Patent ID: 6764393
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: A22C

Abstract:
A shackle assembly for transporting poultry carcasses along a poultry processing line, comprising:a shackle having a support rod with a first end for upright suspension from a suspended conveyor line and a second end for suspension below said first end, said second end including stirrups mounted thereto configured for supporting the legs of a poultry carcass, a turning block having a body defining a central axis and side wings extending normal to said central axis, said turning block non-rotatably mounted at its central axis to said second end of said support rod, with said side wings extending radially from said support rod, said turning block defining turning slots positioned between each said side wing, so that as said turning block advances toward a turning pin of a predetermined size positioned alone the processing line a turning slot receives the turning pin and the turning block steps around the turning pin to turn the turning block and said stirrups about said central axis, at least one of said side wings of said turning block being of a smaller thickness than the others of said side wings so that said smaller thickness side wing can pass about a short turning pin positioned along the processing line that is shorter than the other turning pins without turning the turning block and shackle.