Cowen Decapper and Extractor System
By ekpeach in General | 8 comments
In the extraction room, there is a 33′ long piece of equipment that will pop the honey frames from the honey super and all the operator has to do is slide all the frames forward to a chain driven feeder. It automatically feeds the frames one at a time into the decapper which cuts the caps off the sealed honeycomb.
After the decapping, the frames are deposited on a long slide over a drip pan and lined up for a hand crank to slide 30 frames into the extractor which is, instead of an upright radial, is laying on its side similar to a barrel laying on its side. Once the first rack has been filled, then the operator rotates the basket so the empty rack is in line with the frame slide so the other 30 frames can be loaded. Then the operator starts the extractor spinning.
While the honey is being slung out of the combs, the operator starts decapping again. About the time the frame slide is loaded with decapped frames of honey, the extractor has slung all the honey out of the first 60 frames.
On the far end of the setup next to the extractor, there is another slide setup to receive the extracted frames, but, this is the neat part, the operator doesn’t have to hand unload the extractor. As the frames are hand cranked into the decapper rack, the new frames pushes the old ones out onto the receiving slide. Then the slid is shifted on rollers to line up the second set of receiving rails with the extractor.
The frame boxer places a honey super under the extracted frame rails and lifts up around 10 frames and pulls a loaded super out and sets it on the hand truck ready to go to a stacking room. Like I said in the last post, you have to see it in action to really appreciate the operation of this wonderful tool.
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josh de wit | Sep 8, 2008 | Reply
Hi there!
My dad and myself are beekeepers in South Africa and do ministry on the side. We have been looking to upgrade our extraction facilities, and upon seeing yours, were overwhelmed. Absolutely ingenious! Any PDF’s on over all assembly for sale? Would love to have something similar for our operation.
Thank you!
Joshua
Randall | Dec 8, 2008 | Reply
Hello. Im from Australia, My Dad has bees but had a stroke. I want smaller scale system for mobile extracting van/trailer. What is involved in getting some more info/pictures/drawings/layout etc.
Im Ex boilermaker in S/S 18years so fabrication is not a problem.
Randall Jacka.
ekpeach | Dec 8, 2008 | Reply
Randall,
Here is a link to Cowin Mobil extracting unit.
http://www.cowenmfg.com/apps/photos/default.asp
Are you still in Australia? There are some Bee Associations there, but I am not knowledgeable enough to tell you where. Go on the internet and do a search for Beekeepers or Associations in your area.
I hope this helps you in some way. We have several forums that you can join and can seek help there also.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/worldwidebeekeeping/
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/FloridaBeekeepers/
If I can be of more help, just ask and I will email you personally.
Peaches
Pensacola, Florida, USA
Rick Brenchley | Mar 14, 2009 | Reply
i am looking at making a comercial mobile extracting system on a truck and trailer can any one help
ekpeach | Mar 14, 2009 | Reply
Get the diminutions of the trailer and make a schematic of the layout and superimpose it on the diagram of the trailer and go from there. You can get the equipment piece at a time or buy the whole system and mount it on the trailer. I think that if you contacted Cowen, they may have suggestions. I have thought of the same thing, but finances are my biggest roadblock at this time. http://www.cowenmfg.com/ They have a setup as you described.
Peaches
Andre van Aardt | Mar 23, 2012 | Reply
Hi,
We have started a 1000 hive unit in Mali West Africa and would be very interested in your extractor machine. Can you send us more detail, are you building and selling these or can we build one ourself. What would the plans cost us etc
Your kind cooperation will be highly appreciated
Thanks and regards
Andre
ekpeach | Mar 23, 2012 | Reply
Andre,
Look at the comments above and you can use those same links for your answers. And no, I don’t make the extractors. I just report on them.
teplica | Aug 6, 2013 | Reply
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