Patents by Inventor Ronald B. Ford

Ronald B. Ford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Poultry defeathering device
    Patent number: 6168510
    Abstract: The invention entails a defeathering cylinder having a plurality of fingers extending radially from its curved surface. The cylinder is mounted on a shaft positioned along the axis of the cylinder. The cylinder is rotatably mounted to an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall, and sides connecting the front wall to the back wall. The front wall of the enclosure contains a cylinder opening. The back wall contains a plurality of apertures sized to substantially inhibit the passage of feathers. A power source such as an electric motor is functionally connected to the shaft on which the cylinder is mounted. Operation of the motor causes the shaft and the cylinder to revolve within the cylinder opening. The revolution of the fingers extending from the cylinder causes air to flow into the cylinder opening and out the apertures. When a bird is placed in contact with the revolving fingers, the feathers will be removed and drawn into the enclosure and toward the back wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Inventor: Ronald B. Ford
  • Poultry defeathering device
    Patent number: 6001012
    Abstract: The invention entails a defeathering cylinder having a plurality of fingers extending radially from its curved surface. The cylinder is mounted on a shaft positioned along the axis of the cylinder. The cylinder is rotatably mounted to an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall, and sides connecting the front wall to the back wall. The front wall of the enclosure contains a cylinder opening. The back wall contains a plurality of apertures sized to substantially inhibit the passage of feathers. A power source such as an electric motor is functionally connected to the shaft on which the cylinder is mounted. Operation of the motor causes the shaft and the cylinder to revolve within the cylinder opening. The revolution of the fingers extending from the cylinder causes air to flow into the cylinder opening and out the apertures. When a bird is placed in contact with the revolving fingers, the feathers will be removed and drawn into the enclosure and toward the back wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Inventor: Ronald B. Ford