Abstract: A longitudinally movable infeed mechanism that allows for variations in the effective length of a peeler that uses rotating rolls to clean, peel or otherwise treat the exterior of objects, such as potatoes. The infeed mechanism has a surface, which can be the upwardly-facing surface of a conveyor belt, that conveys or is part of a structure that conveys the objects into the peel bed. A terminal end of the surface may move longitudinally parallel to the rolls, and may have a wall that prevents objects from moving past it. Thus, movement of the terminal end and wall defines the effective peel bed length and restricts the objects to that peel bed, permitting variation in amount of peeling by movement of the infeed mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating wing tips from poultry carcasses includes a suspended conveyor device and a support guide for guiding the neck and shoulder region. The guide extends in the transport direction and is arranged below the carcass, and has at least one support surface to support the neck and shoulder region. A lower arm guide is configured for guiding the poultry lower arm and wing tip and is arranged at the side of the support guide. A first hold-down guide holds down the poultry upper arm under pretension and is arranged stationarily. A second hold-down guide is arranged downstream of the first hold-down guide and has at least two guiding elements for holding down the upper arm. The guiding elements are movable in deflection against a return force. A separating device is configured for separating the wing tip and is arranged in the region of the second hold-down guide.

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: Method and apparatus for deskinning a poultry leg or part of a poultry leg that may use a conveyor with conveyor elements from which the poultry leg or part of the poultry leg is suspendable, and substantially horizontal or slightly slanting cooperating bottom rollers below the conveyor that can be rotatable in opposite directions and provided with meshing teeth for stripping the skin from the poultry leg or part of the poultry leg, and wherein a set of top rollers can be provided above the bottom rollers and below the conveyor for contacting opposite sides of the poultry leg or part of the poultry leg.

Abstract: An automatic skinning assembly having a loading station, a first device, and a conveyor assembly extending between the first skinning device and the second skinning device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for mechanically processing an organ or organs taken out from slaughtered poultry in a processing device or processing line, which organ or organs form part of an organ package and wherein said organ or organs are separated from the organ package. The organ package is spatially oriented by the processing device without notably breaking tissue connections in the package, and in a preselected order so as to cause harvesting of organs from the package to occur in a preselected sequence that depends on the location of the organ package in the processing device or processing line.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for mechanically processing an organ or organs taken out from slaughtered poultry in a processing device or processing line, which organ or organs form part of an organ package and wherein the organ or organs are separated from the organ package. The organ package is spatially oriented by the processing device without notably breaking tissue connections in the package, and in a preselected order so as to cause the harvesting of organs from the package to occur in a preselected sequence that depends on the location of the organ package in the processing device or processing line.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for splitting and cleaning poultry gizzards. A poultry gizzard with proventriculus attached thereto is moved in sequence along a processing path, first along a pair of conveyor rollers that support the gizzard and pull the proventriculus downwardly between the conveyor rollers and then along a pair of engaging cutting spindles which sever the proventriculus from the gizzard. The gizzard is then transferred to a cutting station where a water knife cuts a slit into the gizzard, exposing the interior cavity of the gizzard and loosening ingest contained therein. The gizzard is then spread open by a spreading fin and adjoining rails that enter and enlarge the freshly cut slit. A water sprayer manifold then sprays pressurized water into the exposed cavity to flush and forcibly clean ingest out of the cavity.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for mechanically processing an organ or organs taken out from slaughtered poultry in a processing device or processing line, which organ or organs form part of an organ package and wherein the organ or organs are separated from the organ package. The organ package is spatially oriented by the processing device without notably breaking tissue connections in the package, and in a preselected order so as to cause the harvesting of organs from the package to occur in a preselected sequence that depends on the location of the organ package in the processing device or processing line.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for mechanically processing an organ or organs taken out from slaughtered poultry in a processing device or processing line, which organ or organs form part of an organ package and wherein said organ or organs are separated from the organ package. The organ package is spatially oriented by the processing device without notably breaking tissue connections in the package, and in a preselected order so as to cause the harvesting of organs from the package to occur in a preselected sequence that depends on the location of the organ package in the processing device or processing line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gizzard peeler comprising a series of rollersets, each rollerset comprising a first roller and a second roller that in use rotate in opposite directions, wherein the rollersets collectively form a cylindrical wall of a rotatable drum or form part of such a wall, whereby the drum is provided at its outer circumference with a guide and pressure device for guiding and pressing a gizzard along at least a part of the drum's outer circumference.

