Poultry processing hub and belt assembly
DCFirst Claim
1. A poultry processing apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced-apart hubs in substantial alignment, each hub journaled to a drive shaft, each drive shaft having a pulley end with a pulley attached thereto, and a drive end with a finger plate having a plurality of plucking fingers, the finger plate mechanically attached to the drive end thereto;
- a drive mechanism and;
a belt operatively connecting each pulley and the drive mechanism, wherein the belt is a timing belt with two sides having spaced-apart protruding serrations on each side and each pulley is provided with spaced apart recessed serrations which mate with the protruding serrations of the timing belt, and wherein the belt is alternated above and below each of the aligned pulleys; and
at least one tension idler arm.
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Abstract
This invention relates to a hub and belt assembly for driving a poultry de-feathering machine and more particularly to a 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.
34 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A poultry processing apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced-apart hubs in substantial alignment, each hub journaled to a drive shaft, each drive shaft having a pulley end with a pulley attached thereto, and a drive end with a finger plate having a plurality of plucking fingers, the finger plate mechanically attached to the drive end thereto;
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a drive mechanism and;
a belt operatively connecting each pulley and the drive mechanism, wherein the belt is a timing belt with two sides having spaced-apart protruding serrations on each side and each pulley is provided with spaced apart recessed serrations which mate with the protruding serrations of the timing belt, and wherein the belt is alternated above and below each of the aligned pulleys; and at least one tension idler arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17, 19, 23, 26)
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7. Poultry processing apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of spaced-apart hubs in substantial alignment, each hub having;
a hub plate attached at an end of each hub, each hub plate having;
an insert flange, and a seal adjacent the insert flange, a drive shaft journaled to each of the hubs with at least two independent sealed bearings, each drive shaft having;
a pulley end with a pulley attached thereto, and a drive end with a finger plate having a plurality of plucking fingers, the finger plate mechanically attached to the drive end;a drive mechanism; and a belt operatively connecting each pulley and the drive mechanism, wherein rotation of the belt about the pulleys spins the drive shaft to rotate the finger plate. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 18, 21, 22, 24, 27)
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11. Poultry processing apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of spaced-apart hubs in substantial alignment, each of the hubs journaled to a drive shaft, each drive shaft having (a) a pulley end with a pulley attached thereto, the pulley forming spaced-apart recessions, and (b) a drive end with a finger plate having a plurality of plucking fingers, the finger plate mechanically attached to the drive end; a drive mechanism; and a belt forming spaced-apart protruding serrations on each side and alternating above and below each of the aligned pulleys, wherein the belt serrations engage the pulley recessions and wherein rotation of the belt spins the pulleys to rotate the drive shaft and the finger plate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 25, 28)
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Specification