Abstract:
An apparatus and method for splitting and cleaning poultry gizzards. A poultry gizzard with proventriculus attached thereto is moved in sequence along a processing path, first along a pair of conveyor rollers that support the gizzard and pull the proventriculus downwardly between the conveyor rollers and then along a pair of engaging cutting spindles which sever the proventriculus from the gizzard. The gizzard is then transferred to a cutting station where a water knife cuts a slit into the gizzard, exposing the interior cavity of the gizzard and loosening ingest contained therein. The gizzard is then spread open by a spreading fin and adjoining rails that enter and enlarge the freshly cut slit. A water sprayer manifold then sprays pressurized water into the exposed cavity to flush and forcibly clean ingest out of the cavity.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     (Not Applicable) 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     (Not Applicable) 
     REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX 
     (Not Applicable) 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a poultry processing apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for automatically splitting and cleaning poultry gizzards. 
     In order to prepare a poultry gizzard for human consumption, the gizzard must generally first be cut open so that it can be emptied of any ingest that has accumulated therein. 
     Ingest typically consists of undigested, non-food matter, such as sand and small stones, that were consumed by the poultry when it was alive. Automated machines and processes have been developed for performing this cutting and cleaning task so that safety hazards, labor costs, inconsistencies, and other undesirable aspects of manual processing can be mitigated. An example of such an automated machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,795 to Hazenbroek. Traditionally, such automated machines have employed a cleaving, straight blade or a rapidly rotating, circular blade into which a poultry gizzard is directed. In either case, the blade slices the gizzard in half, exposing the tightly packed ingest inside. In the case of larger gizzards, such as those of turkeys, a second blade may be employed for cutting the gizzard into fourths. The sliced gizzard portions are then conveyed along a pressurized water spray manifold that cleans the ingest out of the portions. 
     A problem commonly associated with automated gizzard cutting processes such as the one described above is that the blade that is employed to cut the gizzards is repeatedly brought into contact with the ingest contained in the gizzards. The sharpened edge of the blade therefore wears against stones and other hard, indigestible matter during the cutting process. The blade thus becomes dull very quickly, thereby necessitating frequent replacement of the blade. Such replacement is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive. Moreover, after a gizzard has been cut by a circular blade, the ingest typically remains tightly packed inside the cut gizzard portions and can therefore be difficult to remove. 
     In view of the foregoing, it would be advantageous to provide an apparatus for efficiently cutting poultry gizzards without requiring the frequent replacement of a blade or blades. It would further be advantageous to provide such an apparatus that additionally loosens the ingest in the gizzards as a preparatory measure to enhance the efficacy of subsequent cleaning processes. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus and method for splitting and cleaning poultry gizzards. In a first contemplated embodiment of the invention, a poultry gizzard is manually fed into an angled chute with the still-attached proventriculus of the gizzard dangling through a longitudinally-elongated gut channel formed in the bottom of the chute. The gizzard slides by gravity through the chute onto a pair of rotatably driven conveyor rollers having helical and longitudinally-extending ridges extending radially therefrom. The conveyor rollers cooperatively rotate to urge the gizzard in a downstream direction along a product path while simultaneously pulling the proventriculus of the gizzard downwardly, into a gap between the conveyor rollers. The gizzard is then conveyed along a pair of rotatably driven cutting spindles having intermeshing cutting threads extending radially therefrom that engage and sever the proventriculus. 
     With the proventriculus of the gizzard removed, the gizzard is conveyed over a water knife that cuts a slit into the bottom of the gizzard, exposing the interior cavity of the gizzard and loosening the ingest contained therein. The gizzard is then forced over a spreading fin and adjoining spreading rails that enter the slit and further separate the lobes of the split gizzard. 
     Finally, the gizzard is conveyed over a water sprayer manifold having plurality of longitudinally spaced nozzles that emit streams of water upwardly, between the spreading rails, into the cavity of the gizzard. The cavity is thereby forcibly flushed and cleaned of ingest. 
     In a second contemplated embodiment of the invention, a poultry gizzard with its proventriculus already removed is placed on a conveyor line that carries the gizzard along a product path in a downstream, direction. The gizzard engages a downwardly-angled presser plate mounted above the product path that compresses the gizzard against the conveyor line and secures the orientation of the gizzard. The gizzard then passes below a water knife mounted above the downstream end of the presser plate that cuts a slit into the top of the gizzard, exposing the interior cavity of the gizzard and loosening the ingest contained therein. 
