Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
lO~;S6;~
'..' ;'
This invention relates to leather processing machines, and more
particularly to machines which permit the entire hide to be processed
continuously.
Prior art leather processing devices have been constructed with
two pairs of processing tools arranged one behind the other, wherein . ~,
displacement of the leather hides around the front edge of a table board
takes place in the gap between the two pairs or processing tools when
the processing stock is out of contact with the processing tools. This
type of guiding of the leather hides utilizing in particular, horizontal
feed, a problem arises wherein the leather hides hang down from the
- 10 : ~
table board on its underside in the mentioned gap and can thus slide
off from the table board. Feeding the stock vertically on the table board
still permits the possibility of the leather hides slipping, as they are
never securely hung symmetrically balanced over the table board. In
the case of hori~ontal guiding of the table board the problem of a safe
intake when feeding the processing stock into the second pair of the processing
tools arises. This safe intake can only be provided by a special support
provided on the underside of the table board, otherwise the hides will
hang down. The intermediate space between the two pairs of processing
tools in the prior art necessitates a longer length of the entire machine,
which is undesirable.
The present invention includes a continuous leather processing
- machine having a particularly safe feed of the leather hides and a shortening
- of the machine length. The machine includes a pair of opposed processing
tools one of which is permitted to maintain contact with the hide being
processed, while the other processing tool is arranged to be removable
for a defined time span permitting the hide in the mean time held by the
other processing tool, to be displaced with respect to the table board by
at least the width of the middle strip over the front edge of the table board.
The present invention enables the leather hide to be in constant contact
with at least one processing tool and to be held secure thereby
so that there can be no undesired slipping of the hide in rela-
tion to the table board. Controlled displacement of the hides
around the front edge of the table board makes possible a shorter
machine length than is the case with the prior art machines~
Using two pairs of processing tools arranged in succession, one
processing tool of the first pair can be lifted off the table
board and the second pair may be arranged at such a distance
from the first pair, that upon entry of the front edge of the
table board between the second pair of processing tools after a
given time span has expired permits the displacement of the middle
strip to be completed. The spacing of the two pairs of proces-
sing tools therefore, can shrink up to the width of the middle
strip to be displaced, if the removal of the respective proces-
sing tool of the first pair does not occur earlier, than when
the front edge of the table board leaves the space between the
first pair of processing tools.
The present invention also may comprise a continuous leather
processing machine with only one pair of processing tools. In
this case the time span commences after an intake length of
leather hide corresponding to at least the width of the middle
strip has passed between the processing tools and ends before the
front edge of leather or the table board emerges from the proces-
sing tools. In this case, the machine is particularly small in
length, as it contains only one pair of processing tools.
In accordance with a specific embodiment, a machine for
the continuous processing of hides comprises: a table board
` guided longitudinally through an arrangement of processing tools
disposed opposite each other, wherein each hide is disposed ap-
; 30 proximately in the middle thereof around the front edge of said
table board, means for displacing said hide with respect to said
- 2 -
A - - ~
. .... . . .. . . ..
~656~
table board to permit the middle strip of hide which covered
- the front edge of said table board to be displaced for proces-
sing thereof; said processing too:Ls include a first processing
tool and a second processing tool, said second tool being in
contact with said hide for a period of time to effectuate said
displacement of said hide with respect to said table board, by
at least the width of the front edge of the table board. ~:.
In accordance with a further embodiment, a machine for `
the continuous processing of hides comprises a table board - :
guided longitudinally through an arrangement of processing ~ ~:
tools disposed opposite each other, wherein each hide is dis- -~
posed approximately in the middle thereof around the front edge
of said table board; said processing to~ls comprising an upper ~:
processing tool and a lower processing tool; means for displac- ~
` ing said hide with respect to said table board wherein said .
table board has a pinion gear rotatably mounted on its front
end on a guide roller; said table board having a second guide
- roller mounted on its back end; a movable cover disposed over
said guide rollers between said hide and said table board; a
~ 20 stationary rack which comes into limited engagement with said
; pinion gear to effectuate a limited displacement of said hide
with respect to said table board, moving the front edge of said
hide around to the bottom side of the table.board to be proces- ~ .
sed by a processing tool; said upper processing tool being
raisable with respect to said table board during the displace- ~
ment of said hide. : .
