Hock cutting mechanism

The invention is a rotary transfer apparatus for transferring poultry carcasses from the shackles on one conveyor line to the shackles on another conveyor line. In particular, the apparatus of the invention can be used for transferring carcasses between a kill line and an evisceration line, a rotary member of the apparatus being positioned between those lines. The transfer apparatus may include a knife mechanism for removing the lower part of the legs of each carcass. The knife mechanism is fixed to the frame of the apparatus at one position on the periphery of the rotary member and acts on the carcasses as they pass that position. The apparatus of the invention is intended in part to replace what is at present in many poultry plants a manual operation.

This invention relates to a transfer apparatus for transferring items 
moving on one conveyor line to a second conveyor line. More particularly, 
it relates to a rotary transfer apparatus for transferring poultry 
carcasses from shackles on one conveyor line to shackles on a second 
conveyor line. 
A rotary transfer apparatus for transferring poultry from one conveyor line 
to a second conveyor line is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,178,659, granted 
to Michael E. Simonds on Dec. 18, 1979. In that reference, each poultry 
carcass is maintained on a shackle of the input conveyor line by the 
capture of the lower part of one of its legs between a pair of parallel 
spaced rods of the shackle. The rotary member positioned between the two 
conveyor lines for transferring the poultry carcasses between those lines 
has a series of equiangularly-spaced stations extending around its 
circumference, each station having a pair of extending parallel spaced 
rods of similar configuration to the pair of spaced rods on the shackles 
of the conveyor lines. The apparatus utilizes guide bars to push a carcass 
from the pair of spaced rods on a shackle of the one conveyor line onto a 
respective pair of the spaced rods on the rotary member. After the rotary 
member has turned approximately 180.degree., a second guide bar is 
positioned to push the leg of the carcass from the pair of spaced bars on 
the rotary member onto the pair of spaced bars of a shackle on the second 
conveyor line. One disadvantage of this construction, which is remedied by 
the subject invention, is that a carcass hanging by only one leg can 
freely rotate on the respectively-associated shackles of the conveyor 
lines and on the rotary member, and must therefore be re-oriented prior to 
a further operation such as evisceration. Also, the relatively short 
distance of interaction between each conveyor line and the rotary member 
in this construction limits its rate of transfer of poultry carcasses. 
Although no rotary member is involved, U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,440, granted to 
M. P. D. van Mil on July 12, 1977, discloses another means for 
transferring poultry carcasses between conveyor lines; however, the 
transfer apparatus of this reference would necessarily operate at a slower 
rate than the previously-described apparatus. 
An important feature of the rotary transfer apparatus of the subject 
invention is a knife mechanism for removing the lower part of the legs 
(sometimes referred to as "hocks") of the carcasses. With respect to that 
feature, one reference of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,293 granted to 
Jack J. Rejsa on Feb. 22, 1972. In that reference, poultry carcasses are 
transferred from a picking line conveyor to an evisceration line conveyor 
by an intermediately-positioned transfer conveyor. A hock cutter apparatus 
is positioned in the region of adjacency between the picking line conveyor 
and the transfer conveyor, such that the lower part of the legs of each 
poultry carcass is cut from the remainder of the carcass prior to the 
carcass being transferred on the transfer conveyor to the evisceration 
line conveyor. U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,622, granted to E. J. Crane on Aug. 4, 
1970, discloses a hock cutter apparatus in which the lower part of the leg 
(sometimes referred to as the hock) of the carcass is stretched across a 
support member prior to that lower leg being separated from the remainder 
of the carcass by a blade having an initial dull portion and a following 
sharp portion. The blade has a stationary longitudinal position on the 
hock cutter apparatus, and the lower part of the legs of the carcass are 
positioned between the fingers of a drag conveyor which pulls the hock 
joints (separating the lower part from the upper part of each leg) against 
the edge of the blade; the blade is driven with a vibratory motion normal 
to the joint to facilitate its penetration between the parts of the joint. 
The subject invention is an apparatus which not only transfers poultry 
carcasses from one conveyor line to a second conveyor line while 
maintaining their orientation, but also removes the lower part of the legs 
from each carcass. Because the transfer apparatus is circular and rotary 
(being of similar size to the rotary transfer conveyor of U.S. Pat No. 
4,178,659), it can be positioned in the limited space between an existing 
pair of conveyor lines in which manual labour is presently utilized for 
the transfer operation. As mentioned, the orientation of the carcasses can 
be maintained by the transfer apparatus of the subject invention in that a 
carcass held by its legs in a certain orientation on the first conveyor 
line is deposited in a similar configuration on the second line; thus, 
operations such as evisceration can be performed on the second conveyor 
line without requiring that the carcass be re-oriented on that conveyor 
line. The subject invention is also capable of very high transfer rates 
i.e. up to 7500 carcass transfers per hour. 
In one form, the apparatus for transferring poultry carcasses hung by their 
legs from the shackles on one conveyor line to the shackles on a second 
conveyor line comprises a generally circular rotary member having on its 
periphery at equiangularly-spaced positions a series of holding elements, 
retention means associated with the holding elements for retaining on each 
holding element a poultry carcass, and, release means for releasing the 
hold of the shackle on the one conveyor line on the poultry carcass after 
that carcass becomes retained on the one of the holding elements. One 
portion of the path of the first and second conveyor lines is stationed 
adjacent to respective first and second portions of the path of the 
periphery of the rotary member. The rotation of the rotary member and 
movement of the shackles on the two conveyor lines is synchronized such 
that the movement of the shackles adjacent to the periphery of the rotary 
member is at the same speed as that periphery. The retention means retains 
a poultry carcass on a respective holding element as that carcass, which 
is also held on a shackle on the one conveyor line, becomes adjacent to 
the periphery of the rotary member. The retention means retains the 
poultry carcass on the holding element until the rotary member has rotated 
such that the holding element is adjacent to a shackle on the second 
conveyor line, at which time the poultry carcass drops under gravity from 
the holding element onto the shackle on the second conveyor line to be 
hung by their legs from that shackle. 
The release means may sever that portion of the legs of the poultry carcass 
holding the carcass on the shackle on the one conveyor line from the 
remainder of the carcass. The retention means may be at least one 
stationary guide bar extending adjacent to the path of the periphery of 
the rotary member, which at least one guide bar acts on each carcass to 
hold that carcass between the at least one guide bar and the respective 
holding element. The release means may be a stationary elongated knife 
mechanism extending adjacent to the path of the periphery of the rotary 
member. In such arrangement, the knife mechanism is positioned such that 
it contacts the legs of the carcass between that position on the legs of 
the carcass at which the carcass is held on the shackle on the one 
conveyor line and that position on the carcass at which the carcass is 
retained by the retention means. The knife mechanism is oriented such that 
at least a portion of its contacting edge increases the depth of its 
displacement into the legs of the carcass as the carcass is rotated on the 
rotary member. 
