Abstract: Processing apparatus such as a food slicer (10) includes upper and lower conveyor units (16, 14) having shiftable conveyor belts (40, 22) designed to receive incoming products and to move such products along a path of travel (124) through the conveyor units (16, 14) and into a slicer assembly (18). The upper conveyor unit (16) is equipped with control apparatus (72) serving to maintain a predetermined, substantially constant force against products passing through the conveyor units (16, 14). The upper conveyor unit (16) is bidirectionally pivotal about respective axes parallel with the path of travel (124), and transverse thereto. This allows the slicer 10 to accommodate products of varying size, shape, and makeup.

Abstract: An egg processing apparatus is provided. Such an apparatus includes a frame and a lift assembly operably engaged with the frame. The lift assembly has a pulley system. An egg processing head is operably engaged with the pulley system. A plurality of egg processing devices is operably engaged with the egg processing head. The pulley system is configured to move the egg processing head such that the egg processing devices are capable of interacting with eggs provided proximate thereto. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A poultry loading assembly includes a primary frame and a chute operationally coupled to the primary frame. A primary scissor is operationally coupled between the primary frame and the chute and is actuated to lower or lift the chute. A first conveyor belt is rotatably mounted on the chute and receiving poultry thereon proximate a loading area. A head is operationally coupled to the chute opposite the loading area and is continuously retained in a parallel orientation with the support surface. The head is selectively positionable proximate the container and is selectively movable toward or away from a container. A second conveyor belt is operationally coupled to the head. The first conveyor belt transports the poultry to the second conveyor belt and thereafter the second conveyor belt transports the poultry into the container.

Abstract: Device for conveyor belt livestock loading with pre-loader having conveyor belt, main conveyor, comprising a lift section, top section, and also having an auto-loader section.

Abstract: Machine for alternating conveyor belt livestock loading with pre-loader having conveyor belt, main conveyor section having lift section, top section, and conveyor belt, swing belt section, which may or may not be pivotable, having conveyor belt, and auto-loader section having plurality of conveyor belts.

Abstract: A fowl-loading vehicle is described, the vehicle comprising: a chassis, wheels or tracks for supporting the chassis relative to the ground; a pick-up conveyor belt for picking up fowl from the ground and a storage conveyor belt which receives fowl from the pick-up conveyor belt and which is movable in the same direction as the pick-up conveyor belt, the speed of the pick-up conveyor belt, during loading of the fowl, being greater than the speed of the storage conveyor belt.

Abstract: Machine for alternating conveyor belt livestock loading with pre-loader having conveyor belt, main conveyor section having lift section, top section, and conveyor belt, swing belt section having conveyor belt, and autoloader section having plurality of conveyor belts.

Abstract: A livestock unloading system for unloading livestock from a storage unit of a transport vehicle to a processing plant or storage facility. The unloading system includes a conveyor system whereby livestock ride from the storage unit to their destination. The conveying system includes a telescoping end that extends into and retracts from a coop during the unloading process. A truck positioner positions the transport vehicle for the proper unloading process.

Abstract: A fowl-loading vehicle is described, said vehicle comprising: a chassis, wheels or tracks for supporting the chassis relative to the ground; a pick-up conveyor belt for picking up fowl from the ground and a storage conveyor belt which receives fowl from the pick-up conveyor belt and which is movable in the same direction as the pick-up conveyor belt, the speed of the pick-up conveyor belt, during loading of the fowl, being greater than the speed of the storage conveyor belt.

Abstract: The invention describes a poultry-loading machine able to guide poultry into a cage, the cage having an opening and a bottom surface. The machine comprises: a main frame; a first conveyor belt for transporting the poultry from a first position into a second position, the first conveyor belt being supported by the main frame; and a second conveyor belt for transporting the poultry into the container, the second conveyor belt defining a loading belt surface. The machine also comprises a device for modifying the inclination of the second conveyor belt so that the loading belt surface is substantially parallel to the bottom of the container; and an approach frame which supports the second conveyor belt, the approach frame being able to move the second conveyor belt towards and away from the container, the second conveyor belt being displaceable so as to enter into the container and transport the poultry inside it.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing and loading fowl having a mobile frame to which a forward conveyor and a rearward conveyor are pivotally mounted. The forward conveyor has plurality of fingered drums that are rotated to engage the fowl and place them on the conveyor for movement to the frame. The forward and rearward conveyors are pivotally mounted for movement about a common vertical axis. Each conveyor may also be pivotal about a horizontal axis. The fowl are discharged from the forward conveyor onto the rearward conveyor which transports the fowl from the frame to storage cages. A rearward fingered drum is provided to engage the fowl and discharge the fowl from the conveyor and into a plurality of vertically stacked forming the cage compartments. The rearward conveyor includes a first rearward conveyor pivotally mounted to the frame and a second rearward conveyor slidibility connected to the first rearward conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading live poultry into cages for shipment to a processing station. The system comprises a trailer having an assembly and movement station to accept the deposit of live poultry. After deposit, the poultry moves by conveyor belt to a drop chute where the poultry is weighed in batches at a weighing station, and thence each weighed batch is in-turn deposited upon another conveyor at a conveying station to be moved to discrete cages at the cage loading station. The poultry is loaded by batches into individual cages arranged in stocked arrays. After each batch is loaded into cages thereby filling all cages of the stacked array, the cage array is automatically moved to a cage deployment station to be subsequently shipped to a processing plant.

