WO2007033681A2 - Method and machine for folding out the tail part on a pelt in connection with stretching out pelts on peltboards - Google Patents

Abstract

In connection with the taning of pelts before the drying of same in the stretched position on distension elements/pelt boards, focus has hitherto been placed mostly on sizes and the quality of the pelts. This has directed focus on the tail part of the pelt which, as a consequence of the size, has not hitherto been of great interest. It is necessary, however, to ensue that that the tail part of the pelt is dried to an adequate degree in order to counteract the formation of oxidisation or attack by mites on the pelts, which can spread to the rest of the pelt. There is thus disclosed a method for the folding out of the tail part of the pelt in connection with the stretching of the pelt on the distension element/a pelt board, and a machine for the execution of the method.

Description

Title: Method and machine for folding out the tail part on a pelt in connection with the stretching out of pelts on pelt boards.

The present invention relates to a method and a machine for the folding out of the tail part of a pelt from a furred animal, and the securing of said tail part in the stretched out position in connection with the stretching of pelts on pelt boards with the use of a taning machine comprising means for implementing a relative displacement between a distension element or a pelt board on which a pelt has been mounted, placed between holding elements and gripping elements for securing the pelt during the stretching, which is carried out by a displacement relatively between the distension element/the pelt board and the gripping elements in the longitudinal direction of the pelt board.

In the drying of pelts, for example mink or fox furs (in the following called the pelt) after the scraping of the fat from the leather side of the pelt, the pelts are stretched e.g. on a pelt board which is often first provided with a fat-absorbing material, the object being that the fat remaining on the leather side of the pelt is drawn into the paper during the drying, and herewith removed from the pelt.

In the following there are provided some definitions which will be used in the following:

In the following, the expression "taning" is to be understood as a process which consists of the following steps: the drawing of a pelt on to a pelt board, chiefly with the leather side of the pelt facing towards the surface of the board, the stretching of the pelt on the board, and the securing of the pelt in the stretched position on the board.

The use of pelt boards in connection with the drying of pelts is well known and, over the course of time, a wide range of configurations of such boards have been developed with the view of improving the drying of pelts. With the mechanisation and organisation of production and the sale of pelts which has taken place, there has also occurred a certain standardisation of pelt sizes, and herewith also of the pelt boards on which the pelts are secured in the stretched position during the drying, with the view of being able to achieve the best possible and uniform pelt quality, which means that the producers can obtain a higher price for the pelts. The pelt boards which have become most widespread, and which today are used by the majority of pelt producers, including mink pelts, are made of wood, and can briefly be described as a flattish piece of wood with a first broad side surface and a second broad side surface, and a first narrow side surface and a sec- ond narrow side surface, the breadth of which is significantly smaller than the breadth of the broad side surfaces, and whose one end (the foot end) is cut off at right-angles to the longitudinal axis of the board, and whose lower end nearest the foot end has a constant breadth, but hereafter gradually decreases towards a pointed but rounded end part (the front end, the nose end), and where the board has a through-going slot between the first broad side surface and the second broad side surface, said slot lying symmetrically around the longitudinal axis of the board and extending between a place near the pointed end part and at least over a half part of the length of the board. The pelt board described above is a board designed for pelts from male animals, which are normally larger than pelts from female animals. A pelt board designed for use in the drying of the leather side of pelts from female animals does not have a lower end where the breadth of the board is constant.

The "nose end" of the pelt is to be understood as that part of the pelt which has earlier covered the cranium of the animal, and in connection with taning of pelts it is that part of the pelt which is placed in/over the pointed but rounded-off end part, which can either be called the front end or the nose end of the board.

The "tail end" of the pelt is to be understood as that end of the pelt where the tail sits and from where the tail extends from the lower edge of the back part, and which can apply in general to the whole circumference of the pelt in said area. In the taning of pelts, the tail end of the pelt is always placed nearest to the foot end of the pelt board.

The "lower end" of the pelt shall be understood to be the lower end of the back part on both sides of the area where the tail extends from the lower edge of the back part.

The "belly side" is to be understood as that side of the pelt where the forelegs and the hind legs are placed. In the following, the expression "taned" pelt is to be understood as a pelt mounted on a pelt board, stretched and secured on the board in the stretched position.

In the following, the "removal" of a pelt shall be understood to be the removal from the board of a pelt which has been stretched and secured in the stretched position on the board, typically after the end of the pelt drying process. The removal procedure also includes the removal of any means which have been used for securing the pelt in the stretched position on the board.

