Abstract: A crustacean butchering apparatus is disclosed. The crustacean butchering apparatus may include at least one carapace grip sized to secure a carapace of a crustacean to a conveyor. When activated, the conveyor carries the crustacean secured by the carapace grip in a machine direction along a processing path. A plurality of tools may be placed along the processing path for butchering the crustacean. Optionally, a claw removing tool may be positioned along the processing path. When activated, the claw removing tool separates at least one claw of the crustacean from the carapace of the crustacean. Optionally, a tail removing tool may be positioned along the processing path. When activated, the tail removing tool may separate a tail of the crustacean from the carapace of the crustacean.

Abstract: A conveying unit is designed and configured for automatically conveying fillet-like meat products, in particular fish fillets. The conveying unit has a first conveying element rotationally driven by a drive and a second conveying element rotationally driven by a drive, in transport direction of the meat products to be conveyed. The second conveying element is downstream of the first conveying element. The two conveying elements form a continuous transport path, along which different processing stations may be arranged. The first conveying element is a double belt with a gap running centrally and parallel to the transport direction, while the second conveying element is a segment chain which is triangular in cross-section. A method is also disclosed.

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 method for hanging poultry in an overhead conveyor provided with carriers and can include an overhead-conveyor-section of the overhead conveyor and a first conveyor for conveying the poultry towards a section thereof being below the overhead-conveyor-section. The poultry can be conveyed by the first conveyor towards the section. An operator picks the poultry or parts thereof and hangs the poultry in the carriers being conveyed along the overhead-conveyor-section. The operator may be carried via a second conveyor beside the section of the first conveyor and in the direction of the carriers in the overhead-conveyor-section while the operator is picking and hanging the poultry.

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: The present invention relates to a carrier for holding poultry carcasses, comprising a frame part, for attaching the carrier to a processing line; a hook part, fixed to the frame part; and a support part, rotatably connected to the frame part, wherein the support part is movably between an unloaded position, in which a poultry carcass can be loaded on the carrier, between the hook part and the support part; and a loaded position, in which the poultry carcass is being held by the carrier, between the hook part and the support part. The poultry carcass may for instance be a breast cap, including breast fillets and a breast bone. The invention also relates to a method of providing poultry carcasses on such carrier.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ventral/dorsal alignment of fish. The apparatus includes a first fish conveying device, a guide roller configured for transversely positioning the fish in a feed-in channel, the guide roller extending across the width of the feed-in channel and having at least one section with reduced cross-sectional diameter, a channel floor in the center of the channel comprising a transfer recess, widening in the conveying direction, which is designed to transfer the fish by the effect of gravity to a guiding channel arranged below the first conveying plane by aligning in a predetermined ventral/dorsal position. The guiding channel includes lateral guide surfaces each arranged inclined with respect to the first conveying plane. A second conveying device, forming a second conveying plane and configured to convey the fish on their side, is provided. The second conveying device is arranged downstream of the guiding channel for taking over the fish at the end of said guiding channel.

Abstract: An infeed system is arranged for receiving and turning incoming food products before entering a processing machine. The food products are arranged so a longitudinal axis of the food products is essentially parallel to a conveying direction of the incoming food products. The system comprises a pair of conveyor structures having at least two side by side arranged endless belts extending from an infeed end of the infeed system to an outfeed end of the infeed system. The belts are twisted towards the outfeed end so at the outfeed end the conveyor structures are arranged side by side. At the infeed end, the incoming food products are received and clamped between the belts of the conveyor structures and advanced from the infeed end towards the outfeed end while simultaneously rotating the received food products around said longitudinal axis of the food products.

Abstract: This invention relates to automated systems and methods for hanging live poultry for further processing. The system has an alignment conveyor, an alignment stunner, a hanging box, a vacuum system and a shackle. The alignment conveyor conveys poultry from an input point to the alignment stunner. The alignment stunner urges the poultry to move to a desired position on the alignment conveyor and stuns the poultry. The hanging box grasps the stunned poultry and places the poultry into the shackle for further processing. A computer and at least one sensor control operation of the system so that human intervention is minimized.

