Picker apparatus and method for defeathering poultry

Abstract

A picker apparatus for defeathering or plucking of poultry and other avian in a food processing facility includes a universal mount picker assembly including a belt drive system for driving a plurality of rotatable picker members with a drive motor disposed centrally in relation to the picker members, and a quick release positioning adjustment for the operating components of a picker apparatus.

1 . An apparatus for defeathering or plucking of poultry and other avian in a food processing facility comprising: 
 (a) a frame having a top cross member on each end for mounting adjustable carriers;    (b) each cross member including releasable carrier stops and a lateral position adjuster for adjustment of the operating position of the carrier stops;    (c) each carrier having a carrier support assembly and a latch assembly for engaging the carrier stops to hold the carriers in operating position;    (d) each carrier further including at least one picker bank support bracket for mounting of picker banks including a plurality of rotatable picker disks for defeathering; and    (e) at least one drive motor attached to each picker bank including a mounting location central to a plurality of picker disks.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the lateral position adjuster includes two threaded carrier stops slidably engaging the cross member and threadingly engaged with an adjustment screw attached to the upper side of the cross member, the adjustment screw having reverse threaded sections for adjustment of the carrier stops in opposing directions, and the carrier stops further including a latch stud capable of quick release engagement with the carriers.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the carrier stops include guide members extending downward from the carrier stops and engaging the vertical faces of the cross member for maintaining stable engagement along the length of the cross member.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the adjustment screw is rotatably connected to an angled gear housing, the gear housing including a quick release fitting connected to a gear shaft opposite the adjustment screw connection, the quick release fitting engaging a removable crank handle for rotating the adjustment screw for adjustment of the operating position of the carrier stops.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the adjustment screw further includes an enlarged diameter end flange opposite the gear housing, and engaging the adjacent carrier stop to limit carrier stop travel preventing disengagement with the adjustment screw.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the carriers include carrier support assemblies engaging the cross member for movement along the length of the cross member, the carrier support assemblies further including a latch plate movably attached to the outer face of the carrier support assemblies and defining a notch, the latch plate moving adjacent the notched end in a manner that allows the latch plate to engage the carrier stop latch studs in operating position and be disengaged from the carrier stops for movement of the carriers apart, and wherein the notched latch plate is perforated at the other end for engagement with a manual release handle.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the carrier support assemblies include a front carrier support plate and a rear carrier support plate attached to either face of a vertical column, and further including at least two connecting axles and rollers for slidably engaging the cross member, and the vertical column further including at least one picker bank support bracket attached to the vertical column near the mid-point.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the carrier support assemblies include at least two connecting axles and rollers for slidably engaging the top of the cross member and at least two connecting axles and rollers for slidably engaging the bottom of the cross member, the rollers including larger diameter outer flanges.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the picker banks include an elongated housing, two or more mounting studs attached to each end of the housing, a set of picker members disposed in lateral alignment within the housing for abrading the feathers from poultry and other avian placed within and carried through the apparatus, a drive system for operating the set of picker members, and at least one motor for powering the drive system.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the picker bank support brackets include slots for slidably mounting eyelets engaging mounting studs on the picker bank assemblies.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  in which the drive system further comprises the picker members being mounted on rotatable pulley members wherein each pulley member is rotatable in either direction, the belt member being adapted to engage the pulley members in serpentine relationship, whereby movement of the belt member along the pulley members effects opposite relational rotation between adjacent pulley members.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11  in which the pulley members have a toothed circumferential edge, the belt member having a double-sided toothed edge, the belt and the pulley members being adapted to engage in intermeshing relationship, whereby the belt is adapted to rotate the pulley members in forward and reverse direction.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11  in which a tensioner member is provided in the drive system for engaging the belt member with varying degree of force for adjusting slack in the belt member.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 11  in which the apparatus is adapted to receive multiple sets of picker members placed in end-to-end alignment, each set of picker members being driven by a respective drive system having its respective motor disposed centrally in relation to the lateral alignment of picker members comprising the respective picker member set.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for plucking feathers from poultry and other avian, the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a frame having a top cross member on each end for mounting adjustable carriers;    (b) each cross member including releasable carrier stops and a lateral position adjuster for adjustment of the operating position of the carrier stops.