The invention relates to a device (10) designed and configured to scald slaughtered poultry, comprising: a scalding tank (17), which is open at the top, for accommodating and retaining a liquid scalding medium; a means of transport (19) for the suspended transport of the poultry within the scalding tank (17) along a scalding channel (20), which is formed of a plurality of scalding channel portions, from an input region (E) to an output region (A), the means of transport being arranged above the scalding tank (17), an accommodating space for scalding medium being formed below the scalding channel (20), the device (10) being characterized in that at least one pump apparatus functioning as a swirl element (33) is arranged within the accommodating space in order to form a pressure chamber acting along the entire scalding channel (20). The invention further relates to a corresponding method.
The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for recovering liver (12) from sets of innards (11) of poultry carcasses, wherein the sets of innards (11) comprise at least lungs (13), liver (12), glandular stomach (14) and muscular stomach (15) which are at least partially interconnected by connective tissue, the device comprising at least one holding element (20), wherein the at least one holding element (20) comprises a receiving region (21) for receiving and holding the set of innards (11), and wherein the holding element (20) is designed such that at least the lung (13) can be arranged above the receiving region (21) and at least the liver (12) can be arranged underneath the receiving region (21); further comprising a detaching device (22) having a detaching portion (23) comprising a detaching means (24) for detaching the liver (12), wherein the detaching device (22) is designed such that at least the liver (12), together with the connective tissue connecting to the set of innards (11), can be at least partially detached from the set of innards (11) by the detaching means (24); and comprising a separating device (25) having a separating means (26), wherein the separating means (26) is designed such that the liver (12) that is detached from the connective tissue can be completely separated from the set of innards (11).
The present invention relates to devices and methods and an assembly for separating wing tips (10) from poultry carcasses (11). The device according to the invention is characterised by: a suspended conveyor device (12) for conveying the poultry carcasses (11); a support guide (15) which is designed to guide the neck and shoulder region, extends in the direction of transport (13), is positioned underneath the poultry carcass (11), and which has at least one support surface (16) designed to support the neck and shoulder region of the poultry carcasses (11); a lower wing guide (17) that is designed to guide the lower wing and wing tip (20) of the poultry carcass (11) and is positioned to the side of the support guide (15); a stationary first retainer guide (21) that is designed to retain the upper wing of the poultry (19) under preload; a second retainer guide (22) that is positioned downstream of the first retainer guide (21) in the transport direction and has at least two guide elements (23) designed to retain the poultry upper wing (19), said guide elements (23) being deflectingly movable against a restoring force; and a separation device (24) that is designed to separate the wing tips (20) and is positioned along the conveying section in the region of the second retainer guide (22).
A statically weighed grading apparatus and method (100) includes a static weight sensing apparatus (104) weighing food parts (102) prior to distribution to batches (130) of food parts. The food parts (102) are moved to batches (130) to accumulate batches of parts having the same weight for each part, or batches of similar parts to achieve a desired total batch weight. Food parts (102) are precisely deposited on a movement device (120) to increase the density of food parts (102) on the movement device maximizing throughput of the system. Several food parts (102) can be transferred to the movement device (120) to comprise a sub-batch (146) prior to transfer to a final batch (130).
The invention relates to an assembly for processing poultry, comprising at least one hanging conveyor device (10), which is designed to convey the poultry at a specified conveying speed and forms a conveying path and is designed to convey the poultry hanging by the legs, and a plurality of processing stations arranged along the conveying path, the conveying path having processing conveying sections for the processing of the poultry at each of the processing stations and is distinguished in that at least two processing section lengths of the processing conveying sections can be varied by control. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for processing poultry.