Abstract: This invention relates to automated systems and methods for hanging live poultry for further processing. The system has an alignment conveyor, an alignment stunner, a hanging box, and a shackle. The alignment conveyor conveys poultry from an input point to the alignment stunner. The alignment stunner urges the poultry to move to a desired position on the alignment conveyor and stuns the poultry. The hanging box grasps the stunned poultry and places the poultry into the shackle for further processing. A computer and at least one sensor control operation of the system so that human intervention is minimized.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fish transporting apparatus for automatically feeding fish to a fish processing machine. The fish transporting apparatus can include a transport device with a bottom element for receiving the fish and lateral boundary elements for guiding the fish as well as a vibrating member for vibratory driving of the transport device, which is distinguished in that the bottom element is constructed as a grid plate with rectangular apertures. Furthermore, the invention concerns a device for aligning fish in a head/tail orientation with such a fish transporting apparatus.

Abstract: A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook is provided. The method and apparatus allow the quality of the poultry to be classified and graded in a simpler and more effective manner to realize higher yields or an extra added value. In one exemplary embodiment, a processing apparatus for a foot of the poultry is provided that includes a foot pad inspection apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for bringing into position and arranging a carcass or carcass part (1) of slaughtered poultry on or in a product carrier (50); which device comprises; —at least one assembly of a movable holder (21) for the carcass or carcass part of slaughtered poultry with positioning means pertaining to the holder for the carcass or carcass part, which holder is adapted for receiving a carcass or carcass part to be arranged on or in a product carrier, —drive means (24) for moving the holder between a receiving position in which the carcass or carcass-part can be received and a transfer position in which the carcass or carcass part is brought into a position relative to the product carrier which is suitable for transfer to the product carrier.

Abstract: A device (30) is provided for the inversion of bodies of meat (e.g., pork bellies 162, 164) during processing thereof in order to eliminate the manual labor involved in conventional packing house operations. The device (30) includes a rotatable inversion drum (32) made up of inner and outer drum subassemblies (42, 44), which are selectively interconnected by means of lock pin cylinders (86). An entry conveyor (34) serves to direct incoming meat bodies to the drum (32) and an exit conveyor (36) is provided to convey inverted meat bodies away from the drum (32). In preferred forms, the drum (32) has a pair of circumferentially spaced apart, elongated, transversely extending clamping rods (90), which are selectively shiftable towards and away from the drum (32) in order to sequentially clamp an incoming meat body to the drum (32) during rotation thereof, and to release the meat body after inversion thereof onto exit conveyor (36).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for suspending living or stunned poultry to be slaughtered in conveyor brackets of an overhead conveyor. A belt conveyor delivers the poultry to a distribution surface, where the poultry are successively guided or pushed outwardly against an edge of the distribution surface to individual positions for receiving the poultry with the legs projecting from the edge of the positions. The legs are fixed in fixing means at the positions. The individual positions are then successively moved upwardly relative to the distribution surface to suspend the poultry for a subsequent downward movement of the positions by brackets of the overhead conveyor running above and spaced apart from the distribution surface. The positions are subsequently moved downwardly again to the level of the distribution surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for suspending living or stunned poultry to be slaughtered in conveyor brackets of an overhead conveyor. A belt conveyor delivers the poultry to a distribution surface, where the poultry are successively guided or pushed outwardly against an edge of the distribution surface to individual positions for receiving the poultry with the legs projecting from the edge of the positions. The legs are fixed in fixing means at the positions. The individual positions are then successively moved upwardly relative to the distribution surface to suspend the poultry for a subsequent downward movement of the positions by brackets of the overhead conveyor running above and spaced apart from the distribution surface. The positions are subsequently moved downwardly again to the level of the distribution surface.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a wireless power supply having a plunger for mechanically interconnecting a remote device with the power supply. The plunger may be extendable/retractable to interfit with the remote device. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a wireless power supply with a movable primary that allows for close alignment between the primary and the secondary when the remote device is disposed within a range of different positions with respect to the charging surface. The movable primary may, for example, be coupled to the remote device by a peg, a plunger or a magnet. Alternatively, the position of the movable primary may be adjusted manually. In a third aspect, the present invention provides a charging bowl having a plurality of charging stations disposed about a common axis. Each charging station may include a movable primary that permits some freedom in positioning of the remote device on the charging surface.

