Displacement of scraping rollers

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for processing the skin side (5) of a tubular pelt (3), the apparatus comprising an elongated tapering mandrel (1) for supporting the pelt with its skin side turned outwards, a scraping device comprising a first set of primary scraping roller (6, 7) arranged on opposing sides of the mandrel and a second set of primary scraping rollers (8, 9) arranged on other opposing sides of the mandrel, the scraping device further comprising primary rotation means (6, 7, 8, 9) for rotating said primary scraping rollers during processing of a pelt so as to engage a skin side of the pelt, moving means for conducting a relative movement between the scraping device and the mandrel in the longitudinal direction of the mandrel, and displacement means for displacing at least one scraping roller in the direction of the axis of rotation of said scraping roller.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing the skin side of a tubular pelt, the apparatus comprising an elongated tapering mandrel for supporting the pelt with its skin side turned outwards, the mandrel having a thinner, free end from which the tubular pelt is drawn over the mandrel and a thicker end, a scraping device comprising a first set of primary scraping rollers arranged on opposing sides of the mandrel and a second set of primary scraping rollers arranged on other opposing sides of the mandrel and being substantially perpendicularly oriented with respect to the first set of primary scraping rollers, the scraping device further comprising a primary rotation member for rotating said primary scraping rollers during processing of a pelt so as to engage a skin side of the pelt, an actuator for conducting a relative movement between the scraping device and the mandrel in a longitudinal direction of the mandrel, and a displacement member for displacing at least one primary scraping roller together with its primary rotation member in a direction of an axis of rotation of said scraping roller, wherein the displacement member is arranged for displacement of the at least one primary scraping roller together with its primary rotation member in a substantially rectilinear movement.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement member is arranged for displacement of the at least one primary scraping roller together with its primary rotation member in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement member is arranged for displacement of the at least one primary scraping roller together with its primary rotation member over a distance in the direction of the axis of rotation of the at least one primary scraping roller that is at least twice an extent of the at least one primary scraping roller in said direction.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement member is arranged for displacement of the at least one primary scraping roller together with its primary rotation member over a distance in the direction of the axis of rotation of the scraping roller that is in a range of 150 to 700 millimeters.

5. An apparatus for processing the skin side of a tubular pelt, the apparatus comprising an elongated tapering mandrel for supporting the pelt with its skin side turned outwards, the mandrel having a thinner, free end from which the tubular pelt is drawn over the mandrel and a thicker end, a scraping device comprising a first set of primary scraping rollers arranged on opposing sides of the mandrel and a second set of primary scraping rollers arranged on other opposing sides of the mandrel and being substantially perpendicularly oriented with respect to the first set of primary scraping rollers, the scraping device further comprising a primary rotation member for rotating said primary scraping rollers during processing of a pelt so as to engage a skin side of the pelt, an actuator for conducting a relative movement between the scraping device and the mandrel in a longitudinal direction of the mandrel, and a displacement member for displacing at least one primary scraping roller together with its primary rotation member in a direction of an axis of rotation of said scraping roller, wherein the displacement member is arranged for simultaneous displacement of both rollers of one of said set of primary scraping rollers in the same direction.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the displacement member is arranged for displacement of both rollers of said set of primary scraping rollers over the same distance.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the displacement member is arranged for displacement of the other set of primary scraping rollers in a direction perpendicularly to the direction of displacement of the first set of primary scraping rollers.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the scraping device further comprises at least one set of secondary scraping rollers and a secondary rotation member for rotating said secondary scraping roller, wherein the displacement member is arranged for displacement of the set of secondary scraping rollers together with its secondary rotation member.

9. An apparatus for processing the skin side of a tubular pelt, the apparatus comprising an elongated tapering mandrel for supporting the pelt with its skin side turned outwards, the mandrel having a thinner, free end from which the tubular pelt is drawn over the mandrel and a thicker end, a scraping device comprising a first set of primary scraping rollers arranged on opposing sides of the mandrel and a second set of primary scraping rollers arranged on other opposing sides of the mandrel and being substantially perpendicularly oriented with respect to the first set of primary scraping rollers, the scraping device further comprising a primary rotation member for rotating said primary scraping rollers during processing of a pelt so as to engage a skin side of the pelt, an actuator for conducting a relative movement between the scraping device and the mandrel in a longitudinal direction of the mandrel, and a displacement member for displacing at least one primary scraping roller together with its primary rotation member in a direction of an axis of rotation of said scraping roller, comprising a cover having a compartment and an outlet, wherein said cover is configured for enclosing a part of the mandrel and at least one set of primary scraping rollers of the scraping device in said compartment during operation, wherein said outlet is arranged in a bottom part of said cover, said bottom part being arranged below said set of primary scraping rollers, wherein said cover comprises walls with inner surfaces configured for leading material removed from said skin side set of primary scraping rollers towards said bottom part, and wherein the displacement member is arranged for displacing said set of primary scraping rollers out from the compartment of the cover.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said cover encloses both sets of primary scraping rollers in said compartment, and wherein the displacement member is arranged for displacing both sets of primary scraping rollers out from the compartment of the cover.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said cover is common to all scraping rollers of the scraping device and wherein the displacement member is arranged for displacing all scraping rollers out from the compartment of the cover.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement member is arranged for displacement of the at least one primary scraping roller together with its primary rotation member over a distance in the direction of the axis of rotation of the scraping roller that is in a range of 200 to 600 millimeters.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement member is arranged for simultaneous displacement of both rollers of one of said set of primary scraping rollers in the same direction.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cover having a compartment and an outlet, wherein said cover is configured for enclosing a part of the mandrel and at least one set of primary scraping rollers of the scraping device in said compartment during operation, wherein said outlet is arranged in a bottom part of said cover, said bottom part being arranged below said set of primary scraping rollers, wherein said cover comprises walls with inner surfaces configured for leading material removed from said skin side set of primary scraping rollers towards said bottom part, and wherein the displacement member is arranged for displacing said set of primary scraping rollers out from the compartment of the cover.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) An embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the drawing of which

