US1725082A - Fur-plucking machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 20, 1929. V F. w. HORSLTMANN FUR PLUCKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1926 INVENTOR F.VV. HORSTMANN ATTORNEY g Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. HORSTMANN, OF MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

FUR-PLUCKING MACHINE.

Application filed August 13, 1926.

This invention relates to machines for removing or plucking hard or stiff hairs from furs or skins.

An object of the invention is to provide mechanism for plucking hairs from a skin, which machine is simple in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide plucking mechanism capable of automatic operation after a skin has been brought manually into position for treatment and without further attention on the part of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide plucking mechanism having readily adjustable parts so as to adapt the machine for various types of furs and to obtain a greater degree of refinement in removing the hairs.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plucking machine which is capable of more accurately positioning a fur with respect to the mechanism for removing the hairs.

' Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the plucking machine, with the stretcher bar in its forward position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the plucking machine (the cover plate being removed for the sake of clarity) with the stretcher bar in retracted position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the feeding mechanism;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View of the apron or stretcher bar in position between the presser rollers; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged View of the feeding roller.

In certain types of machines employed for plucking the hairs from pelts or skins it has been the practice to place one end of the fur over a stretcher bar and then bring the bar into plucking position, the operator holding the skin at each end and gradually moving the same back and forth over the stretcher bar while the plucking operation takes place. Such an operation is rather tedious and requires the services of skilled operators. Furthermore, the plucking operation is not entirely satisfactory in that the hairs at times are not removed to a sufficientdepth Serial No. 128,950.

and therefore give the surface of the fur a non-uniform appearance.

The present invention obviates the necessity of skilled employees for performing the plucking operation since all that isrequired of the operator is to merely drape an end of a skin over the stretcher bar and then move the latter into position adjacent the plucking mechanism at which time the skin is automatically fed over the stretcher bar by suitable mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, in which specific embodiment one form of the invention is illustrated, the machine may consist of a frame 6 supporting a table 7 upon which is mounted side plates 8 and 9 and back plate 11 having an opening 12 connected to a suitable exhaust mechanism, such as a suction fan or pump (not shown), for removing the plucked hairs. A cover plate 13 is pivotally supported at 14 on the back plate 11. The cover plate has a raised arched portion 15 Which partly contains the plucking knives later to be described.

Supported in bearing boxes 15 mounted in the side plates 8 and 9, is a drum 16 carrying a pluralit of helically arranged cutting or plucking lades 17. Cooperating with the knives or blades 17 is a roller 18 mounted in bearings 19 disposed in the ends of bell crank levers 21 and 22 disposed on each side of the machine. The bell-crank levers 21 and 22 are pivoted at 23 and 24, respectively,

on the side plates and engaging the arms 25 and 26 of these levers are adjustable screws 27 and 28, whereby the roller 18 may be properly positioned with respect to the cuttin or plucking knives. The surface of the roll er 18 may be resilient, as for example, it may be provided with a rubber sleeve, or if preferable the entire roller may be made of solid rubber.

The knives may be rapidly driven in the desired direction by means of a belt 29 threaded over a pully head 32 on the shaft of the drum 16, said belt being connected to any suitable source of power. Power is supplied from the head 32 by means of a belt 29 to an idler pulley 31 supported on a shaft 33 mounted in bearings 34 secured to the frame of the machine.

In order to bring a skin in proper position adjacent the plucking mechanism just described and to automatically feed the skin thereto, the following instrumentalities are provided. Mounted adjustably on the table 7 are two standards 35 and 36 on each side of the machine. Each standard has an outwardly extending arm 37 for a purpose later to be described. Pivotally mounted in each standard is a pair of oppositely disposed levers 38 and 39, which are pivoted on a common shaft or pin 41.

The forward ends of the levers 38 support a roller 42 which latter has a resilient surface which may be formed by coating the roller with rubber. It is obvious that the roller may be made entirely of rubber. The forward ends of levers 39 support a roller 44 which latter may also be covered with rubher or otherwise provided with a yielding surface.

Disposed between the rear ends of the levers 38 and 39 are compression springs 45 which are mounted on pins or bolts 46 passing through the ends of the levers 38 and 39. The bolts are provided with a head 47 at one end and a nut 47 at the other end to prevent the levers from being closed more than a predetermined distance which is dependent upon the size of the stretcher bar, later to be described, the thickness of the fur being plucked, and so forth. The nuts 47 may be threaded on the ends of the bolts 46 so as to permit adjustment of the space between the rollers 42 and 44 and a lock nut 47 may be employed to hold the levers in adjusted position.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the rollers 42 and 44 are held in fixed relation with respect to each other but that they may be moved outwardly away from each other as an object is thrust therebetween and furthermore that when they are so moved the springs 45 will be placed under compression and thus cause an object to be firmly gripped by the rollers.

