Device for removing the viscera from the carcass of a slaughtered bird, comprising means for holding the carcass with its vent upward, means for gripping the gullet, said gripping means comprising at least two jaw members which are movable towards each other to fixedly and positively clamp the gullet between them, means for engaging under the viscera and means for moving the gripping means and the engaging means downward inside the carcass to the area of the gullet and operating means to move them subsequently in an active position upwards to eviscerate the viscera, wherein the gripping means and the engaging means are formed by one and the same scoop member which is hingedly connected to the lower end of a carrier bar means, wherein the gripping means and the scoop means are arranged for being simultaneously moved between a non-active position and an active position and vice versa.

CROSS REFERENCE 
Applicants claim priority of European Patent Application Ser. No. 96 203 
009.4, filed Oct. 30, 1996. 
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a device for removing the viscera from the 
carcass of a slaughtered bird, in particular a chicken. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the industry, it is common practice to eviscerate the cluster or package 
(or a part thereof) of inner organs of the animal, such as the glandular 
stomach, gizzard, gall bladder, pancreas and intestines, in short the 
organs of the digestive system, as well as other organs, such as the 
liver, the heart and the lungs. In this description such a package (or 
part thereof) is generally indicated by the expression viscera. The 
evisceration can take place automatically, usually after the birds, which 
are hanging upside down by their legs from shackles that are conveyed by 
an overhead conveyor, have been decapitated and an incision has been made 
at the vent to facilitate the entry of the eviscerator into the carcass. 
The known eviscerators are arranged on a carousel, driven at a speed 
corresponding to that of the overhead conveyor, wherein "carousel", is to 
be understood in a broad sense: it can for example follow a circular path 
or an elliptic path. The carousel is provided with holding means for 
holding the carcasses in a correct position during evisceration and with 
means for moving the actual eviscerator downwards and upwards, to perform 
an eviscerating stroke. Such known eviscerators can have the form of a 
spoon or scoop, with an open surface --such as in the form of a 
bracket--or a closed surface. The scoop is mounted on a bar-like carrier 
which is manipulated to have the scoop follow a curved path during its 
downward travel inside the carcass. As shown in Dutch patent application 
72.15768, the scoop may comprise a V-shaped slot and be hinged to the 
lower end of the carrier bar so that it can be rotated about a 
substantially horizontal hinge axis from a non-active position, in the 
extension of the carrier bar, to an active position, perpendicular to the 
carrier bar, by means of operating means such as a lever assembly 
extending along the carrier bar. The scoop is manipulated to engage the 
gullet between the crop and the proventriculus of the bird. The gullet is 
then received in the V-slot. By subsequent seizing of the scoop in its 
still active position, the scoop pushes the organs located above it along 
upwards and through the vent opening to outside the carcass. During this 
evisceration the gullet of the bird remains attached to the crop and the 
stomachs. It is also, however, attached at its other end to the neck, as a 
result of which the (elastic) gullet is stretched during evisceration and 
tends to slip through the V-slot in the scoop. After the viscera has been 
removed from the carcass it will still be connected to the bird through 
the gullet. This gullet has thereafter to be cut with a knife by a 
slaughterman, which is a difficult thing to do because of the toughness of 
the gullet. 
An improvement on this is described in European patent application 
0,587,253, in which document an eviscerator is disclosed which has both a 
scoop and gullet clamping jaws. The scoop and the jaws are arranged at the 
lowest end of the carrier bar. The scoop is hinged to the carrier bar to 
enable rotation about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the plane of 
symmetry of the bird and can be operated by means of an operating lever 
rod extending along the carrier bar. One of the jaws is hinged to the 
lowest end of the carrier bar so as to enable its rotation about a 
horizontal axis, perpendicular to the hinge axis of the scoop, towards and 
away from the other, fixed jaw. The carrier bar is provided with a spring 
biassed, separate lever rod for operating the jaws. When the jaws have 
arrived at the neck region of the carcass, the jaw operating lever rod is 
activated to widen the split between the jaws to enable the gullet to 
enter into that split. At the same time, the scoops are rotated about 
their hinge axis, during which movement the gullet also enters a slit in 
the scoop. Then the spring-biassing force is applied to the jaw operating 
lever rod to close the jaws and thereby positively fix the gullet. During 
evisceration the gullet will break off beneath the jaws, but will remain 
fixed with its higher part to the jaws and, indirectly, to the scoop. 