A lifting apparatus (1), designed to lift poultry legs (9) conveyed hanging in a row, comprises a conveying device (11) and a poultry leg lifting device (12). The poultry legs (9) can be hung in poultry carriers (131) of the conveying device (11) by means of their ankle heads (911). The poultry leg lifting device (12) comprises a poultry leg positioning device (70) having at least one positioning element (71 to 78, 141), which, without the weight load of the poultry carrier (131), lifts the conveyed poultry legs (9) via the ankle heads (911) in a poultry leg lifting path (h) into lifted ankle head positions. A carrier lifting device (13) is designed to lift each foot hanging device (31) into hanging heights that correspond to the ankle head positions lifted in the poultry leg lifting device (12). To this end, the carrier guide device (132) has a dynamically movable lifting guide member (4) and a guide bearing device (42), which mounts the lifting guide member (4) so as to be freely movable vertically in conjunction with a weight relief of the poultry carriers (131) brought about by the lifting of the poultry legs (9). The foot hanging device (31) is mounted on the poultry carrier (131) so as to be freely movable vertically.
The invention relates to a gutting tool (10) designed and configured to remove innards and in particular intestines from the body of slaughtered poultry, comprising a spoon-shaped base body (11), wherein the base body (11) has a spoon base (12) and at least spoon edge (13) surrounding the spoon base (12) at least partially to form a spoon depression (14), characterised in that the base body (11) is made at least partially from an elastic material, wherein the elastic material is flexible enough to adapt to a contour of the body when the innards are removed but is also rigid enough to remove the innards from the body. The invention also relates to a gutting device (23) having a gutting tool of this kind (10).
The invention relates to an unloading system (10), designed and configured for unloading at least one transport unit (12) configured for transporting and/or for storing live poultry (11) which has at least one housing frame (13) and at least one transport container (14) mounted therein to receive the poultry (11), wherein the housing frame (13) comprises a transport securing means (15) for each transport container (14) and each upwardly open transport container (14) has a container base (16) and peripheral side walls (17) and each transport container (14) mounted in the housing frame (13) is covered towards the top by a cover (18) which is arranged spaced apart from the upper edge K of the side walls (17), comprising an unloading station (19) for at least one transport unit (12), at least one transport unit (12), a pushing device (20) for ejecting each transport container (14) located in an ejection position from the housing frame (13) in the pushing direction S, and a receiving device (21) for receiving and conveying each transport container (14) expelled from the housing frame (13), characterized in that the position of each transport container (14) located in the ejection position with regard to the cover (18) in the vertical direction, whilst the total ejection operation is controllable in such a way that the maximum spacing AB between the upper edge K of the side walls (17), which are trailing in the pushing direction S, of each transport container (14) and the cover (18) can be maintained during the ejection operation as a function of the respective position of the transport container (14) inside the housing frame (13). The invention further relates to a corresponding method.
The present invention relates to a wing-cutting apparatus for processing poultry carcasses (10), comprising a conveying device (12), which is intended for conveying the poultry carcasses (10) in the transporting direction (11) along a conveying route, and also comprising a first severing device (13) and a second severing device (14), which are designed for severing wings or wing parts (15) in pairs from in each case one of the poultry carcasses (10), and the wing-cutting apparatus is distinguished in that the first severing device (13) and the second severing device (14) are offset in the transporting direction (11) along the conveying route such that the operations of severing the wings or the wing parts (15) in pairs take place one after the other in each case. The present invention also relates to a corresponding method.
The invention relates to a method, a guide assembly and a system for separating poultry viscera sets (1) suspended from a viscera holder (2). In the method a guide member (4) is moved so that said viscera set (1) is arranged in an elongated opening (43) of the guide member with the intestines and the gall- bladder suspended below said guide member and the liver (16) and gizzard (17) positioned above it. The intestines (15) and the gallbladder are then separated from the remaining viscera set (1) while said liver (16) rests on a first part (41) of a separation support surface and said gizzard (17) on a second part (42) on the opposite side of an elongated opening. Before the separation, the viscera set (1) is brought into contact with an engagement member (8) so that the gizzard (17) is kept on the one side of the elongated opening (43) at least until coming into contact with the separation support surface (41).
