System and method for processing poultry slaughter products

Abstract

A system and method for processing poultry slaughter products is provided, the system comprising a first transport line, a second transport line and a product transfer device, the first transport line running at a first speed and comprising successive first product carriers spaced apart at a first distance, each configured to carry a respective one of the products, the second transport line running at a second speed and comprising successive second product carriers spaced apart at a second distance, each configured to carry a respective one of the products, the product transfer device for transferring the products from the first product carriers to the second product carriers successively. The product transfer device is configured such that the product transfer device transfers a predetermined number of products successively each time, wherein along the first transport line, the transfer position of a subsequent product of the predetermined number of products is each time more upstream or more downstream than the transfer position of a previous product of the predetermined number of products.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to systems and methods for processing poultry slaughter products. Background Technology

[0002] Systems for processing poultry products, such as chicken, are constantly striving for higher processing speeds to increase production capacity. Such systems typically include a chain conveyor with a product carrier attached, usually a hook-shaped element, that carries the slaughtered products. In this configuration, the slaughtered products are conveyed continuously through the processing station. Depending on the product to be processed and the stage of processing, specific product carriers are required to carry the product in a manner that allows for efficient processing.

[0003] Such a system may include a transfer point where the slaughtered product is transferred from a first product carrier on a first conveyor line to a second product carrier on a second conveyor line, meaning the slaughtered product is moved laterally. The first product carrier is, for example, a hook-shaped component, and the first conveyor line is, for example, a rotary conveyor chain or an overhead conveyor chain. This can be a relatively critical point for such a system. During the transfer operation, inaccurate mutual positioning of the product carriers leads to a higher error rate in the transfer of the slaughtered product, and thus results in longer system downtime, for example, due to the slaughtered product getting stuck. Furthermore, this transfer becomes even more critical with increased conveyor or processing speeds.

[0004] Typically, to reliably transfer the slaughtered products, the speeds of the first and second transport lines are equal, and the distances between adjacent carriers on the first and second transport lines are equal, i.e., the carrier spacing is equal. This allows the adjacent carriers on the first transport line to be positioned directly next to the carriers on the second line, enabling product transfer. However, such identical speeds and carrier spacing are not always desirable.

[0005] US 5,453,045 discloses a poultry slaughter product handling system with a transfer device capable of transferring products from a first conveyor line to a second conveyor line, the first and second conveyor lines having different speeds and different spaces between adjacent hooks. To facilitate product transfer, an intermediate accumulator is provided in the form of a buffer wheel, allowing products to be transferred from the first line to the buffer wheel and subsequently from the buffer line to the second line. The buffer wheel has a carrier slidably mounted to it. However, there is room for improvement regarding product transfer, particularly because this handling system is quite complex.

[0006] WO 2016 / 003271A1 also relates to the use of transfer wheels between a first and a second transport line to transfer poultry products, which has the same or at least similar disadvantages as the system in US 5,453,045.

[0007] WO 02 / 44670A1 relates to a method and apparatus for weighing suspended poultry carcasses. An eccentric buffer wheel is used to compensate for the difference in hook-and-loop space between the first and second lines. This system is also quite complex. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The object of this invention is to provide an improved system for processing poultry slaughter products. Another object of this invention is to provide a system for processing poultry slaughter products, the system having a transfer device capable of efficiently transferring the slaughter products from a first transport line to a second transport line, the first and second transport lines being able to operate at different speeds and / or having different carrier spacing. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a system for processing poultry slaughter products, the system having a transfer device capable of transferring products from a first transport line to a second transport line, with lower requirements for the construction of the transport lines.

[0009] One or more of the above objectives are achieved by a processing system according to a first aspect of the invention, the system being used to process poultry slaughter products, such as chicken slaughter products, the system comprising:

[0010] - A first transport line, which operates at a first speed during use, and includes consecutive first product carriers spaced apart along the first transport line by a first distance and each configured to carry a corresponding one of the products.

[0011] - A second transport line, which operates at a second speed during use, and includes successive second product carriers spaced apart along the second transport line by a second distance and each configured to carry a corresponding one of the products.

