Abstract: A device is disclosed that completely cuts out and removes the vent, including its orbicular muscle, of a slaughtered animal, such as poultry, pigs or other such animals. A centering pin nests within a holding element that has a roughened face surface for capturing the skin of the animal around the vent. The holding element is coaxial with a generally cylindrical, rotary cutter. The pin inserts into the vent and the holding element is then extended to contact the skin of the animal near the vent. The pin, which terminates in a cone-shaped knob, is then moved slightly away from the animal and toward the holding element, thereby capturing the orbicular muscle of the vent between the shoulder of the pin and a recess within the holding element. The holding element has a roughened face surface, preferably beveled, which contacts the skin and may form it into folds for easier cutting. The holding element is nested within and coaxial to the cutter; only a very small gap separates the holding element from the cutter.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing the skin from animal parts, such as from poultry thighs, comprises a rotary turntable for supporting the poultry thighs and for conveying them along a path in a forward direction and a pair of counter-rotating peeler rollers positioned beneath the turntable. The rotary turntable has an aperture formed therein and a vacuum means positioned adjacent the rollers for drawing a portion of the skin of the poultry part through the aperture and toward the rollers to reliably engage the skin of the poultry part in the peeler rollers.