Apparatus and method for slitting a slaughtered poultry body that is hung by a plurality of legs and that has been cut off in the region of the cloaca to form an anal opening

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) configured and adapted to incise a slaughtered poultry body (14) suspended through a plurality of legs (11) and which has already been incised in the region of the cloaca (12) to form an anal opening (13), the device comprising a support device (15) for holding and positioning the poultry body (14) during the incision, a tensioning device (16) having a tensioning mechanism (17) for tensioning the abdominal skin (18) of the poultry body (14), and a separating device (19) having at least one separating knife (20) configured and adapted to make a longitudinal cut (L S , G S ) in the tensioned abdominal skin (18) of the poultry body (14) between the anal opening (13) and the tip (21) of the breastbone (22) of the poultry body (14), said device being distinguished in that the tensioning device (17) is in the form of a knife holder (23) on which the separating knife (20) is pivotably mounted to form a unit (24) with the knife holder (23), wherein the separating knife (20) is configured and adapted to be movable relative to the knife holder (23) from a rest position in which the separating knife (23) is arranged within the knife holder (23) in a completely covered manner to a cutting position in which the separating knife (20) at least partially protrudes from the knife holder (23). The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus configured and adapted to incise a slaughtered poultry body which is hung by means of a plurality of legs and which has been cut in the region of the cloaca to form an anal opening, the apparatus comprising a support apparatus for holding and positioning the poultry body during the incision, a tensioning device having a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the abdominal skin of the poultry body, and a separating device having at least one separating knife configured and adapted to make a longitudinal cut in the tensioned abdominal skin of the poultry body between the anal opening and the tip of the breastbone of the poultry body.

[0002] The invention also relates to a method for incising a slaughtered poultry body which is hung by means of a plurality of legs and which has been cut in the region of the cloaca to form an anal opening, the method comprising the steps of holding and positioning the poultry body which has been supplied to an apparatus for incising the poultry body by means of a support apparatus, tensioning the abdominal skin of the poultry body by increasing the distance between the abdominal skin of the poultry body and the internal organs located within the abdominal cavity of the poultry body by means of a tensioning mechanism of a tensioning device, and making a longitudinal cut in the tensioned abdominal skin of the poultry body between the anal opening and the tip of the breastbone of the poultry body by means of a separating knife of a separating device. BACKGROUND

[0003] Such an apparatus and method are used in the poultry industry for preparing slaughtered poultry, in particular slaughtered chickens, for the removal of the internal organs. To this end, the slaughtered poultry bodies are transported by means of a conveying mechanism hung by the legs in a shackle. In the preparation of the automatic removal of the internal organs, that is to say, in particular, in order to create sufficient space for the insertion of a corresponding tool for the automatic removal of the internal organs, the cloaca of the poultry animal must first be removed. In other words, the cloaca is detached (by so-called "anal opening incision") from the abdominal wall. To this end, the cloaca is cut away, such that the connection of the intestine to the cloaca is cut away from the abdominal wall of the cloaca, such that the free end of the intestine, together with the cloaca, hangs from the poultry body, and the poultry body is then opened, while the other end of the intestine remains attached to the internal organs package. By cutting away the cloaca, an anal opening is formed which allows access to the abdominal cavity. However, this anal opening is not yet large enough to be able to insert a tool for the automatic removal of the internal organs into the abdominal cavity, so the anal opening must be made larger.

[0004] The device according to the preamble serves that purpose. In the case of devices known from the prior art, such as from EP 1413204 A1, the poultry body to be processed is held in the correct position by a support device, the legs of the poultry body to be processed are suspended in shackle as described before. For this purpose, the poultry body is oriented and fixed with its back towards the device, its head downwards and its tail upwards. As a result of the weight of the suspended poultry body, the abdominal skin is loaded in the vertical direction by the internal organs located thereunder, as a result of which the abdominal skin is close to the internal organs. The tensioning device is configured for insertion into the anal opening. By means of the tensioning device, the abdominal skin can be tensioned from the inside, for example by lifting upwards, in order to create a certain distance to the internal organs. The cut is then made by means of a knife which penetrates through the abdominal skin from the outside and from above into the abdominal cavity, in order to make a longitudinal cut between the anal opening and the tip of the breastbone. This involves the risk that, especially due to the insufficient distance of the abdominal skin from the internal organs and / or the different sizes of the poultry bodies to be processed, the internal organs or parts thereof located under the abdominal skin in the abdominal cavity will be damaged by the separating knife which penetrates the abdominal cavity from the outside. In other words, the cutting direction of the separating knife in the direction towards the internal organs endangers the integrity of the internal organs. Incisions or cuts into the internal organs are a major cause of contamination of the poultry body, which often leads to the entire poultry body having to be rejected from processing. SUMMARY

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose a device for opening the abdominal skin in order to enlarge the anal opening, which ensures an improved longitudinal cut of the abdominal skin in a manner which protects the internal organs, regardless of the size of the poultry body. It is a further object of the present invention to propose a corresponding method.

[0006] This object is achieved by a device having the features mentioned at the outset, wherein the tensioning mechanism is in the form of a holder, in which the separating knife is pivotably mounted to form a unit with the holder, wherein the separating knife is constructed and adapted to be movable relative to the holder from a rest position, in which the separating knife is arranged in a completely covered manner within the holder, to a cutting position and back, in which the separating knife at least partially protrudes from the holder. Due to the combination of the separating knife with the holder as tensioning mechanism and the possibility of completely covering the separating knife within the holder, the unit can be safely inserted into the abdominal cavity, the abdominal skin can be safely tensioned and the tensioned abdominal skin can then be cut from the inside, that is to say, in a cutting direction away from the internal organs. "Safely" describes the fact that due to the arrangement within the holder the sharp edge of the separating knife is covered, so that damage to the internal organs is safely and reliably ruled out when inserting and when tensioning. "Completely" describes the fact that at least all areas / edges etc. of the separating knife which are constructed and adapted to separate / cut are covered by the holder. When the separating knife is in the rest position, the holder preferably covers all areas of the separating knife. Since the abdominal skin is cut from the inside out, the poultry bodies can be cut open regardless of their size without the internal organs being at risk of damage. Thus, a device is provided which ensures safe and simple opening of the abdomen of poultry bodies regardless of their size.

