Abstract: The invention provides a device for changing the orientation of slaughter products, comprising an endless guide extending along a conveying path, product carriers which are movable along the guide.

Abstract: A conveyor line and carrier including a hook or hooks for suspending poultry or poultry parts by the legs. A carriage for moving the carrier with the suspended poultry or poultry parts along a track of the conveyor line. Arranged with at least a first rotatable vertical rod suspended from the carriage, which first rotatable rod is provided with a sideways extending arm for adjusting an orientation of the poultry or poultry parts with reference to the carriage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for driving a splitting tool holder intended for an animal carcass splitting machine including a main carriage having sliding guide means for a splitting tool holder; a splitting tool holder supporting a splitting tool; means for driving the splitting tool in order to make it operational; operation programming means; means for slidingly driving the tool holder carried by the main carriage and connected to the tool holder and means for controlling said driving means, characterised on the one hand, by electric driving means which can be stopped in one or several adjustable precise known positions considered as reference positions for the splitting tool; on the other hand, in that the control means are able to control not only the operation and stoppage of the electric driving means but also the adjustment in position thereof, in order to adjust the reference position of the splitting tool according to the needs; the reference positions for the splitting tool being selected amon

Abstract: An automatic top slice removal device includes a frame, a lower conveyor belt and an adjustably mounted upper conveyor belt extending generally parallel with and spaced from the lower conveyor belt. A meat product slicing device includes a blade interposed between the upper conveyor belt and the lower conveyor belt to separate a top slice from the remainder of the meat product. A top slice separator plate is adjustably mounted between the upper conveyor belt and the lower conveyor belt and positioned rearwardly adjacent and vertically aligned with the blade and extends rearwards therefrom to maintain separation of the top slice and the remainder of the meat product between the belts. Finally, a top slice removal conveyor belt is positioned rearwards of the top slice separator plate and below the upper conveyor belt to remove the top slice from the remainder of the meat product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for severing a spare rib (RR) from a backbone (R), whereby the split backbone is conveyed inside a guideway (2), which is comprised of two guide plates (21, 22) and which delimits a wedge-shaped channel (23) through which the spare rib (R) projects each time and a cutting edge (10) of a cutting device (1) traverses past on the side of the rib. The cutting device (1) is a rotary blade with a cutting rim (10), which is tapered to form a sharp edge, and its cutting blade (11) is arranged nearly parallel to the guide plates (21, 22) whose distance from one another can be adjusted.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for cutting up the belly of a slaughtered animal, comprising a first means (2) for providing a cutting function in a cutting direction (SR), and a displacement element (5) applies a forces on a predetermined area of the outer surface of the belly of the animal and at a distance from the first means (2), said apparatus (1) further comprising a suspension element (40) to which the displacement element (5) is pivotally attached around an axis of rotation (28). With an apparatus as described in the present invention, there is achieved an axis of rotation (28) which forms an obtuse or an acute angle with the cutting direction (SR), and that the axis of rotation (28) forms the fulcrum for the rotation of the displacement element (5). There is hereby achieved an improved displacement of the skin and the penis.

Abstract: A process for separating the hollowed body of a poultry carcass into a lower half body including the thighs and part of the back, and a upper half body including the breast inclusive of the ribs and the remaining part of the back, including a first process step in which the hollowed body is cut from the roots of the thighs through the tail ends of the ilia while the hollowed body is transferred in a suspended state without cutting the keel, and a second process step in which the sinews and connective tissues are cut at the side of the hipbone and the thighs are ripped off with high yields. Apparatus for the first step includes a conveyer line 20a, a peritoneum cutting part 11, a 90 degree reversing part 12, and a poultry carcass severing part 13.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the gripping and retention of part of a split carcass by the spinal column (17), and the conveyance of that part essentially in the lengthwise direction of the spinal column, while retaining it by the spinal column during processing of the carcass part by means of cutting tools. The device comprises a mainly rectilinear conveyor (10) with retention elements (11) connected as links in an endless chain, with each element having a first section (21) with a contact surface (22) for a first side of the spinal column and a second section (25) with a pressure surface (26) for a second side of the spinal column. The two sections of each element are designed to allow the contact surface (22) and the pressure surface (26) to be relatively moved towards and away from each other in a direction across the conveyor's direction of conveyance.

Abstract: An automatic device for cutting the legs of pork carcasses laying transversally onto a conveyor. A support carrier is mounted onto a frame extending close to the conveyor in such a manner as to be movable toward and away from the conveyor. The support carrier supports a circular saw extending in a vertical plane parallel to the moving direction of the conveyor at a sufficient height to cut the legs projecting away from the same. The support carrier also supports a device called "feeler" that is pivotably hung to a horizontal pivot at a predetermined distance from the saw, which corresponds to the average length for the legs to be cut. A control system is operatively connected to a presence sensor mounted in such a manner to detect the legs of the carcasses when these legs reach the feeler. The control system is also connected to a motion detector that detects any swing of the feeler, and to a power jack for moving the support carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed is a middle splitter for use in splitting middles of processed animals. This middle splitter has a work table onto which a conveyor belt is mounted. The conveyor belt is slotted along its length. A circular saw extends in the slot of the conveyor belt to cut the middle laid on the conveyor belt as it moves forward. A guide extends parallel to the slot and above the conveyor belt. This guide holds the middle flat against the belt as it is cut. A driving wheel having a vertical axis and peripheral corrugations is driven by a motor to pull the middle towards the saw and push the spine of the middle towards the guide while exerting a pressure to it. The guide includes two proximity switches operatively connected to the pressure-exerting device in such a manner that the pressure exerted by the wheel onto the spine is varied while the middle moves forward. The guide may further include a block located opposite the saw to distance the spine from the saw.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the mechanical skinning and filleting of poultry bodies these are saddled on carriers and guided to pass corresponding processing tools. To achieve the objects of skinning in an optimal manner, on the one hand, and obtaining a high yield in fillet meat, on the other, the carriers are designed to pivot about a vertical axis and at least one reversing mechanism is provided for the carriers, one of such reversing mechanisms being arranged between a skinning tool and a tool for releasing the meat, this reversing mechanism serving for pivoting the carriers about 180.degree..

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automated poultry processing system having a novel chicken hind quarter cutting stage that does not require the individual chicken hind quarters to be removed from the moving treadmill before or after halving the chicken hind quarters. Each chicken hind quarter is placed into a moveable shackle including a rotatable shackle assembly. Each rotatable shackle assembly includes a cam plate that, when moved into contact with a stationary cam member, causes the shackle assembly to rotate 90.degree., thereby rotating the chicken hind quarter by 90.degree.. The chicken hind quarter then moves into contact with a guide member that positions the chicken hind quarter for subsequent cutting by a rotary saw. The chicken hind quarter remains in contact with the guide member until the saw has cut the chicken hind quarter into halves, thereby facilitating a precise cut of the chicken hind quarter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of cutting meat. The apparatus and method is particularly directed to separating a backbone portion from a rib portion of a piece of meat. The apparatus is comprised of a vertical orientation unit for vertically orienting the piece of meat. The orientation unit includes a longitudinal receiving channel having a generally horizontal top surface, the surface having a slot. The width of the slot accommodates the rib portion but not the backbone portion so that the backbone portion is held above the orientation unit. A moving unit is provided and is adapted to contact the backbone portion for moving the piece of meat horizontally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the channel. A cutting unit is provided which includes a saw blade, a portion of which is oriented horizontally, wherein the cutting unit horizontally cuts the rib portion from the backbone portion.