many more skins per day than can be done by any device now in
use.
In the accompanying drawings, like figures relate to like parts.
Figure 1 is a view of a cased pelt which is to be slit open on line A.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine in the act of slitting a pelt.
Figure 3 is an opposite side elevation.
Figure 4 is a front elevation.
Figure 5 is a plan view.
Figure 6 is a sectional view.
1 is a standard of any suitable shape on the top of which is bolted a plate 2
having bearings 3-3 in which is journaled a circular cutting knife 4, and bear-
ings 5-5 in which is journaled a feeding wheel 6, consisting of an ordinary spoked
or solid wheel, having points 7-7-7 set in its periphery which engage with the
pelt as shown in Figure 2. The feed wheel is recessed vertically to allow the
cutter 4, to penetrate some distance into it. A vibrating shell plate 8 surrounds
the lower part of this wheel, which in a state of rest fits accurately up to its projecting
points. This plate is also pierced by the circular cutter 4 which operates through
it and the feed wheel as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Beyond the feed wheel it
spreads around the plate 2 to form a lever, having a weight 9 hung at its extremity,
This lever is pivoted through the bearings 10-10 to the plate 2 (which is practically
a part of the standard) by the pivot 11 which forms the fulcrum of the lever, and
about which it vibrates. The weight holds the lever carrying the shell at its other
A

page_text: extremity firmly up against the points of the feed wheel, but to prevent any
grinding action between the points and the shell when skins are not being fed
the lever near the weight extremity, rests upon a block 12, which is adjusted to
just let the points of the feed wheel touch the shell without pressure.
It is apparent then, that the insertion of any substance between them will create 5
pressure and be carried forward by the natural action of the wheel, and that the
vibrating shell lever will accommodate itself to any thickness of pelts that may be
inserted.
The circular cutter knife 4 is driven from the counter shaft 13 by the driving
pulley 14 belted to the pulley 15 on the end of the knife axle. The feed wheel 6 1
is driven by a worm wheel 16 on the end of its axle which is operated by a
worm 17 and shaft 18 geared to the counter shaft by bevel gears 19 and 20 as
shown.
The operation of the machine is simple. A skin is inserted over the end of the
shell far enough for the points of the feed wheel to engage it, and then left to 1
take care of itself; as the fur side is turned in it slips freely over the shell; the
weighted lever holds it firmly up against the feed wheel, which carries it forward
against the cutter knife, which is revolved at high velocity. The slitting of the
skin takes place as it is urged forward by the wheel, and as it parts it is diverted
sidewise and downward by the side feathers 21-21 and the bottom feather 22, 2
which opens the skin out flat and drops it to the floor, or into any convenient
receptacle. Some skins come with the usual holes in the top completely closed in
and in order that these shall not become an obstruction I have provided the end
of the shell lever with a sharp pointed and edged cutting blade 23, having the shape
of an arrow head which pierces and opens the end of a closed skin when drawn 2
forward against the cutting edges by the feed wheel, thus allowing it to continue
its course over the shell.
It is obvious that various styles of feed wheels may be devised, and various styles
of lever bars used to press against that wheel. The object of using a shell shape
is only that the wheel may grip the skins at more points than one equally. A 3
spring may be used instead of a weight to exert the necessary pressure at the other
end of the lever, and straight instead of circular cutters adopted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a machine for opening skins, the combination of an automatic feeding
device and a cutter operating in connection with it to split skins substantially as
described and shown."
2. In a machine for opening skins, the combination with a cutting device,
of an automatic feeding device consisting of a wheel having projections around 4
its periphery and a shell fitting partially around the circumference of said projec-
tions, said shell being constructed to exert an elastic pressure against the projections
of said wheel, for the purposes set forth and substantially as described and shown.
3. In a machine for opening skins, the combination with a cutting device, of
a lever having at one end a bearing against a feeding wheel, a fulcrum, and at the 4
other end a device for creating an elastic pressure between the bearing end of the
lever and the peripheral extremities of the feeding wheel, for the purpose set forth
and substantially as described and shown.
4. In a machine for opening skins, the combination with a cutting device, of
a feeding wheel to automatically feed the skins, a bar bearing against the wheel, 6
and at the end of the bar upon which the skins are entered, a pointed and edged
device for piercing said skins, substantially as described and shown.
5. In a machine for opening skins, the combination with a cutting device, a
feeding wheel and a bar bearing against the periphery of said wheel, of side and
bottom guide plates 21-21-22 placed along the line of said bar for the purpose 5

page_text: of diverting the skins after being cut, into any convenient receptacle, substantially
as described and shown.
"
1
•
100
CHARLES JUNGE,
Agent for the Applicants