Abstract: An apparatus and process for handling strands of meat product links, the apparatus utilizing a strand flow forward end movement control apparatus in combination with a sausage stuffing machine which halts forward strand flow and allows the balance of the strand to collect in a nearby receptacle. Strands are continuously connected to each other and moved to a loop forming apparatus having a rotatable wheel formed from a pair of side plates to configure a link strand receiving channel. Catch rods are positioned on the side plates and are operable selectively in combination with a camming device to actuate the catch rods and release the strand for engagement with the hangers. As the strands are released for hanger engagement, they are looped over each individual hanger in loops of controllable size.

Abstract: A suspending device is provided with a device frame; a guiding device provided on an upper portion of the device frame and having a guide tube for guiding given portions of a chain of sausages, which are being conveyed and supplied by a nipping and conveying device, to a predetermined position while circularly moving its free end; a conveying device provided on the upper portion of the device frame in the same way as the guiding device, and adapted to convey the sausages formed into loops as the given portions of the sausages guided to the predetermined position by the guide tube of the guiding device are caught by the conveying device; a power generating device provided on the upper portion of the device frame and adapted to generate power constituting a conveying force for the sausages in the conveying device as well as a circularly moving force for circularly moving the guide tube of the guiding device; and a power transmitting device for transmitting the power generated by the power generating device to t

Abstract: A conveyor belt feeder for automatically transferring pieces of meat, such as salmon fillets, onto a transverse conveyor belt comprises a platform (2), which is carried by a support (1) and is displaceably arranged in a direction (3) to and fro said support. The platform (2) carries a transfer belt (35) for receiving the piece of meat in question. This transfer belt (35) extends beyond a front rim on the platform (2) and is operationally connected thereto in such a manner that its upward surface is moved forwards and around the front rim of the platform (2) substantially synchronously with the advancing movement of the platform (2). Driving means (15) are also provided for effecting the displacement of the platform (2).

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring carcasses from a shackle conveyor to a processing device wherein the shackle conveyor includes a plurality of shackles for continuously conveying the carcasses and the processing device includes a plurality of modules for continuously carrying the carcasses through the processing device. The inventive apparatus comprises a rotatable structure preferably having notches for receiving and retaining the legs of the carcasses. The rotatable structure is operable such that, as the rotatable structure rotates, the legs of the carcasses are received from the shackles by the rotatable structure and the rotatable structure then delivers the carcasses to the carrier modules.

Abstract: An apparatus for eviscerating poultry includes plural groups of cars driven around a monorail track by variable pitch augers which produce combined continuous and intermittent car movement. The groups of cars are brought to rest momentarily in front of machinery for performing various operations. At a first station, slaughtered birds are clamped at the shoulders, and brought to a supine position. At a second, the vent of the bird is opened. At a third, the viscera are removed by spoon. Inspectors then examine each bird at a fourth station, and final preparation is performed at a fifth before the birds are unloaded from the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for gaining fish meat in pulp form is described. The apparatus comprises a fish filleting machine, a separating device arranged downstream of said filleting machine and comprising a perforated drum and a pressing belt wrapped around a portion of the drum, and a transport apparatus. In order to ensure that the fish enter the straining apparatus in the correct orientation and substantially flat so that the straining apparatus may operate efficiently even when double fillets are produced by the filleting machine, the transport apparatus comprises upper and lower conveying belts which positively engage the fish fillets between them and convey the fillets fixed in the correct orientation.

Abstract: Poultry bodies are processed by cutting them up into consumable products. A conveyor (1) having an endless flat link chain (4) has shackles for receiving and advancing the poultry bodies in a suspended position along a conveying path in which are arranged processing tools. An auxiliary conveyor (17) is driven by means of a gear (20) arranged in the area of the processing tool and which meshes with the linear run portion of the main conveyor by means of a gear wheel (21). By providing entrainers at a predetermined spacing between the joints (9) of the chain links (6, 7) the effective pitch of the flat link chain (4) can be at least halved and the auxiliary conveyor (17) can be driven substantially uniformly by a gear wheel (21) of relatively small diameter.

