Abstract: A processing line for harvesting hearts from viscera packages taken out from poultry carcasses. An apparatus with an infeed section below a conveying track to mechanically grip the viscera package. The infeed section is equipped to transfer the viscera package from which the gizzard is removed to a processing section. An outfeed section that follows the processing section, which outfeed section is arranged to make the heart as separated from the viscera package available at an outlet for the heart.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pre-evisceration device and a method for preparing the evisceration of beheaded slaughtered poultry, wherein the viscera pack is to be eviscerated from the vent end. A neck slitting knife makes a neck slit along the neck at the breast side of the poultry. A pre-evisceration release tool is adapted to be inserted via the neck slit between the esophagus and trachea and the naturally surrounding tissue, and to be moved along the neck to loosen at least part of the trachea and esophagus adhering to the neck. The pre-evisceration tool releases, prior to evisceration, part of the esophagus and trachea at the neck side of the crop between a position adjacent the crop, at the neck side thereof, and the neck opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cutting open a slaughtered animal, in particular fowl, which is suspended with its legs from a suspension hook of a conveyor, in particular, but not limited to, making an incision in the belly of a slaughtered bird, wherein the method comprises the step of making a first incision in the skin of the slaughtered animal, which first incision extends substantially in a first direction of the slaughtered animal.

Abstract: A processing system for processing slaughtered and defeathered poultry bodies, comprising a plurality of processing devices which, for the processing-transport of the poultry bodies separately from a main conveyor device, is designed with a processing-holding means which is movable on a circular path. The processing system has transfer stations arranged in succession along a main conveyor line, in which the poultry bodies are transported in a suspended manner by carrier devices. Each processing device is assigned a transfer station which is formed by a transfer pair having two rotary transfer devices. The first rotary transfer device removes the poultry bodies from the carrier devices and transfers them to the processing-holding means of the processing device. The second rotary transfer device removes the processed poultry bodies from the processing-holding means of the processing device and transfers them to the carrier devices.

Abstract: A device and method for removing abdominal fat from abdominal skin of a slaughtered bird suspended by the legs. A scraping tool having a first vertically movable part and a second vertically movable part that is tiltable towards the first part, wherein the first part and the second part are arranged to execute a concerted operation in an abdominal cavity of the slaughtered bird for removal of the abdominal fat from the bird.

Abstract: A field dressing apparatus and system preferably includes a plurality of ground stabilizing components, a plurality of a tethering members and a plurality of engaging components. Each ground stabilizing component includes a shaft element that extends from a handle element. A proximal end of the tethering member is secured to the ground stabilizing component and a distal end is secured to the engaging component. The engaging component preferably includes a hook section, a gripping section and a ring section. The hook section extends from one end of the gripping section and the ring section is disposed on the other end of the gripping section. The distal end of the tethering member is secured to the ring section of the engaging component. A second embodiment of the dressing apparatus and system includes the plurality of a tethering members, a plurality of engaging components and a compacting securing panel.

Abstract: A device for cutting free the colon of a slaughter animal has a cylindrical cutting knife and a guiding arbor with a suction channel. The device has two components, one of which is a tool and the other a robot connecting plate. The robot connecting plate has a connecting opening for vacuum, a connecting opening for water, a connecting opening for pressurized air to drive the pressurized air motor, and a connecting opening for exhaust air from the pressurized air motor. The connecting openings are connected to associated channels or passages in the tool in the assembled state of the tool and the robot connecting plate.

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: In order to facilitate cutting of the abdominal skin of the carcass, the skin is stretched to a taut condition just prior to commencing a cut of the skin. In a preferred embodiment, such stretching is accomplished through the use of a cam-actuated flapper plate that engages the skin and draws it toward one leg of the carcass, maintaining it in such taut position throughout the cutting process. In an embodiment used for making an opening cut to the body cavity, the knife swings along a skewed path of travel relative to the line of symmetry between the backbone and keel bone of the carcass so as to produce an angled cut that avoids nicking the keel bone.

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: In a method and device for making an incision in the skin of the belly of a slaughtered animal which is provided with a vent opening produced by cutting out the vent, the skin is processed at a position near the bottom point of the breastbone of the animal, and an incision is made between the vent opening and said position. In order to support the skin during the skin processing operation, a supporting element is fitted subcutaneously through an opening in the skin. In a method and device for processing a slaughtered animal, prior to or during the evisceration of the carcass of the animal, tissue connections are broken between the belly skin and the viscera, in particular between the belly fat situated on the inside of the belly skin and the stomach.

Abstract: An apparatus for coring out or dissecting an anal sphincter and mobilizing a rectum of an animal includes a probe attached to a first side of a support member and at least one knife blade attached to the support member a fixed distance from the probe. The distance from the surface of the probe to the knife blade is greater than a thickness of a rectal wall.

