A method and apparatus for grading leather based upon the size and spacing of the breaks in the leather. All or a portion of a hide is fed to a fixture that compresses a local area of the hide into a concave shape. The outer side of the hide is compressed and the inner side of the hide is expanded to cause breaks to be manifested in a local area. The local area of the hide is scanned with a digitizing profilometer that measures the depth of the breaks as the hide is fed through the fixture. The depth data measured by the digitizing profilometer is recorded by a controller. The depth data is then correlated with location data representing the local area scanned to develop a map of the break.

A diagnostic support for a skin includes a radio-transparent structure that defines a folding surface of the skin and on which the skin may be stretched and consequently folded, thereby defining folded, mutually superimposed portions spaced apart from each other. The support may be used for radiographic inspection of a folded animal skin.

Methods and systems for sorting hides are provided. In particular, one or more embodiments comprise a tanning control system that enhances the traceability of hides by capturing and utilizing data related to the unloading, tanning, sorting, and packaging of hides. Furthermore, one or more embodiments enable the tanning control system to improve efficiency by sorting hides based, at least in part, on data generated during prior tanning processes. Additionally, one or more embodiments facilitate the tanning control system in customizing the sorting and packaging of hides based, at least in part, on one or more hide characteristics and/or customer specifications.

A method and apparatus for grading leather based upon the size and spacing of the breaks in the leather. All or a portion of a hide is fed to a fixture that compresses a local area of the hide into a concave shape. The outer side of the hide is compressed and the inner side of the hide is expanded to cause breaks to be manifested in a local area. The local area of the hide is scanned with a digitizing profilometer that measures the depth of the breaks as the hide is fed through the fixture. The depth data measured by the digitizing profilometer is recorded by a controller. The depth data is then correlated with location data representing the local area scanned to develop a map of the break.

Methods and systems for sorting hides are provided. In particular, one or more embodiments comprise a tanning control system that enhances the traceability of hides by capturing and utilizing data related to the unloading, tanning, sorting, and packaging of hides. Furthermore, one or more embodiments enable the tanning control system to improve efficiency by sorting hides based, at least in part, on data generated during prior tanning processes. Additionally, one or more embodiments facilitate the tanning control system in customizing the sorting and packaging of hides based, at least in part, on one or more hide characteristics and/or customer specifications.

Methods and systems for processing raw animal hides into leather are provided. In particular, one or more embodiments comprise a tanning manager that directs the routing of hides to a plurality of tanning drums. This allows the tanning manager to efficiently use the capacity of the plurality of tanning drums and provides improved consistency in the tanning of the hides. Furthermore, one or more embodiments enable the tanning manager to route hides to tanning drums based on various factors, such as hide type, hide weight, and hide size. In addition, one or more embodiments provide the tanning manager with greater control over the processing of hides into leather by customizing the tanning recipes applied to each batch of hides.

Described is a natural leather trimming machine including: an ironing device for stretching and removing creases and wrinkles from the leather, cutting means for cutting the leather along at least one cutting line, a detection unit configured to detect the position of the leather, the shape of at least one relative end edge, and the position of any defects close to at least one relative end edge, a plurality of conveyor belts and a first command and control unit configured to determine the cutting coordinates of the leather.

An apparatus for processing the skin side of a tubular fur where one or more scraping means are configured for being arranged in a first position away from a mandrel of the apparatus with a first distance in relation to the center axis of the mandrel, and in a third position where the scraping means are configured for being in contact with the skin side so as to process the skin side of the fur, where the one or more scraping means are furthermore configured for being arranged in a second predefined position being arranged between the first position and the third second position with a second predefined distance in relation to the centre axis of the mandrel, and the apparatus is configured for automatically releasing the scraping means from the second position towards the third position when predetermined criteria is complied with.

An apparatus for processing the skin side of a tubular fur where one or more scraping means are configured for being arranged in a first position away from a mandrel of the apparatus with a first distance in relation to the center axis of the mandrel, and in a third position where the scraping means are configured for being in contact with the skin side so as to process the skin side of the fur, where the one or more scraping means are furthermore configured for being arranged in a second predefined position being arranged between the first position and the third second position with a second predefined distance in relation to the centre axis of the mandrel, and the apparatus is configured for automatically releasing the scraping means from the second position towards the third position when predetermined criteria is complied with.

Methods and systems for sorting hides are provided. In particular, one or more embodiments comprise a tanning control system that enhances the traceability of hides by capturing and utilizing data related to the unloading, tanning, sorting, and packaging of hides. Furthermore, one or more embodiments enable the tanning control system to improve efficiency by sorting hides based, at least in part, on data generated during prior tanning processes. Additionally, one or more embodiments facilitate the tanning control system in customizing the sorting and packaging of hides based, at least in part, on one or more hide characteristics and/or customer specifications.