Bee culture – Base mounted device – Honeycomb decapping device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-05
2001-02-27
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Bee culture
Base mounted device
Honeycomb decapping device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193583
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved flail-type honeycomb decapper for decapping wax from cells on both sides of honeycombs simultaneously.
A conventional procedure in the extraction of honey from the honeycomb is to use a special knife heated by steam or electricity to remove the wax caps from the cells of the honeycomb. Other procedures include the use of machines which automatically decap he honeycombs.
One known device is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 2,448,775 issued to Crane on Sep. 7, 1948 and discloses an endless conveyor having spaced lugs for receiving individual honeycombs. Each honeycomb is moved by the conveyor through a station including a pair of brushes and a spring loaded shoe having curved end portions which serve to hold the honeycomb frame snugly in place as it passes through the brushes. The rotating brushes act on both side of the honeycomb frame simultaneously.
Another known device is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 2,448,986 issued to Ladwig on Sep. 7, 1948 and discloses a honeycomb frame placed on a carriage which slides upon a pair of rails over a drum having prongs which perform the decapping operation.
Also, another known device is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 1,523,963 issued to Hodgson on Jan. 20, 1925 and discloses a decapping device for honeycombs which includes rotating brushes which act on opposite sides of the honeycomb.
Further, the present invention is an improvement of the original flail-type honeycomb decapper, U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,008 and invented by Donald Gunness on Aug. 23, 1988 and comprises a frame, upper and lower flailing elements driven by variable speed motors with fans and including a plurality of chain pieces, a first chain driven conveyor fixedly mounted to the frame, and a second chain driven conveyor fixedly mounted to the frame. The conveyors nor the upper flail element is adjustable.
The present invention is an improvement of the original flail-type honeycomb decapper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved flail-type honeycomb decapper apparatus comprising a frame having a base, upright members and an overhead cross member, and further comprising a first and second roller conveyor removably mounted to the frame and being spaced thus defining a gap therebetween, an upper and lower flailing elements comprising a plurality of chain pieces and being partially disposed in the gap for decapping wax from the honeycombs, and a feeder roller member disposed above and adjustably spaced from a back end of the first roller conveyor and spaced from the upper flailing element, and an extractor roller member disposed above and adjustably spaced from a front end of the second roller conveyor and spaced from the upper flailing element. Unlike the original decapper apparatus, the feeder roller member of the present invention urges the honeycombs at an even rate of speed between the flailing elements to decap the honeycombs more evenly.
One objective of the present invention is to provide an improved flail-type honeycomb decapper apparatus which can be operated by one or more persons as needed unlike the original decapper apparatus.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved flail-type honeycomb decapper apparatus which is less bulky and more transportable than the original decapper apparatus making it more ideally suited for use in a smaller honey house operation.
Also, another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved flail-type honeycomb decapper apparatus where the first and second roller conveyors can be easily mounted and removed from the frame unlike the original decapper apparatus.
Yet, another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved flail-type honeycomb decapper apparatus where the feeder and extractor roller members and the upper and lower flailing elements can be raised or lowered to accommodate different thicknesses of honeycombs.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
REFERENCES:
patent: 2580397 (1952-01-01), Bogenschutz
patent: 3737931 (1973-06-01), Hodgson
patent: 4765008 (1988-08-01), Gunness
patent: 5662511 (1997-09-01), Penrose et al.
Abbott Yvonne R.
Lingbeck David A.
Poon Peter M.
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