The rollers may be adjusted as a unit either upwardly or downwardly so that they may be properly positioned with respect to the cutting knives. This is accomplished by passing through the ends of the levers 38 and 39 bolts 48 which have one end fastened in the arms 37 of the standards 35 and 36. The ends of the bolts 48 extending through the levers may be threaded and nuts 49 and 51 screwed thereon may be employed to secure the rollers in adjusted position. Helical springs 52 may be mounted on the bolts 48 between the levers 38 and 39 and the arms 37, so that adjustment may be had either upwardly or downwardly.

The rollers 42 and 44 may be adjusted as a unit toward the cutting or plucking mechanism by means of the bolt and slot connection 53 and 54.

Cooperating with the rollers 42 and 43 is a stretcher bar 55 of triangular: shape in cross section. The apex of the bar is disposed toward the cutting or plucking mechanism. The bar is rigidly supported in the ends of the forwardly projecting arms 56 of levers 57, pivoted at 58 on each side near the base of the machine. The lever has an adjustable connection 59 near the upper end thereof, said adjustment consisting of a slot in the one portion and one or more bolts passing through apertures in the other portion, whereby the two portions of the lever may be adjusted and held in adjusted position. Also disposed between and supported by the levers 57 and immediately to the rear of the stretcher bar 55 is a feeding roller 61 which is provided with a roughened surface 62. The surface may be formed by knurling the roller or by cutting intersecting helices in the surface of the roller. The surface which I have found best suited for the purpose of feeding a pelt is one consisting of a great number of pin points. Obviously these points may be formed in a number of different ways. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the feeding roller 61 is formed by cutting grooves circumferentially of the roller and intersecting such grooves with longitudinal grooves so as to form fine points 62 which grip the underside of the pelt and assist in feeding the same about the stretcher bar.

Immediately to the rear of the feeding roller 61 is a smoother bar 63, the said bar also being mounted in the arms 56 of the lovers 57. This bar has an edge 64 of angular form so that the middle point 65 extends rearwardly a greater distance than the ends 66 of the bar. By reason of such construction a skin when drawn over the angular edge of the bar will be smoothed from the middle thereof toward the sides.

The stretcher bar 55 may be brought into position adjacent the plucking mechanism 7 by means of a bumper bar 67 against which the operator may press with his body. hen the bar 67 is pressed inwardly the stretcher bar is held in fixed position adjacent the knives by a latch 68, pivotally mounted on a plate 69 pivoted to the frame of the machine at 71. An adjustment 72 is provided for the plate 69 so as to limit the distance the stretcher bar is moved inwardly. A stop or notch 73 on the latch engages a pin 74 on one of the levers 57 to limit the distance the stretcher bar is moved inwardly. A rubber cushion 75 is disposed around the adjustment screw 76 to absorb any shock occasioned by forcibly moving the stretcher bar inwardly. In addition the latch 68 is provided with a spring pressed cushion 77 to absorb any shock when the latch is released from engagement with the pin 74. The stretcher bar is retracted or moved rearwardly automatically upon release of the latch, this being accomplished by the action of a spring 78 fastened at one end to the frame of the machine and at the other end to an arm 7 9 projecting from one of the levers 57. The release of the latch may be effected by pressing upon a foot treadle 81 which is connected by a link 82 to the outer end of the latch.

Motion may be imparted to the rollers 4-2, 44, and feeding roller 61 by a crossed belt 83, threaded over a pulley 84, mounted on the same shaft as driving pulley 31. The belt 83 is also threaded over pulley 85 loosely mounted on the pivot pin or shaft of the levers 38 and 39. Rotating with the pulley is a gear Wheel 86 meshing with gear wheels 87 and 88 mounted on the shafts of rollers 42 and 44. The gear wheel 88 has one less tooth than gear wheel 87 in order that a pull or tension is applied to the skin as it is fed over the stretcher bar. The shaft of the feeding roller 61 also has mounted thereon a gear wheel 89 which is brought into engagement with the gear wheels 90 and 91 also mounted on the shafts of rollers 42 and 44, upon movement of the stretcher bar into position adjacent the cutting of plucking mechanism.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Assuming that the stretcher bar is in therearward position and away from the rollers 42 and 44, an operator drapes the end of a skin to be plucked over the stretcher bar, leaving the longer end of the skin hanging over the smoother bar. The operator then presses upon the bumper bar and thus moves the stretcher bar to a position adjacent the cutting or plucking mechanism. As the stretcher bar is brought between the rollcrs 42 and 4A, the latter will be pressed outwardly and placed under tension and the movement of the stretcher bar is continued toward the cutting or plucking mechanism the fur or skin will be firmly pressed against the feeding roller 61 which engages the underside of the skin. At this time gear wheel 89 is brought into mesh with the slowly rotating gear wheels 90 and 91, and motion is thus imparted to feeding roller 61 to cause the skin to be slowly fed past the cutting or plucking mechanism. The operator may then proceed to load another machine, the plucking of the skin in the machine just loaded taking place automatically. After the skin has been fully plucked, the stretcher bar may be removed from its position adjacent the cutting mechanism by merely pressing upon the foot treadle. The foregoing operations may then be repeated.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is obvious that those skilled in the art may make departures therefrom, however, such modifications which are made which come within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims are contemplated by me.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. A plucking machine comprising means for plucking the hairs from a fur, means including a stretcher bar for positioning a fur adjacent said plucking means, tension rollers adjacent said plucking means for engaging a fur draped over said stretcher bar to draw the same thereover and means for automatically moving the fur past said plucking means.

