A shoulder incision-making apparatus for a poultry carcass according to the present invention is for cutting a shoulder joint section of a poultry carcass, and includes: a fixing jig on which a poultry carcass which is eviscerated and which has leg parts removed is to be placed and fixed; a conveyer forming a conveyance path of the fixing jig and configured to convey the fixing jig along the conveyance path; a first cutter disposed in the conveyance path; and a second cutter disposed in the conveyance path at a downstream side of the first cutter in a conveying direction. The first cutter is configured to make an incision on the shoulder joint section of the poultry carcass, and the second cutter is configured to be inserted into the incision to cut the shoulder joint section.

A shoulder-blade incision-making apparatus is provided and includes: a fixing jig on which the poultry carcass which is eviscerated and which has leg parts removed is to be placed and fixed; a fixing jig conveyer forming a conveyance path of the fixing jig and convey the fixing jig along the conveyance path; a first separating member disposed above the conveyance path movably upward and downward; and a first driving device for moving the first separating member in an upward and downward direction. The first driving device is operated to move downward the first separating member and move the first separating member along a surface of the shoulder blade of the poultry carcass in accordance with a timing when the poultry carcass fixed to the fixing jig reaches a meat-separation position below the first separating member, therefore the meat portion attached to the shoulder blade is separated from the shoulder blade.

A contour measurement apparatus and a contour measurement method for measuring a contour of a poultry carcass, and a deboning device for a poultry carcass are provided. The contour measurement apparatus includes: a fixing jig on which the poultry carcass is placed and fixed; a conveyer forming a conveyance path for conveying the fixing jig; a contact element being supported movably in an upper and lower direction within a two-dimensional plane, and being able to be in contact with a measurement target portion of the poultry carcass; an upper and lower direction position sensor for detecting a position of the contact element in the upper and lower direction; a fixing jig position sensor for detecting a position of the fixing jig moving in a conveying direction; and a contour calculation unit for calculating a contour of a surface of the poultry carcass on the two-dimensional plane based on detected values.

A poultry tenderloin extraction apparatus is provided that can achieve higher poultry tenderloin extracting process performance without posing a risk of bone chips mixing in the poultry tenderloin. The poultry tenderloin extraction apparatus includes: a fixing jig configured to move while holding a poultry carcass; a poultry tenderloin extraction body section disposed on each of left and right sides with respect to a conveying direction of the fixing jig; a first moving unit configured to move the poultry tenderloin extraction body section toward the moving fixing jig; and a second moving unit configured to move the poultry tenderloin extraction body section away from the moving fixing jig. The poultry tenderloin extraction body section includes a clamping device including: a clamping lower plate to be inserted under the poultry tenderloin in a width direction relative to a longitudinal direction of the poultry tenderloin of the poultry carcass held by the fixing jig; and a clamping upper plate to be supported above the poultry tenderloin, the clamping device being configured to clamp the poultry tenderloin between the clamping lower plate and the clamping upper plate when the poultry tenderloin extraction body section moves toward the fixing jig. The apparatus is configured to, while the poultry tenderloin is clamped between the clamping lower plate and the clamping upper plate, separate the poultry tenderloin from the poultry carcass by a movement of the fixing jig toward a front side in the conveying direction and a movement of the poultry tenderloin extraction body section away from the fixing jig by the second moving unit.

A contour measurement apparatus and a contour measurement method for measuring a contour of a poultry carcass, and a deboning device for a poultry carcass are provided. The contour measurement apparatus includes: a fixing jig on which the poultry carcass is placed and fixed; a conveyer forming a conveyance path for conveying the fixing jig; a contact element being supported movably in an upper and lower direction within a two-dimensional plane, and being able to be in contact with a measurement target portion of the poultry carcass; an upper and lower direction position sensor for detecting a position of the contact element in the upper and lower direction; a fixing jig position sensor for detecting a position of the fixing jig moving in a conveying direction; and a contour calculation unit for calculating a contour of a surface of the poultry carcass on the two-dimensional plane based on detected values.

A poultry tenderloin extraction apparatus is provided and includes: a fixing jig being moved while holding a poultry carcass; a poultry tenderloin extraction body section disposed on each of left and right sides with respect to a conveying direction of the fixing jig; and a first moving unit and a second moving unit, for moving the poultry tenderloin extraction body section toward/away from the moving fixing jig, respectively. The poultry tenderloin extraction body section includes a clamping device having: a clamping lower plate and a clamping upper plate for clamping the poultry tenderloin therebetween when the poultry tenderloin extraction body section moves toward the fixing jig. The poultry tenderloin is separated from the poultry carcass by a movement of the fixing jig toward a front side in the conveying direction and a movement of the poultry tenderloin extraction body section away from the fixing jig by the second moving unit.

A shoulder incision-making apparatus for a poultry carcass according to the present invention is for cutting a shoulder joint section of a poultry carcass, and includes: a fixing jig on which a poultry carcass which is eviscerated and which has leg parts removed is to be placed and fixed; a conveyer forming a conveyance path of the fixing jig and configured to convey the fixing jig along the conveyance path; a first cutter disposed in the conveyance path; and a second cutter disposed in the conveyance path at a downstream side of the first cutter in a conveying direction. The first cutter is configured to make an incision on the shoulder joint section of the poultry carcass, and the second cutter is configured to be inserted into the incision to cut the shoulder joint section.

A shoulder-blade incision-making apparatus is provided and includes: a fixing jig on which the poultry carcass which is eviscerated and which has leg parts removed is to be placed and fixed; a fixing jig conveyer forming a conveyance path of the fixing jig and convey the fixing jig along the conveyance path; a first separating member disposed above the conveyance path movably upward and downward; and a first driving device for moving the first separating member in an upward and downward direction. The first driving device is operated to move downward the first separating member and move the first separating member along a surface of the shoulder blade of the poultry carcass in accordance with a timing when the poultry carcass fixed to the fixing jig reaches a meat-separation position below the first separating member, therefore the meat portion attached to the shoulder blade is separated from the shoulder blade.

A system for skin removal from defeathered whole leg or drumstick poultry products, includes a poultry products conveyor including a track including a circle arc track portion, and a series of poultry product carriers which are spaced apart from one another in the direction of the track and which are movable along said track. Each poultry product carrier is adapted to hold at least one defeathered whole leg or drumstick poultry product at the ankle joint thereof such that the poultry product is conveyed hanging from said carrier. A carousel skin removal device is arranged along the track of the poultry products conveyor at the circle arc track portion and adapted to remove skin from whole leg or drumstick poultry products held and conveyed by the poultry products conveyor.

A system and method for automatically suspending poultry by the legs from a carrier of a carrier conveyor. The system can include an imaging device connected to a decision-making tool to process images from the poultry on a feedline and a vision guided robot for picking up the poultry from a feedline. The poultry can be suspended from the carrier of the carrier conveyor. The decision-making tool can be arranged to detect poultry with the breast engaging the feedline to control the vision guided robot to pick up the poultry from the feedline.