Abstract: A portable device for transporting young fowl from a hatchery to a growout house within a climate-controlled compartment located on a delivery vehicle, wherein the portable device can be composed, in part, of a frame, at least one conveyor belt, at least one baffle coupled to each of the at least one conveyor belt, a plurality of rollers coupled to the frame to support the conveyor belts, a motor for driving the conveyor belts, and a plurality of wheels supporting the frame. In operation, young fowl are loaded onto the at least one conveyor belt at a hatchery using a loading slide. After the portable device has been loaded to a desired level, it is loaded into the climate-controlled compartment and transported to the growout house. The young fowl are unloaded by backing the delivery vehicle into the growout house and unloading the young fowl using an unloading slide.

Abstract: A transportation arrangement includes a closed track with a chain running along the closed track. A plurality of base frames are arranged on the chain and move along the track by the chain which is powered by a motor. A plurality of counter frames are each pivotally connected to a pivot edge of one of the base frames where the pivot edge of the base frames is arranged at a radially inside edge of the base frames with respect to the closed track. A lifting station is arranged at the closed track, with the chains moving the base frames into and away from the lifting station. A lifting jack in the lifting station raises a lifting edge of the counter frames located at the lifting station. The lifting jack pivots the counter frame about the pivot edge of the base frame. The base frames are attached to a portion of the chain, and are rotatable with respect to the portion of the chain to which the respective base frames are attached.

Abstract: A series of multi-compartmented, multi-tier poultry cages are staged for loading by a poultry loader that moves transversely to the direction of a plurality of side-by-side poultry receiving and batching bins each having parallel conveyor belts longitudinally arranged for individual discharge of batches of poultry onto a conveyor belt of the poultry loader arranged for alignment with both individual bin conveyor belts, and individual front opening poultry cage compartments frontally presented by the cage stager. The stager removes a filled cage, relocates it to another position where it frontally faces in the same direction in which as an empty cage it was placed on the stager, for removal by a fork lift, while in the meantime another cage is placed on the stager and moved into position for filling, in a continuing process, until all poultry are loaded.

Abstract: A livestock unloading system for unloading livestock from a storage unit of a transport vehicle to a processing plant or storage facility. The unloading system includes a conveyor system whereby livestock ride from the storage unit to their destination. The conveying system includes a telescoping end that extends into and retracts from a coop during the unloading process. A system of hydraulics controls the speed of the conveyor, aids in the leveling of the machine, adjusts both the angle and tier of unloading, and levels and controls the telescoping end of the apparatus.

