US1737087A

US1737087A - Fur machine

Info

Publication number: US1737087A
Application number: US156619A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick W Horstmann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-12-23
Filing date: 1926-12-23
Publication date: 1929-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1946-11-26

Description

Nov. 26, 1929. F. w. HORSTMANN 1,737,087

FUR MACHINE 'Filed DSC. 23. 1926 Fifa'- 4 Fi f: ugr 5- INvEN roR lawwonsvwn/vw ATTORNWJ Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT ois-Fics EUR wenn@ Appliatiqn filed December 23, 19,26, Serial No.` 156,619.

This invention relates to fur cutting or shearing machines and more particularly to the feeding mechanism attached to such machines. 'Y i llt is important in presenting the fur surface of skins or pelts to cutting` or other devices for conditioning the fur surface to properly position the pelt and also to secure the pelt against movement with respect to the feeding mechanism.

In most forms of shearing and other fur conditioning mechanism it is customary to employ a belt conveyor to feed the pelt past the cutting or other mechanism and usually means such as clips o r pockets are provided on the conveyor to secure ythe skins thereto. In addition it has been the practise where inexpensive labor is available" to resort to pinning the skin to the conveyor.

An improvement on the above methods of securing a pelt to the conveyor is disclosed in the patent to J. Zabel, 1,600,571, accord.- ing to which a plurality of; forwardly extending pin points are stitched in the canvasccnveyor. These pin points extend outwardly from the surface of the conveyor and are ar'- rangedv in rows transversely across the conveyor. The forward edge of the pelt or, skin with the hide down is applied to the pin points and a brush is employed to press the skin-firmly into contact with the pin points. Although this type of feeding mechanism has proven quite satisfactory it hasy failed to satisfy the needs when 'a high quality product is desired. Furthermore, it has been found in practise that the pelts become loosenedfrom the pins, particularly when they are passing around the forward roller about which the conveyor passes, it being.- appreciated that during such movement the pins will be so disposed thatL the usual suction applied vto the fur to bring the same into, cutting position will partially and at times .COHiPlQtQly lift the skins from the conveyor.

upon the form of feeding mechanism disclosed in the aforesaid patent and comprises ,a conveyor having projecting therefrom a series of transverse rows of p inpoints which are 5.0 so arranged that not only the forward edge The present inventionw is an improvement of the pelt is secured but also the rear edge and in addition the skin may be stretched as it is applied to the pin points so that it is perfectly smooth. More specifically, the pin points-are arranged so that certain of the rows project toward the forward edge of the conveyor while the remainder are spaced fromthe first series and directed toward the rear edge of the conveyor. It will be apparent that by reason of Such construction a 60 skin when stretched in position and secured upon the pin points will be firmly locked against the conveyor so that upon movement of the skin around the roller adjacent the cutting mechanism it will not be effected by the suction, Furthermore, my invention when applied to the feeding mechanism of fur machines, permits a higher quality product to be obtainedv since the cutting or treating operation will be performed in 'precisely the 70 manner for which the machine is designed.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide ay conveyor mechanism to which a ski-n or pelt ymay be quickly and conveniently attached in such manner as to rigidly hold the skin upon the conveyor throughout its movements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible conveyor belt having means thereon for securing la skin or pelt thereto while maintaining the same undertension.

A further object o f the invention is to provide a conveyor with a plurality of rows of pin points so arranged as to lock a skin or pelt when applied thereto in position while moving past the cutting or other treating mechanism.

` Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading o fthe following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic representation of a conveyor belt showing a practical embodiment of the present invention` Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a e5 pin or barb'for holding a skin. Fig. 3 is an end view of the barb shown in 2; i Fig. 4 is a front View ofthe barb shown in Fig. 2. 10o

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a conveyor belt showing several sets of barbs.

In accomplishing the end sought by the present invention I provide a flexible conveyor belt with a plurality of sets of projecting pins or barbs. The barbs in one set are disposed at one angle to the surface of the l conveyor and the adjacent or complemental set are disposed at another and opposite angle. Vhen a skin is applied to the surface of the conveyor one portion of the skin is first applied to one set of barbs. The bails of this set point in the direction of movement of the conveyor and the skin may thus be readily secured and stretched, one end of the skin being held while the conveyor moves. Vhen the first portion of the skin has been attached the remaining portion is slightly stretched and applied to the other set of op positely directed barbs. When the two sets of barbs have entered the surface of the skin it will be evident that it is not only retained for movement along with the conveyor but that it is actually attached to the conveyor against relative movement in any direction. As the skin passes over the roller portion of the conveyor it is further stretched and presents the fur surface to the cutting mechanism in a positive and uniform manner.