A drawback to this known arrangement is that the eviscerator is rather 
complex, with many components and moving parts. This makes the known 
eviscerator vulnerable to malfunctioning, not in the least because it is 
difficult to clean the moving parts sufficiently during their return 
movement for a next operation cycle. It is true, though, that in this 
European patent application a simplification is suggested by the mention 
of the possibility that the jaws themselves form the actual scoop, but it 
is not illustrated how this can be achieved. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a solution to this 
problem. 
A further object of the invention is to provide an eviscerator which 
functions in a reliable way for a long time and which is easy to clean. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an eviscerator which can 
be smoothly introduced into the carcass of a slaughtered bird. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide an eviscerator which 
can be smoothly moved downward inside the cavity of the carcass of a 
slaughtered bird. 
A further object of the invention is to provide an eviscerator assembly, in 
which the mounting of the eviscerators can be simple. 
These and other objects are achieved with the measures described in the 
accompanying claims. 
From one aspect, the invention provides a device for removing the viscera 
from the carcass of a slaughtered bird, comprising a carrier bar means, 
means for holding the carcass with its vent upward, means for positively 
gripping the gullet, said gripping means comprising at least two jaw 
members which are movable towards each other to fixedly and positively 
clamp the gullet between them, means for engaging under the viscera and 
means for moving the gripping means and the engaging means downward inside 
the carcass to the area of the gullet and for moving them subsequently in 
an active position upwards to eviscerate the viscera, wherein the gripping 
means and the engaging means are formed by one and the same scoop member 
which is pivotally connected to the lower end of the carrier bar means, 
wherein the gripping means and the engaging means are arranged for being 
simultaneously moved between a non-active position and an active position 
and vice versa. 
Thus, one operating means for the operation of both the gripping means and 
the scoop means may suffice, so that the number of moving parts may be 
kept to a minimum. As a consequence, the operation of the eviscerator of 
the invention is reliable and can be maintained so for a long period of 
time. 
Preferably, the gripping means and the engaging means are arranged for 
simultaneously performing a common rotational movement. 
Preferably, the arrangement is such that the common rotation takes place 
about an axis or about axes which extends or extend substantially 
perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of the carcass to be eviscerated. 
In a further preferred embodiment the scoop member comprises at least two 
scoop parts forming two jaw members and each being pivotally connected to 
the carrier bar means, which carrier bar means extends substantially 
vertically, the pivot axes of said scoop parts including an upwardly 
opening angle of less than 180.degree., as viewed in a substantially 
vertical plane of projection. In this arrangement the scoop parts, each 
forming a gripping means or jaw member as well as an engaging means 
performing a single common rotational movement, will automatically 
approach each other during the movement from the nonactive to the active 
position, thus reducing the space between their facing edges to enable 
clamping of the gullet between them. 
Preferably, the edges of the scoop parts that are facing each other extend 
substantially perpendicular to the respective hinge axes of the scoop 
part. If, in their nonactive position, the scoop parts extend 
substantially vertically downward from their hinges, and if they, in their 
active position, extend substantially horizontally from their hinges, the 
said edges will at least almost abut each other in the latter position, 
thus providing a firm and positive gullet clamping force. 
Preferably, the carrier bar means is substantially curved as seen in a 
vertical plane parallel to the plane of symmetry of the carcass or 
perpendicular to the direction of transport of the carcass, wherein said 
scoop parts have their active position at the concave side of the bar 
member. This configuration fits that of the inner boundaries of the cavity 
of the carcass, thus facilitating the movement of the carrier bar means 
into the carcass, in particular in the arrangement in which the moving 
means and the holding means are arranged so as to enable the scoop member 
to be inserted into the carcass along the inner side of the breast of the 
carcass and to be seized along the inner side of the back of the carcass. 
