A poultry part harvesting, sorting, and packaging apparatus and system utilizes an arrangement of hoppers to batch poultry parts removed by cut-up machines and deposits the batches onto a transportation conveyor. Each batch is contained within a separate zone on the conveyor, and the system tracks the location of batches and open spaces on the conveyor to deliver the batches to user defined locations.

An apparatus and method is for recovering back-flesh from back parts of poultry carcasses having a hip side and body interior side. The back part includes a spinal column and rib structure. A transport conveyor transports the back parts along a transport path with a centre axis in a direction of transport and has a transport element for conveying at least one holding element, arranged on the transport element, for receiving the back part. A first cutting assembly is along the transport path in the region of the transport element and has a loosening means for loosening the back-flesh along the rib structure. A second cutting assembly is along the transport path downstream of the first assembly and has at least one separating knife for separating the back-flesh substantially along the spinal column. The holding element holds the back part on the holding element by non-positive and/or positive locking engagement.

Vent cutter including a rotatable cutter with forward cutting edge for cutting tissue around a vent of poultry. A centering pin can be inside the cutter with a thickened end portion for insertion into the vent prior to cutting. A clamping sleeve can be inside of the cutter and surround the centering pin. The centering pin and the clamping sleeve can be movable with respect to each other and arranged to cooperate for clamping tissue of the poultry. The clamping sleeve can be movable with respect to the cutter.

A wishbone separator device for separating a wishbone from a poultry carcass includes a primary wishbone cutter including a front cutter portion including a central front apex, a left and a right front cutting edge, which diverge from said central front apex, a wishbone limb cutter portion, including a left and a right limb cutting edge. An intersection point of an extension of the left limb cutting edge and an extension of the right limb cutting edge is arranged on a center line parallel to the cutting direction through the central front apex. The left and right front cutting edge are arranged forward of the left and right limb cutting edge, respectively as seen in the cutting direction and outward relative to said imaginary extension line from the left and right limb cutting edge, respectively.

Vent cutter including a rotatable cutter with forward cutting edge for cutting tissue around a vent of poultry. A centering pin can be inside the cutter with a thickened end portion for insertion into the vent prior to cutting. A clamping sleeve can be inside of the cutter and surround the centering pin. The centering pin and the clamping sleeve can be movable with respect to each other and arranged to cooperate for clamping tissue of the poultry. The clamping sleeve can be movable with respect to the cutter.

A filleting device and method for harvesting fillets from a poultry carcass that is moved in a conveyor-line and supported on a carrier. Fillets may be guided to a pulling device that may be placed in or adjacent to the path of the poultry carcass. Harvesting of the fillets may be completed with the pulling device while keeping the fillets pushed against the first guide rail or rails and/or the pulling device. Harvested fillets may be moved to at least one outlet for the fillets.

In a poultry processing apparatus, a workpiece which is poultry with a body part and a pair of wing parts is conveyed while being supported by a fixing jig. A pair of cutters is disposed respectively on both sides of a conveyance path of the fixing jig. Further, a pair of guide members extends along the conveyance path, and the pair of wing parts of the workpiece supported by the fixing jig is guided from below by the pair of guide members to allow the pair of cutters to access side portions of the body part between the body part and the pair of wing parts.

Method and device for processing a carcass part of slaughtered poultry in a processing line. A carcass part may be supported on a carrier that is movable in the processing line and includes wing joints, coracoids, a wishbone being embodied with two legs that merge into each other at an acute angle, a keel bone, and naturally present meat including inner and outer fillets, and means are applied for cutting and/or removing of the wishbone from the carcass part.

A method for cutting extra-large poultry to fit within existing industrial fryers and remain as recognizable pieces to the consumer is provided. The method provides for the cuts necessary to create pieces of poultry from the extra-large poultry that are sized comparably to a normal sized bird. Furthermore, the method provides for keeping the cut pieces in a shape that the consumer recognizes as a particular piece of poultry.

A method for cutting extra-large poultry to fit within existing industrial fryers and remain as recognizable pieces to the consumer is provided. The method provides for the cuts necessary to create pieces of poultry from the extra-large poultry that are sized comparably to a normal sized bird. Furthermore, the method provides for keeping the cut pieces in a shape that the consumer recognizes as a particular piece of poultry.