[0007] A preferred further improvement of the device is characterized in that the unit constructed and adapted to tension and cut the abdominal skin is constructed and adapted to be inserted into the abdominal cavity through the anal opening and that the separating knife is in the rest position when the unit is inserted into the abdominal cavity and the abdominal skin is tensioned by means of the holder and that the separating knife can be moved into the cutting position when the final tensioning position of the holder is reached. Thus, the insertion of the unit and the tensioning by means of the unit can be performed without danger and quickly, since the separating knife does not come into play, that is to say, is completely covered, during these steps. The final tensioning position can vary. For example, this position can be reached when the holder reaches the tip of the breastbone starting from the anal opening and is lifted upwards in order to maximize the distance of the abdominal skin from the internal organs. As soon as this end position is reached, the separating knife can be moved out of the holder, whereby the separating knife pierces the abdominal skin and cuts the connection between the anal opening and the tip of the breastbone.

[0008] The unit and in particular the separating knife is particularly preferably constructed and adapted to make a longitudinal cut from the inside of the abdominal skin starting from the tip of the breastbone to the anal opening. This cutting guidance from the inside and starting from the tip of the breastbone in the direction towards the anal opening, which is predetermined by the design, ensures that poultry bodies of different sizes are cut precisely to the desired number and in a manner which protects the product.

[0009] The knife holder is advantageously essentially L-shaped with a longer leg and a shorter leg, wherein at least in the shorter leg a slot is formed in which the separating knife is arranged. The essentially L-shaped form of the knife holder allows on the one hand a complete concealment of the separating knife in the knife holder in a simple manner, in order on the one hand to insert the knife holder with the separating knife into the abdominal cavity and to tension the abdominal skin and on the other hand to release the separating knife to incise the abdominal skin. The longer leg is essentially vertically oriented in a starting position of the knife holder, in which the device is waiting for a poultry body to be processed. In the starting position, the shorter leg extends essentially horizontally with respect to the longer leg.

[0010] The two legs are particularly preferably oriented with respect to each other at an angle β of between 5° and 45° to the vertical. In the starting position, the knife holder is arranged above the poultry body to be processed, between the legs. For the processing, the knife holder is first lowered. Due to the angular form of the knife holder, the knife holder enters the anal opening with the shorter leg or its free end at an angle of 5° to 45° to the vertical, which ensures a safe and reliable insertion of the knife holder within the abdominal cavity, i.e. in particular from the anal opening in the direction of the pointed end of the sternum, and a safe and reliable movement.

[0011] In an advantageous further development of the device, the slot extends from the free end of the short leg into the region of the long leg in a longitudinal direction, wherein the separating knife is rotatably mounted within the slot in the region of the long leg. Thus, an improved leverage of the separating knife can be achieved in order to allow a safe incision of the abdominal skin to separate the connection between the pointed end of the sternum and the anal opening when the separating knife is moved from the standby position to the cutting position.

[0012] The preferred embodiment of the device is characterized in that the longer leg of the knife holder is arranged on the opposite end of the adjustment arm to the shorter leg, the adjustment arm being mounted on the sliding sleeve. By this construction, a simple up and down movement of the knife holder in the vertical direction can be achieved. The knife holder can also optionally be arranged directly on the sliding sleeve via the longer leg.

[0013] The separating knife is advantageously configured to be moved from a standby position, in which the separating knife lies completely within the slot, to a cutting position, in which the separating knife lies at least with the free pointed end of the free end of the separating knife outside the slot, with respect to the knife holder by means of a control roller guided within a control cam. By means of the control roller, which is in operative connection with the control cam, a simple, robust and safe control of the separating knife is ensured. Instead of the control roller, any other control body can also be used. The separating knife can also optionally be actuated by means of a pneumatic drive / air cylinder, etc.

[0014] In a particularly preferred further development of the device, the longer leg is arranged on the adjustment arm in such a way that it is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. For example, the hollow leg can be mounted rotatably on a spindle and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis by means of a suitable actuating member. Thus, an additional degree of freedom of the holder is created, by means of which, inter alia, the scraping for detaching the connection between the abdominal skin and the fat layer and / or between the fat layer and the internal organs is ensured and improved. For example, a gear / rack structure can be used as an actuating member for rotating the holder about the longitudinal axis. Alternatively, a control roller with a corresponding control cam can also be provided. A pneumatic drive / air cylinder, a servo motor, a stepper motor, etc. can also be used for the control. The adjustment arm can also be mounted on the sliding sleeve, alternatively by means of a ball joint, etc., in order to ensure the degree of freedom of the holder within the abdominal cavity, on the one hand, to move in the direction of the tip of the sternum starting from the anal opening and back and / or, on the other hand, laterally within the abdominal cavity, i.e. transversely to the imaginary connecting line between the anal opening and the tip of the sternum.

[0015] In order to effectively support, on the one hand, the atraumatic sliding of the holder within the abdominal cavity and, in conjunction with the scraping process described above, a preferred further development of the device is characterized in that the holder is flat on the upper side on the inner side facing the abdominal skin at least in the region of the shorter leg. The holder is advantageously semicircular in cross section on the lower side facing away from the upper side. By means of this form of the holder, in particular in the region of the shorter leg provided for use within the abdominal cavity, it is possible to particularly reliably and in a product-protecting manner to ensure the atraumatic detachment and / or scraping of the connection between the fat layer and the abdominal skin and / or between the fat layer and the internal organs and / or between the fat layer and the organs as part of the internal organs.

[0016] The holder is advantageously configured and adapted to be moved vertically up and down by means of a first control roller guided within a control cam in order to enter the anal opening and to emerge from the abdominal cavity again and to be moved horizontally within the abdominal cavity between the tensed abdominal skin and the internal organs starting from the anal opening in the direction of the tip of the sternum and back by means of a second control roller guided within a control cam. The first control roller is preferably arranged on the sliding sleeve. The second control roller is preferably arranged on the adjustment arm. Instead of control rollers, any other control bodies can also be used. The holder can also be actuated, alternatively, by means of a pneumatic drive / air cylinder, etc.

[0017] A preferred embodiment of the device is characterized in that the tool holder comprising the probe at the free end of the shorter leg can be controlled vertically so that the probe can be positioned above or below the fat layer located between the abdominal skin and the internal organs. The probe, which is preferably hemispherical on the underside and flat on the upper side, is configured and adapted to, on the one hand, scrape along the inner side of the abdominal skin and to displace the fat layer and / or the internal organs and, on the other hand, to position the tip of the breastbone so that a straight cut starting from the tip of the breastbone in the direction towards the anal opening to the end of the separation knife on the side opposite the tip of the separation knife can be made precisely. Instead of a straight cut, a curved cut is also possible. For this purpose, the tool holder and the separation knife have a curved sickle shape, wherein the slot in the tool holder also has a corresponding curvature so that the curved separation knife can be held. A curved slot can also be formed on the tool holder, which is formed linearly and oriented.

