Abstract: The technology as disclosed herein includes a method and apparatus for deboning a meat item, and more particular for deboning a poultry item including performing an initial shoulder cut for removing boneless breast meat from the poultry carcass or frame. The method and apparatus disclosed and claimed herein is a combination of a robotic arm including an ultrasonic knife implement and a vision system for varying the cut path based on the shape and size of the poultry item. The combination as claimed including the ultrasonic knife can perform a meat cut while penetrating the meat with less force than the typical penetration that occurs when using a traditional knife.

Abstract: A fish descaling assembly includes a first panel that has a plurality of openings each extending through the first panel. Each of the openings has an ovoid boundary for having a fish positioned therein to restrain the fish. A first mesh screen is coupled to the first panel to support the fish when the fish are positioned in the openings. A second panel is hingedly coupled to the first panel and the second panel has a plurality of openings each extending through the second panel. Each of the openings in the second panel has an ovoid boundary to surround the fish when the second panel is closed onto the first panel. A second mesh screen is coupled to the second panel to support the fish when the fish are positioned in the openings in the second panel.

Abstract: A poultry breast deboning apparatus and method for guiding a plurality of poultry combinations that have a breast and attached wings, the apparatus including a transport assembly with carts mounted to a drive system. Each of the carts has an opening to receive one of the wings of each combination. Moveable cutters are disposed adjacent the transport assembly for seating against the carts for severing tissue connecting the wings and the breast. Moveable bars are biased to urge the wings into the cart openings.

Abstract: Slaughter installation including a conveyor line with carriers for suspending poultry by the legs and conveying the poultry in a conveying track. Head positioning means arranged for forcing the bill of the poultry in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the suspended poultry. Killing device having at least a first rotary knife positioned alongside of the conveying track for cutting into the neck of the suspended poultry while avoiding to cut a certain parts. A first guide wheel upstream and proximate to the first rotary knife, which first guide wheel is positioned alongside the conveying track. A passageway between the first rotary knife and the first guide wheel through which the poultry neck is able to pass.

Abstract: A poultry breast deboning apparatus and method for guiding a plurality of poultry combinations that have a breast and attached wings, the apparatus including a transport assembly with carts mounted to a drive system. Each of the carts has an opening to receive one of the wings of each combination. Moveable cutters are disposed adjacent the transport assembly for seating against the carts for severing tissue connecting the wings and the breast. Moveable bars are biased to urge the wings into the cart openings.

Abstract: A method of processing a poultry carcass includes exposing an area of tissue between a leg and the carcass, cutting the tissue between the leg and the carcass where the muscle tissue connecting the leg to the back of the carcass remains intact, and separating the leg bone from the carcass with the leg muscle tissue remaining connected to the back muscle tissue. The cut extends between about 0.1 mm to about 7.0 mm below the surface of the tissue. In an implementation, the teres ligament is cut.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (30) for cutting the head off a slaughtered animal's carcass comprising: at least two knives (31,32), both provided with a cutting edge (33, 34); and controls for moving the knives towards and away from each other such that the cutting edges of the knives cooperate in a cutting action, whereby at least one of the knives is provided with a position-finding protruding cutting edge portion (35,36). The invention also relates to an automatic work station comprising such a cutting device and a manipulator for positioning the cutting device. Furthermore the invention relates to a method for cutting the head off a slaughtered animal's carcass.

Abstract: Fourth toe processing apparatus and methods for the processing the fourth toes of a bird are disclosed. The fourth toe processing apparatus includes a shield, a non-contact energy source emitting energy towards the shield, a shank restraint structure receiving a shank of a bird located proximate the second side of the shield, and a fourth toe aperture extending through the first side and the second side of the shield. Energy emitted towards the shield by the energy source passes through the fourth toe aperture so that a fourth toe of a bird having its shank positioned in the fourth toe aperture is exposed to the energy.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for removing lesion material from poultry feet. The systems, for example, can include at least one spray head located along a travel path of a plurality of movable shackles within a poultry processing line. Each shackle can be configured to hold a poultry member in a processing position as the shackles are moved along the processing line. The spray head configured to spray feet of the poultry members held by the plurality of shackles to remove the lesion material from the feet.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method and system for harvesting saddle meat parts from a carcass part of slaughtered poultry, wherein the carcass part initially comprises two legs parts and a saddle, wherein the carcass part further comprises two saddle meat parts.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for separating at least one leg part (1) from a carcass part of slaughtered poultry, wherein the device comprises: —a main conveyor, which main conveyor comprises a plurality of carriers (10), each carrier being adapted to engage a carcass parts by or in the vicinity of the free ends of the leg parts, the main conveyor being provided with a drive for moving the carriers along a path, —a hip dislocator assembly, which is adapted to dislocate the hip joints in such a way that after said dislocation, a tissue connection remains between each leg part and the saddle, and adapted to disengage the leg parts from the carrier of the main conveyor, —a saddle support guide (32), which is adapted for supporting the saddle of the carcass part after the carcass part has become disengaged from the carrier of the main conveyor, —a leg separator (40) comprising two leg grippers (41), each leg gripper comprising a leg gripping slot that is adapted for engaging a leg part, wherein the leg grip

