Poultry handling system and piston pump assembly

Abstract

Poultry handling systems and piston pump assemblies are described herein. The poultry handling system may include an injection station that allows adjustment of an approach angle relative to poultry in a poultry support aligned with the injection station. The poultry handling system may include a piston pump assembly that uses a dose disc to provide precise control of the volume of each mass of liquid delivered each time the piston pump assembly is actuated. The poultry handling system may include a pumping base and a pump identification system to allow for easy and rapid switching of pumps associated with the poultry handling system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] A poultry handling system and piston pump assembly are described herein. Background Art

[0002] Handling of poultry may include activities such as sexing to determine sex, vaccinating or otherwise medicating the bird, feeding the bird, weighing the bird, treating the bird's beak and / or claws (e.g., to retard their growth), etc. In some conventional systems, the bird is handled manually, i.e., an individual must physically hold the bird to perform the injection procedure.

[0003] When injecting poultry to deliver an inoculum (e.g., one or more drugs or other therapeutic substances, vitamins, or any other substance that should or could be advantageously delivered subcutaneously), the injection process can be complicated by the small size of the birds and their movements. In addition, in some cases, it may be necessary to deliver the same or different injectable materials to the birds.

[0004] Due to limitations of liquid delivery devices, injection of liquids through a needle with an inner cavity is generally limited to delivering one liquid through the needle. Systems developed for delivering two or more different liquids through a needle generally use a different needle for each liquid to be delivered. Some examples of such systems can be described, for example, in International Publication WO 2018 / 204572 (Eid et al.) and U.S. Patent 4,758,227 (Lancaster, Jr. et al.). Utility Model Content

[0005] Poultry handling systems, piston pump assemblies, modular pump bases, and related methods are described herein.

[0006] In one or more embodiments, the poultry handling system described herein may include an injection station that defines an approach angle relative to a bird in a bird support aligned with the injection station. The approach angle is the angle of an injection axis along which an injection needle moves relative to a platform axis about which the bird support rotates into and out of alignment with an injection station of a poultry handling system as described herein.

[0007] The adjustment of the approach angle can provide various benefits. For example, the adjustment of the approach angle can provide more consistent liquid delivery through the injection needle based on the anatomical structure of the birds. In particular, changes in the anatomical structure of birds may cause inefficiencies or ineffectiveness in the subcutaneous delivery of fluids through the injection needle. For example, some birds have, for example, a flatter back, a larger head and / or other anatomical differences, which can make the adjustment of the approach angle advantageous when the poultry processing system as described herein is set. Of course, anatomical differences can be found between birds of different species (e.g., chickens, ducks, turkeys, etc.), but anatomical differences that may affect the delivery of injectable materials using the poultry processing system described herein can also be found within the same species or even between poultry groups.

[0008] One or more embodiments of the poultry handling systems described herein include features that allow adjustment of the approach angle of the injection needle as described herein without changing the position of the delivery site of the injection needle. During development of the injection station and poultry handling systems described herein, it has been discovered that consistent positioning of the delivery site of the injection needle between different approach angles is beneficial because it avoids the need to change any positioning of the bird support relative to the rest of the poultry handling system (such as, for example, a platform axis, etc.).

[0009] In one or more embodiments of the poultry processing systems described herein, the approach angle of the injection station's injection needle can be achieved using one or more spacers positioned between the base of the injection station and the system platform without changing the location of the injection needle's delivery site.

[0010] The use of shims positioned between the injection station and the system platform to adjust the approach angle as described herein provides an additional advantage in that the injection stations themselves can be consistent, i.e., no additional adjustments are required, which can simplify the manufacture of the injection stations, the setup of a poultry handling system using the injection stations, the replacement of components of the injection stations, etc. Because the shims have a fixed or set size and shape, the use of shims to adjust the approach angle eliminates the need for adjustments, which may vary between injection stations due to, for example, human error, slippage (e.g., due to an improperly tightened connector), etc.

[0011] The use of shims to adjust the approach angle is particularly useful in poultry handling systems in which the bird supports have a fixed orientation relative to a platform axis or other stationary feature of the poultry handling system, such as described herein. Because the bird supports present the birds held in the bird supports to a handling station of the poultry handling system in a fixed orientation and position relative to a stationary feature, such as, for example, an injection station, the approach angle defined by the injection axis of the injection station is consistent when the injection station is mounted on the system platform without the use of shims or using the same shims.

[0012] In one or more embodiments of the piston pump assembly described herein (which may be used in one or more embodiments of the poultry processing system), precise control of the volume of each liquid bolus delivered each time the piston pump assembly is activated may be important to ensure efficacy and safety. Control over precise bolus delivery can be achieved by controlling the stroke of the piston, but such control is often difficult to obtain, particularly when multiple different boluses must be delivered using the same piston pump.

[0013] In one or more embodiments of the piston pump assembly described herein, a dose disk is used to control the stroke of a piston in a piston pump, addressing the need for precision by decoupling the piston stroke control from the piston pump itself. In one or more embodiments, the dose disk has a selected height corresponding to a selected stroke distance, which in turn corresponds to a selected volume within the piston chamber, such that the stroke distance of the piston within the piston pump can be precisely controlled using a dose disk having a known height.

[0014] The pump used to deliver liquids in the modular injection system described herein can be selected to enable the ability to accurately deliver a selected liquid bolus to the injection needle. In one or more embodiments, a peristaltic pump assembly can be used to deliver a liquid with a lower viscosity and / or lower density to the injection needle assembly, while a piston pump assembly can be used to deliver a different liquid with a higher viscosity and / or higher density to the needle assembly. In one or more embodiments, the viscosity and / or density differences can be the result of different carrier liquids (e.g., oil relative to a water-based carrier) used in different liquids.

[0015] Because the liquids conveyed in the poultry handling systems described herein may present different pumping challenges, it may be desirable to allow easy and quick conversion of pumps associated with the poultry handling systems. In this context, it is desirable to have a poultry handling system that is able to identify the type of pump being used and adjust the control system to accurately operate the different types of pumps. In one or more embodiments of the poultry handling systems described herein, a pump identification system is incorporated into the poultry handling system to allow operational pump identification and modification of the control systems of these pumps.

