Abstract: A system and method for measuring a shoulder joint position of a carcass part of slaughtered poultry are disclosed. The system includes a position measurement device, having a mechanical contact member which is adapted to engage at least one shoulder joint during a measurement of the shoulder joint position, and a product carrier which is adapted to support the carcass part during movement of the product carrier along the conveying path past the position measurement device. The position of the product carrier during the measurement of the shoulder joint position is such that the carcass part is arranged relative to the position measurement device with the left shoulder joint and right shoulder joint one behind the other as seen in the transport direction so as to allow the mechanical contact member to engage a shoulder joint bone structure of a shoulder joint.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring a shoulder joint position of a carcass part of slaughtered poultry are disclosed. The system includes a position measurement device, having a mechanical contact member which is adapted to engage at least one shoulder joint during a measurement of the shoulder joint position, and a product carrier which is adapted to support the carcass part during movement of the product carrier along the conveying path past the position measurement device. The position of the product carrier during the measurement of the shoulder joint position is such that the carcass part is arranged relative to the position measurement device with the left shoulder joint and right shoulder joint one behind the other as seen in the transport direction so as to allow the mechanical contact member to engage a shoulder joint bone structure of a shoulder joint.

Abstract: A system and method for separating breast meat from at least a part of a keel bone of a carcass part of slaughtered poultry includes a product carrier and a pair of breast meat cutter blades adapted to make an incision along the keel bone in the longitudinal direction of the keel bone. The breast meat cutter blades are moveable relative to each other between and open position and a closed position. The system further includes a blade actuator, which comprises a closing assembly to apply a biasing force to the breast meat cutter blades to bias the breast meat cutter blades towards the closed position, and an opening assembly to apply an opening force to the breast meat cutter blades to hold the breast meat cutter blades in the open position.

Abstract: A system and method for separating breast meat from at least a part of a keel bone of a carcass part of slaughtered poultry includes a product carrier and a pair of breast meat cutter blades adapted to make an incision along the keel bone in the longitudinal direction of the keel bone. The breast meat cutter blades are moveable relative to each other between and open position and a closed position. The system further includes a blade actuator, which comprises a closing assembly to apply a biasing force to the breast meat cutter blades to bias the breast meat cutter blades towards the closed position, and an opening assembly to apply an opening force to the breast meat cutter blades to hold the breast meat cutter blades in the open position.

Abstract: A skinning installation is adapted to remove skin from slaughtered poultry parts, e.g. from a part including the breast. A method for removing skin from slaughtered poultry parts, e.g. from the breast, uses the skinning installation. The installation includes a toothed skinning roller and an elongated shoe extending adjacent and essentially parallel to the toothed skinning roller. The shoe includes a central nose portion which is directed counter to the rotation direction of the skinning roller, having two side edges and a leading skin gripping edge, wherein the side of the nose portion facing the skinning roller comprises an arcuate surface having a curvature corresponding essentially to the curvature of the skinning roller, wherein a skin gripping gap is defined between the arcuate surface of the central nose portion and the skinning roller.

Abstract: A skinning installation is adapted to remove skin from slaughtered poultry parts, e.g. from a part including the breast. A method for removing skin from slaughtered poultry parts, e.g. from the breast, uses the skinning installation. The installation includes a toothed skinning roller and an elongated shoe extending adjacent and essentially parallel to the toothed skinning roller. The shoe includes a central nose portion which is directed counter to the rotation direction of the skinning roller, having two side edges and a leading skin gripping edge, wherein the side of the nose portion facing the skinning roller comprises an arcuate surface having a curvature corresponding essentially to the curvature of the skinning roller, wherein a skin gripping gap is defined between the arcuate surface of the central nose portion and the skinning roller.

Abstract: A carrier for supporting a carcass part of slaughtered poultry includes a carrier body having a support surface for engaging at least a part of the inner face of the carcass part, a hook for holding the carcass part on the carrier body, a positioning element for positioning the carcass part relative to the carrier, which has a dome shaped engagement end for engaging the inner face of the carcass part, and is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the dome shaped engagement end of the positioning element protrudes from the support surface of the carrier body. The positioning element is arranged such relative to the support surface of the carrier body that in its extended position, the dome shaped engagement end of the positioning element engages the inner face of the carcass part at or adjacent to the facies visceralis sterni of the sternum in the region between the left and right margo costalis of the sternum.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a carrier for supporting a carcass part of slaughtered poultry, the carrier comprising:—a carrier body (11), said carrier body comprising a support surface for engaging at least a part of the inner face of the carcass part,—a hook (14) for holding the carcass part on the carrier body,—a positioning element (21) for positioning the carcass part relative to the carrier, which positioning element has a dome shaped engagement end for engaging the inner face of the carcass part,—which positioning element is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position in which extended position the dome shaped engagement end of the positioning element protrudes from the support surface of the carrier body,—the positioning element being arranged such relative to the support surface of the carrier body that in its extended position, the dome shaped engagement end of the positioning element engages the inner face of the carcass part at or adjacent to the fades visceralis sterni of the stern