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the lateral position adjuster includes two threaded carrier stops slidably engaging the cross member and threadingly engaged with an adjustment screw attached to the upper side of the cross member, the adjustment screw having reverse threaded sections for adjustment of the carrier stops in opposing directions, and the carrier stops further including a latch stud capable of quick release engagement with the carriers.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the carrier stops include guide members extending downward from the carrier stops and engaging the vertical faces of the cross member for maintaining stable engagement along the length of the cross member.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the adjustment screw is rotatably connected to an angled gear housing, the gear housing including a quick release fitting connected to a gear shaft opposite the adjustment screw connection, the quick release fitting engaging a removable crank handle for rotating the adjustment screw for adjustment of the operating position of the carrier stops.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the adjustment screw further includes an enlarged diameter end flange opposite the gear housing, and engaging the adjacent carrier stop to limit carrier stop travel preventing disengagement with the adjustment screw.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for plucking feathers from poultry and other avian, the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a frame having a top cross member including releasable carrier stops on each end for mounting adjustable carriers;    (b) each carrier having a carrier support assembly and a latch assembly for engaging the carrier stops to hold the carriers in operating position; and    (c) each carrier further including at least one picker bank support bracket for mounting of picker banks for defeathering.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the carriers include carrier support assemblies capable of engaging the cross member for movement along the length of the cross member, the carrier support assemblies being attached to the upper end of a vertical column, and the vertical column further having at least one picker bank support bracket attached to the vertical column near the mid-point and extending below the mid point of the length of the vertical column.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the carrier support assemblies further include a latch plate movably attached to the outer face of the carrier support assemblies and defining a notch at one end, the latch plate moving adjacent the notched end in a manner that allows the latch plate to engage latch studs on the carrier stops in operating position and be disengaged from the carrier stops for movement of the carriers apart.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the carrier support assembly includes at least two connecting axles and rollers for engaging the top surface of the cross member, the rollers including larger diameter outer flanges for stable engagement of the cross member.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23  wherein the carrier support assembly includes at least two connecting axles and rollers for engaging the top surface of the cross member, and at least two connecting axles and rollers for engaging the lower surface of the cross member, the rollers including larger diameter outer flanges.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the notched latch plate is perforated at the end opposite the notch for engagement with a manual release handle, the latch plate containing two further perforations between the notch and the release perforation, for attachment of the latch plate to the carrier support assembly in a manner to allow the latch plate to move up and down within a confined distance in response to movement of the manual release handle.  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for plucking feathers from poultry and other avian, the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) an elongated housing,    (b) a set of picker members disposed in lateral alignment within the housing for abrading the feathers from poultry and other avian placed within and carried through the apparatus,    (c) a drive system for operating the set of picker members, and    (d) a motor for powering the drive system;    (e) the drive system comprising a belt member adapted to engage each of the picker members in the set, the belt member being operably driven by the motor, the motor being disposed on the housing at a position centrally located in relation to the lateral alignment of the set of picker members, such configuration adapting the housing for uniform orientation placement within the apparatus.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26  in which the drive system further comprises the picker members being mounted on rotatable pulley members, the belt member being adapted to engage the pulley members in serpentine relationship, whereby movement of the belt member along the pulley members effects opposite relational rotation between adjacent pulley members.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 27  in which each the pulley member is rotatable in either direction.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 27  in which the pulley members have a toothed circumferential edge, the belt member having a double-sided toothed edge, the belt and the pulley members being adapted to engage in intermeshing relationship.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 28  in which the pulley members have a toothed circumferential edge, the belt member having a double-sided toothed edge, the belt and the pulleys being adapted to engage in intermeshing relationship, whereby the belt is adapted to rotate the pulley members in forward and reverse direction.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 27  in which a tensioner member is provided in the drive system for engaging the belt member with varying degree of force for adjusting slack in the belt member.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 26  in which the apparatus is adapted to receive multiple sets of picker members placed in end-to-end alignment, each set of picker members being driven by a respective drive system having its respective motor disposed centrally in relation to the lateral alignment of picker members comprising the respective picker member set.  
     