Abstract: A slaughtered pig leg parts conveyor device is provided for conveying individual pig leg parts, wherein an individual pig leg part includes at least a portion of a pig leg and the pig foot. The conveyor device includes a track and one or more pig leg part carriers movable along said track, each carrier being adapted to carry an individual pig leg part. Each carrier has one pig foot retaining assembly adapted to engage on a single pig foot so as to retain the pig leg part in a position suspended from the carrier. The retaining assembly includes a pig foot aperture adapted to receive the pig foot.

Abstract: A method for processing a carcass part of slaughtered poultry includes performing a process on the carcass part using a processing device, in which the carcass part has a predefined position and orientation in relation to the processing device, during the processing at least a harvestable part of the carcass part is separated from the rest of the carcass part, conveying the harvestable part to a tray using a feed device, where the orientation of the harvestable part relative to the feed device is known beforehand based on the orientation of the harvestable part relative to the processing device, and depositing the harvestable part of the carcass part in the tray in a predefined position and in a predefined orientation.

Abstract: A system for trussing slaughtered birds comprises a conveyer provided with at least one bird holder for transporting a bird to at least one working position along the transport path of the conveyer, a bird trussing station located at the working position, which station includes a trussing module defining a working zone, and a mechanical arrangement for bringing the bird within the working zone in predetermined position and orientation relative thereto to allow for operation of the trussing module according to a trussing pattern by which a trussing element catches and maintains the bird in a trussed condition. The system further comprises a controller operatively connected to the conveyer and the bird trussing station. The system may also comprise a bird's legs crossing station located at a working position upstream the trussing station where the trussing of bird's legs is desired.

Abstract: A device (30) is provided for the inversion of bodies of meat (e.g., pork bellies 162, 164) during processing thereof in order to eliminate the manual labor involved in conventional packing house operations. The device (30) includes a rotatable inversion drum (32) made up of inner and outer drum subassemblies (42, 44), which are selectively interconnected by means of lock pin cylinders (86). An entry conveyor (34) serves to direct incoming meat bodies to the drum (32) and an exit conveyor (36) is provided to convey inverted meat bodies away from the drum (32). In preferred forms, the drum (32) has a pair of circumferentially spaced apart, elongated, transversely extending clamping rods (90), which are selectively shiftable towards and away from the drum (32) in order to sequentially clamp an incoming meat body to the drum (32) during rotation thereof, and to release the meat body after inversion thereof onto exit conveyor (36).

Abstract: The invention concerns a fish transporting apparatus for automatically feeding fish to a fish processing machine. The fish transporting apparatus can include, a transport device with a bottom element for receiving the fish and lateral boundary elements for guiding the fish as well as a vibrating member for vibratory driving of the transport device, which is distinguished in that the bottom element is constructed as a grid plate with rectangular apertures. Furthermore, the invention concerns a device for aligning fish in a head/tail orientation with such a fish transporting apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for bringing into position and arranging a carcass or carcass part (1) of slaughtered poultry on or in a product carrier (50); which device comprises;—at least one assembly of a movable holder (21) for the carcass or carcass part of slaughtered poultry with positioning means pertaining to the holder for the carcass or carcass part, which holder is adapted for receiving a carcass or carcass part to be arranged on or in a product carrier,—drive means (24) for moving the holder between a receiving position in which the carcass or carcass-part can be received and a transfer position in which the carcass or carcass part is brought into a position relative to the product carrier which is suitable for transfer to the product carrier.

Abstract: A device (10) for retaining and associating an animal with a transport system during transport to and through one or more processing operations along a processing line. The device (10) includes a pivot mechanism (12) for reliably controlling the orientation of the animal during upward and downward travel on the transport system. More specifically, the device includes a lower portion (14) for retaining the animal, and an upper portion (16) for coupling with the transport system. The lower portion (14) is pivotably coupled with the upper portion (16) and movable between a first position in which the lower portion (14) and the upper portion (16) are in a substantially straight orientation relative to each other, and a second position in which the lower portion (14) and the upper portion (16) are in a substantially angled orientation relative to each other in the forward direction.

Abstract: A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook is provided. The method and apparatus allow the quality of the poultry to be classified and graded in a simpler and more effective manner to realize higher yields or an extra added value. In one exemplary embodiment a processing apparatus for a foot of the poultry is provided that includes a foot pad inspection apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for reorienting fish fillets includes a pair of oppositely rotating turntables positioned at the end of a conveyor belt and tilted in the longitudinal direction of travel of the fillets. A divider directs fillets on the right-hand side of the conveyor to the right-hand turntable, and fillets on the left-hand side of the conveyor to the left-hand side of the turntable. A discharge guide directs the fillets carried by the turntable such that they are discharged onto the inspection table when their orientation has changed 90 degrees such that they are positioned on the inspection table transverse to the movement of the table and stomach side forward. The discharge guides extend to a location near the forward edge of the turntables and are oriented to form an opening that allows the tails of the fillets to pass under the discharge.

