Abstract: An apparatus is for cutting into breast fillets that are connected to one another of a carcass of poultry bodies, the breast fillets being cut into along the breastbone. The apparatus includes a transport apparatus for transporting the poultry bodies along a transport path, a holding apparatus arranged on the transport conveyor for holding the poultry bodies, and a knife assembly arranged along the transport path. The knife assembly has a pair of separating knives for cutting the breast fillets along the breastbone, the knives arranged on either side. A centring means is associated with the knife assembly for pre-centring the breastbone, and has two centring elements which are each movable out of a stand-by position positioned outside the transport path, into a centring position positioned on the transport path, and back. The centring elements in their centring position are located at least partly in front of the separating knives.

Abstract: A transport apparatus for poultry bodies/parts includes a frame, a transport unit on the frame with a revolvingly driven transport device, and a holding apparatus for saddling/holding the poultry during transport/processing. The holding apparatus includes a clamping device with a clamping hook pivotable by an actuating mechanism about a rotational axis from a standby into a clamping position and back. The actuating mechanism includes an adjusting lever pivotable about a rotational axis into connection with an actuating member, on the frame along the transport path, for pivoting the adjusting lever and hook. The holding apparatus rotates relative to the transport device about an axis perpendicular to the transport direction, and is brought into operative connection with an actuating lever on the frame. The adjusting lever rotational axis is oriented perpendicular to the hook axis. The actuating lever for rotating the holding apparatus is before the adjusting lever actuating member.

Abstract: A transport apparatus for poultry bodies/parts includes a frame, a transport unit on the frame with a revolvingly driven transport means, and a holding apparatus for saddling/holding the poultry during transport/processing. The holding apparatus includes a clamping device with a clamping hook pivotable by an actuating mechanism about a rotational axis from a standby into a clamping position and back. The actuating mechanism includes an adjusting lever pivotable about a rotational axis into connection with an actuating member, on the frame along the transport path, for pivoting the adjusting lever and hook. The holding apparatus rotates relative to the transport means about an axis perpendicular to the transport direction, and is brought into operative connection with an actuating lever on the frame. The adjusting lever rotational axis is oriented perpendicular to the hook axis. The actuating lever for rotating the holding apparatus is before the adjusting lever actuating member.

Abstract: A holding element positions back parts or parts thereof of poultry carcasses having a neck side, a hip side, a body exterior side, and a body interior side, wherein the back part has a spinal column or parts thereof and a rib structure having at least vertebral rib pairs or parts thereof. The back part has a region, on the exterior side of the body relative to the rib structure, that has back-flesh. The holding element includes a holding device with at least one controllable clamping element. The at least one clamping element is configured and adapted to releasably fix the back part at least in some regions on the holding device by non-positive and/or positive locking engagement with the body interior side.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is for recovering back-flesh from back parts of poultry carcasses having a hip side and body interior side. The back part includes a spinal column and rib structure. A transport conveyor transports the back parts along a transport path with a centre axis in a direction of transport and has a transport element for conveying at least one holding element, arranged on the transport element, for receiving the back part. A first cutting assembly is along the transport path in the region of the transport element and has a loosening means for loosening the back-flesh along the rib structure. A second cutting assembly is along the transport path downstream of the first assembly and has at least one separating knife for separating the back-flesh substantially along the spinal column. The holding element holds the back part on the holding element by non-positive and/or positive locking engagement.

Abstract: A holding apparatus for holding a gutted poultry body/part during processing has a support body supporting the body/part, a fastening body for holding the support body and fastening the holding apparatus to a circulatingly driven transport unit, and a clamping device for securing the body/part to the support body. The clamping device has a hook for penetrating into soft parts and a clamping lever. The lever has a clamping jaw for clamping parts of the body/part against the hook lower side directed towards the support body. The hook lower side is spaced apart from the support body to form a free space for receiving the parts to be clamped. The clamping lever is movable, against a spring force, from a standby position into a clamping position, and back. The clamping lever also has a centring shoulder projecting into the free space when the clamping lever is in the standby position.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the shoulder joint position of continuously conveyed poultry bodies has a measuring station, arranged along a conveying line, which is adapted to detect the shoulder joint position. Also provided is an arrangement for filleting poultry bodies having such an apparatus for measuring, and to corresponding methods.

Abstract: A conveying device, apparatus and method for continuously conveying poultry bodies or parts oriented into different processing positions in a conveying direction. A continuous conveyor, which is provided with receiving elements for holding the poultry bodies revolves in a conveying plane and forms a conveying path. The receiving elements each of which include a saddle element to receive one of the poultry bodies, are arranged on a base element to be pivotable about an axis of rotation lying perpendicular to the conveying direction. The conveying plane is arranged inclined relative to the horizontal by an angle of inclination ? greater than 0° and less than 90°, and the base elements are each arranged on the continuous conveyor by angled elements with an angle of extension ? less than 180° and greater than 90°.

