Abstract: A deboner and method of deboning poultry parts is provided. An exemplary embodiment includes an infeed for the poultry parts moving in a conveying direction, and a conveyor line that is synchronized with the infeed and having a series of carriers for receiving each single poultry part in a single carrier while the poultry parts are moving in their conveying direction. Each of the carriers can be embodied with two movable, preferably swivable arms, having an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position of the carrier ensures that a poultry part is accurately received in said carrier. The closed position of the two movable arms of the carrier ensures a fixing in position of the poultry thigh received in the carrier to promote an accurate, subsequent deboning of the poultry part.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for conveying organ packages to a processing station or stations is provided. The apparatus can include a tray-conveyor having a series of trays movable in the conveying direction. Each such tray is arranged to receive an organ package. The tray-conveyor has at least one discharge-station for the organ packages that are to be moved to the processing station or stations.

Abstract: A method and device for processing a carcass-part of slaughtered poultry in a processing line is provided. Means are applied for cutting the membrana and/or removing of the wishbone from the carcass-part. The means for cutting the membrana and/or removing of the wishbone include an arrow-shaped knife and two blades arranged on opposite sides of the knife. After the means for cutting the membrana and/or removing of the wishbone are introduced into the carcass part, the arrow-shaped knife and the two blades are moved in a unitary movement from within the carcass-part in a sideways direction away from the carcass part so as to lift the wishbone legs while they are still connected to the wing joints, and subsequently turn the wishbone legs out of the wing joints of the carcass-part.

Abstract: Method and processing line for stunning and/or killing of poultry, comprising a plurality of treatment stations to execute the stunning and/or killing of poultry contained in containers or crates, a feed-line for supplying the poultry in containers or crates to the plurality of treatment stations, and an exit line to transport the stunned and/or killed poultry contained in the containers or crates away from the treatment stations, wherein a shuttle unit is provided that is movable on the one part to and from the plurality of treatment stations and on the other part to and from the feedline and the exit line.

Abstract: A method and device for processing a carcass-part of slaughtered poultry in a processing line is provided. Means are applied for cutting the membrana and/or removing of the wishbone from the carcass-part. The means for cutting the membrana and/or removing of the wishbone include an arrow-shaped knife and two blades arranged on opposite sides of the knife. After the means for cutting the membrana and/or removing of the wishbone are introduced into the carcass part, the arrow-shaped knife and the two blades are moved in a unitary movement from within the carcass-part in a sideways direction away from the carcass part so as to lift the wishbone legs while they are still connected to the wing joints, and subsequently turn the wishbone legs out of the wing joints of the carcass-part.

Abstract: Method for releasing tissue connections between a fillet and a carcass of slaughtered poultry, using a scraper comprising a stem ending into a first scraping lip which is bent to follow a carcass contour, wherein 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 deboner and method of deboning poultry parts is provided. An exemplary embodiment includes an infeed for the poultry parts moving in a conveying direction, and a conveyor line that is synchronized with the infeed and having a series of carriers for receiving each single poultry part in a single carrier while the poultry parts are moving in their conveying direction. Each of the carriers can be embodied with two movable, preferably swivable arms, having an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position of the carrier ensures that a poultry part is accurately received in said carrier. The closed position of the two movable arms of the carrier ensures a fixing in position of the poultry thigh received in the carrier to promote an accurate, subsequent deboning of the poultry part.

Abstract: A device for processing a carcass part of slaughtered poultry in a processing line is provided. The carcass part is supported on a carrier that moves in the processing line. The carcass part includes wing-joints, coracoids, a wishbone embodied with two legs that merge into each other at an acute angle, a keelbone, a membrane and/or ligament that connects at least to the wishbone and the keel-bone, and naturally present meat including inner and outer fillets. The device includes apparatus for cutting and/or removing of the wishbone from the carcass part. The device is arranged such that the apparatus for cutting and/or removing of the wishbone can be a knife equipped to cut the wishbone and disconnect it from the membrane and/or ligament with an increased yield of meat that is retained on the carcass part.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a wing of a poultry carcass while the wing is attached to the poultry carcass that is suspended by the legs is provided. In an exemplary aspect, the method includes the step of cutting the wing in the upper wing adjacent to the elbow joint, and the step of moving the midwing in relation to the upper wing for separating the bones of the midwing and the upper wing, whereafter the midwing is cut loose from the upper wing while the latter remains attached to the poultry carcass. The step of cutting the wing in the upper wing adjacent to the elbow joint is executed to cut through the ligament that provides a connection between the midwing and upper wing.