     Next, the gizzard is conveyed below a spreading fin that enters and enlarges the freshly cut slit in the gizzard. As the gizzard is conveyed further downstream, the separated lobes of the gizzard move onto the sides of a wedge-shaped water reservoir having a tapered lower edge that is substantially contiguous with the spreading fin. The lower edge of the reservoir has a plurality of longitudinally-spaced apertures formed therethrough through which streams of water are emitted into an interior cavity of the gizzard, thereby forcibly flushing and cleaning ingest out of the cavity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1  with the protective cover of the apparatus removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a cut-away, side elevation view illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cut-away, detail view illustrating several components of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5   a  is a detail, side elevation view illustrating several components of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5   b  is a detail, top view illustrating several components of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cut-away, perspective view illustrating the second embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cut-away, side elevation view illustrating the second embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a cut-away, detail view illustrating several components of the second embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5   b , a first contemplated embodiment of the poultry gizzard processing apparatus of the present invention (hereafter referred to as “the apparatus  10 ”) is illustrated. The apparatus  10  generally includes, in sequence and best viewed in  FIG. 3 , an infeed station  12 , a gut-removal station  14 , a splitting station  16 , a cleaning station  18 , and an outlet station  20 . The apparatus  10  further includes a rear support wall  21  and adjoining side support walls  22  and  24  to which the aforementioned components of the apparatus  10  are directly or indirectly mounted, as well as a trough  26  located below the aforementioned components for catching waste matter that falls therefrom. A protective cover  28  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), defined by perpendicularly-adjoining front and top walls  30  and  32 , is hingidly mounted to the rear support wall  21  for shielding workers from the moving parts of the apparatus  10  and mitigating the risk of injury. The protective cover  28  also provides convenient access to the components of the apparatus  10 , such as for repair or replacement, when the cover  28  is pivoted to a raised position. The apparatus  10  is shown in  FIGS. 2-4  with the protective cover entirely removed for clarity. 
     Unless otherwise noted, all components of the apparatus  10  are fabricated from stainless steel. It is contemplated that various components of the apparatus  10  can alternatively be fabricated from any other sufficiently rigid, food-grade material, including, but not limited to aluminum, polyoxymethylene (sold under the brand name DELRIN), and various composites. 
     For the sake of convenience and clarity, terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” “inward,” “outward,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “upstream,” “downstream,” “lateral,” and “longitudinal” will be used herein to describe the relative placement and orientation of various components of the apparatus  10 , all with respect to the geometry and orientation of the apparatus as it appears in  FIG. 3 . Particularly, the length of the apparatus  10  is along a horizontal line that extends from the leftmost end of the apparatus  10  to the rightmost end of the apparatus  10 , and the term “upstream” refers to a longitudinal position nearer the left end of the apparatus  10  while the term “downstream” refers to a longitudinal position nearer the right end of the apparatus  10 . Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. 
     Still, referring to  FIGS. 1-5   b , the infeed station  12  of the apparatus  10  includes an infeed chute  34  having an angled portion  36  that extends from an upper inlet end downwardly, at a preferred angle of about 45 degrees, through the top wall  32  of the protective cover  28  to a substantially horizontal portion  38  terminating in a lower outlet end. The outlet end of the infeed chute  34  has a substantially open floor that is positioned above the upstream end of the gut-removal station  14  (described below). The interior of the infeed chute  34  is preferably large enough to accommodate a largest anticipated poultry gizzard. 
     The angled portion  36  of the chute  34  is laterally bisected on the top and bottom faces by a channel  40 , hereafter referred to as “the gut channel  40 ,” that extends from the inlet end of the chute  34  to the outlet end. The gut channel  40  is wide enough to allow the proventriculus of a poultry gizzard to dangle therethrough below the floor of the chute  34 , but is not wide enough to allow the passage of a gizzard of a conventional size. 