The contacting edge of the knife mechanism may have a first sharp portion 
which initially contacts the carcass to sever a first portion of the 
connective tissue extending between two parts of a leg joint, a dull 
portion which extends between the two parts of the leg joint to increase 
the separation between those parts, and a second sharp portion which 
severs a second portion of the connective tissue extending between the two 
parts of the leg joint. The knife mechanism may have a first blade and a 
parallel shorter second blade, those blades being oriented so as to 
initially contact the carcass together. The second blade has the first 
sharp portion of the contacting edge of the knife mechanism, and the first 
blade has the dull portion of that contacting edge. The first blade may 
also have the second sharp portion of the contacting edge, that second 
sharp portion being on the trailing edge of the first blade. 
The knife mechanism may have a third blade oriented so as to extend in-line 
with, and behind, the trailing edge of the first blade. In such 
arrangement, the second sharp portion of the contacting edge of the knife 
mechanism is partially on the trailing edge of the first blade and 
partially on the third blade. That part of the second sharp portion of the 
contacting edge that is on the third blade may face at an inclination the 
trailing edge of the first blade such that any remnants of the second 
portion of the connective tissue remaining unsevered after movement across 
the first and second blades moves against and rides up on the inclined 
sharp edge of the third blade and is thereby severed. The second blade of 
the knife mechanism may be positioned radially inward on the rotary member 
from the first blade. 
The joint which is contacted by the contacting edge of the knife mechanism 
may be the hock joint separating the upper part of the leg from the lower 
part of the leg, wherein the lower part of the leg is held on the shackle 
on the one conveyor line and the upper part of the leg is retained with 
the remainder of the carcass by the retention means. The position of the 
edge of the first blade that extends between the two parts of the joint 
may vary radially along the length of the blade such that that edge 
generally follows the mating surface on the part of the hock joint on the 
upper part of the leg. 
Each of the holding elements may be pivotally connected to the rotary 
member, the pivot axis of each holding element extending generally 
tangentially on the rotary member and normal to the symmetry axis of the 
member. Each holding element may assume alternate angular inclinations 
relative to the rotary member, one of those angular inclinations being 
normally assumed by each holding element and the other angular inclination 
being assumed by each holding element during its movement past the 
elongated knife mechanism. 
Each holding element may comprise a face generally configured to the body 
contour of a poultry carcass. That face extends generally vertically when 
the holding element assumes the other angular inclination and that face 
inclines downwardly, inwardly when the holding element assumes the one 
angular inclination. The upper edge of that face is configured such that 
the upper part of each leg is adapted to be recessed therein with the hock 
joint being proximate of that upper edge. Each poultry carcass may be held 
on the shackle on the one conveyor line by the outer end of the lower part 
of each of its legs, the body of the carcass moving into abutment with the 
face of the holding element when that carcass becomes adjacent to the 
periphery of the rotary member. In that configuration, the holding element 
has the one angular inclination, and the shackle and the attached lower 
part of the legs are positioned radially inwardly on the rotary member 
from the upper edge of the face of the holding element. Also, in that 
configuration the shackle is biased radially inwardly on the rotary member 
such that the lower part of each of the legs is placed in tension. 
In the foregoing construction, the elongated knife mechanism is positioned 
radially inwardly from, but proximate of the path of the upper edge of the 
face of the holding element, and the knife mechanism is adapted to contact 
the hock joints of the carcass positioned proximate of that upper edge. 
The retention means may comprise a stationary guide bar extending adjacent 
to the path of the periphery of the rotary member and in sapced relation 
to the upper edge of the face of the holding element, that guide bar being 
adapted to act against the upper part of each leg when that leg is 
recessed in the upper edge of that face. A second stationary guide bar may 
extend adjacent to the path of the periphery of the rotary member and in 
spaced relation to a lower edge of the holding element, the second guide 
bar being adapted to provide support to assist in retaining the carcass on 
the holding member. 
In another form, the invention is a method for transferring a poultry 
carcass held by the lower part of its legs on a shackle on a first 
conveyor line to a shackle on a second conveyor line. The method comprises 
the initial step of moving the carcass on the one conveyor line until the 
carcass abuts against a corresponding holding element on the periphery of 
a rotary member positioned between the first and second conveyor lines. 
The shackle on the first conveyor line during such movement maintains its 
hold on the lower part of the legs of the carcass, and the first and 
second conveyor lines are configured such that each of their paths extend 
adjacent to a respective different portion of the path of the periphery of 
the rotary member. The method comprises the second step of rotating the 
rotary member, that rotation bringing the holding element adjacent to a 
stationary retention means. That retention means, which acts to retain the 
carcass on the holding element, extends adjacent to the path of the 
periphery of the rotary member between the portion of that path adjacent 
to the first conveyor line and that portion of that path adjacent to the 
second conveyor line. The third step involves severing the lower part of 
the legs of the carcass from the remainder of the carcass in that portion 
of the path of the periphery of the rotary member that is adjacent to the 
first conveyor line. The severing is by means of the stationary knife 
mechanism positioned to extend adjacent to and along that portion of the 
path of the periphery of the rotary member. The knife mechanism is 
positioned relative to the rotary member between the path of the shackle 
on the first conveyor line and the path of the corresponding holding 
element. The final step of the method involves dropping the remainder of 
the carcass from the rotary member onto the shackle on the second conveyor 
line in that portion of the path of the periphery of the rotary member 
adjacent to the second conveyor line. The retention means terminates its 
adjacency to that path immediately prior to the position at which the 
carcass is dropped. 
The first and second conveyor lines may each have a generally rectangular 
configuration with the one portion of the first and second conveyor lines 
each being one of the smaller ends of the respective rectangular 
configuration; in this arrangement, the conveyor line corners adjacent to 
the rotary member are rounded. The apparatus may further comprise a 
shackle guide means at each of the rounded corners. Each of the shackle 
guide means comprises a rotatable shaft pivotally secured to the frame of 
the apparatus such that its axis of rotation is parallel to that of the 
generally circular rotary member, and a series of discs symmetrically 
secured to the rotatable shaft. The discs are secured such that a portion 
of the path of the periphery of each disc is adjacent to the portion of 
the respective first or second conveyor lines at the respective rounded 
corner. Each shaft rotates such that the periphery of each of the discs 
secured thereto has a speed corresponding to that of the shackles moving 
on the respective first or second conveyor lines. 
