Abstract:
A method and an apparatus (1) arranged for transferring and buffering objects between conveyors cooperating with a first conveyor that defines a first path of conveyance (11) and with at least one second conveyor that defines a second path of conveyance (15). The first conveyor transports objects in a first direction (13) and the at least one second conveyor transports objects in a second direction (17). A transfer conveyor (7) with a transfer path interferes with the first path of conveyance (11) to form a receiving interface and with the second path of conveyance (15) to form a release interface at the transfer conveyor (7). The transfer conveyor (7) transfers objects from the receiving interface toward the release interface. Objects are selectively released to the at least one second conveyor at the release interface of the transfer conveyor. Buffering means (97) are provided for accumulating at least one object. Objects moving from the receiving interface to the release interface can be taken out from the transfer conveyor (7) for temporary buffering outside of the transfer path by the buffering means (97) and buffered objects can selectively be removed from the buffering means (97) for dispatch to the release interface. The apparatus (1) includes the transfer conveyor (7) and at least one buffering station (68, 68A-C) that temporarily accumulates a selected object outside of the transfer path.
Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for arranging a bird having a body and two legs in a position for being suspended from a shackle, said method comprising the following sequence of steps: I) placing the body of the bird on a support surface with the breast side facing the support surface, II) inserting at least one spreading member between the legs of the bird, so that the breast side of at least one leg comes to rest on a contact surface of the spreading member, III) forcing the legs away from each other using the spreading mechanism, so that the distance between the hock joints becomes bigger than the distance between the hip joints.
Abstract:
The invention provides a combination of a conveying device for slaughter animals and a removing device (15). The conveying device comprises a guide (4) extending along a transport path, product carriers (3) for the slaughter animals, which are movable in a direction of movement along the guide, each product carrier comprising at least one groove inclined according to a direction of inclination for holding at least one held part of a slaughter animal therein. The at least one groove has an open upper end and a lower end. The removing device comprises a pusher element, which is movable to and fro between a passive position and an active position for pushing the at least one held part out of the at least one groove. The removing device comprises a further pusher element which is movable to and fro between a further passive position and a further active position. The pusher element is designed to push the at least one held part of a slaughter animal from the intermediate position, via the upper end of the at least one groove, out of said at least one groove in the active position or during its movement from the passive position to the active position.
Abstract:
Method of and system for automatically deboning poultry breast caps containing meat and a skeletal structure to obtain breast fillets. The method includes providing a mandrel (25) with a plane of symmetry in a vertical orientation and supporting a breast cap having a neck end and a tail end with its skeletal structure including a keel bone on top of the mandrel (25). The breast cap being held to the mandrel (25) with the keel bone aligned with the plane of symmetry. By moving the mandrel (25) through a conveying path extending through a substantially horizontal plane in a direction of travel (27) it passes a cutting implement (145) of a breast cutter (113) engaging the meat along the keel bone. The cutting implement (145) causes at least one incision along the area where the meat is attached to the keel bone and a breast fillet remover (115) downstream of the breast cutter (113) engages between the skeletal structure and the meat and separates the meat as a pair of single fillets from the skeletal structure. The arrangement is such that the mandrel (25) moves through the conveying path with the plane of symmetry aligned with the direction of travel (27).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a processing device (210) for processing slaughtered and plucked poultry carcasses (152), having multiple processing devices (21) that are equipped to transport poultry carcasses (152) separately from a main conveying device (302) for processing purposes using a processing retaining means (820) which can be moved on a circumferential path. The processing device (210) has transfer stations (60; 51-66) which are arranged in a row along a main conveying line (20) in which the poultry carcasses (152) are conveyed in a suspended manner using support devices (402). Each processing device (21) is paired with a transfer station (60; 61-66) formed by a transfer pair (601) which has two rotational transferring devices (602, 652). The first rotational transferring device (602) removes poultry carcasses (152) from the support devices (402) and transfers the poultry carcasses to the processing retaining means (820) of the processing device (21). The second rotational transferring device (652) removes the processed poultry carcasses (152) from the processing retaining means (820) and transfers the poultry carcasses to the support devices (402). Each support device (402) has a pair (401) of supports (41, 42) with receiving portions (40.1, 40.2) for limbs (11, 12) of the poultry carcasses (152) and comprises a support controller (410). Each support (41, 42) is equipped with a controllable retaining device (403; 405) which is connected to the support controller (410) via a control element (444, 454) that controls a retaining part of the limb receiving portion (40.1, 40.2). In an open position of the controllable retaining part, the limb receiving portion (40.1, 40.2) is open so that the poultry carcass limbs (11, 12) are inserted and removed without being clamped, and the limb receiving portion contacts the poultry carcass limbs (11, 12) only in a closed position of the retaining part. The poultry processing device (21) has a processing controller to which the processing retaining means (820) is connected and by means which the processing retaining means can be moved into different positions along the retaining means circumferential path, namely a starting position for receiving the poultry carcasses, at least one processing position, and an end position for removing the poultry carcasses.
