WO2013056712A1

WO2013056712A1 - Apparatus and method for the processing of fur

Info

Publication number: WO2013056712A1
Application number: PCT/DK2012/000114
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claus Tang
Original assignee: JASOPELS AS
Current assignee: JASOPELS AS
Priority date: 2011-10-18
Filing date: 2012-10-18
Publication date: 2013-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-18
Also published as: DK177365B1; DK201300008U3; DK201300007U3

Abstract

An apparatus (2) and a process for the processing of pelts (4), where the pelt (4) is scraped in order to remove undesired fat and tissue from the flesh side (6) of the pelt (4), where the pelt (4) is placed on an oblong mandrel (8) which is displaced along a scraper device (10) comprising rotating scrapers (12) which are brought into contact with the flesh side (6) of the pelt (4), whereby undesired fat and tissue is removed by scraping it off. Following the scraping, the mandrel (8) with the pelt (4) is conveyed through a post treatment unit (16) consisting of one or more scrapers (18), such that the pelt (4) is brought into contract with one or more scrapers (18) which, in the presence of sawdust (21) or other absorbent material, perform a further scraping.

Description

Apparatus and method for the processing of fur

Description

Scope of the invention

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the processing of fur.

Background

When processing various types of pelts such as those of minks, devices are used after the skinning to scrape off fat and other undesired tissue from the pelt's inner side.

The scraping process typically uses systems which are brought into contact with the flesh side of the pelt. Each pelt is normally stretched on a mandrel for the scraping process. The mandrel is then conveyed into a housing where scraping devices are used, configured to undertake a mechanical scraping off of fat and other undesired tissue from the flesh side of the pelt. The scraping devices are often designed as a rotating scraper wheel which is driven by an electric motor.

Sawdust may be sprinkled on the pelt after the scraping process to absorb fat. DK150380B describes an apparatus for the sprinkling of sawdust on to the pelt. When the pelt is treated in accordance with these guidelines, there is still a certain amount of residual fat in the pelt, even after a subsequent drying process. This residual fat has a number of unfortunate effects on the pelt. In the worst case, the residual fat has the effect that some of the hairs falling off the pelt. It is therefore desirable to reduce the amount of residual fat in the pelt. The object of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a process and an apparatus for the removal and reduction in the amount of residual fat in pelts. This object is achieved with a process as defined in claim 1 , and with an apparatus as defined in claim 8. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and are explained in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying figures. The process according to the invention is a process for the processing of pelts where the pelt is scraped in order to remove undesired fat and tissue from the ffesh side of the pelt, where the pelt is arranged on an oblong mandrel which is displaced along a scraping device comprising rotating scrapers which are brought into contact with the flesh side of the pelt, thereby removing undesired fat and tissue by scraping it off. After the scraping, the mandrel with the pelt is conveyed through a post treatment unit consisting of one or more scrapers, so that the pelt is brought into contact with one or more scrapers which, in the presence of sawdust or another absorbent material, perform a further scraping.

The amount of the residual fat in the pelt can thus be removed or significantly reduced.

Accordingly, in the process according to the present invention the result of reducing residual fat on the pelt is obtained by means of a further scraping in which the pelt comprises sawdust or other absorbent material which has been sprinkled onto the pelt arranged on the mandrel.

The apparatus according to the invention is an apparatus for the removal of undesired fat and tissue from the flesh side of a pelt. The apparatus comprising: - an oblong mandrel configured to support a pelt placed on it with the flesh side turned outwards,

- a scraper device comprising one or more rotating scrapers configured to be brought into contact with the flesh side of the pelt in order to re- move undesired fat and tissue by scraping it off, and

- means to displace the mandrel in its longitudinal direction. The apparatus also includes a post treatment unit consisting of one or more rotat- able and, in at least one direction, movable scrapers configured to be brought into contact with the pelt in such a way that one or more scrap- ers may perform a further scraping while the sawdust or other absorbent material is present.

The apparatus can thus remove or significantly reduce the amount of the residual fat on the pelt.

