Abstract: Rear-facing poultry claw systems and methods are described herein. In one or more embodiments, the positioning systems and methods may be used to detect the claw of the rear-facing toe on one or both shanks of birds.

Abstract: Poultry toe and claw positioning systems and methods are described herein. The positioning systems and methods may be used to separate and precisely locate the forward-facing toes and claws of birds.

Abstract: The poultry cradle unloading systems and methods described herein provide for the unloading of birds and, in some cases, placement of the birds in a selected location among two or more possible selected locations. The unloading may be accomplished in a manner that promotes safety for the birds by releasing the birds such that they are predisposed to landing in an upright orientation after release from a cradle. The unloading may involve releasing the head before releasing the legs of the bird. The cradle and/or bird retained in the cradle may be oriented such that the bird is held at an angle such that the head of the bird is located forward of the hock joints.

Abstract: Shrimp processing apparatus to sever the mud veins of shrimp, along with methods for heading and mud vein severing are described herein. The shrimp processing apparatus may be provided in systems may include one or more processing stations configured to perform one or more of the following functions on each shrimp: measurement of individual shrimp, severing the mud vein of individual shrimp, and remove of pleopods of individual shrimp.

Abstract: Injection systems and methods of using the same are described herein. Each injection system may include one, two, or more needles, with each needle being configured to move needle between an injection position and a retracted position to deliver an inoculant. The injection needles may rotate about a carriage axis that extends through the injection axis along which each needle moves when moving between their injection and retracted positions. The injection needles in systems that include two or more injection needles may be advanced from the retracted position to the injection position at the same or different times.

Abstract: Beak opening apparatus and methods of using the same are described herein. The beak opening apparatus includes a beak splitter and beak opening actuator along with a control unit used to operate the beak opening actuator to move the beak splitter between a home position and an opening position to open the beak of a bird.

Abstract: Shrimp processing apparatus to head and optionally sever the mud veins of shrimp, along with methods for heading and mud vein severing are described herein. The shrimp processing apparatus may be provided in systems may include one or more processing stations configured to perform one or more of the following functions on each shrimp: measurement of individual shrimp, severing the mud vein of individual shrimp, and heading of individual shrimp.

Abstract: A shrimp processing method and system, the system comprising a plurality of clamps, wherein each clamp is configured to hold a shrimp proximate a tail of the shrimp, a plurality of processing stations comprising at least one data collection station capable of collecting data regarding a shrimp held in a clamp and at least one functional station capable of changing the shrimp held in a clamp, a conveying system connecting the plurality of processing stations, the conveying system configured to move the plurality of clamps between the processing stations, and a controller operably connected to the conveying system and the processing stations, the controller configured to operate the conveying system and to selectively activate each processing station.

Abstract: Shrimp processing apparatus to peel shrimp along with methods for peeling shrimp are described herein. The shrimp processing apparatus may be provided in systems including one or more processing stations configured to peel individual shrimp, where peeling may involve removal of shell segments on the dorsal surfaces of the shrimp abdomen and/or removal of pleopods/swimmerets on the ventral surfaces of the shrimp abdomen and, optionally, separation of shell segments. The processing systems and methods may, in one or more embodiments, include apparatus for and methods of measuring the shrimp.

Abstract: An energy delivery system includes an RF synthesizer circuit configured to generate an RF electric signal and a preamplification stage operably coupled to the RF synthesizer circuit. The preamplification stage has at least one attenuator. A board controller is operably coupled to the attenuator of the preamplification stage that is configured to modify a gain setting of the attenuator. An output connection is configured to provide a low-power signal or a high-power signal based on at least the RF electric signal and the gain setting. The low-power signal or high-power signal is provided to an RF applicator configured to couple an alternating RF electric field to animal tissue.

Abstract: Systems for delivering material through an open beak to a digestive tract of a bird and methods of using the same are described herein. Beak opening apparatus and methods of using the same are also described herein.

Abstract: Injection systems and methods of using the same are described herein. Each injection system may include one, two, or more needles, with each needle being configured to move needle between an injection position and a retracted position to deliver an inoculant. The injection needles may rotate about a carriage axis that extends through the injection axis along which each needle moves when moving between their injection and retracted positions. The injection needles in systems that include two or more injection needles may be advanced from the retracted position to the injection position at the same or different times.

Abstract: Bird carriers and methods of restraining birds are disclosed. Each bird carrier may include a torso support, one or more leg clamps, and a head support. The head support may further include a beak receiving passage such that at least a portion of the birds' beaks are exposed. The bird carriers may restrain one or both legs and heads of the birds while supporting their torsos. Restraining the legs and the heads of the birds while supporting their torsos may produce a calming effect such that the birds exhibit significantly reduced struggling in an attempt to free themselves from the carrier.

Abstract: Poultry injection apparatus with rotating capture members and methods of using the same are described herein. Each injection apparatus may include one or more rotating capture members and an injection unit configured to move an injection needle between an injection position and a retracted position relative to the one or more capture members.

Abstract: Bird carriers and methods of restraining birds are disclosed. Each bird carrier may include a torso support, one or more leg clamps, and a head support. The head support may further include a beak receiving passage such that at least a portion of the birds' beaks are exposed. The bird carriers may restrain one or both legs and heads of the birds while supporting their torsos. Restraining the legs and the heads of the birds while supporting their torsos may produce a calming effect such that the birds exhibit significantly reduced struggling in an attempt to free themselves from the carrier.

Abstract: Fourth toe processing apparatus and methods for the processing the fourth toes of a bird are disclosed.