The invention relates to a device (10) designed and configured for stunning live poultry, located in containers (11) and provided for slaughter, by means of a gas mixture containing a stunning gas, comprising a stunning chamber (12) with at least two stunning zones (13), an input station (14) arranged on an input side of the stunning chamber (12) for the or each container (11) containing live poultry, and an output station (15) arranged on an output side of the stunning chamber (12) for the or each container (11) containing stunned poultry, at least one transport conveyor (16) for transporting the or each container (11) from the input station (14) to the output station (15) in a transport direction T through the stunning zones (13), as wells as means (17) for supplying the gas mixture into the stunning zones (13) of the stunning chamber (12), characterized in that the means (17) for supplying the gas mixture comprises at least one injection tube (18) that is designed and configured to be movable relative to the container (11) for detachable connection to the or each container (11) and for detaching from the same, in such a way that each container (11) can be filled with the gas mixture in the state of the detachable connection to the or each injection tube (18). The invention additionally relates to an assembly (27) comprising a device (10) of this type and at least one container (11), as well as a corresponding method.
The invention relates to a device (10) that is designed and configured to scald slaughtered poultry G, comprising an elongated scalding tank (11), which is open at the top, for receiving and holding a scalding medium, said tank having at least one transport stretch (12.1, 12.2....12.n) for the poultry G, wherein each transport stretch (12.1, 12.2....12.n), in its longitudinal extension, adjoins a separating element (13) that extends at least over a section of the length of the transport stretch (12.1, 12.2....12.n), a transport means (14) arranged above the scalding tank (11) for transporting the poultry G, which are suspended by their feet, along the transport stretch (12.1, 12.2....12.n) in a transport direction T, a control and regulating unit (15) for controlling the temperature of the scalding medium, means (16) for generating a swirl and/or flow of the scalding medium, and a filter apparatus (35) for cleaning the scalding medium. The invention is characterised in that each separating element (13) comprises two separating walls (18, 19) arranged at a distance from one another and extending upward from the bottom wall (17) of the scalding tank (11), said walls for forming a channel (20) that is open at the top and at the end faces, and a swirl element (23) as the means (16) for generating the swirl and/or flow of the scalding medium is arranged inside the channel (20) in the region of through-holes (21, 22) in each separating wall (18, 19) that faces a transport stretch (12.1, 12.2....12.n), which swirl element can be rotationally driven by means of a drive shaft (24) that is directed horizontally and runs transversely to the transport direction T of the poultry G. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.
The invention relates to a device (10), designed and configured to automatically defeather slaughtered poultry (11), comprising a transport means (12) that is designed and configured for the free downward hanging transport of poultry (11) hanging by their feet in transport direction T along a transport path, as well as two side parts (14, 15) which are at a distance from one another, are arranged on opposing sides of the transport path, and form a channel (13), and which, on the inner sides thereof opposing one another and facing the transport path, have respective means (16) for defeathering the poultry (11) transported through the channel (13), wherein the means (16) for defeathering can be brought into contact with the poultry (11) to be defeathered, characterised in that the device (10) comprises a stationary means (17) for actively supporting the introduction of the poultry (11) between the two side parts (14, 15) and the defeathering means (16) arranged thereon, said means being situated in the introduction region E of the poultry (11) into the channel (13). The invention also relates to a corresponding method.
A method and an apparatus for arranging a bird having a body and two legs in a position for being suspended from a shackle, said method comprising the following sequence of steps: I) placing the body of the bird on a support surface with the breast side facing the support surface, II) inserting at least one spreading member between the legs of the bird, so that the breast side of at least one leg comes to rest on a contact surface of the spreading member, III) forcing the legs away from each other using the spreading mechanism, so that the distance between the hock joints becomes bigger than the distance between the hip joints.