[0018] The support device is configured and adapted to hold and position the poultry body and can have different forms. The support device can be in single-part or multi-part form. The support device can form one support point or multiple support points on the poultry body. A particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that the support device comprises a support ring, which is vertically at least vertically movable up and down and can be slid over the tail region of the poultry body located between the plurality of legs, and two support hooks, which are vertically at least vertically movable up and down and rest from below in the region of the hips. The support ring is configured and adapted to surround the poultry body in a loop-like manner in the abdominal region and to abut against the poultry body and comprises two lateral support arms, which are connected via a connection bar shaped like an arrow. The support ring is used, on the one hand, to hold and fix the poultry body in the desired cutting position and, on the other hand, to cooperate with the support plate described below in order to push the tail of the poultry body into its original position in which a free access to the anal opening is present. The support hooks are configured and adapted to abut against the thighs of the poultry body in the hip region of the poultry body and can be controlled individually or preferably jointly, in particular separately from the support ring. The support ring is movable from an upper position down into a support position and back. The or each support hook is movable from the bottom up into a support position and back.

[0019] Preferably, the support ring on the one hand and the or each support hook on the other hand are each configured and adapted to be movable by means of a control roller guided within a control cam. The support ring is preferably arranged on a sliding sleeve. The control roller is in turn arranged on the sliding sleeve. The support hooks arranged on a common sliding sleeve have a corresponding configuration, on which the respective control roller is arranged. Instead of a control roller, any other control body can also be used. The support ring and the support hooks can also optionally be actuated by means of a pneumatic drive / pneumatic cylinder, etc.

[0020] Particularly advantageous is an apparatus which is characterized in that a support plate which is constructed and adapted to be movable from a stand-by position into a support position and back is arranged in the area of the support apparatus. The support plate is constructed and adapted to cooperate in particular with the support ring described above in order to push the poultry body outwards in horizontal direction - that is to say away from the apparatus. Since the support ring rests against the poultry body in the upper area of the abdomen of the poultry body and holds the poultry body, the support ring forces the tail into a likewise outwards pointing position which corresponds to the original position of the tail, so that the access to the anal opening from above is free.

[0021] Advantageously, the support plate is arranged in the area of the support hook and is movable by means of a control roller which is guided in a control cam from a stand-by position into a support position in the direction of the poultry body to be processed and back. Associated with the support plate is an adjustment arm, at the free end of which the control roller is arranged. Instead of the control roller, any other control body can also be used. The support plate can also optionally be actuated by means of a pneumatic drive / air cylinder or the like.

[0022] One advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the support apparatus and the unit formed by the tensioning device and the separating device are arranged on a substantially vertically oriented slide bar. Particularly preferably, two slide bars are provided, at or on which a sliding sleeve is movably arranged.

[0023] The support apparatus and the unit formed by the tensioning device and the separating device can be constructed and adapted as a single apparatus, for example permanently installed along the conveying path of the poultry body. Particularly preferred is an apparatus which is characterized in that at least one support apparatus and at least one unit formed by a tensioning device and a separating device are arranged by means of a respective slide bar on a carousel conveyor which can be driven in rotation about a substantially vertically oriented axis of rotation, wherein a stationary control cam for the control roller is arranged between two carousel plates which are arranged spaced apart from one another, and the or each slide bar is fastened to these two carousel plates. The carousel plates are driven in rotation. The slide bar is fixed but detachably arranged on the carousel plates. Due to the movement of the carousel plates with the support apparatus and the unit arranged thereon, the control roller runs in the (stationary) control cam and thereby controls the knife holder, the separating knife, the support ring, the support hook and the support plate. It is even more advantageous if a plurality of support apparatuses together with the respective units are arranged on the outer circumference of the carousel conveyor, or more specifically on the carousel plates.

[0024] A preferred further improvement feature is that the entire assembly consisting of the carousel conveyor and each support apparatus and each unit formed by a tensioning device and a separating device is constructed and adapted to be vertically movable up and down. Thus, the entire apparatus can be quickly and easily adapted to poultry bodies of different sizes.

[0025] The object is also achieved by a method having the steps mentioned at the outset, characterized in that the separating knife together with the knife holder as a tensioning mechanism is inserted as a unit through the existing anal opening into the abdominal cavity, wherein during the insertion movement of the unit into the abdominal cavity the separating knife is in a ready position in the knife holder, in which ready position the separating knife is completely covered by the knife holder, the unit with the completely covered separating knife is moved upward in order to increase the distance of the abdominal skin from the internal organs, then a longitudinal cut is made from the inside of the tensioned abdominal skin in order to open the poultry body between the anal opening and the tip of the breastbone, wherein the separating knife is moved from the ready position into a cutting position, in which cutting position the separating knife at least partially protrudes from the knife holder.

[0026] Advantageously, the unit is first lowered substantially vertically downward through the anal opening into the abdominal cavity, so that the unit is located below the abdominal skin and above the internal organs, wherein the unit is then moved substantially horizontally from the anal opening in a direction toward the tip of the breastbone until the free end of the unit has reached the tip of the breastbone. In other words, the unit enters the abdominal cavity through the anal opening from above with at least its free end, and then moves within the abdominal cavity below the abdominal skin in a direction toward the tip of the breastbone. The free end of the unit preferably strikes the tip of the breastbone.

[0027] Preferably, upon reaching the tip of the breastbone, the separating knife is moved from the ready position into the cutting position, whereby the separating knife pierces the abdominal skin in the region of the tip of the breastbone and cuts the abdominal skin starting from the tip of the breastbone in a direction toward the anal opening. To this end, the separating knife is pivoted about a support point in the knife holder. Thus, a straight longitudinal cut is made through the abdominal skin. Alternatively, however, a curved cut can also be made, for example in order to prevent abdominal fat located between the abdominal skin and the internal organs, in particular also in the region of the stomach, from being cut.

[0028] The unit or its free end can be inserted vertically into the anal opening. The unit preferably enters the anal opening with its free end at an angle β of between 5° and 45° with respect to the vertical.

[0029] It is particularly preferred that the unit is moved upward at the same time as the abdominal skin is being cut. Thereby, the tension of the abdominal skin, which has already been pre-tensioned, can be further increased, which facilitates the cutting. It is particularly advantageous if the tensioning and the cutting are carried out in superimposed movements. However, it is also possible that the abdominal skin is tensioned and then cut, and only when the abdominal skin has been completely cut between the tip of the breastbone and the anal opening, the unit is moved upward again outside the abdominal cavity.