In certain cases, the fat-absorbing material which is placed on the board before the stretching of the pelt consists of a bag made of a fat-absorbing material, preferably a fat-absorbing paper with perforations, e.g. in the form of a so-called "taning bag" which will thus be lying between the wooden board and the leather side of the pelt.

The drying procedure or drying of pelts shall be understood to be the drying to a preferred extent of the leather side of the pelt, where experience has shown that oxidisation and attack on the pelt by mites is excluded. The drying process is typically carried out by the blowing of dry air into the slot in the board via pipes inserted into the slot, where via the perforations in the walls of the taning bag the dry air is diffused out to the leather side of the pelt which is hereby dried.

In the mounting of pelts on pelt boards (in the following called the taning), a stretching of the pelts is effected, and this is often carried out mechanically in order to achieve pelts of the greatest possible length, and herewith the highest obtainable price at the fur auction.

The hitherto most used method of carrying out the taning of pelts involves the manual stretching of the pelt on the pelt board with the leather side facing the board, which is hereafter placed in a machine comprising holding elements for securing the lower end of the board which extend below that part of the board which is covered by the pelt, also after this has been stretched out on the board by the machine. The gripping elements are than inserted into engagement between the leather side and the fur side respectively on the back and the belly side, after which the pelt is stretched out on the board by a relative displacement between the gripping elements and the board, after which the pelt is fastened on the board in the stretched position by the shooting-in of staples which penetrate the pelt and are anchored in the board itself.

The pelt is then dried while sitting stretched out on the board, the result being that elongated holes stemming from the staples fastening the pelt on the board arise in the pelt. The consequence of these holes, which are found on both the back side of the pelt, which is the most valuable part of the pelt, as well as on the belly side in the hind leg parts, is that the pelt in these areas is of no value, in that these parts of the pelt with the holes can not be used in the further processing of the pelt. It is thus important that the staples are placed as closely as possible to the lower edges of the pelt without the pelt drawing itself free of the staples during the drying, with further damage to the pelt. For this purpose there have been developed taning machines which, among other things, are known from DK 169525, which discloses a taning machine comprising gripping elements and sensors which control the extent of the stretching of the pelt on the board, so that the optimal securing can take place without the staples being drawn out.

In the removal of the pelts, this fastening of the pelts also results in the need for a not inconsiderable extent of manual labour in connection with the removal of said staples, in that the removal of these must take place without further damage to the pelt. Finally, the use of the staples results in damage to the pelt board material, which is most often of wood, so that after a time the boards have to be replaced.

The ideal method for the stretching and taning of pelts will thus be that the pelt is able to be secured in the stretched position without the use of staples. From WO-A1 -0162985 there is known a method and a holding bag for securing the pelt in the stretched position during the drying, where after the pelt is stretched on the board a bag is drawn over the fur side of the pelt, and where the inside of the bag is dimensioned so that by the outwardly-directed forces of the hairs are such that the grain side the pelt is pressed so much against the board that the pelt is herewith secured in the stretched position without the use of staples, which otherwise penetrate both the pelt and the board. The above-mentioned reduction in the value of the pelt as the result of holes is hereby avoided, which means that it will thus be possible to obtain a considerably higher price for the pelt. A method and a machine for the taning of pelts is known from DK 2000 01174L, where the machine is arranged with gripping elements in such a manner that it is possible for a holding bag to be drawn over a pelt which has been stretched by the machine, and where said pelt is mounted on a traditional pelt board, and where the holding elements consist of flat, tooth-shaped holding elements which engage with the back side and the belly side (leg-side) of the pelt from underneath, with the result that the holding bag can be drawn over the pelt to a level below the lower edge of the back side of the pelt.

However, use of this method in practice has shown that the pelt shrinks on each side of the tail root during the drying, which often results in a reduction in the price of the pelt as a consequence of the pelt not having the expected size after the taning. The reason for this is that the holding bag can not exercise a pressure against the fur side of the pelt along the broad sides of the pelt board which is suf- ficient to create a frictional force between the surface of the board and the leather side of the pelt, and which is sufficient to counteract the slipping of the above- mentioned sides of the pelt. The result of this is that continuous use has been made of a smaller number of staples for the securing of the said slipping parts of the pelt during the drying process, inasmuch as that the reduction in price per pelt in a lower size category is greater than the reduction in price for the holes left in the pelt by the staples.

A solution to this problem could be to stretch the pelts to a somewhat further degree on the pelt boards, but the known taning machines do not offer adequate facilities for a preferred stretching of the pelt on the boards, inasmuch as the known taning machines' holding elements establish a counter-hold during the stretching of the pelts along two relatively narrow engagement surfaces on the one or on each flat side of the board, the result being that the pelts, if they are stretched to a greater extent, will be damaged in the holding areas, which are also the most valuable parts.

