Poultry processing hub and belt assembly

Abstract

A hub and belt assembly for driving a poultry de-feathering machine includes multiple bearing heat dissipating hub driven by a serrated timing belt. The hub assembly incorporates seals along a drive shaft to reduce wear caused by dirt. The timing belt synchronizes multiple picking hubs and reduces the friction driving required. The combination of a heat dissipating hub and the placement of seals along the drive shaft within the hub minimize maintenance and replacement.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 346,257, filed Jan. 17, 2003, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 349,526, filed Jan. 18, 2002. Both of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the field of poultry processing equipment, particularly rotational hub and belt assemblies for de-feathering or plucking devices. BACKGROUND [0003] Poultry processing industries commonly use automated lines to kill, eviscerate, pluck and further process birds. Rotational devices are generally employed to facilitate continuity of process and to minimize labor. One of the most common poultry processing machines is a plucker or de-featherer. For many years devices incorporating a number of pliable fingers have been utilized to beat and pull the feathers from bird carcasses. [0004] In processing facilities, multiple finger-t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] A poultry processing machine, particularly a hub and belt assembly such as a feather plucking device, facilitates timed rotation of driven members while diminishing wear and breakage commonly associated with such equipment. More particularly the device is a poultry processing apparatus which comprises a hub having a flange portion, a boss portion, a pulley end and a central bore extending therethrough. A hub plate, attachable to the hub, has a flange portion and a hub plate shaft bore alignable with the central bore of the hub. A drive shaft is mounted transversely through the central bore and hub plate shaft bore; the drive shaft further is provided with a pulley end and a spaced-apart drive end. A first bearing is positioned on the drive shaft at the hub plate and a second bearing is positioned on the drive shaft at the junction of the flange portion and boss portion.

[0010] Seals adjacent each bearing limit intrusion of foreign matter into the workings of the hub assembly. The seals, along with the configuration of pulleys and belts, may limit required maintenance and component replacement. A seal is for example positioned adjacent each bearing and at the hub plate to effectively prevent foreign matter from wearing the drive shaft and bearings.

[0012] Designed primarily for ganged sets of plucking arms, the hub and belt system may include a heat dissipating hub housing journalled to a drive shaft, preferably with at least two independent sealed bearings, and a timing belt which allows operators to alternate time opposed pairs of plucker arms to avoid entanglement of the process poultry, hangers and the plucking heads.

Problems solved by technology

The seals, along with the configuration of pulleys and belts, may limit required maintenance and component replacement.

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