Abstract: A food processing method and system, including a continuous cooker/chiller conveyor system (24) for meat products such as hot dogs and the like, is provided with an automatic unloader (36) having a first discharge transfer mode (FIGS. 1 and 2) automatically transferring the food product (22) to an automatic transfer member (38) for conveyance to a packaging line (32, 34), and a second discharge holding mode (FIGS. 3 and 4) holding the food product (22) on rack-off discharge arms (54, 56) until manually removed. In the event of an interruption in the packaging line (32, 34), rather than automatically transferring the food product (22) from the automatic unloader (36) to the transfer member (38), a rack-off procedure is instituted and the food product (22) is manually unloaded from the automatic unloader (36) and manually transferred to a holding rack (44, 46) on a temporary basis until resumption of operation of the packaging line (32, 34).

Abstract: A shellfish transfer device comprising shellfish holders that respectively hold at least one shellfish; a shellfish push unit that forces shellfish of a predetermined exposure toward at least one of the shellfish holders; and a shellfish press-down unit that operates in synchronism with the shellfish push unit to exert a downward pressure to the shellfish held by the shellfish holder. Said predetermined exposure of the shellfish is substantially maintained relative to the shellfish holder during operation by the shellfish press-down unit. Preferably, the shellfish push member comprises one or more of movable shellfish pocket push members; at least one shellfish pocket supporting thereon the shellfish and forced by the shellfish pocket push members toward the shellfish holder; and one or more of movable shellfish push members that convey the shellfish on the shellfish pocket onto the shellfish holder.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for transferring slaughtered poultry from a first suspension conveyor towards a second suspension conveyor, and includes a supply station and a discharge station and with a receiving station which is drivable in synchronisation with the supply station as well as a delivery station which is drivable in synchronisation with the discharge station. Further, a transfer track with transfer means movable there along is provided with carriers for the poultry. The transfer track comprises a roundgoing support which is provided with an endless plastic guide means guiding the transfer means. The guide means includes guide profiles positioned at its outer side and inner side, respectively, wherein the guide profiles each comprise two guide faces which therebetween enclose an angle between 120.degree. and 140.degree.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically positioning fish with respect to their plane of symmetry and for the periodic transfer of the fish to a fish processing machine is proposed. The apparatus comprises a supply conveyor in the form of a trough conveyor and a feed conveyor arranged below and essentially perpendicular to the supply conveyor for feeding the fish into the processing machine. The feed conveyor includes a support conveyor equipped with support elements onto which each fish is placed with the support elements protruding into the belly cavity. This is achieved by a holding element which is arranged between the supply conveyor and the feed conveyor and is controlled by a signal to open and release the temporarily held fish. The generation of the signal is varied according to a measurement value representing the size of the fish being positioned so that each fish is released to land exactly positioned with its belly cavity on a support element irrespective of its size.

Abstract: Live poultry is caused to face in a desired direction prior to engagement of the poultry legs by a leg catching device by dropping the poultry one-by-one off the terminal end of a moving conveyor onto a lower conveyor having poultry leg engaging devices associated therewith. The poultry leg catching devices engage the poultry legs and the poultry are then inverted as they are conveyed to slaughter shackles. A slaughter shackle is configured to receive sets of poultry legs from the leg catching devices in a continuous process. The poultry is delivered to the first conveyor from poultry transportation boxes that are inverted along a horizontal axis to vertically drop the poultry onto a delivery conveyor system from which the poultry are delivered one-by-one to the first conveyor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for collecting hangers hanging from overhead or a conveyor rail installed in, for example, a meat processing plant and for returning such collected hangers to the conveyor rail including a guide bar installed under the conveyor rail. The conveyor rail and the guide bar are provided with parallel curved portions at the ends so that the end of the guide bar is positioned above the end of the conveyor rail, thus the hangers having been suspended from the conveyor rail are inverted and brought upside-down at the end of the conveyor rail and suspended from the guide bar via the hook portions of the hangers. The thus upside-down hangers are collected on a carrying truck, and they are returned to the conveyor rail using a hanger transfer disk rotatably installed between the carrying truck and the guide bar.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for transferring slaughtered poultry from a first suspension conveyor towards a second suspension conveyor, having a supply station contiguous with the first suspension conveyor and a discharge station contiguous with the second suspension conveyor. The device included a transfer unit positioned between the two suspension conveyors, the transfer unit being provided with a receiving station which is drivable in synchronization with the supply station and with a delivery station which is drivable in synchronization with the discharge station and further with a transfer track connecting the receiving station with the delivery station and vice versa, the track including a transfer mechanism movable there along with carriers for the poultry.