The objects and advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent when viewed in conjunction with the follow-
ing drawings, in which: ;
Figure 1 shows a continuous leather processing machine in
a side view, the machine comprising only one pair of processing
~; tools with a table board and hide entering therebetween,
- 2a -
3~
Figures 2 and 3 each show in a side view, a continuous
leather processing machine having a movable processing tool
similar to that shown in Figure 1, the movable processing tool
utilizing means of a cam and supports therewith,
:
', '~
. .
.: ' '":
'. , ~ ~'
';". ' .
- 2b - ~
,
- , .. ,-. ~ - : , - . , . , .. ,. .-, . . . . .. ..
r
iS637
.
Figure 4 shows a continuous leather processing machine in a side
view, the machine comprising two pairs of processing tools;
Figures 5 and 6 each show in a side view the displacement of the leather
hides in the gap between the two pairs of processing tools be means of a
hydraulic or pneumatically operated sensor mechanism;
Figures 7 and 8 each show in a side view, the displacement of the
leather hides by means of a pinion gear fitted to the table board, the gear
interacting with a stationary rack;
- Figures 9 and 10 show an alternative embodiment to that shown in
Figures 5 and 6, whereby in the gap between the pairs of processing tools
the hides are additionally held firm on one side.
Figure 11 shows a top view of the arrangement according to Figures
9 and 10; and
Figures 12 and 13 show the displacement of the hides by means of
cams which are fitted to a belt drawn around the table board.
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, there
is shown a continuous leather processing machine having a pair of processing
tools 1 and 2 comprising an upper processing tool and a lower processing
tool respectively, each of which are fitted with knife edges 3 and 4, backswept
in the direction of passage. These knife edges 3 and 4 cause a spreading
out of the leather hides or processing stock and cleaning thereof.
Using rounded knife edges in the present invention permits samming
of the leathers, because the knife edges in this case do not cut but merely
exert a local pressure on the leather to press out the water. Sharpened knife
blades in the present invention permits the de-fleshing of the leather.
In the leather processing machine, an array of hides 5 may be serially
fed between the processing tools 1 and 2. Each hide 5 is disposed over the
front side of a table board 6 or 7. The processing tools 1 and 2 press against
both the top and bottom sides of the boards 6 or 7 and therefor against the
hides 5. The transporting of table boards 6 and 7 through the machine is
~ - 4 -
~6S63~ '
effected by means of a pair of feed chains 11. The table boards 6 and 7 are
attached to the feed chains 11 by an arrangement of bolts 12 and 13. The
feed chains 11 are disposed about a first and a second guide wheel 14 and
15, respectively, which may result in a closed cycle for the movement of
the table boards 6 and 7 through the machine. The table boards assume
the positions shown by the further indicated table boards 8, 9 and 10. The
hides overhang the table board in the position of the table board 10. The
second guide wheel 15 is rotated clockwise in the direction of the arrow and
the feed chain 11 moves through the machine in the direction of the indicated
arrows causing a direction of movement of the hide 5 from left to right between
, 10
the processing tools 1 and 2. A pair of rotating spreader rollers (stretchers)
16 and 17 are provided in the direction of passage in front of the processing
tools 1 and 2. The spreaders 16 and 17 can be fitted with knife edges.
