GB786700A - Poultry processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

786,700. Plucking poultry. PITTS, R. D., and COREY, F. Feb. 20, 1956 [Feb. 21, 1955], No. 5223/56. Class 28 (2). One or more scalded birds are dropped through an opening 48 on to rotated rings of upstanding plucking fingers 36 which spin and throw the bird round and centrifugally against inwardly projecting rings of fixed radial plucking fingers 41-43. Water is supplied from a ring spray 44. The detached feathers and the water exit through a ring slot 34 at the top of the disc 31 carrying the fingers 36, the width of the slot being adjustable by adjusting the ring guard 32 up or down. The disc 21 is supported on a shaft 19 on a thrust bearing 28 and is rotated by belt pulley 22 from an electric motor 24. The plucked bird is centrifugally discharged through a side door 51 which may be automatically opened after a set period by electrical means. The door leads to a shoot 54 with a stopplate 56. Automatic timing.-Hand closing of door 51 actuates timer 81 set for the desired seconds of plucking during which a solenoid 79 is deenergized and the vertically movable bar 71 is dropped which latches the door closed. After the set period, say 18 seconds, the actuating circuit of timer 81 will be closed to energize solenoid 79 which raises up bar 71 to release latch bar 76 whereby the door 51 can swing open.