Abstract: A livestock loading/unloading system for transporting livestock from/to a confinement area to/from a transport vehicle to allow transport from farm-to-farm, from farm-to-processing plant or from processing plant-to-farm. The livestock loading/unloading system includes a mobile conveying apparatus whereby the livestock ride a conveyor from/to the confinement area to/from a transport vehicle. Such a transport vehicle may be specially adapted for use in conjunction with the conveying apparatus, or may be of the conventional livestock transporting type. The conveying apparatus includes a telescoping end that extends into and retracts from the coops of the transport vehicle. A system of hydraulics controls the speed of the conveyor, aids in the transverse leveling of the machine, adjusts both the angle and tier of loading, and levels and controls the telescoping end of the conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for loading poultry into containers (6). Via a supply track (7, 7′) and buffers (19, 20), animals are gathered to form groups and brought into containers (6). A distributing conveyor (33) groups animals alternately in the one and the other one of the buffers (19, 20) and extends from the one buffer to the other buffer. The downstream end (14) of the supply track (7, 7′) links up with the distributing conveyor (38) at a point between the buffers (19, 20). The conveying direction of the distributing conveyor (33) is reversed for switching from the conveyance of animals to the one buffer (19, 20) to the conveyance of animals to the other buffer (19, 20). The moment at which a switch is made from transferring animals to the other one of the buffers can be accurately determined, while the supply of animals is continued uninterruptedly. The apparatus can be made of short and compact design.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing and loading fowl having a mobile frame to which a forward conveyor and a rearward conveyor are pivotally mounted. The forward conveyor has plurality of fingered drums that are rotated to engage the fowl and place them on the conveyor for movement to the frame. The forward and rearward conveyors are pivotally mounted for movement about a common vertical axis. Each conveyor may also be pivotal about a horizontal axis. The fowl are discharged from the forward conveyor onto the rearward conveyor which transports the fowl from the frame to storage cages. A rearward fingered drum is provided to engage the fowl and discharge the fowl from the conveyor and into a plurality of vertically stacked forming the cage compartments. The rearward conveyor includes a first rearward conveyor pivotally mounted to the frame and a second rearward conveyor slidibility connected to the first rearward conveyor.

Abstract: A livestock loading/unloading system for transporting livestock from/to a confinement area to/from a transport vehicle to allow transport from farm-to-farm, from farm-to-processing plant or from processing plant-to-farm. The livestock loading/unloading system includes a mobile conveying apparatus whereby the livestock ride a conveyor from/to the confinement area to/from a transport vehicle. Such a transport vehicle may be specially adapted for use in conjunction with the conveying apparatus, or may be of the conventional livestock transporting type. The conveying apparatus includes a telescoping end that extends into and retracts from the coops of the transport vehicle. A system of hydraulics controls the speed of the conveyor, aids in the transverse leveling of the machine, adjusts both the angle and tier of loading, and levels and controls the telescoping end of the conveyor.

Abstract: A livestock herding cart with a chassis having forward and rearward wheel assemblies that allows movement upon a raised track. Connected to the chassis is a seat and moveable gate. The seat is positioned above the chassis and the gate extends below the chassis. The cart is used by releasing a group of livestock into a center alleyway of the raised track. The cart is then moved toward the livestock group with the gate extending substantially perpendicular to the chassis until the group exits the center alleyway. Then a second group of livestock are released into the center alleyway and the operator raises the gate and moves the cart to a position behind the second group of livestock. The operator then lowers the gate and moves towards the second group repeating the process.

Abstract: A turkey loading apparatus and method for loading turkeys includes a support structure adapted to the position at a gathering location. A conveyer conveys the turkeys to a dumping end. A loading box is operatively connected to the support structure. The loading box is moveable between a first and second position. A loading box has an exit, wherein when the exit is opened the turkeys are unloaded into the coop.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus for picking up poultry in general from breeding pens and the like, including a pick-up assembly that is operatively associable with a transfer conveyor. The pick-up assembly comprises at least one conveyor with an inclined plane that is supported by a framework movable along the ground, a linking conveyor being also provided that operatively connects the inclined-plane conveyor to the transfer conveyor.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for automatically, efficiently and safely loading birds, and preferably turkeys, through side access ports of stacked transport coops are disclosed. A primary lift conveyor is positioned to lift the birds to be loaded at a relatively slow speed from a ground position to an exit end thereof elevated to a height of the coop access gate on a transport vehicle. A second loading conveyor apparatus is aligned with the exit end of the lift conveyor for receiving birds from the lift conveyor and accelerating them to a second speed at which they are automatically deposited into the coop. An adjustable deflector ceiling member is provided for causing the birds to assume and to maintain a sitting position and desired orientation during the acceleration and loading process such that the birds scoot into the coop without the requirement for manual assistance.