     The gut-removal station  14  of the apparatus  10  includes a pair of closely spaced, parallel conveyor rollers  42  and  44 . The conveyor rollers  42  and  44  extend longitudinally below the horizontal portion  38  of the chute  34  from a first end located adjacent the upstream end of the apparatus  10  to a second end adjacent the upstream end of the splitting station  16  (described below). The conveyor rollers  42  and  44  are rotatably mounted to the brackets  46  and  48  that extend laterally from the rear support wall  21 , such as by mounting in conventional replaceable bearings, for allowing the conveyor rollers  42  and  44  to rotate freely about their longitudinal axes. Each of the substantially cylindrical conveyor rollers  42  and  44  has a plurality of helical and longitudinally-elongated ridges  50  and  52  projecting radially from its outer surface. The helical ridges  50  of the conveyor roller  42  are oppositely threaded with respect to the helical ridges  52  of the conveyor roller  44 . During operation of the apparatus  10 , the adjacent ridges  50  and  52  of the opposing conveyor rollers  42  and  44  rotate toward each other and downward in a manner that simultaneously urges a gizzard sitting on top of the conveyor rollers  42  and  44  in the downstream direction and pulls the dangling proventriculus of a gizzard downwardly, into a narrow gap between the conveyor rollers  42  and  44  (as described in greater detail below). 
     The downstream ends of the conveyor rollers  42  and  44  terminate in short cutting spindles  54  and  56  that are preferably coaxial and integral with their respective conveyor rollers. Each of the cutting spindles  54  and  56  has a plurality of sharp, helical cutting threads  58  and  60  extending radially therefrom that extend to a larger overall diameter than the ridges  50  and  52  of its respective conveyor roller  42  and  44 . The threads  58  of the cutting spindle  54  thus overlap with and cooperatively engage the threads  60  of the cutting spindle  56  in an intermeshing fashion. 
     During operation of the apparatus  10 , the conveyor roller  44  nearest the rear support wall  21  is rotatably driven by a motor (not within view) located adjacent the upstream end of the conveyor roller  44 . Such rotational movement is transferred to the opposing conveyor roller  42  through the intermeshed engagement between the helical threads  58  and  60  of the cutting spindles  54  and  56  in the manner of intermeshing gears, thereby causing the conveyor roller  42  to rotate in an opposite direction relative to the conveyor roller  44 . Specifically, when viewed end-on from the upstream end of the apparatus  10 , the conveyor roller  44  is rotated in a clockwise direction and the conveyor roller  42  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Of course the conveyor rollers  42  and  44  can be driven in opposite rotational directions if need be, such as if an object becomes stuck between the conveyor rollers  42  and  44 . The motor that drives the conveyor roller  44  is preferably a conventional servo motor, but could be substituted by a hydraulic or pneumatic motor or any other suitable prime mover as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The splitting station  16  of the apparatus  10  includes a pair of laterally-opposing, rotatably mounted sticker chain belts  62  and  64  that flank a longitudinally-elongated splitting platform  66 . Each of the opposing sticker chain belts  62  and  64  preferably includes three vertically adjacent sticker chains (the spikes that extend from the sticker chains are not shown, but are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art). The opposing belts  62  and  64  thus define a longitudinal product path therebetween that is wide enough to accommodate a poultry gizzard, with the spikes of the opposing belts  62  and  64  trapping and piercingly engaging the sides of the gizzard (as described in greater detail below), and with the splitting platform  66  supporting the bottom of the gizzard. It is contemplated that a greater or lesser number of sticker chains can be employed in each opposing sticker chain belt  62  and  64  without departing from the invention. It is further contemplated that the spikes of the sticker chains can be replaced by any other type of suitable gripping structures, such as claws or teeth, or that the sticker chains can be replaced by belts or tracks having gnarled or high friction surfaces. 
     The opposing sticker chain belts  62  and  64  are operatively mounted to corresponding pairs of longitudinally-spaced sprockets  63 ,  65 ,  67 , and  69  (best shown in  FIG. 5   b ) that are rotatably mounted to brackets extending from the rear wall, such as by mounting in conventional replaceable bearings. The sprockets  63 - 69  of the opposing sticker chain belts are rotatably driven in opposite directions by an electric motor (not within view) through a conventional gearing assembly  68  in a manner that will be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. During operation of the apparatus  10 , the sprockets  63 - 69  rotatably drive the sticker chain belts  62  and  64  in the manner of conventional, endless conveyors, with the opposing, inward-facing surfaces of the belts  62  and  64  being driven in the downstream direction at a uniform rate of speed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the upstream end of the splitting platform  66  (only one lateral half of the platform is shown) is located immediately downstream from the downstream end of the cutting spindles  54  and  56 . The downstream longitudinal half of the splitting platform  66  is laterally bisected by a longitudinally-elongated channel  70 , hereafter referred to as “the splitting channel  70 .” The splitting channel  70  is preferably about half an inch wide, although it is contemplated that the splitting channel  70  can be made wider as long as it is not wide enough to allow a poultry gizzard to pass therethrough. The purpose of the splitting channel  70  will be described below. 
