Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD AND MEANS FOR DRYING AND FASTENING OF STRETCHED
PELT ON A PELTING BOARD
The present invention relates to a method and means for fastening of stretched
pelts on pelt boards during drying, namely mink pelts and fox pelts, and means
for use in
the execution of the method. The invention also concerns a method by which it
is
possible to avoid drying-out of the fur side of the pelt in connection with
the drying
process.
In the drying of, for example, mink and fox pelts (in the following both
referred
to as pelts), after the skinning and the scraping of the layer of fat from the
grain side of
the pelt, the pelts are stretched on a pelt board which is often first
provided with a fat-
absorbing material, for example a bag made of fat-absorbing paper, a so-called
pelt-board
bag, with the object that during the drying, the fat remaining on the grain
side of the pelt
will be drawn into the paper and hereby be removed from the pelt.
In the following, a stretched and fastened pelt is thus to be understood as a
pelt
drawn.onto a pelt board, and stretched and fastened in this position on the
pelt board. In
certain cases, before the pelt is mounted on the pelt board, the board can be
provided with
a bag made of a fat-absorbing material, for example in the form of a so-called
pelt-board
bag, which will thus lie between the pelt board and the grain side of the
pelt.
A traditional pelt board can typically be described as being a flat piece of
wood
with a first and a second front surface, and first and second side surfaces,
the breadth of
which is considerably less than the breadth of the front surfaces, and where
the one end
of which (the foot end) is cut off at right-angles to the longitudinal axis of
the pelt board,
and the breadth of which decreases gradually towards a pointed but rounded-off
end part
(the fore-end, the nose end), and where the pelt board has a slot lying
symmetrically
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around the longitudinal axis of the board, extending between a point close to
the pointed
end part and at least over a half of the length of the pelt board.
Distinction is made between male pelt boards intended for use in connection
with
pelts from male animals, which are normally larger than those of female
animals, and
female pelt boards which are both shorter and narrower than the male pelt
boards. Near
the foot end, the male pelt boards also comprise a part where the first and
second side
surfaces extend in a parallel manner, whereas the breadth of the female pelt
boards
decreases along the whole of the length between the foot of the board and the
pointed but
rounded-off end part (the fore-end, the nose end).
The commonly-known drying process which is used for the drying of pelts
presents the problem that the fur side of the pelt is dried out to such a
degree that this
requires a pre-processing in order to minimise the damage to the natural
surface of the
pelt, so that the fur side of the dried pelt retains its natural, silky
surface to the greatest
possible extent. This pre-processing, which is quite labour-demanding and is
therefore
expensive, consists of handling the pelt in a brushing machine with brushes of
horse hair,
where the pelts are led through two rotating brushes which run in a water
bath, whereby
water is transferred to the pelt, and the fur on the pelt is laid down in the
same direction,
whereby the drying-out of the pelt is reduced. However, the pre-processing
suffers the
disadvantage that the mechanical influence on the fur in combination with the
water
results in a"washing-off' of the thin, natural film of fat which nature
provides on the
individual hairs and which contribute towards giving the fur its silky
appearance, the
result being that the silky lustre of the pelt is not optimal after the
drying.
In the mounting and fastening of pelts on pelt boards before the pelt is
dried, a
stretching of the pelt is carried out. The stretching is often effected
mechanically in order
to provide pelts of greatest length (which fetch the highest prices at the fur
auction), and
in order to retain the pelt in the stretched-out position on the pelt board
during the
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subsequent drying, the pelt is fastened to the board with securing means, for
example
staples or clips which are shot in manually/mechanically, and which penetrate
the pelt.
Use is made of 8-10 clips per pelt, which thus leave 16-20 holes in the dried
pelt.
During the drying process, air is blow into the pelt board, and this air is
diffused
via small holes in the walls of the pelt-board bag out to the inner side of
the pelt and dries
the pelt.
After the drying, the clips are removed and thereafter the pelt is removed
from the
pelt board, which is often effected mechanically, and as a consequence of the
stretching
of the pelt, elongated holes resulting from the clips are often left in the
pelt, which means
that it is not possible to utilise the whole of the dried pelt, in that 2-3 cm
of the pelt where
this is broadest (and the most valuable) is ruined. Sometimes, the mechanical
removal of
the clips similarly results in damage to the pelts. All in all, it must be
ascertained that the
method which is most predominant in connection with the stretching and
fastening of
pelts on pelt boards during the drying process results in damage to the most
valuable part
of the pelts. There has long been a desire to be able to avoid this damaging
of the pelts
during the drying process, but there has not yet been developed a suitable and
better
fastening technique.
