Abstract: Apparatus for transferring slaughtered poultry, comprising an entry station, a hook cutter and an exit station with an endless belt conveyor connecting said stations and carrying transfer shackles on which the birds hang with their thighs, the exit station being provided with controllable ejectors.

Abstract: Device for removing the pieces of meat from the breast of slaughtered poultry, with a plurality of flat carriers movable in a central longitudinal plane, each with clamping means, guide means above two cutting elements for making a cut on either side of the breastbone, two first scrapers for loosening the outermost fillet portions from the ribs and breastbone, two smaller second scrapers for loosening the frontmost fillet portions and two scrapers closely adjoining the two carrier surfaces.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for dividing a slaughtered bird into a front half 31 and a back half 28, the body 12, prior to and during the cutting operation, being brought into a position wherein the legs are positioned in front of the rest of the body while, prior to and during the cutting operation, the edge portion 26, forming the boundary with the breast, of the opening 27 present between the legs, is pulled downwards, the body being subsequently divided into two halves starting just above said edge portion 26.

Abstract: A device for separating the gizzard from the connected entrails of slaughtered poultry comprising an inlet, two oblong cylindrical parallel rotating transport elements and a gizzard separating device, the first element with a helical transport ribbon along its circumference and the second element with at least one row of longitudinal short ribs projecting from the surface and fitting between the screw ribbon of the first element.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing the entrails of slaughtered birds with positioning means, an oblong spoon carrier with at its end a spoon-shaped extractor member and a head pulling bow, the movements thereof being controlled in such a manner that after the engagement of the spoon under the gizzard and lungs the movement of the bow brings about the attachment of the head together with part of the gullet, and wind pipe, attached thereto.

Abstract: Device for depositing live poultry on to a receiving surface from a container having a plurality of floors, via guide surfaces enclosed in a pivotable chute to adjoin the container and having an increasing length from bottom to top.

Abstract: A device for dividing slaughtered poultry, comprising a stationary elongate conveyor member situated above a positioning member, and transporting the bird suspended by its legs, and with a guide member having a guide surface situated beneath the positioning member and symmetrical with respect thereto, and comprising an upwardly sloping part in front of the positioning member with a central wedge-shaped positioning groove for the bird's breast and a substantially flat part beneath the positioning member through which the cutting means extends.

Abstract: A device for separating the gizzard from the connected entrails of slaughtered poultry comprising an inlet, two oblong cylindrical parallel rotating transport elements and a gizzard separating device, the first element with a helical transport ribbon along its circumference and the second element with at least one row of longitudinal short ribs projecting from the surface and fitting between the screw ribbon of the first element.

Abstract: A method for eviscerating a slaughtered bird, starting from the vent and directed toward the breast point, comprising first making a circular opening at the vent of the bird using a first knife and starting a second cut in the bird by moving a second knife from the circular opening along a path offset from a straight line between the vent and the breast point avoiding cutting of the entrails of the bird located below the straight line. Preferentially, the respective knives are removed from the carcass immediately after the respective cuts are made successively, the second knife retracing its path back to the circular opening before removal.

Abstract: Fowl picking apparatus provided with at least two rows of picking elements on both sides of the path of the fowl which carry picking discs with rotation axes displaced with respect to each other in the respective rows, such that during operation the circles described by the ends of the picking fingers at least touch each other, preventing fowl portions in getting behind the picking elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing the cervical vertebrae from the skin of the neck of slaughtered fowls comprises a frame movable along the track of the fowls, and bears a fixed first clamping unit and a second clamping unit pivoting around a horizontal shaft and connected with a control unit such, that in a movement of the frame along the track the clamping units move toward each other, enclose the neck of the fowl, and are then jointly moved downwardly.

Abstract: A picking element for a poultry picking apparatus comprises a beaker-shaped support whose casing surface carrying picking fingers is a truncated conical surface and whose end face is situated substantially transversely to the axis of rotation, there being located between the casing surface and the end face a number of transition surface areas which are situated at a more acute angle to the center line of the casing surface than the end face and which each carry at least one picking finger, the end face carrying a number of picking fingers substantially parallel to the center line.

Abstract: Device for making a cut in a slaughtered bird, starting from the vent and directed toward the breast, comprising a first knife for making a round cut around the vent of a bird and a second knife movable sideways and away from the first knife to avoid the intestines of the bird while making a cut from the vent to the breast bone of the bird the knife being rotatably disposed in a holder, which is pivotally connected to a connecting rod and coupled to driving means adapted to carrying out a backward and forward swinging movement.

Abstract: A method of mechanically packing a slaughtered bird, including poultry, comprising opening an inlet of an envelope resting on a support, pushing a bird resting with stretched legs on a support into the envelope by exercising a force on the body of the bird, then pressing the legs upwardly to locate the legs in a folded position on both sides of the body and thereafter sealing the envelope.