[0016] In a first aspect, one or more embodiments of a poultry handling system as described herein include: a system platform and a support ring mounted on a base, wherein the system platform includes an injection section, the injection section including a plurality of mounting locations, wherein one or both of the system platform and the support ring are configured to rotate relative to each other about a platform axis extending through the system platform, the support ring and the base; a plurality of poultry supports mounted on the support ring outside the periphery of the system platform, wherein each of the plurality of poultry supports is in a selected orientation relative to the platform axis at each of the plurality of mounting locations, wherein rotation of one or both of the system platform and the support ring about the platform axis moves the plurality of poultry supports into and out of alignment with the plurality of mounting locations, and wherein each of the plurality of poultry supports is configured to hold the poultry in a selected orientation relative to the platform axis; an injection station attached to the system platform at a selected mounting location among the plurality of mounting locations. The injection station includes a needle assembly including an injection needle, a needle guide, and a needle actuator operably connected to the injection needle, wherein the needle actuator is configured to move the injection needle along an injection axis between an injection position and a retracted position, wherein when the injection needle is in the injection position, a distal end of the injection needle extends out of a delivery site of the needle guide along the injection axis. The injection station also includes an injection carriage operably connected to the carriage actuator, wherein the needle assembly, the needle guide, and the needle actuator are mounted on the injection carriage, wherein the carriage actuator is configured to rotate the injection carriage about the carriage axis between a standby position and an actuated position, and wherein when the injection carriage is in the actuated position, the injection axis defines a base approach angle relative to the platform axis, such that the injection needle approaches a poultry support positioned at a selected mounting site at the base approach angle. The poultry handling system also includes a spacer configured to be positioned between a base of the injection station and a selected mounting location, wherein when the spacer is positioned between the base of the injection station and the selected mounting location, the spacer positions the base above the selected mounting location and rotates an injection axis of the injection station relative to the platform axis to an adjusted approach angle, so that the injection needle approaches a poultry support positioned at the selected mounting location at the adjusted approach angle.

[0017] In one or more embodiments of the poultry processing systems described herein, the injection axis of the injection station rotates about the delivery site of the needle guide when moving between the base approach angle and the adjusted approach angle, so that the delivery site of the needle guide is positioned at the same position relative to the platform axis when the injection axis is at the base approach angle and when the injection axis is at the adjusted approach angle. In one or more embodiments, the shim rotates the injection axis about the delivery site by 2 degrees or more, 5 degrees or more, 10 degrees or more, 15 degrees or more, or 20 degrees or more, and optionally, 30 degrees or less, 25 degrees or less, 20 degrees or less, 15 degrees or less, or 10 degrees or less.

[0018] In one or more embodiments of the poultry handling systems described herein, the injection axis extends through the carrier axis.

[0019] In one or more embodiments of the poultry processing systems described herein, an injection station attached to a system platform at a selected mounting location includes a first injection station among a plurality of injection stations attached to the system platform, wherein the plurality of poultry processing systems include a second injection station attached to the system platform at a second selected mounting location among the plurality of mounting locations, the second injection station comprising: a second needle assembly, the second needle assembly comprising a second injection needle, a second needle guide, and a second needle actuator, the second needle actuator being operably connected to the second injection needle, the second needle actuator being configured to move the second injection needle along a second injection axis between an injection position and a retracted position, wherein when the second injection needle is in the second injection position, the distal end of the second injection needle extends along the second injection axis out of a second delivery location of the second needle guide. The second injection station also includes a second injection bracket, which is operably connected to a second bracket actuator, wherein a second needle assembly, a second needle guide and a second needle actuator are mounted on the second injection bracket, wherein the second bracket actuator is configured to rotate the second injection bracket around a second bracket axis between a standby position and an actuated position, and wherein when the second injection bracket is in the actuated position, the second injection axis defines a second basic approach angle relative to the platform axis, so that the second injection needle approaches the poultry support positioned at a second selected mounting position at the second basic approach angle, wherein the basic approach angle of the first injection station and the second basic approach angle are the same. In one or more embodiments, the poultry handling system includes a second spacer configured to be positioned between a base of the second injection station and a second selected mounting location, and when positioned between the base of the second injection station and the second selected mounting location, the second spacer positions the base of the second injection station above the second selected mounting location and causes a second injection axis of the second injection station to rotate relative to the platform axis to a second adjusted approach angle, so that the second injection needle approaches the poultry support positioned at the second selected mounting location at the second adjusted approach angle. In one or more embodiments, when moving between the second base approach angle and the second adjusted approach angle, the second injection axis of the second injection station rotates about a second delivery location of the second needle guide, so that the second delivery location of the second needle guide is positioned at the same position relative to the platform axis when the second injection axis is at the second base approach angle and when the second injection axis is at the second adjusted approach angle.

[0020] In one or more embodiments of the poultry handling systems described herein, each shim of the plurality of shims positions the base and injection axis of each of the plurality of injection stations at the same selected adjusted angle relative to the platform axis.

[0021] In one or more embodiments of the poultry processing system described herein, the injection station includes a carriage damper operably connected to the injection carriage, the carriage damper configured to limit the rotational speed of the injection carriage during rotation of the injection carriage from the standby position to the actuated position. In one or more embodiments, the carriage damper includes a one-way damper, such that the carriage damper is configured to limit the rotational speed of the injection carriage only during rotation of the injection carriage from the standby position to the actuated position. In one or more embodiments, the carriage damper includes a rotational damper. In one or more embodiments, the carriage damper includes a passive damper.

[0022] In one or more embodiments of the poultry processing system described herein, the system includes a piston pump assembly in fluid communication with the injection needle of the injection station, wherein the piston pump assembly includes: a piston pump, a pump actuator, and a dose disk. The piston pump includes: a housing defining a piston chamber; a chamber inlet in fluid communication with the piston chamber; a chamber outlet in fluid communication with the piston chamber; a flow control device configured to prevent fluid from leaving the piston chamber through the chamber inlet; a piston, which includes a front end located in the piston chamber and a rear end located outside the piston chamber, the piston is configured to move along the piston axis in the piston chamber, wherein the movement of the front end of the piston in the piston chamber along the piston axis toward the chamber outlet is configured to force the fluid in the piston chamber to leave the piston chamber through the chamber outlet; and a biasing device configured to move the piston to a rest position, wherein the biasing device is configured to resist the movement of the piston toward the chamber outlet. The pump actuator includes a piston driver, wherein the pump actuator is configured to move the piston driver toward the chamber outlet to an advanced position, wherein when the piston driver is in the advanced position and the piston is in the rest position, the piston driver is close to the rear end of the piston. The dose disk is configured to be placed between the rear end of the piston and the piston driver, wherein the dose disk includes a selected height corresponding to a selected volume within the piston chamber between the front end of the piston and the chamber outlet, so that the piston moves toward the chamber outlet through a stroke distance equal to the selected height of the dose disk, thereby moving a selected volume of fluid out of the piston chamber through the chamber outlet.

[0023] In one or more embodiments of a poultry processing system including a piston pump assembly as described herein, the piston driver is spaced from an advanced position when the dose disk is between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston, and the assembly includes a controller operably connected to the piston actuator, wherein the controller is configured to: optionally operate the piston actuator to bias the piston driver toward the advanced position using a base force such that when the dose disk is between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston, the piston driver applies a driving force on the rear end of the piston that is equal to or less than the base force; and selectively operate the piston actuator to bias the piston driver toward the advanced position using a pumping force greater than the base force, wherein the pumping force is large enough such that when the dose disk is between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston, the piston driver moves toward the advanced position and the piston moves a stroke distance toward the chamber outlet.