The spreader rollers 16 and 17 rotate in such a direction that they
pull the hide 5 backwards contrary to the feed direction of the table board
6. A conveyor belt 18 is disposed downstream of the processing tools 1 and
2, and is arranged below the table board 7. The belt 18 supports the part
of the hide lying under the table board 7 from below, to prevent the hide
5 from falling downward into the machine after leaving the processing tools
1 and 2. A pressure roller 19 is transversely disposed across the top of
the hide 5 as it leaves the processing tools 1 and 2 to keep it pressed against
the table board 7. The conveyor belt 18 is fed around a first and a second ~ ;
guide roller 20 and 21, respectively. Each guide roller is in the form of :
a pressure roller. After processing, the hide 5 on the table board 7 is transferred
to the area of the second guide roller 20, where the hide 5 may be removed
from the table board 7 using known means.
The upper processing tool 1 is arranged to be raised upwardly off
the table board after the table board has been fed between the processing
tools 1 and 2, to permit the processing of an as yet unprocessed middle strip
34 of the hide 5. The unprocessed middle strip 34 of the hide 5 is that portion
. , .
' ' ' . ,' '~, . , .: : ,
-~ -- 5 --
, ~ .
6S~3~
of the hide 5 folded over the front leading edge of the table board. The upper
processing tool 1 is movably supported from a suspension arrangement 22
and 23, shown in Figures 2 and 3, which can yield upwards against a spring
tension or a pneumatic pressure. The upper processing tool 1 may be raised
because of interaction between an arrangement of cams 24 and 25, which
are part of the feed chain 11, and a pair of levers 26 and 27 which comprise
supports for the processing tool 1. The levers 26 and 27 are mounted at
the one end in a stationary pivot bearing 28 or 29. A roller 30 or 31, is
- disposed at the other end of the levers 26 and 27, enabling them to be easily
raised from the cams 24 and 25 when the feed chain 11 is advanced. The
levers 26 and 27 pivotally support the processing tool 1. The processing
tool 1 is attached to the levers 26 and 27 by a pivot bearing 32 and 33. The
processing tool 1 is raised when the counter tension in the mounting devices
22 and 23 is overcome.
The raising and subsequent lowering of the processing tool 1 is governed ~;
by the positioning and the length of the cams 24 and 25, as shown in Figures
2 and 3. This occurs preferably when the leading end of the table plate
6 is approximately in the middle of the path between the processing tools
1 and 2, or in its second third of the path therebetween. Raising the upper
processing tool 1 permits the hide 5 to be held firm by and with respect
to the lower processing tool 2. That is, the hide 5 moves in relation to the -
table board 6. In this way the remaining unprocessed middle strip 34 rolls
off to a certain extent onto the lower processing tool 2, with the result that
now this middle strip comes into contact with the processing tools over its
complete length, and the leading edge of the table board 6 is covered by
an already processed part OI the hide 5. When the rollers 30 and 31 at the
rear end of the cams 24 and 25 slip away from the cams 24 and 25, the upper
processing tool 1 moves downwardly and presses against the hide 5, whereby
the middle strip 34 is processed by the lower processing tool 2, as it is subsequently
moved thereagainst. In this work phase the processing tools 1 and 2 preSs
. . . ~
' ' :
-- 6 --
,_~
~iS63~
the hide from both sides against the table board 6. An arrangement of lower
support rollers 35 and 36 are provided so that the feed chain 11 cannot sag
if the cams 24 and 25 lift the rollers, 30 ancl 31.
The leather processing machine shown in Figure 4 is an alternative
embodiment of, yet is constructed similar to the machine which was shown
in Figure 1. The course of movement of the table board 6 and the hide 5
are similar in the embodiments of Figure 1 and Figure 4.
The displacement of the unprocessed middle strip in front of the front
- edge of the table board 6 occurs in the embodiment shown by Figure 4, after
passage of the front edge 34 through a first set of processing tools 1 and
2. The middle strip is then processed by a subsequent pair of processing
tools 37 and 38. The subsequent processing tools 37 and 38 are mounted
such that they continuously press against the table board 39 and hide 5, ~ :
` as they move between them .
