The present invention relates to a shackle for processing hanging poultry comprising a poultry catching element; a suspension rod; and a fastening hook; wherein one side of the suspension rod is pivotably connected with a pivotable connection with the fastening hook and the opposite side of the suspension rod is moveably coupled with the poultry catching element by a moveable coupling. The invention also provides a method for attaching a shackle for processing hanging poultry on an overhead conveyor.

Methods and apparatuses for crop cover skin removal are proposed. For example, a method can include receiving a bird in a station. The method can also include grasping crop cover skin of the bird by a pair of peeler rollers. The method can further include tensioning the crop cover skin by the pair of peeler rollers. The method can additionally include slicing the crop cover skin while the crop cover skin is being tensioned.

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. The technology includes breast removal station, which includes a controller system, which controls a robotic arm, which positions the grasping talon implements, which grasp the poultry item along the wing bone and pulls the breast portion away from the carcass along cut lines created by the ultrasonic knife that cut the poultry item along the cut path performed by the automated robotic arm having an ultrasonic knife implement. Prior pulling the breast portion away from the carcass, a stabilizing system captures the carcass behind by engaging the carcass behind the shoulder joint on either side of the cervical vertebrae.

An apparatus and method is provided for recovering liver from viscera sets of poultry carcasses, the sets including at least lungs, liver, proventriculus and gizzard, which are at least partially connected by connective tissue. The apparatus includes at least one holding element having a receiving region for receiving and for holding the viscera set. The holding element is so configured that at least the lungs are arranged above the receiving region and at least the liver is arranged beneath the receiving region. A detaching device has a detaching section including detaching means for detaching the liver, configured such that at least a connective tissue connecting the liver with the viscera set is detached in some regions from the viscera set by the detaching means. A separating device includes a separating means configured such that the liver detached from the connective tissue can be separated completely from the viscera set.

An apparatus, configured and adapted for scalding slaughtered poultry, includes a scalding tank, which is open at the top, for receiving and for holding a liquid scalding medium, and a transport means, arranged above the scalding tank, for transporting the poultry in a hanging manner within the scalding tank along a scalding channel formed of a plurality of scalding channel sections from an input region to an output region. There is formed beneath the scalding channel a receiving compartment for scalding medium. There is arranged inside the receiving compartment at least one pump device as a turbulence-generating body for forming a pressure chamber which acts along the entire scalding channel. A corresponding method is also provided.

A poultry leg retainer having a bridle having a spar and side members defining loops or openings adapted to receive the hocks; an extensible strap attached to the spar and extending across the loops or openings and adapted to cooperate with knuckle creases on the hocks; a separator or tab projecting from the spar inwardly between the loops or openings for cooperating with the hocks so as to assist in retaining the hocks within the loops or openings; and an anchor having upturned ends adapted for engagement with an interior cavity of the poultry carcass, the bridle and extensible straps forming a basket structure for retaining the hocks to truss the legs against the poultry carcass. The anchor can have a front surface defining a protrusion and a back surface defining a groove complementary to the protrusion, the protrusion of one retainer being fittable within the groove of another retainer.

An apparatus 10 for removing the skin of poultry pieces includes a frame 12 for supporting an infeed conveyor 14 for transporting and feeding poultry pieces to be skinned to a skinning station 16 located closely adjacent the downstream end of the conveyor. An outfeed conveyor 18 is also supported by the frame to carry the skinned poultry pieces away from the skinning station 16 for further processing. The infeed and outfeed conveyors are carried by a lift mounting systems 40 and 42 to mount the conveyors to the underlying frame 12. The lift mounting systems 40/42 function to shift the infeed and outfeed conveyors between an in-use lowered position closely adjacent the skinning station 16 and a retracted position raised above and shifted longitudinally away from the skinning station to provide access to the conveyors 14/18, as well as access to the skinning station 16.

A method for processing a protein-containing foodstuff portion to control the thickness. The method includes cutting a raw protein-containing foodstuff portion to make cuts on a surface of the raw protein-containing foodstuff portion, the raw protein-containing foodstuff portion has a first initial thickness; and after the raw protein-containing foodstuff portion is cut, pressing the raw protein-containing foodstuff portion, wherein after pressing a thickness of the raw protein-containing foodstuff portion is reduced from the initial thickness.

A shaping or cutting machine, especially a skinner, at which an operator hand-feeds material to be cut or shaped toward a blade. Hand proximity detection devices are provided for operator safety; machine-vision across a surveilled volume before the blade, and conduction sensing devices. The blade is mounted on a rapidly retractable frame. Power from release of a spring physically moves the blade to a safe position if a hand is sensed. A gripping roller is driven by a rapidly stoppable motor.

Systems and methods for antimicrobial application and related data collection are described. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods of the present disclosure include calculating a dwell time or density of workpieces in a vessel; and modulating the one or more conditions of the system based on the dwell time or density of workpieces in the vessel.