Abstract: A cut is made in the neck of slaughtered poultry to permit access to a tool for removing the crop. The cut is made by an apparatus which includes a carousel for moving the poultry, arch-shaped tracks which have sections which are horizontal, upward-sloping and downward-sloping, and running wheels which move in the tracks to effect vertical movement of handling units and bird positioning units. Each handling unit includes a tilting arm which has a blade fitted at its upper end, a centering fork with two centering elements which contact opposite sides of the neck of a bird, and a running wheel at its lower end where the running wheel rides in a track. During movement of the running wheel on its track, the tilting arm is first tilted from its sloping non-operative position to a less sloping vertical position to center the neck of a bird and to bring the blade against the neckskin, and the arm then makes a downward movement to form a cut in the neck.

Abstract: The holding fixture has a narrow neck fork designed to fit entirely inside of and between the shoulder joints of the carcass so as to utilize the inside surfaces of the shoulder joints as a means of centering the carcass and precluding side-to-side movement thereof. Each arm of the fork is narrow enough to fit entirely between the neck and the corresponding shoulder joint. A modified fixture for use with a crop-inclusive eviscerator has a resilient projection on the backrest between the arms of the fork to yieldably push the backbone at the base of the neck out away from the backrest to facilitate snagging of the esophagus by a hook-shaped dislodging tool utilized as part of the eviscerator.

Abstract: Poultry carcasses hanging by their legs from a moving overhead conveying line are presented to corresponding carcass processing fixtures moving in a closed loop of travel around an upright axis. As each carcass is presented to its fixture, a holder on the fixture takes control of the carcass and stabilizes it with the breast facing outwardly and the neck hanging downwardly against a sloped centering channel. Once the carcass is stabilized, an arm carrying a slitting knife swings up toward the front throat area of the neck but before the knife can contact the neck skin, a stretcher device mounted in close proximity to the knife but operable in a stretching motion relative to the knife engages the skin and pulls it downwardly into a taut condition to facilitate penetration and severance by the knife. The stretcher is operated in its stretching motion by camming engagement with the underside of a shoulder yoke on the holder as the arm presents the knife to the carcass.

Abstract: Poultry carcasses hanging by their legs from a moving overhead conveying line are presented to corresponding carcass processing fixtures moving in a closed loop of travel around an upright axis. As each carcass is presented to its fixture, a holder on the fixture takes control of the carcass and stabilizes it with the breast facing outwardly. Once the carcass is stabilized, a knife on the fixture moves down into a previously prepared vent hole to a position slightly inside the body cavity. The knife then swings quickly outwardly to and beyond the sternum along an off-center, generally arched cutting path that runs much closer to one leg of the carcass than the other. The contour cut thus produced creates a single, disproportionately large tissue flap under the arch of the cut and on one side thereof which facilitates inspection and keeps the entire fat pad attached to one flap.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for opening the body cavity of a slaughtered bird starting from the cloaca. Through the cloaca, a tensioning means is moved into the body cavity and towards the tip of the chest, which tensioning means tensions the skin of the bird. Next, a cutting device cooperating with the tensioning means in a scissors-like manner cuts the skin. The tensioning means may comprise two plate sections positioned alongside each other. The apparatus may be part of a rotating processing apparatus at the circumference of which a number of such apparatus are provided.

Abstract: The method of processing poultry comprises the slitting of a poultry carcass along at least one lateral side from the thoracic inlet to the midline of the abdomen, to permit separating a breast portion of the poultry carcass from the back by hinging along an opposite lateral side from the cut. This opens the carcass for evaluation of bacterial contamination of internal organs. The location of the cut is along a line where few bones need to be severed, and the internal organs are not broken or torn, which is a major cause of contamination in conventional poultry processing methods. The longitudinal cut extends from the neck to the pubis and when the breast portion, including the wing on the lateral side where the cut is made is moved, air sac membranes and fat layers will contain the intestines and form separation planes to separate the breast portion from the liver, spleen, heart and intestines. The processing can be mechanized.

Abstract: A device for removing the anus of a slaughtered animal comprising:a carriage translatable in at least one direction by means of first translation means;a cutting device supported by the carriage and comprising a substantially cylindrical blade with a leading cutting edge, which device is drivable for rotation round its axis by means of drive means and drivable for axial translation by means of second translation means; anda sensor carried by the carriage for detecting contact between the cutting device and an animal for processing during operation of the first translation means, which sensor is connected in order to render inoperative the first translation means when said contact is detected and, if required, to activate the drive means for the said rotating drive and to activate the second translation means for forward axial translation of the cutting device over a chosen distance, followed by backward axial translation of the cutting device until this latter is situated out of contact with the slaughtered a

Abstract: The invention provides a method for opening a slaughtered animal comprising the following steps of:(1) providing a slaughtered animal;(2) suspending the animal from the hind legs;(3) arranging a cut in the belly wall close to the hind legs substantially in the plane of symmetry of the animal;(4) continuing this cut in substantially vertical downward direction; and(5) holding the intestines clear of the belly wall during step (4).