[0024] In one or more embodiments of a poultry processing system including a piston pump assembly as described herein, when the piston driver is in the advanced position and the piston is in the rest position, the piston driver does not contact the rear end of the piston such that there is a gap between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston. In one or more embodiments, the assembly includes a spacer located between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston, wherein the spacer occupies the gap between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston.

[0025] In one or more embodiments of a poultry processing system including a piston pump assembly as described herein, the piston pump includes a rest volume defined by a rest distance measured between a front end of the piston and an end stop within the piston chamber, the end stop being located between the chamber outlet and the front end when the piston is in the rest position, wherein a selected height of the dosing disk is less than or equal to the rest distance.

[0026] In one or more embodiments of a poultry processing system including a piston pump assembly as described herein, the piston pump includes a rest volume defined by a rest distance measured between a front end of the piston and an end stop within the piston chamber, the end stop being located between the chamber outlet and the front end when the piston is in the rest position, wherein the selected height of the dosing disk is less than the rest distance.

[0027] In one or more embodiments of a poultry handling system comprising a piston pump assembly as described herein, the piston actuator comprises a fluid pressure actuator.

[0028] In one or more embodiments of a poultry handling system including a piston pump assembly as described herein, the flow control device includes a check valve.

[0029] In one or more embodiments of a poultry handling system comprising a piston pump assembly as described herein, the biasing device comprises a spring.

[0030] In one or more embodiments of a poultry processing system comprising a piston pump assembly as described herein, the chamber outlet is aligned with the piston axis.

[0031] In one or more embodiments of the poultry handling system described herein, the system includes: a first pump positioned on a first mount attached to a pumping base of the system platform, wherein the first mount includes a first mount perimeter and a first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports located within the first mount perimeter, wherein the first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports define a first delivery port pattern in the first mount perimeter; a second pump positioned on a second mount attached to the pumping base of the system platform, wherein the second mount includes a second mount perimeter and a second plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports located within the second mount perimeter, wherein the second plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports define a second delivery port pattern in the second mount perimeter, wherein the second delivery port pattern is the same as the first delivery port pattern; an actuation fluid delivery system configured to actuating fluid is delivered to the first plurality of actuating fluid delivery ports and the second plurality of actuating fluid delivery ports; a first pump identification system configured to provide a first signal identifying the first pump; a second pump identification system configured to provide a second signal identifying the second pump; a controller operably connected to the actuating fluid delivery system, the first pump identification system, and the second pump identification system, wherein the controller is configured to: receive the first signal and the second signal; operate the actuating fluid delivery system at least in part based on the first signal to deliver the actuating fluid to a selected delivery port among the first plurality of actuating fluid delivery ports at a selected time; and operate the actuating fluid delivery system at least in part based on the second signal to deliver the actuating fluid to a selected delivery port among the second plurality of actuating fluid delivery ports at a selected time.

[0032] In one or more embodiments of a poultry handling system comprising a first pump and a second pump on a pumping base as described herein, the first pump identification system comprises a first identifier and a first reader, wherein the first reader is configured to read the first identifier and transmit a selected first signal indicating a pump type of the first pump. In one or more embodiments, the first identifier is attached to the first pump and the first reader is attached to the pumping base; or the first reader is attached to the first pump and the first identifier is attached to the pumping base.

[0033] In one or more embodiments of a poultry handling system comprising a first pump and a second pump on a pumping base as described herein, the second pump identification system comprises a second identifier and a second reader, wherein the second reader is configured to read the second identifier and transmit a selected second signal indicating a pump type of the second pump. In one or more embodiments, the second identifier is attached to the second pump and the second reader is attached to the pumping base; or the second reader is attached to the second pump and the second identifier is attached to the pumping base.

[0034] In one or more embodiments of the poultry handling system comprising a first pump and a second pump on a pumping base as described herein, the pump type is selected from a piston pump and a peristaltic pump.

[0035] In one or more embodiments of a poultry processing system comprising a first pump and a second pump on a pumping base as described herein, when the first pump comprises a piston pump, the controller is configured to operate the actuating fluid delivery system to deliver the actuating fluid to a first group of selected delivery ports among a first plurality of actuating fluid delivery ports; when the first pump comprises a peristaltic pump, the controller is configured to operate the actuating fluid delivery system to deliver the actuating fluid to a second group of selected delivery ports among the first plurality of actuating fluid delivery ports; and the first group and the second group comprise different groups of the first plurality of actuating fluid delivery ports.

[0036] In one or more embodiments of a poultry processing system comprising a first pump and a second pump on a pumping base as described herein, the first pump comprises a piston pump and the second pump comprises a peristaltic pump; the injection station comprises a dual-port delivery chamber, the dual-port delivery chamber comprising a first inlet port, a second inlet port and a needle port, wherein the first inlet port and the second inlet port are fluidically connected to the needle port, and the injection needle is fluidically connected to the needle port; wherein the first pump comprises a piston pump fluidically connected to the first inlet port, and the second pump comprises a peristaltic pump fluidically connected to the second inlet port; wherein the controller is configured to operate the actuating fluid delivery system to deliver the actuating fluid to a first group of selected delivery ports among a first plurality of actuating fluid delivery ports; wherein the controller is configured to operate the actuating fluid delivery system to deliver the actuating fluid to a second group of selected delivery ports among a second plurality of actuating fluid delivery ports; and wherein the first group of the first plurality of actuating fluid delivery ports defines a first selected pattern on the first mounting member, and the second group of the second plurality of actuating fluid delivery ports defines a second selected pattern on the second mounting member, wherein the first selected pattern on the first mounting member and the second selected pattern on the second mounting member are different patterns.

[0037] In a second aspect, one or more embodiments of a method for processing poultry in a poultry processing system, the poultry processing system comprising a system platform and a support ring mounted on a base, the system platform comprising an injection section, the injection section comprising a plurality of mounting locations; a poultry support mounted on the support ring outside the periphery of the system platform; an injection station attached to the system platform at a selected mounting location, the injection station comprising a needle assembly, the needle assembly comprising an injection needle and a needle guide, the injection needle being configured to move along an injection axis between an injection position and a retracted position, wherein when the injection needle is in the injection position, a distal end of the injection needle extends along the injection axis beyond a delivery location of the needle guide, and wherein the needle assembly and the needle guide are mounted on the injection position. On an injection bracket, the method includes: rotating one or both of the system platform and the support ring relative to each other around a platform axis extending through the system platform, the support ring and the base, wherein the rotation causes the poultry support to move into alignment and misalignment with the selected mounting position; rotating the injection bracket around the bracket axis between a standby position and an actuated position, wherein when the injection bracket is in the actuated position, the injection axis defines a basic approach angle relative to the platform axis, so that the injection needle approaches the poultry support positioned at the selected mounting position at the basic approach angle; and positioning a gasket between the injection station and the selected mounting position, so that when the injection bracket is in the actuated position, the injection axis approaches the poultry support at an adjusted approach angle relative to the platform axis.

