EP0327482A1 - Apparatus for the continuous mechanical treatment of hides in chamois-dressing and tannery - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus equipped with improvements according to the invention is essentially characterised in that the upper (7A) and lower (7B) cylinders and the support roller (12) supporting the endless belt (6) are mounted on one and the same chassis (13) which is translationally mobile in relation to the tools (2) and to the pressure roller(s) (11), and in that the support roller (12) is translationally mobile relative to said chassis (13) common to the upper (7A) and lower (7B) cylinders. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to improvements to machines for the continuous mechanical work of skins in tanning and tanning and more particularly to the machine subject of patent application No. 85 14311 filed in the name of Mister MOULIN co-applicant for the present.

The machine which is the subject of the above-mentioned application is provided with at least one working head carrying at least one mechanical skin treatment tool, an endless band stretched between cylinders, driven in translation by rollers and having an ascending strand followed by a substantially horizontal strand constituting the means for supporting the skins and provided with drive means in relative spacing of the skin support relative to or to the working heads and to the means for driving the strip unending.

These characteristics are also known in US-A-2,169,754.

The drive means in relative spacing of the support of the skins relative to or to the working heads and to the drive means of the endless belt can have two different embodiments according to patent application No. 85 14311 of Mister MOULIN , while patent US-A-2,169,754 proposes yet another.

Following the use of Mr. MOULIN's machine presenting one or the other embodiment of the training means in relative spacing and following the study and the functional analysis of the machine object of the US patent sus -cited, it was revealed operating drawbacks leading to poor results on the quality of the work performed on the skins.

In fact, according to the first embodiment of Mister MOULIN's machine, the drive means in relative spacing of the means for supporting the skin relative to the tools of the working heads are constituted by arms carrying the bearings of the tools, by axes of articulation of the arms and by jacks actuating in tilting around the axes the arms and therefore the working tools.

The tools used on this type of machine are cylindrical and have helical blades on their periphery.
These tools are intended to be rotated during the work of the skin.

It turns out when the said tools are mounted on arms, their rapid rotation causes very strong vibrations on the machine.

In addition, the mounting of the tools on these arms poses on the one hand, problems of parallelism between the two tools and between each of them and the support means and on the other hand bending phenomena on the arms.

All of these drawbacks resulted in irregular working of the skin and tearing of the latter.

According to the second embodiment of the machine of the MOULIN patent, the cylinders between which the endless belt is stretched and the drive rollers of said strip placed inside the latter are mounted on the same chassis actuated in a tilting movement relative to an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the tools.

This second embodiment with fixed rotary tools was not satisfactory either.

Indeed, during the putting into working position, that is to say of the tilting movement of the endless belt towards the working tools, it turned out to be a shift in the positioning of the endless belt by in relation to working tools and in relation to the drive rollers.
This shift could cause the skin to work before it was held and therefore left the machine, as well as a difference between the treatment performed by each tool.

BEYSTER patent US-A-2,169,754 presents a machine provided with an endless belt inside of which are mounted rollers intended to be actuated in translation towards the tools to bring the skin carried by the carpet towards the said tools.

Between these two rollers and between the tools are mounted pinch rollers between which the carpet is pinched and one of which is spring loaded to allow the passage of the skin to be treated.
An elastic tensioning device allows the tension of the belt to be maintained whatever the position of the movable rollers in translation.
On the spring-mounted pinch roller are placed contactors detecting the presence of the skin on the mat and between the pinch rollers and triggering the raising or lowering of the rollers respectively when the skin is between the pinch rollers and when it is no longer there.

The main drawbacks of this machine lie in the means for holding the skin during work, that is to say the pinch rollers and during the passage of the skin between them.

With this machine, it is necessary that the skin is perfectly placed on the carpet so that it does not have folds.
Indeed, during the passage between the pinch rollers, the fold can cause the tripping of the contactors and therefore the work of the tools while only one edge of the skin is maintained.

This therefore results in the removal of the skin from the machine by the rotation of the tool.
It can be the same when two ends of the skin are between the rollers.

One of the drawbacks of this machine is therefore to start work while the skin is barely maintained.
Another disadvantage of this machine is the risk of wrapping the skin around the upper pinch roller.

Indeed, the skin can adhere more strongly against the roller than against the carpet.

On the other hand, the tool placed behind the machine works a part of the skin which has already been treated by the first roller.

In addition, the disadvantage existing for the start of work also exists for the end of work, namely that the tool continues to work while the skin is barely held by its end between the pinch rollers.

