A system and method for transferring poultry legs from a supply conveyor to a discharge conveyor. The poultry transfer unit comprises a transfer body configured for continuously moving. The poultry transfer unit comprises at least one carrier engaging to the transfer body, such that the at least one carrier in a transporting mode moves along with the transfer body and in a buffering mode moves relative to the transfer body. The at least one carrier comprises a gripper for receiving the poultry leg. The at least one carrier further comprises resistance means having a rotor and a stator, wherein the rotor is driven by a motion of the carrier relative to the transfer body, and wherein the stator is stationary with respect to the carrier.

A system for hanging poultry by the legs and feet in a shackle of a conveyor line. A supply line with at least one first carrier for the poultry. A movable take over device can receive the legs of the poultry and transfers the poultry from the at least one first carrier to the shackle in the conveyor line at a transfer location. The shackle, the movable take over device, and the at least one first carrier can be aligned. The movable take over device can be arranged to engage the legs of the poultry at the transfer location, move the feet above the shackle, move the feet downwards into the shackle, and disengage the legs. Pushing equipment pushes the poultry from the at least one first carrier to the movable take over device when the poultry is at the transfer location.

A system and method for object processing using magnetic levitation includes moving carriers with drive magnets across an array of planar motors. Food items on the carriers are moved through processing steps. The system determines the weight of multiple food items and coordinates and arranges for the batching of food items totaling a desired weight from an assembly of available food items and presents the selected food items to an operator for further processing. The system moves the carriers to engage the food items with processing equipment, such as for attaching to poultry shackles, or for cutting by a filet machine.

A poultry processing apparatus for processing a poultry carcass with attached wings. The apparatus includes a shackle conveyor including a set of shackles. Adjacent shackles receive respective wings of a poultry carcass in a wing-receiving opening of the shackle to support the poultry carcass for movement along a shackle path of travel. A first cutting module is positioned adjacent a section of the shackle conveyor, the first cutting module including a cutting head having spaced apart first and second cutting members and a translation mechanism moving the cutting head in two directions: a) moving the cutting head between a retracted position and an engaged position in a direction transverse to the shackle path of travel; and b) moving the cutting head in a direction along the shackle path of travel in synchronization with the conveyor over an engagement distance wherein the first and second cutting members engage the poultry carcass.

A poultry processing apparatus for processing a poultry carcass with attached wings. The apparatus includes a shackle conveyor including a set of shackles. Adjacent shackles receive respective wings of a poultry carcass in a wing-receiving opening of the shackle to support the poultry carcass for movement along a shackle path of travel. A first cutting module is positioned adjacent a section of the shackle conveyor, the first cutting module including a cutting head having spaced apart first and second cutting members and a translation mechanism moving the cutting head in two directions: a) moving the cutting head between a retracted position and an engaged position in a direction transverse to the shackle path of travel; and b) moving the cutting head in a direction along the shackle path of travel in synchronization with the conveyor over an engagement distance wherein the first and second cutting members engage the poultry carcass.