Abstract: A gizzard peeler is provided that includes a series of rollersets. Each rollerset includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a first roller and a second roller that in use rotate in opposite directions. The rollersets collectively form a cylindrical wall of a rotatable drum or form part of such a wall, whereby the drum is provided at its outer circumference with guide and pressure means for guiding and pressing a gizzard along at least a part of the drum's outer circumference.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises: a running conveyor (1) with hooks (2) for suspending a set (5) of organs by the diaphragm (6) and conveying it in a conveying direction of the conveyor (1); a slit device (10; 11) arranged below the conveyor (1) with a slit (13; 44) for guiding horizontally in the slit a connective tissue part (9; 6) of the set (5) of organs during the conveyance of the set of organs on the conveyor with an organ (8; 7) located below the slit (13; 44), a retaining device (14-16; 40) arranged in a conveying path which the organ (8; 7) follows with the connective tissue part (9; 6) guided by the slit (13; 44), the retaining device (14-16; 40) being adapted to retain the organ (8; 7) on the retaining device by the conveyor's (1) pull in the set (5) of organs; and (22, 23; 49-51, 54) for causing separation between the organ (8; 7) and the connective tissue part (9; 6) when such retention has been provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for processing an trails package removed from slaughtered poultry, comprising two parallel and adjacently positioned shafts drivable for an opposite rotation, with a helically extending surface profile, the shafts defining a slot between themselves. At least one of the shafts is provided with at least one ring-shaped circumferential section at which the helically extending surface profile is missing and of which the surface is positioned at least at the level of the crest of the adjacent helically extending surface profile. Both shafts may be provided with a number of such circumferential sections.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for dividing into separate parts an assembly removed from an entrails package of a slaughtered bird comprising heart and lungs. The apparatus comprises two rotating axes defining a slit therebetween. A first part of the axes is provided with a coarse profile, whereas a successive second part is provided with a fine profile shaped as interengaging teeth. Further, it is possible that the second part is followed by a third part which again is provided with a more coarse profile.

Abstract: In a method and device for separating at least one piece of visceral tissue from at least one organ connected thereto, in which the at least one piece of visceral tissue to be separated is smaller than said at least one organ, the cluster of visceral tissue and organ or organs is moved relative to and over a surface provided with holes. The holes are effectively at least as large as the smallest cross-section of the at least one piece of visceral tissue to be separated. A piece of visceral tissue to be separated which passes into a hole is retained in the hole.

Abstract: An article, an apparatus, and a method for processing a meat product. The inventive article comprises: a shaft; a spiral conveying channel on the exterior of the shaft; and a cutting member projecting from the shaft and positioned within the conveying channel. The inventive apparatus comprises the inventive article and a driving assembly for rotating the inventive article about its longitudinal axis. The inventive method comprises the step of conveying a meat item through the conveying channel of the inventive article such that the cutting member contacts and forms a cut in the meat item.

Abstract: A poultry skinning apparatus comprising a plurality of elongated rollers rotatively mounted to a support frame at a declining angle to define a longitudinal processing path between a first end and a second end of each roller. Each elongated roller, in accordance with the preferred embodiments, defines a plurality of helical teeth and spaces, having a first helix angle, which extend about a longitudinal axis and define the periphery of each roller. The elongated rollers are independently mounted in pairs and define an adjustable pinch gap originating at the first ends of the rollers. In accordance with a first preferred embodiment, the elongated rollers include a reversed segment proximate to the second ends having a plurality of teeth and spaces at a second helix angle which opposes the first helix angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating into parts an entrails package removed from a slaughtered bird, the package comprising gizzard, proventriculus, heart, lungs, liver, gallbladder and intestines. The method includes loosening the tissue connections between the gizzard and the intestines, separating the entrails package in a package comprising liver, gallbladder and intestines on one hand and a package comprising gizzard, proventriculus, heart and lungs on the other hand, as well as separating the gizzard with proventriculus from the heart with lungs. The invention further relates to an apparatus for carrying out such a method.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing the gizzards of poultry of various sizes which comprises a conveyor with drivers for moving the gizzards along the top of a guide past cutting means for cutting the gizzards open as they are moved along the guide. Auxiliary guide means is disposed along both sides of the top of the guide and moves in synchronism with the conveyor for guiding the gizzards as they move along the top of the guide past the cutting means. The auxiliary guide means may be driven by engaging the conveyor.

Abstract: In a chicken deskinning device a pair of rollers is provided whereby one may be pivoted with respect to the other for defining a gap therebetween. The rollers terminate in a pair of blocks, each of which has an open end to allow the passage of chicken skin past the rear of the roller bearing blocks. A second set of rollers may be employed beneath the first set.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for mechanically and individually removing the heart and liver from poultry viscera still attached to the poultry carcass being transported through the poultry plant by an overhead conveyor and cleaning the heart after removal.

Abstract: In a separating device, the heart, lungs and liver are separated from the viscera of a slaughtered bird by conveying these organs, including the gall-bladder, connected to the bird, essentially parallel to the path of the bird with a helical roller. First the heart and lungs are separated from the liver by cutting through the tissue connecting the heart and lungs, and the liver. Next, the liver is separated from the remainder of the viscera by increasing the distance between the liver and the gall-bladder, and cutting through the tissue connecting the liver and the gall-bladder.

Abstract: Poultry parts (56), such as poultry breasts, necks and gizzards are placed on a pair of counter rotating peeler rolls (36 and 38). The peeler rolls (36 and 38) each has a series of helical teeth (46) formed along their lengths, which engage the skin (54) of the poultry parts and the visceral matter clinging to the poultry parts (56), peeling it away from the poultry parts (56) as the poultry parts (56) move along the length of the peeler rolls (36 and 38). The counter rotation of the peeler rolls (36 and 38) causes the peeler rolls (36 and 38) to tumble rapidly, enhancing the peeling function.

Abstract: A processing assembly for use in processing poultry parts by separating the parts into different portions comprising an elongate roll with helically extending teeth and a cover defining a recess therein for the discharge end of the roll with a size such that the discharge end of said roll is rotatably received in the recess and a depth such that the teeth on the discharge end of the roll extend a prescribed distance into the recess.