In the meantime, a further development has taken place of the pelt boards/distension elements which are used in connection with the stretching, securing and drying of pelts, so that it is possible to achieve an effective securing of the whole of the pelt during the drying process, without the shrinking/slipping of the lower ends of the pelt. Broadly speaking, the further development consists in making the broad sides of the distension elements/pelt board convex/concave in rela- tion to the centre axis of the board, whereby a better counter-hold force is achieved in those areas of the stretched pelt which with the traditionally used pelt boards are known to slip. Said configuration of the boards has thus resulted in the possibility of being able to secure the pelt in the stretched position on a pelt board during the drying, and without the use of staples which leave holes in the pelts. There has also been developed a taning machine for use in the taning of pelts on said pelt boards. The taning machine is disclosed in WO 2005/028682 A1.

The development of improved methods and machines for the taning of pelts has thus hitherto been focussed greatly on achieving a pelt which is as large as possible after conclusion of the drying process, and on achieving of a quality of the dried pelt so that oxidisation or attack my mites does not arise in the pelts. Also, focus has been placed to some extent on the reduction in the time consumed in the taning of the pelts, and this has also been reduced by the development of new machines. However, there still remains the problem concerning the handling of the tail or tail part of the pelt which, if this is not folded out and secured in the folded- out position, could be a serious source for the occurrence of oxidisation and attack by mites in the dried pelt, in that during the drying process the tail part of the pelt will crumple up and thus not be dried to the same degree as the remaining part of the pelt stretched on the pelt board/distension element.

The folding out of the tail part in connection with the taning procedure, and the securing of same in the folded out position, is thus important for being able to maintain the progress already made with the more modern methods for the taning of pelts. The folding out of the tail part is thus a procedure carried out manually, where the tail is folded out after the pelt has been mounted on the board, first by the folding out the tail part and subsequently, with the use of wooden pelt boards and staples, the securing of the tail part to the board by means of one or more staples. Alternatively, where use is made of holding bags for securing the pelt on the board in the stretched position, by manipulating the tail part to a folded out position in underr the folding bag, and then drawing the bag the rest of the way down over the end of the tail part for the securing of the pelt in the folded out position.

Already with the use of the holding bags for securing the pelts and the folded out tail part there has been achieved a saving in the labour involved, in that the removal of staples in connection with the mounting of the pelts is time consuming, and the use of staples damages the wooden board. However, studies of the mounting procedure have shown that the time involved in carrying out the work of folding out and securing of the tail part in the folded out position constitutes approx. 33% of the time involved in the whole of the mounting procedure, which combined over a whole working day is a considerable part of the work of carrying out the mounting procedure.

It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a method for the folding out of the tail part of a pelt from a furred animal, and the securing of said tail part in the folded out position in connection with the stretching of pelts on pelt boards with the use of a taning machine comprising means for implementing a relative displacement between the distension element or a pelt board on which a pelt has been mounted between holding elements and gripping elements for securing the pelt during the stretching, which is carried out by a relative displacement between the distension element/pelt board and the gripping elements in the longitudinal direction of the pelt board.

This is achieved by implementing the following operations:

- displacement of first half-parts of at least two tail folding-out jaws into engagement against each side of a tail guide, - the placing of a distension element or a pelt board on which a pelt has been loosely drawn in the holding elements,

- the placing of the tail part of the pelt on the tail guide and the first half-parts of the tail folding-out jaws, where the tail guide is oriented substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the distension element/pelt board, - the placing of the back side of the pelt in contact with relevant first half- part(s) of the taning machine's gripping elements,

- displacement of a counter-hold cooperating with the tail guide to an active position, where the counter-hold clamps the tail part in its position in the tail guide,

- displacement of the second set of half-parts of the tail folding-out jaws to- wards the first half-parts of the tail folding-out jaws, whereby the tail part sits clamped between the first and the second set of half parts of the tail folding-out jaws.

- activation of relevant second half-parts of the taning machine's gripping elements for engagement and clamping fast of the back side of the pelt,

- activation of the taning machine's gripping elements for clamping of the leg/belly part of the pelt, - stretching of the pelt on the distension element/the board by implementing a relative displacement between the distension element/the board and the gripping elements in the longitudinal direction of the board,

- folding out the tail part of the pelt by implementing a substantially sideways displacement in relation to the tail guide of the first and second set of tail folding-out jaws in a direction away from the tail guide,

- displacement of the counter-hold which cooperates with the tail guide to a passive position at a distance from the tail part of the pelt,

- securing of the folded out tail part and the stretched pelt in the stretched position on the distension element,

- opening of the taning machine's gripping elements and the tail folding-out jaws,

- removal of the distension element/the board with the pelt now stretched and with the tail part folded out.