     A high pressure water sprayer  72 , hereafter referred to as “the water knife  72 ,” extends from the rear support wall  21  below the splitting platform  66  and includes a water supply line  74  and an upwardly directed nozzle  76 . The water supply line  74  is connected to a high pressure water pump (not shown). The nozzle  76  extends to a position immediately below the upstream end of the splitting channel  70 . During operation of the apparatus  10 , the nozzle  76  emits a narrow, high-pressure stream of water upwardly, through the splitting channel  70 . The stream of water is sufficiently pressurized to split a poultry gizzard that is conveyed along the product path of the splitting platform  66 , as will be described in greater detail below. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-5   b , the cleaning station  18  of the apparatus  10  includes a spreading fin  78 , a cleaning platform  80 , a sticker chain  82 , a retaining block  84 , and a water sprayer manifold  86 . The spreading fin  78  is a narrow, substantially planar, vertically-oriented plate that extends into the downstream end of the splitting channel  70  intermediate the downstream ends of the opposing sets of sticker chains  62  and  64 . The spreading fin  78  is preferably rigidly mounted to the cleaning platform  80  (described below) and extends upstream therefrom. The top edge of the spreading fin  78  preferably extends above the splitting platform  66 . The downstream end of the top edge of the spreading fin  78  is preferably downwardly angled for reasons that will become apparent below. 
     The cleaning platform  80  is mounted to the rear wall and extends forward to a position longitudinally aligned with the splitting platform  66  of the splitting station  16 . The cleaning platform  80  includes a nose  88  at its upstream end that is immediately adjacent, and is vertically and laterally aligned with, the top edge of the downstream end of the spreading fin  78 . The cleaning platform further includes a pair of longitudinally-elongated, parallel spreading rails  90  and  92  that extend laterally outwardly and downstream from the downstream end of the nose  88  to the upstream end of the outlet station  20  (described below). The spreading rails  90  and  92  are preferably separated by a lateral distance of about one inch. 
     The sticker chain  82  of the cleaning station  18  is operatively mounted in a vertical orientation to a pair of longitudinally-spaced sprockets  94  and  96  (the spikes that extend from the sticker chain  82  are not shown, but are of a conventional type that is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art). The sprocket  94  at the upstream end of the sticker chain  82  is rotatably mounted to an axle that extends from the rear support wall  21 , such as by mounting in conventional replaceable bearings, and the sprocket  96  at the downstream end of the line is rigidly mounted to a horizontally-extending drive shaft that protrudes from the rear support wall  21 . The drive shaft is rotatably driven by a motor (not within view), thereby driving the sticker chain  82  in the manner of an endless conveyor, with the lower run of the sticker chain  82  being driven in the downstream direction. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  5   a , and  5   b , the upstream end of the sticker chain  82  is positioned above, and is in a close-clearance relationship with, the downwardly angled, downstream end of the spreading fin  78 . The sticker chain  82  is positioned laterally intermediate the spreading rails  90  and  92 . The lower run of the sticker chain  82  is in a close clearance relationship with, and is preferably spaced about half an inch above, the spreading rails  90  and  92  and the cleaning platform  80 . The downstream end of the sticker chain  82  extends beyond the downstream ends of the spreading rails  90  and  92 , over the outlet station  20  (described below). 
     The retaining block  84  of the cleaning station  18  is a longitudinally elongated member, preferably formed of DELRIN, that is rigidly mounted to the rear support wall  21  and extends forward to position its lower face immediately above the lower run of the sticker chain  82  and below the upper run of the sticker chain  82 . The lower face of the retaining block  84  limits upward movement of the lower run of the sticker chain  82 , thereby reinforcing the chain  82  and enabling the chain  82  to apply a consistent downward force on a poultry gizzard passing between the chain  82  and the spreading rails  90  and  92  (as described below) without allowing the gizzard to deflect the lower run of the chain  82  upwardly. 
