Abstract: A guide member for use in separating viscera sets eviscerated from slaughtered poultry comprising a separation support surface having an elongated opening for receiving a viscera set in a manner whereby at least the intestines and the gallbladder are suspended below said guide member and the liver and gizzard are positioned above said guide member. The elongated opening 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 may be arranged below said guide member for gripping a part of the intestines. In a method according to the invention the guide member is moved into contact with the viscera set whereby the intestines and/or gallbladder enters the elongated opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for arranging a bird having a body and two legs in a position for being suspended from a shackle. The method comprises 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, and 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.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus for positioning poultry legs which are conveyed suspended in a row has a bending device for bending and positioning the poultry legs, as well as a stationary holding and guiding device. The bending device forms a threading device for suspending the poultry leg in the region of the knee joint in a holding and guiding gap of the holding and guiding device. Co-running positioning elements are formed by driven pressing elements which grip the poultry leg from beneath on an axial side of the leg for bending and lifting. Each co-running positioning element forms with a stationary positioning element a functional pair of positioning elements. One of the two positioning elements engages in the hollow of the knee of the poultry leg, while the other positioning element is configured to rest against the thigh on the front side of the leg. Processing stations can be arranged along the holding and guiding gap.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a system for separating a viscera set eviscerated from slaughtered poultry and held by a viscera holder of a viscera conveyer in manner whereby at least the liver, the intestines and the gallbladder are suspended below the viscera holder. The method comprises the steps of: arranging the viscera set in an elongate opening of a guide member and separating the intestines and the gallbladder from the remaining viscera set. The intestines and the gallbladder are separated from the remaining viscera set while at least the liver rests on a separation support surface of the guide member, 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.

Abstract: A guide member for use in separating viscera sets eviscerated from slaughtered poultry comprising a separation support surface having an elongated opening for receiving a viscera set in a manner whereby at least the intestines and the gallbladder are suspended below said guide member and the liver and gizzard are positioned above said guide member. The elongated opening 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 may be arranged below said guide member for gripping a part of the intestines. In a method according to the invention the guide member is moved into contact with the viscera set whereby the intestines and/or gallbladder enters the elongated opening.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a system for separating a viscera set eviscerated from slaughtered poultry and held by a viscera holder of a viscera conveyer in manner whereby at least the liver, the intestines and the gallbladder are suspended below the viscera holder. The method comprises the steps of: arranging the viscera set in an elongate opening of a guide member and separating the intestines and the gallbladder from the remaining viscera set. The intestines and the gallbladder are separated from the remaining viscera set while at least the liver rests on a separation support surface of the guide member, 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 neighboring picking rows face each other. In such a pair of interconnecting surfaces, at least one of them is convex.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for suspending living or stunned poultry to be slaughtered in conveyor brackets of an overhead conveyor. A belt conveyor delivers the poultry to a distribution surface, where the poultry are successively guided or pushed outwardly against an edge of the distribution surface to individual positions for receiving the poultry with the legs projecting from the edge of the positions. The legs are fixed in fixing means at the positions. The individual positions are then successively moved upwardly relative to the distribution surface to suspend the poultry for a subsequent downward movement of the positions by brackets of the overhead conveyor running above and spaced apart from the distribution surface. The positions are subsequently moved downwardly again to the level of the distribution surface.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for eviscerating intestine packs of slaughtered poultry using evisceration devices. Each devise includes an evisceration spoon, which is inserted into the body 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 intestine pack out of the body. A guide 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 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.

Abstract: 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 inserted 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 intestine 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.