An embodiment of the present invention may comprise a belt 10 of canvas or other suitable flexible material mounted for movement on a driving roller 11 and an idler roller 12. The driving roller may be rotated by a sheave or pulley 13 secured to a shaft 14 upon which the roller 11 is also mounted. A belt 15 may transmit motion from any suity able source of power (not shown).

The idler roller 12 may be disposed adjacent to a shearing device 16 comprising the usual rotary cutter 17 and bed knife 18. A pulley 19 may be providedl for driving the rotary cutter in the usual manner common to this class of machines.

The present invention aims to improve the effectiveness of the belt in delivering the skins to the cutters and as shown a belt may be provided with a plurality of sets of projecting pins or barbsf21 and 22. The `barbs of the set 21 are slanted in the direction of the path of movement of the upper stretch of the conveyor. A. skin, 23 may, therefore, be applied to the barbs of the set 21 and the portion 25 pressed thereon for attachment and as the conveyor moves the unattached portion 24 of the skin may be retained and the barbs 21 will thus become inserted into the hide or smooth surface of the skin. The skin may be placed under a slight tensional stress at which time the portion 211 may be laid upon the set of pins 22 and as the skin is released and contracts by reason of its inherent elasticity the barbs of the set 22 will enter the surface of the skin and the same will be held in position in inti mate contact with the conveyor for delivery to the shearing device. As the skin moves about theroller 12 of the conveyor it is further stretched to such a degree as to bring it in firm contact with the rounded surface of the conveyor. This results in a presentation of the fursurface 25 of the skin to the cutters in a uniform and effective manner.

The several sets of pins or barbs may be made in any suitable manner. An example of a barb or barb-member 26 that has been found satisfactory is shown more clearly in Figs. 2 through 4. This barb-member includes two

points

27 and 28 disposed at an angle to a base portion 29. The construction of the barb-member is such that the point or engaging portion of the member is so positioned that the pull of a skin will tend to raise the base portion 29. This base, is, however, bent to provide an appreciable amount of area and may be secured between

layers

31 and 32 which may constitute the conveyor belt 10. By securing the layers together between and across the bases or foot portions 29 of the barb-members 26 the

points

27 and 23 which project through the upper layer of the belt are held securely in place since the pull is in a path substantially parallel to the plane in which the bases lie while any tendency to tip is strongly opposed by the contact between the bases` and the canvas.

When a conveyor is provided with a plurality of sets of barbs it is desirable to have some clear visible indication as to the beginning of each set, that is, the set of barbs to which the skin is to be first applied. As shown in Fig. 8 suitable markers may be employed comprising a strip 33 of a color contrasting with the surface of the conveyor.

It has been found that by reason of the present invention the speed of production is greatly increased. This will be appreciated from the fact that whereas when other means have been employed for securing a skin to a conveyor it was necessary for the operator to hold the skin in position until well on its way in the shearing operation, With the present conveyor, the operator can quickly apply the skin to any portion of the surface of the conveyor and it will be carried along to the shearing device without danger of accidental displacement. i

The speed of a machine may, therefore, be greatly increased owing to the present meansof quickly applying the skin which when considered with the effectiveness of the delivery of the skin to the cutters makes it evident that the invention is a decided advance step in the art.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor for moving a skin and a plurality of spaced and oppositely directed barbs for engaging` a skin.

2. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor for moving a skin and a plurality of series of barbs associated With said conveyor, one series of barbs being adapted for securing one end of a skin and another series of barbs being adapted to secure another end of a skin, the respective series being oppositely directed to effect an intimate relation between the skin and the conveyor.

3. A conveyor belting having a plurality of projecting pointed members in spaced relation and positioned in alternately opposite angular relation to the surface of the conveyor, said conveyor having a marking along the edge of certain of said members.

4. A conveyor belting having a plurality of sets of projecting pointed members, said sets being arranged in alternately opposite angular relation to the conveyor, and a marker adjacent alternate sets of said members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FREDERICK W. HORSTMANN.