     The upstream end of the retaining block  84  preferably curves upwardly to create a gradually decreasing separation in the downstream direction between the lower face of the retaining block  84  and the lower run of the sticker chain  82  adjacent to where gizzards enter the vertical gap between the sticker chain  82  and the spreading rails  90  and  92 . With this configuration, after entering the gap between the chain  82  and the rails  90  and  92 , a gizzard that engages the sticker chain  82  is able, for a short distance of its downstream travel, to deflect the unsupported lower run of the chain  82  upwardly a short distance (by virtue of the fact that the gizzard is taller than the gap between the chain  82  and the spreading rails  90  and  92 ). The separation between the retaining block  84  and the sticker chain  82  thereafter decreases in the downstream direction, with the retaining block  84  extending in reinforcing engagement with the lower run of the sticker chain  82  and causing the sticker chain  82  to apply a gradually increasing downward force on the gizzard below (i.e. by not allowing upward deflection of the chain  82 ), as will be described in greater detail below. 
     The water sprayer manifold  86  of the cleaning station  18  is mounted to the rear support wall  21  below the cleaning platform  80  and includes a water supply line  98  connected to a plurality of upwardly directed nozzles  100  arranged in a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending rows. The water supply line  98  is connected to a high pressure water pump (not shown). During operation of the apparatus  10 , the nozzles  100  emit pressurized streams of water upwardly, toward the cleaning platform  80 . The streams of water are preferably wider and are not as pressurized as the stream of water emitted by the water knife  72  (described above), and are preferably not capable of cutting or otherwise damaging poultry gizzards that are conveyed along the spreading rails  90  and  92  (as described below). 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the outlet station  20  of the apparatus  10  includes an angled outlet chute  102  having an open inlet end that is positioned below the downstream end of the spreading rails  90  and  92 . The chute  102  extends downwardly through a floor of the apparatus adjacent the trough  26  and terminates in an open outlet end. A collection bin (not shown) is preferably positioned below the outlet end of the chute  102  for receiving split poultry gizzards. 
     During typical operation of the apparatus, as depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a poultry gizzard  104  is manually fed into the inlet end of the infeed chute  34  with the proventriculus  106  of the gizzard  104  extending downwardly through the gut channel  40  of the infeed chute  34 . Inserted thusly, one lobe of the gizzard  104  is positioned substantially on one lateral side of the infeed chute  34  and the other lobe of the gizzard  104  is positioned substantially on the opposing lateral side of the infeed chute  34 . The gut channel  40  thus ensures that orientation of the gizzard  104  is maintained as the gizzard  104  slides by gravity down the angled portion  36  of the chute  34 . 
     When the gizzard  104  reaches the lower, horizontal portion  38  of the infeed chute  34 , the bottom of the gizzard  104 , including the proventriculus  106 , is brought into engagement with the conveyor rollers  42  and  44  of the gut-removal station  14 . As described above, the ridges  50  and  52  that extend from the conveyor rollers  42  and  44  simultaneously urge the gizzard  104  in the downstream direction and gently grip and pull the proventriculus  106  downwardly, into a narrow gap between the rollers  42  and  44 , while maintaining the orientation of the gizzard  104 . 
     Next, when the gizzard  104  reaches the upstream end of the cutting spindles  54  and  56 , the sides of the gizzard  104  are gripped by the inwardly-facing spikes of the opposing, rotating sticker chain belts  62  and  64  in the manner described above. The sticker chain belts  62  and  64  pull the gizzard  104  downstream, over the cutting spindles  54  and  56 , with the proventriculus  106  of the gizzard  104  being drawn into the cutting threads  58  and  60  of the spindles  54  and  56 . As the gizzard  104  passes over the cutting spindles  54  and  56 , the cutting threads  58  and  60  cooperatively cut and pull the proventriculus  106  from the gizzard  104  downwardly, between the cutting spindles  54  and  56 , and discharge the proventriculus  106  by gravity into the trough  26  below. It is contemplated that any other suitable means for removing the proventriculus  106  from the gizzard  104  can be substituted for the above-described conveyor rollers  42  and  44  and cutting spindles  54  and  56 , including, but not limited to, a conventional stationary or rotating blade. 