At least one of the discs secured to each rotatable shaft may have a series 
of brackets extending around it periphery spaced such that the stem of a 
shackle moving on the respective first or second conveyor lines adjacent 
to that periphery extends between an adjacent pair of brackets. In this 
embodiment, each of the shackle guide means also comprises a pair of 
arcuate guide bars secured to the frame of the apparatus to extend along 
that portion of the path of the periphery of the at least one of the discs 
that is adjacent to the portion of the respective first or second conveyor 
lines at the respective rounded corner. One of the arcuate guide bars is 
positioned radially outward of the path of the shackle moving on the 
respective first or second conveyor line and the other arcuate guide bar 
is positioned radially inward of the path of that shackle. In this 
configuration, a shackle moving around the rounded corner of a respective 
one of the first or second conveyor lines is restrained radially during 
such movement by the pair of arcuate guide bars and is restrained 
angularly during such movement by an adjacent pair of brackets on the 
periphery of the at least one of the discs. 
The arcuate guide bar that is positioned radially inward on the shackle 
guide means which is positioned on the upstream side of the second 
conveyor line may extend along at least a part of the second portion of 
the path of the periphery of the rotary member, and each of the holding 
elements may have a projecting nose adapted to engage with a respective 
one of the shackles on the second conveyor line during movement of that 
shackle along the second portion of the path of the periphery of the 
rotary member. In this arrangement, the arcuate guide bar retains the 
shackle on the nose of the respective holding element while a poultry 
carcass on the respective holding elemetn drops under gravity into the 
shackle. Each of the holding elements may have a push rod means slidably 
connected thereto to move generally radially on the apparatus. Each such 
push rod means is actuated to slide generally radially outward by contact 
with an arm pivotally secured to the frame of the apparatus in a biased 
position. Such actuation occurs after movement of the respective holding 
element past the terminal end of the retention means, and the push rod 
means pushes the poultry carcass away from the respective holding element 
during such actuation. 
In a still further form, the invention is a knife mechanism for severing 
the lower legs from a poultry carcass at the hock joint as the knife 
mechanism and carcass are moved relative to each other. In such 
arrangement, the lower legs of the carcass are oriented generally normal 
to the working edges of the knife mechanism and fixed against movement 
normal to the relative movement. The knife mechanism in this form of the 
invention comprises first, second and third knife means. The first knife 
means has a blunt working edge adapted to extend into the hock joint of 
each leg to increase the spacing between the ball and socket of the joint, 
with connective tissue being pressed between that ball and socket. The 
second knife means has a sharp working edge positioned so as to be in the 
path of the hock joint and being oriented generally parallel to the 
working edge of the first knife means. The sharp working edge of the 
second knife means is adapted to sever at least a portion of the 
connective tissue at the hock joint. The third knife has a working edge 
oriented to press the connective tissue in a direction opposite to that in 
which that tissue is pressed by the working edges of the first and second 
knife members. At least a portion of the working edge of the third knife 
member is sharp and acts to sever any connective tissue not severed by the 
second knife means. The sharp portion of the working edge of the third 
knife means may be the trailing portion of that working edge, and the 
leading portion of that working edge may be a blunt portion for guiding 
the connective tissue onto the sharp portion. 
In such knife mechanism, the leading portion of the working edge of the 
second knife means may commence at the same depth in the hock joint as the 
trailing portion of the working edge of the first knife means. The working 
edge of the second knife means may be adapted to extend further into the 
hock joint than the working edge of the first knife means. The working 
edge of the first knife means may extend in-line with the working edge of 
the second knife means. The sharp portion of the working edge of a third 
knife means may be oriented at more of an angle to the path of the hock 
joint than is the working edge of the second knife means. The sharp 
portion of the working edge of the third knife means may be contacted by 
the connective tissue after that tissue has moved past the working edge of 
the second knife means. The working edge of the third knife means may be 
laterally displaced from the working edge of the second knife means. The 
first and second knife means may be integrally connected such that the 
leading portion of the working edge of the second knife means is an 
extension of the trailing portion of the working edge of the first knife 
means. The first, second and third knife means may be oriented so as to 
contact a poultry carcass being carried on the periphery of a circular 
rotary member. 
In a yet further form, the invention is a device for removing the legs of a 
poultry carcass, comprising movable support means for supporting the 
carcass by the legs, and a stationary knife mechanism having a working 
edge positioned so as to contact the hock joints of the carcass while the 
carcass is moved on the support means. During such movement, the legs of 
the carcass are flexed at the hock joints over a rest member on the 
support means. The knife mechanism has an intial blunt working edge 
portion which enters between the ball and socket of each hock joint to 
increase the separation between the ball and socket. The knife mechanism 
also has a first sharp working edge portion following the blunt portion 
for severing at least a portion of the connective tissue at the hock 
joint. The first sharp working edge extends further into the hock joint 
than the blunt working edge. The knife mechanism also has a second sharp 
working edge portion following the first working edge portion and 
extending across the path of the connective tissue for severing any 
remaining connective tissue at the hock joint. 
In this form of the invention, the stationary knife mechanism may be formed 
from three connected parts. The first part has the initial blunt working 
edge portion of the mechanism, and the second part has the first sharp 
working edge portion of the mechanism. The third part has the second sharp 
working edge portion of the mechanism and is also comprised of a guide 
means for directing the remaining connective tissue at each hock joint to 
the second sharp working edge portion. The movable support means may be a 
generally circular rotary member, and each rest member may be positioned 
on the periphery of the rotary member such that the legs of each carcass 
extend generally toward the center of the rotary member. The working edge 
of the stationary knife mechanism may be accurately contoured such that 
the leading portion of that working edge is a greater radial distance from 
the center of the rotary member than is the trailing portion of that 
working edge.

With reference to FIG. 1, the transfer apparatus has a rotary member or 
carousel generally designated as 20. Rotary member 20 is generally shown 
in side view in FIG. 2, that view being taken along the section II--II of 
FIG. 1. Rotary member 20 is mounted in a frame generally designated as 21 
and having a series of vertical members 22 and a series of upper cross 
members 23 and lower cross members 24. The shaft 25 of the rotary member 
20 is mounted generally centrally in the frame between an upper bearing 26 
connected to one of the upper cross members 23 and a lower bearing (not 
shown) mounted in a cradle 27 supported by lower cross members 24. The 
lower end of the shaft 25 extends through the lower bearing and has a gear 
wheel 28 mounted to its lower end. The gear wheel 28 is connected by a 
chain 29 to the output sprocket of a reduction gear box (not shown) driven 
by a motor (not shown). An alternate means for rotating rotary member 20 
will subsequently be described. 