Abstract:
A tunnel (2) for the in-line anti-bacterial treatment of plucked poultry carcasses (or other animal carcasses) with a liquid cryogen or a cold gas at a temperature of less than 0°C has an entrance (18) and an exit (20) for the poultry carcasses. A monorail conveyor (22) extends from the entrance (18) to the exit (20) and passes thorough the tunnel (2). Poultry suspension shackles (24) are able to pass along the conveyor (22). Thus, poultry carcasses are able to be conveyed through the tunnel (2). The conveyor (22) may follow a path which reverses direction at least once.
Abstract:
Eine Bearbeitungsvorrichtung (210) zum Bearbeiten von geschlachteten und gerupften Geflügelkörpern (152) weist mehrere Bearbeitungseinrichtungen (21) auf, die zum von einer Hauptfördereinrichtung (302) getrennten Bearbeitungs-Transport der Geflügelkorper (152) mit einem auf einem Umlaufweg bewegbaren Bearbeitungs-Haltemittel (820) eingerichtet sind. Die Bearbeitungsvorrichtung (210) weist Obergabestationen (60; 51-66) auf, die in Reihe entlang einer Hauptförderlinie (20) angeordnet sind, in der die Geflügelkörper (152) mit Trägereinrichtungen (402) hängend gefördert werden. Eine Bearbeitungseinrichtung (21) ist jeweils einer Übergabestation (60; 61-66) zugeordnet, die durch ein Übergabepaar (601) gebildet ist, das zwei Rotations-Übergabeeinrichtungen (602, 652) aufweist. Die erste Rotations-Übergabeeinrichtung (602) entnimmt Geflügelkörper (152) aus den Trägereinrichtungen (402) und übergibt sie an das Bearbeitungs-Haltemittel (820) der Bearbeitungseinrichtung (21). Die zweite Rotations-Übergabeeinrichtung (652) entnimmt die bearbeiteten Geflügelkörper (152) von dem Bearbeitungs-Haltemittel (820) und übergibt sie an die Trägereinrichtungen (402). Jede Trägereinrichtung (402) weist ein Paar (401) von Trägern (41, 42) mit Aufnahmen (40.1, 40.2) für Gliedmaße (11, 12) des Geflügelkörpers (152) auf und umfasst eine Träger-Steuereinrichtung (410). Jeder Träger (41, 42) ist mit einer steuerbaren Halteeinrichtung (403; 405) eingerichtet, die über ein Steuerelement (444. 454), das ein Halteteil der Gliedmaße-Aufnahme (40.1, 40.2) steuert, mit der Träger-Steuereinrichtung (410) verbunden ist. Die Gliedmaße-Aufnahme (40.1, 40.2) ist in einer Öffnungsposition des steuerbaren Halteteils zum klemmfreien Einsetzen und Entnehmen der Geflügelkörper-Gliedmaße (11, 12) offen und nur in einer Schließposition des Halteteils in Kontakt mit den Geflügelkörper-Gliedmaßen (11, 12). Die Geflügel-Bearbeitungseinrichtung (21) weist eine Bearbeitungs-Steuereinrichtung auf, mit der das Bearbeitungs-Haltemittel (820) verbunden und entlang seines Umlaufweges in der Position steuerbar ist, nämlich in eine Anfangsposition zur Geflügelkörper-Übernahme, in wenigstens eine Searbeitungsposition sowie in eine Endposition zur Geflügelkörper-Entnahme.
Abstract:
An indexing device for use in a hook holder (1), the hook holder (1) being provided with a shank (3) which, at its one end portion (30), is arranged to be carried forwards by an overhead transporter, the hook holder (1) being arranged in a lower end portion to hingedly hold, rotatably around a vertical axis (9), a hook which is arranged to hold a hanging fowl, the hook holder (1) being provided with a rotatable turning plate (16) arranged to cooperate with at least one guiding member along the conveyor, the turning plate (16) being arranged to rotate the hook around the vertical axis (9); the shank (3) being provided with a bore (32) arranged to accommodate a spring (40) and a locking piece (43), a locking pin (6) being positioned in an opening (45) in the locking piece (43) and the end portions (60, 60') of the locking piece (6) being postioned in slots (35), directed axially in the wall of the shank (3), and projecting beyond the outer sheath surface (36) of the shank (3), the end portions (60, 60') of the locking pin (6) resting on the upward rim surface (53) of a bushing (5), characterized by the indexing device including the upward rim surface (53) of the bushing (5) being undulated in the circumferential direction, including wave troughs (56) and wave crests (57).
Abstract:
Method for processing slaughtered poultry, wherein oven-ready carcasses of slaughtered poultry are conveyed by a feed conveyor (2), said feed conveyor having an endless track and carriers (2a) that are moved along said track, the feed conveyor carrier being adapted to support one carcass suspended from its legs. Each individual carcass is subjected at least one of: • - a determination of the individual carcass weight by a weighing device (4), • - a determination of the individual carcass size by an imaging device. For dividing the carcasses into parts use is made of a first cut-up line (10) and a second cut-up line (20), wherein each cut-up line has an associated cut-up line conveyor (11, 21), said cut-up line conveyor having an endless track and carriers (11a, 21a) that are moved along said track, each cut-up line conveyor carrier being adapted to support one carcass suspended from its legs. Each cut-up line comprises one or more cutting devices (12, 22) arranged along the track, which one or more cutting devices divide a carcass supported by a cut-up line conveyor carrier into parts.