A treatment device or method for preparing a poultry carcass, as provided herein, may serve to remove a portion of the carcass's keel bone on a conveyor line. The treatment device may include a blade carriage and bone blade. The blade carriage may be disposed at a preharvest station on a conveyor path of the conveyor line. The bone blade may be mechanically linked to the blade carriage at the preharvest station to remove a tip of the keel bone. The bone blade may be aligned with the keel bone between a pair of fillets of the carcass within the preharvest station. The bone blade may also be spaced apart from a sternum of the carcass.

An apparatus to separate a tendon connecting a breast fillet of a gutted poultry body, from which wings have been removed, to a carcass of the poultry body, has a transport apparatus having a transport unit which is driven in a revolving manner, and a holding apparatus fastened thereto to hold the poultry body or part thereof during processing, and a means for separating the tendon. The means for separating is movable from a standby position into a separating position and back. The transport unit, with the holding apparatus, with the formation of a transport path, transports the poultry body or the part thereof in a direction of transport, with the anus side leading, in the direction towards the means for separating. The means for separating the tendon includes at least one combination tool which has a portion that displaces the breast fillet and a portion that separates the tendon.

A system for automatic organization, hanging and driving of slaughtered animals installed at the outlet of a slaughtered animals processing station such as a chiller. The system comprises a receiving and aligning means of slaughtered animals in longitudinal position, which is previously disposed to an accumulator device of slaughtered animals positioned longitudinally. The system further comprises a suspension and movement assembly of each slaughtered animal from the axial alignment assembly to a driving guide of each slaughtered animal to a hanging transfer device of each animal slaughtered in the hanging line.

An apparatus and method for removing a keel from a poultry carcass that is conveyed at a predetermined speed along a path. Planar members extend radially outwardly from a continuous loop driven adjacent the path at the predetermined speed. A keel-receiving gap is configured between a pair of planar members. At least one blade is disposed between the path and the continuous loop for severing the keel from the carcass. A ramp above the path has a downwardly-facing surface angled to the path for contacting the poultry carcass and adjusting its vertical position relative to the blade. A keel guide spaced from the plurality of planar members may contact the keel to adjust the keel relative to the blade.

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.

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.

A chiller bath includes a tank for holding a volume of chiller water; a dosing system for dosing a first solution and a second solution into the chiller water, arranged to create a plurality of zones within the volume of water, wherein each zone has a higher concentration of either the first or the second solution than surrounding portions of the volume of water; and a meat or poultry immersion arrangement for immersing and moving carcasses in the chiller water. A method for reducing bacterial load on meat or poultry includes generating a plurality of zones within a chiller bath containing water by dosing a source of alkalinity and antimicrobial into the water, wherein the plurality of zones comprises at least one alkaline zone with a pH above 8.5, and at least one antimicrobial zone with pH below 8.5; and submersing meat or poultry in the bath. The zones can also be generated using spray nozzles in a meat or poultry operation.

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

Systems and methods for automated monitoring and control of food processing systems are disclosed. Data from one or more controllers of a food processing system is received during operation of the food processing system at a remote food processing facility. Values of one or more operating parameters of the food processing system are monitored, based on the received data. At least one event of interest occurring during the operation of the food processing system is detected, based on the monitored values of the one or more operating parameters. Control signals for adjusting a configuration of the food processing system are transmitted to the one or more controllers, based on the detected event.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an auger dip apparatus for the application of antimicrobial solution to raw food. Embodiments of the present disclosure may use an auger as a single moving part to move the food work pieces through the application area for antimicrobial solution. Embodiments of the present disclosure are simple with only one moving auger part to move the food pieces, and the bearing for the moving part, supporting the shaft of the auger, may be configured to be outside of the cabinet with the reservoir of the antimicrobial solution, so that the bearing is not in contact with the antimicrobial solution. This provides for less maintenance and downtime, particularly unscheduled downtime, than a system using more complicated exposed parts. The present disclosure also permits a more compact and lighter configuration for an assembled application unit.