Abstract: A system and method for automatically suspending poultry by the legs from a carrier of a carrier conveyor. The system can include an imaging device connected to a decision-making tool to process images from the poultry on a feedline and a vision guided robot for picking up the poultry from a feedline. The poultry can be suspended from the carrier of the carrier conveyor. The decision-making tool can be arranged to detect poultry with the breast engaging the feedline to control the vision guided robot to pick up the poultry from the feedline.

Abstract: A scraper for removing undesired parts from a neck area of slaughtered poultry can include a mandrel and forwardly directed projections that are arranged to operate during use in the neck area of the slaughtered poultry, wherein the forwardly directed projections form part of at least one plate, and wherein while being mounted on the mandrel the at least one plate is movable relative to the mandrel.

Abstract: A system and method for rehanging poultry suspended by the head in a first shackle of a first shackle conveyor to a second shackle of a second shackle conveyor in which the poultry is or will be suspended by the legs. A leg positioning unit may be arranged to support the poultry at the legs while the poultry is maintained suspended by the head in the first shackle of the first shackle conveyor. A movable takeover unit operates on the legs of the poultry and is movable towards the second shackle of the second shackle conveyor to move the legs of the poultry into the second shackle of the second shackle conveyor.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically suspending poultry from a carrier of a carrier conveyor. A vision guided robot can pick up poultry from a feedline and suspend the poultry from the carrier. An imaging device can be connected to a decision-making tool to process images from the poultry on the feedline, wherein the decision-making tool is arranged to detect a head of the poultry and to control the vision guided robot to pick up the poultry from the feedline by engaging the poultry at or below the head, and to subsequently suspend the poultry with its head up from the carrier of the carrier conveyor.

Abstract: A deskinning apparatus including a conveyor with shackles from which a poultry leg or part of a poultry leg is suspendable by the ankles. Rollers may be positioned below the conveyor to define a nip between the rollers, which may be movable to engage, grip and draw skin on the poultry leg or part of the poultry leg into the nip. The rollers may be arranged to stop rolling after gripping the skin to hold the skin in the nip and may be equipped to subsequently move away from the poultry leg so as to pull the skin loose from the poultry leg The rollers can be configured to enable rotation in one direction only so that after the rollers have stopped rolling to hold the skin in the nip between the rollers, the rollers are blocked from rotating in a counter direction.

Abstract: A depositing device for depositing poultry from a pile of one or more stacked crates to a poultry conveyor. A tilting unit is configured for tilting the pile of one or more stacked crates around a tilt axis between a receiving position and a depositing position. A chute is tiltable between the receiving position and the depositing position independently to the tilting unit.

Abstract: A deboner for a poultry part equipped with a first jaw and a second jaw mounted on an up-and-down movable slide block supporting a first frame portion, a second frame portion, and a third frame portion. The first jaw and the second jaw are movable towards and away from each other, wherein the first jaw is through a first hinge connected with the first frame portion so as to enable a rotational movement of the first jaw with respect to the first frame portion. A second hinge pivotably connecting the first frame portion to the third frame portion and a third hinge pivotably connecting the second frame portion with the third frame portion share a common axis of rotation.

Abstract: Slaughter devices for poultry and methods thereof, which may include a track having a first guide and a second guide to define a slit for guiding the neck of the poultry. A rotary knife arranged in the first guide for cutting a first vein. A cylinder arranged in the first guide upstream of the rotary knife, which rotates in a first rotational direction to allow twisting of the neck in a second rotational direction.

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: Deskinning apparatus for a poultry leg or part of a poultry leg, including a conveyor with conveyor hooks from which the poultry leg or part of the poultry leg is suspendable, and rollers below the conveyor that are rotatable in opposite directions and are provided with meshing teeth that are contactable with a skin on the poultry leg or part of the poultry leg that is suspended from the conveyor hooks for stripping the skin from the poultry leg or part of the poultry leg, wherein the rollers are movable up and down.

