NZ337088A

NZ337088A - Animal fibre removal apparatus comprising rotatable blades

Info

Publication number: NZ337088A
Application number: NZ33708899A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: John Russel Neustroski
Original assignee: John Russel Neustroski; Graeme William Sturgeon
Priority date: 1999-08-05
Filing date: 1999-08-05
Publication date: 2000-10-27
Also published as: AU5186700A

Abstract

Blades 4 (typically two radially opposed blades) are rotated to successively pass adjacent an opening 10 in work surface 11. This apparatus is stated to be effective in plucking opossums, rabbits and other small to medium sized animals.

Description

Patents Form No. 5 Our Ref: MF802025 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 Complete After Provisional No. 337088 Filed: 5 August 1999 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PLUCKER We, GRAEME WILLIAM STURGEON, a New Zealand citizen of The Yacht "Lauren C", C/o Post Office, Picton, New Zealand and JOHN RUSSEL NEUSTROSKI, a New Zealand citizen of C/o Graeme Sturgeon, of The Yacht "Lauren C", C/o Post Office, Picton, New Zealand hereby declare the invention, for which We pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: Irstc ~ I n cf Nz PT0518562 - It r.HP ri " £atJU received 2 PLUCKER Field of the Invention The invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing fibres from animal 5 skins. More particularly for removing fur from opossums.

Background to the Invention The opossum was introduced into New Zealand from Australia approximately 150 years ago with the intention of starting a fur industry. While a fur industry based 10 around the opossum never properly established itself at that time, there was for a number of years a thriving export market operating for the export for raw opossum skins.

For several years various knitting mills in New Zealand have been mixing opossum fur 15 with various sheep wool's to make a knitting yarn. Garments made from this yarn have become increasingly popular each year and this has lead to a radical change in the opossum fur industry.

Traditional methods of defleecing opossums involved skinning the opossum, taking 20 out and drying the pelts which are later stripped of fur at a factory. Alternatively, the opossum can be stripped of its fur by plucking while still hot (typically within 1 5 minutes after death). Cyanide poisoning is still one of the most effective methods of killing opossums. With poisoning it is usually some time before a trapper/hunter returns to the bait site. By this time the animal is cold and cannot be plucked.

Other methods of removing fur involving skinning and slipeing the fur are very hard work. The chemicals used are unpleasant and typically a lot of residue and membrane stays on the fur.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for removing fibre from animal skins which overcomes or at least ameliorates some of the abovementioned disadvantages, or at least provides the public with a useful 'ntoKaon5T* - 4 /.MS jnrift • ^ -• v -j, twU R Prcn/i-i*. 3 choice.

While the present invention will be described with reference to removal of opossum fur, it is to be understood that the invention can be used to remove fur from other 5 animal skins, or as an example, to selectively remove down from birds.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is a method of removing fibres from an animal skin, either on or off the carcass, comprising striking successive regions of 10 an animal skin containing fibres with one or more moving blades having an acute edge adapted to conform to the profile of the skin, wherein movement of the blade across fibres on the skin pulls or plucks the fibres from the skin.

Preferably the blade or blades rotate so that the blade(s) successively strike the skin 15 with each rotation, friction between the rotating blade(s) and fibres on the skin causing the fibres to be pulled or plucked from the skin.

Preferably the blade(s) is/are made of a rubber material and each blade has one or more slots or slits transversely down the face of the blade, the slots or slits allowing 20 the acute edge of the blade to conform to the profile of the skin.

Preferably the skin is still attached to the carcass of the animal.

Alternatively, the skin may be removed from the carcass of the animal, the skin being 25 disposed around a former.

Preferably the former is adapted to be substantially the same shape as an animal carcass.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is an animal-fibre removal apparatus including: a work surface, with at least one opening in it; a shaft having, attached thereto, one or more blades with an acute edge, the shaft disposed adjacent the opening in the work surface; and a driving means adapted to rotate the shaft; and wherein when the shaft is rotated the acute edge of the blade(s) successively pass adjacent the opening in the work surface.

