US1413120A - Feather-cleaning machine - Google Patents

Description

W. HOOD.-

FEATHER CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED lugv 21.1921.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

3 SHtt S-SHEET 1.

W. HOUU.

FEATHER CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21,192!- 1,413,120., nted Apr- 18, 1922.

W. HOOD.

CHINE.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922 3 SHhEIS-SHEE A R I A A.

W ""l llllll gg 5%WW .1? 4? I Iii", Hi A UNITED STATES PJEENT' OFFICE.

WILLIAM HOOD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 CRESCENT FEATHER COMPANY, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

Application filed July 21, 1921.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM Hoop, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Feather-Cleaning Machine, of which the following is a spec-iii cation.

My invention relates'to improvements in feather cleaning machines and the like wherein a reticulardrum and a beating element mounted therein are rotated simultaneously in opposite directions within a suction chamber for the removal of dust and refuse from feathers.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved machine for cleaning feathers and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide-a rotatable drum and beating element arranged to be rotated simultaneously in opposite directions to remove dust and refuse from feathers.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved means for preventing the loss of feathers from a cleaning drum.

Another object is to provide a feather cleanin drum of an im roved construction adapte to increase e ciency in cleaning feathers.

A still further Object is to provide improved means for introducing and withdrawing feathers from a cleaning drum while in motion.

A still further object is to provide an improved device of the character described arranged to remove light and heavy refuse through separate conduits to facilitate the recovery and separation of down and fine feathers therefrom.

It is also an object to provide improved means for admitting chemicals into a cleaning drum for sterilizing and preserving feathers.

I accomplish these and other Objects by means of the device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present specification wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout said specification and drawings, and in which- Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation, partly in I section, of my improved feather cleaning machine;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922. Serial No. 486,620.

IS a section taken along the line 1 is used to designate in general a suction chamber havin a hingedly connected door 2. Upper and ower suction conduits 3 and 4 Open into the chamber 1 at the top and bottom thereof through longitudinally disposed slots 6 and 7, respectively.

A pair of bearing hubs 8 are rigidly secured within the chamber 1 upon the endsthereof to receive inwardly extending flanges 9 formed at the ends of a drum 11 rotatably mounted upon said hub. The drum 11 comprises a skeleton frame consisting of a plurality of annular rings 12 connected. by a plurality of parallel longitudinal ribs 13 to form a plurality of rectangular openings 14 adapted to receiveiwall segments 16. The segments 16 comprise a frame 17 of rectangular shape corresponding to the openings 14 and of arcuate cross section conforming to the curvature of the rings 12. A screen 18 of very fine mesh is secured upon the inner side and a screen 19 of coarse mesh is secured upon the outer side of each frame 17 to form double screen walls. A plurality of balls 21 are provided between the screens 18 and 19 of each segment l6,'the outer screen 19 being provided for retaining the balls 21 within the 95' port the segments 16 flush with the surface of the drum. Latches 20 are provided for removably retaining the segments 16 against the shoulders 15. A shaft 22, centrally disposed in the drum 11 extends outwardly through sleeves 23 mounted in the hubs 8 and the ends of lot nally through the chamber 1 adjacent the lower ortion of the drum llare provided with riction pulleys 27 arranged to frictionally engage the outer periphery of each flange 9, a strip of leather belting 28 or other suitable friction producing material being secured upon said periphery to insure operative engagement. The ends of the shafts 26 extend outwardly from the chamber 1 and are provided at one end with sprocket wheels 29 arranged to receive a chain 31 operating over both of said sprocket wheels 29 and a sprocket wheel 32 mounted upon the shaft 22 whereby rotation of the shaft 22 in one direction will rotate the shafts '26 and cause the friction pulleys 27 to rotate the drum 11 in an opposite direction at a slower speed.

A conduit communicating with the drum 11 through the hub 8 and the wall at one end of the chamber 1 is arranged to conduct feathers to be cleaned into the drum 11 from a hopper, not shown, the feathers being moved through the conduit 33 by a current of air from any suitable source of air pressure not'shown.

A conduit 34 communicates with the drum 11 through the other hub 8 and end wall, said conduit 34 being arranged to remove the feathers from the drum 11 by suction.

A steam connection 36 having a chemical dispensing cup 37 connected therewith com- 'municates with the drum 11 through one end thereof to admit warm air for drying the feathers after cleaning as hereinafter explained.

Check valves 39 are provided in the conduits 3, 4, 33, 34 and 38, whereby said 0011- duits may be closed or opened to any desired degree.