With the invention, the possibility has been realised of being able to render
the
pre-processing of the pelts superfluous after the stretching and fastening by
drawing a
sleeve over and around the pelt board with the pelt from the nose end of the
pelt board, in
that the internal side walls of the sleeve are thus in contact with the fur
side of the pelt.
It is hereby achieved that the hairs on the fur side of the pelt are oriented
in the
same direction, in that these are swept with a parallel-oriented movement in
the drawing
of the sleeve over the pelt board with the pelt. Moreover, a drying-out of the
hairs is
avoided without having to effect any pre-processing with rotating brushes and
water,
which means that the natural layer of fat on the fur is retained, and the pelt
is given a
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more shiny and silky surface. Also, the wastage of water in the drying plant
is avoided.
Moreover, the forelegs come to lie in a better manner under the pelt, and it
is possible to
touch the whole of the surface in connection with the handling of the pelts
when these are
hung up and taken down in the drying plant, in that the hairs of the pelt do
not "break"
when touched. Furthermore, the pelts are protected against becoming dirty.
A sleeve for the execution of the method according to the invention can be
configured as a bag item moulded in one part in thin -foil.
In the following, the sleeve for use in the execution of the invention will be
referred to as a bag item.
It is preferred, however, without renouncing other configuration, that the bag
item
be made of a sheet of material which is of such a format that when two
opposing sides
are assembled, it is suitable for drawing over and around a pelt board on
which a pelt has
been stretched and fastened in this position, and with a length which
approximately
corresponds to the length of the stretched pelt, preferably measured between
the chin part
of the pelt and the lower edge of the back.
Moreover, it is preferred that the bag item is substantially of a shape which
corresponds to the fashion of the pelt board with the stretched-out pelt. It
is hereby
achieved that the load on the fur side of the pelt is more or less uniform.
With the view to providing the possibility of effecting an expedient entry for
the
introduction of pipes for the blowing-in of air, the bag item can consist of a
bag element
with a sleeve-like conical shape, i.e. where both ends are open, and where the
opening
nearest to the nose end of the pelt board is smaller than the opening at the
opposite end of
the bag nearest to the foot of the board.
With the view to ensuring a certain diffusion of moist air, which stems from
the
drying of the pelt, through the bag enclosure, the walls of the bag item can
be perforated.
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There is hereby ensured a certain transmission of moisture during the drying
process,
without any drying-out of the pelt fur taking place.
With the view to being able to exercise the method in connection with pelt
boards
which are substantially rectangular in shape, the bag item can be configured
with parallel
5 sides.
The above method and bag item for use in connection with the drying of pelts
stretched and fastened on pelt boards, has thus led to not inconsiderable
savings in work
operations with the view of being able to obtain beautiful pelts, while
retaining their
natural, silky appearance aifter the drying, without having to carry out time-
demanding
and herewith costly pre-processing of the stretched and fastened pelts. Holes
made by
the penetration of clips etc. will still, however, continue to be left in the
pelt which are
fastened in the stretched-out position.
However, a further development of the above-mentioned bag item has led to an
equally advantageous invention concerning the fastening of the pelt in the
stretched-out
position on pelt boards of the kind disclosed.
With the invention, it has thus been further realised that the fastening of
pelts in
the stretched-out position is possible by a method where, after the mounting
of the pelt on
the pelt board, a sleeve (bag item) of conical shape, corresponding to the
board with the
stretched-out pelt, is drawn over and around the pelt, in that said bag item
is drawn over
the pelt and the board from the nose end of the pelt, after which the pelt on
the board is
stretched to an optimal stretch length for the relevant pelt, while at the
same time the bag
is pulled down over the pelt until it makes tight contact with the fur side of
the pelt, and
finally the traction on the pelt is slackened.
It is hereby achieved that the pelt is locked firmly on the pelt board in the
stretched-out position between the pelt-board bag and the overdrawn bag, in
that the
elastic effect from the fur on the pelt, in combination with the conical
profile of the pelt
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board and the pelt, will give rise to a pressure effect directed towards the
board which is
sufficient to render the use of fastening clips completely superfluous. This
means that
there are no holes left in the pelt by clips or the like after the fastening
and stretching of
the pelts, which makes the pelts particularly attractive. What is thus
involved is nothing
less than a revolutionary invention in connection with the process of
fastening and
stretching of pelts on pelt boards, in that the method disclosed pennits full
utilisation of
the most valuable parts of the pelts (the lowermost part of the back) which,
as a
consequence of the holes, it has hithertQ been necessary to cut away before
use of the
pelts as furs.