[0012] - A product transfer device for successively transferring products from a corresponding first product carrier to a corresponding second product carrier.

[0013] The product transfer device is configured such that it transfers a predetermined number of products in succession each time, wherein, along the first transport line, the transfer position of the subsequent product among the predetermined number of products is either upstream or downstream of the transfer position of the previous product among the predetermined number of products each time.

[0014] The advantage of the system according to the invention is that, due to the inventive product transfer device that provides upstream or downstream movement positions for transfer, reliable transfer can be achieved even with different speeds and / or different distances—i.e., spacings—between the carriers on the first transport line and / or the carriers on the second transport line, without the need for intermediate buffer wheels or buffer stations. This means that, according to the invention, poultry slaughter products can be directly transferred from the corresponding first product carrier on the first transport line to the corresponding second product carrier on the second transport line. The time interval between each transfer in the successive transfers of the predetermined plurality of products can be predetermined based on a first speed and / or a second speed and / or based on a first distance and / or a second distance.

[0015] An additional effect is that, using the system according to the invention, gaps can be intentionally created in the second transport line. A gap in the transport line refers to one or more, preferably one, empty carriers between carriers that each carry a product; that is, carriers that do not carry products or have no products. For example, each tenth carrier in the line can be left empty (while the other carriers carry products).

[0016] This can be achieved, for example, by having the second transport line move at a higher speed than the first transport line and optionally by making the distance between the second product carriers greater than the distance between the first product carriers. Using the system according to the invention, products can still be reliably transferred in that case by providing upstream moving positions for the transfer, wherein gaps are created between successive iterations—i.e., repetitions—of the sequential transfers of a predetermined plurality of products.

[0017] Such gaps in the second transport line can be advantageous during the further transport of the product on the second transport line, for example, because it is much easier to put (return) a dropped product onto the second transport line. For example, more of these gaps can be obtained as the speed difference between the first and second transport lines increases.

[0018] Poultry slaughter products—such as chicken slaughter products—can be the whole slaughtered animal, or a combination of parts or more of the whole slaughtered animal.

[0019] In an embodiment, each transfer in a successive transfer of a predetermined plurality of products—that is, an iteration of the transfer—has an equal number of the predetermined plurality of products.

[0020] In the embodiments, the predetermined plurality of products can be any number ranging from 2 products to up to 20 products and from including 2 products to including 20 products, preferably from 5 products to up to 15 products and from including 5 products to including 15 products.

[0021] In this embodiment, the transfer location of a product in a subsequent predetermined plurality of products is the same as the transfer location of a product with the same serial number in a preceding predetermined plurality of products. Alternatively, in other words, in each iteration, products in the plurality of products are transferred at the same corresponding transfer location. Thus, the product transfer device can have a plurality of transfer locations equal in number to the predetermined plurality, each of which is located at a predetermined different position along a first transport line.

[0022] In one embodiment, the system is configured such that, during use, the second speed is higher than the first speed, wherein the product transfer device is configured such that the transfer position of a subsequent product among a plurality of products along the first and second transport lines is always upstream of the transfer position of a previous product among a plurality of products along the first and second transport lines. By doing so, gaps can be created in the second transport line in an efficient manner.

[0023] The first and second transport lines can be located at least next to each other at the product transfer device. In use, the first and second transport lines can run in the same direction. This allows for reliable transfer of products from the first product carrier to the second product carrier.

[0024] In one embodiment, a first transport line runs along a first path, and a second transport line runs along a second path, wherein, at least at the transfer location, the first path and the second path are at a constant distance from each other. This also increases the reliability of product transfer.

[0025] In one embodiment, the product transfer device is configured such that during the transfer of each of the plurality of products, the first carrier holding that product is at least substantially located next to the second carrier to which that product is to be transferred during the transfer. This also increases the reliability of the product transfer.

[0026] In the embodiments, at least at the transfer device, both the first and second transport lines follow corresponding curved paths, which are defined, for example, by a carrousel. Preferably, the second transport line, and thus the curved path of the second transport line, is located outside the first transport line.