The'hubs 8 are rigidly mounted within the chamber 1 to permit the conduits .33, 34 and 38 and the steam connection 36 to open within the drum 11 whilesaid drum is rotating. Y

The operation of my improved feather cleaning machine is as follows:

A quantity of feathers to be cleaned is introduced into the drum 11 through the conduit 33 by air pressure. A valve 41 in the steam connection is then opened to admit steam into the drum 11, and power applied to rotate the shaft 22 carrying the beating rods 24. The steam softens the feathers and the movement of the rods 24 through the feathers causes all dust and dirt to be loosened. Suction within the chamber 1, maintained by the suction conduits 3 and 4,

causes the dust and dirt to be drawn through the fine mesh screen upon the inner side of the wall segments 16 and carried away, the fine light lint and down from the feathers being carried upwardly and out throughthe conduit. 3 while the more heavy dust and other refuse will drop downwardly and be removed through the lower conduit 4. An inclined bafile mounted adjacent the slot 6 directs the light material into the upper conduit 3, and inclined bottom plates 43 direct the heavy refuse into the lower conduit 4.

The down and the light dust drawn through the drum 11 are carried by the rotation of the drum into the upper portion of the chamber l where it is diverted by the baffle 42 into the conduit 3, the baflie 42 being, extended downwardly to a point adjacent the periphery of the drum and inclined at an angle adapted to divert the down and dust upwardly into the conduit 3. The heavy dust and feathers that work outwardly through the drum screens fall by gravity to the bottom. of the chamber 1 and are drawn into the conduit 4 by suction.

The conduits 3 and 4 discharge into separating devices, not shown, for recovering the down and feathers from waste material thereby preventing loss of a gortion of the most valuable part of the feat ers.

In my present practice the shaft 22 is rotated at a speed of about two hundred revolutions per minute and the shafts 26driven therefrom are geared to rotate the drum 11 in the opposite direction as above described at a speed of about forty revolutions. per minute. In this manner the feathers are maintained in constant agitation, the feathers in all portions of the drum being equally 105 effected due to the revolving of the drum in a direction opposing the rotation of the beating rods 24.

A sterilizing and preservative chemical is admitted from the cup 37 with the steam.

When the feathers have been sufficiently steamed, the steam is shut off and a supply of warm air admitted through the conduit 38. Rotation'of the shaft 22 and the drum 11 is continued until the feathers have been thor- 115 oughly dried and all dust and dirt loosened and drawn through the screen walls of the drum. The conduit 38 is then closed and the conduit 34 is opened to exert a strong suction sufficient to draw the feathers out of the drum 11 and deliver them to any desired point for classifying or other treat- Wool 45 presented to the inner periphery of the flange 9 rotating thereon. The wool fiber permits free rotation of the. drum and effectively prevents the entrance of feathers or down into the bearing. 1 Annular strips 46 are secured upon the sides of thefflanges 9 to enclose the bearing surfaces and the packing strip 44.

The balls 21 are provided within the seg- 'ments 16 for keeping the screens 18-and 19 clean to permit a free passage of dust therethrough. As the drum 11 rotates the balls 21 roll back andforth within the segments 16 thereby dislodging any dust and feathers that may cling to either screen. The balls 21 also reduce the loss of feathers through the screen 18; In order for a feather to be drawn through the inner screen, the quill of the feather must first penetrate the screen, As the balls are rolled back and forth over the screen the points of such quills are usually struck by one of the balls and dislodged thereby preventing the feather from being drawn through the screen.

If it is desired to inspect the feathers during the cleaning process, the shaft 22 is stopped and the door 2 opened. Any one of the segments 16 may then be removed from the drum and access to the feathers beobtained through the opening 14,

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a machine for cleaning feathers which will operate in a quick and effective manner. The dust and lint from the feathers is prevented from escaping into the room to become an annoyance to workmen, and a single operator may care for a number of machines thereby materially for introducing steam into said drum for cleaning purposes; means for introducing air into the drum to dry the feathers after the introduction of said steam; and means for withdrawing the feathers from the drum after cleaning.

introduction of said steam; and means forwithdrawing the feathers from the drum after cleaning.

4. A feather cleaning machine comprising a suction chamber; a reticular drum rotat-' ably mounted within the chamber; a beating element rotatablymounted Within the drum; means for rotating the drum and the beating element; a conduit communicating with the drum for introducing feathers thereinto by air pressure; means for introducing steam into said drum; means for introducing air into the drum to dry the feathers after the introduction of said steam; and a suction conduit communicating with the drum for removing the feathers therefrom by suction after cleaning.