Accordingly, in the apparatus according to the present invention the result of reducing residual fat on the pelt is obtained by means of a further scraping taking place in a post treatment unit comprising means for sprinkling sawdust or other absorbent material onto the pelt arranged on the mandrel.

It is preferable that the scrapers are rotating and are driven by an electric motor with a driveshaft on which the scrapers are fitted so they can rotate.

It is an advantage for the process to include a step where sawdust or other absorbent material is added to the mandrel during its passage through a housing which contains the scraper device. This ensures an ideal possibility of removing the residual fat in the pelt. Sawdust or other absorbent material may be added using an existing unit in the housing (a buffer tank) containing sawdust or other absorbent material.

It is preferable that after the scraping, the mandrel with the pelt is con- veyed through a post treatment unit consisting of two rotatable scrapers with parallel oriented driveshafts, said scrapers being configured to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the mandrel.

The two rotatable scrapers with parallel oriented driveshafts ensure that an efficient scraping can be provided. If the mandrel has a rectangular cross-section, it will be an advantage to arrange the rotatable scrapers with parallel oriented driveshafts in such a way that the scrapers are configured to be pressed against two of the mandrel's opposite sides (e.g. two vertical surfaces).

It is a significant advantage if the scrapers are configured to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the mandrel and that the scrapers are mounted in such a way that they can be moved. This enables the force with which the scrapers are pressed against the mandrel to be ad- justed relative to e.g. the pelt's thickness or the mandrel's geometric shape, including its dimensions.

It is an advantage that the scrapers are displaceable in a horizontal direction if the mandrel has vertical parallel sides against which the scrap- ers are configured to be pressed.

It is preferable for the mandrel comprising the pelt after the scraping is conveyed through a post treatment unit consisting of two first rotatable scrapers having parallel driveshafts and a third rotatable scraper which is configured to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the mandrel. The third scraper enables a highly efficient post treatment of the pelt. It is preferable that the third rotatable scraper comprises a driveshaft which is essentially oriented perpendicular to the first two rotatable scrapers, and that the third rotatable scraper is configured to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the mandrel. This ensures that the third scraper supplements the cleaning process carried out by the first two scrapers.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the post treatment unit comprises two first scrapers with parallel oriented driveshafts, said scrapers being configured to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the mandrel.

Hereby, the apparatus will be able to perform an efficient removal and reduction of the residual amount of fat in the pelt.

It is preferable that the post treatment unit includes a third scraper having a driveshaft oriented perpendicular to the driveshafts of the first two scrapers, where all the scrapers are configured to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the mandrel. The third scraper having a driveshaft oriented perpendicular to the driveshafts of the first two scrapers enables an extremely efficient cleaning, as the different scrapers supplement one another during the cleaning process due to their mutual orientation. It is an advantage that the post treatment unit comprises a housing with a front and a back having an opening, and that the mandrel is configured to be conveyed out through the opening and further through the post treatment unit.

This ensures that the post treatment unit can be retrofitted to existing cleaning machines. It is an advantage that the post treatment unit comprises two or more

scrapers, each being protected by a guard. The guard protects against items entering from the outside and may be able to absorb fat and other tissue which is removed from the flesh side of the pelt in the post treatment process.

It is preferable that the scrapers be driven by electric motors and that the scrapers are configured to be displaced in against the mandrel, and that the apparatus comprises a control unit configured to adjust the force with which the scrapers are pressed against the mandrel.

This ensures that the force with which the scrapers are pressed against the mandrel may be adjusted in order to comply with any special requirements (e.g. adaptations on the basis of pelt characteristics or

changed mandrel dimensions).

In a preferred embodiment of the process and the apparatus according to the present invention, the oblong mandrel comprises a rectangular cross-section, and wherein the post treatment unit comprises four scrapers, and wherein during operation the scrapers are configured to operate essentially at right angles to the sides of the mandrel.

This embodiment ensures that the mandrel only needs to be displaced relative to the scrapers only once.

Description of figures

The invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying

drawing, where

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a traditional system for cleaning

pelts, Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a pelt which undergoes a conventional processing,

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of two different apparatuses according to the invention,

Fig. 4 is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a post treatment unit according to the invention.

