Abstract: Apparatus for treating slaughtered poultry comprising a plucking device with a plurality of plucking discs arranged on either side of the path of the poultry, provided with plucking fingers directed towards the path of the poultry, further comprising outflow openings directed towards the path of the poultry, provided in the proximity of the plucking discs and connected to pipes, connected to one or more sources of hot water, hot air, steam or another suitable medium or a mixture thereof, the arrangement being such that during the plucking operation performed by the plucking fingers the poultry can be exposed to the effect of the medium brought thereon via the outflow openings.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for breaking the necks of fowl being conveyed along a conveyor line in an inverted position for processing. The method comprises the steps of positioning neck gripping guide bars about opposite sides of a fowl neck, converging the neck gripping guide bars into gripping engagement with the neck, and striking the gripped neck with sufficient force to break the neck.A machine is also disclosed for breaking the necks of fowl being conveyed along a conveyor line in inverted positions for processing. The machine comprises a frame and a carriage mounted to the frame for movement along an orbital path having an upper arcuate portion. At least one neck breaking blade is supported on the carriage. Cylinders are provided for reciprocally driving the blade laterally the orbital path while the carriage is moving along the upper arcuate portion of the orbital path.

Abstract: A machine for stripping the meat of precooked poultry legs from the connected leg and thigh bones. The legs are loaded on a horizontal auger conveyor and conveyed to a vertical chain conveyor which carries the legs longitudinally upwardly through a meat stripping mechanism. The stripping mechanism includes two horizontal discs rotating with their closely spaced peripheral stripping edges in opposition to engagingly strip the meat downwardly from the upwardly moving legs. A third horizontal disc rotating with its peripheral edge behind and sightly below the two opposed stripping edges assists in the stripping operation. The opposed stripping edges of the discs include cooperating recesses through which the knuckle joints and enlarged end joints of the legs freely pass. After being stripped, the bones are ejected from the chain conveyor by a rotating ejection rod.

Abstract: An apparatus for looping and conveying an encased product comprising a support positioned adjacent one end of the encasing apparatus and having a guide pan pivotally movably mounted thereon adapted to move between first and second positions. The guide pan is adapted to slidably receive the casing issuing from the encasing apparatus. A conveyor comprising a plurality of spaced apart hooks is provided adjacent the guide pan and comprises carrying device for moving the hooks along a predetermined path. The conveyor is positioned so that the hooks will pass adjacent the lower end of the guide pan so that the hooks will catch and carry away the casing at spaced apart points along the length of the casing as the casing passes out of the lower end of the guide pan. A power mechanism is provided for pivotally moving the pan between its first and second positions to cause the hooks to catch the casing at the spaced points along the length of the casing.

Abstract: An apparatus for encasing a product including a product encasing machine, linking apparatus, and a looping apparatus. The product encasing machine includes a rotatable stuffing tube having a fin head mounted on its forward end. The fin head imparts rotational drive and longitudinal drag to the casing as the casing passes thereover as the casing is being filled. The rearward end of the stuffing tube is mounted in a socket type apparatus to permit the stuffing tube to be pivotally moved upwardly and laterally to facilitate the installation of the folded casing thereon. A modified device for supporting the discharge end of the stuffing tube is also disclosed comprising a split bearing member which embraces the rotating fin head and casing. The bearing member may be selectively opened to permit the stuffing tube to be pivotally raised to its loading position. The bearing member is spring loaded to permit different dragging forces to be selectively applied to the casing.

Abstract: Bivalvular mollusks, notably oysters, are opened by inserting a sharp tool or nozzle formed with an internal passage into the mollusk, between the two valves or shells thereof, and allowing compressed air to flow through the passage. The tool may comprise a needle shaped nozzle or a blade-shaped nozzle. The compressed air may be supplied either from a foot-operated pump to free the hands of the user or from a releasable cartridge associated with or constituting the handle of the device.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating the fillets of a flatfish comprising a backbone path on the back and belly sides of which are provided one pair each of circular filleting knives, conveyor disks, and backbone guides, and a separating tool with scraping edges, wherein the back disks are stationary and the belly ones swiveling, the backbone guides enter between said disks which are inclined to each other and double-sided truncated cones, the inner sides of each disk pair form narrow gaps in the region of the backbone path and have serrations.

Abstract: A grass catcher and deflector assembly includes a bracket attached to the lawn mower to provide a pivotal mounting for a deflector having a forwardly projecting arm which is depressed to move the deflector away from a deflecting condition relative to the mower discharge opening. The grass catcher is removable and includes a frame having a forward portion which is engageable with the bracket and the deflector arm to latch the deflector in the non-deflecting condition.