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method and system for harvesting saddle meat parts from a carcass part of slaughtered poultry, wherein the carcass part initially comprises two legs parts and a saddle, wherein the carcass part further comprises two saddle meat parts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for removing wing tips (2t) from carcass parts of slaughtered poultry, comprising a wing tip processing station (100) with a wing tip cutter (105) adapted to remove the wing tip segment from the lower wing member, and a set of multiple wing guides (101, 102) for guiding and positioning one wing so as to define the position of the lower wing member, the wing tip joint and the wing tip of said one wing at the wing tip cutter. At least one upper wing member guide (101) and at least one lower wing member guide (102) is provided.

Abstract: A paw cutting system for removing a poultry paw from a shackle conveyed along a shackle conveyor line and then cutting the leg of the paw to remove the knuckle is provided. The paw cutter has a guide bar substantially aligned with the shackle conveyor line that urges the paw to a central cavity of the shackle. The paw is discharged from the central cavity into a lateral notch formed in two opposed discs positioned adjacent to an end of the guide bar. The two opposed discs are rotatable and move the paw from the guide bar to a blade. As the paw is moved to the blade, the two discs stretch the paw so that the blade can cleanly cut the paw. The cut paw product can be placed onto a belt or other device in an ordered manner.

Abstract: A food source information transferring system for a livestock meat-packing facility and a related method are disclosed. In one embodiment, the food source information transferring system is capable of reading tag-identifying information in a hook RFID tag incorporated in a hook that can be hung on a hook machine. An animal carcass attached to the hook then undergoes meat chopping, cutting, and/or packing operations in the meat-packing facility. For each meat package produced, a data set associated with the tag-identifying information in the hook RFID tag can be paired with a data set associated with a meat package label attached to the meat package. This dynamic and robust data association between the hook RFID tag and the meat package label enables a food source information database in the food source information transferring system to preserve and trace detailed food source information at various levels of meat production and processing.

Abstract: An exemplary apparatus is provided for processing a poultry carcass part that includes a back portion and two legs connected to the back portion wherein the legs are separated from the back portion. The exemplary apparatus includes a conveyor line with shackles for conveying a series of poultry carcass parts suspended from the shackles, and at least one cutting device for making an incision in the joints connecting the legs to the back portion, wherein a series of cutting devices are assembled at the outer circumference of a cylindrical processing machine which is rotatable around a central body axis.

Abstract: An exemplary apparatus is provided for processing a poultry carcass part that includes a back portion and two legs connected to the back portion wherein the legs are separated from the back portion. The exemplary apparatus includes a conveyor line with shackles for conveying a series of poultry carcass parts suspended from the shackles, and at least one cutting device for making an incision in the joints connecting the legs to the back portion, wherein a series of cutting devices are assembled at the outer circumference of a cylindrical processing machine which is rotatable around a central body axis.

Abstract: A system for processing a carcass or carcass part of a porcine, bovine, ovine, or caprine slaughter animal involves a plurality of processing steps. The system includes a primary transport system that includes an overhead conveyor and a plurality of carriers for holding a carcass or carcass part, a plurality of processing stations, which processing stations are arranged along the track, each of the processing stations being adapted to carry out one or more processing steps on a carcass or carcass part, wherein in at least one processing station a step of removing a part of the carcass or carcass part is carried out, a secondary transport system, which secondary transport system is arranged adjacent to the processing station in which said part is removed from the carcass or carcass part, which secondary transport system is adapted to receive said part.

