Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning a poultry carcass. In one exemplary aspect, a conveyor is applied for conveying the carcass along a track and brush device is positioned next to the track for brushing the carcass exterior, wherein the device is embodied with at least one rotatable drum, and to which drum brush hairs are connected, such that opposite ends of the brush hairs are connected to the drum so as to arrange that the brush hairs form a closed loop with the drum.

Abstract: A poultry processing apparatus for removing legs from a saddle obtained from a poultry carcass. A suspension conveyor moves the saddle suspended by the legs. A surface conveyor for engages with and conveys the back portion of the saddle. One or more upper guide rails substantially following at least a part of the surface conveyor's outer circumference away from the suspension conveyor, therewith defining a gap between the surface conveyor and the upper guide rail or rails equipped to receive the saddles back portion. Adjacent to the surface conveyor a support guide or guides provide support to the back portion of the saddle while it is being conveyed by the surface conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for harvesting thigh meat and oyster meat from a poultry thigh that includes a thigh bone with a hip knuckle and a knee knuckle. The poultry thigh is held at a knuckle, after which meat present on the thighbone below the knuckle is scraped from the thighbone away from the knuckle. The meat is subsequently separated from the thighbone and collected for further handling. The poultry thigh is suspended from the hip knuckle and the oyster meat is disconnected from the hip knuckle prior to scraping the meat from the thighbone away from the hip knuckle.

Abstract: Poultry neck breaker machine for poultry suspended by the legs in a conveyor line, comprising a movable breaker device for imparting a breaking force to the poultry's neck, and comprising an anvil to provide support to the poultry's neck during operation of the movable breaker device, wherein the anvil is arranged for introduction into a poultry cavity through the poultry's vent. The invention also relates to a method for breaking a poultry's neck while the poultry is suspended by the legs in a conveyor line, wherein a breaking force is imparted to the poultry's neck while the poultry's neck is supported, wherein the poultry's neck is supported from within the poultry.

Abstract: A poultry processing device for removing skin from the meat of poultry is provided. The device can include a conveyor line for moving the poultry in their conveying path and one or more de-skinning devices in or adjacent to the conveying path for processing the passing poultry. Each of the de-skinning devices can include a rotatable gripper roll which is circumferentially provided with longitudinally extending teeth having radial ends facing away from a rotational axis of the roll and providing a frictional outer surface to the roll for catching engagement with the skin. Each of the de-skinning devices can further include pinch devices adjacent to the rotatable gripper roll to pinch or trap the skin between the gripper roll and the pinch devices.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for mechanically processing an organ or organs taken out from slaughtered poultry in a processing device or processing line, which organ or organs form part of an organ package and wherein said organ or organs are separated from the organ package. The organ package is spatially oriented by the processing device without notably breaking tissue connections in the package, and in a preselected order so as to cause harvesting of organs from the package to occur in a preselected sequence that depends on the location of the organ package in the processing device or processing line.

Abstract: A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook is provided. The method and apparatus allow the quality of the poultry to be classified and graded in a simpler and more effective manner to realize higher yields or an extra added value. In one exemplary embodiment, a processing apparatus for a foot of the poultry is provided that includes a foot pad inspection apparatus.

Abstract: A processing apparatus for poultry is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes one or more transfer units placed intermediate of, conveying poultry from, a first line to a subsequent second line, wherein both the first line and the second line are selected from the group including a slaughtering line, an evisceration line, a chilling line, a sorting line and a cutup line. Each transfer unit is embodied with a circulating support that includes material that is magnetically conductive and transfer devices are provided with at least one magnet so as to induce eddy currents in the circulating support that counteracts relative motion between the transfer devices and the circulating support.

Abstract: A filleting device and method for harvesting fillets from poultry carcasses that are moved in a conveyer-line supported on carriers is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the first guide rails are provided to guide at least a part of the fillets so as to increase this part's distance from the carcass and break the tissue connections that connect the fillet or fillets in their natural position to the keel-bone of the carcass. Flexible elements are provided that complete the harvesting of the fillets by peeling the fillets entirely loose from the keel-bone.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for mechanically processing an organ or organs taken out from slaughtered poultry in a processing device or processing line, which organ or organs form part of an organ package and wherein the organ or organs are separated from the organ package. The organ package is spatially oriented by the processing device without notably breaking tissue connections in the package, and in a preselected order so as to cause the harvesting of organs from the package to occur in a preselected sequence that depends on the location of the organ package in the processing device or processing line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing poultry or a part thereof in a processing line, including the step of detaching and/or collecting a cartilage of the poultry's keel bone, whereby during transport of the poultry's carcass in the processing line, a cut is made in the cartilage of the keel bone, which cut is made initially transverse to the transport direction of the poultry and towards the poultry's backbone, and which cut develops from said transverse direction to eventually a direction opposed to the transport direction.