Abstract: A poultry-handling assembly (10) (FIG. 6) comprises two endless conveyors (12,13) arranged side-by-side and adapted to move poultry from a first location (15) to a second location (17). Access means at the first location allows birds to enter the assembly (10) one by one e.g. with one foot on one conveyor (12) and the other foot on the other conveyor (13). Conveyor guide means constrain the conveyors (12,13) to present an open-bottomed V-shaped trough configuration at the second location, where the legs of the birds will slip between the two conveyors (12,13) for engagement by a restraint device (19) and subsequent take-up by the shackles of a processing plant shackle line (20). In an alternative embodiment (FIG. 9), the conveyors (12,13) are replaced by two side-by-side conveyors 38,39 which grip the birds laterally.

Abstract: Poultry carcasses, having open abdominal cavities, are suspended from a foot shackle conveyor. As each carcass approaches a knife for severing the upper and lower portions of the carcass, the top portion is transferred onto an approaching tine which enters the cavity, dipping downward as it does so. After the carcass is halved, the lower portion remains suspended in the foot shackle conveyor, and the top portion is carried away by the tine for further processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing items such as poultry carcasses in a single file is disclosed which includes a rotatable cone having an outer periphery, a conveyor belt dispersed about the outer periphery of the rotatable cone and a guide means for effecting disposal of the items in a single file.

Abstract: A system for transferring birds (77) from a weigh line (11) to a cut-up line (12) through an intermediate accumulator. The system comprises a continuously rotating buffer wheel (15) having a plurality of bird carriers (17) slidably mounted on its periphery and being carried on buffer wheel (15) toward either an inlet gate (106) or a delivery gate (114). When a bird carrier (17) arrives at either inlet gate (106) or delivery gate (114), it is stopped by a gate arm (108)or (115), respectively, and remains stationary with respect to the continuously moving buffer wheel (15).

Abstract: There is described a fish processing apparatus, which comprises a first processing section, inside which the fish are conveyed in a direction transverse to their longitudinal axes and a second processing section, adjoining the first section at an angle to it, inside which the fish are conveyed lengthways. At the end portion of the first processing section there is installed an auxiliary device for the transfer of fish to the second processing section, with a cover located above the path of the fish which is formed to be resiliently displaceable in the intake region and non-yielding in the region the outlet portion. Thereby, a transfer combining correct alignment and exact timing is achieved as a prerequisite for precise processing with an increased yield at a high throughput.

Abstract: A food processing system (10) includes a first conveyor (12) having sprocket driven chains (14 and 16) extending along a loading run (26) and a return run (28) at a loading station (80). A support bar (52) extends transversely between the chains (14 and 16), and has a first movable hook (62) and a second stationary hook (64) mounted thereto. A food stick (74) for supporting a food product (76), such as a string of hot dogs, has a leading end (72) engageable with the movable first hook (62) for manually pushing the first hook along the support bar, and a trailing end (82) engageable with the stationary second hook. A second conveyor (102) at a transfer station (114) has spaced parallel sprocket driven chains (104 and 48) for transporting the food stick (74) and food product (76) to a processing station for cooking, smoking, chilling, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring birds from the evicerator line (11) to the cooling line (12) of a poultry processing plant, the apparatus comprising a bird removal assembly 29 having a plurality of cam operated modules (35) for lifting the birds from their shackles (18) as the modules are rotated in unison with the shackles carried by the evicerator line. The cam operated modules include a bird lifting plate (91) that is moved vertically to lift a bird from its shackle and is rotated downwardly into a horizontal position, whereat the hocks of the bird are guided from the bird lifting plate to an intermediate transfer wheel (31). The intermediate transfer wheel carries the birds over to the cooling line, whereat the hocks of the birds are then guiding into the cooling line shackles (53).

Abstract: A bird transfer carrousel is provided for transferring birds between two conveyor lines wherein the shackles of one conveyor line are spaced at a different increment than the shackles of the other conveyor line. The bird transfer carrousel comprises a rotatable, cylindrical turret (22) positioned between the two conveyor lines. The turret carries a series of parallel travel bars (26) that are arranged angularly displaced around the turret and are adapted to reciprocate or slide within the turret. Bird transfer plates (32) are mounted at each end of the parallel travel bars (26). The bird transfer plates (32) are horizontally arranged in a common plane, and each comprises a pair of outwardly exposed recesses for receiving and carrying the birds from the first conveyor line (12) to the second conveyor line (14).

