WO1987007648A1

WO1987007648A1 - Machine for scraping fur skins

Info

Publication number: WO1987007648A1
Application number: PCT/FI1987/000080
Authority: WO
Inventors: Håkan MANDERBACKA
Original assignee: Ky Hiltop Kb
Priority date: 1986-06-12
Filing date: 1987-06-12
Publication date: 1987-12-17
Also published as: FI74733C; FI74733B; FI862514A0; SE457962B; DK45288D0; DK158094B; DK45288A; SE8800273D0; SE8800273L

Abstract

A machine for scraping fur skins comprising a block (1) for the skin and scraping means (2) surrounding the block for removing the fat from the skin. In known machines the scraping means (2) usually consist of rubber or plastic cutters which due to their rigidity often destroy the skin if it contains elevations or weak portions. Said disadvantages are eliminated with the machine according to the invention in which the scraping means are brushes (2).

Description

Machine for scraping fur skins

The present invention relates to a machine for scraping fur skins comprising a block on which the skin is intended to be drawn tight with the fat side outward, and a scraper situated in the vicinity of the block and intended for removing the fat from the skin, whereby the block and the scraping means are displaceable with re¬ spect to each other in the longitudinal direction of the block and the scraping means consists of at least one substantially cylindrical , rotatably mounted scraping means, the center line of which is substantially perpen¬ dicular to the block.

One step in the treatment of skins of furred animals, such as minks and foxes, is the removing of the layer of fat on the inside of the skin. The layer of fat, whose thickness may amount up to 40 mm, is normally removed so that the skin is drawn tight with the fat side outwards on a conical block which is displaced in its longitudinal direction through a scraper which removes the fat which is then sucked into a container.

The scraper normally consists of one or more plastic or rubber cutters, which on their shell surface are provided with blades which scrape the fat away from the skin. Since the cutters are relatively rigid the skin is subjected to great strain in connection with the re¬ moving of the fat. If there is, for example, a hole or some weak point in the skin the skin is easily torn by the cutters. It has also appeared that if the relative movement between the skin and the cutters is interrupted the skin is often so strongly heated by the friction between the skin and the cutter that the skin is burned.

It is also known to use scrapers consisting of vibrating knives or metal threads. Such scrapers are to some extent more lenient towards the skin than the cutt- ers, but they have the disadvantage of being considerably slower than the cutter.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine for scraping fur skins which is provided with a scraper working both rapidly and leniently. The inven¬ tion is characterized in that the scraping means consists of a brush having flexible bristles.

Since a brush is used as a scraping organ a more lenient treatment of the skins is accomplished compared to a cutter and still the speed with which the fat is removed does not drop. Thus the brush is as effective as the cutter but considerably more lenient. It is under¬ stood that the bristles of the brush easily can bend if they encounter a local elevation in the skin and that the heat creating friction between the skin and the brush is considerably smaller than between the skin and a compact cutter.

According to an advantageous embodiment the brist¬ les of the brush are arranged in groups between which axially elongated portions without bristles are position¬ ed. Said shaping of the brush provides a more effective removing of the fat because the brush groups function in the same way as the blades in a cutter.

It has also appeared to be advantageous that the brush is positioned at such a distance from the block that each bristle is bent when it comes into contact with the skin. The fat is removed in the most effective way if the bending is relatively small. The brush must in no case be allowed to bend so much that its free end becomes parallel with the skin.

A preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention will be described in detail in the following with reference to the enclosed drawing, in which Figure 1 shows the block and the scraper in end view and

Figure 2 shows a brush in end view. Figure 1 shows a portion of a machine for scraping fur skins. A reference- numeral 1 indicates a block which has a triangular section and which narrows towards one end. The skin, which is not shown, is pulled onto the block with the hairy side against the block and the layer of fat outward.

On the outside of each side of the block 1 a brush 2 is positioned which has a substantially cylindrical shape and which is rotatable around its center axis 3. The center axis 3 of the brush supports a frame having a round section, on the periphery of which frame bristles 5 are fastened. These bristles can be made of plastic or natural fibres having a suitable flexibility for the pur¬ pose.

As shown in Figure 2 the bristles 5 are arranged in groups 6 which extend from one end of the brush to the other end and between which portions 7 without bristles are positioned. In the example shown in Figure 2 there are four bristle groups 6 and each group has an angle width of about 45 . The angle width may vary between 40 and 80 and it is preferably about 60 .

Considering the function of the brush it is advan- tageous if every bristle 5 is bent to some extent when it passes the skin as shown in the right hand side bristle group in Figure 2. Hereby an effective removing of the fat is accomplished which would not be accomplished if every bristle would be straight or would bend so much that its end would become parallell with the skin.

As opposed to the above disclosed the bristles 5 may be positioned evenly over the whole periphery of the frame 4. The machine is of course provided with an amount of bristles corresponding to the amount of sides of the block. If the block is round the diameter of the bristles grows towards the ends.

Claims

Claims :

1. Machine for scraping fur skins comprising a block (1) on which the skin is intended to be drawn tight with the fat side outward, and a scraper situated in the vicinity of the block and intended for removing the fat from the skin, whereby the block (1) and the scraping means are displaceable with respect to each other in the longitudinal direction of the block and the scraping means consists of at least one substantially cylindrical, rotatably mounted scraping means (2) , the center line of which is substantially perpendicular to the block, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the scraping means consists of a brush (2) having flexible bristles (5) .

2. A scraping machine according to claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the bristles (5) of the brush (2) are arranged in groups (6) between which axially elongated portions (7) without bristles are positioned.

3. A scraping machine according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that there are four groups (6) of bristles and that each group has an angle width of 40° to 80°, preferably about 60°.

4. A scraping machine according to claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the brush (2) is situated at such a distance from the block (1) that each bristle (5) is bent when it comes into contact with the skin.