The present invention relates to an idle gear set for an overhead poultry conveyor, the gear set including a variable structure chain gear capable of being adjusted in size according to the needs of a user. Specifically, an idle gear set for an overhead poultry conveyor includes a chain gear for moving a roller assembly, the chain gear comprises: a pair of plates vertically spaced apart and arranged in parallel; and a plurality of chain guides interposed between the pair of plates, and radially arranged along the circumferences of the plates, wherein the chain guides are arranged to be spaced apart such that a mounting groove into which the roller assembly is inserted can be formed between the chain guide and another adjacent chain guide.

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 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.

A system and method for automatically suspending poultry from a carrier of a carrier conveyor. A vision guided robot can pick up poultry from a feedline and suspend the poultry from the carrier. An imaging device can be connected to a decision-making tool to process images from the poultry on the feedline, wherein the decision-making tool is arranged to detect a head of the poultry and to control the vision guided robot to pick up the poultry from the feedline by engaging the poultry at or below the head, and to subsequently suspend the poultry with its head up from the carrier of the carrier 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.

A processing line for harvesting hearts from viscera packages taken out from poultry carcasses. An apparatus with an infeed section below a conveying track to mechanically grip the viscera package. The infeed section is equipped to transfer the viscera package from which the gizzard is removed to a processing section. An outfeed section that follows the processing section, which outfeed section is arranged to make the heart as separated from the viscera package available at an outlet for the heart.

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 machine for cleaning fowl giblets, which comprises pre-cleaning rollers positioned underneath a guiding assembly for directing the giblets to a chain for gripping and conveying the giblets to a pressing assembly via a cutting element and a unit for washing the giblets. The machine also has a first steering element arranged beside a second steering element, in which the first steering element extends along the length of a cleaning assembly. This cleaning assembly is arranged underneath the pressing assembly and underneath the steering elements.

The disclosed technology includes systems and methods for continuously supplying livestock to a processing plant. The disclosed technology can include an enclosure configured to house livestock. The enclosure can include an enclosure entrance, an enclosure exit, and moveable walls to partition the enclosure into separate pens and automatically direct the livestock from the enclosure entrance toward the enclosure exit. A passageway can be connected to the enclosure exit and include moveable walls to automatically direct the livestock from the enclosure exit toward a processing plant. The moveable walls can be configured to move at a predetermined speed such that the plurality of livestock enter the enclosure as offspring, are reared in the enclosure, and are directed through the enclosure exit into the passageway approximately when the plurality of livestock have reached slaughter weight.

The disclosed technology includes systems and methods for continuously supplying livestock to a processing plant. The disclosed technology can include an enclosure configured to house livestock. The enclosure can include an enclosure entrance, an enclosure exit, and moveable walls to partition the enclosure into separate pens and automatically direct the livestock from the enclosure entrance toward the enclosure exit. A passageway can be connected to the enclosure exit and include moveable walls to automatically direct the livestock from the enclosure exit toward a processing plant. The moveable walls can be configured to move at a predetermined speed such that the plurality of livestock enter the enclosure as offspring, are reared in the enclosure, and are directed through the enclosure exit into the passageway approximately when the plurality of livestock have reached slaughter weight.