5. A feather cleaning machine comprising a suction chamber; a drum rotatably mounted Within the chamber, said drum having spaced inner and outer reticular Walls; a

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balls mounted between the reticular walls for dislodging feathers and refuse therefrom.'

8. A feather cleaning machine comprising a chamber; a reticular drum rotatably mounted within the chamber; a beating element rotatably mounted within the drum; means for rotating the drum and the beating element; suction conduits opening into the chamber at the top and 'at the bottom thereof for the withdrawal of light and heavy refuse therefrom; a conduit opening into the drum for the introduction by air pressure of feathers to be cleaned; and a conduit opening into' the drum for the withdrawal of said feathers after cleaning.

9. A feather cleaning machine comprising a chamber; a reticular .drum rotatably mounted within the chamber; a beating element rotatably mounted within the drum; means. for rotating the drum and the beating element; suction conduits opening into the chamber at thetop and at the bottom thereofv for'the withdrawal of light and heavy refuse therefrom; a conduit opening into the drum. for the introduction by air pressure of feathers to be cleaned; a conduit opening into the drum forthe withdrawal of said feathers after cleaning; and means for introducing steam into the drum for cleaning purposes.

10. A feather cleaning machine comprising-a chamber; a reticular drum rotatably mounted within the chamber; a heating element rotatably mounted within the drum;

means for rotating the drum and the beatingelement; suction conduits opening into the chamber at the top and at the bottom there-, of for the withdrawal of light and heavy refuse therefrom; a conduit opening into the drum for the introduction by air pressure of feathers to be cleaned; a conduit opening into the drum for the withdrawal of said feathers after cleaning; means for .introducing steam into the drum for cleaning purposes; and means for introducing air into the drum for drying the feathers therein after the introduction of said steam.

11. A feather cleaning machine comprising a chamber; a reticular drum rotatably mounted within the chamber; a beating ele-' ment rotatably mounted within the drum;

means for rotating thedrum and the beating element; suction conduits opening into the chamber at the top and at the bottom thereof for the withdrawal of light and heavy" refuse therefrom; a conduit opening into the drum for the introduction by air pressure of feathers to be cleaned; a conduit opening into the drum for the withdrawal of said feathers after cleaning; means for introducing steam into the drum for cleaning purposes; means for introducing sterilizing chemicals into the drum with said steam; and means for introducing air into the drum for drying the feathers therein after the in troduction of said steam and chemicals.

12. A feather cleaning machine comprising a chamber; a drum rotatably mounted within the chamber, said drum having spaced inner and outer reticular walls; a beating element rotatably mounted within the drum; means for rotating the drum and the beating element; conduits communicating with the drum for the introduction by pressure of feathers thereinto for cleaning, and for the withdrawal by suction after cleaning; suction conduits opening into the chamber at the top and at the bottom thereof for the removal of light and heavy refuse therefrom; means for introducing steam into the drum; means for drying the feathers within the drum after the introduction ofsaid steam; and means mounted between the walls of the drum for dislodging feathers and refuse therefrom.

13. In a feather cleaning machine of the character described, a rotatable drum comprising a skeleton frame; a plurality of wall segments removably mounted upon said frame, said segments having screens of fine and coarse mesh upon the inner and outer sides thereof respectively for the passage outer sides thereof respectively for the passage of dust and refuse outwardly from the drum; and means mounted between the screens of each segment I for dislodging refuse and feathers therefrom.

15. In a feather cleaning machine of the character described, a rotatable drum comprising a skeleton frame; a plurality of wall segments removably mounted upon said frame; said segments having screens of fine and coarse mesh upon the inner and outer sides thereof respectively for the passage of dust and refuse outwardly from the drum; and balls enclosed between the screens of each segment to move freely therein for dislodging refuse and feathers therefrom.

16. In a feather cleaning machine of the character described, a pair of rigidly mount ed hubs; a reticular drum rotatably mounted upon said hubs; and a fibrous packing secured between the periphery of each hub and the drum to prevent the passage of feathers therebetweenr 17. In a feather cleaning machine of the character described, a rotatably mounted reticular drum; a beating element rotatably 19 mounted within the drum; .and means for rotatin v ment simultaneously at different speeds.

In witness whereof I- hereunto set my 1 5 signature.

WILLIAM Hoon.

the drum and the beating elein opposite directions-

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