A stretching apparatus for stretching a pelt on a pelt board, wherein the pelt has a substantially tubular shape defining an inwardly oriented leather side, an outwardly oriented fur side, a nose end, a rear end and a pair of front leg cavities. The pelt board defines a top end for accommodating and fixating the nose end of the pelt, a circumferential wall for facing the inwardly oriented leather side of the pelt and a base end located opposite the top end. The stretching apparatus comprises a holding device for holding the base end of the pelt board, and a stretching device having a pair of stretching members. Each of the stretching members are adapted in order to be inserted into a respective front leg cavity of the pelt and the stretching device is movable in a direction towards the holding device for stretching the pelt.

An elongated pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt. The pelt board defines a blunt end and an opposite pointed end and a longitudinal direction. The pelt board further defines a first radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and a second radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the first radial direction, said pelt board comprising a first part at said blunt end and an opposite second part at said pointed end. The first part comprises a first wall element and a second wall element. The first and second wall elements are of identical configuration. The first wall element and said second wall element define a contracted state and an expanded state.

An elongated pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt. The pelt board defines a blunt end and an opposite pointed end and a longitudinal direction. The pelt board further defines a first radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and a second radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the first radial direction, said pelt board comprising a first part at said blunt end and an opposite second part at said pointed end. The first part comprises a first wall element and a second wall element. The first and second wall elements are of identical configuration. The first wall element and said second wall element define a contracted state and an expanded state.

The present invention provides a wet leather stretching device, including a second bracket (12) provided with a mechanism for adjusting tension of a first belt (17), wherein the mechanism includes: a movable plate (41) coupled to each of left and right side surfaces of the second bracket (12); a support plate (31) coupled to one surface of each movable plate (41); a cylinder (32) having a lower part fixedly coupled to a lower part surface of each support plate (31); a rod (33) protruding a certain length through an upper part of each cylinder (32); a guide end (35) provided on one surface of the movable plate (41) at a distance above the support plate (31); a guide plate (36) connected to the rod (33) and contacting with the guide end (35), and a movable pipe (37) with a predetermined length contacting with the first belt (17).

The present invention provides a wet leather stretching device, including a second bracket (12) provided with a mechanism for adjusting tension of a first belt (17), wherein the mechanism includes: a movable plate (41) coupled to each of left and right side surfaces of the second bracket (12); a support plate (31) coupled to one surface of each movable plate (41); a cylinder (32) having a lower part fixedly coupled to a lower part surface of each support plate (31); a rod (33) protruding a certain length through an upper part of each cylinder (32); a guide end (35) provided on one surface of the movable plate (41) at a distance above the support plate (31); a guide plate (36) connected to the rod (33) and contacting with the guide end (35), and a movable pipe (37) with a predetermined length contacting with the first belt (17).

A pelt board bag for use in combination with a pelt board for the tanning and drying of a pelt applied externally to the pelt board bag comprises a pair of oppositely positioned and substantially coextensively extending, elongated sheets. The pair of sheets are joined together along opposite longitudinal edges and define in a first state a flat two-layer structure and in a second state a basically tubular state. The pair of sheets define opposite first and second ends. The first end constitutes a narrow open end constituting a top end when used in combination with the pelt board, and the second end constitutes a broader bottom end when used in combination with the pelt board. The pair of sheets define in the second state an inner perimeter varying from the first narrow end to the broader second end. The pair of sheets have a region at a specific inner perimeter, which is provided with slits, oblong apertures, embossings, score lines or folds allowing the region to be expanded at least in one direction longitudinally or transversely when in the second state. Each of the longitudinal edges defines a respective fold line at which the material is folded and the fold lines are provided with slits, oblong apertures, embossings, score lines or folds and extend substantially between the first end and the second end.

A pelt board bag for use in combination with a pelt board for the tanning and drying of a pelt applied externally to the pelt board bag comprises a pair of oppositely positioned and substantially coextensively extending, elongated sheets. The pair of sheets are joined together along opposite longitudinal edges and define in a first state a flat two-layer structure and in a second state a basically tubular state. The pair of sheets define opposite first and second ends. The first end constitutes a narrow open end constituting a top end when used in combination with the pelt board, and the second end constitutes a broader bottom end when used in combination with the pelt board. The pair of sheets define in the second state an inner perimeter varying from the first narrow end to the broader second end. The pair of sheets have a region at a specific inner perimeter, which is provided with slits, oblong apertures, embossings, score lines or folds allowing the region to be expanded at least in one direction longitudinally or transversely when in the second state. Each of the longitudinal edges defines a respective fold line at which the material is folded and the fold lines are provided with slits, oblong apertures, embossings, score lines or folds and extend substantially between the first end and the second end.

A tissue modification apparatus includes at least a first plurality of grippers aligned in a plane adapted to secure a first edge of a patch of tissue. The plurality of grippers are each secured to a first force actuator. The first plurality of grippers are each adapted to pivot relative to the first force actuator about an axis perpendicular to the plane. In some cases, a plurality of grippers are attached to a force actuator by a passive force transfer mechanism. In some cases, individual force actuators are attached by pivoted connections to individual grippers. Methods of treating tissue can secure tensioned tissue to a frame to retain the tension during a treatment (e.g., cross-linking the tissue with a chemical cross-linker).

A tissue modification apparatus includes at least a first plurality of grippers aligned in a plane adapted to secure a first edge of a patch of tissue. The plurality of grippers are each secured to a first force actuator. The first plurality of grippers are each adapted to pivot relative to the first force actuator about an axis perpendicular to the plane. In some cases, a plurality of grippers are attached to a force actuator by a passive force transfer mechanism. In some cases, individual force actuators are attached by pivoted connections to individual grippers. Methods of treating tissue can secure tensioned tissue to a frame to retain the tension during a treatment (e.g., cross-linking the tissue with a chemical cross-linker).

A method for realizing articles having a predetermined area and aesthetic appearance uses frames to each of which a portion of material having a prevalent flat extension can be removably hooked. The method includes stitching or punching operations and cutting operations implemented on each portion of material in a first station, a second station and a third station sequentially. Cutting operations are executed on a first portion of material hooked to a first frame in a third station, while stitching or punching operations are carried out on a second portion of material hooked to a second frame and punching or stitching operations are performed on a third portion hooked to a third frame situated in the first station in phased relation.