Improvements in Poultry Plucking Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1891-Accepted. 7th Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Poultry Plucking Machines.
I, ISAIAH GREIDER MELLINGER, of Stephenson, in the County of Frederick,
d State of Virginia, one of the United States of America, Farmer, do hereby
clare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
med, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
tement:-
The invention relates to machines for plucking the feathers of poultry; and it
nsists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully
scribed and claimed.
Figure 5.
The machine is supported by a stand preferably consisting of the rear legs A¹
and the front leg A. B is a frame supported by the said legs or in any other
convenient manner.
C is the lower roll journaled in the
parts secured together by the bolts
required.
frame B which is preferably made in two
so that the roll can be taken out when
'
D is the upper roll journaled in the blocks d which are preferably made in two
parts secured together by the bolts so that the roll may be removed when
desired. The blocks d are pivoted on pins c which pass through the brackets c¹
on the frame B.
E are springs secured to the brackets e which project from the frame B. The
springs E bear upon the tops of the blocks d and cause the roll D to bear against
the lower roll C. The upper roll is free to rise when any feathers pass between the
rolls while the lower roll remains stationary, but the lower roll may be made the
movable roll if desired and in the same manner as the upper roll and the upper
roll may remain stationary, or both rolls may be supplied with pressing devices,
such as springs, for causing them to bear against each other and move apart when
any feathers are passed between them.
The rolls are revolved in the same direction in their bearings and with the same
surface speed. Any approved mechanism for revolving the rolls may be used, and
foot or hand power will be found satisfactory.
F are treadles mounted on the shaft which is journaled in the legs A A'. G is
a cord pulley journaled on the pin g which projects from the legs A', and G' is a
second cord pulley secured to the pulley G. The two cord pulleys are revolved by
the oscillating treadles by means of the connecting rod H which is pivoted to the
arm projecting from one of the treadles at one end, and has its other end pivoted
to the crank pin h¹ which projects from the pulley G.
The upper roll is provided with a cord pulley 2, and a driving cord 3 connecting
it with the pulley G. The lower roll is provided with the cord pulley 4, and a
driving cord 5 connecting it to the pulley G'.
The operator sits at the front of the machine and his legs straddle the leg A.
The driving gear is preferably arranged at the opposite end of the machine from
the operator so as to be out of his way and leave his hands free to handle the
poultry. The cord 5 is crossed so that both rolls revolve in the same direction.
The upper
roll is smaller in diameter than the lower roll to better enable it to
seize the feathers, and the cord pulleys are proportioned so that the surface speed

page_text: of cach roll is substantially the same. The driving cord of the lower roll is drawn
tight, but the driving cord 3 of the upper roll is provided with a tension device
which keeps it tight and permits the upper roll to rise slightly. This tension
device consists of a roller I carried by a spring i which is secured to the frame B,
but any approved tension device may be used. When the spring is used, the
spring E at that end of the machine may be made lighter than the spring E at the
other end of the machine, or it may be dispensed with altogether.
J is an inclined guide plate secured to the frame B at the left hand of the
machine by two of the said bolts b. This plate is provided with shoulders ; to keep
the poultry in the middle portions of the rolls.
K is a guard plate provided with teeth k. This guard plate is secured to the
blocks d by two of the bolts d', and is provided with lugs k₁ at the rear. The
teeth are inclined downward at the front and may project slightly over the guide
plate J. The teeth k are made longer or shorter and are spaced nearer or closer
together to suit the feathers of different kinds of fowls.
L is a scraper which bears against the upper roll and slides in slots in the
blocks d, and I are set-screws which engage with the lugs and bear against
the scraper I so that it may be set up against the roll as often as required.
M is a scraper which bears against the lower roll. This scraper rests in lugs on
the back of the frame B, and is set up against the roll by means of the set-
screws m which engage with the lugs M³ which project from the frame B. The
set-screws are provided with long projecting ends m² which bear upon the scraper M
and prevent it from rising.
N is an apron provided with sides n'. This apron is preferably made of canvas
stretched over a wire frame and is attached to the machine at the right hand of
the operator. Plates n at the ends of the rolls prevent the feathers from getting
between the blocks and the frame.
The operator revolves the rolls by means of the treadles, and places the fowl on
the guide plate J. He presses the fowl towards the rolls so that the feathers
are drawn between the rolls and are plucked from the fowl. The fowl is turned
about upon the guide plate so that all its feathers may be plucked. The teeth of
the guard plate permit the feathers to pass between them but prevent the skin
of the fowl from being drawn between the rolls. The plucked feathers are
discharged over the apron at the right hand of the machine, and the apron is
curved so as to clear the right leg of the operator and leave him plenty of space to
work the treadles.
P is a cover secured to the frame over the pulleys to prevent feathers from being
caught by the cords.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In a poultry plucking machine, the combination, with a pair of plucking rolls,
of a toothed guard plate to prevent the skin of the fowl from being drawn between
the rolls, substantially as set forth.
2. In a poultry plucking machine, the combination, with a pair of rolls, of an
inclined guide plate provided with shoulders at its ends, and a toothed guard plate
above the said guide plate, substantially as set forth.
3. In a poultry plucking machine, the combination, with the toothed guard plate,
of a pair of plucking rolls, and yielding pressing devices, such as springs, for
causing one roll to press against the other roll and permit the feathers to pass
between the rolls, substantially as set forth.
4. In a poultry plucking machine, the combination, with the frame, of the lower
roll journaled in the frame, the blocks pivoted at one end to the frame, the upper
roll journaled in the said blocks, and springs bearing against the blocks, substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a poultry plucking machine, the combination, with the lower roll, of the

page_text: upper roll of smaller diameter than the lower roll, a toothed guard plate in front of
the rolls, and driving mechanism for revolving the said rolls at the same surface
speed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a poultry plucking machine, the combination, with the frame, of the lower
roll journaled in the frame, the scraper supported by the frame, and the set-screws
engaging with lugs on the frame and provided with projecting ends bearing on the
surface of the said scraper, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a poultry plucking machine, the combination, with the stationary lower
roll, of the movable upper roll, the pivoted blocks supporting the upper roll, the
springs bearing on the said blocks and adapted to press the upper roll upon the
lower roll, driving pulleys and cords for imparting motion to both the rolls and a
tension device operatively connected to the driving cord of the movable roll,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a poultry plucking machine, the combination, with the frame, and the
plucking rolls supported by the frame, of the stationary apron adapted to clear
the leg of the operator and attached to the frame behind the rolls, for removing the
feathers, substantially as set forth.
9. In a poultry plucking machine, the combination, with the frame, and the
plucking rolls supported by the frame, of the driving pulleys and cords at one end
of the rolls, a single leg at the other end of the rolls for supporting the frame, the
rear legs, the trendles pivoted between the said legs, and a connecting rod pivoted
to the treadles and to one of the said driving pulleys, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 21st day of July 1801