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: 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 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: 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 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 gizzard peeler comprising a series of rollersets, each rollerset comprising a first roller and a second roller that in use rotate in opposite directions, wherein the rollersets collectively form a cylindrical wall of a rotatable drum or form part of such a wall, whereby the drum is provided at its outer circumference with a guide and pressure device for guiding and pressing a gizzard along at least a part of the drum's outer circumference.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a de-skinner for poultry-parts. In one exemplary embodiment, the deskinner includes an infeed for the poultry parts, a processing device for removing the skin from the poultry parts, and a discharge for the processed poultry parts. Receptacles are provided for receiving the poultry parts from the infeed. The receptacles are connected to a conveyor-line for transporting the receptacles with the poultry parts to the processing device for removing the skin from the poultry parts. The receptacles are equipped with pressing means for pressing the poultry parts into intimate contact with the processing device.

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 device for picking or plucking poultry feathers is provided that includes a sleeve-coupling and, connected or connectable thereto, a plucking plate with receptacles for plucking fingers, which sleeve-coupling is mountable on a drive-shaft for the plucking plate. The sleeve-coupling is provided with a circumferentially extending slot for receipt of a radially extending pin that is provided on the drive-shaft, and the circumferentially extending slot has an opening between the slot-extremities to allow the pin to enter and to exit the slot so as to securely mount the sleeve coupling on the drive shaft with the pin being located at one of the slot extremities.

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 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 gizzard peeler is provided that includes a series of rollersets. Each rollerset includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a first roller and a second roller that in use rotate in opposite directions. The rollersets collectively form a cylindrical wall of a rotatable drum or form part of such a wall, whereby the drum is provided at its outer circumference with guide and pressure means for guiding and pressing a gizzard along at least a part of the drum's outer circumference.

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: 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: A device for picking or plucking poultry feathers is provided that includes a sleeve-coupling and, connected or connectable thereto, a plucking plate with receptacles for plucking fingers, which sleeve-coupling is mountable on a drive-shaft for the plucking plate. The sleeve-coupling is provided with a circumferentially extending slot for receipt of a radially extending pin that is provided on the drive-shaft, and the circumferentially extending slot has an opening between the slot-extremities to allow the pin to enter and to exit the slot so as to securely mount the sleeve coupling on the drive shaft with the pin being located at one of the slot extremities.

Abstract: An apparatus for severing a drumstick and a thigh that are part of a leg of poultry from each other includes an overhead conveyor for supplying the suspended leg, a supporting member for supporting the leg while the drumstick and thigh are being severed, and a cutting device for severing the drumstick from the thigh at the height of a knee joint A clamping device is provided for holding fast the thigh at least while it passes the cutting device.

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 and apparatus is provided for harvesting an inner fillet from poultry, wherein a tendon with which the inner fillet is or was connected to a wing bone of the poultry projects from the inner fillet. The tendon is gripped, and subsequently the tendon and the inner fillet attached thereto are pulled over a predetermined first distance off the carcass part of the poultry so as to completely or partly detach them from the carcass part.

Abstract: The invention relates to an overhead conveyor for poultry, for example chickens, having a conveyor line, and along the conveyor line movable hooks suspended therefrom with holders for the ends of the poultry's legs. The hooks are rotatable about a substantially vertical axis for the selective adjustment of a direction of movement of the poultry. Each hook is provided at the top with an adjusting plate with cams. Guide members are arranged along the conveyor line and are designed to intermate with the cams, wherein the adjusting plate is provided with at least a first type of cam having a predetermined first length and one or several cams of a second type having a predetermined second length. The first length is smaller than the second length, and the guide members are arranged such that the first type of cam is able to pass a guide member without intermating and the second type of cam is able to pass the guide member only by intermating.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for automatically removing a tail from poultry. An overhead conveyor moves the poultry or part of a bird suspended by the legs, and a guiding device is disposed underneath the overhead conveyor for supporting and guiding the poultry. A cutting device is functionally disposed behind a lead element for the poultry and which is part of the guiding device. The overhead conveyor is designed to convey the poultry with the back facing forward while the guiding device supports and guides the poultry substantially at the side of the back. The cutting device is disposed in or under an effective supporting surface of the guiding device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for breaking tissue connections in poultry suspended by the feet prior to the evisceration of this poultry. The tissue connections connect a portion of the viscera with belly fat located at the breast side of the inner cavity wall of the poultry. The apparatus includes an instrument to be inserted into the poultry via an incision provided at the vent side and performs a movement inside the poultry to break the tissue connections, wherein the instrument breaks the tissue connections between the belly fat and the gizzard.

Abstract: A filleting system for poultry, such as chickens, includes a conveyor system incorporating carriers for the poultry. Processing stations are provided in or along the path of the conveyor system for successively processing parts of the poultry, wherein the processing stations include at least one skinner, one wishbone remover, a fillet scraper, and either a breastbone scraper or a cutter for halving breast fillets.

Abstract: A filleting system for poultry, such as chickens, includes a conveyor system incorporating carriers for the poultry. Processing stations are provided in or along the path of the conveyor system for successively processing parts of the poultry, wherein the processing stations include at least one skinner, one wishbone remover, a fillet scraper, and either a breastbone scraper or a cutter for halving breast fillets.