[0027] In this embodiment, the second distance is greater than the first distance. By doing so, preferably combined with a second speed that is higher than the first speed, gaps can be created in the second transport line in an effective manner.

[0028] The speed of the second transport line can be 0.85 to 1.15 times the speed of the first transport line, preferably 1 to 1.10 times, and more preferably 1.05 to 1.10 times.

[0029] In one embodiment, the product transfer device includes a cam follower coupled to a transfer element for engaging a product to transfer the product from a first carrier to a second carrier. The system has a cam track through which the cam follower operates in use, wherein the cam track is configured to move the cam follower at a corresponding transfer position to initiate the transfer of the product from the first carrier to the second carrier at that position.

[0030] In one embodiment, the cam track has a predetermined track segment that moves a cam follower to initiate the transfer. The system has a drive module configured to, in use, move the predetermined track segment upstream or downstream along a first transport line during each successive transfer of the predetermined plurality of products, preferably together with the cam track itself.

[0031] In one embodiment, a cam follower is provided for each of the first carriers and the cam follower is connected to each of the first carriers. Furthermore, a transfer element is provided for each of the first carriers and the transfer element is connected to each of the first carriers. Therefore, in use, the cam follower of the corresponding connected first product carrier passes along the predetermined track segment and is moved through that track segment, causing the product to be transferred via the transfer element connected to that cam follower.

[0032] In one embodiment, the product transfer device is arranged such that a predetermined track segment can move between an inactive position and an active position. In the inactive position, the predetermined track segment remains unaffected by a cam follower that passes through the track segment to such an extent that the cam follower will not engage with the track segment to transfer the product. In the active position, the predetermined track segment engages the cam follower, which passes through the track segment to transfer the product. This movement of the predetermined track segment can be provided by a mechanical mechanism or by an electric or pneumatic mechanism, such as an additional cam follower coupled to the track segment, which operates via a separate cam track.

[0033] In one embodiment, the transfer element is configured to engage the product by a pushing action.

[0034] Alternatively, the product transfer device may include one or more electric or pneumatic actuators coupled to the transfer element to initiate the transfer of products from a first carrier to a second carrier at a corresponding transfer location. For example, an electrically actuated solenoid may be provided on each first product carrier and coupled to the transfer element.

[0035] The corresponding embodiments are also applicable to the method according to the second aspect of the invention described below. The system according to the first aspect of the invention can be arranged to implement the method according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0036] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for processing poultry slaughter products, preferably using the system according to the invention as described above. The method includes:

[0037] - Products are transported using a first transport line that operates at a first speed and includes consecutive first product carriers spaced apart along the first transport line by a first distance, wherein each product is carried by a corresponding first product carrier.

[0038] - Products are successively transferred from corresponding first product carriers to corresponding second product carriers on a second transport line by a product transfer device. The second transport line operates at a second speed, and the second product carriers are spaced apart along the second transport line at a second distance.

[0039] In the transfer step, multiple predetermined products are transferred consecutively each time. Along the first transport line, the transfer position of the subsequent product among the multiple predetermined products is either upstream or downstream of the transfer position of the previous product among the multiple predetermined products each time.

[0040] In one embodiment, the second speed is higher than the first speed, wherein the transfer position of the subsequent product among the plurality of products along the first and second transport lines is always upstream than the transfer position of the previous product among the plurality of products along the first and second transport lines.

[0041] In an embodiment, each transfer in a series of sequential transfers of a predetermined plurality of products has an equal number of the predetermined plurality of products.

[0042] In an embodiment of a system having predetermined track sections as described above, during the transfer step, in each successive transfer of the predetermined plurality of products, the predetermined track sections are moved upstream or downstream—preferably upstream—along a first transport line.

[0043] The corresponding embodiments are also applicable to the system according to the first aspect of the present invention described above. The effects of the method according to the present invention are similar to the effects of the system according to the present invention described above.

