Abstract: A poultry container side panel for releasable connection to a container for holding live poultry. The poultry container has a rectangular screen with aperture, a sideward protruding foot, and at least one coupling. The coupling features a stationary support connected to the rectangular screen and a displaceable locking element moveable between a coupling position and a release position. The poultry container provides a side wall with a rectangular aperture for receiving a poultry container side panel as well as for the assembly of such poultry container side panel and such poultry container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a poultry container door corner part for releasable connection to a container for holding live poultry with two substantially flat panels, rectangularly joined together and forming an elongate corner part with a substantially L-shaped cross-section. The present invention also relates to a poultry container door frame for supporting a poultry container door corner part. Furthermore the invention relates to a poultry container door, comprising a poultry container door corner part and a poultry container door frame, as well as to a poultry container for holding live poultry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for processing clusters of poultry viscera, at least comprising a gizzard. The method comprises conveying the clusters of viscera in a suspended manner, pulling the gizzard of each cluster of viscera, while the latter are being conveyed in a suspended manner, over two elongate scraper bodies which rotate about respective rotation axes, each of the scraper bodies comprising at least one scraper element, wherein, due to the rotation of the two scraper bodies, gizzard fat which is present on a gizzard wall is separated from the gizzard by the scraper elements while the gizzard is being pulled, and collecting the gizzard fat which has been separated from the gizzard of the successive clusters of viscera.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a container base for holding live poultry, a container segment for holding live poultry that can be stacked onto such a container base, and a container cover as well as to a container assembly for holding live poultry, comprising such a container base and at least one such container segment placed on top of the container base. Furthermore the invention also relates to a method for loading the container assembly according the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for processing clusters of poultry viscera, at least comprising a gizzard. The method comprises conveying the clusters of viscera in a suspended manner, pulling the gizzard of each cluster of viscera, while the latter are being conveyed in a suspended manner, over two elongate scraper bodies which rotate about respective rotation axes, each of the scraper bodies comprising at least one scraper element, wherein, due to the rotation of the two scraper bodies, gizzard fat which is present on a gizzard wall is separated from the gizzard by the scraper elements while the gizzard is being pulled, and collecting the gizzard fat which has been separated from the gizzard of the successive clusters of viscera.

Abstract: A shackle for suspending viscera packs of slaughtered poultry in a processing line comprises a frame; a coupling, connected to the frame, at a first end of the frame; a clamping part, connected to the frame, at a second end of the frame, opposite to the first end of the frame. The clamping part comprises a first clamping element and a second clamping element, wherein the second clamping element is rotatable regarding the first clamping element, between an open position and a closed position. An actuator, such as a rod, is arranged to move, the second clamping element regarding the first actuator. The actuator is moveable between an open position and a closed position. A spring has one end arranged on the first clamping element, and another end arranged on the second clamping element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a poultry container side panel for releasable connection to a container for holding live poultry, having a rectangular screen with apertures; a sideward protruding foot and at one coupling, which coupling comprises a support stationary connected to the rectangular screen and a displaceable locking element moveable between a coupling position and a release position. The invention also provides a poultry container for holding live poultry, with a side wall having a rectangular aperture for receiving a poultry container side panel as well as to the assembly of such poultry container side panel and such a poultry container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pre-evisceration device and a method for preparing the evisceration of beheaded slaughtered poultry, wherein the viscera pack is to be eviscerated from the vent end. A neck slitting knife makes a neck slit along the neck at the breast side of the poultry. A pre-evisceration release tool is adapted to be inserted via the neck slit between the esophagus and trachea and the naturally surrounding tissue, and to be moved along the neck to loosen at least part of the trachea and esophagus adhering to the neck. The pre-evisceration tool releases, prior to evisceration, part of the esophagus and trachea at the neck side of the crop between a position adjacent the crop, at the neck side thereof, and the neck opening.

