Method of operating a phagocytic hair removal device and picking bank for use in phagocytic hair removal device

摘要

The invention relates to a method for operating a poultry defeathering apparatus, where a drive mechanism is used for rotating a plurality of picking heads of a picking bank and to such a picking bank. Each picking head is mounted at an outer side of a cover member on an axle projecting through an opening in the cover member and supported by a bearing. The drive mechanism is arranged on an inner side of the cover member opposite the picking heads. To protect the drive mechanism from deterioration, a gas or air is caused to flow along an inlet path on the inner side of the cover member and onwards to the drive mechanism. The gas or air has a lower relative humidity than the air surrounding the picking heads, when the apparatus is in operation, thus ventilating any moisture entering the picking bank away. To further reduce the ingress of water it is preferred that the flow of gas or air is so as to cause an over-pressure on the inner side of the cover member, which is, preferably at all times, higher than the pressure on the outer side.