[0044] In general, the present invention relates to a system and method for processing poultry slaughter products. The system includes a first transport line, a second transport line, and a product transfer device. The first transport line operates at a first speed and includes consecutive first product carriers spaced apart by a first distance and each configured to carry a corresponding product. The second transport line operates at a second speed and includes consecutive second product carriers spaced apart by a second distance and each configured to carry a corresponding product. The product transfer device is used to successively transfer products from the first product carriers to the second product carriers. The product transfer device is configured such that it successively transfers a predetermined plurality of products each time, wherein, along the first transport line, the transfer position of a subsequent product among the predetermined plurality of products is always upstream or downstream of the transfer position of a previous product among the predetermined plurality of products. Attached Figure Description

[0045] The invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown, and in which the same reference numerals denote the same or similar elements.

[0046] Figure 1 The previous views illustrate an embodiment of the system according to the invention;

[0047] Figure 2 A top view shows the results according to Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the system; and

[0048] Figures 3A to 8B The diagram, shown in top view, illustrates a portion of an embodiment of the system according to the invention at different moments during system use. Detailed Implementation

[0049] Figure 1 A system 1 for processing poultry slaughter product 8, which in this example is chicken, is shown. System 1 has a supply line 2, a first transport line 3, and a second transport line 4. The supply line 2 supplies chickens to the first transport line 3. The first transport line 3 includes a rotary conveyor 10 having a plurality of first product carriers 6 spaced apart along its periphery at a first distance. Each first product carrier 6 is configured to carry a corresponding one of the products 8. The first transport line 3 operates at a first speed during use.

[0050] The second transport line 4 operates at a second speed during use and includes consecutive second product carriers 12 spaced apart along the second transport line 4 at a second distance. Each second product carrier 12 is configured to carry a corresponding one of the products 8. As can be understood from the figures, both the first transport line 3 and the second transport line 4 follow at least partially curved paths, wherein the first transport line 3 follows a circular path defined by the rotary conveyor 10. The second transport line 4 is located outside the first transport line 3 and runs along the curved path past the rotary conveyor 10.

[0051] System 1 also includes a product transfer device 14 for successively transferring products 8 from corresponding first product carriers 6 to corresponding second product carriers 12. In use of System 1, products are supplied via supply line 2 to first transport line 3, i.e., to rotary conveyor 10. The products can then be processed on rotary conveyor 10, for example, by cutting, trimming, or deboning operations. The products 8 are then transferred from first transport line 3 to second transport line 4 via product transfer device 14.

[0052] According to the present invention, the product transfer device 14 is configured such that it sequentially transfers a predetermined plurality of products 8, such as ten products, each time. (See reference...) Figures 2 to 8B To explain, along the first transport line 3, the transfer position of the subsequent product in the predetermined plurality of products is upstream compared to the transfer position of the preceding product 8 in the predetermined plurality of products, and the transfer position of product 8 in the subsequent predetermined plurality of products 8 is the same as the transfer position of product 8 with the same serial number in the preceding predetermined plurality of products 8. This means that the second product in the ten products to be transferred consecutively is transferred along the first transport line 3 to the same position as the second product in the preceding ten products that have already been transferred consecutively and the second product in the subsequent ten products that will still be transferred consecutively.

