Poultry conveying line

Abstract

A poultry conveyor line comprises: an annular path (7) having at least one curved section (7 ') and at least one straight section (7' '); a carrier (8) for suspending poultry; and a drive system for driving the carriers (8) along an annular path, in which, during operation, a first distance between successive carriers (8) moving in the at least one curved section (7 ') differs from a second distance between two successive carriers moving in the at least one straight section (7' ').

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a poultry conveying line comprising an endless path or guide rail having at least one curved section and at least one straight section, and comprising carriers for suspending poultry, and a drive system for driving the carriers along the endless path.

[0002] Such poultry conveyor lines are used, for example, in poultry hanging systems or other poultry processing lines.

[0003] US2013 / 0052924 discloses a method and apparatus for suspending live or stunned poultry to be slaughtered in conveyor supports of an overhead conveyor. A belt conveyor transports the poultry to a distribution surface where they are continuously guided or pushed outward against the edge of the distribution surface to various positions for receiving the poultry, with their legs protruding from the edge of each position. The legs are secured in fixtures at each position. Each position is then continuously moved upward relative to the distribution surface to suspend the poultry for subsequent downward movement by means of supports of an overhead conveyor running above and spaced apart from the distribution surface. The positions are then moved downward again to the level of the distribution surface.

[0004] Although the known poultry hanging system is said to provide a more secure and gentle suspension of the poultry, it is observed that such secure suspension of the poultry requires the legs of the poultry to be securely positioned on the edge of the dispensing surface in order to allow the poultry to be securely suspended as described in US 2013 / 0052924. Figure 1 The lifting device disclosed in FIG. 7 is capable of picking up birds from the dispensing surface and lifting them off the dispensing surface. This means that the accuracy of the suspension system depends both on the accuracy of the operator's work in precisely positioning the bird's legs on the edge of the dispensing surface, and on the accuracy of the size and operation of the lifting device, which is designed based on assumptions about where and how far the bird's legs extend over the edge of the dispensing surface. All in all, this is quite complex and prone to misalignment in some cases.

[0005] The above problem is exacerbated by the fact that the operator's work rhythm is influenced by the conveying speed of the first carrier in the main line. Especially at today's conventional conveying speeds, which can reach 15,000 birds per hour at a spacing of 15 cm / 6 inches, the operator's work is stressful and the hanging efficiency is impaired at such high line speeds.

[0006] In other words, there is room for simpler solutions and improvements over the prior art. The present invention aims to provide such simplifications and improvements, wherein in particular the working conditions for the operator are improved.

[0007] According to the invention, a poultry conveying line is proposed, which can be used, for example, in such a poultry hanging system, the poultry conveying line and the poultry hanging system having the features according to one or more of the appended claims.

[0008] In a first aspect of the invention, during operation, a first distance exists between consecutive carriers moving in at least one curved section of the annular path or guide rail, which first distance is different from a second distance between two consecutive carriers moving in at least one straight section of the annular path or guide rail. This makes it possible to optimize operating conditions for the functions performed at the respective locations along the annular path or guide rail.

[0009] Preferably, the carriers are arranged to move freely and independently of each other along an annular path or guide rail.

[0010] Preferably, the drive system or part of the drive system contacts and pushes each of the carriers along an annular path or guide track.

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

[0012] The conveyor line comprises an endless path or guide for the carriers, wherein at least one rotating wheel drives the carriers along at least one curved section of the path or guide, and wherein one or more predominantly straight sections of the path or guide are provided, wherein the conveyor line is provided with a spindle drive for driving the carriers in the straight sections. The spindle drive ensures a precise manner in which the carriers are driven at a specific speed that can be dedicated to the poultry processing operation in the straight sections.

[0013] Preferably, at least one of the carriers, and suitably each of the carriers, is provided with one or more protrusions extending to and cooperating with at least one of the spindle drive and the rotating wheel, thereby forming part of the drive system. The rotating wheel and / or the spindle drive (e.g., a thread of the spindle drive) may have recesses for cooperating with the protrusions to drive the carrier along the annular path or guideway.

[0014] It is further preferred that the rotary wheel drives the carriers in the conveyor line independently of the spindle drive for the carriers in the straight sections of the conveyor line. This is particularly useful for optimizing and differentiating between the speeds applied to the conveyor line at locations where specific operations are performed, such as rehanging poultry. In this regard, it should be noted that in the poultry rehanging system, the transfer unit is preferably located at the conveyor line opposite the rotary wheel.

