Scraping wheel, a scraping roller and use of a scraping wheel

Abstract

Disclosed is a scraping wheel (1) for scraping the skin side (2) of an animal pelt (3). The scraping wheel (1) comprises a scraping roller (4) including a plurality of scraping teeth (5) arranged on the outer cylindrical roller surface (6) and the scraping roller (4) further comprises a centrally arranged axial roller hole (7). The scraping wheel (1) also comprises one or more hub parts (25, 26) arranged at least partly in the centrally arranged axial roller hole (7) and connected to the scraping roller (4) through a torque transmitting connection (9), wherein the one or more hub parts (25, 26) further comprise a centrally arranged axial hub hole (10) by which the scraping wheel (1) is mounted on a drive shaft (11) driving the rotation of the scraping wheel (1) during the scraping. Disclosed is also a scraping roller (4) for scraping of the skin side (2) of an animal pelt (3). The scraping roller (4) comprises a plurality of scraping teeth (5) arranged on the outer cylindrical roller surface (6) and the scraping roller (4) further comprises a centrally arranged axial roller hole (7), wherein the roller hole (7) is provided with a plurality of dovetail shaped splines (13). Use of a scraping wheel (1) is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A scraping wheel for scraping the skin side of an animal pelt, said scraping wheel comprising a scraping roller including a plurality of scraping teeth arranged on an outer cylindrical roller surface, said scraping roller further comprising a centrally arranged axial roller hole, and one or more hub parts arranged at least partly in said centrally arranged axial roller hole and connected to said scraping roller through a torque transmitting connection, formed by a spline joint in which a plurality of roller splines in said centrally arranged axial roller hole mesh with a plurality of hub splines on an outer cylindrical surface of said one or more hub parts, wherein at least some of said splines are undercut, wherein said one or more hub parts further comprise a centrally arranged axial hub hole by which said scraping wheel is mounted on a drive shaft driving the rotation of said scraping wheel during said scraping, and wherein an outer diameter of said scraping roller is between 65% and 150% bigger than an outer diameter of said roller hole.

2. A scraping wheel according to claim 1, wherein said torque transmitting connection extends substantially an entire axial extent of said centrally arranged axial roller hole.

3. A scraping wheel according to claim 1, wherein said scraping roller is made from a plastic material having a hardness between Shore 60A and Shore 95A.

4. A scraping wheel according to claim 3, wherein said plastic material is Polyurethane.

5. A scraping wheel according to claim 1, wherein said one or more hub parts are made from metal.

6. A scraping wheel according to claim 1, wherein said centrally arranged axial roller hole is a through-hole.

7. The scraping wheel according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said splines are dovetail shaped.

8. A scraping wheel according to claim 7, wherein at said dovetail shaped splines are evenly distributed around the respective surfaces of said scraping roller and said one or more hub parts.

9. The scraping wheel according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of said scraping roller is between 65% and 85% bigger than an outer diameter of said roller hole.

10. A method for scraping of the skin side of a pelt, the method comprising: providing a scraping wheel, the scraping wheel comprising: a scraping roller including a plurality of scraping teeth arranged on an outer cylindrical roller surface, said scraping roller further comprising a centrally arranged axial roller hole, wherein an outer diameter of said scraping roller is between 65% and 150% bigger than an outer diameter of said roller hole, and one or more hub parts arranged at least partly in said centrally arranged axial roller hole and connected to said scraping roller through a torque transmitting connection formed by a spline joint in which a plurality of roller splines in said centrally arranged axial roller hole mesh with a plurality of hub splines on an outer cylindrical surface of said one or more hub parts, wherein at least some of said splines are undercut, wherein said one or more hub parts further comprise a centrally arranged axial hub hole by which said scraping wheel is mounted on a drive shaft driving the rotation of said scraping wheel during said scraping; and scraping the skin side of the pelt.

11. A scraping roller for scraping of the skin side of an animal pelt, said scraping roller comprising a plurality of scraping teeth arranged on an outer cylindrical roller surface, said scraping roller further comprising a centrally arranged axial roller hole, wherein an outer diameter of said scraping roller is between 65% and 150% bigger than an outer diameter of said roller hole, and wherein said roller hole is provided with a plurality of dovetail shaped splines.