Preferably there is a receptacle for the collection of animal fibre, the rotating blades creating an air-flow effect which facilitates transport of the fibre from the blade(s) to the receptacle.

Preferably the receptacle has a closure to allow removal of accumulated fibre. More preferably the closure is a velcro flap.

Preferably the receptacle is a net, the net being disposed at the end of a duct adapted to guide the air-flow from the rotating blades.

Preferably the blade(s) are one or more rubber strips attached parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft such that the blade(s) extend substantially radially from the axis of the shaft, the outer edge of the blade(s) being adapted to provide an acute leading edge for removing fibre from an animal skin. Alternatively the blade(s) 25 may be attached parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft such that the blade(s) extends tangential to the circumferential surface of the shaft.

Preferably the acute edge of the blade(s) has one or more slots or slits transversely down the face of the blade, the slits allowing the leading edge to conform to the 30 shape of an animal carcass.

Preferably the blade(s) is/are tapered and angled to assist air-flow for transporting the . iWibXtulU-vl r> l.'Ciii T Orriwi.

I Or NZ i H SEP 20C0 defleeced fibre from the biade(s) to the receptacle.

Preferably the apparatus further includes a duct or tunnel to aid in guiding the air-flow and transportation of the fibre from the blade(s) to the net.

Preferably the driving means and shaft are detachable from the work surface and frame thereby facilitating easy transportation of the apparatus.

Preferably the apparatus is of a small lightweight nature and has shoulder straps to 10 allow transportation on the back of a person.

Preferably the driving means is a lightweight internal combustion engine or similar for operation in remote locations.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided fibre removed by the abovementioned method and apparatus.

Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

Brief Description of the Drawings An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: illustrates a plan view of a first embodiment of a fur plucking apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2: illustrates an end elevation view of the fur plucking apparatus in Figure 1 ; Figure 3: illustrates a side elevation view of the fur plucking apparatus in Figure 1; Figure 4: illustrates an end section view through a rotatable shaft for removing fibre according to the invention; Figure 5: illustrates a plan view of the blade; Irstc" 6 Figure 6; illustrates a side elevational view of the blade; Figure 7: illustrates a plan view of a net for use with a fur plucking apparatus; Figure 8: illustrates a side elevational view of the net; Figure 9: illustrates an end elevation view of the net; Figure 10: illustrates a plan view of a second embodiment of a fur plucking apparatus according to the invention; Figure 11: illustrates an elevation view of the fur plucking apparatus in Figure 10; and Figure 12: illustrates a section through cc' of the fur plucking apparatus in Figure 10.

Description of the Preferred Example Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a first embodiment of the fur plucking invention. The 15 apparatus is designed to be portable so that it can easily be transported either by hand (for example in the manner of a backpack as shown in Figures 10 to 12), on the back of a four wheel motorbike, back of a ute, boot of a car or trailer. To accommodate this the apparatus might be typically 700mm long, 260mm wide and 550mm high. However, it is understood that the size may vary substantially in order 20 to suit the prevailing requirements.

Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of a first embodiment of the apparatus which consists of a work surface 11, a motor 3 driving a shaft 2 with blades 4 attached. The shaft 2 is supported by bearing housings 8 attached to a frame 9. The present 25 embodiment is manufactured so that motor 3, shaft 2 with blades 4 and the bearing housing/frame 8/9 can separate from surface 1 1. This allows the surface 11 and motor 3 units to be transported separately.

The current embodiment uses a small internal combustion engine as a motor 3 allowing the apparatus to be used in remote locations. The motor might typically be 500 watts, but it is understood that this may vary substantially depending on the size of the shaft and blades that must be driven. In locations where electricity is available ^ n tc' I -- ■ ■: - ' r% n;.';alc•' Prep nr-- ' 'Gpertv °hice of NZ - k tin caaU Received an electric motor could be used.