Detailed description

First, it should be noted that the accompanying drawing only illustrates non-limiting embodiment. A number of other versions will be possible within the scope of the present invention. In the following, equivalent or identical elements in the various versions are given the same reference designation.

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a conventional system for cleaning pelts. This system comprises an oblong conical mandrel 8 having a rectangular cross section. The mandrel 8 is configured to receive and stretch a pelt which is to be cleaned of fat and other undesired tissue. The mandrel 8 is configured to be conveyed through a housing 20 containing a scraper device 10 consisting of a number of scrapers 12. Although Fig. 1 only illustrates one scraper 12, in practice the scraper device will comprise several scrapers 12 - typically three or more scrapers 12. Scraper 12 is designed as a toothed wheel which can scrape the pelt when scraper 12 is rotated and simultaneously brought into contact with a pelt's flesh side. Each scraper 2 is fitted so that it can be rotated on a driveshaft 26 which is operated by an electric motor 14.

Fig. 2 is illustrating schematically how a pelt 4 undergoes a conventional processing. Pelt 4 is stretched, with the flesh side 6 turned outwards, on a mandrel 8, which is conveyed into a scraper device 10 consisting of three scrapers 12, each rotatab!y mounted on a driveshaft 26, which in turn is driven by its own electric motor 14. Sawdust 21 is sprinkled over and onto the pelt 4 after its passage through the scrapers 12.

Fig. 3a is a schematic illustration of an apparatus 2 according to the invention, seen from above. Apparatus 2 comprises an oblong mandrel 8, one end of which is tapered (conical). The mandrel 8 is configured to be displaced in the lead-in direction X, which is parallel to the mandrel's longitudinal axis. Apparatus 2 also includes a box-shaped housing 20, which is open at the top. The housing 20 comprises a scraper device having a number of scrapers (not shown). The mandrel 8 is configured to be conveyed into the housing 20 through an opening in the housing's front 22 and further through an opening (see Fig. 5) in the housing's rear side 24, where a post treatment unit 6 is fitted.

The post treatment unit 16 consists of two scrapers with vertically oriented driveshafts, each connected to its own electric motor 14 and 14', and a third scraper 18" rotatably mounted on a horizontally oriented driveshaft operated by an electric motor 14". On the side of housing 20 is a control unit 34 which is configured to switch motors 14, 14' and 14" on and off and to adjust the force with which the scrapers (only one of which, 8", is visible) are pressed against the mandrel 8.

During use of the apparatus 2 a pelt with the flesh side turned outwards is stretched on the mandrel 8. Mandrel 8 is then conveyed via a feed-in mechanism (not shown) into an opening in the front 22 of the housing 20. A scraping process takes place in the housing 20, corresponding to the one outlined in Fig. 2. The pelt is cleaned from fat, and sawdust or another absorbent material is sprinkled over that part of the mandrel 8 which has passed through the scraper device in housing 20. A tank with sawdust or other absorbent material is present in housing 20. It is an advantage if housing 20 comprises a mechanism for automatic application of sawdust or other absorbent material on to mandrel 8. When mandrel 8 has passed the scraper device in housing 20, mandrel 8 is conveyed further out through an opening (see Fig. 5) in the rear 24 of housing 20. When mandrel 8 is conveyed out through the opening in the rear of the housing 24, mandrel 8 with the pelt is conveyed through post treatment unit 16, where the first two scrapers with vertically orient- ed driveshafts and the third scraper 18" are rotatably mounted on horizontally oriented driveshaft 26 and perform a further scraping process while sawdust or other absorbent material is present to absorb fat. This scraping process removes most of the residual fat in the pelt. It is important to emphasise that post treatment unit 16 can comprise more or fewer scrapers 18" than the number shown. It is therefore possible to use a post treatment unit 16 with e.g. one, two, four, five or six scrapers. The scrapers' orientation can be selected as required. It is possible to use a post treatment unit 16 consisting of two scrapers hav- ing horizontally oriented driveshafts, each connected to an electric motor, and a third scraper rotatably installed on a vertically oriented driveshaft d rived by an electric motor. It is, for example, also possible to use a post treatment unit 16 consisting of two scrapers with horizontally oriented driveshafts and two additional scrapers rotatably mounted on a vertically oriented driveshaft.