There is hereby achieved a considerable saving of the time consumed in the taning of a pelt, inasmuch as the folding out of its tail part and the securing of this is carried out mechanically and in the same operation as the actual taning of the pelt, and the saving is considerable regardless of whether use is made of staples for the securing of the pelt in the stretched position on the distension element/pelt board, and the tail part of the pelt in the folded out position. The saving is effected by the folding out and securing of the tail part in the folded out position being implemented at the same time that the pelt is mounted. This means that there is no need to carry out any subsequent time- demanding manipulations of the mounted pelt for folding out the tail part and the securing of this in the folded out position.

With a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the securing of the tail part in the folded out position, and the stretched pelt in the stretched position on the distension element, is carried out by the drawing of a holding bag over the pelt.

There is hereby achieved the advantage that there are no staples to be taken out when the pelt is removed, and further that both the pelt stretched on the distension element/the board and the folded out tail part are secured by means of one and the same holding bag, which moreover does not give rise to any damage to the pelt or the pelt board/distension element on which the pelt is secured in the stretched position.

With a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the inven- tion, whereby there is achieved an improved stretching of the pelt in combination with the folding out, the holding elements for the distension element/the board and/or the means of implementing the relative displacement between the gripping elements and the distension elements/the board and/or the gripping elements can be given a vibrating movement in connection with the stretching of the pelt on the distension element/the board by implementing a displacement respectively between the distension element/the board and the gripping elements in the longitudinal direction of the board.

It is hereby achieved that the pelt is stretched in a particularly effective man- ner, and at the same time that the tail part is both folded out and stretched, in that this is secured by the drawing-over of a holding bag which is led over the fur side of the pelt and down for the covering of the tail part.

A taning machine for the execution of the method according to the invention, and comprising at least first holding elements for the fastening of a distension element or a pelt board on which a pelt is mounted, and at least a first set of gripping elements which can be activated for securing the back of the pelt, and/or a second set of gripping elements which can be activated for securing the leg side of the pelt, and means for the implementation of a relative dis- placement in the longitudinal direction of the board respectively between the holding elements for fastening the board and the first and/or the second set of gripping elements for stretching of a pelt which beforehand has been mounted loosely on the distension element/the board, is characterised in that it comprises a tail part folding-out element consisting of a tail guide in the form of an elongated element placed between, but outside the area of action for the first set of gripping elements, where said tail guide is oriented substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the distension element/the board, a counter-hold which cooperates with the tail guide and which via an actuator is displaceable between a passive position at a distance from the tail guide and an active position where the counter-hold is in contact with the tail guide or on a tail part placed on the guide, which is hereby clamped between the tail guide and the counter-hold, and at least two tail folding-out jaws which cooperate with the tail guide and which are substantially sideways displaceable in relation to the orientation of the tail guide, comprising first half parts for displacement between a first outer position at a distance from the tail guide, and a second outer position in contact with the facing sides of the tail guide, and with the first half parts cooperating with second half parts which can be activated for displacement between a passive outer position and an active outer position, where the sides facing towards the first half parts of the second cooperating half parts are in contact with the first half parts for engagement along the sides of the tail part of the pelt, typically ex- tending from a part of the tail part which is lying nearest to the lower end of the back part of the pelt on each side of the tail guide.

There is herewith disclosed a taning machine comprising tail part folding-out means which, at the same time that a relevant pelt is mounted, ensure that the tail part is folded out and secured in the folded out position, which will reduce the amount of time for the mounting of the pelt by approx. 33%, which makes the mounting procedure significantly more effective, while at the same time it is ensured that the tail part of the pelt, in the implementation of the subsequent drying procedure, is dried to the same degree of dryness as the remaining part of the pelt, whereby oxidisation and attack by mites is counteracted in an effective manner.

With the view of ensuring an effective drawing-on of the holding bag for securing of the stretched pelt with folded-out tail part, the taning machine can also comprise, in the longitudinal direction of the board, a drawing-on claw for a holding bag which is displaceable and can be activated for the drawing-on and leading down of a loosely mounted holding bag over the fur side of a pelt with folded-out tail part and stretched on the taning machine to an area close to the tip of the folded out tail part.