Work surface 11 has an opening 10 (Figure 2) to allow access to the blades 4. At one end of surface 11 is a baffle or guide 6 which provides a duct from an opening 15 near work surface 11 to a chute 13 running below work surface 11. Chute 13 terminates in an opening 7 at the opposite end of surface 11. A net 5 (shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9) is placed at opening 7 to catch removed fibre.

In operation the motor 3 with shaft 2 is positioned so that when the shaft 2 is rotated blades 4 move adjacent to opening 10. When shaft 2 and blades 4 are rotated an airflow effect is created which carries air from near work surface 11 around baffle 6 (in direction of arrow A) along chute 13 to the net 5. The opossum carcass is held lightly but firmly on work surface 11 and positioned against the rotating blades 4 which are accessible through opening 10. The carcass is rolled slowly from side to side against the blades 4 which remove the fur from the carcass. Due to the airflow effect previously described, the removed fur is carried through duct 13 and deposited in the net 5. Green skins can also be defurred by wrapping the skin around a wooden block, or similar material, shaped to imitate an opossum carcass.

An adjustable plate 16 is provided on surface 11 adjacent to opening 10. The adjustable plate 16 is adapted to allow the size of opening 10 to be varied. By adjusting the size of opening 10 with the adjustable plate 16 the airflow effect can be increased, or decreased, and the amount of fur flicked-up by the blades 4 is reduced.

The blades 4 are shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6. Figure 6 shows a side elevation of a blade 4 which is made from durable rubber approximately 12mm thick. It is envisaged that the blades may be manufactured from synthetic or natural rubber or other suitable materials. Advantageously the material is semi-rigid. Through the centre of the blade are holes 44 which allow it to be attached to the shaft. This is illustrated in Figure 4. The apparatus may have a plurality of blades although into ! t r> np:*uU Property nf h!~7 7 • ♦ m 2m 8 preferably there are two. Figure 4 shows an example of mounting blades 4 on a shaft 2 using a bolt 48 with nut 46. A metal (or similar material) strip 47 may be placed between the bolt head 48 and nut 46, and blade 4 to provide additional strength.

Each blade 4 has a bevel angled edge 41 and side 42 edges. The blades 4 travel in direction of arrow B (Figure 4) so that acute edge 45 contacts the opossum carcass. The angle of the sides 41/42 of blades 4 is quite variable and will vary the airflow that carries the fur from the blades 4 to the net 5. For dense or wet fur airflow 10 needs to be increased to adequately carry the fur to the net 5. Air-flow can also be adjusted by movement of adjustable plate 16.

Each blade 4 has a series of slots 43 cut from the top surface 41 transversely down through the partial height of the blade 4 and completely through its thickness. These 15 slots 43 allow edge 45 to conform to the shape of the carcass as the blade 4 strikes the body of the opossum. As acute edge 45 of the blade 4 strikes the fibre on the carcass it travels in contact with the skin of the animal it lifts or pulls substantially all of the fibre out of the skin by the roots. This lifting or pulling action is caused by friction of the moving blade on the fibre and the force is substantially tangential to 20 the arc of moving edge 45. The result is fur which is easy to handle, can be rolled and tied in bundles and is very clean. Testing has shown fur plucked by the machine to contain less than one percent foreign matter.

A net for use with the machine is shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9. The net 5 has a 25 tapered profile with narrow end 54 being adapted to be attached to opening 7 of duct 13. The tapered end of net 5 may have a vinyl section 51 to add strength and durability to the attachment. The wider end 55 of net 5 is provided with a Velcro (or similar) closure 53 so that fur can easily be removed from the net 5. In the current embodiment the net 5 is approximately 1800mm long and 700mm square at the 30 large end 55. A net 5 of this size can hold the fur from approximately 40 opossums. It is understood that the dimensions and shape of the net may be altered to suit both the conditions in which the apparatus is to be used and the number of opossum furs rw- ' Property U'./ce of M2 y ~ ^ AV3 2Q30 RECnivr-n 9 which are to be accommodated.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12. The reference numerals in Figures 10, 11 and 12 refer to the same integers as indicated 5 on the earlier embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. All of the aforegoing description equally applies to the second embodiment. However, the following describes a number of minor variations.