The displacement of the unprocessed middle strip 34 for this second
embodiment occurs in the space between the first set of processing elements
1 and 2 and the second set of processing elements 37 and 38 as shown in
Figures 5 and 6. The upper processing tool 1 in the first set of processing
tools 1 and 2 may be raised similar to the raising of the upper processing .:
tool 1, described according to Figure 1, to initiate the displacement of the - .
middle strip 34, in the second embodiment. As the middle strip 34 is situated
between the two pairs of processing tools, the underside of the hide 5 i8
pressed further against processing tool 2 by the table board 6. The raising
of the upper processing tool 1 in the first set of processing tools 1 and 2,
is controlled here by a cam 40 arranged on the feed chain 11. The cam 40
controls a pneumatic valve 41, through which compressed air is fed to an
arrangement of two piston cylinder units 42 and 43. The upper processing
tool 1 is mounted on these piston cylinder units 42 and 43, and is raised
from the table board 6 when compressed air is fed between the piston cylinder ~:
units 42 and 43. The position and length of the cam 40 effects the raising
`. of the upper processing tool 1. The relowering of the upper processing
- . . . ~ . . . . . .. .
~ ' '
7 --
SI~i3~
tool 1 is effected before the front side of the table board 6 has entered the
space between the second set of processing tools, 37 and 38.
Figure 6 shows the workphase in which the front side of the table
board 6 is just entering the space between the second set of processing tools
37 and 38 whereby the upper processing tool 1 of the first set of processing
tools 1 and 2, is still in its upper position.
Lowering the displaced upper processing tool 1 exerts a force on the
upper and underside of the hide 5, which ensures that the hide 5 can no
longer shift in relation to the table board 6. The middle strip 34 being disposed
- on the underside of the table board 6, may then be processed accordingly "
by the lower processing tool 38 of the second set of processing tools, 37
and 38.
A further embodiment is shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, which contain
a supplement to the machine shown in Figure 5.
An additional hold back force for hides, which can not always easily
be displaced in relation to the table board due to their rigidity, is provided
for by a stationary arranged brake element 44 which is disposed in the area
between the first and second sets of processing elements 1 and 2, and 37
and 38, respectively. The brake element 44 is controlled by the pneumatic
valve 41, through connection with a piston cylinder unit 45. If the valve
41 is operated by the cam 40, then not only the upper processing tool 1 lifts,
as described, but the brake element 44 is lifted as well. The brake element
44 is forced against the hide 5 from below and holds the hide firmly in position.
A support roller arrangement 46 and 47, as shown in Figures ~ and 11, is
provided above the table board, opposite the brake element 44 to prevent
the table board 6 from being raised from the feed chain 11. The support
roller arrangement, 46 and 47, rolls off sideways along the hide 5 on the
table board 6 and presses the table board 6 against the brake element 44.
The subsequent introduction of the middle strip 34 between the second set
of processing elements 37 and 38, occurs in the same way, as described
,
~ 8
-
~g~65~37
for Figures 5 and 6. The brake element 44 extends transversely across
the table board 6 and forms thereby a cross piece, which is dependent on ~;
the valve 41 being in contact with the cam 40. The brake element 44 may
- be adjustable in the heightwise direction. A further embodiment of the invention,
for displacing the middle strip 34, in a manner as shown in Figures 7 and
8, consists in pulling a belt 49 around the table board, displaceable in relation
to the middle strip. A table board 48, as shown in Figure 7, is encompassed
by the flexible belt 49 which is guided at the ends of the table board 48 over
a pair of guide rollers 50 and 51. A pinion gear 52 is disposed on the axis
of the guide roller 51. When the pinion gear 52 is driven, it takes the guide
,
roller 51 with it, so that the flexible belt 49 executes a corresponding di~c~placement
in relation to the table board 48. The pinion gear 52 cooperates with a staionary
rack 53, arranged downstream of and adjacent the first set of processing
elements, 1 and 2. The rack 53is arranged in such a relation to the processing
tools 1 and 2, that the desired displacement of the flexible belt 49 occurs
over a sufficient length in the area between the two pairs of processing elements,
as described in Figure 4. The displacement of the flexible belt 49 also causes
- the displacement of the hide 5 on the upper side of the table board 48. The
underside of the hide 5 is held in place with respect to the lower processing
tool 2, by means of contact with the same. Even the lower side of the flexible
belt 49 carries out no movement in relation to the lower processing tool 2.