The machine in the BEYSTER patent cannot function correctly with regard to the power used in these types of machines and the means for driving the moving parts constituted by a single central motor driving the said moving parts by transmission.

According to yet another drawback present in the machine of patent US Pat. No. 2,169,754, the means for supplying the skin with the machine does not offer sufficient security for the user.

These machines being used continuously, the user must during the treatment of a skin, prepare the installation of another skin on the same moving mat.
Depending on the condition of the skin, this operation may prove to be long and the treatment thereof may begin when the user has not finished putting it on and may be tempted to do so by running great risks through the presence of rotary working tools.

The present invention aims to overcome all of the above-mentioned drawbacks, by proposing a machine provided with operations allowing good synchronization on the working position of the belt at each tool, ensuring the maintenance of the skin when it is widely engaged in the machine and before the start of work thereof and guaranteeing good safety for the user ensuring the positioning of the skin at the entrance to the machine.

To this end, the machine provided with improvements according to the invention comprises:
- at least one work head carrying at least one tool.
- At least one means for supporting the skin consisting of an endless band stretched between two upper cylinders and at least one lower cylinder.
- At least one means for driving the support means and the skin under the working heads.
- At least one means for holding the skin during its mechanical work, consisting of at least one rotary pressure roller arranged between the tools and at least one support roller disposed inside the strip without end between the upper cylinders and above the horizontal plane containing these.
- And drive means in relative spacing of the skin support relative to or means for holding said skin and is characterized in that the upper cylinders, the lower cylinders, the support roller supporting the endless belt are mounted on the same chassis movable in translation relative to the tools and to the pressure roller (s) in a direction parallel to the two parallel planes each containing the axes of revolution of a tool and of a cylinder laughing and in that the support roller is movable in translation relative to said frame common to the upper and lower cylinders so that the maintenance of the skin is ensured before the start of work thereof by the tools and that the relaxation of the said skin by the holding means is carried out after the end of the work of said skin by said tools.

• - les figures 1 à 7 représentent schématiquement les étapes du fonctionnement de la machine dotée des perfectionnements selon l'invention.
• - la figure 8 est une vue schématique de face de la machine et plus particulièrement des moyens d'entrainement en écartement relatif.

Other advantages and characteristics will appear in the description of a preferred embodiment according to the invention illustrated in the attached drawings given by way of non-limiting example and in which:

• - Figures 1 to 7 schematically represent the stages of operation of the machine with the improvements according to the invention.
• - Figure 8 is a schematic front view of the machine and more particularly of the relative spacing drive means.

As shown in the attached figures, the machine for the continuous mechanical work of skins in tanning and tanning with the improvements according to the invention comprises, in known manner, at least one working head 1 carrying at least one rotary tool 2 for mechanical treatment skins, at least one support means 3 for the skin to be treated, at least one means for driving said support and said skin under the working head or heads 1, at least one means 5 for holding the skin during the mechanical work of the latter and of the driving means ment in relative spacing of the support of the skin relative to or to said working heads and to or means 5 for holding said skin.

Preferably, the machine is provided with two working heads 1 each carrying a rotary tool.

These tools are in a known manner cylindrical and have on their surface treatment elements such as helical blades for skinning.

These tools are arranged in the same horizontal plane and are parallel to each other.
The rotation of said tools is reverse from one to the other and each is driven by its own motor.

The working heads 1 are fixed in the machine provided with the improvements according to the invention.

As known from patent application 85 14311 by Monsieur MOULIN, the support means 3 is constituted by an endless band 6 stretched between at least two cylinders 7.

According to the improvements, the endless belt is stretched between two upper cylinders 7A arranged in the same horizontal plane and parallel to each other and at least one lower cylinder 7B.
Each of the upper cylinders 7A is arranged in a plane passing through their axis of rotation and through the axis of rotation of a tool 2 disposed above it.

The planes containing the axes of rotation of the tools 2 and the upper cylinders 7A are mutually parallel and perpendicular to the horizontal plane containing the axes of rotation of the tools 2 and to the horizontal plane containing the axes of rotation of the upper cylinders 7A.

Preferably, the endless belt 6 is stretched between two upper cylinders 7A and two lower cylinders 7B arranged in a horizontal plane and parallel to one another.
The lower cylinders 7B are parallel to the upper cylinders 7A and to the tools 2.

Thus the plane containing the tools 2, the plane containing the upper cylinders 7A and the plane containing the lower cylinders 7B are parallel to each other and said tools, said upper cylinders and said lower cylinders are parallel to each other compared to others.

Preferably, the lower cylinders 7B have a spacing greater than that between the upper cylinders 7A so that the strip 6 has an inclined ascending strand 6A and an inclined descending strand 6B.

