Abstract: An assembly and method for moving bulk items from a first location to a second location is disclosed. The items are moved from the first location to the second location through a pick-up head. Vacuum pressure is supplied to the head to pick-up an item at the first location and carry the item to the second location. A detector is located between the first location and the second location to detect if an item has been picked up by the head. If no item is detected, the head is closed to the vacuum pressure through a control mechanism or closure element.

Abstract: A poultry front half processing module is shown and described. The module includes a rotatable wing bracket for securely engaging the wings of the front half to allow more accurate processing and easier deboning and transfer operations.

Abstract: A poultry front half processing module is shown and described. The module includes a rotatable wing bracket for securely engaging the wings of the front half to allow more accurate processing and easier deboning and transfer operations.

Abstract: A method enabling the selective packaging of a product comprising a plurality of items of varying weights, such as chicken parts, and subsequent even-weight scannable packaging of the same. The method includes the steps of weighing each individual part; sorting each individual parts into a holding bin; accumulating a plurality of parts in each bin until a predetermined weight of parts is reached in a first of the bins; emptying the first bin of its parts; and packaging the parts in the appropriate package. The steps of emptying and packaging the parts in accord with the method of the present invention would be repeated as the bins were determined to hold the appropriate weight of product.