POSITIONING DEVICE FOR POSITIONING POULTRY LEGS CONVEYED IN SINGLE FILE IN THE CONVEYING DIRECTION ALONG A CONVEYOR SECTION AND THE METHOD COMPRISING SAID POSITIONING FOR REMOVING THE THIGH MEAT FROM POULTRY LEGS
A positioning device (1) for positioning poultry legs (9) conveyed hung in single file comprises a flexing device (4) for flexing and positioning the poultry legs and a stationary holding and guiding device (5). The flexing device (4) forms a hooking device for suspending the poultry leg (9) at the region of the knee joint (93) in a holding and guiding slot (51) of the holding and guiding device (5). Travelling positioning elements (7) are formed by driven press elements which grip the poultry leg (9) from below on an axial leg side (940) to flex and lift said leg. Each travelling positioning element (7) forms, with a stationary positioning element (6), a functional pair of positioning elements (6, 7). One of the two positioning elements (6, 7) engages in the hollow of the knee (95) of the poultry leg (9) while the other positioning element (6.2; 7.1) is configured for placement on the thigh (92) on the front side (941) of the leg. Processing stations (56) can be arranged along the holding and guiding slot (51). In a method, carried out during the conveying, for removing the thigh meat from the poultry legs (9) conveyed in single file, said poultry legs are axially conveyed in a first said positioning device (1.1) with a transverse leading lateral side (950) of the leg and in a second said positioning device (1.2) with an axially leading knee cap side (940) of the leg. Cuts are made at the front side (941) of the leg and at the back side (942) of the leg along the first stationary holding and guiding slot (51.1). Cuts are made at the lateral sides (950) of the poultry leg along the second stationary holding and guiding slot (51.2), and the thigh meat (922) is pushed to the proximal end of the thigh bone (921).
BROILER CONTAINER WITH A BASE AND SIDE WALLS, WHICH IS DESIGNED AND SET UP FOR RECEIVING AND HOLDING AT LEAST FIVE LIVING BROILERS, IN PARTICULAR AS PART OF A UNIT AND AN ARRANGEMENT OF A TRANSPORT TRAILER
The invention relates to a broiler container (1) with a base (11) and side walls (12), which define an internal volume, which broiler container is designed and set up for receiving and holding at least five living broilers, wherein the broiler container is designed and set up to be stackable together with broiler containers of identical type and has at least one ventilation opening and at least one venting opening, and is distinguished in that the broiler container comprises at least one segment of a ventilation or venting pillar (14) which runs through the internal volume and has at least one ventilation or venting opening at a distance from the side walls, wherein each segment of the ventilation or venting pillar is designed and set up for connection to corresponding segments of broiler containers of identical type and for connection to an active ventilation system. The invention also relates to a unit comprising at least two containers, an arrangement comprising a unit and a ventilation system, a transport trailer, a poultry slaughterhouse and a method for ventilation of the broilers.
A01K 45/00 - Autres appareils ou dispositifs pour l'aviculture, p. ex. dispositifs pour déterminer si un oiseau est prêt à pondre
B65D 85/50 - Réceptacles, éléments d'emballage ou paquets spécialement adaptés à des objets ou à des matériaux particuliers pour organismes vivants, objets ou matériaux sensibles aux changements d'ambiance ou de conditions atmosphériques, p. ex. pour animaux terrestres, oiseaux, poissons, plantes aquatiques, plantes non aquatiques, oignons de fleurs, fleurs coupées ou feuillage
17.
BROILER CHICKEN CONTAINER AND UNIT COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO BROILER CHICKEN CONTAINERS, SAID CONTAINER BEING DESIGNED AND EQUIPPED TO RECEIVE AND HOLD BROILER CHICKENS
The invention relates to a broiler chicken container (1, 101, 201, 301, 401) which is designed and equipped to receive and hold broiler chickens, comprising a base (11, 111, 211, 311, 411) and lateral walls (12, 13; 112, 113; 212, 213; 312, 313; 412, 413) which define an inner volume. The broiler chicken container (1, 101, 201, 301, 401) is designed and equipped so as to be stackable with broiler chicken containers (1, 101, 201, 301, 401) of the same type. The invention is characterized in that at least one support column (14, 114, 214, 314, 414) runs from the base (11, 111, 211, 311, 411) upwards through the inner volume. The support column (14, 114, 214, 314, 414) is arranged at a distance from all of the lateral walls (12, 13; 112, 113; 212, 213; 312, 313; 412, 413) so that space is provided for at least one broiler chicken between the support column (14, 114, 214, 314, 414) and any of the lateral walls (12, 13; 112, 113; 212, 213; 312, 313; 412, 413), and the support column (14, 114, 214, 314, 414) has a height so as to support the base (11, 111, 211, 311, 411) of another broiler chicken container (1, 101, 201, 301, 401) which is stacked on top of the broiler chicken container (1, 101, 201, 301, 401). The invention further relates to a unit comprising at least two of the aforementioned broiler chicken containers (1, 101, 201, 301, 401).
