Abstract: An apparatus for weighing poultry in a conveyor line can include carriers for the poultry, linked to each other by a driving chain. The conveyor line can include at least a curved track section and a weighing track section, wherein a weighing station is located along the weighing track section. A chain tension control mechanism can include a rotatable wheel having its circumference following the curved track section and pass the weighing track section, which rotatable wheel can support a series of engaging units that engage the chain and/or the carriers in the curved track section to tension the chain and disengage the chain and/or the carriers in the weighing track section to release tension in the chain.

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 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 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 cell (100) for making an anisotropic-structured product from a protein starting material, the cell (100) comprising an inner member (110) and an outer member (120) arranged concentrically along a longitudinal axis (180) to define together a chamber (150) for holding the starting material, wherein the inner member (110) and the outer member (120) are rotatable relative each other about the longitudinal axis (180) for providing the shear force to the starting material and wherein both the inner member (110) and the outer member (120) further define for the cell an inner longitudinal surface (114) and an outer longitudinal surface (124) facing away the chamber (150) such that a normal of each longitudinal surface is transverse to the longitudinal axis (180) characterized in that both members are designed to be exposed to the ambient for allowing a heat exchange between both the inner longitudinal surface (114) and the outer longitudinal surface (124) with the ambient to heat the chamber (150).

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 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: 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: 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.

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: 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.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing slaughtered poultry that is conveyed in a slaughter line of a slaughter house, in order to establish at the start of said slaughter line whether the poultry was alive or dead on arrival at the slaughter house. Such can include the detection of a body parameter of the slaughtered poultry when the poultry is suspended by the legs in the slaughter line after stunning said poultry, and wherein an absorption spectrum of blood of the slaughtered poultry is determined.

Abstract: Method and processing line for inspecting a poultry carcass and/or a viscera package taken out from the poultry carcass. The poultry carcass and/or viscera package may be suspended from a poultry carrier and a viscera carrier that move in the processing line. The inspection may be carried out by an inspector selecting a particular poultry carcass and/or viscera package as to be rejected. A selection device can be operated to select the poultry carcass and/or viscera package suspended from the carrier to be rejected.

Abstract: Method and processing line for inspecting a poultry carcass and/or a viscera package taken out from the poultry carcass. The poultry carcass and/or viscera package may be suspended from a poultry carrier and a viscera carrier that move in the processing line. The inspection may be carried out by an inspector selecting a particular poultry carcass and/or viscera package as to be rejected. A selection device can be operated to select the poultry carcass and/or viscera package suspended from the carrier to be rejected.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing slaughtered poultry that is conveyed in a slaughter line of a slaughter house, in order to establish at the start of said slaughter line whether the poultry was alive or dead on arrival at the slaughter house. Such can include the detection of a body parameter of the slaughtered poultry when the poultry is suspended by the legs in the slaughter line after stunning said poultry, and wherein an absorption spectrum of blood of the slaughtered poultry is determined.

Abstract: A poultry processing line with a conveying track and can include at least one carriage movable in the conveying track. Wheels on opposite sides of the carriage are mounted on an axle guided through a shaft or bore of the carriage, and are movable along supports for the respective wheels on opposite sides of the conveying track. The shaft or bore has a convex inner top surface and convex inner bottom surface as seen in the shaft or bore's longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A poultry processing line is provided having a series of poultry carriers and a processing unit or processing units, wherein the poultry carriers are movable to and from the processing unit or processing units and the poultry carriers and the processing unit or processing units are synchronized to enable processing of the poultry by the processing unit or processing units. A switch is provided such that the poultry carriers and/or the processing unit or processing units are selectable between an operational position in which the poultry is processed by the processing unit or units and an inoperational or idle position in which the poultry is prevented from being processed by the processing unit or units.

Abstract: A conveyor line and carrier including a hook or hooks for suspending poultry or poultry parts by the legs. A carriage for moving the carrier with the suspended poultry or poultry parts along a track of the conveyor line. Arranged with at least a first rotatable vertical rod suspended from the carriage, which first rotatable rod is provided with a sideways extending arm for adjusting an orientation of the poultry or poultry parts with reference to the carriage.

Abstract: A conveyor line and carrier including a hook or hooks for suspending poultry or poultry parts by the legs. A carriage for moving the carrier with the suspended poultry or poultry parts along a track of the conveyor line. Arranged with at least a first rotatable vertical rod suspended from the carriage, which first rotatable rod is provided with a sideways extending arm for adjusting an orientation of the poultry or poultry parts with reference to the carriage.

Abstract: A poultry processing line with a conveying track and can include at least one carriage movable in the conveying track. Wheels on opposite sides of the carriage are mounted on an axle guided through a shaft or bore of the carriage, and are movable along supports for the respective wheels on opposite sides of the conveying track. The shaft or bore has a convex inner top surface and convex inner bottom surface as seen in the shaft or bore's longitudinal direction.