     After the proventriculus  106  has been removed, the sticker chain belts  62  and  64  continue to drive the gizzard  104  downstream, onto and along the splitting platform  66 . As the gizzard  104  is moved over the upstream end of the splitting channel  70  in the splitting platform  66 , the pressurized stream of water emitted by the water knife  72  partially splits the gizzard  104  intermediate its laterally-adjacent lobes. The pressure of the stream of water and the speed with which the gizzard passes over the stream (i.e. the speed of the sticker chain belts  62  and  64 ) are preferably calibrated to allow the water knife  72  to cut substantially through the lower vertical half of the gizzard  104 , into the gizzard&#39;s internal cavity, while leaving the upper vertical half of the gizzard  104  substantially intact. Of course, a deeper cut into the gizzard  104  can be made by decreasing the speed of the sticker chain belts  62  and  64  or by increasing the pressure or changing the shape or size of the water stream, and a shallower cut can be made by increasing the speed of the sticker chain belts  62  and  64  pass or by decreasing the pressure of the water stream. Importantly, in addition to splitting the gizzard  104  in the manner described above, the stream of water emitted by the water knife  72  loosens and dislodges some of the tightly packed ingest contained inside of the gizzard  104 . 
     The sticker chain belts  62  and  64  continue to move the gizzard  104  past the water knife  72  and onto the spreading fin  78 , with the spreading fin  78  entering the freshly cut slit in the bottom half of the gizzard  104 . As the gizzard  104  moves over the spreading fin  78 , the fin  78  enlarges the slit and further separates the lobes of the gizzard  104 . When the gizzard  104  reaches the downstream end of the spreading fin  78  and is about to be released by the chain belts  62  and  64 , the top of the gizzard is engaged by the spikes of the upstream end of the sticker chain  82 , which press and pull the gizzard  104  downward and downstream along the downwardly angled, rear portion of the spreading fin  78 . The sticker chain  82  further drives the gizzard  104  from the spreading fin  78  onto the nose  88  at the upstream end of the cleaning platform  80 , with the nose  88  entering the slit intermediate the lobes of the gizzard  104 . As the sticker chain  82  continues to drive the gizzard  104  downstream beyond the nose  88 , the interior surfaces of the lobes engage the spreading rails  90  and  92  as the sticker chain  82 , reinforced by the retaining block  84  in the manner described above, applies a gradually increasing downward force on the gizzard  104 . The spreading rails thus force the lobes of the gizzard upwardly and apart, thereby splaying the lobes over the rails  90  and  92  and exposing the interior cavity of the gizzard  104  intermediate the rails  90  and  92 . 
     As the gizzard  104  is forced further downstream atop the spreading rails  90  and  92 , the gizzard  104  moves over the upwardly-directed streams of water emitted by the nozzles  100  of the water sprayer manifold  86 . The streams of water enter the exposed, interior cavity of the gizzard  104 , thereby flushing and cleaning the previously loosened ingest out of the cavity. The water and the removed ingest then fall by gravity into the trough  26 . After the gizzard  104  has been driven through the water sprayer manifold  86 , it has been thoroughly cleaned and the sticker chain  82  drives the gizzard off of the downstream end of the spreading rails  90  and  92 , where the split and cleaned gizzard  104  is allowed to fall by gravity into the inlet end of the outlet chute  102  and to a collection bin below. The gizzard can then be collected for packaging or further processing. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a second contemplated embodiment of the poultry gizzard processing apparatus of the present invention, indicated generally at  200 , is illustrated. The apparatus includes two, substantially identical, laterally side-by-side processing lines  202  and  204  that can be operated independently of one another for allowing two operators to process gizzards simultaneously in the manner described below. The processing lines  202  and  204  are substantially mirror images of one another and will therefore be described with reference to the processing line  204  on the right side (as viewed in  FIG. 6 ) of the apparatus  200  only, and the processing line  204  shall hereafter be referred to as “the apparatus  204 .” It will be understood that such description shall extend to the processing line  202  on the left side of the apparatus  200  with necessary consideration given to differences in the respective positions and orientations of the various components of the processing line  202 . It is contemplated that the processing line  202  can be entirely omitted from the apparatus  200 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7-9 , the apparatus  204  includes a conveyor line  206 , a splitting station  208 , a cleaning station  210 , and an outlet station  212 . The apparatus  204  further includes a rear support wall  214  to which the aforementioned components of the apparatus  204  are directly or indirectly mounted, as well as a trough  218  located below the aforementioned components for catching waste matter that falls therefrom. A protective cover  220  (shown in  FIG. 6 ), defined by perpendicularly-adjoining front, top, upstream, and downstream walls  222 ,  224 ,  226 , and  228  is hingidly mounted to the top of the apparatus  204  for shielding workers from the moving parts of the apparatus  204  and mitigating the risk of injury. The protective cover  220  also provides convenient access to the components of the apparatus  204 , such as for repair or replacement, when the cover  220  is pivoted to a raised position. The apparatus  204  is shown with the protective cover  220  entirely removed or cut away in  FIGS. 7-9  for clarity. 