A01K 45/00 - Autres appareils ou dispositifs pour l'aviculture, p. ex. dispositifs pour déterminer si un oiseau est prêt à pondre
B65D 85/50 - Réceptacles, éléments d'emballage ou paquets spécialement adaptés à des objets ou à des matériaux particuliers pour organismes vivants, objets ou matériaux sensibles aux changements d'ambiance ou de conditions atmosphériques, p. ex. pour animaux terrestres, oiseaux, poissons, plantes aquatiques, plantes non aquatiques, oignons de fleurs, fleurs coupées ou feuillage
18.
A GUIDE MEMBER, A GUIDE ASSEMBLY, A SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR SEPARATING A VISCERA SET EVISCERATED FROM SLAUGHTERED POULTRY
A guide member (4) for use in separating viscera sets eviscerated from slaughtered poultry comprising a separation support surface (41, 42) having an elongated opening (43) for receiving a viscera set (1) in a manner whereby at least the intestines (15) and the gallbladder (18) are suspended below said guide member (4) and the liver (16) and gizzard (17) are positioned above said guide member. The elongated opening (43) extends away from a front edge of the separation support surface and a distal section of the opening is off-set in relation to a proximal section in a direction substantially parallel to the front edge. A gripping member (3) may be arranged below said guide member for gripping a part of the intestines (15). In a method according to the invention the guide member (4) is moved into contact with the viscera set whereby the intestines and/or gallbladder enters the elongated opening.
Disclosed is a method and a system for separating a viscera set (1) eviscerated from slaughtered poultry and held by a viscera holder (2) of a viscera conveyer in manner whereby at least the liver (16), the intestines (15) and the gallbladder (18) are suspended below said viscera holder (2). The method comprises the steps of: arranging said viscera set in an elongate opening (43) of a guide member (4) and separating the intestines (15) and the gallbladder (18) from the remaining viscera set. The intestines (15) and the gallbladder (18) are separated from the remaining viscera set while at least said liver (16) rests on a separation support surface (44) of the guide member (2), arranged with an angle relative to the horizontal plane. A guide assembly having two movable parts for use in such method / system is further disclosed.
The invention relates to a processing device (210) for processing slaughtered and plucked poultry carcasses (152), having multiple processing devices (21) that are equipped to transport poultry carcasses (152) separately from a main conveying device (302) for processing purposes using a processing retaining means (820) which can be moved on a circumferential path. The processing device (210) has transfer stations (60; 51-66) which are arranged in a row along a main conveying line (20) in which the poultry carcasses (152) are conveyed in a suspended manner using support devices (402). Each processing device (21) is paired with a transfer station (60; 61-66) formed by a transfer pair (601) which has two rotational transferring devices (602, 652). The first rotational transferring device (602) removes poultry carcasses (152) from the support devices (402) and transfers the poultry carcasses to the processing retaining means (820) of the processing device (21). The second rotational transferring device (652) removes the processed poultry carcasses (152) from the processing retaining means (820) and transfers the poultry carcasses to the support devices (402). Each support device (402) has a pair (401) of supports (41, 42) with receiving portions (40.1, 40.2) for limbs (11, 12) of the poultry carcasses (152) and comprises a support controller (410). Each support (41, 42) is equipped with a controllable retaining device (403; 405) which is connected to the support controller (410) via a control element (444, 454) that controls a retaining part of the limb receiving portion (40.1, 40.2). In an open position of the controllable retaining part, the limb receiving portion (40.1, 40.2) is open so that the poultry carcass limbs (11, 12) are inserted and removed without being clamped, and the limb receiving portion contacts the poultry carcass limbs (11, 12) only in a closed position of the retaining part. The poultry processing device (21) has a processing controller to which the processing retaining means (820) is connected and by means which the processing retaining means can be moved into different positions along the retaining means circumferential path, namely a starting position for receiving the poultry carcasses, at least one processing position, and an end position for removing the poultry carcasses.