Abstract: A method for hanging poultry in an overhead conveyor provided with carriers and can include an overhead-conveyor-section of the overhead conveyor and a first conveyor for conveying the poultry towards a section thereof being below the overhead-conveyor-section. The poultry can be conveyed by the first conveyor towards the section. An operator picks the poultry or parts thereof and hangs the poultry in the carriers being conveyed along the overhead-conveyor-section. The operator may be carried via a second conveyor beside the section of the first conveyor and in the direction of the carriers in the overhead-conveyor-section while the operator is picking and hanging the poultry.

Abstract: A treatment device or method for preparing a poultry carcass, as provided herein, may serve to remove a portion of the carcass's keel bone on a conveyor line. The treatment device may include a blade carriage and bone blade. The blade carriage may be disposed at a preharvest station on a conveyor path of the conveyor line. The bone blade may be mechanically linked to the blade carriage at the preharvest station to remove a tip of the keel bone. The bone blade may be aligned with the keel bone between a pair of fillets of the carcass within the preharvest station. The bone blade may also be spaced apart from a sternum of the carcass.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out an operation on slaughtered poultry or on a part of slaughtered poultry. At least one carrier device, a drum which at its periphery is provided with at least one groove, which at least one groove is traced by a roller that is mounted on the at least one carrier device so as to arrange that movement of the at least one carrier device along the periphery of the drum causes the at least one carrier device to execute an operation with reference to the poultry or poultry part. A movable mounting block that supports the roller, wherein the movable mounting block is up-and-down movable with reference to the remainder of the at least one carrier device.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for harvesting meat from poultry thighs in a processing line provided with carriers for poultry legs. A cutter for cutting into the poultry leg, and a scraper for scraping poultry thigh meat from the thighbone, wherein the scraper of the apparatus is arranged to clamp the poultry leg near to its knee joint and fix the knee joint in position, and the cutter is arranged to provide a first cut into the poultry leg while the scraper clamps the poultry leg, and wherein the cutter is arranged to provide the cut adjacent to the scraper and below the knee joint at the height of a knuckle of the thighbone at the side of the knee joint, so as to cut through ligaments that connect the thigh meat to the thighbone.

Abstract: System for placement of a supply of poultry front halves in a processing line equipped with a train of movable carriers for the poultry front halves. Exemplary embodiments may include a train of receptacles provided and movable in a conveyor line, wherein the receptacles are equipped to receive the front halves at an input station of the system, and the conveyor line is equipped to move the receptacles with the poultry front halves received therein from the input station towards and along the processing line with the carriers. The receptacles can be equipped to transfer the poultry front halves onto the carriers in the processing line and may be equipped with a breast support plate, a bottom plate and upstanding inserts.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a drumstick from a poultry's leg suspended by the ankles in hooks of a carrier, including clamping the poultry's leg with a clamp and arranging that the poultry's leg is kept in position, cutting the ligaments between the drumstick and the thighbone for removal of the thighbone and providing the drumstick, raising the clamp with the poultry's leg so as to raise the ankles from the hooks of the carrier and arranging that the knee joint is positioned at a predetermined altitude, and providing that a cutter is positioned at the predetermined altitude and is activated to cut through the knee joint so as to separate the thighbone from the drumstick.

Abstract: Slaughter installation including a conveyor line with carriers for suspending poultry by the legs and conveying the poultry in a conveying track. Head positioning means arranged for forcing the bill of the poultry in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the suspended poultry. Killing device having at least a first rotary knife positioned alongside of the conveying track for cutting into the neck of the suspended poultry while avoiding to cut a certain parts. A first guide wheel upstream and proximate to the first rotary knife, which first guide wheel is positioned alongside the conveying track. A passageway between the first rotary knife and the first guide wheel through which the poultry neck is able to pass.

Abstract: An intestines processing system and method including a conveyor track with carriers, a tissue breaking section and a gallbladder removal station. The carrier can be equipped to move the intestines package through the tissue breaking section for breaking at least some of the tissue connections in the intestines package below the gallbladder, and to move the intestines package through the gallbladder removal station for removing the gallbladder from the remainder of the intestines package.

Abstract: Conveying assembly with overhead conveyor having shackles for suspending poultry carcasses by the legs with each shackle suspended from a hanger. A guide element may be disposed generally below and parallel to the overhead conveyor to prevent rotation of the shackles about a vertical axis. The guide element may be movable in the conveying direction and the stops can be mounted on the guide element.