It is also possible to use scrapers with driveshafts which are neither horizontally nor vertically oriented. In principle, each scraper and its driveshaft can be oriented as required. It can be an advantage to adapt the orientation of each scraper and its driveshaft to the mandrel's geo- metric shape such that during operation, scrapers essentially operate at right angles to the sides of the mandrel.

The sawdust or other absorbent material can e.g. be added manually or via a suitable dosing unit.

Fig. 3b shows another version of an apparatus 2 according to the invention, seen from the side. Apparatus 2 comprises an oblong tapered mandrel 8 with the tapered end pointing towards a box-shaped housing 20. Apparatus 2 comprises a lead-in mechanism (not shown) configured to convey mandrel 8 in the feed-in direction X, parallel to the mandrel's longitudinal axis, through an opening in the housing's front side 22. In housing 20 is arranged a scraper device with a number of scrapers which are not shown (see Fig. 2). The feed-in mechanism is configured to convey mandrel 8 into housing 20 through the opening in the housing's front side 22 and further through an opening in the housing's rear side 24, where a post treatment unit 16 is arranged.

The interior of the post treatment unit 16 cannot be seen in Fig. 3b, but the post treatment unit 6 contains a number of scrapers with

driveshafts, each connected to its own electric motor. At the upper part of housing 20 is arranged a control panel 34 which can be used to switch the motors on and off and to adjust the force with which the scrapers are pressed against mandrel 8.

Housing 20 comprises feet 28, which are in direct contact with the underlying floor. During use of the apparatus, in the same way as described for Fig. 3a, a pelt with the flesh side turned outwards is stretched on mandrel 8, which is conveyed into the opening in the front 22 of hous- ing 20 via the intake mechanism, which is not shown. A scraping pro- cess is performed in housing 20 (see Fig. 2), where the pelt is cleaned from fat.

After the mandrel 8 has passed the scraping device in housing 20, the mandrel is conveyed with stretched pelt 8 out through an opening (see Fig. 5) in the rear 24 of housing 20 and further through post treatment unit 16, where a number of scrapers perform a further scraping in the presence of sawdust or other absorbent material which absorbs fat. Most of the residual fat in the pelt is thereby removed.

Fig. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of apparatus 2 according to the invention, viewed from the side. Apparatus 2 has a tapered mandrel 8 which is partly conveyed into a housing 20 through an opening in the front 22 of housing 20. On the rear 24 of housing 20 is arranged a post treatment unit 16, which has the same basic design as the post treatment units 16 shown in Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b.

The post treatment unit 16 comprises two scrapers with vertically oriented driveshafts, each connected to its own electric motor 14', and a third scraper rotatably mounted on a horizontally oriented driveshaft operated by an electric motor 14". There is a control unit 34 arranged at the top of the side of housing 20 which is configured to switch motors 14' and 14" on and off and to adjust the force with which the scrapers are pressed against mandrel 8.

Fig. 5 shows a post treatment unit 16 according to the invention. Unit 6 comprises two first scrapers 18 and 18' with vertically oriented driveshafts 26, each connected to its own electric motor 14 and 14'. Post treatment unit 16 also comprises a third scraper 18" rotatably mounted on a horizontally oriented driveshaft 26" operated by an electric motor

14". The first two scrapers 18 and 18' are each protected by their guards 30 and 30', installed along each driveshaft 26. Guards 30 and 30' protect scrapers 18 and 18'. Opening 32, through which the mandrel is conveyed, is shown in Fig. 5.