[0053] Product transfer device 14 includes a cam follower 18 coupled to a transfer element 20 for engaging a product 8 to transfer the product 8 from a first carrier 6 to a second carrier 12. Such a cam follower 18 and transfer element 20 are provided for each of the first carriers 6 and are connected to each of the first carriers 6. The transfer element 20 can be a pusher to eject the product from the first carrier 6 and push it into the second carrier 12. System 1 also has a cam track 22 through which the cam follower 18 operates in use, wherein the cam track 22 is configured to cooperate with the cam follower 18 of the first carrier 6 at a corresponding transfer position to initiate the transfer of the product 8 from the first carrier 6 to the second product carrier 12 via the transfer element 20 at that position. The cam track 22 has predetermined track segments 24, such as protruding sections of a cam track, which move the cam follower 18 and thereby move the transfer element 20 to initiate the transfer. Other sections of the cam track 22 can hold the transfer element 20 in an inactive position. The system 1 has a drive module 29 configured to move the predetermined track segments 24 upstream or downstream along the first transport line 3 during subsequent transfers of multiple products 8 in use. The track segments 24 and the cam track 22 are mounted on a rotary conveyor 28, with the track segments 24 forming part of the cam track 22, which is rotatable about the central axis 30 of the rotary conveyor 10. The disc 28 can rotate at different speeds and / or directions of rotation relative to the rotational speed of the first carrier 6, and can be driven by a separate drive motor, or by means of a gear mechanism, such as planetary gears, operating between the rotating portion of the rotary conveyor 10 and the disc 28, so as to rotate the disc 28 based on the rotation of the first carrier 6 on the rotary conveyor 10. Thus, the cam track 22 and thereby the track segment 24 can be moved upstream or downstream along the first transport line 3. Although in this example, the product is first transferred from the supply line 2 to the first transport line 3 in the form of a rotary conveyor, and then to the second transport line 4, other configurations of the first and second transport lines are conceivable. For example, instead of setting the first carrier on the rotary conveyor, the first carrier can also be suspended on an overhead conveyor chain, preferably running along guide wheels, as in... Figure 1 Supply line 2 in the example.

[0054] In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, poultry slaughter products 8 are processed using a system 1 as described above. Products 8 are transported using a first transport line 3, each product 8 being carried by a corresponding first product carrier 6. Products 8 are then successively transferred from their respective first product carriers 6 to their respective second product carriers 12 on a second transport line 4 via a product transfer device 14. During the transfer step, a predetermined plurality of products are transferred sequentially each time, wherein, along the first transport line 3, the transfer position of a subsequent product among the predetermined plurality of products is either upstream or downstream of the transfer position of a previous product among the predetermined plurality of products each time.

[0055] Now refer to Figures 2 to 8B Let me explain this principle further. Figure 2 A schematic diagram of system 1 according to the invention is shown. A diagram of a rotary conveyor 10 is shown, which has twelve first product carriers 6 spaced apart at the periphery of the rotary conveyor 10. The rotary conveyor 10 rotates counterclockwise (in the indicated direction 11) and forms a first transport line 3 together with the first carriers 6. As shown, a second transport line 4 runs through the rotary conveyor 10 and follows a portion of the circular periphery of the rotary conveyor 10. Figure 2 In the view, the second product carrier 12 of the second transport line 4 moves from right to left, and therefore also moves in the indicating direction 11. The distance between the carriers 12 is greater than the distance between the carriers 6. In use, the linear velocity of the second transport line 4 is higher than the linear velocity of the first transport line 3. The products on the carriers are represented by squares 8. Additionally, a supply line 2 is shown, which rotates clockwise in direction 13 and has product carriers 32, the distance between the product carriers 32 being the same as the distance between the first product carriers 6. The supply line 2 operates at the same speed as the first speed of the first transport line 3, and thus the same speed as the first speed of the rotary conveyor 10. Therefore, products 8 can be transferred from the supply line 2 to the first product carriers 6 of the rotary conveyor 10 using a conventional transfer device, such as a pusher 34, which operates at the position where the carriers 32 and 6 are closest and radially aligned, as in... Figure 2 As shown in the image.

[0056] In the example, the second speed is higher than the first speed. Furthermore, the second distance is greater than the first distance, as can be seen from... Figure 2 The system 1 has a circular cam track 22 (which is in...). Figure 2(Partially shown). As described above, the cam track 22 is part of the disc 28. In use, the disc 28 rotates clockwise, thus rotating in a direction opposite to the rotation direction 11 of the product carrier 6. The cam track 22 has a predetermined track section 24, which in... Figure 2 The arrow indicates this. As the track section 24 also rotates clockwise, any cam follower 18 running in the cam track 22 can engage with the track section 24 at different positions to transfer the product 8 at the position where the track section 24 engages the cam follower 18.

