Patent ID: 12213491

FIG.1shows a system1for processing a backhalve2of a slaughtered poultry carcass. The backhalve2comprises a back portion3and legs4connected thereto. During use, backhalves2are successively transported by a conveyor6in a suspended manner in a conveying direction8with the legs4hanging from the conveyor6, more specifically, each hanging from a carrier10of the conveyor6.

The system1comprises a back turning device12, having a stationary frame14(highly schematic displayed inFIG.2) and a receiving element16which is movably connected to the frame14. Said movement of the receiving element16in the conveying direction8comprises at least a rotation movement, so as to turn the back portion3upside-down as a result of said rotation movement. More specifically, in the present example the back turning device12has three such receiving elements16each rotatably connected to the frame14about a rotation axis18transverse to the conveying direction8and wherein said movement of the receiving elements16in the conveying direction comprises a rotation in a vertical plane about the rotation axis18. The three receiving elements16are each fixated to and extending radially from a central base part19defining the rotation axis18with a central axis thereof. The three receiving elements16are spaced apart at 120 degrees with respect to the rotation axis18, asFIG.1shows. During use, the backhalves2move at a level higher than the rotation axis18past the back turning device12. This means that on an upper arc part of the rotation of the receiving elements, they may receive back portions3and move in the conveying direction from an upstream to a downstream position. During the rotation of the receiving elements16and as an effect of the receiving elements moving through an arc part, the back portions3will temporarily be lifted by the receiving elements. This leads to a slight loosening of the suspension of the legs from the conveyor6resulting in even further reduced or even absence of pulling forces on the legs4. As shown, when one receiving element is in the upstream position, another receiving element is in the downstream position. Thus, when one back portion enters the receiving space of the first mentioned receiving element, the upside-down back portion of a directly downstream backhalve may leave the last mentioned receiving element. A lower arc part, i.e. below axis18, is used for rotating the receiving elements against the conveying direction, that means back from the downstream to the upstream position.

Each of the receiving elements16is configured to receive therein at least a part of the back portion3of the backhalve2and is further configured to move in the conveying direction8with at least said part of the back portion received in the receiving element16during continued movement of the backhalve2in the conveying direction8during use, so as to turn the back portion3upside-down as a result of said movement of the receiving element16. For this purpose, the receiving element16has two elongate extension elements20,22defining a receiving space24there between for receiving at least the part of the back portion3of the backhalve in the receiving space24. AsFIGS.1and2in combination show, each extension element20or22has two fingers positioned besides each other, i.e. in a transverse direction. Or, formulated in another manner, two pairs of elongate extension elements may be provided defining a receiving space between the pairs. AsFIG.1shows, a larger part of one back portion3has just been received in the receiving space24and has thereby been caught by the receiving element, which can be considered to be in an upstream position. This means that the orientation of the back portion3with respect to the receiving element16is at least substantially fixed during its presence in the receiving element16.

The back turning device12has a drive unit28operatively connected to the receiving elements16for moving the receiving elements16in the conveying direction, i.e. for rotating the receiving elements16about the axis18in a rotation direction13. The axis18is the central axis of a drive shaft coupled to the drive unit28. As a result of the rotation of the receiving elements16, they can each time receive a back portion3which is supplied to the back turning device by the conveyor6, move along with the backhalve2as a result of its rotation in direction13, thereby turning the back portion3upside-down while temporarily lifting it, after which the back portion leaves the receiving element again as a result of its continued movement in the conveying direction8. InFIG.1, one backhalve2is displayed just left of the back turning device12, of which the back portion3has been turned upside-down. The receiving elements16are each configured to move in the conveying direction8with a back portion3received in the receiving element16such that an upstream end3aof the back portion3is moved in the conveying direction8between and past the legs4, or at least hip joints26thereof.

The system further comprises a guide30for keeping at least the part of the back portion3of the poultry carcass2in the receiving element16during the turning of the back portion3by the back turning device12. This means that by the guide30it is effectively prevented that a back portion3may for whatever reason prematurely leave the receiving element. The system1also comprises a cutting device32(displayed highly schematic) provided upstream of the back turning device12, for cutting connections which may include tendons and/or cartilage at or at least near the hip joints26. The cutting device32is provided just above a supply conveyor38.

During the conveying away from the back turning device12, the back portions3in said upside down orientation are supported by a separation conveyor34of a separation device40, provided downstream of the back turning device12in the conveying direction8. AsFIG.1shows, the conveyor34bends downwards while the conveyor6continues its horizontal movement. In addition the conveyor34may have a lower or higher speed than that of the conveyor6. A path of the conveyor34is followed by a guide36, catching the back portions3between the conveyor34and the guide and thereby separating the legs4from the back portions3with the back portions3in said upside down orientation. This is shown for the left-most backhalve2, or at least the legs4and the separated back portion3of a backhalve2. So, the separation conveyor34, for the purpose of separating the legs4from the back portion3, is configured to be moved away from the conveyor6.

As will already be clear from the above description of an embodiment of a system according to the invention, a method of processing a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass, using such a system1, comprises:transporting the backhalve2in a suspended manner by the conveyor6in a conveying direction8, with the legs4hanging from the conveyor6;receiving at least a part of the back portion3in a receiving element16of the back turning device12, which receiving element16is movably connected to a stationary frame14of the back turning device12;turning the back portion3upside-down while at least said part of the back portion3is received in the receiving element16, by moving the receiving element16in the conveying direction8during continued movement of the poultry carcass in the conveying direction8, which moving comprises a rotation movement; andseparating the legs4from the back portion3with the back portion3in said upside down orientation.

For the purpose of the step of turning, the back portion3may be lifted during the moving of the receiving element16in the conveying direction8.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. The foregoing description provides embodiments of the invention by way of example only. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. One or more of the objects of the invention are achieved by the appended claims.