In addition to the above-mentioned advantages of the invention, it can also be
added that in comparison with the currently-used method, the present invention
offers a
saving in work operations connected with the fastening of pelts on pelt
boards, in that it
will no longer be necessary to use clips or staples or similar penetrating
fastening means.
Furthermore, the work operations connected with the removal of said fastening
means
after the drying of the pelts is concluded are also dispensed with, during
which operations
damages to the pelt often arise. Finally, it can be mentioned that with the
use of the
method, the pelt boards themselves are given a considerably longer lifetime,
in that it is
no longer necessary to shoot clips or the like into the wood of which the pelt
board is
made.
It will be obvious that with the method according to the invention the same
advantages will also be achieved as already mentioned concerning the
protection of the
pelt fur against drying-out during the drying process for the fastened and
stretched pelts.
A bag item for the execution of the method of fastening stretched pelts on
pelt
boards can with advantage consist of a bag item with a sleeve-formed/conical
shape, the
length of which corresponds substantially to the length of the pelt stretched
on the board,
preferably measured from the jaw part to the lower edge of the back of the
pelt.
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It has proved to be advantageous from the point of view of production
technique
that the bag item is made of a sheet of material with a format which, after
the joining
together of two opposite sides, forms a sleeve-shaped/conical fashion for
surrounding a
pelt board on which a pelt is mounted, and where the length of said sheet of
material
corresponds substantially to the length of the pelt stretched-out on the
board, preferably
measured from the jaw part to the lower edge of the back of the pelt.
It is hereby achieved that the most important and valuable parts of the fur
are
covered during the drying, so that the fur side does not dry out.
With the view to ensuring a certain diffusion of moist air through the
enclosure
bag, which air stems from the drying of the grain side of the pelt, the sheet
of material
can be perforated. There is hereby ensured a certain transmission of moisture
during the
drying process, without giving rise to a drying-out of the fur.
With the view to being able to use the enclosure bags in connection with pelt
boards which are substantially rectangular in shape, the enclosure bags can be
configured
with parallel sides.
With the view to being able to use the enclosure bags in connection with pelt
boards which extend in a substantially conical manner, the bags can be conical
in shape,
corresponding to the pelt board with the stretched-out pelt.
With the view to being able to increase the pressure between the enclosure bag
and the pelt board bag, the enclosure bag can consist of a sheet of elastic
material.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the enclosure bag, the sheet of
material
consists of a piece of paper.
In one aspect, the invention provides a method of drying of a fur side of
pelts, the
method comprising the steps of:
mounting a pelt stretched-out on a pelt board and fastening the pelt in
position on the
pelt board;
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drawing a sleeve or bag item over and around the pelt board and the pelt from
a nose
end of the pelt board until internal side walls of the sleeve or bag are
brought into tight
contact with a fur side of the pelt; and
drying the pelt on the pelt board, the sleeve or bag preventing drying out of
the fur side.
In one aspect, the invention provides a sleeve and board combination for
drying
of a fur side of pelts, comprising:
a tubular bag item formed of a molded one-piece thin foil and a pelt board for
mounting
of a pelt to be dried stretched out thereon, said sleeve being sized and
shaped for being
drawn over and around the pelt board and the pelt from a nose end of the pelt
board so as
to bring internal side walls of the sleeve into contact with the fur side of
the pelt.
In one aspect, the invention provides a method for the fastening of a pelt
stretched
out on a pelt board for drying, the method comprising the steps of
disposing a fur pelt on a pelt board;
drawing a sleeve of conical shape of over the board and the pelt disposed
thereon;
applying traction to stretch the pelt;
drawing the sleeve down into tight contact 'with a fur side of the pelt to
prevent drying
out of the pelt during drying; and
slackening the traction on the pelt, said pelt being held on said pelt board
in a stretched
condition by said sleeve.
In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with
reference to
the drawing, where
FIG. I is a plan view of the front end of a pelt board with pelt-board bag on
which
a pelt is stretched, and over which a sleeve (bag item) according to the
invention has been
drawn,
FIG. 2 is a view of the rear side of a pelt board with pelt-board bag, on
which a
pelt is mounted and shown during the drawing-on of a bag item,
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FIG. 3 is a side view of that shown in FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the bag item during displacement to the fastening
position
for the stretched-out pelt mounted on the pelt board,
FIG. 5 shows the same as in FIG. 4, but where the bag item is brought into the
holding position, where the pelt is fastened on the pelt board in the
stretched-out position,
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 5,
FIG. 7 is a side section view along the line B-B in FIG. 6,
FIG. 8 shows the pelt fastened and stretched according to the invention during
drying,
FIG. 9 shows a sheet of material for the production of a bag item according to
the
invention, and
FIG. 10 shows the sheet of material shown in FIG. 9, but with opposite long
sides
glued together so that it forms a bag item for the execution of the method
according to
the invention.