[0057] Now for reference Figures 3A to 8B ,from Figure 3A Each figure begins by illustrating a later point in the process of use, specifically a later point in the execution of an embodiment of the method according to the invention. In examples of these figures, a first transport line is shown, defined by a rotary conveyor having twenty first carriers, A_1 to A_20. A second transport line is shown, having second product carriers marked with a designation beginning with B. Typically, product 8 is transferred from the first carrier A to the second carrier B. Figure 3A It can be seen that during use, at the displayed moment, only carriers A_1 and B_1 are radially aligned with each other; therefore, product 8 can be reliably transferred (only) at the positions of those carriers. At that moment, the predetermined track segment indicated by arrow 24 is at (i.e., the track segment has passed) the first position. As in Figure 3A As shown, the first product 8 of the ten products to be transferred sequentially is on carrier A_1, and carrier B_1 is empty. This first product 8 is then transferred at that location by transfer device 14 in the manner described above. Figure 3B As shown, product 8 has been transferred from carrier A_1 to carrier B_1 at the first position. The first carrier A and the second carrier B continue to move counterclockwise, while the predetermined track segment 24 moves clockwise, as indicated by the position of arrow 24. Figure 4A and Figure 4B The diagram illustrates the successive transfer of the second product 8 among the plurality of products, which is transferred from carrier A_2 to carrier B_2 at a second position upstream of carrier A in the direction of movement. As shown, at that moment, i.e., at the second position, carrier A_2 and carrier B_2 are radially aligned. Figure 5A and Figure 5BFurther transfer at the sixth position (transfers from the third to the fifth position and related product transfers are not shown) is illustrated, which is also upstream in the counterclockwise movement direction of carriers A and B. As shown, at that moment, i.e., at this sixth position, carriers A_6 are radially aligned with carriers B_6, and the sixth of the plurality of products is transferred. Figure 6A and Figure 6B The tenth product out of ten is shown in the tenth position, which is also the final position (the transfer from the seventh to the ninth position is not shown), which is also upstream of the counterclockwise movement direction of carrier A and carrier B.

[0058] After the sequential transfer of ten products from the first transport line 3 to the second transport line 4 as described above, the predetermined track section 24 maintains a clockwise rotation without transferring any additional products, as in... Figure 7 As indicated by the dashed arrow, carriers A and B continue to move counterclockwise in direction 11. The predetermined track segment 24 is now outside the range of the indicated track segment 22, within which the product can be transferred. To move track segment 24 to an inactive position, track segment 24 can be movably positioned relative to cam track 22, in which track segment 24 does not engage cam follower 18. Figure 1 As shown, track segment 24 may be provided with an additional cam follower that runs in an additional cam track 26. This additional cam track 26 may be part of an additional disk, which may be stationary. This means that in use, as disk 28 rotates and thus track segment 24 also rotates, track segment 24 can be moved between an inactive position and an active position due to the additional cam follower running through the additional cam track 26, and such that when track segment 24 is in the indicated portion of the aforementioned cam track 22 (in... Figure 2 In the case where the track segment 24 is upstream or downstream of the display portion (i.e., the portion referred to by the digit 22), the track segment 24 can be moved to an inactive position, in which the segment 24 is outside the range of the cam follower 18, to the extent that the cam follower 18 will not be engaged to transfer the product after passing through the segment 24. The predetermined track segment 24 can be moved to an active position while passing through the display portion of the cam track 22, in which, for product transfer, the track segment 24 forms a protrusion of the cam track 22 to engage the cam follower 18.

[0059] The transfer device 14 has two such predetermined track sections 24, 24', as follows: Figure 7As shown, the two track segments 24 and 24' are 180 degrees apart. In the right-hand segment 24 (in... Figure 7 In the view, when the left segment 24' has just left the indicated track section 22, it is already close to the track section. Moments later, track segment 24' is located... Figure 8A At the location shown, which is the same as the "first position" mentioned above, the track segment 24' is prepared to transfer the first product 8 of the ten consecutive products to be transferred from carrier A_11 to carrier B_12. See also Figure 8B .like Figure 8B As shown, carrier B_11 is left empty. Or, in other words, a gap has been created in the second transport line 4. Now, due to the interaction between the track section 24' and the cam follower 18, after transferring product 8 from carrier A_11 to carrier B_12, nine consecutive products will be transferred from the corresponding first product carrier to the corresponding second product carrier in the manner described above. In this way, two consecutive groups of products, each consisting of ten products, have been transferred from the first transport line to the second transport line. Afterward, a second product carrier B will again be left empty, just as in the case of second product carrier B_11 as described above, and now, using track section 24 again, the third iteration of the transfer of ten products will begin.