There is hereby achieved an immediate fixing/securing of the stretched pelt with folded out tail part on a relevant pelt board/distension element, inasmuch as the holding bag is drawn on mechanically in connection with the conclusion of the mounting procedure in the taning machine according to the inven- tion, and hereafter it is merely required to take the pelt board/distension element on which the pelt is stretched with folded-out tail part out of the taning machine and, in this position, with the pelt secured by the holding bag, and with a short pull in the lower end of the holding bag, pull this down so that this covers the tip of the tail part of the pelt, which can very quickly be carried out manually.

Since the tail part is broader at the tail root, and decreases in breadth towards the tip of the tail, with the view of achieving an improved gripping function for the tail folding-out gripping elements, it will be appropriate for the tail guide to be configured with a contact surface for the tail part, the breadth of which from the area nearest the tail root is decreasing towards the tip of the tail.

With the view of also being able the fold out the tail part in its longitudinal direction, the tail folding-out jaws can be arranged in such a manner that these, in combination with the substantially sideways displacement, can also be displaced at an angle downwards in the direction of the foot of the distension element or pelt board.

There is hereby achieved an improved folding out of the tail part of the pelt, in that the tail part folding-out jaws are led with a sideways-directed movement approximately at right-angles to the side limits of the tail part, which results in a more uniform folding out of the tail part of the pelt. With the view of ensuring an effective stretching of a relevant pelt on a relevant distension element, and an equally effective folding out of the tail part of the pelt, the holding elements for the pelt board and/or the means for imple- menting a relative displacement between the board/distension element with the pelt and/or the gripping elements for the pelt on the board can be provided with a vibrator.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, where

Fig. 1 is a front view of a taning machine comprising a tail folding out element for execution of the method according to the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view seen at an angle from in front and the right of the taning machine shown in fig. 1 , and showing the tail folding out element in the open position, Fig. 3 is a detail plan view seen at an angle from the rear of the taning machine shown in fig. 1 , and showing the tail folding out element in the open position,

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view seen at an angle from the front of the taning machine shown in fig. 1 , and showing the tail folding out element in the partly closed position,

Fig. 5 is a detail section of a second embodiment of the tail folding out element for execution of the method according to the invention.

In fig. 1 there is shown a front view of an embodiment of a taning machine 2 for execution of the method according to the invention. The taning machine 2 comprises holding means 4 for the fastening of the lower end of a distension element/pelt board (not shown), where said holding means 4 are fastened to a U-shaped bracket plate 6 which is housed on a vertically oriented guide rail 8 in a displaceable manner. The displacement of the U-shaped bracket plate

6 in the direction of the guide rail rakes place by means of an actuator which, in the embodiment shown, consists of a pneumatic plunger 9. On the U- shaped bracket plate 6 there is also a vibrator unit 100, which is activated in connection with the stretching of pelts on distension elements/pelt boards placed in the taning machine 2.

The taning machine 2 also comprises gripping elements 10 disposed at a level above the holding means 4, where the positioning of which is shown encircled and with the reference number 13.

In the shown embodiment, the taning machine also comprises a drawing-on claw 12, 18 which is displaceable and can be activated for the drawing of a loosely mounted holding bag over the fur side of a pelt (not shown) stretched with folded-out tail part on the taning machine, and down to an area near the tip of the folded out tail. The drawing-on claw 12 is disposed above the gripping elements 10 and is housed in a displaceable manner on a slide 14, which is displaceable on the guide rail 8 by means of an actuator which, in the shown embodiment, consists of a pneumatic plunger 16. The drawing-on claw 12 comprises clamping elements 18 which by means of a pneumatic plunger 20 are displaceable between a passive outer position (cf. fig. 1) and an active position (not shown), where the clamping elements 18 are pressed against the outer side of a holding bag /not shown) drawn over the fur side of a pelt (not shown) stretched on a distension element/pelt board on the tanmg machine 2.

As will appear more clearly from fig. 2 and fig. 3, the gripping elements 10 consist of inner parts 22 and outer parts 24, 24'. The inner parts 22 of the gripping elements consist of open but laterally reversed concave half parts 26, 28 which face each other and are displaceable. The half parts 26, 28 are housed on respective brackets 30 which, by a pivot connection 32, are disposed opposite each other, said brackets 30 being displaceable towards and away from each other by actuators 34, between a closed position where facing end parts 36, 38 of the inner parts 22 are approximately in contact with each other (cf. fig. 4), and with the surface (not shown) of the distension element/the pelt board (not shown), and an open position where the inner parts 22 are lying at a distance from each other.

