Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a cleaning operation applied to the internal neck skin of slaughtered poultry by removing the windpipe, gullet, glandular tissue or remainders thereof, includes suspension devices for suspending the poultry by the legs, a presser device, which during the cleaning operation presses on at least a part of the poultry, and a rotatable bore organ to be inserted from the top into the poultry being suspended by the legs for carrying out the cleaning operation. During the cleaning operation, the presser device pushes the neck skin of the poultry toward the bore organ.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing faecal matter from slaughtered poultry suspended by the legs, wherein the poultry, after having been cut for bleeding, is scalded to soften the feathers of the poultry, and after having been scalded is plucked and eviscerated to provide fresh defeathered slaughtered poultry, wherein also the removal of faecal matter takes place by prior to evisceration removing not yet unloaded faecal matter from the poultry by applying a pressure load to the abdominal cavity of the poultry, and simultaneously or subsequently spraying away the faecal matter squeezed out of the poultry with water and/or air.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a cleaning operation applied to the internal neck skin of slaughtered poultry by removing the windpipe, gullet, glandular tissue or remainders thereof, comprising suspension devices for suspending the poultry by the legs, presser means, which during the cleaning operation press on at least a part of the poultry, and a rotatable bore organ to be inserted from the top into the poultry being suspended by the legs for carrying out the cleaning operation, wherein during the cleaning operation the presser means push the neck skin of the poultry toward the bore organ.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for conveying slaughtered animals, in particular birds or parts of birds, which apparatus includes a plurality of carriers for the animals, each of which carrier is connected via an adjustable coupling device with a conveyor, and which travel a path passing at least one inspection or processing station. During operation of the conveyor, each carrier at a predetermined position in the conveyor's path is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis by adjusting the coupling device via at least one operating unit positioned along the path, and wherein along the conveyor's path there is at least one guide member provided which is capable, after the carrier is rotated to a predetermined position, of moving the animal suspended from the carrier such that it is diverted around the processing station.

Abstract: An apparatus for severing the vent of slaughtered poultry, comprising a positioning and stretching mechanism for the poultry, a centring pin to be inserted into the vent, a clamping sleeve concentrically surrounding the centring pin, and a rotary cutter concentrically surrounding the centring pin and clamping sleeve. A stretching sleeve is provided for engaging around the vent of the poultry, whereas the centring pin and the clamping sleeve have a fixed rotational position.

Abstract: A carrying hook for suspending poultry by the legs and conveying it, having two channels, each capable of receiving one leg. The channels are open at both ends. Optionally the channels are widened in the middle, and are provided with channel walls that can be separated by moving them against a spring force. In addition, the channels may mutually diverge toward their ends.

Abstract: An apparatus for suspending poultry by the feet from an overhead conveyor has pairs of cooperating strings for gripping the poultry by the feet in an upside-down hanging position. Check means are applied to check the position of the feet with respect to the strings in the hanging position of the poultry, and to provide a control signal that depends thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping the feet of sitting or standing poultry. The apparatus comprising a first conveyor where the poultry sits or stands on the first conveyor and points its head in the same or opposite direction to the direction of travel of the first conveyor. A section of the first conveyor forms a tunnel floor. A tunnel ceiling is disposed above the first conveyor. The distance between the tunnel ceiling and the first conveyor initially decreases in the direction of travel of the first conveyor. A guide extends in the longitudinal direction of the tunnel ceiling and is located between the first conveyor and the tunnel ceiling. The distance between the tunnel ceiling and the first conveyor increases in the direction of travel of the first conveyor at a location proximate to the guide. A second conveyor is located in the direction of travel of the first conveyor substantially after the guide. The breast of the poultry rests on the second conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for uniformly positioning legs of slaughtered poultry. Initially the legs are rotated in such a way that their knees end up pointing sideways in relation to a vertical plane passing through the overhead conveyor, subsequent to which the legs are rotated in such a way that the knees preferably end up pointing in the direction of transport. The apparatus for carrying out the method is provided with first and second direction checks.