Other

Centennial Machine Co., Inc.

Gainesville Machine Company, Inc.

Stork Gamco Inc.

Grover S. Harben, III

Grover S Harben, Iii

Kenneth Z Graham

James S Ellis

Joe M Emmett

Ronnie M Conner

Gene Petty

Julius A Ellis

Leonard G Clark

Jerry Sosbee

Robert J Sosebee

L Guy Clark

A paw tracker for maintaining poultry paws in an ordered, indexed manner so that each paw can be matched with the carcass from which it was removed is provided. The paw tracker has a plurality of columns defining a plurality of pockets vertically aligned on the column. A rotatable gate corresponds to each pocket of the plurality of pockets. At least one gate arm urges each gate of the plurality of gates from a closed position to an open position at a predetermined time and a rotating assembly is configured to move the plurality of columns at a predetermined speed.

Paw tracker device, system and method

A paw selector for maintaining poultry paws in an ordered, indexed manner so that each paw can be matched with the carcass from which it was removed is provided. The paw selector has a tray coupled to a rotatable shaft. Rotation of the shaft causes the walls of the tray to rotate, thereby urging paws on the tray over a stationary tray bottom. Upon reaching a void in the tray bottom, the paws drop through the void on a lower tray or into a predetermined receptacle for further processing. At least on sensor can maintain correlation between the paw and the carcass from which it was removed for disposal of any rejected paws.

Paw selector system and method

This invention relates to automated systems and methods for hanging live poultry for further processing. The system has an alignment conveyor, an alignment stunner, a hanging box, a vacuum system and a shackle. The alignment conveyor conveys poultry from an input point to the alignment stunner. The alignment stunner urges the poultry to move to a desired position on the alignment conveyor and stuns the poultry. The hanging box grasps the stunned poultry and places the poultry into the shackle for further processing. A computer and at least one sensor control operation of the system so that human intervention is minimized.

Automated poultry hanging system and method

A paw selector for maintaining poultry paws in an ordered, indexed manner so that each paw can be matched with the carcass from which it was removed is provided. The paw selector has a tray coupled to a rotatable shaft. Rotation of the shaft causes the walls of the tray to rotate, thereby urging paws on the tray over a stationary tray bottom. Upon reaching a void in the tray bottom, the paws drop through the void onto a lower tray or into a predetermined receptacle for further processing. At least on sensor can maintain correlation between the paw and the carcass from which it was removed for disposal of any rejected paws.

This invention relates to automated systems and methods for hanging live poultry for further processing. The system has an alignment conveyor, an alignment stunner, a hanging box, and a shackle. The alignment conveyor conveys poultry from an input point to the alignment stunner. The alignment stunner urges the poultry to move to a desired position on the alignment conveyor and stuns the poultry. The hanging box grasps the stunned poultry and places the poultry into the shackle for further processing. A computer and at least one sensor control operation of the system so that human intervention is minimized.

A paw cutting system for removing a poultry paw from a shackle conveyed along a shackle conveyor line and then cutting the leg of the paw to remove the knuckle is provided. The paw cutter has a guide bar substantially aligned with the shackle conveyor line that urges the paw to a central cavity of the shackle. The paw is discharged from the central cavity into a lateral notch formed in two opposed discs positioned adjacent to an end of the guide bar. The two opposed discs are rotatable and move the paw from the guide bar to a blade. As the paw is moved to the blade, the two discs stretch the paw so that the blade can cleanly cut the paw. The cut paw product can be placed onto a belt or other device in an ordered manner.

Paw cutter system and method

Apparatus and method for mechanizing the loading of live fowl onto shackles of an overhead conveyor used in poultry processing. Live fowl are placed on a moving conveyor belt moving alongside the shackles. A succession of bird loading stations move with the bird conveyor belt and position the feet of each bird in predetermined relation with corresponding shackles. A foot folder engages the feet of the bird, confining the digits of the feet for unimpeded entry into the shackle. The shackles then are moved toward the bird conveyor to position the feet in the loops of the shackle, after which the shackles are elevated with respect to the bird conveyor to engage the feet within the shackles.

Apparatus and method for loading live fowl onto a conveyor

Apparatus for removing the oil bag from killed fowl without cutting the tail of the fowl. A stationary knife assembly is mounted adjacent the predetermined path traveled by the birds along a conventional overhead conveyor. The stationary knife assembly has a V-shaped notch into which the oil bag of each bird moves, but a guard member partially blocks the notch and keeps the tail of the bird from entering the notch. A movable cutting assembly moves in synchronism with the bird conveyor and cooperates with the stationary knife assembly to shear the oil bag off the bird.

Apparatus for removing oil bag from fowl

A process and apparatus for mechanized separation of the heart and liver from slaughtered poultry. The apparatus is located alongside an existing overhead conveyor and includes a secondary conveyor which engages a portion of the gut extending from the eviscerated bird to a viscera package including the gall, the liver, and the heart and lungs. A pair of guide fingers define a channel for receiving the connective tissue attaching the heart to the liver, and a first rotary knife positioned alongside that channel severs the connective tissue. A second rotary knife severs the liver from the gall without cutting the gall or releasing the bile within. A pair of helical rollers separates the mutually connected heart and lungs.

Apparatus and process for harvesting hearts and livers of poultry

Suction apparatus and process for removing fecal matter from the vents of bird carcasses such as chickens and turkeys. A hollow suction probe enters the vent of the bird, and a flow of water is introduced in the vicinity of the probe opening to provide a mass flow sufficient to transport loose fecal matter into the suction opening of the probe. Suction and water flows at the probe are controlled so that the beginning and end of the water flow is overlapped by suction, thereby preventing the unwanted entry of water into the bird beyond the end of the probe.

Vent cleaning apparatus and method for poultry

A gizzard peeling machine including at least one pair of toothed rolls for grasping and peeling the pocket lining from a gizzard, and having a tamper for periodically pressing the gizzard inwardly against the peeling rolls. Oscillation of the tamper occurs without connection to the peeling rolls, so that the rolls and the support bushings for the rolls are unaffected by movement of the tamper.

Growing community of inventors

Gainesville, GA, United States of America

Grover S Harben, Iii