The outer parts 24, 24' are arranged on the respective brackets 30 by pivotal arms 40, 42, and by actuators 44 said arms 40, 42 are displaceable between a position where flange edges 46 on the outer parts 24, 24' are pressed against tracks 48 (cf. fig. 3) in the upper edge of the inner parts 22, and a po- sition where said flange edges 33 are lying at distance from said tracks 32

(cf. fig. 2, fig. 3 and fig. 4).

As will further appear from fig. 2, fig. 3 and fig. 4, of the shown embodiment of the taning machine according to the invention, the facing sides 50 of the inner parts 22 have a concave extent which is suitable for a distension element/pelt board (not shown) with broad sides which are convex/concave in relation to the centre axis of the pelt board in at least two directions. It shall be mentioned that the inner parts 20 and the outer parts 24, 23' can be of other configurations than those shown here, e.g. the sides fac- ing each other can be configured to accommodate pelt boards with a rectangular section.

A more detailed description of the gripping elements is to be foind in WO2005/028682. As will appear from figs. 2, 3 and 4, the shown embodiment of the taning machine according to the invention further comprises a tail folding-out element 60 which is placed between but outside the area of action for the gripping elements 10. The tail guide 60, which in the shown embodiment consists of an elongated flat element which is oriented substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis (not shown) of the pelt board/distension element or parallel with the guide rail 8, and comprises two side surfaces 62, 64.

The tail guide 60 cooperates with at least two tail folding-out jaws 66, 66', which are displaceable in a substantially sideways direction in relation to the orientation of the tail guide. The tail folding-out jaws 66 comprise first half parts 68 for displacement by an actuator (not shown) between a first outer position at a distance from the tail guide 60 (cf. fig. 2 and fig. 3), and a second outer position, where the sides 69 of the first half parts 68 facing towards the tail guide are in contact with the facing sides 62, 64 of the tail guide (cf. fig. 4). The first half parts 68 of the tail folding-out jaws 66 cooperate with other half parts 70 which, via activation by an actuator 72, are displaceable between a passive outer position at a distance from the tail guide (cf. figs. 2,

3 and 4), and an active outer position (not shown) where towards the first half parts facing sides 74 of the other cooperating half parts 70 they are pressed into contact with the first half parts 68 for engagement along the sides of the tail part of the pelt, typically extending from a part of the tail part which is Iy- ing closest to the lower end of the back part on each side of the tail guide 60.

The tail guide 60 also cooperates with a displaceable counter-hold 76 which via an actuator 78 is displaceable between a passive position at a distance from the tail guide 60 cf. fig.3, and an active position (not shown) where the counter-hold 76 is displaced into contact with the tail guide, or a tail part (not shown) placed on the guide, which is hereby clamped between the tail guide 60 and the counter-hold 76. It is hereby achieved that the tail part is secured in the centre position in a linear manner where the counter-hold 76 is in contact with the tail guide 60.

In fig. 5 there is shown a section of a second embodiment of the tail folding- out element on a taning machine for execution of the method according to the invention. As will appear from the figure, the taning machine's gripping claws 10 are identical to those shown in fig. 2, 3 and 4, i.e. comprising inner parts 22 and outer parts 24. As will further appear from fig.5, the first half parts 68 of the tail folding-out jaws 66, 66' consist of a plate 80 comprising a recess 82, the one side of which comprises a toothed rack 84 which cooperates with a pinion 86 on an axle 88, and said axle is housed in a block 90 and stands in connection with a not-shown pinion on the opposite side of the block 90, which in turn is connected to a toothed rack 92 on a pneumatic piston 94, 95. By activation of the pneumatic piston 94, 95 between preset outer points, the axle 88 is made to rotate by displacement of the toothed rack 92, whereby the plate 80 is displaced into or out of contact with the tail guide 60. The other half parts 70 of the tail folding-out jaws 66, 66' are housed on a plate 80 on which the actuators 72 are placed for activation and deactivation of the half parts 70. The tail folding-out jaws shown in fig. 5 are seen in the active position, where the facing sides 74 of the other cooperating half parts 70 of the tail folding-out claws 66, 66' are pressed by the actuator 72 into contact with the first half part 68.

The tail folding-out element functions together with the taning machine 2 as will be described in the following with reference to fig. 2, fig. 3 and fig. 4, and to some degree to fig. 5.

The first half parts 68 of the tail folding-out jaws 66 are displaced into contact against the side surfaces 62, 64 of the tail guide 60.

Hereafter, a distension element/pelt board with a loosely mounted pelt, and over this a loosely-drawn holding bag (not shown), is placed in the taning machine's holding elements 4.