[0015] Furthermore, it is preferred that the drive system independently drives the carrier along at least one curved section and at least one straight section of the circular path or guide rail.

[0016] The invention is also embodied in a poultry hanging system comprising a main line with a first carrier, a transfer line with a second carrier, and a transfer unit for transferring poultry or poultry parts from the second carrier of the transfer line to the first carrier of the main line, wherein the transfer line is a transfer line according to the invention.

[0017] In the attached figure:

[0018] - Figure 1 A first embodiment of a poultry hanging system utilizing the conveyor line of the present invention is schematically shown;

[0019] - Figure 2 schematically illustrates a second embodiment of a poultry hanging system utilizing the conveyor line of the present invention; and

[0020] - Figure 3 A poultry conveying line according to the invention is shown.

[0021] Whenever the same reference numbers are used in the drawings, they refer to the same parts.

[0022] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Two different embodiments of a poultry hanging system 1 are depicted. This poultry hanging system 1 is used to feed a main line 2 that runs at high speed, in which poultry are or are to be suspended from first carriers, for example, by their feet or heads. The main line 2 then transfers the suspended poultry to some processing equipment, where they undergo further processing. Due to the high speed, it is a challenge to fill each and every single first carrier in the main line 2 with suspended poultry and to prevent the carriers from remaining empty.

[0023] The poultry to be suspended in the main line 2 are supplied via a poultry feed line 3, in which the poultry can be transported in crates or freely without any specific orientation. In order to meet the requirement that each individual first carrier in the main line 2 can receive a suspended poultry, at least one conveyor line 4 is used, which has second carriers that can be moved at a second conveying speed, and wherein the second conveying speed is lower than the first conveying speed of the first carriers in the main line 2.

[0024] Figure 1 The case where only a single conveyor line 4 is present is depicted, whereas Figure 2 The case where there are two conveying lines 4 is depicted. If necessary, the number of conveying lines 4 can be further increased.

[0025] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In both cases, a transfer unit 5 is provided for transferring the poultry from the or each conveyor line 4 to the main line 2. The particularity of the invention is that the or each conveyor line 4 is equipped with a second carrier for suspending the poultry (e.g. by the feet or by the head), which second carrier is known per se, like the first carrier of the main line 2. Figure 3 In FIG, a second carrier 8 of at least one conveyor line 4 is schematically shown.

[0026] As in Figure 1 and Figure 2 In both cases, the poultry feed line 3 transfers the unsuspended poultry to a suspension position where an operator 6 is located who takes the poultry from the feed line 3 and suspends them in the second carrier of the or each conveyor line 4. Figure 1 and Figure 2 Only an operator 6 is shown, but the task of removing the poultry from the supply line 3 and suspending them in the second carrier of the conveyor line 4 can also be performed by an automatic machine, or by a combination of a human operator and an automatic machine. Therefore, the suspension location is equipped with a workplace for an operator and at least one of an automatic suspension device, preferably in the form of an automatic machine with vision and processing capabilities.

[0027] Although the distance between the carriers in the main line 2 may be variable, for the sake of simplicity of the main line 2 it is preferred that the distance between the first carriers in the main line 2 is constant.

[0028] According to the invention, the second carrier in the conveyor line 4 is at a first distance near the transfer unit 5 and at a second distance in the suspended position, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. Thus, the distance of the carriers in the conveyor line 4 can be coordinated with the suspension operation and the transfer operation.

[0029] It is further advantageous that the transfer unit 5 is synchronized with the main line 2 so as to be arranged to transfer the poultry suspended in the second carriers of the conveyor line 4 individually all to the empty first carriers in the main line 2 which can be used.

[0030] Figure 3 The conveyor line 4 is shown to comprise an endless path 7 for carriers 8. In this embodiment, each of the carriers 8 is free to move along the path 7 and independently of one another. Rotating wheels 9 drive the second carrier 8 along at least a portion 7' ​​of the path 7, and one or more mainly straight sections 7" of the path 7 are provided between the rotating wheels 9.

[0031] Figure 3 It is shown that the conveyor line 4 is provided with a spindle drive 10 for driving the second carrier 8 in the straight section 7″ between the rotating wheels 9. It is also shown that the transfer unit 5 is positioned opposite the rotating wheels 9 at at least one conveyor line 4, which is the optimal position for carrying out the rehanging of poultry from the conveyor line 4 to the main line 2. In an embodiment (not shown), the rotating wheels 9 can be combined with the transfer unit 5.