Abstract: This invention is a high speed crab butchering machine that entails several novel features. Crab are transported through the machine by sandwiching their legs between pairs of opposed, resilient-surface endless belts. The distance between belt pairs is varied to accomodate crab of any body width. This is accomplished by making a lengthwise section of the machine slideable on machine-ways. Linear actuators vary the distance between belt-pairs manually or automatically. A rotating cleaving blade removes the carapace and tail and splits the crab body, in one operation. Furthermore, the blade is only activated when a crab is sensed to be in position. This allows the operator to feed the machine at any time and he does not have to concentrate on engaging an indexing mechanism with the crab as in the prior art. Additionally, the belts and blade are electronically torque limited to ensure safety.

Abstract: A device for removing the anus of slaughtered animals. The device includes a cutting device for cutting out the anus of a slaughtered animal, which cutting device comprises a substantially cylindrical blade drivable for rotation and translation and having a leading cutting edge. The device further includes positioning elements for initially positioning the blade such that the center line thereof extends substantially through the anus of the slaughtered animal and a blunt locating pin for causing the blade to follow a curved path such that the cutting edge follows substantially the form of the rectum of the slaughtered animal while avoiding contact with bone.

Abstract: Fecal leakage and contamination from the vent opening of an animal carcass during slaughtering and processing is eliminated by injecting a highly viscous material comprising a mixture of food grade constituents through the vent opening so as to create a self-adhering plug in the lower colon and rectum of the animal. The plug material preferably comprises a blended mixture of water, gum, modified food starch and a preservative whose viscosity is in the range of from about 220,000 centipoise to 480,000 centipoise. Being formed from food grade constituents, the offal can safely be harvested and used in animal feed as a by-product of the meat processing operation.

Abstract: A method of cutting free and removing a rectum of a carcass of a slaughtered animal hanging by the hind legs with a head downwardly. An apparatus including a rotating tubular knife is positioned in the vicinity of the rectum of the carcass. A guiding pin on the apparatus is inserted into the rectum of the carcass coaxially with a main axis of the rectum. The guiding pin is arranged coaxial with the rotating tubular knife. The rotating tubular knife is moved into the carcass coaxially with the main axis of the rectum, thereby cutting the rectum free of the carcass. The rectum is retained in the rotating tubular knife. The rectum is pulled free of the carcass toward a ventral side of the carcass in a direction substantially perpendicular to a main axis of the carcass. The rectum is hung downwardly over a side of a protective shield. The side of the shield faces away from the carcass.

Abstract: In a mechanical process for producing a fish product which may be described as a double fillet including head and tail, the intestines and the bone structure are removed completely and the gills at least partially. The processing is performed from the tail end and comprises the steps of making incisions on both sides of the belly spokes along the whole length of the fish from the ventral side while simultaneously removing the intestines and the gills, while subsequently the bone structure is cut out from the fish body by cutting over the ribs. The obtained double fillet can be folded together by folding down the double fillet halves to form an apparently complete fish.

Abstract: Fecal leakage and contamination from the vent opening of an animal carcass during slaughtering and processing methods is reduced or eliminated by applying a curable adhesive composition to the vent opening and permitting the applied curable composition to cure to form a cured firmly adherent vent seal after slaughtering but prior to other processing steps. In a preferred embodiment, the curable adhesive comprises a cyanoacrylate adhesive which cures in a matter of seconds under processing conditions to form a cured vent seal which retains its sealing integrity even upon exposure to high temperature and high humidity environments encountered at downstream processing stations. The curable sealing compositions are safe in the fully-cured state and do not liberate undesirable materials during curing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cutting open the stomach of a bird comprising a cutting means shaped as a nozzle for ejecting a high pressure liquid jet. For obtaining an optimised cutting action the nozzle preferably is displaceable away from or towards the stomach to be processed. Constructively it is preferable that the nozzle is mounted at the outer end of an arm pivoting in a vertical plane said outer end engaging the stomach through guiding means, such as a follower roll.

Abstract: A device for removing one or more organs or parts thereof from a slaughtered animal, in particular a bird, comprising: an organ guide device with an open organ feed end to be inserted temporarily into the slaughtered animal; an organ conveyance device for removing organs or parts thereof along the organ guide device; a separating device which is fitted near the organ feed end or along the organ guide device for making a separation in organs or connecting tissue between them at a predetermined place; and a device for establishing the position of the organs relative to the separating device. The device for establishing the position of organs may be fitted at the open organ feed end of the organ guide device and may comprise an organ feed aperture with such dimensions that first organs can pass said aperture and second organs connected to the first organs cannot pass said aperture.