[0030] In a particularly preferred method, the unit is additionally moved back and forth inside the abdominal cavity laterally, i.e. transversely to the imaginary connecting line between the anal opening and the tip of the sternum. This means that the unit is lowered at least with its free end through the anal opening into the abdominal cavity, preferably between the abdominal skin and the fat layer or between the fat layer and the internal organs, then moved in the direction towards the tip of the sternum and even before reaching the tip performs a lateral movement to the left and / or to the right in order to separate the fat layer from the tissue connection of the abdominal skin and / or the internal organs by means of scraping, thereby reducing the resistance when removing the internal organs from the abdominal cavity. By means of the lateral scraping movement it is thus possible to purposefully and precisely determine and select the fat layer to remain on the abdominal skin area of the poultry body or the internal organs, in particular in the stomach.

[0031] Before the unit is inserted into the anal opening, the poultry body is advantageously pushed away from the device in horizontal direction by means of the support plate and against the support ring of the support device in order to move the tail of the poultry body out of the area of the anal opening. In other words, since the support ring holds the poultry body and by means of the support plate a force in the direction towards the support ring is applied to the poultry body, the position of the anal opening with respect to the free end of the unit is controlled.

[0032] The device as a whole is particularly preferably adjusted in height in order to be able to process poultry bodies of different sizes. This adjustment takes place when the device is set for a changed size of the poultry bodies to be processed. In this case, the adjustment not only adjusts the support means and the unit with the tensioning device and the separating device, but also the carousel conveyor on which the or each support device and the or each unit are arranged. The carousel conveyor also comprises a control cam in which control rollers for controlling the individual components are guided. By the adjustment of the device as a whole described, the control cam is thus also adjusted with respect to the vertical position at the same time.

[0033] The method is particularly preferably carried out by means of the device according to one or more of claims 1 to 20.

[0034] Further advantages resulting from the individual method steps have already been described in connection with the device, and therefore in order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the respective paragraphs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] Further advantageous and / or beneficial features and further improvements in connection with the device and the corresponding method will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description. A particularly preferred embodiment will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0036] Figure 1 is a schematic view in side view of a device according to the application, in which the unit formed by the separating device and the tensioning device is in a starting position with the separating knife arranged in the knife holder,

[0037] Figure 2 A device according to Figure 1 is shown, wherein the separating knife is in the cutting position,

[0038] Figure 3 A device according to Figure 1 is shown in a front view,

[0039] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a unit according to Figure 1 ,

[0040] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a unit according to Figure 2 , and

[0041] Figure 6 is a schematic view of a poultry body to be processed shown in a partial cross-section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The device according to the application shown is used for opening up a slaughtered poultry body which is hung by a plurality of legs and which has already been cut in the region of the cloaca to form an anal opening, and which is positioned and fixed in the region of the device with its back towards the device, its head downwards and its tail upwards.

[0043] The device 10 shown in the drawing is constructed and adapted for opening up a slaughtered poultry body 14 which is hung by a plurality of legs 11 and which has already been cut in the region of the cloaca 12 to form an anal opening 13, and which comprises a support device 15 for holding and positioning the poultry body 14 during the cutting, a tensioning arrangement 16 with a tensioning mechanism 17 for tensioning the abdominal skin 18 of the poultry body 14, and a separating arrangement 19 with at least one separating knife 20 which is constructed and adapted to make a longitudinal cut L in the tensioned abdominal skin 18 of the poultry body 14 between the anal opening 13 and the tip 21 of the breastbone 22 of the poultry body 14. S , G S The poultry body 14 is oriented with its back 23 towards the device 10. During the cutting of the abdominal skin 18, the relative speed between the poultry body 14 to be processed and the device 10 or parts thereof, i.e. in particular the support device 15, the tensioning arrangement 16 and the separating arrangement 19, is preferably zero.

[0044] According to the application, this device 10 is distinguished in that the tensioning mechanism 17 is in the form of a knife holder 23, on which the separating knife 20 is pivotably mounted to form a unit 24 with the knife holder 23, wherein the separating knife 20 is constructed and adapted to be movable relative to the knife holder 23 from a standby position, in which the separating knife 20 is arranged in a completely covering manner within the knife holder 23, to a cutting position, in which the separating knife 20 at least partially projects from the knife holder 23.

[0045] The features described hereinafter and further refinements represent preferred embodiments, either taken alone or in combination with one another. It is expressly pointed out that features combined in the claims and / or the description and / or the drawings or described in a common embodiment can also be further refined functionally independently of the above-mentioned device 10.

[0046] Instead of one separating knife 20, two or more separating knives 20 can also be provided. The relative movement between the separating knife 20 and the knife carrier 23 can also optionally be produced in a different way, for example by means of a linearly movable knife, which can be controlled by means of a pneumatic cylinder or the like. The term "longitudinal cut" describes any cut which essentially extends from the anal opening 13 to the tip of the sternum 22 or vice versa. A straight longitudinal cut L S and a curved longitudinal cut G S In the sense of the present application is an explicit longitudinal cut.

[0047] The unit 24, which is constructed and adapted to tension and cut the abdominal skin 18, is constructed and adapted to be inserted into the abdominal cavity 25 through the anal opening 13. The unit 24 is a multifunctional unit 24 and is therefore constructed and adapted to tension the abdominal skin 18 and to cut it open and also optionally to scrape the interior of the abdominal cavity 25. The separating knife 20 is in a standby position when the unit 24 is inserted into the abdominal cavity 25 and when the abdominal skin 18 is tensioned by means of the knife carrier 23 or the unit 24. To this end, at least all regions of the separating knife 20 which are constructed and / or adapted to cut / separate are hidden, that is to say covered within the knife carrier 23 (see in particular Figure 1 and Figure 4 ). Only when the knife carrier 23 has reached the final tensioning position can the separating knife 20 be moved into the cutting position (see in particular Figure 2 and 5 ). The final tensioning position can vary. Ideally, this position is reached when the unit 24 is seated with the free end 26 in the region of the tip 21 of the sternum 22. In Figure 1 the broken line represents the movement profile B V of the free end 26 of the unit 24. The position of the unit 24 shown in Figure 1 is one example of a final tensioning position. Alternatively, the final tensioning position can also be reached before or after it. In Figure 2 by means of the broken line representing the movement profile B V it can be seen schematically that the separating knife 20 is configured to be movable out of the knife carrier 23 relative to the latter when the final / optimal tensioning position is reached.