Abstract: An apparatus for severing a drumstick and a thigh that are part of a leg of poultry from each other includes an overhead conveyor for supplying the suspended leg, a supporting member for supporting the leg while the drumstick and thigh are being severed, and a cutting device for severing the drumstick from the thigh at the height of a knee joint A clamping device is provided for holding fast the thigh at least while it passes the cutting device.

Abstract: In a method and device, an elongate bone is removed from a meat-comprising extremity or part thereof of a slaughter animal. The bone has a first joint end, which forms part of a first joint, and a second joint end, which forms part of a second joint. The bone is taken out of the extremity at the first joint end, a tissue connection between the extremity and the second joint end of the bone substantially being retained. Then, meat is moved away from the bone in the region of the second joint end of the bone as a result of at least a part of the bone being moved in its longitudinal direction with respect to a scraper device towards and in particular beyond the second joint end, and the tissue connection between the extremity and the bone is mechanically broken.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for processing carcass parts of slaughtered poultry, a carcass part comprising at least part of a body and at least part of a wing, comprising bone, capsule in the vicinity of the elbow joint and meat that is naturally present. The invention makes use of a conveyor device having at least one carrier and a conveyor path, the at least one carrier being displaceable in a conveying direction along the conveyor path and being designed to carry a carcass part. Use is also made of a wing processing station disposed along the conveyor path.

Abstract: In a method and device, an elongate bone is removed from a meat-comprising extremity or part thereof of a slaughter animal. The bone has a first joint end, which forms part of a first joint, and a second joint end, which forms part of a second joint. The bone is taken out of the extremity at the first joint end, a tissue connection between the extremity and the second joint end of the bone substantially being retained. Then, meat is moved away from the bone in the region of the second joint end of the bone as a result of at least a part of the bone being moved in its longitudinal direction with respect to a scraper device towards and in particular beyond the second joint end, and the tissue connection between the extremity and the bone is mechanically broken.

Abstract: Photoelectric and inductive sensors are placed along a picking and eviscerating chicken lines. The sensors detect the location of a chicken bird in a shackle and its associated feet, also in a shackle. The sensors communicate this information to a programmable logic card. An inspection button also communicates information to the programmable logic card. Medal flags are attached to a shackle to allow for an easier way for the sensors to determine the locations of the chicken bird and its associated feet.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for automatically removing a tail from poultry. An overhead conveyor moves the poultry or part of a bird suspended by the legs, and a guiding device is disposed underneath the overhead conveyor for supporting and guiding the poultry. A cutting device is functionally disposed behind a lead element for the poultry and which is part of the guiding device. The overhead conveyor is designed to convey the poultry with the back facing forward while the guiding device supports and guides the poultry substantially at the side of the back. The cutting device is disposed in or under an effective supporting surface of the guiding device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming a shaped meat product by cutting under compression. Male and female die assemblies carried by dual conveyers are loaded with meat components and brought together in compression to define a die. The assemblies are formed with arrays of blade receiving slits and are conveyor transported to a cutting station. At the station, carriage mounted dynamic blades are maneuvered into the slits from the outward sides of the die assemblies to form any of a broad variety of geometric-shaped meat products.