A pair of discs 30 and 31 are mounted on shaft 25 to extend normal to the 
rotational axis, and a stainless steel drum 32 has its ends mounted on the 
outer perimeter of those discs. Approximately one-third of the distance 
from the lower edge of drum 32, a pair of rings 33 and 34 are mounted 
concentrically on drum 32 in a generally parallel orientation. The purpose 
for the pair of rings 33 and 34 will subsequently become clear. Drum 35 
has a first set of teeth 36 and a second set of teeth 37 extending 
circumferentially therearound, the second set of teeth 37 being positioned 
above the first set of teeth 36. The purpose of the two sets of 
circumferential teeth on drum 32 will subsequently be described. 
With reference to FIG. 1, rotary member 20 is surrounded by four small 
rotary members, generally designated as A, B, C, and D. The shaft of each 
of those four small rotary members is secured at its upper and lower ends 
by bearings to frame 21. As also shown in FIG. 1, first and second 
conveyor lines have tracks 45 and 46, respectively. The first conveyor 
line, to which track 45 belongs, is the "kill line" of the poultry plant, 
along which line the poultry are slaughtered, and their feathers and claws 
removed. The second conveyor line, to which track 46 belongs, is the 
"evisceration line" on which the poultry is eviscerated and their heads 
removed. The first and second conveyor lines each have a series of shackle 
assemblies mounted to move along their tracks, those shackle assemblies 
being generally illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The tracks 45 and 46, 
which are circular in cross-section, are secured to frame 21. Each shackle 
assembly on the first conveyor line consists of a shackle 48 secured to 
extend from a yoke consisting of a pair of connected brackets 49 each 
bracket having a wheel 50 rotatably mounted thereon, as shown in FIG. 2. A 
portion of a chain 51 extending below track 45 is secured to each shackle 
assembly and acts to provide proper spacing between those assemblies, as 
well as provide propulsion to those assemblies. The propulsion for the 
first conveyor line is provided by the meshing of the upper set of teeth 
37 on drum 32 with the vertical chain links of chain 51, each of the teeth 
37 being circumferentially spaced to extend through the center of adjacent 
vertical links in chain 51. 
With respect to FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, rotation of rotary member 20 moves the 
shackle assemblies on track 45 clockwise such that they move clockwise 
around small rotary member A, counter-clockwise around rotary member 20 
and clockwise around small rotary member B. 
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the second conveyor line has a track 46, a 
portion of which extends on an opposite side of rotary member 20 from 
track 45. Shackle assemblies move in a clockwise direction on track 46, 
moving clockwise around small rotary member C, counter-clockwise around 
rotary member 20, and clockwise around small rotary member D. As with the 
shackle assemblies on the first conveyor line, each shackle assembly on 
the second conveyor line comprises a yoke and an attached shackle, the 
shackle being designated 54 and the yoke attached to its upper end 
consisting of a pair of brackets 55 on each of which are mounted a wheel 
56. A chain 57 extends below track 46 and is secured to the pair of 
brackets 55 to provide the appropriate spacing and the propulsion to the 
shackle assemblies of the second conveyor line. The lower set of teeth 36 
on drum 32 mesh with chain 57, each of the teeth 36 extending through one 
of the vertically-oriented links of chain 57. As can be seen from FIGS. 3 
and 4, each shackle 48 on the first conveyor line is differently 
configured from each shackle 54 on the second conveyor line. Both types of 
shackles have a long stem which extends downwardly from the yoke 
suspending it from the tracke but there are differences in the 
configuration of the lower portions of each kill shackle 48 and each 
evisceration shackle 54. Those differences are the greater length of each 
shackle 48, the horizontal cross-piece on each shackle 48, and the 
out-of-plane curvature on the lower tips of each shackle 48. As will 
subsequently be more fully described, a poultry carcass hangs from each 
shackle 48 by the outer end of the lower part of its legs, whereas each 
shackle 54 retains a carcass by the remaining part of the hock joints 
after the lower part of the legs has been removed on rotary member 20. 
Secured to the lower disc 31 on rotary member 20 so as to extend adjacent 
to the lower edge of drum 32 are a series of tiltable carriages generally 
designated as 60. Approximately twenty such carriages are positioned at 
equiangularly spaced intervals adjacent to the lower periphery of drum 32, 
the exact number depending upon the distance between the shackles on the 
conveyor lines (that distance being the same on both lines), and the 
diameter of drum 32; in the preferred embodiment, the shackles are spaced 
approximately 6 inches apart, drum 32 is 36.3 inches in diameter, and 
nineteen carriages are installed. As shown in FIG. 6, each carriage 60 has 
a support bracket 61 to which is pivotally secured one end of an elongated 
support arm 62. The other end of support arm 62 has secured thereon a 
specially-configured support rest 63, against which the upper part of the 
legs of the poultry are positioned. A plate 64 is secured intermediate of 
the ends of, and normal to, support arm 62, the support arm 62 extending 
through and being welded to plate 64 proximate of the one edge of that 
plate. A smaller plate 65 extends parallel to plate 64 at the pivotal 
connection to support racket 61. Extending on an opposite side of the 
pivotal connection from support arm 62 is a lever arm 66, that lever arm 
being angularly offset from the support arm 62. Extending between and 
rigidly secured to plates 64 and 65 are a pair of rods 67, each rod being 
welded to plates 64 and 65 to maintain those plates in co-planar spaced 
relation; each rod 67 extends through plate 64 and is configured into an 
arm to create a centering guide for a poultry carcass suspended from 
support rest 63. Slidably mounted to extend through both plates 64 and 65 
are a pair of push rods 68 having an enlarged end extending beyond plate 
64 and an adjustably-positionable cam member 69 fixed thereto intermediate 
of plate 64 and 65. A guide bar 70, shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, is welded to 
plates 64 and 65 to extend between those plates. Guide bar 70 has its 
arcuate central portion extending generally normal to, and on the outer 
face of, plate 64 below support rest 63. A further arcuate guide bar 71 is 
fixed to support rest 63 to extend outward from that rest at a slight 
upward angle. On the outer end of lever arm 66 an annular wheel 73 is 
mounted, that wheel riding on the ring-like surface 74 defined by the 
lower edge of a stationary circular cylinder 75 mounted to cradle 27 
therebelow. As shown in the series of drawings, FIGS. 6 to 14 inclusive, 
each carriage may assume either a generally horizontal position as in 
FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10, or a second inclined position as shown in FIGS. 6, 
11, 12, 13 and 14. The reason for, and the relative positioning of, the 
two angular inclinations of each carriage 60 should subsequently become 
clear. 