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 means in or adjacent to the conveying path for processing the passing poultry. Each of the de-skinning means 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 the de-skinning means can further include pinch means adjacent to the rotatable gripper roll to pinch or trap the skin between the gripper roll and the pinch means.

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 device for processing a carcass part of slaughtered poultry in a processing line is provided. The carcass part is supported on a carrier that moves in the processing line. The device includes device for cutting and/or removing of the wishbone from the carcass part. The device is arranged such that the device for cutting and/or removing of the wishbone can be a knife equipped to cut the wishbone and disconnect it from the membrane and/or ligament with an increased yield of meat that is retained on the carcass part.

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: A device for processing a carcass part of slaughtered poultry in a processing line is provided. The carcass part is supported on a carrier that moves in the processing line. The device includes means for cutting and/or removing of the wishbone from the carcass part. The device is arranged such that the means for cutting and/or removing of the wishbone can be a knife equipped to cut the wishbone and disconnect it from the membrane and/or ligament with an increased yield of meat that is retained on the carcass part.

Abstract: A method and device for slitting a chicken leg which is suspended at its ankle joints from a carrier that forms part of a train of carriers that are movable in a processing line that passes the device is provided. A positioning step is applied for placing the leg in a suitable position for cutting the leg. Subsequently in a stabbing step a knife is brought into engagement with the leg. The stabbing step is followed by a slitting step in which the knife is moved along the leg so as to provide a slit in the longitudinal direction of the leg in order to enable a subsequent deboning step of the leg. In the positioning step a first pressing organ engages the leg in the vicinity of the knee joint so as to press the leg against a movable supporting surface for the leg that is positioned opposite to the pressing organ. A second pressing organ engages the leg from the side so as to push the leg into a substantially straight orientation of the drum and the thigh with respect to each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for harvesting of backmeat of a carcass or carcass part of slaughtered poultry in connection with a process of filleting of the carcass or carcass part is provided. The method can include scraping the backmeat loose from the carcass or carcass part whereby a connection is maintained with fillets of the carcass or carcass part. Prior to the filleting of the carcass or carcass part a neck portion of a backbone of the carcass or carcass parts is fixed in position, whereby thereafter the backmeat is scraped loose from the carcass or carcass part.

Abstract: Method and processing line for stunning and/or killing of poultry, comprising a plurality of treatment stations to execute the stunning and/or killing of poultry contained in containers or crates, a feed-line for supplying the poultry in containers or crates to the plurality of treatment stations, and an exit line to transport the stunned and/or killed poultry contained in the containers or crates away from the treatment stations, wherein a shuttle unit is provided that is movable on the one part to and from the plurality of treatment stations and on the other part to and from the feedline and the exit line.

Abstract: A method and system for filleting poultry or poultry parts is provided, which can include a conveyor system incorporating carriers for the poultry or poultry parts, with at least one processing station provided in or along the path of the conveyor system for processing the poultry or poultry parts. The processing station can be a cutting instrument that is placed behind a fillet scraper, and is embodied with a knife having a cutting-edge or cutting edges for cutting loose tissue connections that have remained between the carcass of the poultry or poultry part and its inner and outer fillets after passing the fillet scraper.

Abstract: A method and device for slitting a chicken leg which is suspended at its ankle joints from a carrier that forms part of a train of carriers that are movable in a processing line that passes the device is provided. A positioning step is applied for placing the leg in a suitable position for cutting the leg. Subsequently in a stabbing step a knife is brought into engagement with the leg. The stabbing step is followed by a slitting step in which the knife is moved along the leg so as to provide a slit in the longitudinal direction of the leg in order to enable a subsequent deboning step of the leg. In the positioning step a first pressing organ engages the leg in the vicinity of the knee joint so as to press the leg against a movable supporting surface for the leg that is positioned opposite to the pressing organ. A second pressing organ engages the leg from the side so as to push the leg into a substantially straight orientation of the drum and the thigh with respect to each other.

Abstract: A scalding apparatus for poultry includes an overhead conveyor for moving poultry, suspended by their legs, through an immersion tank filled with scald water. A filtering device and pumping unit can be used to withdraw the scald water, clean the scald water, and reintroduce the scald water to the tank. Upwardly directed nozzles, located in the bottom of the tank, provided a stream of scald water directed up and over the poultry. A reversing guide may be provided for redirecting the scald water downwards to the poultry. The immersion tank may be divided into chambers.