     As with the apparatus  10  described above, all components of the apparatus  204  are preferably fabricated from stainless steel unless otherwise noted. It is contemplated that various components of the apparatus  204  can alternatively be fabricated from any other sufficiently rigid, food-grade material, including, but not limited to aluminum, polyoxymethylene (sold under the brand name DELRIN), and various composites. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , the conveyor line  206  of the apparatus  204  includes a pair of vertically-oriented, laterally-spaced sticker chains  230  and  232  that are operatively mounted to pairs of longitudinally-spaced sprockets at the upstream and downstream ends of the sticker chains. The sprockets at the upstream end of the line are rotatably mounted to an axle  234  that extends from the rear wall  214 , such as by mounting in conventional replaceable bearings, and the sprockets at the downstream end of the sticker chains are rigidly mounted to a horizontally-extending drive shaft  236  that protrudes from the rear wall  214 . The drive shaft  236  is rotatably driven by a motor (not within view), thereby driving the conveyor line  206  in the manner of an endless conveyor with the upper run of the conveyor line  206  moving in the downstream direction. The upper run of the conveyor line  206  thus defines a product path along which poultry gizzards are conveyed during operation of the apparatus  204 , as will be described in greater detail below. It is contemplated that the sticker chains  230  and  232  can be substituted by one or more conventional belts or chain conveyors. 
     The splitting station  208  of the apparatus  204  includes, in downstream sequence, a presser plate  238  and a water knife  240 . The presser plate  238  is a longitudinally-elongated, downwardly-angled plate that is mounted to the rear wall  214  and extends over the conveyor line  206 . The presser plate  238  extends from a relatively taller upstream end to a relatively shorter downstream end, thereby defining a gap of decreasing height between the presser plate  238  and the upper run of the conveyor line  206 . The presser plate  238  is laterally bisected by a longitudinally-extending channel  242 , hereafter referred to as “the splitting channel  242 .” The splitting channel  242  is preferably about half an inch wide. The bifurcated, lateral halves of the presser plate  238  preferably extend laterally outwardly and downwardly from the splitting channel  242  to provide the presser plate  238  with a “tented” shape. The water knife  240  of the splitting station  208  is substantially identical to the water knife  72  of the apparatus  10  described above. The water knife  240  is directed downwardly and is positioned above the presser plate  238 , at or near the downstream end of the splitting channel  242 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the cleaning station  210  of the apparatus  204  includes a spreading fin  242  and a water sprayer reservoir  244 . The spreading fin  242  is a vertically-oriented, wedge-shaped member having a rounded, tapered upstream and lower edge that is positioned in the middle of the product path, immediately downstream from the water knife  240 . The spreading fin  242  is preferably mounted to, and extends upstream from, the water sprayer reservoir  244  (described below). The lower edge of the spreading fin  242  is positioned about one to three inches above the upper run of the conveyor line  206 . 
     The water sprayer reservoir  244  is a longitudinally-elongated, wedge-shaped, substantially hollow vessel that is mounted to the rear wall and extends to a position above the conveyor line  206 . The reservoir  244  tapers to a lower edge that is spaced above the conveyor line  206  and is aligned and substantially contiguous with the lower edge of the spreading fin  242 . A longitudinally-spaced series of apertures  246  is formed in the lower edge of the reservoir  244  for allowing streams of water to be emitted therefrom. The reservoir  244  is connected to a water supply line  248  that is fed by a high pressure water pump (not shown). It is contemplated that the water sprayer reservoir  244  can be substituted by a spreading platform and a water sprayer manifold that are similar to the spreading platform  66  and water sprayer manifold  86  of the apparatus  10  described above. 
     The outlet station  212  of the apparatus includes an ejector wheel  250  and an outlet chute  252 . The ejector wheel  250  is a round plate that is rigidly mounted to the drive shaft  236  laterally intermediate the sprockets at the downstream of the conveyor line  206 , with the drive shaft passing through the axis of the ejector wheel  250 . The ejector wheel  250  has a radius that is greater than the radius of the downstream sprockets and preferably has spikes protruding from its periphery. The upper portion of the ejector wheel  250  thus extends upwardly into the product path of the apparatus  204  to remove product from the sticker chains  230  and  232  (as described below). 