The back part of the pelt is then brought into contact with the taning machine's gripping elements' 10 inner parts 22, and the tail part is placed on the tail guide 60 and the first half parts 68 of the tail folding out jaws 66 facing towards the tail part.

The counter-hold 76 cooperating with the tail guide 60 is brought into contact against the fur side (not shown) of the tail part of the pelt, so that the tail part is secured in its position by clamping between the tail guide 60 and the counter-hold 76. Displacement of the second set of half parts 70 of the tail folding-out jaws 66 towards the facing sides of the first half parts 68 of the tail folding-out jaws 66, or into contact against the tail part (not shown) on both sides of the tail guide 60.

Activation of relevant second half parts (the outer parts) 24 of the taning machine's gripping elements 10, 12 for contact with relevant sides of the inner parts 22 for contact with or clamping fast of the back part of the pelt.

Placing of the leg part (not shown) of the pelt in contact with the taning machine's gripping elements' 10 inner parts 22, followed by activation of relevant second half parts (the outer parts) 24' of the taning machine's gripping elements 10, 12 for contact with relevant sides of the inner parts 22, for contact with and clamping fast of the leg part (not shown) of the pelt.

Stretching of the pelt on the distension element/pelt board by implementation by the actuator 9 of a relative displacement between the distension element/pelt board and the gripping elements, oriented in the longitudinal direction of the distension element, which displaces the holder 4 for the distension element/pelt board in the direction towards the taning machine's gripping elements 10.

Folding-out of the tail part (not shown) by implementation of a relative substantially sideways displacement, in relation to the tail part, between the re- spective first and second set of tail folding-out jaws 66, 66' in the direction away from the tail guide, whereby the tail part is folded out.

Displacement of the counter-hold 76, which cooperates with the tail guide 60, to a passive position at a distance from the tail part.

Securing of the folded-out tail part, and of the pelt stretched on the distension element/pelt board in the stretched position. This can take place by the draw- ing-on of a holding bag (not shown) by activation via the actuator 20 of the drawing-on claw 12, the jaws 18 of which are brought into contact with the holding bag drawn loosely over the fur side of the pelt, followed by a displacement of the drawing-on claw 12, 18 in the direction of the gripping elements 10, by activation of the slide 14 by activation of the pneumatic piston 16. Alternatively, the securing of the tail part and the stretched pelt can be carried out by means of staples which are knocked through the pelt and into the board.

Opening of the taning machine's gripping elements 10 and the tail folding-out jaws 66, 66', and removal of the distension element/pelt board with the stretched pelt with folded-out tail part, after which the cycle can be repeated with another relevant distension element with a loosely drawn-on pelt over which a holding bag has been drawn.

With the taning machine with the tail part folding-out element, possibilities are thus provided for a saving of 33% of the time consumed in the taning of a pelt, for example a mink pelt. Which, when considering that the number of pelts which shall be processed by a fur farmer often runs into thousands, is a considerable saving in labour and manhours.

The inventor has also realised that the invention can assume configurations other than the embodiments shown and described in the above with tail folding-out element, which comprises that the pelt is secured in the stretched position with folded-out tail part on the distension element by means of a holding bag, and that for example this can take place with the use if staples.

Claims

1. Method for the folding out of the tail part of a pelt from furred animals, and the securing of said tail part in the folded-out position in connection with the stretching of pelts on pelt boards by use of a taning machine (2) comprising means (8, 9) for implementing a relative displacement between a distension element or a pelt board on which a pelt has been mounted and placed in holding elements (4), and gripping elements (10, 22, 24) for securing the pelt during the stretching, which is carried out by displacement respectively between the distension ele- ment/pelt board and the gripping elements (10, 22, 24) in the longitudinal direction of the board, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the following operations are implemented:

- displacement of first half parts (68) of at least two tail folding-out jaws (66, 66') for contact against each side of a tail guide (60), - placing of a distension element or pelt board with a loosely drawn-on pelt in the holding elements (4,

- placing of the tail part of the pelt on the tail guide (60) and the first half parts of the tail folding-out jaws (68), where the tail guide (60) is oriented substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pelt board/distension element, - placing of the back part in contact with relevant first half parts (22) of the taning machine's gripping elements (10),

- displacement of a counter-hold (76) which cooperates with the tail guide (60) to an active position where the counter.-hold (76) clamps the tail part of the pelt in position on the tail guide (60), - displacement of a second set of half parts (70) of the tail folding-out jaws

(66, 66') towards the first half parts (68) of the tail folding-out jaws, whereby the sides of the tail part are clamped between the first tail folding-out jaws (68) and the second set of half parts of the tail folding-out jaws (70),

