GB770293A - Recovery of wax from mixtures of wax and feathers - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0770293/III/1> Wax, used for dipping poultry to facilitate the removal of the feathers, is recovered from the mixture of wax and feathers by subjecting the mixture within a perforated container to the action of steam and pressure in such manner that the wax is melted and forced out of the container. In a suitable apparatus, the mixture of wax and feathers 28 is placed in a square container 10 having a base 11 and sides 12, the base and lower portion of the sides being perforated. The container 10 is mounted on legs 13 and stands in a water-bath 14 above the water level, and the lower perforated part of the container is surrounded by a casing 15 extruding below it and having its lower edge immersed in the water. The casing 15 houses steam-supply piping 16 controlled by valves 17. A pair of hollow pillars 18 upstand from opposite sides of the casing 15, the lower portions thereof being closed at 19 so that steam pipes 20 may be connected thereto for supplying steam to the piping 16. The upper parts of the pillars 18a constitute guide rods for a pair of hollow tubes 21 between which is connected a cross-piece 22 supporting a hydraulic jack 23, the piston 24 of which is connected to a pressure plate 25 located in the container. The pressure plate 25 is hollow with a square base 26 and triangular sides 27, and by operation of the jack 23 may be forced into the container 10 to exert pressure on the mixture 28. Springs 29 assist in the return of the pressure plate. To raise the plate and jack, the cross-piece 22 is connected by a cable 30 to a counter-weight 31, the jack and the pressure plate being kept in the lowered position by stops 32 inserted in holes 33 in the pillars, and the hollow tubes 21 contacting with the stops. A hinged side 15a of the casing enables the wax to be removed from the surface of the water bath and a hinged side 10a of the container enables the feathers to be removed. In operation the steam is turned on and the wax passes through the perforations on to the water bath. After about 5 minutes, the steam is turned off and the jack operated to exert pressure on the mixture of wax and feathers to expel more wax. The process is then repeated and the dewaxed feathers are removed from the container.