GB402408A - Improvements in poultry-plucking appliances - Google Patents

Abstract

402,408. Plucking poultry. PESSELL, R. C., 28, Devon Square, Newton Abbot, Devon. Feb. 24, 1932, No. 5456. [Class 28 (ii).] In a machine for plucking poultry, gripping members are mounted on a rotary carrier and are withdrawn radially or substantially radially from the plucking opening in the casing, immediately after the closing of the grippers on the feathers, to effect a more positive plucking action. As shown, the grippers A are carried on members C pivoted at F to the rotary carrier E, and opposed gripper sets A are joined by a reciprocating rod B. Any number of rods B with grippers at the ends may be used, the grippers in one set being staggered with respect to the grippers on the adjacent sets. The grippers comprise fixed and sliding jaws, the latter being closed by a face cam on the side of the casing P and opened by a spring or springs ; or the closing may be effected by spring means and the opening by a cam. Immediately the grippers close to grip the feathers projecting through the plucking opening, the member C hits a stop O which withdraws the grippers away from the opening, the grippers at the other end of the rod B being moved away from the rotattional centre and opened for the discharge of the feathers. In a modification, the rods B are replaced by radially sliding rods, the inner ends of which engage cams on the casing, the withdrawal of the grippers, which are rigidly attached to the rods, being effected by spring means which operate at steps in the cam. The grippers in the modification comprise fixed and pivoted jaws, each pair having its closing spring, the opening being effected by a cam-actuated rod engaging extensions of the pivoted jaws. One or more plucking-openings may be provided, and an induced draught may be utilized for drawing the feathers towards the grippers and discharging the plucked feathers. A number of gripper carriers may be mounted on an extended shaft to enable several operators to work on one machine, and grids or combs may be placed at the plucking openings to prevent the skin of the bird from being damaged. A slower and more careful movement for plucking stubs may be imparted to an independent rotary member, of strong construction, by reduction gearing. Springs in the gripper opening and closing mechanism may be entirely replaced by cams or guides. According to the Provisional Specification an up-anddown and/or side to side feather-loosening action may be superimposed on the rapid backward jerk away from the bird.