In FIG. I is seen the front end of a pelt board 2 over which a pelt-board bag
4 has
been drawn (see also FIG. 2), and over which there is drawn a mink pelt 6, and
over and
around this a bag item 8 which in the shown embodiment is made of paper with
perforations 9 as indicated in FIG. 1.
FIGS. 2 and 3 show the pelt board 2 with pelt-board bag 4 on which a pelt 6
has
been mounted, during the drawing-on of a sleeve-shaped/conical bag item 8. The
bag
item is drawn over the pelt 6 mounted on the board 2 from the nose end 10 of
the board,
whereby the hairs 12 on the pelt are swept in a parallel manner with the same
orientation
as given to them naturally.
FIG. 4 shows the pelt 6 on the pelt board 2 during the stretching out to the
ideal
length for the relevant size of pelt, where with gripping means 14 (not shown)
the pelt 6
is fastened during a displacement of the pelt board 2 in the direction of the
arrow 17,
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while at the same time the bag item 8 is displaced downwards towards the lower
edge 18
of the pelt 6.
In FIG. 5 the pelt 6 is seen fully stretched-out on the pelt board 2, and
fastened in
this position by the bag item 8, ready for drying by the introduction of an
air hose 18 in
5 the longitudinal slot opening 16 in the pelt board, as will appear from FIG.
8.
FIG. 6, which is a sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 5, shows the pelt
board surrounded by the pelt-board bag 4, a pelt 6 and a bag item 8 according
to the
present invention. As indicated by the arrows 20, the pelt 6 is pressed
against the pelt-
board bag 4 and the pelt board 2 as a consequence of the presence of the bag
item 8,
10 which is drawn over and around the pelt 6 and presses down the fur 12 on
the pelt, the
result being that the pelt remains in its stretched-out position during the
whole of the
drying process. During the drying of the grain side 22 of the pelt, air is
blown in via a
hose 18 placed in the opening 16 in the pelt board 2, cf. FIG. 8.
In FIG. 7 it is shown how the bag item 8 drawn over the pelt 6 holds the fur
14 in
place during the drying of the pelt, and also how the bag item 8 presses
against the fur 14
on the pelt 6, so that the grain side 22 of the pelt 6 is pressed towards the
pelt-board bag
4. There hereby arises so great a friction between the grain side of the pelt
and the pelt-
board bag 4 and the pelt board 2, that it is sufficient to hold the pelt 6
stretched out
without the use of penetrating fastening means which are otherwise passed
through the
pelt and anchored in the pelt board. Out of regard for clarity, the
perforations 9 in the
paper of which the bag item 8 in the shown embodiment is made are not shown in
the
FIGS. 2-8.
FIG. 9 shows a preferred embodiment of a sheet of material 24 with a basically
trapezoidal shape, and which is provided with perforations 9 for the
production of a bag
item 8.
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FIG. 10 shows a bag item 8 made of the sheet of material 24 shown in FIG. 9,
where a gluing 26 is effected in an overlap 28 along the longest opposing
sides 30, 32 of
the sheet of material. There is hereby formed a sleeve (bag item) 8 with a
conical-
cylindrical cavity 34, so that upon being drawn over from the nose end 10 of
the pelt, and
a subsequent displacement after the pelt is stretched out on the pelt board 2,
the sleeve
(bag item) can be displaced to a locking position in which the pelt is pressed
against the
pelt board 2 by the elastic effect of the fur.
By the presence of the bag item over and around the fur side of the pelt, a
certain
moistness is retained in the fur during and after the drying of the pelt, and
this results in
the fur retaining its lustre without the need for pre-processing and possibly
subsequent
processing.
In conclusion, it can be said that the use of the method and the bag item
according
to the invention provides possibilities for hitherto-unknown rationalisation
advantages
and increased earnings within a very tradition-bound industry which is very
sensitive to
market fluctuations, and which subsequently has need for the implementation of
a
rationalisation of operations in order to survive. Consequently, in the
execution of the
method and the use of the sleeve/bag item according to the invention, the
possibility is
provided of achieving a better utilisation of the most valuable parts of the
pelt, and which
at the same time enables three working operations to be dispensed with, namely
the water
treatment, the insertion of securing clips or the like and the removal of
these after the
drying.
