Poultry processing hub and belt assembly

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.

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. 
 
     
     
       2. The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one tension idler arm. 
     
     
       3. The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the belt is a timing belt having spaced-apart protruding serrations and each pulley is provided with spaced apart recessed serrations which mate with the protruding serrations of the timing belt. 
     
     
       4. The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the timing belt has two sides, each side provided with spaced-apart protruding serrations, and wherein the belt is alternated above and below each of the aligned pulleys. 
     
     
       5. The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each hub is journaled to a drive shaft with at least two independent sealed bearings. 
     
     
       6. The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a hub plate attached at an end of each hub, the drive shaft extending therethrough. 
     
     
       7. Poultry processing apparatus, comprising:
 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. 
 
     
     
       8. Poultry processing apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one tension idler arm for releasing tension on the belt. 
     
     
       9. Poultry processing apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the belt is a timing belt having spaced-apart protruding serrations, and wherein each pulley forms spaced apart recessed serrations which mate with the protruding serrations of the timing belt. 
     
     
       10. Poultry processing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the timing belt has two sides, each of the sides forming spaced-apart protruding serrations, and wherein the belt is alternated above and below each of the aligned pulleys. 
     
     
       11. Poultry processing apparatus, comprising:
 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. 
 
     
     
       12. The poultry processing apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a seal positioned adjacent each hub plate, for preventing dirt and debris from invading a juncture of the drive shaft and the hub plate. 
     
     
       13. Poultry processing apparatus of  claim 11 , the belt comprising a timing belt for alternately rotating time-opposed pairs of pulleys, to avoid entanglement of finger plates associated with the pulleys. 
     
     
       14. Poultry processing apparatus of  claim 11 , each hub comprising a central bore, further comprising at least two sealed bearings for rotatably securing the drive shaft axially through the central bore. 
     
     
       15. Poultry processing apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a hub plate attached at an end of each hub, for joining the hub to a machine cabinet. 
     
     
       16. Poultry processing apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a seal positioned adjacent each hub plate, for preventing dirt and debris from invading a juncture of the drive shaft and the hub plate. 
     
     
       17. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tension idler arm independently releases belt tension should any part of the apparatus become jammed. 
     
     
       18. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tension arm independently releases belt tension should any part of the apparatus become jammed. 
     
     
       19. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes only a single belt operatively connecting each pulley and the drive mechanism. 
     
     
       20. Poultry processing apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including at least one tension idler arm. 
     
     
       21. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 7 wherein said belt is a single continuous belt operatively connecting each said pulley and the drive mechanism. 
     
     
       22. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 7, where the insert flange has an outer circumference equal to the circumference of a machine cabinet opening where the hub is to be attached. 
     
     
       23. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hub comprises a hub plate and a hub housing. 
     
     
       24. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 7 wherein said hub further comprises a hub housing, where the hub housing and the hub plate are aluminum. 
     
     
       25. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 11 wherein said hub comprises a hub plate and a hub housing, where the hub housing and the hub plate are aluminum. 
     
     
       26. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tension idler arm is spring loaded. 
     
     
       27. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 8 wherein said tension idler arm is spring loaded. 
     
     
       28. Poultry processing apparatus of claim 20 wherein said tension idler arm is spring loaded.