Poultry transport line and poultry suspension system

Abstract

Poultry conveying line comprising an endless pathway (7) with at least one curved section (7') and at least one straight section (7''), carriers (8) for suspending poultry, and a driving system for driving the carriers (8) along the endless pathway, wherein during operation a first distance between 5 consecutive carriers (8) moving in the at least one curved section (7') differs from a second distance between two consecutive carriers moving in the at least one straight section (7'').

Description

1 / 7 Poultry transport line and poultry suspension system

[001] The present invention relates to a poultry transport line comprising an endless track or path, with at least one curved section and at least one straight section, and comprising conveyors for suspending the poultry and a drive system for guiding the conveyors along the endless path.

[002] This poultry transport line is applied, for example, in a poultry suspension system or in other poultry processing lines.

[003] US2013 / 0052924 describes a method and apparatus for suspending live or stunned birds for slaughter on conveyor supports of an overhead conveyor. A conveyor belt supplies the birds to a distribution surface, where they are successively guided or pushed out against an edge of the distribution surface to individual positions, which receive the birds with their legs projecting from the edge of the positions. The legs are secured by fastening means in the positions. The individual positions are then successively moved upward relative to the distribution surface to suspend the birds for subsequent downward movement from the positions by supports of the overhead conveyor that runs above and is separated from the distribution surface. The positions are then again moved downward to the level of the distribution surface.

[004] Although the known poultry suspension system is said to provide safer and smoother bird suspension, it is observed that this safe bird suspension requires secure positioning of the birds' legs over the edge of the distribution surface in order to allow the lifting device described in Figures 1 to 7 of US2013 / 0052924 to collect and lift the birds from the distribution surface. This means that the accuracy of the suspension system depends both on the accuracy of the operators' work in precisely positioning the birds' legs over the edge of the distribution surface, and on the accuracy of the sizing and operation of the lifting device, which is designed considering the location and distance the birds' legs extend over the edge of the distribution surface. For all these reasons, this is a complicated process and prone to misalignment at various points.

[005] The problems above are intensified by the fact that the pace of Petition 870250079865, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 10 / 64 2 / 7 of the operators' work is determined by the transport speed of the first conveyors in the primary line. Particularly at today's conventional transport speeds, which can reach 15,000 chickens per hour at a distance of 15 cm between them, the operators' work is stressful and the efficiency of the suspension is at risk at these very high line speeds.

[006] In other words, there is room for improvement and simpler solutions compared to the state of the art. The present invention aims to provide this simplification and improvement, in which the working conditions for operators are particularly enhanced.

[007] According to the present invention, a poultry transport line is proposed, which can, for example, be used in this poultry suspension system, wherein this poultry transport line and poultry suspension system has the characteristics according to one or more of the appended claims.

[008] In the first aspect of the present invention, during operation, there is a first distance between consecutive conveyors moving on at least one curved section of the track or endless track that differs from a second distance between two consecutive conveyors moving on at least one straight section of the track or endless track. This allows the operating conditions to be optimized for the functions that are performed at corresponding locations along the track or endless track.

[009] It is preferable that the conveyors be arranged along the endless track or path so that they can move freely and independently of each other.

[0010] Preferably, the drive system or part of it makes contact with each of the carriers and pushes them along the endless track or path.

[0011] Preferably, the first distance is greater than the second distance.

[0012] The transport line comprises an endless track or route for transporters, wherein at least one rotating wheel drives transporters along at least one curved section of the track or route and one or more are provided Petition 870250079865, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, p. 11 / 64 3 / 7 predominantly straight sections of the track or path, where the conveyor line is equipped with a screw driver to drive the conveyors on the straight sections. The screw driver ensures a precise way of driving the conveyors at a specific speed, which can be dedicated to the poultry processing operation on the aforementioned straight sections.

[0013] Preferably, at least one of the carriers, and suitably each of them, is fitted with one or more protrusions that extend and cooperate with at least one of the spindle driver and the rotating wheels, which are part of the drive system. The rotating wheel and / or the spindle driver (e.g., its wire) may have a recess to cooperate with the protrusion in order to drive the carriers along the endless track or path.

[0014] It is further preferred that the rotating wheels drive the conveyors on the conveying line, independently of the screw driver for the conveyors on the straight section of the conveying line. This is particularly beneficial for optimizing and differentiating between the speeds applied on the conveying line at a location where a specific operation is performed, such as poultry resuspension. In this regard, it should be noted that, in a poultry resuspension system, the transfer units are preferably located on the conveying line opposite the rotating wheels.

[0015] It is further preferred that the drive system guide the carriers independently along at least one curved section and at least one straight section of the endless track or path.

