A poultry processing line with a conveying track and can include at least one carriage movable in the conveying track. Wheels on opposite sides of the carriage are mounted on an axle guided through a shaft or bore of the carriage, and are movable along supports for the respective wheels on opposite sides of the conveying track. The shaft or bore has a convex inner top surface and convex inner bottom surface as seen in the shaft or bore's longitudinal direction.

A poultry processing line is provided having a series of poultry carriers and a processing unit or processing units, wherein the poultry carriers are movable to and from the processing unit or processing units and the poultry carriers and the processing unit or processing units are synchronized to enable processing of the poultry by the processing unit or processing units. A switch is provided such that the poultry carriers and/or the processing unit or processing units are selectable between an operational position in which the poultry is processed by the processing unit or units and an inoperational or idle position in which the poultry is prevented from being processed by the processing unit or units.

An automated system and method is provided for separating left and right animal carcass cuts from one another. The system includes a conveyor to carry cut meat pieces along a path. A sensor generates a signal corresponding to the left or right cuts, and sends the signal to a processor or controller, which actuates a product diverter, which moves across the conveyor so as to push and remove selected meat pieces from the conveyor for further processing on a separate line. The diverters are pivotal out of the conveyor path if engaged by meat piece intended to continue along the conveyor path.

A poultry processing line with a conveying track and can include at least one carriage movable in the conveying track. Wheels on opposite sides of the carriage are mounted on an axle guided through a shaft or bore of the carriage, and are movable along supports for the respective wheels on opposite sides of the conveying track. The shaft or bore has a convex inner top surface and convex inner bottom surface as seen in the shaft or bore's longitudinal direction.

An apparatus and method for processing poultry carcasses with a slaughter opening located between the legs includes a drivable transport conveyor for continuously conveying the carcasses, at least one holding apparatus on the transport conveyor for holding the carcasses, and a processing station. The station includes an engagement basic body rotatably mounted on a rotary axis and at least one engagement element. The engagement element is configured for at least partial engagement with the slaughter opening. During the at least partial engagement of the at least one engagement element with the carcass a widening of the slaughter opening is effected while maintaining the continuous conveyance with the generation of a torque. The engagement basic body is configured for receiving the torque. If the torque exceeds a predetermined torque, the engagement basic body is automatically released from the slaughter opening by rotation of the engagement basic body about the rotary axis.

An articulating, rotating poultry shackle. The shackle has a central member conventionally coupled to a picking line of the processing facility, a fixed hanging portion rigidly coupled to the central member, and an articulating hanging portion rotatably coupled to the fixed hanging portion. A mounting assembly coupled to the central member rotatably attaches the central member to the picking line such that at least three degrees of rotational freedom are provided to the articulating hanging portion of the shackle.

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.

Systems and methods for rotating a product during processing including a shackle system including a trolley, a rotator, and a rotating shackle and a track. 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. The rotator is configured to undergo rotational kinematics causing rotation of the rotating shackle.