Abstract: An exemplary apparatus is provided for processing a poultry carcass part that includes a back portion and two legs connected to the back portion wherein the legs are separated from the back portion. The exemplary apparatus includes a conveyor line with shackles for conveying a series of poultry carcass parts suspended from the shackles, and at least one cutting device for making an incision in the joints connecting the legs to the back portion, wherein a series of cutting devices are assembled at the outer circumference of a cylindrical processing machine which is rotatable around a central body axis.

Abstract: A residual fat remover and method for removal of residual fat that remains on tissue of a poultry carcass after the poultry carcass has passed a scraper for releasing tissue connections between a fillet or fillets and the poultry carcass, wherein the fillet or fillets still at least in part are attached to the carcass when passing the residual fat remover, and wherein the residual fat remover is embodied with opposite pens that are positioned along the path of the passing poultry carcass on opposite sides of the breastbone of the passing poultry carcass so as to detach the residual fat on the outer sides of the fillet or fillets during passing of the poultry carcass.

Abstract: A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook is provided. The method and apparatus allow the quality of the poultry to be classified and graded in a simpler and more effective manner to realize higher yields or an extra added value. In one exemplary embodiment, a processing apparatus for a foot of the poultry is provided that includes a foot pad inspection apparatus.

Abstract: A processing apparatus for poultry is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes one or more transfer units placed intermediate of conveying poultry from, a first line to a subsequent second line, wherein both the first line and the second line are selected from the group including a slaughtering line, an evisceration line, a chilling line, a sorting line and a cutup line. Each transfer unit is embodied with a circulating support that includes material that is magnetically conductive and transfer means are provided with at least one magnet so as to induce eddy currents in the circulating support that counteracts relative motion between the transfer means and the circulating support.

Abstract: A method is provided for releasing tissue connections between a fillet and a carcass of slaughtered poultry. In one embodiment, the method uses a scraper that includes a stem ending into a first scraping lip, which is bent to follow a carcass contour. The stem is provided with a second scraping lip for release of at least part of the fatty tissue connected to an unexposed or uncovered side of the fillet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing slaughtered poultry that is conveyed in a slaughter line of a slaughter house is provided in order to determine at the start of the slaughter line whether the poultry was alive or dead on arrival at the slaughter house. The method and apparatus can include the detection of a temperature of the slaughtered poultry when the poultry is suspended by the legs in the slaughter line after stunning the poultry. The temperature of at least a breast of the slaughtered poultry is detected. The temperature of other regions of the slaughtered poultry may also be detected and may be compared. Further action may be taken based on the temperature information obtained.

Abstract: A processing apparatus for poultry is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes one or more transfer units placed intermediate of, conveying poultry from, a first line to a subsequent second line, wherein both the first line and the second line are selected from the group including a slaughtering line, an evisceration line, a chilling line, a sorting line and a cutup line. Each transfer unit is embodied with a circulating support that includes material that is magnetically conductive and transfer means are provided with at least one magnet so as to induce eddy currents in the circulating support that counteracts relative motion between the transfer means and the circulating support.

Abstract: A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook is provided. The method and apparatus allow the quality of the poultry to be classified and graded in a simpler and more effective manner to realize higher yields or an extra added value. In one exemplary embodiment a processing apparatus for a foot of the poultry is provided that includes a foot pad inspection apparatus.

Abstract: An exemplary apparatus is provided for processing a poultry carcass part that includes a back portion and two legs connected to the back portion wherein the legs are separated from the back portion. The exemplary apparatus includes a conveyor line with shackles for conveying a series of poultry carcass parts suspended from the shackles, and at least one cutting device for making an incision in the joints connecting the legs to the back portion, wherein a series of cutting devices are assembled at the outer circumference of a cylindrical processing machine which is rotatable around a central body axis.