# US 4,391,173 A · Shearing cradle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,391,173 A - Document ID: US4391173A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/324,449 - Filed: 1981-11-24 - Granted: 1983-07-05 - Earliest claimed: 1979-01-02 - Inventors: Colin C. Anderson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4391173A ## CPC - A01K 13/002: {Curry combs; Brushes (shearing sheep B26B19/24)} - B26D 1/46: having an endless band-knife or the like - B26D 7/01: Means for holding or positioning work - Y10T 83/0274: By use of endless band or chain knife - Y10T 83/6582: Tool between tandem arranged work carrying means - Y10T 83/722: By varying distance between band and work-support surface - Y10T 83/97: Miscellaneous - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A shearing cradle to support a sheep in a reclined position on rollers. Shearing device situated between a pair of rollers, so that as the rollers rotate, the sheep is shorn by the shearing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for shearing sheep, said apparatus comprising a frame supporting a plurality of propelled parallel rollers extending longitudinally of the frame to support a sheep in a reclining position, an endless belt cutter positioned between an adjacent pair of said rollers, said rollers being positioned to have central and outermost rollers with the central rollers lower than the outermost rollers to allow the sheep to lie on the rollers, said cutter means being characterized by said endless belt cutter having a course extending axially of said rollers intermediate said central rollers, and means to drive the rollers to move the sheep through an arc to present the unshorn wool to the endless belt cutter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Apparatus for shearing sheep as defined in claim 1, wherein said cutter means is characterized by said belt cutter cooperating with wire like fingers of a comb and, all of said rollers have surface portions lying in an arc and forming a support for the sheep, said endless belt cutter course also lying in said last-named arc. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Apparatus for shearing sheep as defined in claim 2, wherein said fingers overlie the endless belt cutter and some of the fingers are shearing fingers that protrude past the cutting edge to penetrate the wool before it is cut and the other fingers extend beyond the cutting edge to maintain the skin spaced from the cutting edge, and means positioned below said course of said endless belt cutter to aid in operatively positioning the same. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Apparatus for shearing sheep as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said endless belt cutter has a serrated cutting edge to engage and cut the wool. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Apparatus for shearing sheep as defined in claim 1 wherein the fingers overlie the endless belt cutter and some of the fingers protrude past the cutting edge to penetrate the wool before it is cut, and the other fingers maintain the skin space on the cutting edge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Apparatus for shearing sheep as defined in claim 1 characterized in that at least one of the rollers engaging the shorn skin of the sheep is provided with frictional material to grip the skin, assist in turning the sheep and maintain the skin taut over the cutter means.