[0016] The present invention is also incorporated in a poultry suspension system with a primary line with first conveyors, a conveyor line with second conveyors and a transfer unit for transferring poultry or poultry parts from the second conveyors of the conveyor line to the first conveyors of the primary line, wherein the conveyor line is a conveyor line according to the present invention.

[0017] In the figures: Figure 1 schematically shows an initial incorporation of a Petition 870250079865, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, p. 12 / 64 4 / 7 poultry suspension system using a conveyor line according to the present invention; Figure 2 schematically shows a second embodiment of a poultry suspension system that uses a conveyor line according to the present invention; and Figure 3 shows a poultry transport line according to the present invention.

[0018] Whenever the same reference numerals are applied to the figures, these numerals will refer to the same parts.

[0019] Figure 1 and Figure 2 show two different embodiments of a poultry suspension system 1. This poultry suspension system 1 is used to feed a primary line 2 that runs at high speed and in which the birds are or will be suspended from first conveyors, such as suspended by their feet or heads. The primary line 2 then transfers the suspended birds to certain processing equipment where the birds will undergo further processing. Due to the high speed, it is difficult to occupy each separate first conveyor of the primary line 2 with suspended birds and prevent conveyors from remaining empty.

[0020] The bird to be suspended on primary line 2 receives a bird feeder line 3. On this bird feeder line 3, the birds can be in any specific orientation and be transported in boxes or freely. To meet the requirement that each first separate conveyor on primary line 2 can receive suspended birds, at least one conveyor line 4 is used with second conveyors that are mobile at a second conveyor speed and where the second conveyor speed is lower than the first conveyor speed of the first conveyors on primary line 2.

[0021] Figure 1 shows the situation where there is only a single transport line 4, while Figure 2 shows the situation where there are two transport lines 4. The number of transport lines 4 can be further increased if necessary.

[0022] Figure 1 and Figure 2 demonstrate that the transport units 5 Petition 870250079865, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, p. 13 / 64 5 / 7 are provided for transferring birds from transport line(s) 4 to primary line 2. It is specific to the present invention that transport line(s) 4 is / are equipped with second conveyors for suspending the birds (e.g., by the feet or head), wherein these second conveyors, similarly to the first conveyors of primary line 2, are intrinsically known. The second conveyors 8 of at least one transport line 4 are shown schematically in Figure 3.

[0023] As shown in both Figure 1 and Figure 2, the poultry feeding line 3 transfers unsprung birds to a suspension area, where operators 6 are positioned, who remove the birds from the feeding line 3 and suspend them on the second conveyors of the transport line(s) 4. Although Figure 1 and Figure 2 show only operators 6, the task of removing the birds from the feeding line 3 and suspending them on the second conveyors of the transport line 4 can also be performed by robots, or by a combination of human operators and robots. Consequently, the suspension area is equipped with at least one of a workstation for an operator and an automatic suspension device, preferably in the form of robots with visual and handling capabilities.

[0024] Although it is possible for the distance between the conveyors on primary line 2 to be variable, for reasons of simplicity, it is preferred that the distance between the first conveyors on primary line 2 be constant.

[0025] According to the present invention, the second conveyors in the conveyor line 4 are located at a first distance close to the transfer units 5 and at a second distance at the suspension point, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. The distances of the conveyors in the conveyor line 4 can therefore be synchronized with the suspension operation and the transfer operation.

[0026] It is additionally beneficial that transfer units 5 be synchronized with primary line 2 so that all birds suspended on the second conveyors of transport line 4 are transferred individually to an available first empty conveyor on primary line 2.

[0027] Figure 3 shows that transport line 4 comprises a Petition 870250079865, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 14 / 64 6 / 7 endless path 7 for the conveyors 8. In this embodiment, each of the conveyors 8 moves freely and independently of each other along the path 7. Rotating wheels 9 drive the second conveyors 8 along at least a portion 7' ​​of the path 7 and one or more predominantly straight sections 7'' of the path 7 are provided between the rotating wheels 9.

[0028] Figure 3 demonstrates that the conveyor line 4 is equipped with a spindle driver 10 to drive the secondary conveyors 8 in the straight sections 7'' between the rotating wheels 9. It also demonstrates that the transfer units 5 are located on at least one conveyor line 4 opposite the rotating wheels 9, which is an ideal location for performing the resuspension of the birds from the conveyor line 4 to the primary line 2. In an embodiment (not shown), the rotating wheels 9 can be combined with the transfer units 5.