Abstract: An attachment for mounting on a mobile forage chopper is provided with at least one endless belt conveyor and associated crop cutting assembly for severing a crop row from the ground and moving it along an upwardly and rearwardly inclined passage into the inlet of the chopper. A cutting assembly at the inlet end of the crop feeding passage comprises a stationary cutting blade and a crop engaging star wheel which is connected to the front idler of the belt conveyor. The star wheel cooperates with the cutting blade to shear standing crop material from the ground while cut crop material is being moved along the feeding passage by the belt conveyor.

Abstract: A self cleaning rotary lawn mower blade and deck assembly in which the lawn mower blade is provided with metal pins symmetrically mounted on opposite sides of the opening for the center shaft, the tops of the pins being spaced from the deck by a critical distance of one-fourth of an inch + or - 1/32 of an inch and being spaced from each other on from 2 to 4 inch centers, so that a 5 inch blade need only have four pins total, half on one side and half on the other side. The mounting of the pin is such that the pin shank whips through an angle of about 30.degree., e.g., about 15.degree. each side of the normal vertical position and this whipping action which takes place during rotation of the blade removes debris, clippings, and the like which tend to adhere to the underside of the deck.

Abstract: A bird feeder which includes removable bird feed containers supported in a cylindrical member which is suspended by a strap. The container includes an orifice of a size to permit only small birds to enter the feeder, while larger birds are required to feed from outside.

Abstract: A ground working implement control system having a stationary operating station and a moving ground working station is described having a control clutch arrangement operable at the stationary operating station, for controlling through connection cables the directional movement of the ground working station.

Abstract: An axial flow combine is provided with substantially horizontal rotor units which co-act with concaves that are complementary to the lower portions of said rotor units and are parallel thereto. The front end of the concaves normally are supported by bracket members which are not readily disconnectable from the front end of said concaves. The present invention includes brackets which are readily disconnectable from the front end of said concaves and a support therefor, whereby the concaves may be readily removed from the forward end of the threshing and separating chamber under circumstances where replacement or interchange of the concaves are desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filleting fishes is disclosed. The fish are cut on their underside by pairs of belly knives and pairs of rib knives, and by pairs of back knives on their dorsal sides. Between the belly knives and the rib knives are pairs of guide strips which guide the lower tail fin on the lower belly spines. Following the rib knives, a further pair of guides are provided and beneath these guides is a conveyor which acts on the underside of the backbone. Between the belly knives and the back knives, pairs of dorsal guides are provided in overlapping relationship. These individual guides are capable of adjustment to suit the shape of the fish.

Abstract: Rock crusher comprising a rotor on which hammers are pivotally mounted between claws or plowshares which are transversely aligned on a frame 1 mounted on two wheels, the height of which is adjustable. The crusher is provided with a drawbar (15) for attaching it to a tractor, and the rotor (4) is also mounted on the frame and connected to a longitudinal drive shaft carried by the drawbar (15). A coupling is provided to connect the rotor to a power takeoff carried by the tractor.

Abstract: An automatic machine for sectioning poultry comprising a series of knives for performing selected cuts, and includes a mechanism for inserting the poultry carcasses into the machine, as well as improved mechanisms for performing selected cuts and for centering a carcass to be split into two halves.

Abstract: A tube-like socket is provided in a machine for stuffing sausage and the like. A nozzle is swingably or pivotally mounted for swinging movement between operating position in which a sausage tubing feeds between the socket and nozzle, and idle position away from the socket. A hook-like structure is pivotally converted to the mounting mechanism for the nozzle such that it projects through the nozzle with the nozzle in idle position and automatically feeds sausage tubing through the nozzle as the nozzle is swung to operating position.

Abstract: A mowing attachment for a tractor includes a horizontally and vertically swinging telescopic boom for positioning the cutter assembly. The horizontal swinging movement is controlled by a hydraulic circuit which includes a piston and cylinder unit and a pressure relief circuit for allowing relative movement between the piston and cylinder when the cutter strikes an obstruction.

Abstract: The invention provides a plant for recovering blood from slaughter animals including at least one stabbing knife with a corresponding vacuum tube and a metering apparatus connected to the stabbing knife, said metering apparatus comprising a pneumatic metering pump, an impulse generator and a container for metering an anticoagulant into the blood, the plant further including a central vacuum container with a shutoff valve, whereby the blood is sucked to the container by the vacuum produced by means of an injector for pressurized air, and a pneumatic membrane pump connected to a heat exchanger for cooling the blood and a container for the final collection of the blood.

Abstract: A machine designed to automatically section poultry breast members by means of reciprocally operated rotating circular knife blades which respectively engage and selectively section a poultry breast member indexed to and clampably held in cutting position at the respectively selective knife stations in one of three ways; a two-way cut comprised of a single longitudinal severing of a poultry breast member into two halves, or a three-way cut comprised of an initial keel cut of the breast member at one knife station followed by a longitudinal severing into halves of the remainder of the poultry breast member at another knife station, or a four-way cut comprised of an initial transverse severing of the poultry breast member followed by a longitudinal cut at yet another knife station of the two laterally severed breast member sections into halves.