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing some of the elements of the apparatus,

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cover for the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2,

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus showing the drive means for a set of primary scraping rollers in an operating position,

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4 where the set of primary scraping rollers are in a displaced position,

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus where a set of secondary scraping rollers are in a displaced position, and

(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of the apparatus where the other set of primary scraping rollers as well as the set of secondary scraping rollers are in a displaced position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(9) The apparatus of the present invention of which some parts only are shown in FIG. 1 comprises an mandrel 1 which is tapering towards a thinner, free end 2 from which the tubular pelt 3 is drawn over the mandrel and a thicker end 4 which is connected to and supported by the frame of the apparatus (not shown) where the drive means are arranged for driving the mandrel 1 in the longitudinal direction thereof during operation of the apparatus for scraping the skin side 5 of the pelt 3 arranged on the mandrel 1.

(10) The apparatus comprises two sets of primary scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9 having V-shaped teeth 10 and drive means 11, 12, 13, 14 for driving the scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9 in a rotation about corresponding axes. The apparatus further comprises biasing means (not shown) for biasing the teeth 10 of the scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9 towards the skin side 5 of the pelt 3 during operation of the apparatus. The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 further comprises a set of secondary scraping rollers 15, 16 having helical teeth 17 for performing an improved scraping of the areas around and in particular beneath the part 18 of the pelt 3 that used to cover the front legs of the fur animals from which the pelt 3 was taken. The secondary scraping rollers 15, 16 are driven by secondary drive means 19, 20.

(11) The drive means 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 of each set of scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16 are arranged so that the drive shafts 21 carrying the scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16 extend to the same side for each set. Hereby, it is possible to displace both scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16 of a set simultaneous away from the mandrel 1 in a direction parallel to the axes of rotation of the scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16 of the set for replacement of the scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16.

(12) The displacement of a scraping roller 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16 in a direction parallel to its axis of rotation for replacement of the scraping roller 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16 is generally relevant as the construction of such apparatus normally leaves only little space for working on the scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16 when they are in the operating position, but it becomes particularly advantageous when the apparatus comprises a cover 21 as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, where the secondary scraping rollers 15, 16 are omitted. The cover 21, which is shown in perspective in FIG. 3 has a compartment 22 and an outlet 23 and is configured for enclosing a part of the mandrel 1 and both sets of primary scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9 during operation of the apparatus so as to collect all debris removed by the scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9 from the skin side 5 of the pelt 3 arranged in the mandrel 1 when the mandrel 1 is moved through the cover 21 and passes the scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9. The outlet 23 is arranged in a bottom part of said cover 21 below both sets of primary scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9 and the cover 21 comprises walls with inner surfaces configured for leading the material removed from the skin side 5 of the pelt 3 towards the outlet at the bottom part, where suction means (not shown) are arranged to remove the debris from the outlet 23. The displacement means of the apparatus are arranged for displacing both sets of primary scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9, out from the compartment 22 of the cover 21.

(13) The cover 21 is provided with suitable openings 24, 25 for allowing the mandrel 1 with the pelt 3 arranged thereon to pass through the cover 21 and roller openings 26, 27, 28, 29 for the primary scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9 to extend into the compartment 22 of the cover 21. The roller openings 26, 27, 28, 29 are arranged so that sets of primary scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9 extend into the compartment 22 from the same side and therefore may be displaced out from the compartment 22 simultaneous, e.g. on a moveable frame on which both primary scraping rollers 6, 7, 8, 9 of the set as well as their drive means 11, 12, 13, 14 are arranged.

(14) A perspective side view of an apparatus is shown in FIG. 4 with the drive means 13, 14 for a horizontal set of primary scraping rollers in an operating position, and in FIG. 5 is shown a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4 where the set of primary scraping rollers 8, 9 are in a displaced position, so that the scraping rollers 8, 9 may be replaced from the drive shafts of the drive means 13, 14.

(15) Another perspective view of the apparatus is shown in FIG. 6, where the set of secondary scraping rollers 15, 16 are in a displaced position, and the horizontal set of primary scraping rollers 8, 9 also are in a displaced position. Finally, in a side view of the apparatus in FIG. 7 is the other set of primary scraping rollers 6, 7 as well as the set of secondary scraping rollers 15, 16 shown in a displaced position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(16) 1 Mandrel 2 Thinner, free end of mandrel 3 Tubular pelt 4 Thicker end of mandrel 5 Skin side of the pelt 6, 7, 8, 9 Primary scraping rollers 10 Teeth of the primary scraping rollers 11, 12, 13, 14 Drive means for primary scraping rollers 15, 16 Secondary scraping rollers 17 Helical teeth of secondary scraping rollers 18 Part of the pelt that used to cover the front legs of the fur animals 19, 20 Secondary drive means for secondary scraping rollers 21 Cover 22 Compartment 23 Outlet 24, 25 Openings for mandrel in cover 26, 27, 28, 29 Roller openings for primary scraping rollers in cover