Patent ID: 6811480
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: A22C

Abstract:
A shackle assembly for transporting a poultry carcass suspended by its legs along a processing path and over a weighing scale track for weighing the carcass, the shackle assembly comprising:a trolley support; a bird carrier for suspending the poultry carcass by its legs; a trolley mounted to said bird carrier for engaging the weighing scale track; turning means mounted to said trolley support and operatively connected to said bird carrier for rotating said trolley support, said trolley and said bird carrier in unison for presenting the poultry carcass at different orientations to cutting devices located along the process path; and telescopic connector means including a tubular support and a rod received therein telescopically connecting said trolley support to said bird carrier and suspending said bird carrier from said trolley support; said telescopic connector means configured for applying a weight to the weighing scale track consisting essentially of the weight of said bird carrier, said trolley, and the carcass, but without the weight of the turning means, in response to said shackle assembly engaging the weighing scale track.