     
         33 . A method of defeathering avian carcasses in a food processing facility comprising conveying the avian carcasses through an apparatus having a frame with a top cross member on each end for slidably mounting laterally adjustable carriers; each cross member having releasable carrier stops and a lateral position adjuster for adjustment of the operating position of the carrier stops; each carrier having a carrier support assembly and a latch assembly for engaging the carrier stops to fix the carriers in operating position; each carrier further having at least one picker bank support bracket for mounting of picker banks having a plurality of rotatable picker disks for defeathering; and at least one drive motor attached to each picker bank having a mounting location central to a plurality of picker disks.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33  wherein the operating position of the carrier stops is adjusted with an adjustment screw attached to the upper side of the cross member and threadingly engaging the carrier stops, the adjustment screw having reverse threaded sections for adjustment of the carrier stops in opposing directions, and the carrier stops further including a latch stud capable of quick release engagement with the carriers, the carrier stops further including guide members extending downward from the carrier stops and engaging the vertical faces of the cross member for maintaining stable engagement along the length of the cross member.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34  wherein the operating position of the carrier stops for defeathering is adjusted with the adjustment screw rotatably connected to an angled gear housing, the gear housing including a quick release fitting connected to a gear shaft opposite the adjustment screw connection, the quick release fitting engaging a removable crank handle for rotating the adjustment screw to move the carrier stops together or apart.  
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 33  wherein the carriers are moved to operating position engaging the carrier stops, the carriers including carrier support assemblies engaging the cross member for movement along the length of the cross member, the carrier support assemblies further including a latch plate movably attached to the outer face of the carrier support assemblies and defining a notch, the latch plate moving adjacent the notched end in a manner that allows the latch plate to engage the carrier stop latch studs in operating position and be disengaged from the carrier stops for movement of the carriers apart, and wherein the notched latch plate is perforated at the other end for engagement with a manual release handle.  
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 36  the carriers are slidably moved into position with carrier support assemblies engaging the cross member for movement along the length of the cross member, the carrier support assemblies further including a latch plate movably attached to the outer face of the carrier support assemblies and defining a notch, the latch plate moving adjacent the notched end in a manner that allows the latch plate to engage the carrier stop latch studs in operating position and be disengaged from the carrier stops for movement of the carriers apart, and wherein the notched latch plate is perforated at the other end for engagement with a manual release handle, and wherein the carrier support assemblies include a front carrier support plate and a rear carrier support plate attached to either face of a vertical column, and further including at least two connecting axles and rollers for slidably engaging the cross member, and the vertical column further including at least one picker bank support bracket attached to the vertical column near the mid-point.  
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 36  wherein the carriers are moved into operating position for defeathering, and the manual release handle is operated to engage the latch plate notches to the carrier stops latch studs.  
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 33  wherein defeathering is accomplished by conveying the avian carcasses between picker banks comprising an elongated housing, two or more mounting studs attached to each end of the housing, a set of picker members disposed in lateral alignment within the housing for abrading the feathers from poultry and other avian placed within and carried through the apparatus, a drive system for operating the set of picker members, and at least one motor for powering the drive system.  
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39  wherein avian carcasses are defeathered by picker members mounted on rotatable pulley members wherein each pulley member is rotatable in either direction, the belt member being adapted to engage the pulley members in serpentine relationship, whereby movement of the belt member along the pulley members effects opposite relational rotation between adjacent pulley members.  
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40  wherein the drive motor drives pulley members have a toothed circumferential edge, with a belt member having a double-sided toothed edge, the belt and the pulley members being adapted to engage in intermeshing relationship, whereby the belt is adapted to rotate the pulley members in forward and reverse direction, and a tensioner member is provided in the drive system for engaging the belt member with varying degree of force for adjusting slack in the belt member.  
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 40  wherein the defeathering is accomplished by multiple sets of picker members placed in end-to-end alignment, each set of picker members being driven by a respective drive system having its respective motor disposed centrally in relation to the lateral alignment of picker members comprising the respective picker member set.  
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 36  wherein the carriers are moved to inoperative position after defeathering, by operating the manual release handle to disengage the latch plate notches from the carrier stops latch studs, and manually sliding the carriers away from the operating position for cleaning and maintenance.  
     