Abstract: A carcass tilting device equipped in a spinal cord removing apparatus for suctioning and removing spinal cord from spinal cavity of a carcass of slaughtered cattle, to facilitate removing spinal cord from the carcass suspended with its head down in a vertically narrow space, comprises a support column 21, a tilting member 23 pivotally mounted on the support column 21 and having a contact portion 25a with which the carcass makes contact, and a second cylinder 29 configured to cause the tilting member 23 to pivot to be tilted with respect to a vertical direction such that a lower end of the tilting member is raised. The tilting member 23 has an inner member 24 and an outer member 25 which are displaceable in the longitudinal direction from a position where the members 24 and 25 overlap each other, thereby causing the tilting member 23 to entirely extend.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for partially cutting hock joints, and letting feet remain attached to the rest of carcass by skin and one or more tendons, exposing the hock joint by folding feet, and hanging the carcasses in the evisceration shackles by hock joints, the method unambiguously ensures that if a carcass is condemned by an Inspector, the feet belonging to that carcass are condemned as well. Furthermore, this invention solves the even more tractable problem of capturing folded feet, separating feet from the carcass while leaving the carcass still hanging in the shackles, transferring feet into an infeed paw cutter wheel, and cutting knuckle portion to produce chicken paws ready for further processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting poultry carcasses as they are continuously conveyed by a shackle conveyor having a plurality of shackles. The inventive apparatus comprises a gap provided between two rails. The rails are positioned such that the exterior of the carcass adjacent the spine will contact and slide along the back rail while the front rail will pivot the front half of the carcass backward with respect to the back half, thereby placing the skin connecting the two halves in a peeling position with respect to the front half. The apparatus further comprises a blade positioned for cutting a segment of skin while the carcass is in this stretched position such that at least most of the segment of skin remains attached to the back half.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for partially cutting hock joints, and letting feet remain attached to the rest of the carcass by skin and one or more tendons, exposing the hock joint by folding feet, and hanging the carcasses in the evisceration shackles by hock joints, the method unambiguously ensures that if a carcass is condemned by an Inspector, the feet belonging to that carcass are condemned as well. Furthermore, this invention solves the even more intractable problem of capturing folded feet, separating feet from the carcass while leaving the carcass still hanging in the shackles, transferring feet into an infeed paw cutter wheel, and cutting knuckle portion to produce chicken paws ready for further processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting poultry carcasses as they are continuously conveyed by a shackle conveyor having a plurality of shackles. The inventive apparatus comprises a gap provided between two rails. The rails are positioned such that the exterior of the carcass adjacent the spine will contact and slide along the back rail while the front rail will pivot the front half of the carcass backward with respect to the back half, thereby placing the skin connecting the two halves in a peeling position with respect to the front half. The apparatus further comprises a blade positioned for cutting a segment of skin while the carcass is in this stretched position such that at least most of the segment of skin remains attached to the back half.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting poultry carcasses as they are continuously conveyed by a shackle conveyor having a plurality of shackles. The inventive apparatus comprises a gap provided between two rails. The rails are positioned such that the exterior of the carcass adjacent the spine will contact and slide along the back rail while the front rail will pivot the front half of the carcass backward with respect to the back half, thereby placing the skin connecting the two halves in a peeling position with respect to the front half. The apparatus further comprises a blade positioned for cutting a segment of skin while the carcass is in this stretched position such that at least most of the segment of skin remains attached to the back half.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting poultry paws. The inventive method comprises the steps of (a) placing the poultry paws in a rotating wheel and (b) cutting the poultry paws as the paws are carried by the rotating wheel. The inventive apparatus comprises: (a) a rotatably drivable wheel having a perimeter and having notches provided in the perimeter wherein the poultry paws are receivable and (b) a blade positioned with respect to the wheel such that the blade will cut the poultry paws as the paws are carried by the wheel.

Abstract: Previously eviscerated poultry carcasses with legs and backs remaining are suspended from shackles (25) by their legs and moved in sequence along a processing path. The backs are received on a surface conveyor (18) having parallel conveyor flights (36, 37), so that the rounded portions (31) of the surfaces of the backs (30) seek the space between the conveyor flights, thereby tending to center the carcasses moving along the poultry path. The backs are turned from inverted attitudes to upright attitudes while the legs remain inverted, thereby tending to rotate the thighs with respect to the backs, loosening the sockets between the thighs and backs, and the visceral cavities are placed on a rotary disk (28) formed of UHMW and having peripheral teeth with radially extending teeth surfaces which engage the backbone areas of the visceral cavities of the carcasses.

Abstract: Apparatus for harvesting the feet from poultry foot and leg parts including positioning means for positioning the a known feature of the foot and leg part at a prescribed location and severing means for severing the leg of the foot and leg part at a prescribed distance from said prescribed location to recover the foot.

Abstract: This invention relates to both a method and an apparatus for placing slaughtered poultry on a carrier and a method and an apparatus for subsequently removing the skin from the slaughtered poultry on the carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for separating legs from poultry carcasses having a saddle-shaped carcass section with a pelvis, a lower portion of a vertebral column, and hip joints connecting the legs to the pelvis. The apparatus comprises a main conveyor defining a conveyance path and having shackles configured to hold the poultry carcasses by the legs to convey the carcasses along the path with the vertebral column in longitudinal direction. A guide member runs along the conveyance path between the main conveyor and the vertebral column and is configured to engage an inside contour of the pelvis and both legs along a substantial length of the legs. A support conveyor is positioned below the main conveyor and has a surface to engage the carcasses and move them along the conveyance path.