Said strip is driven in translation under the tools 2 and in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said tools.

The drive means in translation of the endless belt 6 is preferably constituted by at least one of the cylinders 7 on which the said band is stretched.
To this end, the cylinder or cylinders 7 are rotated by at least one engine.
Preferably, only one of the cylinders 7 is rotated.

On the other hand, at least one of the cylinders 7 is provided on its guide bearings with a device for adjusting the tension of the endless belt 6.
Said endless band therefore presents, considering its direction of advance, an ascending strand 6A and a descending strand 6B.

Advantageously, above the ascending strand is placed a supply means 8.
This supply means 8 preferably consists of an endless belt 9 stretched between at least two rollers 10, at least one of which is driven in rotation by a motor.

The treatment of the skins is carried out continuously, thus the endless belt 6 is actuated in an uninterrupted manner.

In order to ensure the safety of the user, the supply means 8 constituted by the endless belt 9 operates intermittently and is controlled by the user.
This gives the latter time to properly install the skin on the endless belt 9 without risk.

The order of introduction is given when the skin is in place without it being necessary for the treatment of the previous skin to be completed.

The translation of the endless belt 9 is such that the skin is soft born on the upper part of the ascending strand 6A of the endless belt 6 to then be supported by the latter.

In a known manner, the first tool 2, considering the direction of advance of the endless belt 6 rotates in a reverse direction of rotation relative to the direction of translation of said band while the other tool 2 rotates in the same direction as the direction of translation of the strip 6.

In order to hold the skin under the tools 2 and on the endless support strip 6, the machine is provided with means 5 for holding the said skin.

These holding means 5 are constituted by at least one pressure roller 11 disposed between the tools 2 and driven in rotation and by at least one support roller 12 disposed inside the endless belt 6 between the two upper cylinders 7A .

The rollers 11 and 12 are intended to clamp between them the endless belt 6 and the skin to be treated, while nevertheless allowing the latter to advance in the machine.

The rotary pressure roller or rollers 11 are parallel to the tools 2 and are fixed in position therebetween.
The said pressure roller (s) and the tools 2 have a common horizontal tangent on the side of the endless belt 6.

Preferably, the machine comprises a single support roller 12 inside the endless belt 6 and which is mounted free to rotate.

This pressure roller 12 is preferably disposed above the horizontal plane containing the axes of rotation of the upper cylinders 7A supporting the said endless belt so that the spacing of the latter relative to or to the pressure rollers 12 and to the right of these is weaker than compared to 2 working tools to the right of these.

According to the improvements according to the invention of the machine, the upper cylinders 7A, the lower cylinders 7B and the support roller 12 are mounted on the same chassis 13 movable in translation relative to the tools 2 and to or from the pressure rollers 11 in a direction parallel to the two parallel planes each containing the axes of revolution of a tool 2 and an upper cylinder 7A and the support roller 12 is movable in translation relative to said common frame with the upper cylinders 7A and lower 7B.

Said upper and lower cylinders are guided in rotation in bearings (not shown) carried by the chassis 13.

Against the said chassis, the rotary drive motor of one of the cylinders 7 is fixed.
The support roller 12 is also mounted in rotational guide bearings placed on the frame 13.

These bearings are placed in a notch 14 formed in the chassis and are kept in upward pressure by a spring 15 which allows the relative mobility in translation of the support roller 12 relative to the chassis 13.

The chassis 13 is mounted on the drive means in relative spacing of the endless belt 6 relative to the tools 2 and to the pressure roller (s) 11 as shown in FIG. 8.

According to a preferred embodiment, these drive means in relative spacing consist of a motor 16 driving at the output of endless chains 17 arranged horizontally and on either side of the output shaft of the motor 16, by two vertical uprights 18 integral with the chassis 13 and each driven in translation by a plate-crank assembly 19 whose plate is rotated by a chain 17.

Advantageously, the crank of the assembly is provided with a length adjustment in order to adjust the stroke of the A3 chassis.

The chassis 13 is guided in translation by slides and rails 20 formed between said frame 21 of the machine.

The operation of the machine is as follows:
After placing the skin on the supply means 8, the user instructs said supply means to operate.
The endless belt 6 of the machine operates continuously and the tools 2 and the pressure rollers 11 are moved away from said endless belt in the initial position (FIG. 1).
A detector 22 is placed at the end of the supply means 8 and is intended to detect the passage of a skin (FIG. 2).

The skin is taken care of when it leaves the feeding means 8 by the upward strand 6A of the endless belt 6.