[0048] The unit 24 and in particular the separating knife 20 are constructed and adapted to make a longitudinal cut from the interior of the abdominal skin 18 from the tip 21 of the sternum 22 to the anal opening 13. Reference is made toFigure 6 It can be seen schematically that the unit 14 can be inserted at least with the free end 26 into the anal opening 13 and moved under the abdominal skin 18 in the direction of the tip 21 towards the sternum 22. During this movement, the separating knife 20 is protected in a concealed manner within the knife holder 23. For the cutting, the separating knife 20 has a sharp cutting edge 27 on the side facing away from the knife holder 23, which preferably extends over the relatively long portion of the free end 26 of the unit 24. The free end 28 of the separating knife 20 is likewise configured with a sharp edge and / or is sharpened in order to be able to penetrate the abdominal skin 18 from the inside. The cutting edge 27 can also be blunt, for example rounded, while preserving the sharp / sharpened end 28 of the separating knife 20. In the rest position, the cutting edge 27 and the free end 28 of the separating knife 20 are covered within the knife holder 23 or concealed by the knife holder 23.

[0049] The knife holder 23 can have different forms and designs and is preferably essentially L-shaped with a longer leg 29 and a shorter leg 30, wherein at least in the shorter leg 30 a slot 31 is formed in which the separating knife 20 is accommodated. In the preferred exemplary embodiment shown, the slot 31 extends in the longitudinal direction from the free end 26 of the unit 24 or of the shorter leg 30 into the region of the longer leg 30. The separating knife 20 is accommodated in the slot 31, wherein the separating knife 20 has a corresponding or adapted L-shape. The separating knife 20 is mounted in the slot 31 in the region of the longer leg 29 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis D.

[0050] The legs 29, 30 can be connected together in a hinged manner. The legs 29, 30 are preferably rigidly connected together and in one piece. Ultimately, the shorter leg 30 can be oriented at any desired angle with respect to the longer leg 29. An apparent L-shape is likewise possible, such that the angle β to the vertical is 90°. The two legs 29, 30 are preferably oriented with respect to one another at an angle β of between 5° and 45° to the vertical. The longer leg 29 is essentially oriented vertically. The shorter leg 30 extends with respect thereto, in particular preferably at an angle β of 45° to the vertical.

[0051] The knife holder 23 can be arranged directly on a shelf or the like of the device 10 or, preferably, on one or a plurality of slide bars 32 of the device 10. The longer leg 29 of the knife holder 23 is preferably arranged with the end opposite the shorter leg 30 on an adjustment arm 33, which is mounted on a slide sleeve 34. The slide sleeve 34 is configured to be linearly movable along the or each slide bar 32. The adjustment arm 33 and thus also the knife holder 23 are configured to be movable in at least two degrees of freedom, such that the knife holder 23 together with the separating knife 20 mounted thereon is movable (depending on the embodiment) in the direction of the arrow A, i.e. in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the device 10, and in the direction of the arrow B, i.e. in the direction of the transverse axis of the device 10. Figure 1up and down (in the y-direction) and front and back (in the x-direction) in a vertical plane (encompassed by the x- and y-axes). For vertical adjustability, the adjustment arm 33 is arranged on the sliding sleeve 34. The adjustment arm 33 can be fastened to the sliding sleeve 34 by means of, for example, a hinged joint 35, which ensures a pivoting movement about a pivot axis S for horizontal adjustability.

[0052] The knife carrier 23 is vertically movable up and down by means of a first control roller 36 which is guided in a control cam 37 in order to enter the anal opening 13 and to emerge again from the abdominal cavity 25. For this purpose, the control roller 36 is arranged on the sliding sleeve 34. As a result of the contour of the control cam 37 and the guidance of the control roller 36 in the control cam 37, vertical adjustment of the knife carrier 23 (in the y-direction) can be achieved. By means of a second control roller 38 which is guided in a control cam 39, the knife carrier 23 is configured and adapted to be horizontally movable in the abdominal cavity 25 between the tensed abdominal skin 18 and the internal organs 40 from the anal opening 13 in the direction of the tip 21 towards the sternum 22 and back. For this purpose, the control roller 38 is arranged on the adjustment arm 33 at the end opposite the hinged joint 35. As a result of the contour of the control cam 39 and the guidance of the control roller 38 in the control cam 39, horizontal adjustment of the knife carrier 23 (in the plane encompassed by the x- and y-axes in the x-direction) can be achieved.

[0053] In addition to the degrees of freedom of the knife carrier 23 and the separating knife 20, the separating knife 20 is configured to be movable relative to the knife carrier 23 from a standby position to a cutting position and back by means of a control roller 41 which is guided in a control cam 42 (see in particular Figure 2 and Figure 5 ), in which standby position the separating knife 20 lies completely within the slot 31 (see in particular Figure 1 and Figure 4 ), in which cutting position the separating knife 20 lies at least with a free tip 43 of the free end 28 of the separating knife 20 outside the slot. For this purpose, an adjustment arm 44 is provided which is connected to the separating knife 20 on the one hand in the region in which the separating knife 20 is mounted on the knife carrier 23 and has the control roller 41 on the other hand at the end opposite the separating knife 20.

[0054] The connection between the knife carrier 23 and the adjustment arm 33 can be fixed and rigid. Alternatively (and not shown), the knife carrier 23 can also be configured to be movable relative to the adjustment arm 33. For example, the longer leg 29 of the knife carrier 23 can be arranged on the adjustment arm 33 in such a way that it is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The knife carrier 23 with the separating knife 20 is thus adjustable in an additional degree of freedom, so that the knife carrier 23 with the separating knife 20 is movable in a horizontal plane (in particular in the Figure 1 and Figure 6The additional degree of freedom allows the carriage 23 with the separating knife 20 to be moved back and forth laterally inside the abdominal cavity 25, for example in order to oscillate inside the abdominal cavity 25 between the points A, B and C.

[0055] The carriage 23 can have different designs and forms. Preferably and as shown in the figures, the carriage 23 is flat on the upper side facing the inside of the abdominal skin 18 at least in the region of the shorter leg 30. The flat portion, i.e. the flat surface, can extend far into and into the region of the longer leg 29. On the lower side of the carriage 23 facing away from the upper side, the carriage is preferably semicircular in cross section. At the free end of the shorter leg 30, the carriage 23 comprises a probe 45. The probe 45 is semispherical and is adapted to locate the tip 21 of the sternum 22. The height at which the probe 45 is movable inside the abdominal cavity 25 can be changed by means of, for example, the control roller 36, so that the probe 45 can be placed above or below the fat layer located between the abdominal skin 18 and the internal organs 40.

