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 bird cleaning machine is provided that enables a user to cut through a body of a bird from inside out to remove internal organs and parts (breast) of a bird such as a dove. In a particular illustrative embodiment of the invention, a bird cleaning machine includes but is not limited to a vertical guide spear rod, a back spreader bar, two side blades, wing flanges, a bird holding plate, a spring and a foot lever.

The technology as disclosed herein includes a method and apparatus for deboning a meat item, and more particular for deboning a poultry item including performing an initial shoulder cut for removing boneless breast meat from the poultry carcass or frame. The method and apparatus disclosed and claimed herein is a combination of a robotic arm including an ultrasonic knife implement and a vision system for varying the cut path based on the shape and size of the poultry item. The combination as claimed including the ultrasonic knife can perform a meat cut while penetrating the meat with less force than the typical penetration that occurs when using a traditional knife. The technology includes breast removal station, which includes a controller system, which controls a robotic arm, which positions the grasping talon implements, which grasp the poultry item along the wing bone and pulls the breast portion away from the carcass along cut lines created by the ultrasonic knife that cut the poultry item along the cut path performed by the automated robotic arm having an ultrasonic knife implement. Prior pulling the breast portion away from the carcass, a stabilizing system captures the carcass behind by engaging the carcass behind the shoulder joint on either side of the cervical vertebrae.

An apparatus, configured and adapted for scalding slaughtered poultry, includes a scalding tank, which is open at the top, for receiving and for holding a liquid scalding medium, and a transport means, arranged above the scalding tank, for transporting the poultry in a hanging manner within the scalding tank along a scalding channel formed of a plurality of scalding channel sections from an input region to an output region. There is formed beneath the scalding channel a receiving compartment for scalding medium. There is arranged inside the receiving compartment at least one pump device as a turbulence-generating body for forming a pressure chamber which acts along the entire scalding channel. A corresponding method is also provided.

An inclined carving device for a carcass includes a mounting board having a plurality of apertures distributed in the mounting board in a predetermined pattern; retaining pins removably inserted into preselected apertures in the mounting board; and a positioning member pivotally secured to the mounting board for disposing the mounting board in an inclined relationship relative to a surface that the carving device is disposed upon; whereby, the retaining pins ultimately secure a carcass to the mounting board when disposed in a substantially horizontal orientation with the positioning member in a closed position; whereupon, the positioning member is pivoted to an inclined or open position relative to the mounting board, thereby enabling a user of the inclined carving device to carve selected portions from the carcass at an angle selected by the user.

The technology as disclosed herein includes a method and apparatus for deboning a meat item, and more particular for deboning a poultry item including performing an initial shoulder cut for removing boneless breast meat from the poultry carcass or frame. The method and apparatus disclosed and claimed herein is a combination of a robotic arm including an ultrasonic knife implement and a vision system for varying the cut path based on the shape and size of the poultry item. The combination as claimed including the ultrasonic knife can perform a meat cut while penetrating the meat with less force than the typical penetration that occurs when using a traditional knife.

A dismountable poultry processing knife and mounting frame. The mounting frame provided with a quick release mechanism for quickly mounting or dismounting of a poultry processing knife while avoiding screw connections. The poultry processing knife provided with quick release features which are arranged to cooperate with the quick release mechanism of the mounting frame.

An apparatus, configured and adapted for scalding slaughtered poultry, includes a scalding tank, which is open at the top, for receiving and for holding a liquid scalding medium, and a transport means, arranged above the scalding tank, for transporting the poultry in a hanging manner within the scalding tank along a scalding channel formed of a plurality of scalding channel sections from an input region to an output region. There is formed beneath the scalding channel a receiving compartment for scalding medium. There is arranged inside the receiving compartment at least one pump device as a turbulence-generating body for forming a pressure chamber which acts along the entire scalding channel. A corresponding method is also provided.

A transport apparatus for poultry bodies/parts includes a frame, a transport unit on the frame with a revolvingly driven transport means, and a holding apparatus for saddling/holding the poultry during transport/processing. The holding apparatus includes a clamping device with a clamping hook pivotable by an actuating mechanism about a rotational axis from a standby into a clamping position and back. The actuating mechanism includes an adjusting lever pivotable about a rotational axis into connection with an actuating member, on the frame along the transport path, for pivoting the adjusting lever and hook. The holding apparatus rotates relative to the transport means about an axis perpendicular to the transport direction, and is brought into operative connection with an actuating lever on the frame. The adjusting lever rotational axis is oriented perpendicular to the hook axis. The actuating lever for rotating the holding apparatus is before the adjusting lever actuating member.

Meat processing equipment is disclosed that includes a first element having a first face; a second element having a second face. The first and second faces extend parallel to one another and define a common plane between the first and second faces. The first and second elements are relatively movable with respect to one another. Yieldable arresting features are included for yieldably arresting the first and second elements in at least one predetermined position of relative movement, the yieldable arresting features include cooperating first and second permanent magnets, associated with at least one of the first and second elements.