Patent ID: 6033296
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: A22C

Abstract:
Apparatus for making a cut in the neck of slaughtered poultry to provide access for a tool for removing the crop, said apparatus comprising: a carousel which includes at least one poultry positioning unit and at least one handling unit for cutting the neck of slaughtered poultry held on said positioning unit, said handling unit including a cutting blade which is fitted on a tilting arm, arc-shaped tracks which have horizontal, ascending and descending sections, running wheels which are movable on said tracks to cause movement of said handling unit and said positioning unit, said tilting arm having a said running wheel which is movable on said track, said tracks being operable to move said tilting arm from a non-operative position to a cutting position and then to impart a downward movement to said arm when it is in said cutting position, a centering fork mounted on said tilting arm, said centering fork having two centering elements which contact opposite sides of the neck of the poultry when the tilting arm is in its cutting position to position the neck in a correct position relative to the blade.