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: A fish processing system comprising a first fish guide having an entrance for receiving the fish. A striker coupled at one end of the first fish guide, the striker having a first holder that holds and releases the fish and is configured to apply a blow to the fish. A channel coupled at another end to the striker, the channel having an internal passage that rotates the fish substantially about a longitudinal axis of the channel. A bleeder coupled at an opposite end of the channel, the bleeder having a second holder that holds and releases the fish and is configured to sever a throat blood vessel and/or a gill arch of the fish, and a second fish guide coupled to the bleeder, the second fish guide includes an exit for delivering the processed fish.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring pliant articles, such as poultry carcasses or parts thereof, includes a first separator stage comprising a slide plate with spaced apart sets of guides for receiving articles and for conveying the articles toward a second separator stage. The second separator stage comprises a rotary drum with spaced apart hook-like tines which engage articles received from the slide plate for rotation to a position whereby the force of gravity allows the articles to be released from the drum to fall into respective compartments of a third separator stage. The third separator stage includes spaced apart moveable closures which are operated in timed relationship to each other to release the articles onto a conveyor or other apparatus to provide spacing and alignment of the articles generally in single file.

Abstract: A slaughtering system for inverting pieces of meat (11) having an irregular geometrical shape, in particular for use in a slaughterhouse. The system comprises means for gripping (1, 2) the piece of meat (11) and means for rotating the gripping means (1, 2), and thereby the piece of meat (11), about a rotational axis (8). The gripping means preferably comprises conveyors (1, 2) which are movable along a frame (3), resulting in the conveyors (1, 2) gripping and retaining the piece of meat (11). Ensures that pieces of meat (11) arrive positioned and oriented in an optimal manner to a subsequent processing, thereby allowing a subsequent automatic processing to be performed in an optimal manner, or a subsequent manual processing to be performed ergonomically correct.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring live objects, such as chickens, to a shackle line are presented. The system and method include introducing a plurality of live objects to a singulator. The singulator isolates the individual live objects and places them in a pallet on a conveyor. The system may detect and remove cadavers from amongst the live objects. The conveyor leads the live objects to a grasper. The grasper positions the legs of the live objects so that a shackler can secure the legs of the live objects with a shackle. The live objects and the shackle are then inverted and passed on to a shackle line. The shackle line may be a kill line buffer or a kill line.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring poultry carcasses from a first overhead conveyor to a second overhead conveyor, including a transfer wheel rotatable about a shaft and disposed between the first and the second overhead conveyors. The apparatus also includes a receipt point and a discharge point, the receipt point being disposed between the first overhead conveyor and the transfer wheel, the discharge point being disposed between the transfer wheel and the second overhead conveyor, and the receipt and discharge points are disposed on a centerline of the transfer wheel. The apparatus further includes a plurality of holders, each holder being configured to receive one of the carcasses from the first overhead conveyor at the receipt point and to discharge the carcass to the second overhead conveyor at the discharge point. Each holder has a first orientation at the receipt point and a second orientation at the discharge point, and the first and second orientations are relative to the centerline and are the same.

Abstract: A device for processing slaughtered animals or parts thereof, having a first station and a second station, comprises a conveyor which extends between the first station and the second station. The conveyor comprises at least one slot which is designed to carry and support the slaughtered animals, a supply device for supplying the slaughtered animals or parts thereof at the first station on the conveyor, and a discharge device for discharging the slaughtered animals or parts thereof from the conveyor at the second station. The device has at least one driven driving member which spans at least half of the width of the slot, passes through a path which is substantially parallel to the course of the slot and is designed to move the slaughtered animals or parts thereof which are in the slot along the slot.

Abstract: A device for processing a slaughter product comprises a conveyor which can move along a path and to which a first body, which can rotate about a first axis, is connected. A second body, which can rotate about a second axis, is connected to the first body. A first actuating device sets various first angular positions of the first body with respect to the first axis, while a second actuating device sets various second angular positions of the second body with respect to the second axis. A locking device fixes the first and/or second angular position. A slaughter product fixing device connects a breast portion of the slaughter product to the second body.