Reference numbers

2 Apparatus

4 Pelt

6 Flesh side

8 Mandrel

10 Scraper device

12 Scraper

14, 4', 14" Electric motor

16 Post treatment unit

18 Scrapers

20 Housing

21 Sawdust

22 Front

24 Rear

26 Driveshaft

28 Feet

30, 30' Guard

X Feed-in direction

32 Opening

34 Control unit

Claims

1. Process for processing pelts (4), where the pelt (4) is scraped in order to remove undesired fat and tissue from the flesh side (6) of the pelt (4), where the pelt (4) is placed on an oblong mandrel (8) which is displaced along a scraper device (10) comprising rotating scrapers (12) which are brought into contact with the flesh side (6) of the pelt (4), thereby removing undesired fat and tissue by scraping it off, characterised in , that the mandrel (8) with the pelt (4) after scraping being conveyed through a

post treatment unit (16) consisting of one or more scrapers (18), such

that the pelt (4) is brought into contact with one or more scrapers (18)

which, in the presence of sawdust (21) or other absorbent material, performs a further scraping.

2. Process according to claim 1 , characterised in, that sawdust (21) or other absorbent material is added to the mandrel on its passage through a housing (20) which contains the scraper device (10).

3. Process according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in, that the

mandrel (8) with the pelt (4) after the scraping being conveyed through a post treatment unit (16) consisting of two rotatable scrapers (18) with

parallel oriented driveshafts (26), said scrapers (18) being configured to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the mandrel (8).

4. A process according to any of the claims 1 - 3, wherein the oblong mandrel (8) comprises a rectangular cross-section.

5. A process according to any of the claims 1 - 4, wherein the post treatment unit ( 6) comprises four scrapers.

6. A process according to any of the claims 1 - 5, wherein during operation the scrapers operate essentially at right angles to the sides of the mandrel (8).

7. A process according to claim 4 and claim 5 and claim 6.

8. Apparatus (2) for removal of undesired fat and tissue from the flesh side (6) of a pelt (4), said apparatus comprising:

- an oblong mandrel (8) configured to support a pelt (4) placed on it with the flesh side turned outwards,

- a scraper device (10) comprising one or more rotating scrapers (12) configured to be brought into contact with the flesh side (6) of the pelt (4) in order to remove undesired fat and tissue via scraping, and

- means to displace the mandrel (8) in its longitudinal direction

characterised in, that the apparatus (2) also comprising a

post treatment unit (16) consisting of one or more rotatable, and at least in one direction movable, scrapers (18) which are configured to be

brought into contact with the pelt (4) in such a way that one or more scrapers (18), in the presence of sawdust or other absorbent material, may perform a further scraping.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in, that the post treatment unit (16) comprises two first scrapers (18 and 18') having parallel oriented driveshafts (26), which scrapers (18 and 18') being configured to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the mandrel (8).

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in, that the post treatment unit (16) further comprising a third scraper (18") having a driveshaft (26) oriented perpendicular at a right angle on the driveshafts (26) of the first two scrapers (18 and 18'), where all the scrapers (18, 18' and 18") are configured to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the mandrel (8).

11. Apparatus according to any of the claims 8 - 10, wherein the oblong mandrel (8) is having a rectangular cross-section.

12. Apparatus according to any of the claims 8 - 11 , wherein the post treatment unit (16) comprises four scrapers.

13. Apparatus according to any of the claims 8 - 12, wherein the orientation of each scraper (18) is adapted to the geometrical shape of the mandrel (8) in such a way that during operation, the scrapers operates essentially at right angles to the sides of the mandrel (8).

14. Apparatus according to claim and claim 12 and claim 13.

15. Apparatus according to any of the claims 8 - 14, characterised in, that the post treatment unit (16) comprising a housing (20) having a front (22) and a rear (24) with an opening (32)_; and that the mandrel (8) is

configured to be conveyed out through the opening (32) and further

through the post treatment unit ( 6).

16. Apparatus according to one of the claims 8 - 15, characterised in, that the post treatment unit ( 6) comprises two or more scrapers, such as two scrapers ( 8 and 18'), each scraper being protected by a guard

(30 and 30').

17. Apparatus according to one of the claims 8 - 16, characterised in , that the scrapers (18, 18' and 18") being driven by electric motors (14) and the scrapers ( 8, 18' and 18") being configured to be displaced in against the mandrel (8), and that the apparatus (2) comprises a control unit (34) configured to adjust the force with which the scrapers (18, 18' and 18") are pressed in against the mandrel (8).