An apparatus for processing birds on a conveyor according to the invention includes a moveable engagement member (1,101,201,301) having a contacting surface (11,111,211,311) adapted for being brought into contact with the bird (2). The engagement member is connected to a carrier (30,130,230,330) at a primary axis (P), said carrier being rotatable about a stationary secondary axis (132,232,332) and the primary axis (P) being located on the carrier (30,130,230,330) at a distance from the secondary axis (132,232,332), so that said primary axis will rotate about the secondary axis when the carrier is rotated. The engagement member (1,101,201,301) is restrained between the primary axis and the contacting surface, so that the contacting surface is prevented from rotating about the secondary axis. The invention also relates to a method for processing birds on a conveyor, where, during a processing movement, the direction of movement of contacting surface is preferably substantially the same as the direction of the conveyor.
A method for suspending birds from an overhead conveyor, comprises the following sequence of steps: A) each bird is arranged in a holder with its legs and/or feet projecting from a first opening therein and its neck at a neck end, B) orientation of the feet is determined, C) the bird is rotated about an axis of rotation extending between the first opening and the neck end until a predetermined orientation of the legs and/or feet is reached, and D) the feet or legs of the bird are arranged in a shackle on the conveyor. The rotation may be achieved either by rotation the holder or by rotating the bird in the holder. In an apparatus according to the invention a monitoring station and a rotation station is provided for performing steps B) and C). The holders are preferably open-ended with a second opening at the neck end.
A method for monitoring gas stunning of birds, where groups of birds are conveyed into and out of a stunning zone (1), and where the concentration of the stunning gas in the stunning zone is measured and adjusted for optimal stunning. The gas concentration is measured at a plurality of measuring positions in the stunning zone and a visual inspection of the birds is performed at two or more of the measuring positions using a visual inspection unit (76), such as a camera, which is moved into the stunning zone together with the group of birds. The groups of birds are advantageously kept in crates (3). The visual inspection unit may be part of a monitoring unit (71) further including a gas sensor (75), said monitoring unit being used for simultaneous measuring of the concentration of the stunning gas and inspection the birds at two or more monitoring positions.
A method of suspending a bird from a shackle according to the invention comprises the following sequence of steps: I) bending at least one leg at the hock joint so that the foot comes nearer to the breast of the bird,II) inserting the leg in the shackle,III) releasing the leg at least partially. The bending may be achieved by arranging an engagement member at the breast side of the leg to hinder a movement of the hock joint towards the breast of the bird and using a carrier for forcing the foot towards the breast. The engagement member and/or carrier may be adapted to yield.
The invention relates to a method for operating a poultry defeathering appara- tus, 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 venti- lating any moisture entering the picking bank away.To further reduce the in- gress 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.
Evisceration device for eviscerating intestine packs of slaughtered poultry comprising an evisceration spoon and a guide means, where the evisceration spoon has an inner side, a front edge intended to be the leading edge during insertion into a poultry carcass and two side edges extending from the front edge to a rear edge.The guide means is movable with respect to the evisceration spoon between the first position and a second position.An end area of the guide means is located at the spoon edge when the guide means is in the first position and at a distance from the evisceration spoon when the guide means is in the second position.The guide means and inner side of the evisceration spoon are curved with substantially the same shape, the inner side of the evisceration spoon being concave, and the side edges follow substantially the same plane as the inner side of the evisceration spoon.
The invention relates to a poultry defeathering apparatus and to a picking row for use in such an apparatus. The picking row comprises an elongate support part with a front side surface, a back side surface, a two interconnecting side surfaces interconnecting the front and back side surfaces. Said side surfaces extends in parallel to a length axis of the support part and a plurality of picking heads are arranged on the front side surface. At least one of the interconnecting side surfaces is convex, preferably being curved with a radius of curvature corresponding to half the height of the support part. In the apparatus, two or more picking rows are arranged side-by-side with the picking heads facing in substantially the same direction such that interconnecting side surfaces of neighbouring picking rows face each other. In such a pair of interconnecting surfaces, at least one of them is convex.
The invention relates to a poultry defeathering apparatus and to a picking row for use in such an apparatus. The picking row comprises an elongate support part, a plurality of picking heads, each of which can be rotated about an axis, which is substantially perpendicular to the length axis of the support part. The axes of rotation intersect with the support part at respective points of intersection and are arranged so that a line drawn between the intersections of the axes of rotation of two neighbouring picking heads forms a sharp angle to the length axis of the support part. Further picking heads are preferably arranged so that the picking heads form a zigzag pattern. In the apparatus picking rows are arranged side-by-side with their respective length axes in parallel and with the picking heads facing in the same direction.