Abstract: The shackle assembly (10) has a lock gear (22) non-rotatably mounted to the shackle (11). Lock collar (45) has inwardly projecting lock collar teeth (51) that engage with the lock gear teeth (28A-28D). When the lock collar is moved toward the lock gear against the bias of spring (58), the lock gear teeth (28) move into the interior cavity (50) of the lock collar. This protects the teeth of both the lock gear and the lock collar at all times.

Abstract: A shackle assembly for transporting a poultry carcass suspended by its legs along a processing path and over a weighing scale for weighing the carcass. The shackle assembly includes a trolley support, a trolley mounted to the trolley support for engaging the weighing scale, and a bird carrier for suspending a poultry carcass by its legs. A telescopic connector system joins the trolley support to the bird carrier and suspends the bird carrier from the trolley support. A cam-actuated turning system is mounted to the trolley support and operatively connected to the bird carrier for rotating the trolley support and the bird carrier in unison.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring live objects, such as chickens, to a shackle line are presented. The system and method include introducing a plurality of live objects to a singulator. The singulator isolates the individual live objects and places them in a pallet on a conveyor. The system may detect and remove cadavers from amongst the live objects. The conveyor leads the live objects to a grasper. The grasper positions the legs of the live objects so that a shackler can secure the legs of the live objects with a shackle. The live objects and the shackle are then inverted and passed on to a shackle line. The shackle line may be a kill line buffer or a kill line.

Abstract: A food processing system for an elongated strand of food product, such as hot dogs or sausage links, provides aligned orientation of conveyor hooks and identical arrival time spacing between adjacent hooks at a reference loading point at a strand producing machine discharge station.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for conveying slaughtered animals, in particular birds or parts of birds, which apparatus includes a plurality of carriers for the animals, each of which carrier is connected via an adjustable coupling device with a conveyor, and which travel a path passing at least one inspection or processing station. During operation of the conveyor, each carrier at a predetermined position in the conveyor's path is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis by adjusting the coupling device via at least one operating unit positioned along the path, and wherein along the conveyor's path there is at least one guide member provided which is capable, after the carrier is rotated to a predetermined position, of moving the animal suspended from the carrier such that it is diverted around the processing station.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for conveying slaughtered animals, in particular birds or parts of birds, which apparatus comprises a plurality of carriers for the animals, each of which carrier is connected via adjustable coupling means with a conveyor, and which travel a path passing at least one inspection or processing station, wherein during operation of the conveyor each carrier at a predetermined position in the conveyor's path is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis by means of adjusting the coupling means via at least one operating unit positioned along the path, and wherein along the conveyor's path there is at least one guide member provided which is capable, after the carrier is rotated to a predetermined position, of moving the animal suspended from the carrier such that it is diverted around the processing station.

Abstract: A collating conveyor is provided for sausage links. The conveyor includes a frame with opposite ends and chains trained about the opposite ends of the frame. A motor drives the chains in a vertically oriented loop. A plurality of brackets are mounted on the chains in longitudinally spaced positions so as to move with the chains. Each bracket includes a basket pivotally mounted thereon. A cam arm with a cam follower is provided on each bracket and connected to the basket. The cam follower tracks in a cam groove on the frame so as to pivot the baskets from a longitudinal position at the mid point of the conveyor to a lateral position at each end of the conveyor. Sausage links from an encasing machine are deposited into each longitudinally oriented basket, which carries the sausage links around the end of the conveyor for discharge onto a tray in collated, parallel rows.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for uniformly positioning legs of slaughtered poultry. Initially the legs are rotated in such a way that their knees end up pointing sideways in relation to a vertical plane passing through the overhead conveyor, subsequent to which the legs are rotated in such a way that the knees preferably end up pointing in the direction of transport. The apparatus for carrying out the method is provided with first and second direction checks.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the position of a bivalve shellfish (10), particularly a scallop, which is to be processed to recover an edible portion. A shell shape complement (30) has at least a partially complementary shape such as a concavity or recess to fit with at least a part of the shape or profile of the shellfish (10) such as the projecting part (18) at the hinge region (11). Moving means (40) rotates the shellfish relative to the shell shape complement (30) while the shellfish is maintained in contact with the shell shape complement (30) by biasing means operative to bias the shell shape complement (30) against the circumference (15) of the shellfish as the shellfish is rotated by the moving means (40) until a fit of the shellfish (10) with the complement is achieved. A sensor (45) is located within the concavity to sense and signal the achievement of the fit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing multiple automated poultry processing operations upon a slaughtered animal or a part thereof via a single machine is described. The machine contains at least two rotary processors in a single frame. A covering surrounds the processors. A venting processor cuts out and removes the vent of a slaughtered animal and in the process removes unwanted fecal or other material from the exterior and the interior of the carcass. The processors integrated into the single machine are coupled by a conveyor line following a preferably generally S-shaped route that carries the carcasses amongst the processors, preferably positioning the carcasses at the optimum registration point for the operation performed by the particular processor.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing multiple automated poultry processing operations upon a slaughtered animal or a part thereof via a single machine is described. The machine contains at least two rotary processors in a single frame. A covering surrounds the processors. A venting processor cuts out and removes the vent of a slaughtered animal and in the process removes unwanted fecal or other material from the exterior and the interior of the carcass. The processors integrated into the single machine are coupled by a conveyor line following a preferably generally S-shaped route that carries the carcasses amongst the processors, preferably positioning the carcasses at the optimum registration point for the operation performed by the particular processor.