[0056] During the processing of the poultry body 14, the poultry body is placed and held by means of the support device 15. To this end, the support device 15 preferably comprises a support ring 46 which is movable at least vertically up and down and which can be placed from above over the tail region of the poultry body 14 located between the legs 11, and two support hooks 47, 48 which are movable at least vertically up and down and which rest from below in the hip region. The support ring 46 is arranged on a sliding sleeve 49 guided on the or each slide bar 32. On the sliding sleeve 49, a control roller 50 is arranged which is guided in a control cam 51. The support ring 46 is configured to close from the sliding sleeve 49 and to rest in a surrounding manner against the poultry body 14, preferably directly below the tail 52 (see in particular Figure 4 and 5 ). The support hooks 47, 48 are preferably arranged on a common sliding sleeve 53 guided on the or each slide bar 32. On the sliding sleeve 53, a control roller 54 is arranged which is guided in a control cam 55. The support hooks 47, 48 can be arranged directly on the sliding sleeve 53. The support hooks 47, 48 are preferably arranged on a support flange 56. In the support flange 56, an elongated hole 57 is formed in which the support hooks 47, 48 are adjustably arranged and removably fastened.

[0057] In the region of the support device 15, preferably between the support hooks 47, 48, a support plate 58 is arranged which is configured and adapted to be movable from a standby position (shown by the dashed line in Figure 1 and 2 ) to a processing position (shown by the solid line in Figure 1The support plate 58, which is arranged in the region of the support hooks 47, 48, is movable from a rest position into a support position and back by means of a control roller 59 which is guided within a control cam 60 in the direction towards the poultry body 14 to be treated. To this end, an adjustment arm 61 is provided, which is arranged at one end on the support plate 58 and at its opposite end the control roller 59 is arranged. The support plate 58 is mounted in a hinged manner in a region of the support flange 56 which is spaced apart from the sliding sleeve 53, so that the support plate 58 is oriented essentially vertically in its support position and in the rest position it is inclined in the direction towards the device 10 from its support point.

[0058] As already described, the support device 15 and the unit 24 formed by the tensioning device 16 and the separating device 19 are arranged in particular preferably on at least one essentially vertically oriented slide rod 32 by means of their respective sliding sleeves 34, 49, 53. At least one support device 15 and at least one unit 24 formed by the tensioning device 16 and the separating device 19 are arranged by the or each respective slide rod 32 on a carousel conveyor 62 which can be driven to rotate about an essentially vertically oriented axis of rotation, wherein stationary but adjustable and / or exchangeable control cams 37, 39, 42, 51, 55, 60 for the control rollers 36, 38, 41, 50, 54, 59 are arranged between two carousel plates 63, 64 which are arranged spaced apart from one another and to which the or each slide rod 32 is fastened. The relative movability of the individual components with respect to the or each slide rod 32 has already been described. However, the entire assembly consisting of the carousel conveyor 62 comprising the carousel plates 63, 64 and the control cams 37, 39, 42, 51, 55, 60 and each support device 15 and each unit 24 formed by the tensioning device 16 and the separating device 19 can also optionally be constructed and adapted to be vertically movable up and down by means of a (not explicitly shown) drive.

[0059] The method according to the application will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0060] For eviscerating a slaughtered poultry body 14 which is hung through the legs 11 and which has been cut off in the region of the cloaca 12 to form an anus opening 13, the poultry body 14 to be eviscerated is held and positioned by means of a holding device 15 to the eviscerating apparatus 10, in particular such that the poultry body 14 is positioned with its head downwards, its tail 52 upwards and its back 65 facing the eviscerating apparatus 10. The abdominal skin 18 of the poultry body 14 is then tensioned by means of a tensioning mechanism 17 of a tensioning device 16 by increasing the distance between the abdominal skin 18 and the internal organs 40 located in the abdominal cavity 25 of the poultry body 14. Once this distance is sufficient, a longitudinal cut is made in the tensioned abdominal skin 18 of the poultry body 14 between the anus opening 13 and the tip 21 of the breastbone 22 of the poultry body 14 by means of a separating knife 20 of a separating device 19. The holding and positioning is carried out, for example, in that the poultry body 14 entering the region of the apparatus 10 is supported by the holding device 15, in that a holding ring 46 is lowered from above between the mentioned plurality of legs 11 of the poultry body 14 and over the tail region 52, such that the holding ring 46 abuts against the inner sides of the legs 11 on the one hand and surrounds the abdomen of the poultry body 14 on the other hand. Holding hooks 47, 48 are moved from below upwards in the hip region to the two legs 11, such that the poultry body 14 is fixed and positioned in all directions.

[0061] According to the application, this method is distinguished in that the separating knife 20 together with the knife carrier 23 as a tensioning mechanism 17 is inserted as a unit 24 through the existing anus opening 13 into the abdominal cavity 25, wherein during the insertion movement of the unit 24 into the abdominal cavity 25 the separating knife 20 is located in the knife carrier 23 in a standby position in which the separating knife is completely covered by the knife carrier 23. As soon as the unit 24 with its free end 26 is located below the abdominal skin 18, that is to say the unit 24 has entered the abdominal cavity 25 through the anus opening 13, the abdominal skin 18 is tensioned by means of the unit 24, wherein the unit 24 with the completely covered separating knife 20 is moved upwards in order to increase the distance of the abdominal skin 18 from the internal organs 40. When the abdominal skin 18 is sufficiently tensioned, a longitudinal cut is made from the inside in the tensioned abdominal skin 18 in order to eviscerate the poultry body 14 between the anus opening 13 and the tip 21 of the breastbone 22, wherein the separating knife 20 is moved from the standby position into a cutting position in which the separating knife 20 at least partially protrudes from the knife carrier 23. After the cut, the unit 24 is moved back into its starting position, such that it is ready for the next poultry body 14.

[0062] To incise the poultry body 14, the unit 24 is first lowered substantially downwards (in the direction of the y-axis) through the anal opening 13 into the abdominal cavity 25 so that the unit 24 is located below the abdominal skin 18 and above the internal organs 40. The position of the unit 24, in particular the position of the free end 26 of the unit 24, can for example be precisely controlled to a height in which the free end 26 is located below the abdominal skin 18 and above the fat layer separating the abdominal skin 18 from the internal organs 40, or to a height in which the free end 26 of the unit 24 is positioned between the fat layer and the internal organs 40. When the final height of the unit 24 within the abdominal cavity 25 is reached, also optionally shortly before or after this, the unit 24 is then moved substantially horizontally (in the direction of the x-axis) from the anal opening 13 in the direction of the tip 21 of the breastbone 22 until the free end 26 of the unit 24 reaches the tip 21 of the breastbone 22. The flat upper side of the unit 24 thereby slides and scrapes along the inner side of the abdominal skin 18 or the fat layer, while the curved or rounded lower side displaces the fat layer and / or the internal organs 40. Upon reaching the tip 21 of the breastbone 22, also optionally shortly before this, that is to say superimposed with the horizontal movement, the unit 24 can be moved upwards in order to further tension the abdominal skin 18. However, the cut can also be completed before the unit 24 is moved upwards again. The movement profile B V of the free end 26 of the unit 24 is illustrated by the dashed line in Figure 1 and Figure 2 .

