A restraint apparatus is provided for stabilizing a suspended carcass having a head and a neck. The restraint apparatus includes a supporting structure, a mobile arm relative to the supporting structure, and a restraint device fastened on the arm. The restraint device has restraining means configured to, in use, exert a first contact with the head and a second contact with the neck, and a second contact exclusive with at least one part of the rear portion of the neck.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a system for rotating a product during processing comprising a shackle system comprising a trolley, a rotator, and a rotating shackle and a track wherein the trolley is coupled to the track and configured to undergo translational motion along the track causing the shackle system to move along the track and wherein and the rotator is configured to undergo rotational kinematics causing rotation of the rotating shackle.

A system for automatic organization, hanging and driving of slaughtered animals installed at the outlet of a slaughtered animals processing station such as a chiller. The system comprises a receiving and aligning means of slaughtered animals in longitudinal position, which is previously disposed to an accumulator device of slaughtered animals positioned longitudinally. The system further comprises a suspension and movement assembly of each slaughtered animal from the axial alignment assembly to a driving guide of each slaughtered animal to a hanging transfer device of each animal slaughtered in the hanging line.

System for placement of a supply of poultry front halves in a processing line equipped with a train of movable carriers for the poultry front halves. Exemplary embodiments may include a train of receptacles provided and movable in a conveyor line, wherein the receptacles are equipped to receive the front halves at an input station of the system, and the conveyor line is equipped to move the receptacles with the poultry front halves received therein from the input station towards and along the processing line with the carriers. The receptacles can be equipped to transfer the poultry front halves onto the carriers in the processing line and may be equipped with a breast support plate, a bottom plate and upstanding inserts.

Slaughter installation including a conveyor line with carriers for suspending poultry by the legs and conveying the poultry in a conveying track. Head positioning means arranged for forcing the bill of the poultry in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the suspended poultry. Killing device having at least a first rotary knife positioned alongside of the conveying track for cutting into the neck of the suspended poultry while avoiding to cut a certain parts. A first guide wheel upstream and proximate to the first rotary knife, which first guide wheel is positioned alongside the conveying track. A passageway between the first rotary knife and the first guide wheel through which the poultry neck is able to pass.

An apparatus for fixing and transporting crabs during slaughter has a rotationally driven conveying element guided about deflection and/or drive elements to form an upper and lower run, and at least one holding apparatus for fixing the crabs. Each holding apparatus is attached to the conveying element for transporting the fixed crabs in a transport plane along a transport path in a transport direction from a loading station to at least one processing station. Each holding apparatus has a supporting plate for receiving a crab and at least two holding means arranged transversely to the transport direction at a distance from each other. The holding means are pivotable relative to the supporting plate about an axis A.sub.H, lying substantially in or parallel to the transport plane and directed transversely to the transport direction, from a receiving position into a clamping position and back. A corresponding method is also provided.

An apparatus and method, configured for transferring articles of the fish and meat processing industry in a predetermined end position, including a continuous conveying device with a plurality of transport sections for individually receiving the articles and movable in the conveying direction, which transport sections comprise in the conveying position a transport element pair forming two article support surfaces. Each transport element is configured to be controllably pivotable about axles, running in the edge region of the respective transport section, so that the articles (10) are transferred to the predetermined end position, under the effect of gravity, in a plane lying below the conveying plane by controlled pivoting of both transport elements while retaining the article orientation or by controlled pivoting of one of the respective transport elements of one of the respective transport element pairs while changing the article orientation.

A system for automatic organization, hanging and driving of slaughtered animals installed at the outlet of a slaughtered animals processing station such as a chiller. The system comprises a receiving and aligning means of slaughtered animals in longitudinal position, which is previously disposed to an accumulator device of slaughtered animals positioned longitudinally. The system further comprises a suspension and movement assembly of each slaughtered animal from the axial alignment assembly to a driving guide of each slaughtered animal to a hanging transfer device of each animal slaughtered in the hanging line.

A conveying device, apparatus and method for continuously conveying poultry bodies or parts oriented into different processing positions in a conveying direction. A continuous conveyor, which is provided with receiving elements for holding the poultry bodies revolves in a conveying plane and forms a conveying path. The receiving elements each of which include a saddle element to receive one of the poultry bodies, are arranged on a base element to be pivotable about an axis of rotation lying perpendicular to the conveying direction. The conveying plane is arranged inclined relative to the horizontal by an angle of inclination greater than 0 and less than 90, and the base elements are each arranged on the continuous conveyor by angled elements with an angle of extension less than 180 and greater than 90.

A carcass cutting system including a belt positioned below a conveyor such as to stabilise a carcass during imaging and/or cutting operations. An offset section of conveyor track in the region of the belt may be utilized to urge the carcass against the belt. Imagining may use an optical imaging system, an X-ray imaging system, a laser scanning camera, a time of flight camera or a Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry system. Imaging information may be used to calculate cutting paths and/or weight distribution of carcass portions. Cutting may be performed by a robotic cutter using a circular saw or a circular knife.