Abstract: A cooping apparatus by which a large number of chickens, such as may be found growing within a chicken house, are mechanically transferred into a multi-tiered coop. A conveyor is supported along the length of a boom, and a chicken gathering apparatus is supported from the depending end of the boom for gathering the chickens onto the boom conveyor, which moves then onto an elevated intermediate conveyor system. Overlying the conveyor system is a pivotally mounted set of distribution vanes that uniformly distributes the chickens as they continue to move along the conveyor system towards the receiving end of a transfer divider. The transfer divider divides the chickens into a plurality of horizontal parallel paths, each path leading into the compartments of one tier of a multi-tiered coop that is supported on the rear of the machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading live poultry into open-topped containers (19) comprise a plurality (preferably three) loading units (28) arranged side by side so that each loading unit (28) is aligned with a column of containers (19) accommodated in a standard module (18). Each loading unit has a batching receptacle (33) to receive a batch of poultry (of predetermined weight or number) corresponding to the capacity of one of the open-topped containers (19) which are in turn withdrawn from the module (18), loaded with a batch of poultry and then returned to the module, each loading unit (28) shifting vertically as successive containers are loaded with poultry. A separate catching vehicle (54) may be used to catch the poultry and deliver it to the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading live poultry into open-topped containers (19) comprise a plurality (preferably three) loading units (28) arranged side by side so that each loading unit (28) is aligned with a column of containers (19) accommodated in a standard module (18). Each loading unit has a batching receptacle (33) to receive a batch of poultry (of predetermined weight or number) corresponding to the capacity of one of the open-topped containers (19) which are in turn withdrawn from the module (18), loaded with a batch of poultry and then returned to the module, each loading unit (28) shifting vertically as successive containers are loaded with poultry. A separate catching vehicle (54) may be used to catch the poultry and deliver it to the apparatus.

Abstract: A cooping apparatus by which a large number of chickens, such as may be found growing within a chicken house, are mechanically transferred into a multi-tiered coop. A conveyor is supported along the length of a boom, and a chicken gathering apparatus is supported from the depending end of the boom for gathering the chickens onto the boom conveyor, which moves them onto an elevated intermediate conveyor system. Overlying the conveyor system is a pivotally mounted set of distribution vanes that uniformly distributes the chickens as they continue to move along the conveyor system towards the receiving end of a transfer divider. The transfer divider divides the chickens into a plurality of horizontal parallel paths, each path leading into the compartments of one tier of a multi-tiered coop that is supported on the rear of the machine.

Abstract: A method of loading live poultry is described. Firstly, provide a transport vehicle having a plurality of empty poultry crates, a trailer having a two tiered trailer mounted conveyor, and a plurality of interconnectable two tiered conveyor sections. The trailer mounted conveyor and the conveyor sections both have a top tier and a bottom tier. Secondly, deploy the trailer mounted conveyor so that a first end extends into the freight compartment of the transport vehicle, and deploy the two tiered conveyor sections so that they extend from a second end of the trailer mounted conveyor into an enclosure containing live poultry. Thirdly, send poultry crates continuously along the trailer mounted conveyor and the conveyor sections from the freight compartment of the transport vehicle to the enclosure on one of the top tier and bottom tier.

Abstract: A poultry collection device for gathering poultry and loading the poultry into carrying cages. The poultry collection device includes a poultry-engaging assembly mounted on the front end of a wheeled frame, which assembly is characterized by a pair of rectangular panels, each fastened along a longitudinal edge to four spaced chains which each engage a pair of sprockets mounted on respective parallel cylinders elevated above the ground. As the device is driven forward, the cylinders and panels are rotated to push the poultry from the ground below the cylinders onto a conveyor belt, which carries the poultry rearwardly onto a sloped holding platform provided on the frame behind the conveyor belt. The poultry then tumble into one of three holding cages provided on the frame behind the holding platform. An emptying mechanism sweeps the poultry from the holding cages into a tiered, compartmented carrying cage placed on the rear end of the frame behind the holding cages.

Abstract: A poultry harvester has a pick-up head feeding birds from the front end of the harvester onto a conveyor belt. The pick-up head includes a three-rotor array with the poultry-handling elements on each rotor abutting and/or intermeshing with the elements of the other two rotors of the array. Stationary side walls flank both sides of the conveyor belt and barrier loops extend away from these sides wall to interdigitate with the guide elements of the rotors and embrace the cores of these rotors. This prevents birds from being pulled between the side walls and the adjacent rotors. A similar arrangement may also be used at the rear end of the harvester.

Abstract: A poultry harvester capable of capturing poultry on a generally horizontal plane, such as the floor of a poultry house, and transferring a predetermined number of captured poultry to a compartment of a cage having a plurality of compartments. A capturing mechanism captures the poultry and provides it to a conveying mechanism for conveying the captured poultry. A counting mechanism counts the captured poultry. A depositing mechanism deposits the conveyed poultry into each of the compartments of the cage under the control of a CPU responsive to the counting mechanism. The CPU controls the depositing mechanism to deposit in each of the compartments the predetermined number of poultry as counted by the counting mechanism. A method for harvesting poultry is also disclosed.