GB2118019A

GB2118019A - Plucking disc for poultry plucking apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2118019A
Application number: GB08313390A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cecil John Cope
Original assignee: Cope Whelon and Co Ltd
Current assignee: Cope Whelon and Co Ltd
Priority date: 1981-05-20
Filing date: 1983-05-16
Publication date: 1983-10-26
Also published as: GB8313390D0; GB2098454B; GB2098454A

Abstract

The plucking disc 38 has a central boss 37 by which the disc is mounted on a drive shaft 36. The disc is secured to the shaft by a spring ring 41 which is expansible by a bolt 40 threadedly engaged in the shaft 36 to grip or overlie the central boss 37. The central boss 37 is designed to fit over the bolt 40 and ring 41 when the ring is unexpanded. <IMAGE>

Description

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GB 2 118 019 A 1

SPECIFICATION

A plucking disc for poultry plucking apparatus

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to plucking discs for apparatus for 5 removing or plucking feathers from poultry.

A known type of apparatus comprises two opposed sets of rotatable plucking fingers defining therebetween a path along which the poultry to be plucked is passed so as to be struck by the fingers, 10 this action removing the feathers from the carcass.

The plucking fingers are formed of a resilient material such as rubber, so as to flex when striking the carcass. A plurality of fingers are mounted in each disc which is secured to a shaft rotatable 15 directly or indirectly by a motor. The most widely used method of securing the fingers in the disc is for each finger to be pulled through an associated orifice in the disc. At least the root end of the finger is of larger diameter than the orifice and has 20 an annular recess designed to be a tight fit in the orifice thereby to locate the finger in the disc. As the finger is pulled through the orifice it deforms resiliently to enable the recess to be located in the orifice.

25 In use, the fingers wear and, on occasions break, and it is necessary to stop the plucking apparatus to enable the necessary repairs to be made. The repairs are carried out either with the discs on the apparatus or by removing the discs 30 from the apparatus for repair elsewhere. The discs are usually secured to their drive shaft by splines, keyways, or bolts so that removal is not easy.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved method of securing the discs to the 35 shafts which reduces the length of time that the apparatus is out of use for the replacement of plucking fingers.

According to the invention there is provided a plucking disc for poultry plucking apparatus 40 comprising a disc-shaped element for carrying plucking fingers and having a central boss slidable on to a drive shaft for driving engagement therewith, and securing means adapted to secure the disc-shaped element to the shaft comprising a 45 clamping screw threaded member adapted to be secured coaxially to the said drive shaft and a resilient expansible ring, over which screw threaded member and ring said central boss is slidable when the ring is unexpanded, the resilient 50 ring being expansible by tightening the screw threaded device to secure the disc to the drive shaft. The screw threaded member may be of a known type of clamp bolt or may have a generally frusto-conical surface designed to expand the ring 55 on tightening.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a cross-sectional view 60 through a plucking disc.

The drawing shows a sectional scrap view of a rotatable plucking disc 5 which, in operation, is fast to a drive shaft 36 driven by an electric or hydraulic motor of poultry plucking apparatus (not shown). The disc comprises a central boss 37 to which is secured a disc-like plate 39 on which plucking fingers 35 are mounted. The central boss 37 is a sliding fit on the drive shaft 36 and the drive from the shaft to the boss, and hence the fingers, is obtained via a drive pin 38 which is secured in the shaft 36 and which locates in a slot in the central boss 37. The disc is secured to the shaft by means of a clamping bolt 40 and an expansible spring ring device 41 over which the central boss 37 can pass when the spring device 41 is unexpanded. The clamping bolt 40 is threadingly engaged coaxially in the end of the drive shaft 36 and when tightened down expands the spring ring device 41, which is shown in the form of a split spring washer to either expand into positive engagement with the central boss 37 or, in an alternative design, to expand to a larger diameter than the internal diameter of the central boss 37 to thereby overlie the disc to prevent it being withdrawn from the shaft 36. Many methods and types of expansible spring ring can be utilised for this purpose. The scrap view in Figure 5 shows another embodiment in which a split spring ring of toroidal construction is provided which, when the clamping bolt is tightened, is expanded by a frusto-conical surface on the clamping bolt 40 or on a separate insert 42 located between the head of the clamping bolt 40 and the spring ring. This invention has the advantage that the disc can be released from the shaft very easily, only half or one turn of the clamping bolt being necessary before the spring ring has contracted enough to release the disc, which can then be pulled off the shaft 36 over the ring 41 and bolt 40. The disc can thus be removed from the shaft without removing the bolt 40 and the ring 41.

During operation of the plucking apparatus, fingers frequently break or wear out and must be replaced. With the present invention the apparatus need be stopped for a brief moment only while the operator quickly releases the disc carrying the damaged fingers and replaces it with a fresh disc.

Advantageously, the plucking discs according to the present invention may be incorporated in the poultry plucking apparatus described and claimed in our co-pending patent application No. 8214761, from which the present application is divided.

Claims

1. A plucking disc for poultry plucking apparatus comprising a disc-shaped element for carrying plucking fingers and having a central boss slidable on to a drive shaft for driving engagement therewith, and securing means adapted to secure the disc-shaped element to the shaft comprising a clamping screw-threaded member adapted to be secured coaxially to the said drive shaft and a resilient expansible ring, over which screw threaded member and ring said central boss is slidable when the ring is unexpanded, the resilient ring being expansible by tightening the screw-threaded decive thereby to secure the disc-shaped

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element to the drive shaft.

2. A plucking disc as claimed in Claim 13 wherein the screw-threaded member includes a generally frusto-conical surface designed to

5 expand the ring on tightening.

3. A plucking disc as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said frusto-conical surface is formed on a washer located between the resilient ring and a head part of the screw threaded member. 10 4. A plucking disc as claimed in Claim 1,

wherein said resilient ring is in the form of a split spring washer.

5. A plucking disc for poultry plucking apparatus, substantially as described herein with 15 reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1983. Published by the Patent Office 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.