     
         44 . A method of defeathering avian carcasses in a food processing facility comprising conveying the avian carcasses through an apparatus including a frame having a top cross member on each end for mounting adjustable carriers, each cross member including releasable carrier stops and a lateral position adjuster for adjustment of the operating position of the carrier stops.  
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 44  where the operating position of the apparatus is adjusted with two threaded carrier stops slidably engaging the cross member and threadingly engaged with an adjustment screw attached to the upper side of the cross member, the adjustment screw having reverse threaded sections for adjustment of the carrier stops in opposing directions, the carrier stops include guide members extending downward from the carrier stops and engaging the vertical faces of the cross member for maintaining stable engagement along the length of the cross member, and the carrier stops further including a latch stud capable of quick release engagement with the carriers.  
     
     
         46 . A method according to  claim 44  wherein the operating position is adjusted with an adjustment screw rotatably connected to an angled gear housing, the gear housing including a quick release fitting connected to a gear shaft opposite the adjustment screw connection, the quick release fitting engaging a removable crank handle for rotating the adjustment screw for adjustment of the operating position of the carrier stops.  
     
     
         47 . A method according to  claim 46  wherein the adjustment screw is rotated by rotating the removable crank handle in the desired direction for adjustment of the operating position of the carrier stops, following which the crank handle is removed to prevent further movement of the carrier stops during operation.  
     
     
         48 . A method of defeathering avian carcasses in a food processing facility comprising conveying the avian carcasses through an apparatus including a frame having a top cross member including releasable carrier stops on each end for mounting adjustable carriers, each carrier having a carrier support assembly and a latch assembly for engaging the carrier stops to hold the carriers in operating position, and each carrier further including at least one picker bank support bracket for mounting of picker banks for defeathering.  
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 48  wherein the carriers include carrier support assemblies capable of engaging the cross member for lateral movement along the length of the cross member, the carrier support assemblies being attached to the upper end of a vertical column, and the vertical column further having at least one picker bank support bracket attached to the vertical column near the mid-point and extending below the mid point of the length of the vertical column.  
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 49  wherein the carrier support assemblies further include a latch plate movably attached to the outer face of the carrier support assemblies and defining a notch at one end, the latch plate moving adjacent the notched end in a manner that allows the latch plate to engage latch studs on the carrier stops in operating position and be disengaged from the carrier stops for movement of the carriers apart.  
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 49  wherein the carrier support assembly includes at least two connecting axles and rollers for engaging the top surface of the cross member, the rollers including larger diameter outer flanges for stable engagement of the cross member.  
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 51  wherein the carrier support assembly includes at least two connecting axles and rollers for engaging the top surface of the cross member, and at least two connecting axles and rollers for engaging the lower surface of the cross member.  
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 50  wherein the notched latch plate of the apparatus is perforated at the end opposite the notch for engagement with a manual release handle, the latch plate containing two further perforations between the notch and the release perforation, for attachment of the latch plate to the carrier support assembly in a manner to allow the latch plate to move up and down within a confined distance in response to movement of the manual release handle.  
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 53  wherein the carriers are moved into operating position for defeathering, and the manual release handle is operated to engage the latch plate notches to the carrier stops latch studs.  
     
     
         55 . The method according to  claim 53  wherein the carriers are moved to inoperative position after defeathering, by operating the manual release handle to disengage the latch plate notches from the carrier stops latch studs, and manually sliding the carriers away from the operating position for cleaning and maintenance.  
     
     
         56 . A method of defeathering avian carcasses in a food processing facility comprising conveying the avian carcasses through an apparatus comprising picker banks including an elongated housing, a set of picker members disposed in lateral alignment within the housing for abrading the feathers from poultry and other avian placed within and carried through the apparatus, a drive system for operating the set of picker members, and at least one motor for powering the drive system.  
     
     
         57 . The method according to  claim 56  wherein the drive system of the apparatus further comprises the picker members being mounted on rotatable pulley members wherein each pulley member is rotatable in either direction, the belt member being adapted to engage the pulley members in serpentine relationship, whereby movement of the belt member along the pulley members effects opposite relational rotation between adjacent pulley members.  
     
     
         58 . The method according to  claim 57  in which the pulley members of the apparatus have a toothed circumferential edge, the belt member having a double-sided toothed edge, the belt and the pulley members being adapted to engage in intermeshing relationship, whereby the belt is adapted to rotate the pulley members in forward and reverse direction.  
     
     
         59 . The method according to  claim 57  in which the apparatus includes a tensioner member in the drive system for engaging the belt member with varying degree of force for adjusting slack in the belt member during operation.  
     
     
         60 . The method according to  claim 57  in which defeathering is accomplished by multiple sets of picker members, the sets of picker members placed in end-to-end alignment, each set of picker members being driven by a respective drive system having its respective motor disposed centrally in relation to the lateral alignment of picker members comprising the respective picker member set.