Abstract: The fish transfer mechanism in which a fish slides down a smooth inclined plate and engages an upright protruding rotation pin. The head end of a fish rides up on a head guide. The rotation pin and the effect of gravity tends to rotate the fish from its transverse orientation to a longitudinal orientation while the fish head guide twists the fish toward an upright, vertical, belly down condition with the fish facing forward and ready to be cleaned by the fish gutter.

Abstract: A chicken leg processor includes a transfer device for removing the lower portion of halved birds from a shackle conveyor, and delivering them to the conveyor chain of a cutting apparatus. The transfer device includes a segmented transfer disc which lifts the hocks from the shackles and deposits them in pockets on a horizontal gathering wheel. Subsequently, the hocks are driven out of the pockets by a paddle, and are captured between respective pairs of guide rails entering the cutting apparatus. At this point, the saddles are inverted by an overhead chain which rolls them forward into proper orientation for the cutting devices.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying entrails packages which have been removed from birds, comprising a conveyor for the entrails packages having a number of conveying means. Each conveying means is provided with a carrier which is pivotable between a lower position and an upper position. In the upper position the entrails packages can be applied to the carrier for the supply thereof to a separating device.

Abstract: Apparatus for suspending poultry from its legs, said poultry being supplied by a conveyor, comprising lifting bars extending transversely to the conveyor and applicable against the ankle joint of a bird, being provided with clamping parts cooperating therewith, such as clamping rods which are movable between a position releasing the legs and a position clamping the legs. The clamping rods may be mounted on slides movable to and fro along the bars which for obtaining their motion are provided with follower rolls cooperating with the bar.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for removing the entrails from the abdominal cavity of poultry suspended by its legs from a suspension conveyor wherein the entrails, after being entirely disconnected, are moved along over some distance synchronously with the poultry by a belt conveyor. Transferring the entrails from the eviscerating means towards the belt conveyor occurs through a transferring device preferably comprising a drum rotatable around a vertical axis and being provided with transferring means regularly spaced on its circumference. Two cooperating clamping parts movable relative to each other are applied at each respective transferring means.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a reconstituted food product is provided including at least one transfer hopper having a reciprocating bottom for supporting pieces of the food product at a loading location, a control member for reciprocating the bottom so as to alter the height of the bottom in relation to a load in the hopper thereby keeping a drop height of successive pieces of food product into the hopper within predetermined limits. A drive mechanism is provided for moving the hopper from a food product loading location to a discharge location. A mould is disposed at the discharge location and aligned with the hopper. A displacement member for displacing material from the hopper into the mould is provided.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of processing poultry carcasses of removing and separating the entrails from the abdominal cavities of the carcasses. The separated entrails are moved on an inspection conveyor which is spaced from the suspension conveyor which conveys the carcasses and which moves synchronously with the suspension conveyor, so that the entrails and the carcasses move past an inspection station at the same time. The invention includes apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: An installation for processing flatfish, in particular for severing the head, and, if necessary, the tail thereof, comprises a feeding device (1), means for aligning the fish and means for conveying the same in rest position on one of their sides through the operative area of processing tools. The installation can be characterized in that the conveying means (13) is provided with entrainers (14) which engage the fish at its flank remote of that lying on the support surface (16), and are controlled to turn about an axis which is perpendicular to said support surface (16). Each fish is taken over by the entrainer (14) with attention being paid to a detected measured value with respect to its size such that the point of engagement of the entrainer is uniform independent of the size.