Abstract: The poultry cut-up apparatus receives vertically halved poultry carcasses in an inverted attitude transported along an overhead conveyor. Vertically spaced, horizontally oriented pairs of circular cutting blades (21, 22) cut the carcasses into segments as the carcasses are maintained in desired attitudes by flight blocks (17) that move in unison with the shackles of the conveyor, with the cutting blades extending into aligned grooves (48) of a flight block to reach and cut the poultry carcasses into segments, as guide bars (19 and 20) are received in similar grooves of the flight block to hold the carcasses in the proper location for cutting.

Abstract: Poultry bodies are processed by cutting them up into consumable products. A conveyor (1) having an endless flat link chain (4) has shackles for receiving and advancing the poultry bodies in a suspended position along a conveying path in which are arranged processing tools. An auxiliary conveyor (17) is driven by means of a gear (20) arranged in the area of the processing tool and which meshes with the linear run portion of the main conveyor by means of a gear wheel (21). By providing entrainers at a predetermined spacing between the joints (9) of the chain links (6, 7) the effective pitch of the flat link chain (4) can be at least halved and the auxiliary conveyor (17) can be driven substantially uniformly by a gear wheel (21) of relatively small diameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for severing poultry legs at the knee joint is described. The poultry legs consisting of an thigh and drumstick are suspended from the distal end of the drumstick by a conveyor and are received in recesses in a synchronously revolving supporting disc just above the knee joint. Guide rails above and below the supporting disc push the leg against a projecting edge at the base of the recesses and progressively bend the leg in the natural bending position while simultaneously lifting it until the supporting edge lies in the crook of the knee joint. This position is maintained by means of openings in the disc in which the thigh is blocked and by webs extending downwards from the trailing flank of the recesses which likewise prevent the thigh from twisting out of alignment. A cutting device then severs the joint at an angle which halves the bending angle of the leg.

Abstract: Methods of post-slaughter handling a carcase are presented in a first example a carcase is hung from its symphysis pubis and cut by; (1) removing the knuckle, fillet end and chump from the rest of the carcase; and, (2) separating the knuckle from the fillet end and chump by cutting at an angle of less than 45.degree. to the back line of the carcase. In a second example the carcase is hung from its symphysis pubis and cut by; (1) removing the leg and chump from the rest of the carcase; (2) removing at least the pelvic bones; (3) straightening the leg. In a further example, the method comprises (1) hanging the carcase from its symphysis pubis; and (2) applying high voltage stimulation to the carcase.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically scoring the hock portion of a poultry leg to sever the surrounding skin and soft connective tissues from the underlying bone which is characterized by employing oppositely directed water knives aligned at a right angle to the linear path of travel of a vertically disposed poultry leg to effect a complete circumferential cut about the periphery of the hock area in a single pass through the water knives. The water knives are formed by a plurality of water jets or streams emitted from a horizontally disposed manifold mounted within a protective housing to contain the spray of water created and direct the waste water to a collection area.

Abstract: A lightweight, portable animal dehorner has fixed and movable cutter blades mounted in a common frame, the movable blade being driven toward and away from the fixed blade by an air brake chamber connected to a source of air under pressure, and a hand grip supports the air brake chamber in driving relation to the movable blade. A receptacle for severed horns may be attached to the cutter blade frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically shearing the leg from a carcass moving along a carcass rail includes an arm having a first end pivotally attached to a support structure and a second end attached to a shearing assembly. The arm is pivotally attached to said support structure in a manner such that the arm swings along a first swing axis between a first predetermined location and a second predetermined location adjacent the carcass rail, and a second swing axis substantially parallel to the carcass rail. In a first embodiment, the shearing assembly shears a carcass leg projecting perpendicular to the carcass rail. The arm driver moves the arm along the first swing axis between the first predetermined location and the second predetermined location. The arm pivots along the second swing axis if the shearing assembly becomes entangled with the moving carcass. A deactivation sensor deactivates the apparatus and the carcass rail if the arm moves a predetermined distance along the second swing axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing the neck of a slaughtered animal such that the skull is separated from the vertebral column, which method comprises the steps of:(1) positioning a slaughtered animal for processing;(2) providing a separating device, for instance a hydraulically or pneumatically energized pair of scissors, to arrange a separation in the cervical vertebral column, for instance between the skull and the first cervical vertebra;(3) determining the location where the separation must take place; and(4) positioning the separating device and activating same on the basis of the result of step (3) in order to arrange the separation.