With the first and second conveyor lines extending around small rotary 
members A, B, C and D, as previously described, a poultry carcass entering 
the apparatus on the first conveyor line (see FIG. 1) moves clockwise 
around small rotary member A, counter-clockwise for almost a complete 
revolution of rotary member 20, and clockwise around small rotary member 
D. Once a poultry carcass has moved around the small rotary member A to 
become adjacent to rotary member 20, a retention means secures the carcass 
to rotary member 20, and almost immediately thereafter, the hold of the 
first conveyor line on the carcass is removed. The carcass is then 
retained on rotary member 20 for approximately a further one-half rotation 
of that member, after which the retention means on rotary member 20 
terminates and the carcass falls under gravity onto one of the shackle 
assemblies moving along the second conveyor line. The release of the first 
conveyor line on the poultry carcass is obtained by severing the lower 
part of the legs of the carcass at the hock joint after the carcass has 
been retained on the rotary member 20. The lower part of the legs of the 
carcass remain on the shackle assembly of the first conveyor line and are 
carried off around small rotary member B to be disposed to prior to the 
shackle assembly being loaded with a further poultry carcass. 
Each of the small rotary members A,B,C, and D have a central axle fixed to 
the frame of the apparatus. On each axle, a driving disc extends normal to 
the axle and has its center rigidly connected to the axle. A series of 
teeth extend around the periphery of each driving disc so as to be 
adjacent to the vertically-oriented links of the chain of the respective 
conveyor line. With reference to FIG. 3, small rotary member A has an axle 
80 to which is rigidly connected a driving disc 81 having a series of 
teeth 82 extending on its periphery. The teeth 82 are equiangularly spaced 
from each other such that adjacent ones of the teeth abut adjacent 
vertical links of chain 51. It can be appreciated that this construction 
results in the four small rotary members rotating in synchronized relation 
with rotary member 20. 
In the preferred embodiment, rotary member 20 is rotatably powered by its 
connection to a motor, and the four small rotary members are rotatably 
powered by their positive engagement with chains 51 and 57 which also 
positively engage rotary member 20. A possible alternate method of 
powering the apparatus is to directly drive one or more of the small 
rotary members by a motor, that small rotary member or members in turn 
providing rotational power to the other rotary members; in particular, by 
providing driving power to either small rotary members A and C or B and D 
a reduction in the amount of the driving power required may be realized. 
Besides their driving discs, small rotary members A and D each have three 
further discs extending normal to their axle, each disc being rigidly 
connected at the center to the axle. As shown in FIGS. 3, the disc 83, 
which is immediately below driving disc 81, has a series of wire brackets 
84 extending on its periphery, the spacing between each adjacent pair of 
the brackets 84 being just large enough to receive the stem of a shackle 
48 therein; alternately the brackets 84 could be formed from nylon sheet. 
The purpose of disc 83 is to position and stabilize the shackle assemblies 
as they are carried around small rotary member A at high speed. Below disc 
83 is a further disc 86 having a similar diameter to discs 81 and 83. As 
with disc 83, disc 86 is utilized for positioning and stabilizing shackle 
assemblies moving around small rotary member A. Disc 83 has ten adjacent 
brackets around its periphery, and disc 86 has ten plastic spacer 87 is 
adapted to extend between the inner pair of legs at the low end of the 
shackle 48, as shown in FIG. 3. The fourth and lowest disc fixed to axle 
80 is disc 89 which has a series of ten wire brackets 90 equiangularly 
positioned around its periphery. Each poultry carcass is adapted to extend 
down between an adjacent pair of the brackets 90. As can be seen from FIG. 
3, each of the brackets 90 is centered below one of the brackets 84, 
whereas each of the plastic spacer members 87 are angularly positioned 
between adjacent brackets on those other two discs. 
Since small rotary members B and C do not have poultry carcasses moving 
therearound, it can be appreciated that the lower pair of discs, i.e. 86 
and 89 on small rotary member A, are not required. Those two rotary 
members have only a driving disc to contact the chain on their respective 
conveyor lines and have a disc similar to disc 83 to prevent excessive 
sway of the shackles as they move around those small rotary members. 
With respect to the first conveyor line, each of the shackle assemblies are 
connected by a chain 92 to the shackle assembly two positions removed from 
it. With reference to FIG. 3, it should be mentioned at this time that 
only every second shackle assembly has been illustrated to enhance 
clarity. It can be seen that each of the stabilizing chains 92 extend from 
the pair of brackets 49 at the top end of each shackle assembly to connect 
to that position on the second-following shackle assembly at which the 
cross-piece and the stem of the shackle intersect. A further way in which 
the motion of the shackle assemblies is stabilized during travel around 
the small rotary members and rotary member 20 is by means of guide bars 94 
and 95 extending around the periphery of the small rotary members as 
illustrated in FIG. 3. Small rotary members A and C generally have an 
outer guide bar and an inner guide bar extending around that portion of 
the periphery to which the shackle assemblies move adjacently. As an 
illustration, FIG. 3 illustrates an inner guide bar 94 positioned inside 
of the path of the shackles 48, and an outer guide bar 95 Positioned 
outside of the path of the shackle 48, whereby the shackles 48 are 
constrained to very limited radial movement as they move around small 
rotary members A. Similarly, shackles 54 are positioned between guide bars 
127 and 128. A still further means of stabilizing the movement of the 
shackle assemblies 48 involves a tensioning belt 97 mounted to extend 
between a first pulley 98 and a second pulley 99, as shown in FIG. 3. The 
pulley 99 is pivotally connected to the frame of the apparatus, whereas 
the pulley 98 is pivotally connected to one end of an arm 100, the other 
end of which arm is rigidly connected to one end of a shaft 101, which 
shaft is pivotally connected to the frame of the apparatus. The other end 
of shaft 101 is rigidly connected to one end of an extended arm 102, the 
other end of that arm being laterally acted on by a cable 103 connected to 
a suspended weight 104 by a pulley 105. The belt 97 is placed in tension 
by this arrangement and acts to press radially inwardly on the shackles 48 
that are moving tangentially on rotary member 20. Thus, those shackles are 
restrained against radially outward movement on rotary member 20. A 
further reason for the need for the tensioning belt 97 will subsequently 
become obvious. 