12. A scraping roller according to claim 11, wherein at said dovetail shaped splines are evenly distributed around a periphery of said roller hole.

13. A scraping roller according to claim 11, wherein said dovetail shaped splines extend substantially an entire axial extent of said centrally arranged axial roller hole.

14. A scraping roller according to claim 11, wherein said scraping roller is made from a plastic material having a hardness between Shore 60A and Shore 95A.

15. A scraping roller according to claim 14, wherein said plastic material is Polyurethane.

16. A scraping roller according to claim 11, wherein said centrally arranged axial roller hole is a through-hole.

Description

FIGURES

(1) The invention will be described in the following with reference to the figures in which

(2) FIG. 1. illustrates a an apparatus for processing the skin side of a tubular fur by scraping the skin side by means of rotating scraping wheels, as seen in perspective,

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a scraping unit, as seen in perspective,

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section through the middle of a scraping unit, as seen from the side,

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a scraping roller, as seen from the front,

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a scraping roller, as seen in perspective,

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a first hub part, as seen in perspective, and

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a second hub part, as seen in perspective.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 illustrates a scraping apparatus 16 for processing the skin side 2 of a tubular fur 3 by scraping the skin side 2 of the tubular fur 3 by means of a number of scraping units 17 comprising rotating scraping wheels 1.

(10) The tubular fur 3which in this embodiment is a mink furcomprises a fur side and a skin side 2. The fur 3 comprises different skin parts that originallyi.e. before the fur 2 was removed from the furred animalenclosed different parts of the body of the furred animal.

(11) After the animal has been skinned the tubular fur 3 is drawn onto a mandrel 18 having a tapering end.

(12) The mandrel mounted fur 3 is then transported through the scraping apparatus 16 comprising a number of scraping units 17 arranged to scrape the entire skin surface 2 of the fur 3.

(13) In this embodiment the apparatus 16 comprises two units 17 having a double scraping wheel 1 arrangement and two units 17 having a single scraping wheel 1. However, in another embodiment the apparatus 16 could comprise only units 17 having double scraping wheel 1 arrangements or only units 17 having single scraping wheel 1 arrangements and the apparatus 16 could comprise another number of scraping units 17 such as two, three, five, six or more scraping units 17.

(14) The scraping wheels 1 of each scraping unit 17 are arranged to rotateagainst the direction of travel of the pelt 3while being forced against the skin side 2 of the pelt so any residues of fat, tendons or flesh is efficiently removed from the pelt 3.

(15) In this embodiment the scraping units 17 are arranged to be displaceable towards and away from the mandrel 18 in order to be able to apply a controlled contract pressure against the skin side 2 of the fur 3 on the mandrel 18. This may, for example, be enabled by means of spring arrangements or by linear actuators such as pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, a spindle or other.

(16) FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a scraping unit 17, as seen in perspective.

(17) In this embodiment the scraping unit 17 is driven by an electrical motor 19 but in another embodiment the unit 17 could be driven by a pneumatic motor, a hydraulic motor, an internal combustion engine, by a central drive source driving several units 17 or other.

(18) In this embodiment the rotor shaft of the motor 19i.e. the shaft onto which the rotor part of the electrical motor 19 is attachedextends all the way out of the motor 19 to form the drive shaft 23 of the scraping wheel 1 i.e. the rotor shaft and the drive shaft 23 is formed as one single shaft. However, in another embodiment the rotor shaft and the drive shaft 23 could be formed as two separate shafts e.g. connected by a coupling.

(19) A bearing housing 20 is mounted directly onto the motor flange to fixate a front bearing 21 guiding the drive shaft 23. A bearing cover 22 is placed over the bearing 21 to prevent dirt and foreign objects from entering the bearing 21.

(20) In this embodiment the bearing cover 22 is connected to the drive shaft 23 by means of a set screw (not visible) in the radial threaded hole in the side of the bearing cover 22 however in another embodiment the bearing cover 22 and the other parts placed on and around the drive shaft 23 could be fixed against axial movement individually or in other ways.

