AU2017101331A4 - Shearing comb - Google Patents

Abstract

A shearing comb (1) for use in a shearing handpiece, the shearing comb (1) including: a comb body (2); a comb body; and two (4) outermost teeth separated by a plurality of inner teeth, each tooth (3) extending from the comb body (2) from a base (6) of the tooth (3); wherein the distance between parallel lines (8) bisecting the bases of at least one pair of adjacent teeth is between 6.3 mm to 6.9 mm. The present invention advantageously allows for a shearing comb (1) including teeth (3) of reduced curvature (5) - thereby providing reduced drag resistance when passed through wool -while ensuring that the shearing comb nevertheless provides sufficient cutting span. I/lI Figure 1

Description

SHEARING COMB

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is generally directed to a shearing comb for use in a shearing handpiece. While the present invention will be described in relation to devices used to shear sheep, it is to be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to this application, and that other applications are also envisaged.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] The shearing, crutching and trimming of animal wool is today commonly performed using machine shears, otherwise known as a handpiece. A handpiece will generally include means to detachably mount a cutter and a comb, and a drive mechanism to provide reciprocating movement to the cutter across the top surface of the comb.

[0003] In use a shearer will apply a handpiece to an animal such that the bottom surface of the comb passes along the skin of the animal, and wool caught between teeth of the comb is cut as the cutter is driven back and forth across the comb.

[0004] The configuration and design of shearing combs has improved over time. A well-designed shearing comb allows for efficient and productive shearing based on: the width or cutting span of the comb, drag resistance of the comb as it passes through the wool, closeness of cut to the skin of the animal, and animal safety (that is, prevention of wounds and lacerations).

[0005] Shearing combs can possess between 7 to 20 teeth. Typically however, general-purpose combs possess 13 teeth for sheep shearing. These 13-tooth combs provide narrow gaps between adjacent teeth, which can reduce the risk of catching skin and wounding an animal but can also reduce the overall cutting span (thereby requiring more passes to complete the shearing of an animal). The outer teeth of these combs are therefore typically outwardly curved to increase the cutting span of the shearing comb to the desired range of 90-100mm.

[0006] The applicant has now identified that curving the outer teeth of a shearing comb will increase drag resistance as the shearing comb passes through wool. While straight teeth can penetrate and pass efficiently through wool, curved teeth present a broader profile to the wool, thereby increasing drag resistance. Shearers must therefore apply greater effort to pass combs possessing curved teeth through wool, leading to increased shearer fatigue.

[0007] It would be advantageous to provide a shearing comb which allows for sufficient cutting span while minimising drag resistance and related shearer fatigue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides a shearing comb for use in a shearing handpiece, the shearing comb including: a comb body; and a plurality of teeth, each tooth extending from the comb body across a base of the tooth; wherein the distance between parallel lines bisecting the bases of at least one pair of adjacent teeth is between 6.3 mm to 6.9 mm.

[0009] Preferably, the teeth include two outermost teeth separated by a plurality of inner teeth, wherein the distance between parallel lines bisecting the bases of any two adjacent inner teeth is between 6.3 mm to 6.9 mm.

[0010] Preferably, the shearing comb includes thirteen teeth.

[0011] Preferably, the shearing comb has a cutting span equivalent to a standard 13-tooth shearing comb.

[0012] Preferably, the two outermost teeth have reduced curvature when compared to a standard 13-tooth shearing comb.

[0013] The present invention also provides a shearing handpiece including a shearing comb as described above.

[0014] The present invention advantageously allows for a shearing comb including teeth of reduced curvature - thereby providing reduced drag resistance when passed through wool -while ensuring that the shearing comb nevertheless provides sufficient cutting span.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] It will be convenient to further describe the invention with respect to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of a shearing comb according to the present invention. Other embodiments of the invention are possible, and consequently, the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

[0016] Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a shearing comb according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a shearing comb 1 according to the present invention. Shearing comb 1 includes comb body 2, and teeth 3 extending from comb body 2. Each tooth 3 extends from comb body 2 from its base 6 to its tip 7. As shown in Fig. 1, the base 6 of a tooth 3 corresponds to a line delineating the tooth 3 from the comb body 2.

[0018] In use shearing comb 1 is detachably mounted to a handpiece (not shown) via slots 10 and apertures 9 within comb body 2. A cutter (not shown) is also detachably mounted to the handpiece and reciprocated across teeth 3. A shearer passes the handpiece along an animal in the direction of travel 12 such that wool caught between adjacent teeth 3 is cut as the cutter reciprocates across shearing comb 1. Most generally, wool is caught between respective tips 7 of the outermost teeth 4, thereby defining the cutting span of the shearing comb 1.

[0019] As demonstrated by reference numeral 8, the distance between parallel lines bisecting the bases of two adjacent teeth is measured. In accordance with the invention, the distance between the two parallel lines is between 6.3 to 6.9 mm. This distance is considered greater than that found in a standard 13-tooth shearing comb and allows outer teeth to have reduced curvature 5 while tooth tips 7 otherwise remain in the same position. The invention can thereby advantageously reduce drag resistance as shearing comb 1 passes through wool because of the reduced tooth density in the shearing comb 1, while retaining sufficient cutting span and reducing effort required by shearers to use shearing comb 1.

[0020] Modifications and variations as would be deemed obvious to the person skilled in the art are included within the ambit of the present invention as claimed in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A shearing comb for use in a shearing handpiece, the shearing comb including: a comb body; and a plurality of teeth, each tooth extending from the comb body from a base of the tooth; wherein the distance between parallel lines bisecting the bases of at least one pair of adjacent teeth is between 6.3 mm to 6.9 mm.

2. A shearing comb according to claim 1, wherein the teeth include two outermost teeth separated by a plurality of inner teeth, and wherein the distance between parallel lines bisecting the bases of any two adjacent inner teeth is between 6.3 mm to 6.9 mm.

3. A shearing comb according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the shearing comb includes thirteen teeth.

4. A shearing comb according to claim 3, wherein the shearing comb has a cutting span equivalent to a standard 13-tooth shearing comb.

5. A shearing comb according to claim 4, wherein the teeth have a reduced curvature when compared to a standard 13-tooth shearing comb.