[0038] In one or more embodiments of the method of processing poultry as described herein, the method includes positioning a shim between the injection station and the selected mounting location so that the injection axis rotates about the delivery location of the needle guide so that the delivery location of the needle guide is positioned at the same position relative to the platform axis when the injection axis is at the base approach angle and when the injection axis is at the adjusted approach angle. In one or more embodiments, the shim rotates the injection axis about the delivery location by 2 degrees or more, 5 degrees or more, 10 degrees or more, 15 degrees or more, or 20 degrees or more, and optionally, 30 degrees or less, 25 degrees or less, 20 degrees or less, 15 degrees or less, or 10 degrees or less.

[0039] In one or more embodiments of the method for processing poultry as described herein, the system includes a piston pump assembly in fluid communication with an injection needle of an injection station, wherein the piston pump assembly includes: a piston pump including a piston movable in a piston chamber of a housing defining a piston chamber, wherein movement of the front end of the piston in the piston chamber along the piston axis forces the fluid in the piston chamber to leave the piston chamber through the chamber outlet; and a piston driver configured to be positioned proximate to the rear end of the piston when the piston driver is in an advanced position and the piston is in a stationary position, and the method includes: determining a selected volume to be delivered from the piston pump to the injection needle The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises: positioning a selected dose disk between the rear end of the piston and the piston driver to move the piston driver away from the advanced position, wherein the selected dose disk includes a selected height corresponding to the selected volume in the pump chamber; and after positioning the selected dose disk between the rear end of the piston and the piston driver to move the piston driver away from the advanced position, moving the piston driver to the advanced position, wherein moving the piston driver to the advanced position moves the piston toward the chamber outlet by a stroke distance equal to the selected height of the selected dose disk to move the selected volume of fluid out of the piston chamber through the chamber outlet. In one or more embodiments, prior to positioning the selected dose disk between the rear end of the piston and the piston driver, the method comprises: determining when a gap exists between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston when the pump driver is in the advanced position and the piston is in the rest position; and positioning a selected shim between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston, wherein the selected shim occupies the gap between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston. In one or more embodiments, when the pump driver is in the advanced position and the piston is in the rest position, the gap between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston comprises a gap height measured along the piston axis, and wherein the selected shim comprises a shim height equal to or greater than the gap height. In one or more embodiments, the piston pump comprises a rest volume defined by a rest distance measured between the front ends of the pistons within the piston chamber when the pistons are in the rest position, wherein the selected height of the dose disc is less than or equal to the rest distance. In one or more embodiments, the piston pump comprises a rest volume defined by a rest distance measured between the front ends of the pistons within the piston chamber when the pistons are in the rest position, wherein the selected height of the dose disc is less than the rest distance.

[0040] In one or more embodiments of the method for processing poultry as described herein, the method includes limiting the rotation speed of the injection bracket during rotation of the injection bracket from the standby position to the actuated position. In one or more embodiments, limiting the rotation speed of the injection bracket includes operably connecting a bracket damper to the injection bracket.

[0041] If used herein, relative terms such as above, below, top, bottom, etc. (unless otherwise indicated in the specification and / or claims) are used merely to facilitate description of the various features of the systems and methods described herein and should not be construed as requiring any particular orientation of the systems and / or methods described herein.

[0042] If used herein, the term "substantially" has the same meaning as "significantly" and can be understood as modifying the subsequent term by at least about 75%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, or at least about 98%. As used herein, the term "substantially not" has the same meaning as "not significantly" and can be understood as having the opposite meaning of "substantially", i.e., modifying the subsequent term by no more than 25%, no more than 10%, no more than 5%, or no more than 2%.

[0043] Numerical values ​​used herein include normal variations in measurements as would be expected by one skilled in the art and should be understood to have the same meaning as “about” and encompass a typical range of error, such as ±5% of the stated value.

[0044] Terms such as "a," "an," and "the" are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration.

[0045] The terms "a", "an" and "the" are used interchangeably with the term "at least one". The phrases "at least one" and "comprising at least one" followed by a list of items refer to any one item in the list and any combination of two or more items in the list.

[0046] As used herein, the term "or" is generally used in its ordinary sense including "and / or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term "and / or" means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

[0047] Numerical ranges recited by endpoints include all numbers subsumed within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, etc., or 10 or less includes 10, 9.4, 7.6, 5, 4.3, 2.9, 1.62, 0.3, etc.) Where a range of values ​​is "up to" or "at least" a particular value, that value is included in the range.

[0048] The words "preferred" and "preferably" refer to embodiments that may provide certain benefits in certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred under the same or other circumstances. In addition, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not mean that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the present disclosure (including claims).

[0049] The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the systems, devices and methods described herein, but a more complete understanding of the present invention will become apparent and appreciated by reference to the following description of illustrative embodiments and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Figure 1 is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of a poultry handling system as described herein.

[0051] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a side view of an illustrative embodiment of a poultry handling system depicted in FIG.

[0052] Figure 3 is a side view of a bird support with bird B positioned therein.

[0053] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a poultry handling system including a fluid delivery apparatus and a pair of injection stations mounted on a system platform.

[0054] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A top view of a portion of a poultry handling system is depicted in FIG.

[0055] Figure 6 yes Figure 4-5 An enlarged perspective view of one of the injection stations shown in FIG.

[0056] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A perspective view of the support device of the injection station depicted in , with the injection carriage removed from the injection station.

[0057] Figure 8 is removed from the supporting equipment Figure 6 A perspective view of the injection bracket of the injection station depicted in FIG.

[0058] Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 An enlarged view of the needle mount and needle guide of the injection carriage depicted in FIG.

[0059] Fig.10 yes Figure 6 is a side view of a portion of the injection station depicted in , wherein the injection needle is mounted on a needle mount of an injection bracket, and the injection bracket is in an actuated position relative to a bird support of a poultry handling system as described herein.

[0060] Fig.11 is a side view of another illustrative embodiment of an injection station as described herein with the injection carriage in its standby position.

[0061] Fig.12 Depicts the injection carriage as described herein after it has been moved from its standby position to its actuated position. Fig.11 Injection station.

[0062] Fig.13 Depicted Fig.12 An injection station (with the injection bracket in its actuated position), wherein the injection station rotates around a delivery site using a spacer as described herein.

[0063] Fig.14 yes Figure 4-5 An enlarged front perspective view of one of the injection stations depicted in FIG.

[0064] Figure 15-16 Is set in Fig.14 An enlarged view of an illustrative embodiment of a skin capture assembly on an injection station.

[0065] Fig.17 yes Fig.14 A perspective view of the support equipment of the injection station depicted in FIG.

[0066] Fig.18 yes Fig.14 0047] A left side view of the injection station depicted in FIG. 1 with the support arm 137-1 of the support device removed to expose components on the injection carriage of the injection station.

