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.

The invention relates to a poultry transfer mechanism for transferring poultry bodies from a first poultry transport line to a second poultry transport line. Further, the invention relates to a poultry transport system comprising a poultry transfer mechanism, a first poultry transport line and a second poultry transport line. In addition, the invention also relates to a method for automatically transferring at least one poultry body from a first poultry transport line to a second poultry transport line.

A poultry shackle and a method and system for adjusting a height of a poultry shackle. The shackle includes a carrier having a bore, a shaft extending through the bore, wherein the shaft is movable relative to the carrier along an axial direction of the bore, and a retainer, movable relative to the carrier at an angle, such as substantially perpendicular to. the axial direction. The retainer is movable between a first and second position. In the first position the retainer engages the shaft for maintaining the shaft in a predetermined axial position relative to the carrier. In the second position the retainer releases the shaft for allowing axial movement of the shaft relative to the carrier.

A poultry processing system having a cleaning station, a scalding station, a picker station and a transfer line for supporting a poultry carcass head down through the processing stations. The cleaning station including a plurality of spray manifolds coupled to a cleaning liquid supply each having a plurality of spaced apart spray nozzles for directing cleaning liquid onto the carcasses from the tail to head as they are transferred through the cleaning station for removing dirt, fecal material, and other foreign matter from the carcasses prior to transfer to the scalding and picker stations.

A system and method for rehanging poultry suspended by the head in a first shackle of a first shackle conveyor to a second shackle of a second shackle conveyor in which the poultry is or will be suspended by the legs. A leg positioning unit may be arranged to support the poultry at the legs while the poultry is maintained suspended by the head in the first shackle of the first shackle conveyor. A movable takeover unit operates on the legs of the poultry and is movable towards the second shackle of the second shackle conveyor to move the legs of the poultry into the second shackle of the second shackle conveyor.

A system and method for deboning a poultry leg part, including at least one bone and meat surrounding the bone. The system includes a conveying unit arranged for transporting the poultry leg part along a conveying path. The system also includes a deboning unit. The deboning unit includes a gripper arranged for gripping the meat surrounding the bone, the gripper being associated with a first carrier; a gripper actuator arranged for opening and closing the gripper, the gripper actuator being associated with a second carrier; and a gripper tensioner arranged for providing a biasing force for closing the gripper, the gripper tensioner being associated with a third carrier. The first, second and third carriers are arranged for displacement relative to a base member, and the base member is arranged for being transported in horizontal direction along the conveying path.

Deskinning apparatus for a poultry leg or part of a poultry leg, including a conveyor with conveyor hooks from which the poultry leg or part of the poultry leg is suspendable, and rollers below the conveyor that are rotatable in opposite directions and are provided with meshing teeth that are contactable with a skin on the poultry leg or part of the poultry leg that is suspended from the conveyor hooks for stripping the skin from the poultry leg or part of the poultry leg, wherein the rollers are movable up and down.

A system and method for deboning a poultry leg part, including at least one bone and meat surrounding the bone. The system includes a conveying unit arranged for transporting the poultry leg part along a conveying path. The system also includes a deboning unit. The deboning unit includes a gripper arranged for gripping the meat surrounding the bone, the gripper being associated with a first carrier; a gripper actuator arranged for opening and closing the gripper, the gripper actuator being associated with a second carrier; and a gripper tensioner arranged for providing a biasing force for closing the gripper, the gripper tensioner being associated with a third carrier. The first, second and third carriers are arranged for displacement relative to a base member, and the base member is arranged for being transported in horizontal direction along the conveying path.

An arrangement, apparatus and method for conveying poultry is provided. The arrangement transfers slaughtered poultry between conveying lines and has at least one rotary device for conveying suspended poultry along a curved conveying path with suspension mounts, each designed to hold a poultry body by both legs. A linear motor conveying device with a guide rail, which comprises a linear drive, forms a circulating conveying path and has runners, each arranged to be separately controllable and movable along the guide rail by the linear drive. A holding element is designed to accommodate one poultry leg at a time, with one of the holding elements arranged on each runner. The rotary device and the linear motor conveying device are arranged such that, in a transfer region, the curved conveying path at least partially overlaps with a curved portion of the circulating conveying path in order to transfer the poultry.

An arrangement, apparatus and method for conveying poultry is provided. The arrangement transfers slaughtered poultry between conveying lines and has at least one rotary device for conveying suspended poultry along a curved conveying path with suspension mounts, each designed to hold a poultry body by both legs. A linear motor conveying device with a guide rail, which comprises a linear drive, forms a circulating conveying path and has runners, each arranged to be separately controllable and movable along the guide rai by the linear drive. A holding element is designed to accommodate one poultry leg at a time, with one of the holding elements arranged on each runner. The rotary device and the linear motor conveying device are arranged such that, in a transfer region, the curved conveying path at least partially overlaps with a curved portion of the circulating conveying path in order to transfer the poultry.