[0032] Figure 3 It is further depicted that each of the second carriers 8 is provided with a protrusion 11 that extends to (the thread of) the spindle drive 10 and cooperates therewith to push the carrier 8. This same protrusion or another protrusion can be applied to extend to and cooperate with a plurality of recesses 12 arranged in the rotating wheel 9. Thus, here too, the drive system contacts the carrier 8 and pushes it.

[0033] It should also be noted that the rotary wheel 9 drives the second carriers of the at least one conveyor line 4 independently of the spindle drive 10 for the second carriers of the at least one conveyor line 4 .

[0034] During operation, there is a first distance along the annular path 7 or guide rail between consecutive carriers 8 moving in at least one curved section 7', which first distance is different from a second distance along the annular path 7 or guide rail between two consecutive carriers moving in at least one straight section 7".

[0035] Preferably, the first distance is greater than the second distance. This can be easily achieved in different ways, such as by selecting a suitable rotation speed of the rotating wheel, by selecting the distance between the recesses of the rotating wheel or by selecting the lead of the thread of the spindle.

[0036] Embodiments of the present invention may include any combination of features disclosed herein independently of one another. Although the present invention has been discussed hereinabove with reference to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this particular embodiment, which may be varied in many ways without departing from the present invention. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments discussed should not be used to strictly interpret the appended claims in accordance therewith. On the contrary, the embodiments are intended only to interpret the wording of the appended claims and are not intended to limit the claims to the exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted only in accordance with the appended claims, wherein the exemplary embodiments should be used to resolve possible ambiguities in the wording of the claims.

[0037] Variations and modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the present invention is intended to encompass all such modifications and equivalents in the appended claims. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above are incorporated herein by reference. Unless specifically stated as "essential" above, the various components or the relationships between the various components are not essential for the operation of the present invention. On the contrary, the desired results can be achieved by replacing the various components and / or reconfiguring the relationships between the various components.

Claims

1. A poultry conveyor line (4), comprising: An endless path (7) or a guide rail having at least one curved section (7') and at least one straight section (7"); a carrier (8) for suspending poultry or poultry parts; and a drive system for driving the carrier (8) along the endless path (7), characterized in that during operation, there is a first distance along the endless path (7) or the guide rail between consecutive carriers (8) moving in the at least one curved section (7'), the first distance being different from a second distance along the endless path (7) or the guide rail between two consecutive carriers moving in the at least one straight section (7").

2. The poultry conveyor line (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that The drive system is arranged to contact and push each of the carriers (8) along the annular path (7) or guide rail.

3. The poultry conveying line (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that The first distance is greater than the second distance.

4. The poultry conveying line (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The drive system independently drives the carrier (8) along the at least one curved section (7') of the circular path (7) or guide rail and along the at least one straight section (7") of the circular path (7) or guide rail.

5. The poultry conveying line (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that At least one of the carriers (8) comprises a protrusion (11) arranged to cooperate with the drive system.

6. The poultry conveying line (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The drive system comprises at least one protrusion (11) arranged to cooperate with one of the carriers (8).

7. The poultry conveyor line according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The drive system comprises a rotating wheel (9) at the at least one curved section (7'), the rotating wheel (9) being arranged to engage and drive the carrier (8) along the at least one curved section (7') of the annular path (7) or guide rail.

8. A poultry conveying line according to claim 7 when dependent on claim 4, characterised in that The rotating wheel (9) comprises at least one recess (12) for receiving a protrusion (11) of the carrier (8).

9. The poultry conveyor line according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The drive system comprises a spindle drive (10) for engaging and driving the carrier (8) in the at least one straight section (7") of the annular path (7) or guideway.

10. A poultry conveying line according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 5, characterised in that The spindle drive (10), in particular the thread of the spindle drive (10), is arranged to receive the protrusion (11) of at least one of the carriers (8) to drive the carrier along the straight section (7") of the annular path (7).

11. A poultry hanging system (1) comprising: a main line (2) with a first carrier; a conveyor line (4) with a second carrier; and a transfer unit (5) for transferring poultry or poultry parts from the second carrier of the conveyor line (4) to the first carrier of the main line (2), characterized in that The conveyor line (4) is a conveyor line according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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