In connection herewith, the convex side of the carrier bar means is 
preferably provided with a shield member for screening off the scoop parts 
in their non-active position. 
In a further preferred embodiment the operating means for the scoop member 
comprise lever means which extend along the carrier bar means and are 
hingedly connected at their lower end to portions of the scoop parts that 
are located at the side of their pivot axes facing away from the gripping 
means and engaging means. Advantageously, the lever means comprises one 
lever for all scoop parts. 
According to a further aspect of the invention the holding means comprise 
means for engaging the back of the carcass and means for engaging the 
front of the carcass and further comprise means for canting the carcass 
during the downward and upward movement of the scoop member. This 
arrangement makes it possible to positively cant the carcass while the 
scoop member can travel into and inside the carcass along the required 
path, so that the moving means for the scoop member and its suspension can 
be kept simple. Preferably, the moving means comprise means for moving the 
scoop member substantially vertically along a straight line. 
Preferably, the canting means are arranged for canting the carcass about an 
axis which is located below the carcass body, preferably near the neck 
portion of the carcass. In other words, the canting movement takes places 
about an axis which is located at the side of the carcass opposite the 
side of entry of the scoop member into the carcass. 
Advantageously, the scoop member is connected to the moving means to allow 
it to be resiliently urged out of the way by carcass parts. As a result, 
it can pass easily upwards along the inner side of the spine and the 
connected ribs. 
The device of the invention further preferably comprises means for relating 
the activation of the canting means to the activation of the moving means 
and/or operating means for the scoop member, which relating means 
preferably are adapted for activating the canting means to cant the back 
of the carcass slightly away from the scoop member when the latter arrives 
at the midriff. 
According to yet another aspect of the invention an assembly is provided 
which comprises a plurality of the eviscerating devices described above, 
the devices being arranged on a carousel for being moved along a 
roundgoing path, wherein the devices are provided with cams and the 
carousel is provided with cam curves or tracks, cooperating with said 
cams, to operate the several different parts of the devices at specific 
locations along the path, wherein the cam curves for the holding means 
comprise a stand-by trajectory in which the holding means are brought in 
an non-active position, wherein the cam curve for the operating means for 
the scoop member comprises a trajectory in which the scoop member is 
brought into an active position, which trajectory partly coincides with 
said stand-by trajectory. 
Due to this arrangement, the gullet will remain clamped in the scoop member 
for a short time while the carcass can be removed from the carousel, so 
that the clamped portion of the gullet and the carcass travel along 
deviating paths, as a consequence of which the viscera--which is still 
connected to the carcass through the abdomen fat--remains clear from the 
outside of the carcass and the outside of the carcass does not become 
contaminated by the organs. 
The viscera can subsequently be kept at a distance from the carcass by 
means of a guiding and spacing means which extends along the path of 
travel of the carcasses, for instance in the way as is disclosed in 
Belgian patent 813,138. The viscera remains attached to the carcass by 
means of the abdominal fat or the like, so that there is still a univocal 
connection between a carcass and the viscera. 
This makes it possible to visually inspect the viscera in an inspection 
station to determine whether the bird concerned is fit for consumption. In 
such an inspection station possible irregularities in the viscera can be 
noticed and the corresponding carcass can be removed from the carcass 
conveyor. Inspection of the carcass is usually done by taking a look from 
above, into the vent of the carcass, often by simultaneously gripping the 
carcass to facilitate the inside inspection of the carcass. 
A further object of the application is to improve on this. This improvement 
is achieved in that the aforementioned assembly or the like comprises an 
overhead conveyor for shackles for the legs of the carcasses of poultry, 
said conveyor extending along an incoming trajectory to bring the shackles 
to the carousel, along at least a part of said roundgoing path and 
subsequently along an outgoing path diverging from said roundgoing path to 
move the shackles away from the carousel, the assembly further comprising 
tilting means located at the outgoing path for tilting the carcasses 
depending from the shackles towards an inclined orientation while they are 
moved along the conveyor. 