It was earlier mentioned that drum 32 had a pair of spaced ring members 33 
and 34 extending around its periphery approximately one-third of the 
height of drum 32 from its lower edge. The purpose of those rings is to 
hold plastic spacers 110 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Spacers 110 are 
utilized to further stabilize the shackle assemblies as they move around 
the periphery of rotary member 20. From a comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4 it 
can be seen that each spacer 110 occupies a different position relative to 
a shackle 48 on the input conveyor line than it does on a shackle 54 on 
the output conveyor line. This is due not only to the fact that the track 
of the output conveyor line is lower than the track of the input conveyor 
line, but also to the fact that the shackles 54 are longer than the 
shackles 48. It can be seen that the lower tips of each shackle 48 extend 
generally adjacent to the lower edge of drum 32 whereas the lower end of 
the stem of each of the shackles 54 is adjacent to that lower edge of drum 
32 with the remainder of each shackle 54 extending below that edge. 
As a poultry carcass moves counterclockwise around the periphery of rotary 
member 20 between small rotary members A and D (see FIG. 1) the lower part 
of the legs is removed from each carcass at the hock joint by the knife 
mechanism generally designated as 112 (see FIG. 3) which extends proximate 
of a portion of the lower edge of drum 32 and is supported by an arm 
extending from one of the vertical members 22 (see FIG. 2). Knife 
mechanism 112 consists of three separate blades, 113, 114 and 115, 
connected in the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5. Blades 114 
and 115 are shorter than blade 113, blade 114 extending in spaced parallel 
relation to the leading portion of blade 113 and blade 115 extending 
in-line with the trailing portion of blade 113. Blade 114 has a sharp 
lower edge, and that blade increases in depth between its leading and 
trailing edges. Blade 113 has the curved profile illustrated in FIG. 5, 
its leading portion extending in an arc positioned further from the 
symmetry axis of rotary member 20 than does an arc along which the 
trailing portion extends. The leading portion of blade 113 increases in 
depth along its length and has a dull lower edge, while the trailing 
portion of blade 113 has a generally uniform depth and a sharp lower edge. 
Blade 115 extends generally in-line with the trailing portion of blade 113 
and has a sharp front edge inclined such that the upper end of that edge 
is further displaced from blade 113 than is the lower end. Also, for a 
reason that will subsequently be explained the lower end of blade 115 
commences at an elevation on the apparatus slightly below that of the 
sharp trailing edge of blade 113. Instead of being connected to the frame 
of the apparatus, the forward end of blade 113 may have an eccentric 
pulley mounted thereon, rotation of that pulley creating a vertical 
oscillatory motion; in such case, the forward end of blade 113 would be 
held on the frame of the apparatus by a spring or similar means. The 
trailing end of blade 113, instead of being connected to the frame of the 
apparatus, may be resiliently supported on the frame through a spring 
steel strip. 
As shown in FIGS. 5, 9 and 10, a support bar 116 is mounted to the end of 
knife mechanism 112 or to the frame of the apparatus to extend proximate 
of, and radially inward on the apparatus from, the lower edge of both 
blade 115 and the trailing portion of blade 113. The purpose of support 
bar 116 will become evident when the operation of the apparatus is 
described. 
A pair of peripheral guide bars 117 and 118 are secured to the frame of the 
apparatus to extend proximate of and in spaced relation to the lower edge 
of drum 32. The guide bar 117 extends adjacent to approximately half the 
perimeter of drum 32, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Guide bar 117 is 
radially positioned relative to rotary member 20 so as to extend in almost 
touching relationship with the support rest 63 of each carriage 60. That 
portion of guide bar 117 between small rotary members A and B is 
positioned slightly higher and radially inward from the remaining portion 
of that guide bar, and a short sloping portion of guide bar 117 connects 
those other two portions. The reason for the change in the vertical 
elevation and radial position of the two portions of guide bar 117 is to 
accommodate the change of inclination of each carriage 60 during rotation 
of rotary member 20. As can be seen from FIG. 3, guide bar 118 is shorter 
than guide bar 117 and is positioned radially inwardly from guide bar 117 
on rotary member 20. Guide bar 118 is positioned to extend in a horizontal 
plane approximately one inch higher than the horizontal plane along with 
the initial portion of guide bar 117 extends. The lower edge of blade 113 
slopes downwardly along its dull leading portion and extends between guide 
bars 117 and 118 such that its dull leading end is below those guide bars. 
The lower trailing portion of guide bar 118 is positioned sufficiently 
below the lower end of shackle assemblies moving thereacross on track 45 
that no interference results. Also, as can be seen from FIG. 3, the 
initial portions of guide bars 117 and 118 are curved so as to accept 
movement thereagainst of items being rotated on rotary member 20. 
Similarly, the other guide bars on the apparatus, such as guide bars 94 
and 95, have their forward ends turned so as to make a smoothier initial 
contact with the shackles. 
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of that portion of rotary member 20 lying 
between small rotary members C and D. As with small rotary member B, small 
rotary member C has only two discs, driving disc 121 which engages with 
chain 57 of the second conveyor line and a second disc 122 mounted under 
driving disc 121 to engage the stems of the shackles 54. The disc 122 may 
be in the form of a wheel having a hub 123 from which extends five 
equiangularly spaced spokes 124 connecting to a rim 125 on which are 
mounted ten equiangularly-spaced plastic spacers 126. The spacers 126 are 
designed to better receive the stem of the shackle. An outer guide bar 127 
is mounted on the frame of the apparatus to extend along the periphery of 
small rotary member C, and a longer guide bar 128 also extends around that 
periphery and extends also around a portion of the periphery of rotary 
member 20. A shackle assembly being pulled along track 46 by chain 57 
enters between guide bars 127 and 128, as shown in FIG. 4, and the stem of 
the shackle of that assembly is caught between a pair of adjacent plastic 
spacers 126 during its movement around small rotary member C. The shackle 
assembly which at this point is empty, is stabilized by its confinement 
between the two guide bars and the plastic spacers 126; without such 
stabilization, the shackles would not remain generally vertical but would 
extend at an angle to the vertical due to inertia and drag created by 
contact with the guide bars. 
As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 9A, 10A and 11 to 14, a further guide bar 130 
extends around the periphery of rotary member 20 from approximately midway 
between small rotary members A and B to approximately midway between small 
rotary members C and D, guide bar 130 being positioned radially outside 
of, but proximate to, the path followed by the lower edge of the carriages 
60. Between small rotary members C and D, guide bar 130 extends radially 
inwardly, the terminal portion of guide bar 130 being generally below the 
path traced by the pivot axes of the carriages 60. The purpose of guide 
bar 130 will become clear when the operation of the subject apparatus is 
described. A pivotally-mounted biased arm 131 extends under lower disc 31 
of rotary member 20 in a direction oriented radially outwardly in a 
counter-clockwise direction. The radially-outward end of arm 131 extends 
into the path of the cam members 69 on each carriage 60. As each carriage 
60 is rotated on rotary member 20, the cam members 69 abut against the 
radially-outward end of the arm 131, the push-rod 68 to which cam members 
69 are attached being slid outwardly on the carriage 60 by such abutment, 
as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. 
