Apparatus for gripping the legs of poultry

Patent 6254471 Issued on July 3, 2001. Estimated Expiration Date:

January 28, 2020. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Method and apparatus for orienting live poultry
Patent #: 5129857
Issued on: 07/14/1992
Inventor: Keiter, et al.

Apparatus for suspending poultry from its legs
Patent #: 5290187
Issued on: 03/01/1994
Inventor: Meyn

Poultry-handling assembly
Patent #: 5514033
Issued on: 05/07/1996
Inventor: Berry

Method for suspending live poultry by the legs and an apparatus, catching means and slaughter shackle for carrying out the method Patent #: 5672100
Issued on: 09/30/1997
Inventor: Nielsen, et al.

Inventor

Meyn, Pieter

Assignee

Meyn Food Processing Technology B.V.

Application

No. 493728 filed on 01/28/2000

US Classes:

452/177, CONVEYER452/180, Registering (i.e., aligning)452/182Transfer from one conveyor to another

Examiners

Primary: Little, Willis

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Dority & Manning

Foreign Patent References

145077A EP. 06/18/1985
533288A EP. 03/18/1993
7412044A NL. 03/18/1976
9200676A NL. 11/18/1993
1003230C NL. 12/18/1997
9220223A WO. 11/18/1992

International Class

A22C 021/00

Foreign Application Priority Data

1999-02-02 NL

Abstract

An apparatus for gripping the feet of sitting or standing poultry. The apparatus comprising a first conveyor where the poultry sits or stands on the first conveyor and points its head in the same or opposite direction to the direction of travel of the first conveyor. A section of the first conveyor forms a tunnel floor. A tunnel ceiling is disposed above the first conveyor. The distance between the tunnel ceiling and the first conveyor initially decreases in the direction of travel of the first conveyor. A guide extends in the longitudinal direction of the tunnel ceiling and is located between the first conveyor and the tunnel ceiling. The distance between the tunnel ceiling and the first conveyor increases in the direction of travel of the first conveyor at a location proximate to the guide. A second conveyor is located in the direction of travel of the first conveyor substantially after the guide. The breast of the poultry rests on the second conveyor. Gripping members are located in the direction of travel of the first conveyor substantially after the guide. The gripping members engage and enclose the feet of the poultry.