In the assembly according to this invention the carcasses are automatically 
brought into an orientation in which their inside is easily inspectable by 
an inspector, who will have his hands free to inspect the viscera, which 
are still connected to the carcass through the abdomen fat. 
Preferably, the assembly comprises support means located at the outgoing 
path for supporting the carcasses in their tilted orientation during their 
continued transportation. As a result, the carcass will remain in its 
inspectable orientation for some time. 
Preferably, the tilting means are arranged to tilt the carcasses such that 
their lower end is moved towards the side facing away from the carousel. 
Due to this the viscera hanging down from the peritoneum and the tilted 
carcass will remain spaced from each other, thus preventing the 
contamination of the outside of the carcass by the viscera. 
Advantageously, the tilting means are arranged to tilt the carcasses into 
an approximate horizontal orientation. 
Preferably, the tilting means and the support means are stationary.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The carousel 200 depicted in FIG. 1 comprises an upper and a lower 
turntable 201a, 201b, above and about which is mounted an overhead 
conveyor 207, having trolleys 3 from which a wire 5 depends, at the lower 
end of which a shackle 6 is attached, which has bracket supports for the 
two legs 9 of a carcass 8 (vide also FIG. 4). The carousel 200, which is 
depicted as circular but can have any roundgoing form, such as oval or 
elliptical, has a series of units 205, each comprising an eviscerator 1 
and a carcass holder 2 placed at its circumference and rotatable by the 
turntable plates 201a, 201b. The overhead conveyor 2 arrives via an 
incoming path 202, runs around the carousel along path 203 and leaves the 
carousel via outgoing path 204, where an inspection station 101 for the 
inspection of the viscera and carcasses during their continued movement 
along the conveyor may be arranged (vide also FIG. 6B). The units 205 
continue their journey along stand-by path 203a, in which they can be 
cleaned and brought into position for a next cycle. The carousel 200 
further comprises a cylindrical core 206, which is stationary and is 
provided with a plurality of cam tracks (not shown) extending along its 
circumference for imposing the desired movement on the parts of the units 
205 when they move along path 203 and 203a. 
As can be seen in FIG. 2 and 4, the holder 2 of the unit 205 comprises a 
frame 7 which forms a support for the back of the carcass 8 and to the 
upper end of which is attached a horizontally outwardly extending U-shaped 
leg bracket 26. Two also horizontally outwardly extending armpit holders 
25a and 25b are attached to the frame 7 approximately halfway along its 
height. At 51, a location below but in the vicinity of the carcass body, 
the frame 7 is hinged to support 20 for rotation about a horizontal axis 
perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 4, which is also 
perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of the carcasses hanging on the 
shackles 6 with their legs 9 on either side of the leg bracket 26. The 
support 20 carries a breast holder 19, which comprises two rods 19a, 19b 
and possibly a V-shaped cap (not shown) therebetween. The breast holder 19 
is also hingedly connected at 51 to the support 20 and furthermore 
provided with a depending cam block 21, which bears against bar-shaped 
guide 22, which extends along with the path 203 of travel and has 
circumferential portions which are located more outwardly to urge the cam 
block 21 outwards and upwards so as to move the breast holder 19 into firm 
engagement with the carcass 8. The holder 2 holds the carcass at the back 
as well as at the front and is pivotable about pivot 51 as a whole, as a 
consequence of which the carcass can positively and in a controlled manner 
be canted in two opposite directions. 
