Patents by Inventor Francis W. J. Van Happen

Francis W. J. Van Happen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and device for processing poultry
    Patent number: 7004830
    Abstract: In a method and device for carrying out at least one processing operation on a slaughtered bird which is hung by its legs, the bird is conveyed on a hook of a conveyor towards and into the processing area of a processing device in order for the at least one processing operation to be carried out on the bird. The bird is positioned in the processing area of the processing device by externally supporting the bird at at least two locations, which are selected from the group of locations which comprises the back, the sternum, the area of the clavicle, the wings and the sides of the bird. Then, the at least one processing operation is carried out in the processing device in the area of the breast of the bird. The bird may also be positioned in the processing area of the processing device by internally supporting the bird on the side of the sternum facing the abdominal cavity of the bird.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Stork PMT B.V.
    Inventors: Franciscus T. H. J. van der Steen, Francis W. J. van Happen, Adrianus J. van den Nieuwelaar
  • Method and device for processing poultry
    Publication number: 20030040268
    Abstract: In a method and device for carrying out at least one processing operation on a slaughtered bird which is hung by its legs, the bird is conveyed on a hook of a conveyor towards and into the processing area of a processing device in order for the at least one processing operation to be carried out on the bird. The bird is positioned in the processing area of the processing device by externally supporting the bird at at least two locations, which are selected from the group of locations which comprises the back, the sternum, the area of the clavicle, the wings and the sides of the bird. Then, the at least one processing operation is carried out in the processing device in the area of the breast of the bird. The bird may also be positioned in the processing area of the processing device by internally supporting the bird on the side of the sternum facing the abdominal cavity of the bird.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Franciscus T.H.J. van der Steen, Francis W.J. van Happen, Adrianus J. van den Nieuwelaar
  • Method and device for processing poultry
    Patent number: 6450873
    Abstract: In a method and device for carrying out at least one processing operation on a slaughtered bird which is hung by its legs, the bird is conveyed on a hook of a conveyor towards and into the processing area of a processing device in order for the at least one processing operation to be carried out on the bird. The bird is positioned in the processing area of the processing device by externally supporting the bird at at least two locations, which are selected from the group of locations which comprises the back, the sternum, the area of the clavicle, the wings and the sides of the bird. Then, the at least one processing operation is carried out in the processing device in the area of the breast of the bird. The bird may also be positioned in the processing area of the processing device by internally supporting the bird on the side of the sternum facing the abdominal cavity of the bird.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Stork PMT B.V.
    Inventors: Franciscus T. H. J. van der Steen, Francis W. J. van Happen, Adrianus J. van den Nieuwelaar
  • Apparatus and method for detecting bone fracture in slaughtered animals, in particular fowl
    Patent number: 6299524
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting the presence of a bone fracture in a specific bone of a slaughtered animal or a part thereof, particularly fowl, especially for detecting a bone fracture in the leg bone of fowl, the apparatus comprising: retention means designed to retain an animal on a retention location thereof, fracture detection means designed for detecting a possible fracture in the relevant bone of the animal, and signalling means which are linked to the fracture detection means and signal whether a bone fracture is or is not present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Stork PMT B.V.
    Inventors: Petrus Chr. H. Janssen, Francis W. J. Van Happen, Adrianus J. van den Nieuwelaar