The embodiment shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12 is adapted to be carried in the 10 manner of a backpack. Shoulder harnesses (not shown) can be provided so that the apparatus can be worn by a person. Work surface 11 would be positioned against the back of a wearer and removable padding for the surface may be provided for comfort. The most significant difference with the embodiment in Figures 10, 11 and 12 is that the work surface 11 is integral with the motor 3 and frame 9. This allows 15 the unit to be carried in one piece. Additionally, a second opening 1 5 is provided in the work surface near opening 10. Opening 15 leads through work surface 11 to shoot 13 which is below work surface 11.

The above description describes a fur plucking apparatus which is lightweight and 20 portable, easy to use and produces a high quality end product. The apparatus has been found effective in plucking not only opossums but also rabbits and other small to medium size animals.

Where in the foregoing description, reference has been made to specific components 25 or integers of the invention having known equivalent, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or 30 improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the appended claims.

Intc--s/;\[ua' Property Oi'.ica of Hz — h / i

Claims

1. A method of removing fibres from an animal skin, either on or off the carcass, comprising striking successive regions of an animal skin containing fibres with one or more moving blades having an acute edge adapted to conform to the profile of the skin, wherein movement of the blade across fibres on the skin pulls or plucks the fibres from the skin.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the blade or blades rotate so that the blade(s) successively strike the skin with each rotation, friction between the rotating blade(s) and fibres on the skin causing the fibres to be pulled or plucked from the skin.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the blade(s) is/are made of a rubber material and each blade has one or more slots or slits transversely down the face of the blade, the slots or slits allowing the acute edge of the blade to conform to the profile of the skin.

4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the skin is still attached to the carcass of the animal.

5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the skin may be removed from the carcass of the animal, the skin being disposed around a former.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the former is adapted to be substantially the same shape as an animal carcass.

7. An animal-fibre removal apparatus including:

a work surface, with at least one opening in it;

a shaft having, attached thereto, one or more blades with an acute edge, the shaft disposed adjacent the opening in the work surface; and

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8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

25 13.

14. 30

10

15

11

a driving means adapted to rotate the shaft; and wherein when the shaft is rotated the acute edge of the blade(s) successively pass adjacent the opening in the work surface.

An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 which further includes a receptacle for the collection of animal fibre, the rotating blades creating an air-flow effect which facilitates transport of the fibre from the blade(s) to the receptacle.

An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the receptacle has a closure to allow removal of accumulated fibre.

An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the closure is a velcro secured flap.

An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the receptacle is a net, the net being disposed at the end of a duct adapted to guide the airflow from the rotating blades.

An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein the blade(s) are one or more rubber strips attached parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft such that the blade(s) extend substantially radially from the axis of the shaft, the outer edge of the blade(s) being adapted to provide an acute leading edge for removing fibre from an animal skin.

An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein the blade(s) are attached parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft such that the blade(s) extends tangential to the shaft surface.

An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 13 wherein the acute edge of the blade(s) has one or more slots or slits transversely down the face of the blade, the slits allowing the leading edge to conform to the shape of an animal carcass. .

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eived

12

15. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 14 wherein the blade(s) is/are tapered and angled to assist air-flow for transporting the defleeced fibre from the blade(s) to the receptacle.

5

16. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 1 5 which further includes a duct or tunnel to aid in guiding the air-flow and transportation of the fibre from the blade(s) to the net.

10 17. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 16 wherein the driving means and shaft are detachable from the work surface and frame thereby facilitating easy transportation of the apparatus.

18. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 1 6 wherein the apparatus is 15 of a small lightweight nature and has shoulder straps to allow transportation on the back of a person.

19. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 18 wherein the driving means is a lightweight internal combustion engine or similar for operation in

20 remote locations.

20. Fibre removed by a method or apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.

25

21. An apparatus as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 10 to 12.

GRAEME WILLIAM STURGEON and JOHN RUSSEL NEUSTROSKI

30

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