An angled cam track 28 is attached to the inner side of the frame 7, 
providing cam track 29, in which cam 31 (FIG. 2) runs, which cam is 
attached to a support 32, which is itself provided with a cam roller 16 
and can be moved up and down along vertical guides 13a, 13b which are 
mounted on the turntable plates 201a, 201b of the carousel, viz. at their 
upper end 56 to the turntable plate 201a and at their lower end 54 to the 
turntable plate 201b. In FIG. 4, the carousel is oval having two end 
turntable assemblies, only one of which is depicted. The units 205 are 
then guided within upper and lower rails extending between the two 
turntables and are provided for that purpose with upper guiding rolls 56, 
57 and lower guiding rolls 18, 54. The rolls 18, 56 engage in mating 
recesses on the circumference of turntable plates 201a, 201b. 
Alternatively, the units 205 could be arranged on upper and lower driven 
chains. 
The lower end of the eviscerator 1 is depicted from two different angles of 
view in FIG. 2 and 3. The higher parts can be seen in FIG. 4 ff. The 
eviscerator 1 comprises a more or less vertically extending bar 50, having 
a lower half 35 which is curved with the concave side oriented inwards and 
a straight upper half 36. A lever rod 46 extends along the outside of the 
bar 50--within a groove 74--and connects two scoop plates 33a, 33b, which 
are pivotally connected at 34 to the lower end of the bar 50, with a lever 
member 38, to which it is hingedly connected at 37. The bar 50, too, is 
hingedly connected to lever member 38, at a place (52) inwardly spaced 
from hinge 37. The bar 50 is moreover in a simple manner fixedly attached 
to support 53, which itself is hinged at 43 to a bracket 42, which is 
provided with a cam roller 17 at its inner side and is mounted on guides 
13a and 13b for being moved up and down therealong. A rod 58 depends from 
the support 53 and is fixedly attached thereto. The rod 58 has a lower end 
in the shape of an eye 59, in which a bolt 60 is received, which is fixed 
to the bracket 42 via a support 61 and is provided with a nut 62 at its 
outer end, a coil spring 63 being positioned between the nut 62 and the 
lower end of the rod 58. 
At its inner side 39 the lever member 38 is slidably received in a spacing 
40, which is provided at the upper end of a bar 41 which is mounted on the 
guides 13a and 13b for being moved up and down along it. Spacing 40 is 
upwardly bounded by an adjustable platelet 59. The bar 41 is provided with 
a cam roller 15 on its inner side. 
As can be seen in FIG. 3A and 3B, the scoop plates 33a and 33b are 
pivotally connected to the bar 50 at pivot axes 34a, 34b. The outer ends 
of pivot axes 34a, 34b are fixed in holes in lugs 50a, 50b, which are 
formed integral with the bar 50. The scoop plates 33a, 33b have bores 73a, 
73b in which the pivot axes 34a, 34b are slidingly received. The pivot 
axes 34a, 34b are formed integral in a V-shape, including and angle 
(.alpha.) which is less than 180.degree. degrees (here: 160.degree.) as 
viewed in a (substantially) vertical plane of projection. Due to this 
orientation of the pivot axes 34a, 34b, the edges 70a, 70b of the scoop 
plates 33a, 33b will initially define a spread-out position, depicted in 
FIG. 3A, but when downward movement of the lever 46 causes them rototate 
over approximately slightly more than 90 degrees (see FIG. 3B), they will 
be adjacent to each other in order to positively clamp the gullet between 
them. 
In order to rotate the scoop plates 33a, 33b about their pivot axes 34a, 
34b, the lower end of the lever 46 is hingedly connected to extensions 
71a, 71b of the scoop plates 33a,33b by means of hinge pins 36a, 36b. 
Downward movement of the lever 46 causes the lower end of that lever to 
move downwards and outwards (during which movement the lever 46 will move 
out of the groove 74). As a consequence, the scoop plates 33a,33b will 
pivot around the hinges 36a, 36b and consequently rotate around the pivot 
axes 34a, 34b. The hinge pins 36a, 36b are fastened to the lever 46 and 
are received with clearance in holes 72a, 72b in extension 71a, 71b. The 
pins 36a, 36b include an angle of less than 180.degree. (here: 
155.degree.) and can move within the holes 72a, 72b during the pivoting 
movement of the scoop plates from the active to the inactive position and 
vice versa. In addition, the distance "x" between the entry of a hole 72a, 
72b and the lever 46 is sufficient to allow for the approach of the 
extension 71a, 71b and the lever 46 during pivoting movement towards the 
active position. 