[0067] Fig.19 yes Figure 4-5 A perspective view of one of the injection stations depicted in FIG.

[0068] Fig. 20 is removed from the injection station support equipment Fig.19 A side view of the injection carriage of the injection station depicted in FIG. 1 together with a dual port needle holder as described herein.

[0069] Fig.21 yes Fig. 20 An enlarged top view of the dual port needle holder depicted in FIG.

[0070] Fig. 22 yes Fig. 20 An enlarged front view of the dual-port needle holder depicted in FIG.

[0071] Fig.23 yes Figure 4 A perspective view of a poultry handling system depicted in , with one of the injection stations removed for clarity.

[0072] Fig.24 Yes Fig.23 An enlarged top view of the poultry handling system depicted in FIG.

[0073] Fig.25 It is a combination Figure 23-24 A poultry handling system depicts a perspective view of a pump base.

[0074] Fig.26 yes Fig.25 A top view of the pump base depicted in FIG.

[0075] Fig.27A yes Figure 23-24 A view of the bottom of the piston pump assembly depicted in FIG.

[0076] Fig.27B yes Figure 23-24 A view of the bottom of the peristaltic pump assembly depicted in FIG.

[0077] Fig.28 It can be combined with Figure 23-24 A perspective view of a cover plate used on a pumping base shown in FIG.

[0078] Fig.29 is a schematic block diagram of a control system that can be used to control a combination of Figure 23-24 A poultry handling system depicting actuation of a pump assembly.

[0079] Fig.30 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a piston pump assembly that may be used in one or more embodiments of a poultry handling system as described herein.

[0080] Fig.31 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of a piston pump that may be used in a piston pump assembly of a poultry handling system as described herein.

[0081] Fig.32 is taken in a plane containing the piston axis 181 Fig.31 A cross-sectional view of the piston pump depicted in FIG.

[0082] Fig.33 yes Fig.30 A perspective view of a piston pump assembly with one of the piston pumps removed.

[0083] Fig.34 yes Fig.33 206 is located on the piston driver 202.

[0084] Fig.35 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a piston actuator positioned near a terminal end of an illustrative embodiment of a piston pump as described herein, with the piston driver in its advanced position and the piston of the piston pump in its rest position, as described herein.

[0085] Fig.36 After the dose disc is positioned between the piston and the piston driver and the piston driver is in the retracted position as described herein Fig.35 Cross-sectional view of a piston pump.

[0086] Fig.37 After the piston driver has moved to its advanced position and the piston has moved accordingly as described herein Fig.36 Cross-sectional view of a piston pump.

[0087] Fig.38 is a schematic block diagram of one illustrative embodiment of a control system that may be used to control a piston actuator of a piston pump assembly of a poultry handling system as described herein.

[0088] Figures 39A-39B One illustrative embodiment of a set of dosing discs that may be used in one or more embodiments of a piston pump for a poultry handling system as described herein is depicted.

[0089] Fig.40 is a perspective view of a portion of a piston pump assembly including a shim for adjusting position and dosage control of a piston pump as described herein.

[0090] Figures 41-45 is a schematic diagram depicting the use of a dosing disc and a shim in one or more embodiments of a piston pump used in a poultry handling system as described herein.

[0091] Although the above-mentioned drawings (which may or may not be drawn to scale) illustrate embodiments of the present invention, other embodiments may also be considered as noted in the discussion. In all cases, the present disclosure presents the present invention by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that many other modifications and embodiments may be designed by those skilled in the art, and these modifications and embodiments all fall within the scope of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0092] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0093] Illustrative embodiments of poultry handling systems, bird supports that may be used in poultry handling systems, and methods of using poultry handling systems, as well as various components that may be used in poultry handling system supports, are described herein.

[0094] refer to Figure 1-Figure 2An illustrative embodiment of a poultry handling system as described herein may include a system platform 2, an optional cam 3, a support ring 4, and a plurality of bird supports 5 mounted on the support ring 4. Specifically, it should be understood that the support ring 4 is Figure 2 is visible in the schematic diagram, but in Figure 1 is blocked by system platform 2 in the top view.

[0095] In one or more embodiments, the system platform 2 is generally fixed relative to the platform axis 7, so that the rotational position of the system platform 2 and any processing stations located thereon are also preferably fixed relative to the platform axis 7. In the illustrative embodiment depicted, the system platform 2 carries a set of loading stations 6 at which the bird supports 5 are loaded with birds as described herein.

[0096] Figure 1 The system platform 2 depicted in the drawings also carries an optional set of beak handling stations 8 and a set of injection stations 10. In one or more embodiments, it may be preferred but not required to match the number of loading stations 6 to the number of beak handling stations 8 and injection stations 10 (e.g., in the depicted embodiment, the system platform 2 carries four loading stations 6, four beak handling stations 8, and four injection stations 10). Although the illustrative embodiment of the poultry handling system depicted includes a beak handling station in addition to the injection station, other types of handling stations may be used in addition to and / or in place of the beak handling station depicted in one or more embodiments of the poultry handling system as described herein. Such alternative handling stations may include, for example, a claw handling station, a sexing or gendering station, and the like.

[0097] Non-limiting examples of processes and / or processing stations that can be used in one or more embodiments of the chick support systems described herein can be described in, for example, U.S. Patent 5,195,925 (METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECLAWINGPOULTRY); U.S. Patent 5,651,731 (METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEBEAKING POULTRY); U.S. Patent 7,232,450 (APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UPPER AND LOWER BEAK TREATMENT); U.S. Patent 8,499,721 (APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NASAL DELIVERY OF COMPOSITIONS TO BIRDS); U.S. Patent 7,363,881 (BEAK TREATMENT WITH TONGUE PROTECTION); U.S. Patent 9,775,695 (FOURTH TOE PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS); U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2019 / 0133734 (POULTRY INJECTION APPARATUS WITH ROTATING CAPTURE MEMBERS AND METHODS OF USE); International Publication WO 2018204572 (INJECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS); International Publication WO2019236964 (ENERGY DELIVERY SYSTEM USING AN ELECTRIC FIELD); etc.

[0098] The number of each type of processing station provided on any system platform used in a poultry processing system as described herein can vary depending on the time required to process the poultry at each processing station. In one or more embodiments, the number of processing stations provided in different groups of processing stations of a poultry processing system as described herein can be the same. For example, in the exemplary embodiment of the poultry processing system depicted, the groups of loading stations 6, beak processing stations 8, and injection stations 10 each include four stations. The group of four stations in the illustrative embodiment of the poultry processing system depicted may be beneficial for a system in which poultry is manually loaded into a poultry support in a loading station 6. However, in alternative embodiments of a poultry processing system as described herein, two or more different groups of processing stations may include different numbers of processing stations.