Abstract: A shackle for suspending viscera packs of slaughtered poultry in a processing line comprises a frame; a coupling, connected to the frame, at a first end of the frame; a clamping part, connected to the frame, at a second end of the frame, opposite to the first end of the frame. The clamping part comprises a first clamping element and a second clamping element, wherein the second clamping element is rotatable regarding the first clamping element, between an open position and a closed position. An actuator, such as a rod, is arranged to move, the second clamping element regarding the first actuator. The actuator is moveable between an open position and a closed position. A spring has one end arranged on the first clamping element, and another end arranged on the second clamping element.

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: The present invention relates to a poultry container door corner part for releasable connection to a container for holding live poultry with two substantially flat panels, rectangularly joined together and forming an elongate corner part with a substantially L-shaped cross-section. The present invention also relates to a poultry container door frame for supporting a poultry container door corner part. Furthermore the invention relates to a poultry container door, comprising a poultry container door corner part and a poultry container door frame, as well as to a poultry container for holding live poultry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cover for a poultry container for holding live poultry, comprising: two substantially parallel guides; plural longitudinal supports, on opposite sides moveable connected to the guides; a flexible cover sheet, connected to the longitudinal supports; wherein the parallel guides are provided with preferred holding locations for preferred positioning of the longitudinal supports onto the guides. The invention also relates to a poultry container including such a cover as well as to a poultry container assembly of plural stacked poultry containers.

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: The present invention relates to a pre-evisceration device and a method for preparing the evisceration of beheaded slaughtered poultry, wherein the viscera pack is to be eviscerated from the vent end. A neck slitting knife makes a neck slit along the neck at the breast side of the poultry. A pre-evisceration release tool is adapted to be inserted via the neck slit between the esophagus and trachea and the naturally surrounding tissue, and to be moved along the neck to loosen said at least part of the trachea and esophagus adhering to said neck. The pre-evisceration tool releases, prior to evisceration, part of the esophagus and trachea at the neck side of the crop between a position adjacent the crop, at the neck side thereof, and the neck opening.

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 wishbone separator device for separating a wishbone from a poultry carcass includes a primary wishbone cutter including a front cutter portion including a central front apex, a left and a right front cutting edge, which diverge from said central front apex, a wishbone limb cutter portion, including a left and a right limb cutting edge. An intersection point of an extension of the left limb cutting edge and an extension of the right limb cutting edge is arranged on a center line parallel to the cutting direction through the central front apex. The left and right front cutting edge are arranged forward of the left and right limb cutting edge, respectively as seen in the cutting direction and outward relative to said imaginary extension line from the left and right limb cutting edge, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stunning device (1) for poultry, having an elongated stunning space (2) with a poultry feed opening and a poultry discharge opening which elongated stunning space is subdivided in at least two connecting compartments, a controlled anaesthetic gas feed connecting to the elongated stunning space, and a conveyer (9) leading through the elongated stunning space providing a transportation path for the poultry, wherein at least one side of the elongate stunning space is connecting to a transition compartment. The invention also provides a method of operating such a stunning device.

Abstract: A wishbone separator device for separating a wishbone from a poultry carcass includes a primary wishbone cutter including a front cutter portion including a central front apex, a left and a right front cutting edge, which diverge from said central front apex, a wishbone limb cutter portion, including a left and a right limb cutting edge. An intersection point of an extension of the left limb cutting edge and an extension of the right limb cutting edge is arranged on a center line parallel to the cutting direction through the central front apex. The left and right front cutting edge are arranged forward of the left and right limb cutting edge, respectively as seen in the cutting direction and outward relative to said imaginary extension line from the left and right limb cutting edge, respectively.

Abstract: The invention provides a device and a method for processing slaughter animals, in particular slaughtered poultry such as chickens, and/or parts thereof. The device comprises a driving system for driving an element to be driven of the device. The, driving system comprises a driving element, a transfer element, which is driven by the driving element in use and which is rigidly connected during normal operation to the element to be driven, as well as overload protection means which are configured to rigidly connect the processing element and the transfer element during normal operation and to allow relative movement between the processing element and the transfer element in an overload situation if a force that acts between the processing element and the transfer element exceeds a threshold value.