The detector 22 following the passage of the skin gives the order to a time delay to start.
The end of it controls the closing of the machine, that is to say the translation of the chassis 13 and therefore of the endless belt towards the tools 2 and the pressure rollers 11 (FIG. 4).

The time delay between skin detection and machine closure is a function of the speed of the endless belt and is such that closure occurs when the front end of the skin has passed past the pressure rollers. 11 (Figure 3).

Thus when closing the pressure rollers 11 are completely supported on the skin and in an area thereof where the resistance is high.
The support roller 12 being higher than the upper cylinders 7A the tightening of the skin is done before the start of work by the tools 2.

Thus, by the vertical translation of the chassis 13, the skin carried by the endless moving band 6 is firstly clamped between the rollers 11 and 12 on the said band.

The chassis 13 continues to progress, which causes the relative movement relative to the support roller 12 which is for this purpose mounted on the springs 15.
Chassis progression continues until the tools are in the working position.

Thus the first tool 2, that is to say the one closest to the supply means 8 begins to work the skin, while the second tool 2 cannot work it because the said skin is not yet disposed under him (Figure 4).

The skin driven in translation progresses under the first tool 2 and then engages by its front part not yet treated under the second tool 2.

Depending on the size of the skin, the tools 2 work simultaneously at a time (Figure 5).

As soon as the detector 22 detects the end of the skin, a time delay operates and determines at its end the cessation of work (FIG. 5).
This time delay is always a function of the speed of the endless belt and is such that work is stopped when the rear end of the skin has passed beyond the first tool 2 (FIG. 6).

At this instant, the chassis 13 begins its vertical translation downwards, thus causing the first tool 2 of the strip 6 and the second tool 2 to be separated from the skin, the latter being always clamped by the rollers 11 and 12, because the chassis 13 initially relative to the support roller 12.

Then the skin is loosened from said rollers by the continued descent of the frame 13 (Figure 7).
The detector 22 can also control the stopping of the means 8 to allow the user to place another skin on it.

During and after the opening of the machine, the endless belt 6 continues to function to evacuate the skin at the level of the lower end of its descending strand 6B.
The endless belt 6 operates continuously and another skin can be introduced into the machine before the previous skin is completely removed (Figure 7).

The skin leaves the fully treated machine, its front part having been by the second tool 2 and its rear part by the first.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the machine comprises two parallel rotary pressure rollers 11 arranged in the same horizontal plane and the support roller 12 is arranged in a vertical plane passing between the two pressure rollers 11.

It goes without saying that the machine can comprise a single pressure roller 11 rotated by a motor and arranged in a vertical plane containing the support roller 12.

The machine provided with improvements according to the invention is also provided with the arrangements provided for in application 85 14311 of Mr. MOULIN, namely devices for sharpening the blades of tools 2, systems for taking up the wear of said tools, a assembly ensuring the synchronization of the various motors each actuating an element of the machine, net assemblies tape cleaning, recovery and disposal of waste.

The improvements made to the machines for continuous mechanical working of the skins make it possible to obtain an excellent work on the skin and guarantees conditions of increased safety.

It goes without saying that the present invention can receive all arrangements and all variants in the field of technical equivalents without departing from the scope of this patent.

Claims (2)

1. Machine for the continuous mechanical work of skins in tanning and tanning comprising:
- at least one working head (1) carrying at least one rotary tool (2).
- At least one support means (3) for the skin consisting of an endless band (6) stretched between two upper cylinders (7A) and at least one lower cylinder (7B).
- At least one means for driving the support means (3) and the skin under the working heads (1).
- at least one means for holding (5) the skin during its mechanical work, consisting of at least one rotary pressure roller (11) disposed between the tools (2) and at least one support roller (12) disposed inside the strip (6) between the upper cylinders (7A) and above the horizontal plane containing the latter.
- And drive means in relative spacing of the support (3) of the skin relative to or to said working heads and to or to the holding means (5) of said skin, machine characterized in that the upper cylinders (7A), the lower cylinders (7B) and the support roller (12) supporting the endless belt (6) are mounted on the same chassis (13) movable in translation relative to the tools (2) and to or to the rollers pressure (11) in a direction parallel to the two parallel planes each containing the axes of revolution of a tool (2) and an upper cylinder (7A) and in that the support roller (12) is movable in translation relative to said chassis common to the upper (7A) and lower (7B) cylinders so that the skin is maintained before the work begins by the tools (2) and that the skin is released by the holding means (5) after the work of the said skin is completed by the tools (2). 2. Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that the support roller (12) inside the endless belt (6) is mounted on springs (15) in the frame (13).

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