[0099] In one or more embodiments, the support ring 4 is mounted on the base 9 using the central support assembly 9-1, wherein the support ring 4 is configured to rotate about a platform axis 7, which in the illustrative embodiment shown extends through each of the system platform 2 and the cam 3. The base 9 may include any suitable drive mechanism (e.g., an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, etc.) that can be used to rotate the support ring 4 about the platform axis 7 as needed to move the bird supports 5 through the poultry handling system described herein.

[0100] As described herein, in one or more embodiments, the bird supports 5 are mounted on the periphery of the support ring 4. Each bird support 5 is mounted in a fixed position on the periphery of the support ring 4. As a result, rotation of the support ring 4 about the platform axis 7 causes the bird supports 5 to rotate about the platform axis 7.

[0101] Despite Figure 1 Top view and Figure 2 Only two bird supports 5 are depicted in the schematic side view of FIG. 1 , but a poultry handling system as described herein will typically include bird supports positioned around most, if not substantially all, of the perimeter of a support ring of the poultry handling system. The bird supports 5 will typically be spaced around the perimeter of the support ring 4 at intervals that match the spacing required to properly position the birds in the bird supports 5 at any treatment station (e.g., beak handling station 8 and / or injection station 10) provided in the poultry handling system described herein.

[0102] Illustrative embodiments of the poultry handling systems described herein include a poultry support and an optional cam for moving the poultry support between an open configuration and a closed configuration, as described, for example, in International Publication WO 2021 / 150842 entitled “HATCHLING SUPPORTS, HATCHLING SUPPORT SYSTEMS, AND METHODS”. Although the illustrative embodiments of the poultry supports as specifically described herein can be used in combination with the poultry handling systems described herein, alternative poultry supports can also be used with the poultry handling systems and methods described herein. Potentially useful alternative poultry supports that can be used in the systems and methods described herein can include, for example, those described in U.S. Patent 9,808,328 entitled POULLY CARRIERS AND METHODS OF RESTRAINING POULLY and other publications.

[0103] refer to Figure 3, shows a poultry support 5 similar to the poultry support described in International Publication WO 2021 / 150842, wherein a bird B is located in the poultry support. The poultry support 5 includes a head retainer 5-1, a bracket 5-2, and a stabilizing strap 5-3 attached to a base 5-4, the base 5-4 being used to attach the poultry support 5 to a support ring 4 of a poultry handling system as described herein. As described in International Publication WO 2021 / 150842, the depicted embodiment of the poultry support 5 includes a follower 5-5, which is configured to contact the peripheral edge 3-1 of the cam 3. The contact between the follower of the poultry support 5 and the peripheral edge 3-1 of the cam 3 is configured to hold the follower of the poultry support 5 in a closed position in at least one section of the cam 3, wherein Figure 3 The poultry support 5 is in a closed configuration.

[0104] Regardless of the specific form of the bird support used in the poultry handling system described herein, i.e., whether the bird support is similar to those described in International Publication WO 2021 / 150842, U.S. Patent 9,808,328, or other alternatives, the bird support has a fixed orientation relative to, for example, the platform axis 7 or other stationary features of the poultry handling system described herein, and the bird support thus presents the birds held in the bird support to the handling station of the poultry handling system in a fixed orientation and position for easy handling. For example, Figure 3 As depicted, the bird supports 5 are attached to the support ring 4 in a fixed orientation relative to the platform axis 7 and relative to the injection axis 11 of the injection station 10 .

[0105] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a poultry handling system as described herein, and Figure 5 1 is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of a poultry processing system as described herein, the poultry processing system including a pair of injection stations 110-1 and 110-2 (collectively referred to herein as injection stations 110) mounted on a system platform 102. Although the depicted poultry processing system includes two injection stations 110, the system platform 102 includes space for a set of four injection stations, similar to those depicted in the illustrative embodiment, wherein the two depicted injection stations 110 are located on opposite ends of the injection section, and the system platform 102 includes space between the two depicted injection stations 110 for two additional injection stations mounted on the system platform 102.

[0106] Figure 4 and Figure 5Each injection station 110 depicted in FIG. 1 defines an injection axis 111-1 or 111-2 (collectively referred to herein as injection axis 111), which is the axis along which the injection needle in each injection station 110 advances during processing of the bird. Also depicted is a platform axis 107, mounted on a support ring ( Figure 4 and Figure 5 The bird support on the platform (not shown) is rotated about the platform axis to align the bird support with the injection station as described herein.

[0107] Also mounted on the system platform 102 is a pump base 160 having a pair of pump assemblies mounted thereon. The pump assemblies include a peristaltic pump assembly 170 and a piston pump assembly 180. The pump assemblies 170 / 180 are used to deliver fluid to an injection station of a poultry handling system as described herein.

[0108] Figure 6-Figure 8 Depicted Figure 4 and Figure 5 An exemplary embodiment of the injection station 110 is depicted in FIG. Figure 6 is a three-dimensional diagram of the injection station 110-1. Figure 7 is a three-dimensional diagram of the supporting device 130-1, Figure 8 1 is a perspective view of the injection bracket 120-1 removed from the support device 130-1. The injection bracket 120-1 is mounted on the support device 130-1 for rotating around the bracket axis 121-1. Specifically, the support device includes a base 132-1, a tower 134-1, and support arms 136-1 and 137-1, wherein the injection bracket 120-1 is directly supported by the support arms 136-1 and 137-1 to rotate around the bracket axis 121-1. Figure 6 and Figure 7 Also depicted is a carriage actuator 138 - 1 , which acts on the injection carriage 120 - 1 to rotate the injection carriage 120 - 1 about the carriage axis 121 - 1 .

[0109] The injection bracket 120-1 includes a depth control adjustment mechanism 122-1 (see, e.g. Figure 6 and Figure 8 ), which is used to control the stroke of any injection performed using the poultry processing system as described herein and therefore control the depth of any injection. Although not required, the depth control mechanism 122-1 can be similar to or operate under similar concepts to those described in conjunction with the injection system discussed in U.S. Patent Application Publication US2020 / 0155289. In addition, in one or more embodiments, the actuators for advancing and retracting the injection needle along the injection axis 111-1 in the injection station described herein can also be similar to those discussed in the above references.

[0110] Figure 6-Figure 9The injection carriage depicted in does not include a mounted injection needle. However, the injection carriage 120-1 does include an injection needle mount 124-1 and a needle guide 114-1 for guiding and controlling movement of the injection needle along the injection axis 111-1. Fig. 9 is a bottom rear perspective view of an injection needle mount 124-1 and needle guide 114-1 of an injection carriage 120-1 depicting an injection axis 111-1 extending from the needle mount 124-1 through the needle guide 114-1 to a delivery site 115-1 on the needle guide 114-1 through which the injection needle extends when the injection needle is mounted on the injection carriage 120-1. In one or more embodiments, the depicted injection needle mount 124-1 can be in the form of a luer fitting that mates with a complementary luer fitting on the injection needle to retain the injection needle in place in the depicted injection station. Other embodiments of the needle mount may use alternative connection devices suitable for attaching the injection needle in an injection carriage of an injection station of a poultry processing system described herein.