- activation of relevant half parts (24) of the taning machine's gripping ele- ments (10) for contact against and clamping fast of the back side of the pelt,

- activation of relevant second half parts (24') of the taning machine's gripping elements (10) for contact against and clamping fast of the leg/belly part of the pelt,

- stretching of the pelt on the distension element/pelt board by implementing a relative displacement between the distension element/pelt board and the gripping elements (10) in the longitudinal direction of the board, - folding out of the tail part by implementation of a relative substantially sideways displacement, in relation to the tail guide, of the first and second set of tail folding-out jaws (66, 66') in a direction away from the tail guide (60),

-displacement of counter-hold (76) which cooperates with the tail guide (60) to a passive position at a distance from the tail part,

- securing of the folded-out tail part and the stretched pelt in the stretched position on the distension element, opening of the taning machine's gripping elements (10, 22, 24, 24') and the tail folding-out jaws (66, 66'), - removal of the distension element/pelt board with the now stretched pelt with folded-out tail part.

2. Method according to claim ^ c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the securing of the tail part in the folded-out position and the pelt in the stretched position on the distension element is carried out by the drawing of a holding bag over the pelt.

3. Method according to any of the claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that in connection with the stretching of the pelt on the distension element/pelt board, a relative displacement is carried out between the distension element/pelt board and the gripping elements in the longitudinal direction of the board, with a vibrating movement being applied to the holding elements (4) for the distension element/pelt board and/or for implementation of the relative displacement between the gripping elements (10, 22, 24, 24') and the distension element/pelt board and/or the gripping elements.

4. Taning machine (2) for execution of the method according to claim 1, comprising at least a first holding element (4) for the fastening of a distension element or a pelt board on which a pelt is placed, and at least a first set of gripping elements (10, 22, 24) which can be activated for securing the back of the pelt, and/or a second set of gripping elements (10, 22, 24') for securing the leg side of the pelt, and means (8, 9) for implementing a relative displacement in the longitudinal direction of the board relatively between the holding elements (4) for the securing of the board and the first and/or the second set of gripping elements (10, 22, 24, 24') for the stretching of a pelt loosely placed beforehand on a relevant pelt board/ distension element, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that it comprises a tail folding- out element consisting of a tail guide (60) in the form of an elongated element placed between but outside the area of action for the first set of gripping elements (10), said tail guide (6) being oriented substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pelt board/distension element, and cooperating with the tail guide a counter-hold (76) which via an actuator (78) is displaceable between a passive position at a distance from the tail guide (60) and an active position where the counter-hold (76) is in contact with the tail guide (60) or with a tail part placed on the guide, whereby the tail part is clamped between the tail guide (60) and the counter-hold (76), and cooperating with the tail guide at least two substantially sideways displaceable, in relation to the orientation of the tail guide, tail folding-out jaws (66, 66') comprising first half parts (68) for displacement between a first outer position at a distance from the tail guide (60) and a second outer position in contact with the facing sides (62, 64) of the tail guide (60) and with the first half parts (68), other cooperating half parts (70) which can be activated for displacement between a passive outer position and an active outer position where towards the first half parts (68) facing sides of the other cooperating half parts (70) they are in contact with the first half parts (68) for engagement along the sides of the tail part, typically extending from a part of the tail part of the pelt which is lying nearest to the lower end of the back side of the pelt on each side of the tail guide (60).

5. Taning machine (2) according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that in the longitudinal direction of the board it comprises a displaceable drawing-on claw

(12) for a holding bag, housed on means (8, 14) which can be activated by an actuator (16) for the implementation of a displacement of the drawing-on claw (12, 18, 20) in the direction of the taning machine's gripping means (10) for the drawing of a loosely applied holding bag over the fur side of pelt stretched on the pelt board with folded-out tail part, to an area near the tip of the folded-out tail part of the pelt.

6. Taning machine according to claim 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the tail guide is configured with a contact surface for the tail part of the pelt, the breadth of which from the area nearest the pelt's tail root is decreasing towards the tip of the tail.

7. Taning machines according to any of the claims 4-6, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the tail folding-out jaws (66, 66') are disposed in such a manner that in combination with the substantially sideways displacement they are also displaced at an angle downwards in the direction of the holding elements (4) for the distension element/pelt board.

8. Taning machine according to any of the claims 4-7, characterised in that the holding elements (4) for the pelt board and/or the means for the implementation of a relative displacement between the pelt board/distension element with the pelt and/or the gripping elements (10) for the pelt on the board are pro- vided with a vibrator (100).