(21) The bearing cover 22 is in this embodiment also connected to the scraping wheel 1 by means of two screws extending into a first hub part 25 of the scraping wheel 1.

(22) In this embodiment the scraping wheel 1 consists of two axially divided hub parts 25, 26 arranged inside a single scraping roller 4. However, in another embodiment the hub part 25, 26 could be formed as a single part or the scraping wheel 1 could comprise more than two separate hub parts 25, 26such as three, four, five, six or more separate hub parts 25, 26which could be arranged axially, radially or both in relation to each other.

(23) In this embodiment a torque transmitting connection 9 is formed between the scraping roller 4 and the two separate hub parts 25, 26 in that the outer surface 15 of the hub parts 25, 26 and the centrally arranged roller hole 7 are both provided with mutually interlocking and meshing splines 13, 14 forming a spline joint 12 ensuring that a high torque can be transferred between the hub parts 25, 26 and the roller 4.

(24) In this embodiment the two separate hub parts 25, 26 are connected to each other by means of two pins 24 connected to the first hub part 25 and extending into corresponding holes in the second hub part 26 to ensure that the splines 14 on the outside surface 15 of the hub parts 25, 26 are always perfectly aligned when the two hub parts 25, 26 are connected.

(25) To simplify the assembly the second hub part 26 is provided with a plurality of pin hole sets so that if the first hub part 25 is placed inside the scraping roller 4 the pin holes of the second hub part 26 will almost always be aligned with the pins 24. Ideally the second hub part 26 would be provided with a pin hole for every spline 14 so that no matter how the second hub part 26 is orientatedradiallythe pin holes will always be aligned with the pins 24. However, in this embodiment the second hub part 26 is only provided with a pin hole for every second spline 14 so that there is a fifty-fifty chance of the pins 24 and the holes being aligned if they were assembled without any control.

(26) In this embodiment the second hub part 26 and the scraping roller 4 is fixated axially on the drive shaft 23 by means of a fixation disc 8 arranged at the end of the drive shaft 23 and connected to this by means of a centrally arranged fixation screw 27. The outer diameter of the fixation disc 8 is in this embodiment so large that the disc 8 presses on the roller 4 as well as on the second hub part 26. At the other end of the scraping roller 4, the roller 4 is pressed against the bearing cover 22 so that the roller 4 is completely fixated against axial displacement in relation to the drive shaft 23.

(27) In this embodiment the fixation disc 8 comprises a centrally arranged depression in which the head of the fixation screw 27 is arranged so that it is more protected against dirt and particles from the scraping process.

(28) In this embodiment the fixation disc 8 is also connected to the second hub part 26 by means of a couple of screws so that if the fixation screw 27 is removed the second hub part 26 would come off along with the fixation disc 8. Thus, if the scraping roller 4 has to be replaced, the fixation screw 27 is removed where after the fixation disc 8 and the second hub part 26attached to each othercan be removed. This can be done by pulling the roller of the first hub part 25 where after the fixation disc 8 and the second hub part 26 would be removed from the roller 4 and placed on a new roller 4.

(29) In this embodiment the scraping roller 4 is formed as a single annular roller 4 but in another embodiment the roller 4 could be divided axially into more than one roller partssuch as two, three, four or more separate or interlocking roller parts.

(30) FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section through the middle of a scraping unit 17, as seen from the side.

(31) Usually an electrical motor is provided with an internal bearing at either ends of the rotori.e. at either ends of the motor housingbut in this embodiment the motor 19 is only provided with one internal bearing at the back of the motor 19 and the front bearing 21 is instead moved out in front of the motor 19 in the bearing housing 20. By this design the front bearing 21 is moved closer to the load point at the scraping roller 4 and can therefore better handle the torque generated by the roller 4 being forced against the pelt 3 or vice versa. Furthermore, this design entails that the front bearing 21 can be made larger and thereby more durable, it is easier to replace and it enables that the drive shaft 23 can be formed longer than a standard electrical motor drive shaft.