Abstract: An apparatus is for cutting into breast fillets that are connected to one another of a carcass of poultry bodies, the breast fillets being cut into along the breastbone. The apparatus includes a transport apparatus for transporting the poultry bodies along a transport path, a holding apparatus arranged on the transport conveyor for holding the poultry bodies, and a knife assembly arranged along the transport path. The knife assembly has a pair of separating knives for cutting the breast fillets along the breastbone, the knives arranged on either side. A centring means is associated with the knife assembly for pre-centring the breastbone, and has two centring elements which are each movable out of a stand-by position positioned outside the transport path, into a centring position positioned on the transport path, and back. The centring elements in their centring position are located at least partly in front of the separating knives.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting poultry bodies/parts has a transport saddle fastened to a transport unit. A holding apparatus fastens the saddle to the unit, and has a receptacle body for the unit and a fastening body for the saddle. The fastening body is releasably and rotatably connected to the body. The holding apparatus has a latching device to lock the fastening body and saddle, having a latching lever and two latching bolts. The lever on a main body of the receptacle body pivots from a locking position where the lever engaged the bolt into a release position where the lever is out of engagement with the bolt. A first actuating member actuates the lever from the locking into the release position and a second actuating member rotates the fastening body in the release position. First and second magnetic elements with unlike poles pull the lever into the locking position.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the shoulder joint position of continuously conveyed poultry bodies has a measuring station, arranged along a conveying line, which is adapted to detect the shoulder joint position. Also provided is an arrangement for filleting poultry bodies having such an apparatus for measuring, and to corresponding methods.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting poultry bodies/parts has a transport saddle fastened to a transport unit. A holding apparatus fastens the saddle to the unit, and has a receptacle body for the unit and a fastening body for the saddle. The fastening body is releasably and rotatably connected to the body. The holding apparatus has a latching device to lock the fastening body and saddle, having a latching lever and two latching bolts. The lever on a main body of the receptacle body pivots from a locking position where the lever engaged the bolt into a release position where the lever is out of engagement with the bolt. A first actuating member actuates the lever from the locking into the release position and a second actuating member rotates the fastening body in the release position. First and second magnetic elements with unlike poles pull the lever into the locking position.

Abstract: A holding apparatus for holding a gutted poultry body/part during processing has a support body supporting the body/part, a fastening body for holding the support body and fastening the holding apparatus to a circulatingly driven transport unit, and a clamping device for securing the body/part to the support body. The clamping device has a hook for penetrating into soft parts and a clamping lever. The lever has a clamping jaw for clamping parts of the body/part against the hook lower side directed towards the support body. The hook lower side is spaced apart from the support body to form a free space for receiving the parts to be clamped. The clamping lever is movable, against a spring force, from a standby position into a clamping position, and back. The clamping lever also has a centring shoulder projecting into the free space when the clamping lever is in the standby position.

Abstract: A holding apparatus is configured and adapted for holding eviscerated poultry bodies or parts thereof during processing in a processing apparatus. The holding apparatus includes a supporting body, a fastening body for holding the supporting body and for fastening the holding apparatus to a revolving transport unit of the processing apparatus, and also a clamping device for fixing the poultry body or parts on the supporting body. The supporting body is detachably connected to the fastening body by a fastening element. The fastening element, in the mounted state of the holding apparatus, is accessible from outside. At least one stationary supporting bolt and at least one movable guide bolt are arranged on the fastening body, and the supporting body has corresponding recesses into which the bolts engage. A transport apparatus, a processing apparatus, and a method for maintenance of a holding apparatus, are also provided.

Abstract: A holding apparatus is configured and adapted for holding eviscerated poultry bodies or parts thereof during processing in a processing apparatus. The holding apparatus includes a supporting body, a fastening body for holding the supporting body and for fastening the holding apparatus to a revolving transport unit of the processing apparatus, and also a clamping device for fixing the poultry body or parts on the supporting body. The supporting body is detachably connected to the fastening body by a fastening element. The fastening element, in the mounted state of the holding apparatus, is accessible from outside. At least one stationary supporting bolt and at least one movable guide bolt are arranged on the fastening body, and the supporting body has corresponding recesses into which the bolts engage. A transport apparatus, a processing apparatus, and a method for maintenance of a holding apparatus, are also provided.

Abstract: A conveying device, apparatus and method for continuously conveying poultry bodies or parts oriented into different processing positions in a conveying direction. A continuous conveyor, which is provided with receiving elements for holding the poultry bodies revolves in a conveying plane and forms a conveying path. The receiving elements each of which include a saddle element to receive one of the poultry bodies, are arranged on a base element to be pivotable about an axis of rotation lying perpendicular to the conveying direction. The conveying plane is arranged inclined relative to the horizontal by an angle of inclination ? greater than 0° and less than 90°, and the base elements are each arranged on the continuous conveyor by angled elements with an angle of extension ? less than 180° and greater than 90°.