Patent ID: 6213862
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: A22B,A22C

Abstract:
A poultry eviscerating apparatus for removing viscera from the body cavity of poultry through a pre-cut opening at the poultry vent, said body cavity including an internal breast wall and an opposed internal back wall, said apparatus comprising:a conveyor receiving the poultry and transporting the poultry along a predetermined path, the poultry being positioned on said conveyor in a first predetermined position wherein the poultry's back is in a generally horizontal position;an eviscerating station receiving the conveyed poultry, said eviscerating station comprising:a locating arm having a first end movable between a stowed position spaced from said conveyed poultry and an eviscerating position wherein the poultry is clamped in position on said first end, a support plate movably mounted on said first end to move between a fully extended position when said locating arm is in said stowed position and a compressed position when said locating arm is in said cutting position, said support plate being biased toward said extended position by a first force, said first end including a movably mounted breast positioning bar movable between an open position when said locating arm is in said stowed position and a clamping position when said locating arm is in said eviscerating position, said locating arm being located with respect to said conveyor such that as said first end moves from the stowed position to said eviscerating position the support plate engages the back of the poultry and maintains the back in a position in the range of 0.degree. and 40.degree. downwardly from a horizontal plane, said breast positioning bar being moved to said clamping position to bias the poultry toward said support plate with a second force to hold the poultry against said support plate in position for eviscerating when said locating arm is in said eviscerating position;an eviscerating tool having a working portion insertable into the body cavity of the poultry through the access opening along a predetermined path, a portion of the predetermined path included moving said working portion of the tool along the breast wall of the cavity with a third force which is greater than said second force such that the breast wall of the poultry can move with respect to the first end while being maintained against the working portion of the tool without the working portion damaging the breast wall, another portion of the predetermined path including moving said working portion of said tool along the back wall of the cavity with a fourth force which is greater than said first force such that the back wall of the poultry and support plate can move with respect to the first end while the back wall is maintained against the working portion of the tool without the working portion damaging the back wall.