2. A plucking machine comprising means for plucking the hairs from a fur, means including a stretcher bar for positioning a fur adjacent said plucking means, means for locking said second-mentioned means adjacent said plucking means, tension rollers adjacent said plucking means for engaging a fur draped over said stretcher bar to draw the same thereover and means for automatically moving the fur past said plucking means, said last mentioned means cooperating with said tension rollers to effect the movement of said fur past said plucking means.

3. A plucking machine comprising means for plucking the hairs from a fur, a stretcher bar movable toward and from said plucking means, a feeding roller also movable toward and from said plucking means simultaneously with said stretcher bar, and means for causing said feeding roller to become operative to feed a fur over said stretcher bar when the latter is brought into position adjacent said plucking means.

4. A plucking machine comprising means for plucking the hairs from a fur, a stretcher bar movable toward and from said plucking means, a feeding roller also movable toward and from said plucking means simultaneously with said stretcher bar, a plurality of tension members positioned adjacent said plucking means and adapted to engage the surface of a fur when brought into position adjacent the plucking means by the stretcher bar, and means for causing a rotation of said feeding roller when adjacent said plucking means.

5. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, a stretcher bar movable toward and from said plucking means, levers for supporting said stretcher bar, a feeding roller also supported by said levers to the rear of said stretcher bar, a smoother plate also supported by said levers to the rear of said feeding roller, and means for operating said feeding roller when said stretcher bar is positioned adjacent said plucking means.

6. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking afur, a pair of spaced apart tension rollers adjacent said plucking means, a stretcher bar movable between said tension rollers, means for rotating said tension rollers, and a feeding roller cooperating with said tension rollers to cause a movement of a fur over said stretcher I bar.

7. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, a pair of tension rollers adjacent said plucking means, means for adjusting said tension rollers with respect to each other, a stretcher bar movable between said tension rollers, means for rotating said tension rollers, and a feeding roller cooperating with said tension rollers to cause a movement of a fur over said stretcher bar.

8. A' fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, a pair of tension rollers adjacent said plucking means, means for adjusting said tension rollers with respect to each other, means for adjusting said tension rollers as a unit upwardly or downwardly, a stretcher bar movable between said tension rollers, means for rotating said tension rollers, and a feeding roller cooperating with said tension rollers to cause a movement of a fur over said stretcher bar.

9. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, a pair of tension rollers adjacent said plucking means, means for adjusting said tension rollers with respect to each other, means for adjusting said tension rollers as a unit upwardly or down- Wardly, means for adjusting said tension rollers with respect to said plucking means, a stretcher bar movable between said tension rollers, means for rotating said tension rollers, and a feeding roller cooperating with said tension rollers to cause a movement of a fur over said stretcher bar.

10. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, a stretcher bar movable toward and from said plucking means, means formoving said stretcher bar toward and from said plucking means, means for locking said stretcher bar when positioned adjacent said plucking means, and

means for adjusting said locking means to adjust the limit of movementof the stretcher bar toward said plucking means.

11. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, a stretcher bar manually movable toward said plucking means, means for automatically locking said stretcher bar when in operative position adjacent said plucking means, means for adjusting said locking means ,to alter the position at which the stretcher bar is automatically locked, and means for removing said locking means to permit the release of said stretcher bar and its return to inoperative position.

12. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, a pair of tension rollers adjacent said plucking means, meshing gear wheels carried by said tension rollers, means for rotating said gear wheels, a stretcher bar supported for movement toward and from said plucking means and between said tension rollers, a feeding roller movable with said stretcher bar, a gear wheel on said feeding roller adapted to mesh with said first mentioned gear wheels when the stretcher bar is brought into position adj acent said plucking means, one of said first mentioned gear wheels having one tooth less than the other gear wheel so as to stretch the fur when fed over said stretcher bar.

13. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, a stretcher bar manually movable toward said plucking means, a feeding roller for moving a fur over the edge of said stretcher bar, said feeding roller having a pin-point surface, and means for operating said feeding roller when said stretcher bar is adjacent said plucking means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREDERICK W. HORSTMANN.

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