Abstract: A chicken leg processor includes a transfer device for removing the lower portion of halved birds from a shackle conveyor, and delivering them to a line along which the hip joints are partially cut through. While the legs remain suspended from the line, the back is then inverted, and is moved at a speed different from the legs, to remove the legs from the back. Thereafter, the legs are separated into thighs and drumsticks.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring objects from a first conveyor to a second conveyor which comprises a rotating carousel with a transferring devices regularly spaced about its circumference. The transferring devices are selectively activatable for transferring objects from one conveyor to the other conveyor. Preferably the transferring devices move up and down, for example, through a stationary curved track cooperating therewith.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for the orientation of fish with respect to the position of abdomen and dorsum. The fishes (6, 7) are thrown head first against an oblique, preferably curved guide element (5) in such a way that the center of gravity of the head (8) of the fish lies sidewards from the perpendicular to the guide element (5) through the contact point of the fish, due to which the fish turns into contact with the guide element (5) and into the same orientation with respect to the direction of abdomen and dorsum, irrespective of, whether the fish hits the guide element with dorsum or with abdomen.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for mechanizing the loading of live fowl onto shackles of an overhead conveyor used in poultry processing. Live fowl are placed on a moving conveyor belt moving alongside the shackles. A succession of bird loading stations move with the bird conveyor belt and position the feet of each bird in predetermined relation with corresponding shackles. A foot folder engages the feet of the bird, confining the digits of the feet for unimpeded entry into the shackle. The shackles then are moved toward the bird conveyor to position the feet in the loops of the shackle, after which the shackles are elevated with respect to the bird conveyor to engage the feet within the shackles.

Abstract: An apparatus for the timed feeding of fish into fish processing machines serves to supply such fish into a conveyor pushing them along in a direction transversal to their longitudinal axis and being provided with receiving troughs or entrainers. In order to be able to obtain the high performance non-mechanical feeding required in view of the high yield of modern processing machines while restricting as much as possible the physical stress on the staff responsible therefor, or to increase the non-mechanical performance without increasing the stress, a feeding apparatus is provided above the conveyor of the processing machine which apparatus includes a rotary entraining table or spider driven in synchronism with the conveyor.

Abstract: There is disclosed a leg transfer machine for unloading backs of chickens from a shackle conveyor and feeding the back of the chicken carcass into a conventional chicken leg processor. The machine is positioned under a shackle conveyor and includes an air cylinder-actuated rod positioned to strike both legs of the bird carcass just below the hocks and lift the hocks out of the shackle loop. A slotted guide receives the legs in respective slots with the hocks above the slots preventing the half of the chicken from dropping in an uncontrolled manner. A rake actuatable both vertically and horizontally is controlled to drop in front of the hocks and rake the legs back in the slots while generally vertical rail members contact the crotch of the chicken to cause the legs to extend horizontally as they descend onto an upwardly convex saddle element covering the end portion of the leg processing machine chain conveyor.

Abstract: A sausage link handling and packaging machine which comprises a feed conveyor for receiving individual sausage links from a link forming machine and for transferring them onto a main conveyor. These sausage links are transferred in a guided manner whereby to orient them on a predetermined ejecting path. When the sausage links arrive at the receiving end of the main conveyor, they are oriented in a side-by-side transverse alignment relationship. A transfer device is provided at a transfer station along the main conveyor to transfer a predetermined number of the transversely aligned sausage links off the conveyor and onto a package support element. The package support element with the predetermined number of sausage links thereon are then conveyed downstream of the transfer station for further handling.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for combing bacon bellies or similar generally compressible items in order to transform a conveyed flow of those items into a stream of those items, each of which is suspended from a comb which impales the item. The thus combed items are then suitable for transport along track means to subject the item to treatment conditions such as transporting them into smoking and flavoring environments. The apparatus and method are particularly well suited for combing pork bellies and as a component of a commercial line in which pork bellies are processed into sliced and packaged bacon products.

Abstract: A device for the placing of a spreader in the hind legs of a slaughtered animal comprising two penetration devices, each of which comprises a penetration pin provided with a pointed end, a penetration tube which is movable in the axial direction and is open at one end, the penetration pin being axially accommodated within the penetration tube and the penetration pin being movable within the penetration tube in the axial direction, and a slide-off mechanism which is movable relative to the penetration tube. In operation, the laps of the slaughtered animal are positioned relative to the penetration device and the toes of the slaughtered animal are bent relative to its legs virtually at a right angle with the aid of a toe presser.

Abstract: A fish processing machine includes a fish body feeder, a decapitator, a belly filleting and viscera removing device, and a dark-colored flesh removing device. The fish body feeder is designed to transport fish bodies onto trays while aligning all of the fish bodies in a uniform direction. The dark-colored flesh removing device separates the ordinary flesh and dark-colored flesh of the fish body efficiently.