Improved Means of and Apparatus for Removing Hair and Wool from Pelts.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of and Apparatus for Removing Hair and Wool
from Pelts.
I, JOHN MURGATROYD, of 71, Cathedral Square, Christchurch, in the Colony of
New Zealand, Wool Broker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
Wool and hair have hitherto been removed from sheep skins and other pelts by
chemical agents and by a process known to the trade as "sweating."
Chemicals are found to deteriorate the wool and hair and both in the chemical
and sweating processes as ordinarily conducted there is considerable time expended,
and in the sweating process the pelt is always more or less damaged.
According to this invention the pelt is fixed upon a travelling table or a revolving
drum, and a band or ribbon kuife, which resenibles an ordinary band saw, but has
a smooth instead of a serrated edge; is arranged to cut the wool or hair close to
the hide.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention showing a drum employed for
carrying the pelt.
Fig. 2 a cross section of the drum showing a method of securing the pelt thereto.
Fig. 3 au end elevation of a modification illustrating the use of a travelling table
to which the pelt is fixed, and
Fig. 4 a plan view of a reciprocating knife and driving arrangement.
The same letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in the figures.
The drum (a) is mounted in bearings (b) and caused to revolve by motive power.
The pelt (c) is fixed to drum (a) at one end as shown in Fig. 2 the drum having
an opening (d) to admit an edge of the skin which is secured by a clamping bar (e)
oxtending longitudinally within the inner periphery of the drum and fixed
an arm () pivoted upon and operated by a lover (g) fulcrumed at one end within
the drum and having a handle the end of which can be sprung over a catch (h)
which retains it in the required position to clamp the pelt between the bar (e) and
the inside periphery of the drum.
The drum (a) revolves in the direction indicated by the arrows and carries the
pelt beneath rollers (2) journalled in the frame of the machine and revolved in a
direction contrary to the drum by driving bands around the pulleys (k).
One or more of the rollers may have a plain surface and one or more are
provided with bristles or cane brushes to spread the pelt and prepare it for the
cutting operation. The bristles may be arranged in a spiral form upon the rollers
to spread out the wool or hair. It is not absolutely essential that the rollers should
revolve as fixed brushes may be used if desired.
The ondless ribbon or band knife (l) is carried upon the flanged pulleys (m)
evolved by any usual means, and a guido (n) is placed longitudinally with the
ollers to support the knife. The knife may be sharpened by revolving emery
Theols in a manner common to band saw sharpeners.
A travelling apron (o) leads the wool or hair away from the machine as it falls
From the pelts.

page_text: The drum (a) is adjusted upon the frame of the machine to bring the knife into
correct position.
In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3, the pelt is placed upon a table (which
takes the place of the drum) to which it is attached by an ordinary screw or lever
clamp placed below the front end of the table which has travelling wheels (p)
running upon rails (r).
The pulleys of the endless band knife are arranged in a vertical instead of a
horizontal plane as previously described and the table is travelled below thenr
towards the cutting edge.
Rollers and brushes (as previously described) but driven by the bevil gearing (4)
are employed above the table for preparing the material for the cutting operation.
I have hitherto shown and described an endless travelling band knife as I
consider this the best cutting instrument for the purpose, but a similar result can
be obtained, though not so satisfactorily by the use of a reciprocating knife the
movement being obtained by a crank or eccentric or by other well known and
usual mechanical means for producing to and fro motion.
A knife of this form and having a wavy serrated cutting edge is shown in Fig. 4.
The eccentric (s) strap (1) eccentric rod () and connecting rod (v) producing recípro-
cating motion.
In operation au edge of the pelt is secured to the drum by means such as herein-
before described, and the drum then caused to revolve, when the wool or hair
will be cut near the hide. The pelt is then removed and replaced upon the drum
with a portion of the hide from which the wool and hair have been removed, held
in a clamping device thus enabling the whole of the pelt to come under the cutting
operation. Wool and hair not removed by the knife is afterwards removed by
any ordinary process.
Having now particularly described my invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. Means for removing wool and hair from pelts consisting in securing the pelt
upon a movable member of a machine by which the wool or hair near the skin in
brought into con with the cutting edge of a moving knife substantially as specified.
2. In apparatus for removing wool and hair from pelts the combination of a
revolving drum to which the pelt is secured, plain and brush rollers journalled upon
the frame of the machine outside the periphery of the drum and an endless
travelling band knife for cutting the wool or hair substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and illustrated.
3. In combination the drum (a) and means for connecting a pelt thereto, rollers (2)
travelling band knife (t) and guide (n) substantially as specified and illustrated.
4. Means for securing a pelt to the drum consisting of the combination with the
revolving drum (a) having an opening (d) of a clamping bar (e) upon an arm (f)
operated by pivoted lever (g) provided with a handle and a catch (h) upon the inner
periphery of the drum for retaining same substantially as specified and illustrated.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1897.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.