Butchering – Epidermal outgrowth remover – Power driven
Utility Patent
1999-12-13
2001-01-02
Little, Willis (Department: 3643)
Butchering
Epidermal outgrowth remover
Power driven
C452S090000
Utility Patent
active
06168510
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to poultry defeathering devices in general, and to devices intended to be used with unscalded birds in particular.
2. Prior Art
It is well known in the prior art to remove feathers from poultry using a machine essentially comprising a plurality of rubber fingers mounted on a rotatable wheel or cylinder. A bird's feathers may be plucked by bringing the bird into contact with the rotating fingers.
In commercial poultry processing operations, the bird is frequently scalded prior to plucking. The bird is typically dipped in very hot water (in excess of 150° F.). This loosens the feathers in the skin and makes them easy to remove. It also adds weight to the feathers, making them easy to capture. A simple wall can be placed behind the rotating wheel so that the plucked feathers are thrown against the wall upon the rotation of the cylinder. The feathers will then slide down the wall into a receptacle.
However, scalding has substantial drawbacks that are particularly pertinent outside of large scale poultry processing operations. For example if the birds are overheated, the skin may be damaged so that it may be easily torn during plucking. If the birds cool after scalding, the skin will contract around the feathers, locking them into the skin. This makes the feathers more difficult to remove than they would have been had the bird not been scalded at all. To ensure that birds are scalded at the correct temperature, it is necessary to have a water heater of some sort that is capable of maintaining the water temperature at a uniform level. Such equipment may constitute a substantial expense. Additionally, the presence and use of scalding hot water creates obvious burn risks to human operators.
It is not necessary to scald the bird in order to remove its feathers using a rotating cylinder type plucker. However, if the feathers are not wet, they are quite light. Plucking them with a rotating cylinder will scatter the feathers. This makes the feathers difficult to collect if they are to be used for pillow stuffing or other purposes. It can also make a substantial mess such as that which might result from the ill advised combination of a hair dryer, a burst feather pillow, and a mischievous child.
Therefore, a poultry defeathering device meeting the following objectives is desired.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a device capable of removing feathers from poultry.
It is another object of the invention to provide a device that can remove feathers from unscalded poultry.
It is another object of the invention to provide a device that can prevent the scattering of feathers removed from unscalded poultry.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a device that can collect feathers removed from unscalded poultry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises a defeathering cylinder having a plurality of fingers extending radially from its curved surface. The cylinder is mounted on a shaft positioned along the axis of the cylinder parallel to the curved surfaces of the cylinder. The cylinder is rotatably mounted on an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall, and sides connecting the front wall to the back wall. The front wall of the enclosure contains a cylinder opening. The back wall contains a plurality of apertures, perforations or slots sized to substantially inhibit the passage of feathers through the apertures. A power source such as an electric motor is mounted to the enclosure. The motor is functionally connected to the shaft on which the cylinder is mounted, preferably through a pair of pulleys and a belt. Operation of the motor causes the shaft and the cylinder to revolve. The cylinder is positioned to revolve in line with the cylinder opening in the front wall of the enclosure.
The revolution of the fingers extending from the cylinder causes air to flow into the cylinder opening in the front wall of the enclosure and out the apertures in the back wall. When a bird is placed in contact with the revolving fingers, the feathers will be removed and drawn into the enclosure and toward the back wall. Once inside the enclosure, the direction of air flow will prevent the feathers from exiting the enclosure though the cylinder opening. The size of the apertures in the back wall prevents the feathers from exiting the enclosure through the back wall. Eventually, gravity will pull the feathers downward to the enclosure bottom. An opening is provided in the bottom of the enclosure which allows the feathers to fall out of the enclosure. A receptacle may be placed under the opening in the bottom to catch the feathers. Nothing in the disclosed design prevents its use with scalded poultry; however, one of its principal advantages is that it may be used with unscalded poultry having light dry feathers without scattering the feathers.
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Stromberg s 1997 Catalog; Pine River, Minnesota; p. 20.
Orvis Fall 1997 Catalog; Roanoke, Virginia; p. 37.
Herter s 1997 Catalog; Burnsville, Minnesota; p. 57.
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