This displacement of the hide 5 may occur, as shown in Figure 8, while
the processing element 1 is lifted away. The lifting of the upper processing
element 1 may occur by the means described in conjunction with Figure 5.
The flexible belt 49 as shown in Figures 7 and 8, is displaced accordingly
with every cycle of the table board 48 in the machine, because of engagement
of the pinion gear 52 with the rack 53. This permits other areas of the flexible
belt 49 to come to rest on the front edge of the table board 48, where the
belt is particularly under stress. This provides a certain balance of the
stress of the belt over its length.
.: : .. .. :, ,, , : . . . . .
~ - - 9 -
S~37
A further embodiment is shown in Figures 12 and 13 which also permit
the displacement of a belt 55 in relation to a table board 54. The displacement
is here however effected by a lower displacement cam 54, fitted to the belt
55. The lower displacement cam 57 starts straight towards a stationary arranged
- stop 58 during movement of the board 54 through the first set of processing
tools 1 and 2. The displacement cam 57 is stopped, as well as the belt 55,
with the result that the upper side of the belt 55 is pushed in a forward direction
in relation to the table board 54. The upper processing tool 1 may be lifted
up, as was described, by a control mechanism shown in Figure 5. Displacement
of the belt 55 causes the middle strip 34 to arrive at the underside of the
table board 54 as shown in Figure 13. Displacing the belt 55 in relation to
the table board 54 lasts until a release cam 59 on the reverse side of the
table board 54 runs up to the stop 58. The stop 58 is pivotally mounted on
a lever 60 and is constantly pressed by a spring 61 into the horizontal positionshown in Figure 12. The release cam 59 has a bevelled edge which runs
up to the stop 58 which will be pressed downwards to release the lower displacement
cam 57. The displacement of the belt 55 is effected and the process tool
can be raised, the hides can be drawn along by the table board 54 all as
stated earlier. The middle strip 34 has taken up the position shown in Figure
13, in which it can be processed by a subsequent pair of processing tools
not shown.
After cycling the hide 5, the belt 55 may be brought into its original
position as shown in Figure 12. An upper displacement cam 56 is provided,
which is fixed to the belt 55 similar to the lower displacement cam 57 to the
belt 55, on its upper side in relation to the table board 54. This upper displacement
cam 56 works in conjunction with a stop not shown, which is fitted behind
both pairs of processing tools and holds this firm when meeting with the
displacement cam 56, until a release cam 62 arrives at the non-shown stop.
The same release operations occur as described previously in connection
with the release of the lower displacement cam 57. The resultant movement
.
- -- 10 --
~L06S6;~7
of the upper displacement cam 56 corresponds with that of the lower displacement
cam 57, wherein the belt 55 is pushed away in the reverse direction to the .
table board 54 . A cable 63 is fitted onto the displacement cams 56 and 57,
running over a guide roller 64, so that the belt 55 has a friction-type locking ~ ~
arrangement at the rear end of the table board 54. When one of the displacement ; ~:
cams 56 or 57 is moved, the cable 63 makes a corresponding displacement
movement.
In order to facilitate the slipping of a hide as proces~ing stock in relation
to the table board, one can cover the table board with a cover attached thereto.
An elastic underlay is provided between cover or belt and the table board
in order that this cover or belt can yield as it is pulled around the table
board, to facilitate moving or displacement of hides which are often uneven
in thickness.
3û
- ~ - ~ . . . . . ....
.. .~ , ~, . . .. . .. . . .