Abstract: In a separating device, the heart, lungs and liver are separated from the viscera of a slaughtered bird by conveying these organs, including the gall-bladder, connected to the bird, essentially parallel to the path of the bird with a helical roller. First the heart and lungs are separated from the liver by cutting through the tissue connecting the heart and lungs, and the liver. Next, the liver is separated from the remainder of the viscera by increasing the distance between the liver and the gall-bladder, and cutting through the tissue connecting the liver and the gall-bladder.

Abstract: Device for cutting out the vent of a slaughtered bird, including an elongated centring pin, a rotatable cutting element with an axially directed cutting edge, and an axially movable positioning element. In an end position of the positioning element relative to a thickened end portion of the centring pin between these two elements an annular space is formed for the accommodation of the orbicular muscle of the vent, while in this end position between the positioning element and the thickened end portion of the centring pin an annular gap remains open with a width which is smaller than the thickness of the orbicular muscle.

Abstract: A device for making an incision around the vent of a slaughtered bird and pulling the end of the rectum out of the opening thus made, including: a centering pin which is movable relative to the bird, and is provided with a thickened end portion; and a cylindrical rotary cutter with an annular cutting edge, which cutter is movable relative to the bird and is movable coaxially relative to the centering pin. The device further comprises one or more holding elements which are recessed relative to the cutting edge and which can interact with a contacting surface of the thickened centering pin end portion situated opposite them for holding the vent between these elements and the contacting surface near or at the orbicular muscle. The drive of the cutter is designed in such a way that the cutter carries out a small number of turns during the cutting operation.

Abstract: Apparatus intended for implementation in a high speed industrial slaughter house for the automatic evisceration of slaughtered animal carcasses including an automatic mechanical distribution and anal obstructor system, and a mobile structure supporting a circular blade for ventral incision, a circular saw for progressive penetration into the sternum, and nozzles projecting water at an adjustable pressure for disengaging the entrails from the path of the cutting tools.

Abstract: A method for eviscerating pig carcasses comprising insertion of a plug into the anus of the carcass in order to avoid contamination of the carcass.Before the plug is inserted into the anus it is cooled down to a low temperature, such as below -20.degree. C. The plug will freeze on to the area around the anus sealing the anus tightly.In this way the casing contents will not flow out during the cutting or boring-out of the rectum and further treatment of the casings.The plug comprises a sealing section 1 having a large cold capacity.

Abstract: Method for providing a cut around the anus of an animal, preferably a hog, to free the rectum from the carcass, which is suspended at its back feet, according to which method a rotating, tubular knife is advanced towards the anus of the animal for making a cut around it in a predetermined depth.

Abstract: Fecal leakage and contamination from the vent opening of an animal carcass during slaughtering and processing methods is reduced or eliminated by applying a curable adhesive composition to the vent opening and permitting the applied curable composition to cure to form a cured firmly adherent vent seal after slaughtering but prior to other processing steps. In a preferred embodiment, the curable adhesive comprises a cyanoacrylate adhesive which cures in a matter of seconds under processing conditions to form a cured vent seal which retains its sealing integrity even upon exposure to high temperature and high humidity environments encountered at downstream processing stations. The curable sealing compositions are safe in the fully-cured state and do not liberate undesirable materials during curing.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically processing an animal carcass (8). Suspension means (122, 123) suspends the carcass (8) in an inverted position with the spine inclined upwardly towards the neck (11) with the spine located beneath the carcass (8) and so that the diaphragm (119) is approximately vertical. A cutting assembly (130) moves into the abdominal cavity adjacent to the diaphragm (119), and a cutting means (28) cuts the diaphragm (119) around the periphery. A brisket shearing means (21) cuts the brisket (20) with a shearing action along the brisket (20) from the abdomen and towards the neck end of the brisket (20). The reaction member (188) is pivotally movable relative to the brisket (20) about a rear end to generally follow the contours of the brisket (20).

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for removing the liver from poultry viscera by mechanically stretching the viscera connected to the liver to pull the gall bladder away from the liver; and, mechanically cutting between the liver and the gall bladder to separate the liver from the viscera and the gall bladder.

Abstract: Fecal leakage and contamination from the vent opening of an animal carcass during slaughtering and processing is eliminated by injecting a highly viscous material comprising a mixture of food grade constituents through the vent opening so as to create a self-adhering plug in the lower colon and rectum of the animal. The plug material preferably comprises a blended mixture of water, gum, modified food starch and a preservative whose viscosity is in the range of from about 220,000 centipoise to 480,000 centipoise. Being formed from food grade constituents, the offal can safely be harvested and used in animal feed as a by-product of the meat processing operation.