A method and apparatus for suspending poultry to be slaughtered, in particular living or stunned chickens (16), in conveyor support holders, e.g. slaughter support holders (22) of an overhead conveyor, where the chickens e.g. by means of a belt conveyor (34) are delivered on a distribution surface (20), where the chickens (16) are successively guided or pushed outwards against the edge of the distribution surface (20) to individual positions (2) which are adapted to receive a chicken (16), which is e.g. disposed with the breast side downwards such that the legs (14) project from the edge of the said positions (2), where the legs (14) are fixed in fixing means (12) at the said positions (2), where the individual positions (2) are then successively moved upwards relative to the distribution surface (20) with the object of suspending the chickens (16) by a subsequent downward movement of the positions (2), e.g. at slaughtering brackets (22) of the overhead conveyor which runs above and spaced apart from the distribution surface (20) predominantly horizontally along a part length extending close past the distribution surface (20), and where the said positions (2) are subsequently moved downwardly again to the level of the distribution surface (20). By means of simple technical measures it hereby becomes possible to achieve a substantial alleviation of the heavy and monotonous lifting work such that the risk of load-associated injuries can be reduced correspondingly.
A method for eviscerating intestine packs of slaughtered poultry by which decapitated poultry suspended in legs or joints are eviscerated in an evisceration apparatus comprising a number of evisceration devices. Each evisceration devise comprises an evisceration spoon, which is in- serted into the body of the poultry in a movement forward and towards the breast bone, then moved forward along the breast bone and finally swung towards the back of the poultry to a fully advanced position, in which the spoon surrounds the intestine pack on the breast side thereof. The evisceration spoon is subsequently retracted, thereby pulling the in- testine pack out of the body. The evisceration device further comprises a guide means, which is inserted together with the spoon and is moved across the esophagus during the forward movement within the body. While the crop is being pulled loose, the guide means forms a bend on the esophagus, so that the esophagus extends from the bend to the crop in a direction more aligned with the retraction direction than the portion of the esophagus extending from the bend to the spoon. The guide means is movable with respect to the evisceration spoon between the first position and a second position. In the first position an end area of the guide means is located at the spoon edge and in the second position the end area of the guide means is located at a distance from the evis- ceration spoon.
A method and apparatus (10) for scalding and plucking slaughtered poultry, by way of example chickens, hens, turkeys, ducks or geese, where the poultry is transported via a sluice device through a scalding tunnel (10) are slaughtering, preferably suspended at the feet, where the poultry in the scalding runnel is conveyed successively between rows of nozzles (36) that are adapted to apply scalding agent to the poultry, where a plurality of different scalding agents are applied, where in a first scalding zone hot water is used as scalding agent, where in succeeding scalding zones scalding agents with mutually differing temperatures are applied, where in the said succeeding scalding zones warm humid air is used as scalding agent which is at least blown onto specific sub areas of the poultry. In a simple way optimal plucking may occur subsequently without the poultry subjected to unnecessary heat action, and so that a considerable reduction of the required energy consumption is simultaneously attained.
A method for gas stunning of poultry for slaughter is in which the poultry arrives at the poultry slaughterhouse, for example, in transport crates, where the poultry is subjected to gas after the poultry have been taken out of the transport crates, and where the poultry are conveyed by conveyors (18, 20, 24, 32) successively through a stunning chamber (8). The influence of the stunning gas for stunning of the poultry is adjusted in the stunning chamber by reducing or increasing by adjusting an effective length of at least one conveyor in the stunning chamber (8).
Poultry defeathering apparatus comprising at least one defeathering assembly (6) with a plurality of picking heads (7). Each picking head has a base member (15) provided with at least one flexible picking device (19). The base member is rotatable with respect to a support part (9). The flexible picking device (19) is rotatable with respect to the base member and is connected to a drive for rotating it with respect to the base member in a rotating movement different from the rotating movement of the base member with respect to the support part.
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