[0060] By studying the accompanying drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims, those skilled in the art will be able to understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments in practicing the claimed invention. The foregoing description provides embodiments of the invention by way of example only. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. One or more objects of the invention are achieved by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system for processing poultry slaughter products, the system comprising: - A first transport line, which operates at a first speed during use, and includes consecutive first product carriers, the consecutive first product carriers being spaced apart along the first transport line by a first distance and each configured to carry a corresponding one of the products. - A second transport line, which operates at a second speed during use, and includes consecutive second product carriers spaced apart along the second transport line by a second distance and each configured to carry a corresponding one of the products. - A product transfer device, said product transfer device being used to successively transfer products from a corresponding first product carrier to a corresponding second product carrier. in, The product transfer device is configured such that it transfers a predetermined plurality of products sequentially each time, wherein, along the first transport line, the transfer position of the subsequent product among the predetermined plurality of products is either upstream or downstream of the transfer position of the preceding product among the predetermined plurality of products each time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the second speed is higher than the first speed during use, wherein, The product transfer device is configured such that the transfer position of a subsequent product among the plurality of products along the first transport line and the second transport line is always upstream of the transfer position of a previous product among the plurality of products along the first transport line and the second transport line.

3. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The second distance is greater than the first distance.

4. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Each transfer in the successive transfers of the predetermined plurality of products has an equal number of the predetermined plurality of products.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein, The transfer location of products in subsequent pre-ordered products is the same as the transfer location of products with the same serial number in previously pre-ordered products.

6. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, At least at the product transfer device, both the first transport line and the second transport line follow a curved path defined by a rotary conveyor.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein, The second transport line is located outside the first transport line.

8. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The product transfer device includes a cam follower coupled to a transfer element for engaging a product to transfer the product from a first product carrier to a second product carrier. The system has a cam track through which the cam follower operates in use, wherein the cam track is configured to move the cam follower at a corresponding transfer position to initiate the transfer of the product from the first product carrier to the second product carrier at that transfer position.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein, The cam track has a predetermined track section that moves the cam follower to initiate the transfer. The system has a drive module configured to move the predetermined track section upstream or downstream along the first transport line during each successive transfer of the predetermined plurality of products in use.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein, Each of the first product carriers is provided with a cam follower and the cam follower is connected to each of the first product carriers, and wherein each of the first product carriers is also provided with a transfer element and the transfer element is connected to each of the first product carriers.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein, The transfer element is configured to engage the product by a pushing action.

12. A method for processing poultry slaughter products, the method using the system according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising: Products are transported using a first transport line, the first transport line operating at a first speed, and the first transport line comprising consecutive first product carriers spaced apart along the first transport line by a first distance, wherein each product is carried by a corresponding first product carrier. Products are successively transferred from corresponding first product carriers to corresponding second product carriers on a second transport line via a product transfer device. The second transport line operates at a second speed, and the second product carriers are spaced apart along the second transport line at a second distance. In the transfer step, multiple predetermined products are transferred consecutively each time. Along the first transport line, the transfer position of the subsequent product among the multiple predetermined products is either upstream or downstream of the transfer position of the previous product among the multiple predetermined products each time.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, The second speed is higher than the first speed, wherein the transfer position of the subsequent product among the plurality of products along the first transport line and the second transport line is always upstream than the transfer position of the previous product among the plurality of products along the first transport line and the second transport line.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein, Each transfer in the successive transfers of the predetermined plurality of products has an equal number of the predetermined plurality of products.

15. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein, During the transfer step, in each successive transfer of the predetermined plurality of products, the predetermined track section is moved upstream or downstream along the first transport line.

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