Toilet – Nail device – Compound tools
Patent
1981-03-17
1982-12-07
McNeill, G. E.
Toilet
Nail device
Compound tools
132 11R, 132 45R, 119 94, 132 11A, A45D 100
Patent
active
043621732
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for removal of hair from animals.
BACKGROUND ART
An important application of this invention is its use in the collection of cashmere. Cashmere is the fine diameter, non-medullated, wool-like fibres, varying in length from 2.5 to 9 cms which occur in the undercoat of goats.
The process of harvesting cashmere comprises collection of the cashmere fibres at a time when the goat is shedding them, so that the process is more one of separating the fine shedding hair from coarser hair in the goat's coat using a combing process, rather than one of cutting the fibres, or pulling them out from the follicles.
All the world's production of cashmere is currently hand-combed, and this manual process takes about 30 minutes per goat. Since goat-hair is usually matted and tangled, this manual procedure is very time-consuming, tedious and physically demanding, and results in a relatively expensive product.
This invention may also be used to facilitate the removal of wool from sheep which have been treated especially to enable such removal. Prior art sheep shearing techniques are labour intensive and it is desirable to reduce the labour cost of sheep shearing.
For the purposes of this specification "hair" is to be taken to mean any slender threadlike outgrowth of the epidermis of an animal and includes fur, fleece etc.
The present invention therefore seeks to provide an improved method of and apparatus for removal of hair from animals.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for the removal of hair from an animal comprising driven comb means for collecting the hair and a housing for the comb means and within which the comb means is arranged to be driven, the housing having an inlet which exposes the comb means so that it can be moved through the hair of the animal, an outlet for the discharge of hair collected from the animal and means permitting connection of the outlet to a suction means so that when in use the suction means creates an air flow which is applied to the collected hair to facilitate its removal from the comb means; characterised in that the comb means comprises at least one comb which in turn comprises a comb spine to which is attached a plurality of fingers which are each tapered convergently towards tips thereof, each finger being bent part way along its length such that in use the tip of each finger is inclined in the direction of travel of the comb through the hair of the animal.
Preferably, the or each said comb is mounted on a rotatable hub member with the spine of each comb disposed substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the hub member, the suction means being arranged to cause a flow of air past the or each said comb after it has been moved through the hair of the animal, to remove therefrom any hair collected by it.
Preferably, the apparatus is arranged so that centrifugal forces act on the collected hair assisting in its removal from the comb or combs.
Two such combs may be used in the apparatus and to secure them to the hub member each comb may be attached to a shelf plate which is in turn pivotally mounted to the rotatable hub, with the axis of rotation of each shelf plate about its respective pivotal mounting being substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the hub. Alternatively the combs may be pivotally mounted to the rotatable hub and the shelf plates may be attached to the combs.
Preferably, the rotatable hub member is driven by an electric motor or the like located within the rotatable hub member or elsewhere on the apparatus. Alternatively, however, power to drive the hub may be obtained from any suitable remote source and transmitted to the apparatus, via a flexible rotary drive connection.
The tips of the comb fingers are preferably bent at an angle of substantially 30.degree. to the original axis, though other angles of bending also may be used. Further, the hub member is preferably configured so that normally the tips pass throug
REFERENCES:
patent: 1149481 (1915-02-01), Vandergon
patent: 3066683 (1962-12-01), Pace
patent: 3386453 (1968-06-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 3750680 (1973-08-01), Miller
McNeill G. E.
Minister for Public Works for the State of New South Wales
LandOfFree
Cashmere combing machine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cashmere combing machine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cashmere combing machine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1898595