Patent GB-478081-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to means for carrying out plucking operations
IPC: A22C21/02
Filed: 1936-09-30
Abstract: 478,081. Plucking poultry &c. BUDD, A. G., and BARTON, H. Sept. 30, 1936, No. 26585. [Class 28 (ii)] A plucking-machine comprises a cylindrical casing 1 having a plucking opening 2 and a discharge opening 3 for the feathers, a blade 14 rotatable about an axis concentric with the cylinder, and an abutment 24 which is mounted to oscillate about an eccentric axis 21 in such manner that the leading edge 15 of the blade 14 contacts with the abutment to grip the feathers, the abutment and the blade move together to pluck them and the abutment then recedes from the blade, in virtue of the disposition of the axis 21, to release the plucked feathers. The abutment then returns to its initial position for the next plucking operation. The rocking of the abutment 24 may be effected by gearing synchronized with the blade 14, but as shown, the rocking is effected by cam surfaces 16, at the sides of the blade 14, contacting with shoes 25 carried by a channel-section member 23 which holds a rubber or like block which constitutes the abutment 24. The blade 14 is secured to or, is integral with, a sleeve 7 carrying a belt-drive pulley 13 and journalled on collars or races 6 on a stationary central shaft 4, the end plate 8 also presenting a bearing surface to the sleeve. The middle part 5 is eccentric with respect to the ends of the shaft 4 and carries a sleeve 20 having lugs 22 for the hinge pin 21 of the abutment 24. A disc 27 is secured by screws 28 to the sleeve 20 and rubber buffers secured to the disc are arranged one on each side of a key 32 on the casing 1, so that the disc 27 is held resiliently against rotation. The shaft 4 is angularly adjusted by a lever 11 which is locked in its adjusted position by a screw 12, the eccentric part 5 thus moving the abutment 24 towards or away from the plucking aperture 2 to adjust the contacting relationships between the blade 14 and the abutment, or to take up wear. The hinge pin 21 is extended through the disc 27 and the end cover 10 and ends in a grease nipple 26. A sleeve 38 on the extension of the pin positions on arm 37 on the pin and, in conjunction with a collar 39, prevents endwise movement of the pin. A pin 35, projecting from the member 23 through an arcuate slot in the disc 27 is supported by the arm 37 and serves to anchor one end of a spirally coiled spring, approximately concentric with the shaft 4, the other end of which is anchored to a pin projecting from the disc 27. The spring returns the abutment 24 to its initial position after it is displaced by the blade 14. The position of the effective edge of the aperture 2 is determined by a plate 17 passing under a bridge 18 carrying clamping screws 19. In operation, feathers project between the edge of the plate 17 and the abutment 24, the return movement of the abutment smoothing down any of the flesh of the bird which may have been drawn forward by the preceding plucking operation. The leading edge 15 of the blade 14 may be serrated or roughened and hollow-ground or bevelled. Rubber buffers, mounted on the disc 27 are mounted, one on each side of the arm 37 to limit the oscillations of the abutment 24. A forwardly extending guard 44 attached to the member 23, covers the aperture 2 and protects the operator from having his fingers trapped. If desired, a wire grid may be placed over the whole aperture. The outlet 3 is connected to a suction fan through a trap comprising a chamber with a vertical baffle below which a stub-collecting bag is attached. The light feathers pass upwardly around the bottom of the baffle whilst heavier matter, such as stubs, leave the air stream and fall into the bag. The casing 1 may be provided with adjustable shutters to supplement the air drawn periodically through the aperture 2 and these shutters may be actuated automaticallv to maintain the air admission area constant in spite of the aperture 2 being covered and uncovered during the working operation. The capacity of the machine may be increased by providing more than one rotary blade, formed, e.g. by slotting a cylinder.