(32) In FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 the torque transmitting connection 9 is a spline joint 12 but in this embodiment the torque transmitting connection 9 between the hub parts 25, 26 and the roller 4 is formed by teeth (not shown) on the inside face of the fixation disc 8 engaging corresponding depressions (not shown) in the hub parts 25, 26 and the roller 4. However, in another embodiment the torque transmitting connection 9 could be formed by a separate clamp bushings such as those sold under the registered trademark of Taper Lock, by a shrink connection, by one or more transverse pins, by a key connection or by any other connection suitable for transmitting torque between the hub parts 25, 26 and the roller 4 of a scraping wheel 1.

(33) FIG. 4 illustrates a scraping roller 4, as seen the front.

(34) In this embodiment the scraping roller 4 is provided with twelve splines 13 around the periphery of a centrally arranged axial roller hole 7. In this embodiment the number of splines 13 corresponds with the number of scraping teeth 5 arranged on the outer cylindrical roller surface 6i.e. the roller 4 also comprises twelve teeth 5 in this embodiment.

(35) However, in another embodiment the number of scraping teeth 5 would not correspond with the number of splines 13 or the roller 4 could comprise another number of teeth and/or splines, such as two, four, seven, ten, fourteen, sixteen, twenty, twenty-four or more.

(36) In this embodiment the splines 13 are dovetail shapedi.e. the splines 13 are widest towards the outside surface 6 of the roller 4 and more narrow towards the centre of the roller 4but in another embodiment of the invention the gradient of the sides of the splines 13 could be reversed so that the splines 13 are widest towards the centre of the roller 4 and more narrow towards the outer surface 6 of the roller 4 or the sides of each spline 13 could be parallel. Or the splines 13 could comprise another more or less complex shape but preferably the specific shape of the roller spline 13 would at least partly correspond to the shape of the hub splines 14 (not shown in this figure) to enable that the splines 13, 14 can mesh and thereby transfer torque or even interlock so that splines 13, 14 would also ensure that the hub parts 25, 26 and the roller 4 are also mutually substantially fixed against axial movement.

(37) In this embodiment the outer diameter Dr of the scraping roller 4 is 183 mm and the outer diameter Dh of the roller hole 7 is 105 mm making the outer diameter Dr of the scraping roller 4 approximately 74% bigger that the outer diameter Dh of the roller hole 7. However, in another embodiment the outer diameter Dr of the scraping roller 4 and/or the outer diameter Dh of the roller hole 7 could be either bigger or smaller and the roller diameter Dr/hole diameter Dh ratio could therefore vary accordingly.

(38) Generally, the outer diameter Dr of the scraping roller 4 is preferably in the range of 165 to 200 mm, in particular in the range of 170 to 190 mm, and the outer diameter Dh of the roller hole 7 is in the range of 75 to 135 mm, in particular in the range of 90 to 120 mm.

(39) FIG. 5 illustrates a scraping roller 4, as seen in perspective.

(40) In this embodiment the outer cylindrical roller surface 6 of the scraping roller 4 comprises a plurality of scraping teeth arranged at a peripheral distance from each other that determine or are located on a generally circular, cylindrical surface 6. Each scraping tooth 5 is generally V-shaped. The scraping teeth 5 preferably form an obtuse angle but they can also be straight, be helical, form an acute angle or any combination thereof. The V-shaped scraping teeth's centre points are located in a plane of symmetry that is substantially perpendicular to the roller's axis. As seen in FIG. 4, the scraping roller 4 has an outline that is reminiscent of a circular saw blade.

(41) In this embodiment the scraping roller 4 is made of Polyurethane (PUR) with a hardness of around Shore 70-75A. However, in another embodiment the roller 4 could be both harder, such as Shore 80-85A, or it could be softer such as Shore 62-67A or the roller 4 could be made from another material such as another type of plastic, it could be made from natural or synthetic rubber or from any other similar elastic, ductile material suited for making scraping rollers 4 for a pelt scraping apparatus 16.

(42) As indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1 the scraping roller 4 is preferably caused to rotate in a direction opposite the direction in which the pointy end of the V shaped teeth 5 point. This means that the fur 3 that is processed will first be brought into contact with the free outer ends of each of the scraping teeth 5 and, during the continued rotation of the scraping roller 4, the two points of contact of each of the scraping teeth 5 will move towards the scraping roller's central plane of symmetry where the tip of the V shape is formed. As a consequence of this, the roller 4 will have a tendency to pull the fur 3 on the mandrel 18 in a direction towards this central plane. This situation will, in this connection cause the residues of fat, flesh and/or tendons also to be removed from the parts of the fur 3 located along the edges of the mandrel 18.