Abstract: The rotary bird hanger 30 includes a turning gear 38 having on its upper surface a lock collar 42, with lock notches 50 formed at intervals about the lock collar 42. The non-rotatable hanger support 32 includes a cam lock 62 movably supported by the hanger support 32 and a lock pin 82 engagable with the lock notches 50 of the hanger turning gear 38. Cams 78 are positioned along the processing path for engaging the cam lock 62 and for releasing the lock pin 82 from a lock notch 50, thereby permitting the rotary bird hanger 30 to rotate with respect to the hanger support 32 such that the lock pin 82 can engage others of the lock notches 50 to secure the rotational movement of the hanger 30 until the cam lock 62 engages additional cams 78 along the processing path.

Abstract: An overhead conveyor system for slaughtered chickens or other poultry comprises a track (2) supported above the floor, a number of suspension hooks (4) which are movable along the track and are positioned one after the other, each having two brackets (6) for receiving the legs of a chicken, a continuous chain (24) or cable to which each suspension hook is connected and means for moving the chain or cable with the suspension hooks connected thereto. Each suspension hook is provided with a bar (8) which connects the brackets, a disc (10) connected to the top section of the bar, a rotation bush (12) of square cross section which forms part of the bar or is connected thereto and has a twisted shape in the longitudinal direction, and a guide bush (14) which is arranged around the said bar and allows both a limited longitudinal movement and a rotary movement of the bar.

Abstract: A shrimp conveying and positioning apparatus (10) includes a track (13) oriented along an inclined path in one direction. The track is reciprocated along an inclined path in a direction opposite to the inclined orientation of the track. The apparatus also includes a contact plate (26) wherein the shrimp ride upon the contact plate to position the shrimp from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation.

Abstract: In a device and method for processing a slaughtered animal or a part thereof, the slaughtered animal or the part thereof is conveyed on a holding support of a carrier connected to an overhead conveyor. The holding support is provided with devices for fixing the slaughtered animal or part thereof. The carrier is conveyed past filleting tools disposed in an essentially fixed orientation, while the holding support of the carrier provided with a swivelling device can be swivelled by means of a control device which controls the swivelling device during the passage past the filleting tools, in order to carry out the filleting operations with the filleting tools.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing and processing a strand of sausage or foodstuff has a sausage producing machine which produces a linked strand of sausage for deposit of loops of the strand on the hooks of a continuous conveyor. The conveyor picks up the loops of the strand at a loading station immediately adjacent the discharge end of the machine, and conveys the loops to a processing station for smoking or the like. The conveyor then moves the loops to an unloading station for removal of the strand from the conveyor, whereupon the conveyor downstream of the unloading station returns to the loading station to pick up additional product. A conveyor take-up mechanism is located immediately downstream from the loading station to permit the conveyor to cease movement at the loading station (while the casing on the machine is being replenished) while the conveyor can continue movement in the processing area. Sensors and controls interconnect the machine and the conveyor to coordinate the operational functions of each.