The scoop plates 33a, 33b are shielded at their convex side by a shield 
plate 47 which is fastened to the lower end of the lever 46 in any 
suitable way. 
The operation of the eviscerator 1 will now be explained with reference to 
the FIG. 5A-5I. 
The carcass 8 is that of a bird from which the head may have been removed, 
so that its lower end is formed by its neck 10, and which has been 
suspended with its legs 9 in the shackle 6, with its back towards the core 
206. The vent opening 80 located near the legs 9 has been previously made 
by means of a vent cutter and has been extended by an incision made by a 
cutter to facilitate the entry of the eviscerator 1. 
First, the holder 2 is placed to hold the carcass at the back as well as at 
the breast side. In FIG. 5A the support 32 is urged upward (direction A) 
due to the influence of a cam track (not shown) on the stationary core 206 
of the carousel. As a result, the cam 31 is urged in the direction B to 
travel along the cam tracks 29 and 30. Due to the hinged mounting of the 
frame 7 at 51, this frame will be pivoted outwards in the direction C to 
place the leg bracket 26 between the legs 9 and to place the rods 25a,25b 
on either side of the carcass in the arm pits. Next, as can be seen in 
FIG. 5B and 5C, the guide 22 urges the block 21 outwards in the direction 
D and due to the hinged mounting of the breast holder 19 at 51, the breast 
holder rods 19a, 19b are rotated in the direction E to the position 
depicted in FIG. 5C, in which they press the carcass against the frame 7. 
The support 20 remains at the same height during the complete travel along 
path 203, 203a. The carcass is now firmly held in position between the 
frame 7 and the rods 19a, 19b. 
At the same time, the cam track 14 (vide FIGS. 4 and 5C) for the cam roller 
17 urges the cam roller 17 downward in the direction F, to allow the 
eviscerator to approach the vent opening 80 of the carcass. Likewise, the 
cam roller 16 is moved downwards, so that the eviscerator 1 maintains its 
orientation and state, but at a lower level. At the moment at which the 
lower end of the eviscerator reaches below the breast tip, the cam track 
of the cam roller 16 urges this roller, and thereby the support 32, 
downwards in the direction G, so that the cam 31 moves in its cam tracks 
30 and 29 to the position depicted in FIG. 5E, so that the frame 7 is 
pivoted back in the direction H. At the same time, the guide 22 urges the 
block 21 further in the direction E, so that the grip which is exerted by 
the frame 7 and the breast holder 19 is not weakened. As a result of all 
this, the carcass 8 is also pivoted along in the direction H, due to which 
the lower end of the eviscerator will move (relatively) in the vent 
opening 80 towards the breast side of the carcass. 
Next, as can be seen in FIG. 5E, 5F, the cam track 14 urges the cam roller 
17 further downward in the direction F, so that the lower end of the 
eviscerator 1 travels along the inner side of the breast towards the lower 
part of the carcass 8. The presence of the shield plate 47 enhances the 
penetration of the eviscerator 1, since it prevents parts of the inside of 
the carcass from entering the wide V-shaped space between edges 70a, 70b 
of the scoop plates. 
When the lower end has arrived near the crop in the carcass 8, the cam 
track for cam roller 16 urges this roller upward again over a small 
distance in the direction A, so that the frame 7 will again be pivoted to 
some extent in the direction C. The same movement is allowed by the course 
of guide 22 for block 21 and thereby breast holder 19. As a result, the 
carcass is slightly canted outwards in a fully controlled manner, and 
remains held within the holder. Due to the canting movement, the lower end 
of the eviscerator 1 will smoothly follow the inner contours of the breast 
and get below and behind the glandular stomach and aside the gullet, 
although it itself only performs a vertical movement. 