(43) Likewise, a scraping roller 4 could also be imagined with scraping teeth 5 with a V shape that causes the roller 4, during its continued rotation, to move the two points of contact of each of the scraping teeth 5 in a direction away from the roller's central plane of symmetry towards free outer ends of each of the scraping teeth 5. As a consequence of this, the scraping roller 4 will have a tendency to pull the fur 3 in a direction away from the roller's plane of symmetry.

(44) In this embodiment the scraping roller 4 is provided with a centrally arranged axial roller hole 7 enabling that the roller 4 can be mounted on a hub part 25, 26 to form a scraping wheel 1.

(45) In this embodiment the roller hole 7 is a through hole and the splines 13 arranged along the periphery of the hole 7 also extends all the way through the roller 4, hereby enabling that the torque transmitting connection 9 between the roller 4 and a hub part 25, 26 may also extend substantially the entire axial extent of the roller 4.

(46) However, in another embodiment the roller hole 7 could also be formed at least partly as a blind hole making the bottom of the blind hole 7 act as a stop for the hub part 25, 26 and hereby fixing the roller 4 against movement in at least one axial direction.

(47) FIG. 6 illustrates a first hub part 25, as seen in perspective and FIG. 7 illustrates a second hub part 26, as seen in perspective.

(48) In this embodiment both hub parts 25, 26 are made from aluminum which enables that the hub parts 25, 26 can be extruded. The cost of the producing the hub parts 25, 26 even though they comprise very complex shapes can thereby be reduced and at the same time the hub parts 25, 26 can be mass produced with a very high dimensionally accuracy.

(49) However, in another embodiment the hub parts 25, 26 could be made from another metal such as steel, cast-iron, stainless steel or another metal, they could be made from hard rigid plastic material e.g. fiber reinforced or any combination of the mentioned materials.

(50) In this embodiment the hub parts 25, 26 are provided with a centrally arranged axial hub hole 10 enabling that the hub parts 25, 26 can be mounted on a drive shaft 11.

(51) In this embodiment the hub holes 10 are both through holes but in another embodiment at least one of the holes 10 could be formed at least partly as a blind hole making the bottom of this blind hole 10 act as a stop for the hub part 25, 26 and hereby fixing the hub part 25, 26 against movement in at least one axial direction in relation to the drive shaft 23 on which the hub parts 25, 26 are mounted.

(52) In this embodiment the splines 14 arranged along the entire outer cylindrical surface 15 of the hub parts 25, 26 extends the entire axial extent of both hub parts 25, 26, hereby enabling that the torque transmitting connection 9 between a roller 4 and the hub part 25, 26 may also extend substantially the entire axial extent of the hub parts 25, 26.

(53) However, in another embodiment the splines 14 of at least one of the hub parts 25, 26 could extend only some of the axial extent of the hub parts 25, 26.

(54) The invention has been exemplified above with reference to specific examples of scraping wheels 1, scraping rollers 4, hub parts 25, 26 and other. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular examples described above but may be designed and altered in a multitude of varieties within the scope of the invention as specified in the claims.

LIST

(55) 1. Scraping wheel 2. Skin side of pelt 3. Animal pelt 4. Scraping roller 5. Scraping teeth 6. Outer cylindrical roller surface 7. Centrally arranged axial roller hole 8. Fixation disc 9. Torque transmitting connection 10. Centrally arranged axial hub hole 11. Drive shaft 12. Spline joint 13. Roller spline 14. Hub spline 15. Outer cylindrical surface of hub part 16. Scraping apparatus 17. Scraping unit 18. Mandrel 19. Electric motor 20. Bearing housing 21. Front bearing 22. Bearing cover 23. Drive shaft 24. Pin 25. First hub part 26. Second hub part 27. Fixation screw Dr. Outer diameter of scraping roller Dh. Outer diameter of roller hole