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.

1 . Poultry processing apparatus, comprising: 
 at least one hub;    a drive shaft mounted transversely through the at least one hub, the drive shaft having a pulley end and a drive end;    at least one sealed bearing received on the drive shaft and rotationally supporting the at least one hub;    a pulley attached to the pulley end of the drive shaft; and    a drive belt operatively connecting the pulley to a drive source.    
   
   
       2 . The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a hub plate attached to the hub near the drive end, the hub plate having an insert flare and a seal adjacent the insert flare.  
   
   
       3 . The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pulley is selected from the group consisting of: a timing belt pulley, a flat belt pulley, a V-belt pulley and a sprocket having teeth.  
   
   
       4 . The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the drive belt is selected from the group consisting of: a timing belt, a flat belt, a V-belt and a drive chain.  
   
   
       5 . The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a first bearing and a second bearing mounted on the drive shaft.  
   
   
       6 . The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a finger plate for receiving a depilating device, said finger plate attached to the drive end of the drive shaft.  
   
   
       7 . Poultry processing apparatus, comprising: 
 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, the hub plate having a flare portion and a hub plate shaft bore alignable with the central bore of the hub;    a drive shaft mounted transversely through the central bore and hub plate shaft bore, the drive shaft further having a pulley end and a spaced-apart drive end;    a first bearing and a seal positioned on the drive shaft at the hub plate and a second bearing and a seal positioned on the drive shaft at the junction of the flange portion and boss portion;    a drive belt operatively connected to a pulley fastened to the drive shaft at the pulley end and to a spaced-apart drive source; and    a poultry defeathering device attached to the drive shaft at the drive end;    wherein rotation of the drive belt about the pulley spins the drive shaft in the first bearing and second bearing within the hub housing thereby operatively rotating the poultry de-feathering device.    
   
   
       8 . The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 7 , the pulley comprising a plurality of spaced-apart recessed serrations and the drive belt comprising a plurality of spaced-apart raised serrations that mate with the recessed serrations in the pulley.  
   
   
       9 . Poultry processing apparatus, comprising: 
 at least one hub with a first end and a second end, the first end having a hub plate with an annular insert flare for mating to a machine cabinet opening;    a drive shaft with a pulley end and a drive end, for mounting transversely through the at least one hub;    at least two sealed bearings rotationally supporting the at least one hub, one of the sealed bearings positioned at the first of the hub and another one of the sealed bearings positioned at the second end of the hub, to provide a seal between the hub end and the drive shaft;    a seal mountable with the first end of the hub at the annular insert flare;    a pulley attachable to the pulley end of the drive shaft; and    a drive belt for operatively connecting the pulley to a drive source.    
   
   
       10 . The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pulley is selected from the group consisting of: a timing belt pulley, a flat belt pulley, a V-belt pulley and a sprocket having teeth.  
   
   
       11 . The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the drive belt is selected from the group consisting of: a timing belt, a flat belt, a V-belt and a drive chain.  
   
   
       12 . The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a first bearing and a second bearing mounted with the drive shaft.  
   
   
       13 . The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a finger plate attachable to the drive end of the drive shaft, for receiving a depilating device.