Subsequently, as can be seen in FIG. 5G the cam track (not shown) for the 
cam roller 15 urges the cam roller 15 upwards in the direction I, due to 
which the inner end of the lever member 38 will be urged upwards. Since, 
however, the cam roller 17 remains at the same level, the upper end 52 of 
the bar 50 remains in its position, the lever member will pivot about 
hinge 52 so that its outer end is urged downward in the direction J. This 
causes the lever rod 46 to slide downward along the outer side of the bar 
50 and to rotate the scoop plates 33a,33b in the direction K towards their 
active position in which they engage (e.g. scoop) under the viscera and 
engage (e.g. clamp) the gullet between their edges 70a, 70b and are 
oriented to perform a scooping action. 
Then, the cam rollers 15 and 17 are simultaneously and to the same extent 
urged upwards in the direction L by their respective cam tracks, so that 
the eviscerator 1 is seized. The scoop plates 33a, 33b, engaging the 
viscera in a scooping motion from below, will push the viscera 12 upwards 
through the cavity of the carcass 8 so that it will exit the carcass 
through the (enlarged) vent opening 80 (FIG. 5H). The gullet 100, which is 
still clamped between the scoop plates 33a, 33b, will break so that the 
clamped portion of the gullet 100 becomes detached from the carcass 8. The 
spring-biassed bearing at 59-63 enables a slight outward pivoting movement 
of the bar 50 against the restoring force of the spring 63, which allows 
the bar 50, in particular the rounded ends of the scoop plates, to move 
along the uneven surface of the spine/rib area of the inner side of the 
back of the carcasss. In addition, although it is not shown explicitly, it 
is possible to design the course of the cam tracks for the roller 17 and 
the guide 22 for the block 21 such that a slight, fully controlled, 
canting movement in the direction H is imposed on the carcass by the 
holder 2, at the point in path 203 where the scoop plates 33a, 33b have 
reached the midriff, which is comparatively thick. After the scoop plates 
will have passed upwards along this midriff, this intermediate canting 
movement can be reversed again. 
As can be seen in FIG. 5I, after having left the vent opening 80 the 
viscera 12 tends to fall down in the direction M. At that moment, the 
trolley has arrived at the outgoing path 204, which diverges from the path 
203a which is followed by the units 205. The scoop plates 33a,33b are 
maintained in their clamping position for a (very) short while, to space 
the viscera from the outside of the carcass and to enable the frame 7 and 
the breast holder 19 to be canted inwards and outwards, resp., under the 
action of their cam tracks, so as to release the carcass and to enable the 
conveyor to further transport the carcass. Then, the cam roller 15 is 
urged downwards in the direction N, so that the lever member 38 is canted 
back and the lever bar 46 slides upwards again to some extent, whereby the 
scoop plates 33a, 33b rotate back towards the shield plate 47 and release 
the gullet 100. 
The units 205 continue their movement along the carousel towards the 
incoming path of the overhead conveyor. In the mean time, the scoop plates 
are brought into the position shown in FIG. 6A, in which they can be 
easily cleaned with a spray cleaning solution. 
Almost immediately after the release of the carcass from the holder 2, the 
carcass and viscera are moved along an inspection station 101, depicted in 
FIG. 6B. At the beginning of the outgoing path 204 stationary, rod-shaped 
guides 90 and 91 are arranged at a level and in such a mutual relationship 
that the breast side of the carcass, which still hangs from the shackle 6, 
is canted upwards in the direction 0. The viscera remains in its vertical 
position, hanging down from the carcass and connected thereto by the 
abdominal fat. The guides smoothly merge into stationary rod-like supports 
92 and 93, which support the carcass in the substantially horizontal 
orientation depicted in FIG. 6B. The inspector 95 is situated at 96 at the 
inspection station 100 and can have a good look at the viscera and the 
carcass, in particular the inside thereof through the (enlarged) vent 
opening 80. There is no risk of contamination of the outside of the 
carcass by the viscera. 
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and 
disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations 
and modifications thereof can be made without departing from the spirit 
and scope of the following claims.