[0111] Fig.10 Describes Figure 6-Figure 9 , wherein an injection needle 112 is mounted on a needle mount 124 - 1 of an injection carrier 120 - 1 , wherein the injection needle 112 passes through a needle guide 114 - 1 along an injection axis 111 - 1 . Fig.10 The injection station 110-1 is attached to the system platform 102, wherein the head restraint 5-1 of the bird support 5 is aligned with the injection station 110-1. The bird support 5 and its associated head restraint 5-1 are similar to Figure 3 As discussed herein, the injection station 110-1 includes a needle assembly including an injection needle 112 and a needle guide 114-1. The injection needle 112 is configured to move along an injection axis 111-1 between an injection position and a retracted position. Specifically, when the injection needle is in the injection position, the distal end of the injection needle 112-1 extends out of a delivery site 115-1 of the needle guide 114-1 along the injection axis 111-1 so that the injection needle 112 can be delivered subcutaneously into a bird held in the bird support 5.

[0112] In the depicted embodiment of the injection station 110-1, an optional skin capture assembly 118-1 is disposed proximate the delivery site of the needle guide 114-1, wherein the skin capture assembly 118-1 includes one or more rotating capture members 119-1 configured to capture or gather the skin of a bird positioned in the bird support 5 to facilitate the injection process. Similar devices are described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 10,813,735.

[0113] Fig.10Also depicted is a translated platform axis 107', wherein translation occurs in a plane defined by the rotation of the bird support about the platform axis 107 such that the translated platform axis 107' maintains the same orientation relative to the system platform 102 and other fixed components of the poultry handling system described herein. Fig.10 As depicted in , the translational platform axis 107' is positioned so that it intersects the injection axis 111-1 at the delivery site 115-1 in the needle guide 114-1.

[0114] like Fig.10 As depicted in , the injection carriage of the injection station 110 - 1 is in an actuated position as described herein. When in the actuated position, the injection axis 111 - 1 defines an approach angle α relative to the translational platform axis 107 ′ and is positioned to be delivered subcutaneously into a bird held in the bird support 5 .

[0115] Figure 11-Figure 12 Another illustrative embodiment of an injection station 110-3 is depicted, which is similar to the Figure 4-Figure 5 The injection station 110 is shown in FIG. 1 and is similar to the injection station 110 - 1 except for the features used to install the injection needle in the injection station. Figure 11-Figure 12 To depict the movement of the injection bracket 120-3 of the injection station 110-3 between a standby position and an actuated position, wherein the injection brackets 120-1 and 120-2 of the injection stations 110-1 and 110-2 (respectively) include the same components as the injection bracket 120-3 of the injection station 110-3 and operate in the same manner as the injection bracket 120-3 of the injection station 110-3.

[0116] refer to Fig.11 , the injection station 110 - 3 includes a support device 130 - 3 that supports the injection carriage 120 - 3 for rotation about a carriage axis 121 - 3 using a carriage actuator 138 - 3 as discussed herein. Figure 11-Figure 12 The depicted embodiment of the carriage actuator 138-3 advances and retracts along the actuator axis 131-3 to move the injection carriage 120-3 in a manner such as Fig.11 Its alternate position as depicted in Fig.12 Moves between its actuated positions depicted in .

[0117] The illustrative embodiment of the depicted carriage actuator 138-3 is only one example of a carriage actuator that can be used to move an injection carriage of an injection station between its standby position and an actuated position in a poultry processing system as described herein. Examples of some potentially suitable actuators that can be used for one or more embodiments of the carriage actuator of the injection station used in one or more embodiments of the poultry processing system as described herein can include, for example, hydraulic pistons, solenoids, etc. Any structure that can provide the motion required to move the injection carriage as described herein can be used as an actuator. Some potentially suitable examples can include, for example, reversible motors, reciprocating mechanisms, etc.

[0118] Despite Figure 11-Figure 12 The injection needle is not depicted in conjunction with the injection station 110-3, but in Figure 11-Figure 12 A needle actuator 113-3 is depicted in FIG, and is used to advance and retract the injection needle along an injection axis (e.g., injection axis 111-3) as described herein. Examples of some potentially suitable actuators that can be used for the needle actuator of one or more embodiments of the injection station as described herein can include, for example, hydraulic pistons, solenoids, etc. Any structure that can provide the motion required to move the injection needle as described herein can be used as an actuator. Some potentially suitable examples can include, for example, reversible motors, reciprocating mechanisms, etc.

[0119] Fig.11 The injection bracket 120-3 is depicted in the standby position, while the injection bracket 120-3 is in the Fig.12 The injection bracket is in the actuated position. Fig.11 The alternate positions depicted in Fig.12 The movement between the actuation positions depicted in can be used to provide additional clearance for the bird supports and birds held therein to move into and out of alignment with the injection station 110 as the birds move through the poultry handling systems described herein.

[0120] When the injection bracket 120-3 is in the Fig.11 In the standby position depicted in FIG. 1 , the injection axis 111 - 3 deviates from its position when the injection bracket 120 - 3 is in the actuated position (see, for example, Fig.10 In order to illustrate the different positions of the injection axis 111-3, Fig.11 The injection axis 111-3' and the injection axis 111-3 are depicted in FIG. 1 , wherein the injection axis 111-3' illustrates the position of the injection axis when the injection bracket 120-3 is in the standby position, and the injection axis 111-3 illustrates the position of the injection bracket 120-3 in the actuated position (eg, Fig.12 The position of the injection axis at the time of injection.

[0121] When the injection bracket 120-3 of the injection station 110-3 is in the Fig.12 In the actuated position depicted in FIG. 1 , the injection axis 111 - 3 defines an approach angle α relative to the translational platform axis 107 ′, and as shown in combination with Fig.10 As discussed, the injection axis 111 - 3 is positioned for subcutaneous delivery into a bird held in a bird support 5 .

[0122] Although the injection axis 111-3 defining an approach angle α relative to the platform axis 107 may be useful in conjunction with some birds, it may be beneficial to adjust or change the approach angle (i.e., the angle formed between the injection axis and the platform axis in a poultry handling system about which the bird support (and the bird contained therein) rotates to move into and out of alignment with an injection station as described herein) in a poultry handling system. Although described relative to the platform axis, in one or more embodiments of the poultry handling system as described herein, the approach angle also corresponds to the angle at which the injection needle approaches the bird support aligned with the injection station.

[0123] Adjustment of the approach angle can provide multiple benefits. For example, adjustment of the approach angle can provide more consistent liquid delivery through the injection needle based on the anatomical structure of the bird. For example, if the approach angle is fixed and not adjustable, changes in the anatomical structure of the bird may result in inefficient or ineffective subcutaneous delivery of liquid through the injection needle. When setting up a poultry processing system as described herein, anatomical differences found between different species of birds (e.g., chickens, ducks, turkeys, etc.) or even within the same species can make adjustment of the approach angle advantageous.