[0063] Upon reaching the tip 21 of the breastbone 22, also optionally slightly later, the separating knife 20 is moved from the rest position to the cutting position, whereby the separating knife 20 pierces the abdominal skin 18 in the region of the tip 21 of the breastbone 22 with its tip 43 and then cuts the abdominal skin 18 starting from the tip 21 of the breastbone 22 in the direction of the anal opening 13 with its cutting edge 27. As a result of the pivoting movement of the separating knife 20 about the rotation axis D, the separating knife 20 is gradually moved further out of the knife holder 23 upwards, whereby - optionally in conjunction with the upward movement of the unit 24 as a whole - a longitudinal cut opening directed away from the internal organs 40 from the inside of the abdominal cavity 25 separates the connection of the abdominal skin 18 starting from the tip 21 of the breastbone 22 to the anal opening 13. The support device 15 thereby holds the poultry body 14 in place.

[0064] Although the unit 24 enters the abdominal cavity 25 perpendicularly to the direction of movement, the angular form of the knife holder 23 ensures that the unit 24 enters the anal opening 13 with its free end 26 at an angle β of between 5° and 45° with respect to the vertical. The size of the angle is variable, since the movement linearly up and down along the or each slide 32 (in the X direction) and the pivoting movement about the rotation axis (in the Y direction) are adapted and matched to one another.

[0065] In addition to the movement of the unit 24 in the y direction and in the x direction, a movement in the z direction can also be provided. The unit 24 is preferably additionally moved laterally, that is to say transversely to an imaginary connecting line between the anal opening 13 and the tip 21 of the breastbone 22, back and forth within the abdominal cavity 25. The lateral movement in the plane encompassed by the x axis and the y axis serves to scrape (clear away) the connection between the abdominal skin and the fat layer and / or between the fat layer and the internal organs 40. In other words, the unit 24 is configured and adapted to leave the fat layer on the poultry body 14 in the region of the abdominal skin 18 or on the internal organs 40 and in particular on the stomach, depending on the position of the unit 24 within the abdominal cavity 25. Possible lateral movements of the free end 26 of the unit 24 can be seen in particular in Figure 6 . The unit 24 can for example first be moved linearly in the x direction from the anal opening 13 to the point A in order to then be pivoted to the right to the point C. From the point C, the free end 26 can then be moved to the tip 21. Starting from the point A, the free end 26 can also be pivoted to the left to the point B in order to be moved from the point B to the tip 21. Further movements of the free end 26 within the abdominal cavity 25 can of course be effected by at least three degrees of freedom.

[0066] A preferred further development provides that, before the unit 24 is inserted into the anal opening 13, the poultry body 14 is pushed away from the device 10 in the horizontal direction by means of the support plate 58 and against the support ring 46 of the support device 15 in order to move the tail 52 of the poultry body 14 out of the region of the anal opening 13. To this end, the support plate 58 is pushed against the back 65 of the poultry body 14 below the tail 52, as a result of which the tail 52 is pushed into its natural starting position, so that the anal opening 13 is freely accessible.

[0067] One possibility for the longitudinal cut between the tip 21 of the breastbone 22 and the anal opening 13 consists in making a linear cut, that is to say along a cut line L Figure 6 according to S . Another possibility consists in making a curved cut line G Figure 6 according to S . The curved cut line G S can be achieved by a (lateral) movement of the unit 24 with the separating knife 20 also in the z direction. It is also possible to use a curved sickle-shaped separating knife 20 with which the cut line G S is produced. The curved cut is in particular used for cutting around the region of the stomach, in which the majority of the fat layer is located, so that the fat layer remains on the stomach when cutting, thereby facilitating the removal of the internal organ package.

[0068] The apparatus 10 is in principle arranged for processing poultry bodies 14 of one size or one size range. However, the apparatus 10 as a whole can be adjusted in height in order to be able to process poultry bodies 14 of different sizes or different size ranges. The method is very particularly preferably carried out by means of an apparatus 10 according to one or more of claims 1 to 20.

Claims

1. A device (10) configured and adapted to cut open a slaughtered poultry carcass (14) suspended by multiple legs (11) and cut in the region of the cloaca (12) to form an anal opening (13), said device comprising: A support device (15) for holding and positioning the poultry carcass (14) during cutting; a tensioning device (16) having a tensioning mechanism (17) for tensioning the abdominal skin (18) of the poultry carcass (14); and a separation device (19) having at least one separation blade (20) configured and adapted to make a longitudinal cut (L) in the tensioned abdominal skin (18) of the poultry carcass (14) between the anal opening (13) and the tip (21) of the sternum (22) of the poultry carcass (14). S G S The device is characterized in that the tensioning mechanism (17) is in the form of a knife holder (23), the separating knife (20) being pivotally mounted on the knife holder to form a unit (24) with the knife holder (23), wherein the separating knife (20) is constructed and adapted to be movable relative to the knife holder (23) from a standby position to a cutting position and back, in the standby position the separating knife (20) is arranged in the knife holder (23) in a manner that it is completely covered, and in the cutting position the separating knife (20) protrudes at least partially from the knife holder (23), the knife holder (23) being L-shaped with a longer leg (29) and a shorter leg (30), wherein at least in the shorter leg (30) a slot (31) is formed in which the separating knife (20) is disposed.

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The unit (24), which is constructed and adapted to tension and cut the abdominal skin (18), is constructed and adapted to be inserted into the abdominal cavity (25) through the anal opening (13), and the separating knife (20) is in the standby position when the unit (24) is inserted into the abdominal cavity (25) and when the abdominal skin (18) is tensioned by means of the knife holder (23), and the separating knife (20) is able to move to the cutting position when the final tension position of the knife holder (23) is reached.

3. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The unit (24) is constructed and adapted to make the longitudinal cut from the inside of the abdominal skin (18) starting from the tip (21) of the sternum (22) to the anal opening (13).

4. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two legs are oriented relative to each other at an angle β between 5° and 45° with respect to the vertical direction.

5. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that, The slot (31) extends longitudinally from the free end (26) of the shorter leg (30) into the region of the longer leg (29), wherein the separating blade (20) is rotatably mounted in the slot (31) in the region of the longer leg (29).

6. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The longer leg (29) of the tool holder (23) is arranged on an adjusting arm (33) opposite to the shorter leg (30), the adjusting arm (33) being mounted on a sliding sleeve (34).

7. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The separating blade (20) is configured to move from the standby position to the cutting position and back relative to the blade holder (23) by means of a control roller guided within a control cam, in the standby position the separating blade (20) is completely within the slot (31), and in the cutting position the separating blade (20) is at least outside the slot (31) with the free tip (43) of the free end (28) of the separating blade.

8. The device (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The longer leg (29) is arranged on the adjusting arm (33) in such a way that it can rotate about its longitudinal axis.

9. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The knife holder (23) is flat on the upper side, inside the abdominal skin (18), at least in the region of the shorter leg (30).

10. The device (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The tool holder (23) is semi-circular in cross-section on the lower side facing away from the upper side.

11. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The knife holder (23) is constructed and adapted to be able to move vertically up and down by means of a first control roller guided within a control cam, so as to enter the anal opening (13) and re-emerge from the abdominal cavity (25), and to be able to move horizontally within the abdominal cavity (25) from the anal opening (13) towards the tip (21) of the sternum (22) and back by means of a second control roller guided within a control cam, between the taut abdominal skin (18) and the internal organs (40).

12. The device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The knife holder (23), which includes a probe (45) at the free end (26) of the shorter leg (30), can be vertically controlled so that the probe (45) can be positioned above or below the fat layer between the abdominal skin (18) and the internal organs (40).

13. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support device (15) includes a support ring (46) and two support hooks (47, 48), the support ring being movable at least vertically up and down and being positioned over the poultry body (14) in the tail region between the multiple legs (11), and the two support hooks being movable at least vertically up and down and resting under the rump region.

14. The device (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that, On the one hand, the support ring (46) and on the other hand, the two support hooks (47, 48) are each constructed and adapted to be movable by means of a control roller guided within a control cam.

15. The device (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that, A support plate (58) is arranged in the area of ​​the support device (15), the support plate being constructed and adapted to be movable from a standby position to a support position and back.

16. The device (10) according to claim 15, characterized in that, The support plate (58) is arranged in the area of ​​the two support hooks (47, 48) and is movable from the standby position toward the support position and back by means of a control roller guided in the control cam.

17. The device (10) according to claim 16, characterized in that, The support device (15) and the unit (24) formed by the tensioning device (16) and the separation device (19) are arranged on a substantially vertically oriented slide bar (32).

18. The device (10) according to claim 17, characterized in that, At least one support device (15) and at least one unit (24) formed by a tensioning device (16) and a separating device (19) are arranged on a turntable conveyor (62) via corresponding slide bars (32), the turntable conveyor (62) being rotatably driven about a substantially vertically oriented axis of rotation, wherein a fixed control cam for controlling the rollers is arranged between two turntable plates (63, 64) spaced apart from each other and each slide bar (32) is fastened to the two turntable plates.

19. The device (10) according to claim 18, characterized in that, The entire assembly, consisting of the turntable conveyor (62), each support device (15), and each unit (24) formed by the tensioning device (16) and the separation device (19), is constructed and adapted to be vertically movable.

20. A method for cutting open a slaughtered poultry carcass (14) that is suspended by multiple legs (11) and has been cut in the region of the cloaca (12) to form an anal opening (13), the method comprising the steps of: -The poultry carcass (14) is held and positioned by means of a support device (15), the poultry carcass having been supplied to a device (10) for cutting the poultry carcass (14). -The tensioning mechanism (17) of the tensioning device (16) tensions the abdominal skin (18) by increasing the distance between the abdominal skin (18) of the poultry body (14) and the viscera (40) located in the abdominal cavity (25) of the poultry body (14), and -The separating blade (20) of the separating device (19) makes a longitudinal cut in the taut abdominal skin (18) of the poultry body (14) between the anal opening (13) and the tip (21) of the sternum (22) of the poultry body (14). Its features The separating blade (20), together with the blade holder (23) which serves as the tensioning mechanism (17), is inserted into the abdominal cavity (25) through the existing anal opening (13) as a unit (24). During the insertion movement of the unit (24) into the abdominal cavity (25), the separating blade (20) is located within the blade holder (23) in a standby position, in which the separating blade is completely covered by the blade holder (23). -The abdominal skin (18) is stretched by means of the unit (24), wherein the unit (24), having a fully covered dissecting blade (20), moves upward to increase the distance between the abdominal skin (18) and the internal organs (40), and -Then the longitudinal cut is made from inside the taut abdominal skin (18) to cut the poultry carcass (14) between the anal opening (13) and the tip (21) of the sternum (22), wherein the separating knife (20) is moved from the standby position to the cutting position, in which the separating knife (20) protrudes at least partially from the knife holder (23), the knife holder (23) being L-shaped with a longer leg (29) and a shorter leg (30), wherein a slot (31) is formed at least in the shorter leg (30), in which the separating knife (20) is positioned.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The unit (24) is first lowered substantially vertically downward through the anal opening (13) into the abdominal cavity (25), such that the unit (24) is located below the abdominal skin (18) and above the internal organs (40), wherein the unit (24) is then moved substantially horizontally from the anal opening (13) toward the tip (21) of the sternum (22) until the free end (26) of the unit (24) has reached the tip (21) of the sternum (22).

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that, Upon reaching the tip (21) of the sternum (22), the separating blade (20) moves from the standby position to the cutting position, whereby the separating blade (20) pierces the abdominal skin (18) in the region of the tip (21) of the sternum (22) and cuts the abdominal skin (18) from the tip (21) of the sternum (22) toward the anal opening (13).

23. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that, The unit (24) enters the anal opening (13) at an angle β between 5° and 45° relative to the vertical direction with its free end (26).

24. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 22, characterized in that, While the abdominal skin (18) is being cut, the unit (24) moves upward.

25. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 22, characterized in that, The unit (24) also moves back and forth laterally within the abdominal cavity (25), that is, transversely to the imaginary connecting line between the anal opening (13) and the tip (21) of the sternum (22).

26. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 22, characterized in that, The unit (24) is lowered at its free end (26) between the abdominal skin (18) and the fat layer or between the fat layer and the internal organs (40).

27. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 22, characterized in that, Before the unit (24) is inserted into the anal opening (13), the poultry body (14) is pushed horizontally away from the device (10) and against the support ring (46) of the support device (15) by means of the support plate (58) so as to remove the tail (52) of the poultry body (14) from the area of ​​the anal opening (13).

28. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 22, characterized in that, The device (10) is adjustable in height as a whole so as to be able to process poultry carcasses (14) of different sizes.

29. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The method is performed by means of the device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

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