Patent ID: 8647181

Claim:
Slaughtering installation for processing poultry which installation is adapted to be used in combination with a conveying assembly for conveying poultry which is suspended from their legs in a transport direction, the slaughtering installation comprising a killing device with a poultry positioning device for positioning the neck region of the poultry suspended from the conveying assembly, the killing device further comprising a cutting device for cutting into the neck and thereby opening at least one blood vessel in the neck region of the poultry, wherein the positioning device comprises a back neck guide along which the back side of the neck of the poultry is guided, and a breast neck guide along which the breast side of the neck of the poultry is guided, both said neck guides extending essentially parallel to the transport direction and define a plane between the neck guides, such that the neck is guided by the neck guides and the neck moves in the plane between the neck guides, wherein the back neck guide is positioned at an elevated position relative to the lower positioned breast neck guide, and wherein the positioning device further comprises a head guide track extending essentially parallel to the transport direction, a lower portion of the head of the suspended poultry being guided along the head guide track while the poultry is conveyed between the neck guides, such that the bill of the poultry is forced in a direction opposite the transport direction.