The operation of the subject apparatus will next be described in terms of 
the transfer of a poultry carcass from the first conveyor line to the 
second conveyor line, removal of the lower part of the legs of the carcass 
occurring during such transfer. 
With reference to FIG. 3, a poultry carcass held on a shackle 48 suspended 
by a yoke from track 45 is pulled along that track 45 by chain 51, which 
in turn is being powered by the motor-driven rotation of rotary member 20. 
As the shackle 48 moves adjacent to the periphery of small rotary member 
A, the stem of shackle 48 enters between an adjacent pair of guide 
brackets 84 on disc 83, a spacer 87 on disc 86 moves between the inner 
legs of shackle 48, and a pair of adjacent guide brackets 90 on disc 89 
assume opposite positions on the carcass. Shackle 48 is also constrained 
to move between the inner guide bar 94 and the outer guide bar 95. As the 
carcass becomes adjacent to drum 32, the lower part of its legs are pulled 
across the support rest 63 of an associated carriage 60, the upper part of 
the legs coming into abutment with a pair of specially-contoured recesses 
in the support rest 63. The carriage 60 is in the inclined position at 
that location, the annular wheel 73 of the carriage 60 riding on the 
higher portion of the ring-like surface 74. The particular shackle 48 
supporting the carcass assumes a radially-inward position on rotary member 
20 relatives to support rest 63 such that the lower part of the legs of 
the carcass are stretched between the jaws of shackle 48 and support rest 
63. Arcuate guide bars 70 and 71 extend between the upper part of the legs 
of the carcass on support rest 63. The lower end of shackle 48 is 
initially directed radially-inward on rotary member 20 by inner guide bar 
94, but that inwardly-directing force is subsequently applied by the belt 
97. The weight 104 is adjusted such that the tensioning belt 97 applies 
the appropriate force to the stem of the stackle 48 to create the 
appropriate tension in the lower part of the legs of the carcass. 
Simultaneously with the tensioning force applied on shackle 48, the 
carriage 60 rotates to a generally horizontal position when its annular 
wheel 73 rides onto a lower portion of the ring-like surface 74. The 
change in orientation of carriage 60 can be seen clearly in Figures 6 and 
7. As carriage 60 rotates to a horizontal position, the legs of the 
carcass move into abutment with the guide bars 117 and 118. The upper part 
of the legs of the carcass are sandwiched between the support rest 63 and 
the guide bar 117, the hock joint sitting above that position and 
preventing downward movement of the carcass on the carriage. The lower 
part of the legs of the carcass are pushed upwardly into abutment against 
guide bar 118, that guide bar preventing the outer end of the lower part 
of the legs of the carcass from riding up in the jaws of shackle 48. The 
pair of rods 67 secured to plate 64 prevent sideways movement of the 
carcass on carriage 60, and guide bar 70 on plate 64 also assists in 
holding the carcass in position. 
With rotation of rotary member 20, the hock joints above support rest 63 
simultaneously move under the dull edge of blade 113 and the sharp edge of 
blade 114. Blade 114 severs tendons extending on the upper surface of the 
lower part of the leg of the carcass, the blade 113 moves downward between 
the two parts of the hock joint to separate those two parts, the 
connective tissue between those parts being thereby stretched. As can be 
seen in FIG. 7, the blade 113 is positioned radially inward of but 
adjacent to support rest 63, and radially outward of blade 114. Blade 114 
is in turn positioned radially outward of guide bar 118. With further 
rotation of rotary member 20, the dull edge on the forward portion of 
blade 113 follows the contour of the mating surface on the two parts of 
the hock joint, i.e. blade 113 is contoured such that its contacting edge 
moves closer to the axis of symmetry of rotary member 20. The sharp edge 
on the trailing portion of blade 113 then contacts the connective tissue 
between the two parts of the hock joint, severing or almost severing both 
that tissue and tendons on the underside of the hock joint. Support bar 
116 supports the lower part of the legs during such cutting (see FIG. 9) 
to prevent the tendons on the underside of the hock joint from moving 
downwardly with the edge of the blade. Any tendons or other connective 
tissue remaining unsevered after moving past blade 113 impinge on and ride 
up on the sharp front inclined edge of blade 115, the tendons or other 
tissue being thereby severed. The severed lower part of the legs are 
retained on shackle 48 and the remainder of the carcass is retained on the 
carriage 60 by the capture of the hock joints between support rest 63 and 
guide bar 117. 
Immediately after carriage 60 moves past the end of knife mechanism 112, 
the carriage resumes its inclined position when annular wheel 73 returns 
to the upper portion of the ring-like surface 74. Coinciding with such 
change in orientation of carriage 60, guide bar 117 assumes a new path, 
downward and radially outward from its former path, as illustrated in FIG. 
3. As shown in FIG. 11, support bar 116 has meanwhile terminated and guide 
bar 130 commenced. Guide bar 130 assists in supporting the carcass on 
carriage 60. Shackle 48 holding the lower part of the legs of the carcass 
moves off across guide bar 117 and around small rotary member B. Shackle 
48 will subsequently be emptied of its contents, and reloaded with fresh 
poultry. 
The carriage 60 with the retained carcass thereon moves in the inclined 
position on rotary member 20 to a position adjacent to small rotary member 
C. As shown in FIG. 4, empty evisceration shackles 54 are moving clockwise 
on the second conveyor line, the position of each of those shackles being 
synchronized with the position of a respective one of the carriages 60. 
Shackle 54 is stabilized in its rotation around small rotary member C by 
its capture between outer guide bar 127, inner guide bar 128, and a 
respective adjacent pair of spacers 126 on disc 122. 
As the shackle 54 that is associated with the carriage 60 of interest 
becomes adjacent to drum 32 of rotary member 20, the lower end of the 
shackle abuts against the respective carriage 60 at that position on 
rotary member 20 and against the upper part of the carcass on that 
carriage. Outer guide bar 127 has at this point terminated, and shackle 54 
is retained between carriage 60 and guide bar 128. Lateral movement of 
shackle 54 is prevented by the stem of the shackle moving into the groove 
of a respective one of the spacers 110 held by rings 33 and 34 on drum 32. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the termination of guide bar 117 frees the carcass from 
its retention on the support rest 63 of carriage 60. Simultaneously, the 
cam members 69 on the carriage 60 move into abutment with the biased 
pivotal arm 131, that action pushing slide rods 68 outwardly through plate 
64 such that the enlarged ends on those push rods abut against the carcass 
to push it radially outward from rotary member 20, as shown in FIGS. 12 
and 13. The effect of the various foregoing actions on the carcass is to 
rotate it such that its hock joints fall into the jaws of the respective 
shackle moving with the carriage 60. The shackle 54 has its lower ends 
vertically positioned such that the joints of the carcass enter between 
the wide spacing at the top of the inner and outer legs of the shackle 
jaws, those joints then dropping between those inner and outer legs of the 
shackle to be retained at the lower end thereof. 