     The outlet chute  252  of the outlet station  212  is a downwardly angled slide having an inlet end that is positioned below the ejector wheel  250  at the downstream end of the conveyor line  206 . The outlet chute  252  preferably extends through a downstream wall of the apparatus  204  and terminates in an outlet end. A collection bin (not shown) is preferably positioned below the outlet end of the chute  252  for receiving split poultry gizzards (as further described below). 
     During typical operation of the apparatus  204 , as depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a poultry gizzard  260  (with its proventriculus preferably previously removed) is manually placed on the conveyor line  206  with one lobe of the gizzard  260  positioned substantially on one of the sticker chains  230  and the other lobe of the gizzard  260  positioned substantially on the other sticker chain  232 . Although it is not critical, the lobes of the gizzard  260  are preferably pressed firmly against the sticker chains  230  and  232  with sufficient force to cause the spikes of the sticker chains  230  and  232  to pierce the lobes and thereby secure the orientation of the gizzard  260  as it is carried downstream. 
     The gizzard  260  is driven downstream to enter the gap between the presser plate  238  and the conveyor line  206 . As the gizzard  260  progresses downstream below the presser plate  238 , the gap shortens and the gizzard  260  is squeezed between the presser plate  238  and the upper run of the conveyor line  206 . The presser plate  238  thereby presses the gizzard  260  into firm engagement with the spikes of the sticker chains  230  and  232  of the conveyor line  206  and ensures that the orientation of the gizzard  260  is maintained as it nears the water knife  240 . 
     As the gizzard  260  reaches the downstream end of the presser plate  238 , the pressurized stream of water emitted by the water knife  240  passes through the splitting channel  242  and partially splits the gizzard  260  intermediate its lobes. The pressure of the stream of water and the speed with which the gizzard  260  is conveyed below the stream (i.e. the speed of the conveyor line  206 ) are preferably calibrated to allow the water knife  240  to cut substantially through the upper vertical half of the gizzard  260 , into the gizzard&#39;s internal cavity, while leaving the lower vertical half of the gizzard  260  substantially intact. Of course, a deeper cut into the gizzard  260  can be made by decreasing the speed of the conveyor line  260  or increasing the pressure of the water stream, and a shallower cut can be made by increasing the speed of the conveyor line  206  or decreasing the pressure of the water stream. Importantly, in addition to splitting the gizzard  260  in the manner described above, the stream of water emitted by the water knife  240  loosens and dislodges some of the tightly packed ingest contained inside of the gizzard  260 . 
     Next, the conveyor line  206  moves the gizzard  260  into engagement with the spreading fin  242 , with the edge of the spreading fin  242  entering the freshly cut slit in the top half of the gizzard  260 . As the gizzard  260  moves into the spreading fin  242 , the gradually widening fin  242  enlarges the slit and further separates the lobes of the gizzard  260 . As the gizzard  260  continues downstream, the spreading fin  242  acts as funnel for feeding the tapered, lower edge of the water reservoir  244  into the slit. The lobes of the gizzard  260  are thereby splayed onto either lateral side of the reservoir  244 . 
     The gizzard  260  is further driven along the lower edge of the water reservoir  244 , below the downwardly-directed streams of water emitted from the apertures  246 . The streams of water enter the exposed, interior cavity of the gizzard  260 , thereby flushing and cleaning the previously loosened ingest out of the cavity. The streams of water are preferably emitted from the apertures  246  in a slightly downstream-angled direction to force the ingest horizontally out of the cavity. The water and the removed ingest then fall by gravity into the trough  218 . 
     After the gizzard  260  has been cleaned, the conveyor line  206  drives the gizzard  260  into the rotating ejector wheel  250 . The rotating spikes of the ejector wheel  250  engage the bottom of the gizzard  260  and force the gizzard  260  upwardly, off of the spikes of the conveyor chains  230  and  232  to which the gizzard was previously stuck. The ejector wheel  250  then pulls the gizzard  260  in the downstream direction, over the wheel  250 . The split and cleaned gizzard  260  is thereafter allowed to fall by gravity onto the upper end of the outlet chute  252  and slide and to a collection bin below. The gizzard  260  can then be collected for packaging or further processing. 
     This detailed description in connection with the drawings is intended principally as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementing the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and features may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention and that various modifications may be adopted without departing from the invention or scope of the following claims.