Patent ID: 6024636
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: A22C

Abstract:
A poultry processing apparatus for removing the bone from the drumstick of a bird comprising:a stationary cam support;a continuous cam track means extending about said cam support;a revolving carrier assembly surrounding said cam support and including a continuous series of deboning modules spaced about said cam support and movable along said cam track means;each of said deboning modules including a meat stripper means and a reciprocatable bone pusher engaging said continuous cam track means and movable toward and away from said meat stripper means in response to revolving about said cam track for engaging and pushing a drumstick bone through said meat stripper means;a drive means for revolving said carrier assembly about said stationary cam support;a means for transversely cutting a muscular tissue of the bird drumstick prior to the bird drumsticks engaging said deboning modules;a continuous tray conveyor including a plurality of poultry drumstick carrier trays arranged in spaced series for transporting poultry drumsticks into communication with said deboning modules;conveyor guide means for guiding each of said carrier trays along a substantially rectilinear loading path toward said revolving carrier assembly, about said revolving carrier assembly, and along a return path to the loading path;so that poultry drumsticks are loaded on said carrier trays as the carrier trays move along the loading path, the carrier trays move from the loading path and about the revolving carrier assembly and guide the drumsticks into contact with said cutting means and also into registration with said deboning modules, the cam track actuates the bone pushers to push the bones through the meat strippers as the carrier trays move with the revolving carrier to strip the meat from the bones of the drumsticks, and the carrier trays move away from the revolving carrier along the return path.