The guide bars 128 and 130 then terminate, and the shackle 54 moves off 
around small rotary member D, the carcass being retained on that shackle 
by gravity for subsequent evisceration and other procedures. The small 
rotary member D is similar to small rotary member A in that it has four 
co-planar discs adapted to stabilize the shackle and attached carcass as 
they move at high speed therearound. As with the other three small rotary 
members, small rotary member D also has a pair of guide bars extending 
around its periphery to prevent radially-outward motion of the shackle and 
its contents as they move therearound. 
The preferred embodiment which has just been described has reference to the 
carcasses of New York dressing chickens which weigh between two and six 
pounds including their viscera, lower legs, and head, but not including 
their feathers and blood. As earlier mentioned, the preferred embodiment 
utilizes a drum 32 that is 35.3 inches in nominal diameter. The motor 
utilized for powering the apparatus develops 5 horsepower which is 
sufficient to drive rotary member 20 and the connected first and second 
conveyor lines each of which could be hundreds of feet long. Shackles are 
mounted on those lines at 6 inch intervals. The capacity of the equipment 
described in the preferred embodiment is approximately 7500 birds per 
hour. 
FIGS. 15 to 20 inclusive illustrate an alternate preferred embodiment of 
the knife mechanism for removing the lower legs from each poultry carcass 
as the carcass moves around the rotary member. As can been seen in FIG. 
15, the carriages 60 of the previously-described embodiment have been 
replaced by a construction in which the hock joints 200 of a carcass each 
rest between a pair of a set of equally-spaced teeth 202 on the periphery 
of a circular support disc 204. Circular disc 204 is inclined from a 
horizontal plane at an inclination sufficient during operation to achieve 
flexing of the legs of the carcass at the hock joints 200 as was achieved 
by carriages 60 of the previously described embodiment. A guide bar 206 
holds each of the hock joints of the carcass between a respective adjacent 
pair of the teeth 202. The pair of lower legs 208 of the carcass are shown 
in outline in FIG. 15, that illustration showing the lower legs partially 
severed from the rest of the carcass during movement past a stationary 
knife mechanism that will be subsequently described. The outer end of the 
lower legs 208 of each carcass are held by a shackle 210 on which the 
carcass is conveyed to the circular support disc. Each carcass, held by a 
shackle 210, is introduced to the periphery of inclined circular disc 204 
at a location adjacent the lowest elevation of the disc, such that the 
hock joints 200 are positioned in between the teeth 202. During rotation 
of the inclined disc 204 and the carcasses held by shackles 210, the 
periphery of the inclined disc 204 moves upwardly relative to the shackles 
210, thereby raising hock joints 200 relative to the outer ends of the 
lower legs 208. This action causes the hock joints 200 to flex, achieving 
greatest flexure at the point of greatest elevation of disc 204 adjacent 
the knife mechanism, thereby enchancing the operation of the knife 
mechanism as described hereafter. A tensioning belt (not shown) applies a 
force to the stem of each shackle 210 in a manner similar to the force 
supplied by tensioning belt 97 in the previously-described embodiment; the 
force on each shackle 210 acts to apply a tensioning force to the pair of 
lower legs 208 of each carcass. A second guide bar 212, as shown in FIG. 
15, presses against the back of the upper legs of each carcass. As also 
can be seen in FIG. 15, a frame member 220 of the transfer apparatus 
supports the guide bars 206 and 212 by means of selective positioning of a 
pair of nuts on threaded rods 222 and 224 respectively. 
A pair of steel bands 226 extend from frame member 220 toward the rotary 
member. One end of each of the steel bands 226 has a cylindrical loop 227 
for holding a bolt 228 in a position normal to the band 226. The bolts 228 
support an arcuate support bar 230 which is shown in outline in FIGS. 19 
and 20. The support bar 230 has an arcuate shape corresponding 
approximately to the curvature on the periphery of the circular disc 204 
positioned at an angle to that periphery, as illustrated in FIG. 16. 
Three blade members of the knife mechanism are bolted to support bar 230. 
From the leading end of the knife mechanism to the trailing end of that 
mechanism, those blade members are designated 240, 242, and 244, as can be 
seen in FIGS. 15, 19, and 20. The blade members are located over the point 
of greatest elevation of circular support disc 204, which corresponds with 
the point of greatest flexure of hock joints 200. The leading blade member 
240 has an elongated arcuate contour as illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20. 
The working edge of blade member 240, i.e. the lower edge in FIG. 20, is 
blunt and rides on the ball of the hock joint of a poultry carcass rather 
than cutting that joint; as the hock joint is moved along the working edge 
of blade member 240, that blade member forces itself between the ball and 
socket of the hock joint to increase the spacing between those two 
portions of the joint, connective tissue being pressed down between the 
ball and socket. The central blade member 242 is shorter in length but 
deeper than blade member 240, as best seen in FIG. 20. Blade member 242 
has the same arcuate contour as is present on blade member 240. With 
respect to the FIG. 20, the lower edge of blade member 242 is sufficiently 
sharp to cut at least partially through any connective tissue extending 
between the two portions of the hock joint. The blade members 240 and 242 
are bolted to support bar 230 by sets of bolts 250 and 252, respectively. 
The third knife member 244 is comprised of a hooked support arm 260 having 
a finger 262 secured to it and extending parallel to its one face, the 
finger 262 appearing in FIGS. 15, 19 and 20. With respect to FIGS. 15 and 
20, the finger 262 rides just above the surface of circular disc 204. As 
connective tissue is severed by the sharp lower edge of blade member 242 
by movement of the hock joint along that sharp edge, the lower leg portion 
208 rides upwardly on finger 262 to further stretch any remaining 
connective tissue and press that tissue more firmly against the cutting 
edge of blade member 242. Any connective tissue that is not severed after 
moving past blade member 242 moves against a sharp edge 264 on the forward 
end of support arm 260. The sharp edge 264 severs any remaining connective 
tissue between the lower leg 208 and the rest of the poultry carcass. 
It should be appreciated that the subject invention is not restricted to 
the preferred embodiment but encompasses all embodiments that 
substantively take the inventive concept.