[0029] Figure 3 further illustrates that each of the second conveyors 8 is equipped with a protrusion 11 that extends and cooperates with the (wire of the) spindle driver 10 to push the conveyors 8. This or another protrusion may be applied to extend and cooperate with a series of recesses 12 arranged in the rotating wheels 9. In the present, therefore, the drive system also comes into contact with the conveyors 8 and pushes them.

[0030] It is further observed that the rotating wheels 9 drive the second conveyors on at least one conveyor line 4 independent of the spindle driver 10 for the second conveyors on at least one conveyor line 4.

[0031] During operation, there is a first distance along the endless track or path 7 between consecutive conveyors 8 moving in at least one curved section 7' ​​that differs from a second distance along the endless track or path 7 between two consecutive conveyors moving in at least one straight section 7''.

[0032] Preferably, the first distance is greater than the second distance. This can be easily achieved in different ways, such as selecting an appropriate rotation speed for the swivel wheels, selecting the distance between the recesses of the swivel wheels, or choosing the thread tip of the spindles. Petition 870250079865, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 15 / 64 7 / 7

[0033] Embodiments of the present invention may include any combination of features described herein, independently of each other. Although the present invention has been described above with reference to an example of an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not restricted to that specific embodiment, which may vary in many ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. The example embodiment discussed should not, therefore, be used to interpret the appended claims strictly in accordance with it. Rather, the embodiment is intended only to explain the expression of the appended claims, without any intention of limiting the claims to this example embodiment. The scope of protection of the present invention should, therefore, be interpreted only in accordance with the appended claims, where possible ambiguities in the wording of the claims should be resolved using this example embodiment.

[0034] Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and their equivalents. The complete disclosures of all references, patent applications, patents, and publications mentioned above are therefore incorporated by reference in their entirety. Except as specifically mentioned above as “essential,” none of the various components or their interrelationships is essential to the operation of the present invention. Alternatively, desirable results can be achieved by substituting various components and / or by reconfiguring their relationships with each other. Petition 870250079865, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 16 / 64

Claims

1 / 2 CLAIMS 1. POULTRY TRANSPORT LINE (4) comprising an endless rail or track (7) with at least one curved section (7') and at least one straight section (7''), conveyors (8) for suspending poultry or poultry parts and a drive system for driving the conveyors (8) along the endless track (7), characterized in that there exists, during operation, a first distance along the endless rail or track (7) between consecutive conveyors (8) moving in at least one curved section (7'), which is different from a second distance along the endless rail or track (7) between two consecutive conveyors moving in at least one straight section (7'').

2. POULTRY TRANSPORT LINE (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive system is arranged to contact each of the conveyors (8) and push them along the endless rail or path (7).

3. POULTRY TRANSPORT LINE (4) according to either claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first distance is greater than the second distance.

4. POULTRY TRANSPORT LINE (4) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the drive system driving the conveyors (8) independently along at least one curved section (7') and along at least one straight section (7'') of the endless rail or track (7).

5. POULTRY TRANSPORT LINE (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by at least one of the conveyors (8) comprising a protrusion (11), which is arranged to cooperate with the drive system.

6. POULTRY TRANSPORT LINE (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the drive system comprising at least one protrusion (11), which is arranged to cooperate with one of the conveyors (8).

7. POULTRY TRANSPORT LINE (4) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drive system comprises a rotating wheel (9) in at least one curved section (7'), which is arranged to fit and drive Petition 870250079865, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, page 17 / 64 2 / 2 the conveyors (8) along the aforementioned at least one curved section (7) of the endless track or path (7).

8. POULTRY TRANSPORT LINE (4) according to claim 7 when dependent on claim 4, characterized in that the rotating wheel (9) comprises at least one recess (12) to receive the conveyor protrusion (11) (8).

9. POULTRY TRANSPORT LINE (4) according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the drive system comprises a spindle driver (10) for fitting and driving the conveyors (8) in at least one straight section (7'') of the rail or endless track (7).

10. POULTRY TRANSPORT LINE (4) according to claim 9, when dependent on claim 5, characterized in that the spindle driver (10), particularly a wire of the spindle driver (10), is arranged so as to receive the protrusion (11) of at least one of the conveyors (8) to drive said conveyors along the straight section (7'') of the endless path (7).

11. POULTRY SUSPENSION SYSTEM (1) with a primary line (2) with first conveyors, a transport line (4) with second conveyors and a transfer unit (5) for transferring poultry or poultry parts from the second conveyors of the transport line (4) to the first conveyors of the primary line (2), characterized in that the transport line (4) is a transport line as defined in any of claims 1 to 10. Petition 870250079865, dated 05 / 09 / 2025, p. 18 / 64

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