Stork Gamco Inc.

Raymond F Strawn

Max Volk

Hendrikus Werner Peeters

Bradley K Gazaway

Adrianus Josephes Van Den Nieuwelaar

Adrianus J Von Den Nieuwelaar

Robert J Conklin

Joseph M Walker

Marcus M Moore

William W Lapp

Thomas G Jacobs

Godefridus W Verbakel

Apparatus and methods for performing multiple automated poultry processing operations upon a slaughtered animal or a part thereof via a single machine is described. The machine contains at least two rotary processors in a single frame. A covering surrounds the processors. A venting processor cuts out and removes the vent to a slaughtered animal and in the process removes unwanted fecal or other material from the exterior and the interior of the carcass. The processors integrated into the single machine are coupled by a conveyor line following a preferably generally S-shaped route that carries the carcasses amongst the processors, preferably positioning the carcasses at the optimum registration point for the operation performed by the particular processor.

Methods and apparatus for performing processing operations on a slaughtered animal or part thereof

Apparatus and methods for performing multiple automated poultry processing operations upon a slaughtered animal or a part thereof via a single machine is described. The machine contains at least two rotary processors in a single frame. A covering surrounds the processors. A venting processor cuts out and removes the vent of a slaughtered animal and in the process removes unwanted fecal or other material from the exterior and the interior of the carcass. The processors integrated into the single machine are coupled by a conveyor line following a preferably generally S-shaped route that carries the carcasses amongst the processors, preferably positioning the carcasses at the optimum registration point for the operation performed by the particular processor.

Method and apparatus for performing processing operations on a slaughtered animal or part thereof

A device is disclosed that completely cuts out and removes the vent, including its orbicular muscle, of a slaughtered animal, such as poultry, pigs or other such animals. A centering pin nests within a holding element that has a roughened face surface for capturing the skin of the animal around the vent. The holding element is coaxial with a generally cylindrical, rotary cutter. The pin inserts into the vent and the holding element is then extended to contact the skin of the animal near the vent. The pin, which terminates in a cone-shaped knob, is then moved slightly away from the animal and toward the holding element, thereby capturing the orbicular muscle of the vent between the shoulder of the pin and a recess within the holding element. The holding element has a roughened face surface, preferably beveled, which contacts the skin and may form it into folds for easier cutting. The holding element is nested within and coaxial to the cutter; only a very small gap separates the holding element from the cutter. This causes the cutter and the holding element to cooperate to cut through the skin with a shearing action, thereby improving the ability of the device to remove completely the vent. When grooves are used to roughen the face surface, the grooves form folds within the skin. Such folds further improve the ability of the cutter to slice through the skin of the animal and thereby completely cut out and remove the orbicular muscle.

Skin-holding vent cutter

An apparatus for removing the skin from animal parts, such as from poultry thighs, comprises a rotary turntable for supporting the poultry thighs and for conveying them along a path in a forward direction and a pair of counter-rotating peeler rollers positioned beneath the turntable. The rotary turntable has an aperture formed therein and a vacuum means positioned adjacent the rollers for drawing a portion of the skin of the poultry part through the aperture and toward the rollers to reliably engage the skin of the poultry part in the peeler rollers.

Apparatus for removing skin from animal parts

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Flowery Beach, GA, United States of America

Raymond F Strawn