Abstract: A poultry processing line is provided having a series of poultry carriers and a processing unit or processing units, wherein the poultry carriers are movable to and from the processing unit or processing units and the poultry carriers and the processing unit or processing units are synchronized to enable processing of the poultry by the processing unit or processing units. A switch is provided such that the poultry carriers and/or the processing unit or processing units are selectable between an operational position in which the poultry is processed by the processing unit or units and an inoperational or idle position in which the poultry is prevented from being processed by the processing unit or units.

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 poultry processing line is provided having a series of poultry carriers and a processing unit or processing units, wherein the poultry carriers are movable to and from the processing unit or processing units and the poultry carriers and the processing unit or processing units are synchronized to enable processing of the poultry by the processing unit or processing units. A switch is provided such that the poultry carriers and/or the processing unit or processing units are selectable between an operational position in which the poultry is processed by the processing unit or units and an inoperational or idle position in which the poultry is prevented from being processed by the processing unit or units.

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 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 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 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.

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 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 scalding apparatus for poultry is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus 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.

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: 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: Method for bringing a gas and a liquid into contact with one another, the liquid being passed in the form of a film over an evaporator surface (1) provided with small openings and the gas being fed through the openings in the evaporator surface, which gas mixes with the liquid on the surface and absorbs vapor from the liquid, a liquid subsequently being passed in the form of a film over a condenser surface (11) provided with small openings and the gas which has absorbed vapors from the liquid film on the evaporator surface being fed through the openings in the condenser surface, at least some of the absorbed vapor condensing and being carried along with the liquid film on the condenser surface and removed.