Abstract: Poultry carcasses, having open abdominal cavities, are suspended from a foot shackle conveyor. As each carcass approaches a knife for severing the upper and lower portions of the carcass, the top portion is transferred onto an approaching tine which enters the cavity, dipping downward as it does so. After the carcass is halved, the lower portion remains suspended in the foot shackle conveyor, and the top portion is carried away by the tine for further processing.

Abstract: Provided are: (a) a poultry carcass processing method; (b) an apparatus which is ideally suited for use in practicing the inventive method; and (c) a poultry product provided by the inventive processing method. The inventive processing method comprises the steps of (a) pivoting a first poultry carcass section (e.g., a forward carcass section) with respect a second carcass section (e.g., a rearward carcass section) such that the outer side of the backbone structure included in the first section is rotated toward the outer side of the portion of the backbone structure included in the second section and (b) with the sections retained in pivoted relationship, pulling one of the sections directionally away from the other section such that a portion of the meat provided on the outer side of the forward portion of the backbone structure is detached therefrom and is retained in attached relationship to the rearward section of the carcass.

Abstract: A poultry hock cutter apparatus for separating the shanks from the drumsticks of a poultry carcass at the hocks includes a stationary blade 44 for applying a progressive wedging action into the centers of the hocks from above and behind the hocks of each carcass as the carcass is moved past the blade to force the heads out of the sockets and expose the connective tissue, and for severing the connective tissue. A method of separating the shanks from the drumsticks of a poultry carcass at the hocks includes applying a progressive wedging action by an upstream segment 48 of the stationary blade 44 at the centers of the hocks of each carcass as the carcass is moved past the blade to sever the skin coverings of the hocks and to force the heads out of the sockets, and severing the connective tissue of the hocks to separate the shanks from the legs.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically shearing the leg from a carcass moving along a carcass rail includes an arm having a first end pivotally attached to a support structure and a second end attached to a shearing assembly. The arm swings the shearing assembly out of a sterilization chamber remote from the carcass rail to a position along the carcass rail to shear the leg from the carcass. In a first embodiment, the shearing assembly shears a carcass leg projecting perpendicular to the carcass rail. In a second embodiment, the shearing assembly shears a carcass leg that is parallel to the rail. After the leg is sheared from the carcass, the arm swings the shearing assembly into the sterilization chamber for cleaning. The cleaning process takes place within the remote chamber thereby preventing contamination of carcasses on the carcass rail.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing the wings of birds as the birds are conveyed along a poultry processing line suspended by their legs. As the birds are carried through the wing remover (10), the wings on one side of the birds are engaged by a first wing guide means (40), which tends to spread the wings. This spreading of the wings dislocates the joints between the wings and shoulders of the birds and pulls a desired quantity of meat from the breasts. The birds are thereafter engaged by a first cutting means (56), which separates the wings and the portions of breast meat from the birds. At the same time, the wings on the opposite sides of the birds are engaged by a second wing guide means (41), which tends to spread the wings, dislocating the shoulder joints between the wings and shoulders of the bird and pulling a desired quantity of meat from the breasts. The dislocated shoulder joints are thereafter engaged by a second cutting means (81), which separates the wings and pulled breast meat from the birds.

Abstract: A carcass leg shearing apparatus adapted for mounting near a carcass rail. The apparatus includes a carcass leg engager for engaging the carcass legs and positioning the legs within a shearing region such that the carcass legs are sheared at the hock portions thereof. The leg shearing apparatus further includes a control system connected to position the shearing apparatus at a desired location relative to the carcass, position the carcass legs within the shearing region so that the carcass legs are sheared at the hock portions thereof, move the shearing blade from an open shearing position to a closed shearing position to shear the legs from the carcass, and position the shearing apparatus at a desired location prior to shearing off the legs of the next carcass on the carcass rail.