[0124] Although various techniques can be used to change or adjust the approach angle on a rotating injection carriage, such as adjusting stops for controlling the rotation of the injection carriage, adjusting the stroke of a carriage actuator, etc., such changes may result in undesirable movement of the location of the delivery site of the injection needle.

[0125] One or more embodiments of the poultry handling systems described herein include features that allow adjustment of the approach angle of the injection needle as described herein without changing the position of the delivery site of the injection needle. During development of the injection station and poultry handling systems described herein, it has been discovered that consistent positioning of the delivery site of the injection needle between different approach angles is beneficial because it avoids the need to change any positioning of the bird support relative to the rest of the poultry handling system (such as, for example, a platform axis, etc.).

[0126] In one or more embodiments of the poultry processing systems described herein, the approach angle of the injection station's injection needle can be achieved using one or more spacers positioned between the base of the injection station and the system platform without changing the location of the injection needle's delivery site.

[0127] The use of shims positioned between the injection station and the system platform to adjust the approach angle as described herein provides an additional advantage in that the injection stations themselves can be consistent, i.e., no additional adjustments are required, which can simplify the manufacture of the injection stations, the setup of poultry handling systems using the injection stations, the replacement of components of the injection stations, etc. Because the shims have a fixed or set size and shape, the use of shims to adjust the approach angle eliminates the need for adjustments that may vary between injection stations due to, for example, human error, slippage (e.g., due to improperly tightened connectors), etc.

[0128] The use of shims to adjust the approach angle is particularly useful in poultry handling systems where the bird supports have a fixed orientation relative to a platform axis or other fixed features of the poultry handling systems described herein, for example. Because the bird supports present the birds held in the bird supports to a handling station of the poultry handling system in a fixed orientation and position relative to a stationary feature, such as, for example, an injection station, the approach angle defined by the injection axis of the injection station is consistent when the injection station is mounted on a system platform without or with the same shims.

[0129] refer to Figure 12-13 , shows the use of shims to adjust the approach angle without changing the position of the delivery site of the injection needle. Specifically, Fig.12 An injection station 110-3 is depicted in which a base 132-3 supporting a device 130-3 is positioned on a neutral spacer 133-3 having a constant thickness measured along the platform axis and, therefore, along the translational platform axis 107'. As a result, the injection axis 111-3 defines an approach angle α with the translational platform axis 107'. A delivery site 115-3 defined in the needle guide 114-3 is located at the intersection between the translational platform axis 107' and the injection axis 111-3. In use, the neutral spacer 133-3 is typically, but not necessarily, located directly on the system platform 102 (see, e.g., Figure 4 The corner of the neutral pad positioned between the injection station 110-2 and the system platform 102).

[0130] When used, a neutral shim, such as neutral shim 133-3, simply raises the delivery site of the injection station in the direction of the platform axis. In one or more embodiments, the shim can also be used to move the delivery site of the injection station toward or away from the platform axis as needed.

[0131] refer to Fig.13, the wedge shim 133-3' rotates the injection axis 111-3 of the injection station 110-3 to form an adjusted approach angle β with the translating platform axis 107' (and therefore the platform axis 107) so that the injection needle approaches the bird support member aligned with the injection station 110-3 at the adjusted approach angle.

[0132] Although the injection station 110-3 and its injection axis 111-3 are rotated by the spacer 133-3', the position of the delivery site of the injection needle as represented by the delivery site opening 115-3 in the needle guide 114-3 remains constant relative to any selected fixed position within the poultry handling system.

[0133] Although the wedge shim 133-3' only rotates the injection axis 111-3 relative to the neutral shim 133-3, if needed or desired, one or more alternative embodiments of shims that can be used to rotate the injection axis of an injection station in a poultry processing system as described herein can be used to both rotate the injection axis and raise or lower the position of the delivery site relative to the platform axis.

[0134] Furthermore, although described as constant, the precise location of the delivery site of the injection needle of the injection station of the poultry handling system may move slightly between different approach angles when a shim is used to rotate the injection axis, but the location of the delivery site remains functionally constant relative to other fixed features of the poultry handling system, such as, for example, the platform axis, bird support location, etc. Functionally constant means that the efficacy or effectiveness of the injection system is not substantially altered by any such slight movement of the delivery site between different approach angles.

[0135] The range of representative approach angles that can be used for one or more poultry handling systems as described herein can be 10 degrees or more, 12 degrees or more, 15 degrees or more, or 20 degrees or more at the lower end. At the upper end, the range of representative approach angles that can be used for one or more poultry handling systems as described herein can be 30° or less, 27° or less, 24° or less, 21° or less, 18° or less, or 15° or less. However, the variation in approach angle can be driven by the orientation of the poultry supports and the poultry located therein between different poultry handling systems, and these representative angles are only one set of approach angles that can be useful in poultry handling systems as described herein.

[0136] Although described as rotating the approach angle, it must be understood that the position of the delivery site of the injection needle when the approach angle is rotated is depicted without the bird being aligned with the injection station. The injection station is typically designed so that the bird will occupy the position of the delivery site and itself may change the approach angle because the injection carriage will be blocked from reaching e.g. Fig.12 and Fig.13However, Fig.13 The spacer 133-3' will result in an approach angle different from that caused by, for example Fig.12 The neutral gasket 133-3 provides an approach angle.

[0137] One or more embodiments of the injection station of one or more embodiments of the poultry handling systems described herein may include a carriage dampener to limit the speed, and therefore the impact energy, imparted to the bird by the injection carriage as the injection carriage moves from the standby position to the actuated position. Figure 14-18 One illustrative embodiment of a carriage dampener that may be used in an injection station is depicted.

[0138] Fig.14 yes Figure 4-Figure 6 . The injection station 110-1 includes an injection carriage 120-1, as described herein, which is configured to carry an injection needle for movement along an injection axis 111-1. The injection carriage 120-1 is supported by support arms 136-1 and 137-1 and rotates between the support arms about the carriage axis 121-1 between a standby position and an actuated position, as in combination with, for example, Figure 11-Figure 12 As described in the injection station 110-3 depicted in FIG.

[0139] As discussed herein, the illustrated embodiment of the injection station 110 - 1 includes an optional skin capture assembly 118 - 1 . Fig.15 is an enlarged rear side view of the skin capture assembly 118-1, Fig.16 The skin capture assembly 118-1 is moved along the injection axis 111-1 from Fig.14 1. An enlarged view of a skin capture assembly 118-1 depicted in FIG. The skin capture assembly 118-1 includes a capture member 119-1 configured to capture or gather the skin of a bird positioned in the bird support 5 to facilitate the injection process, as described, for example, in U.S. Patent 10,813,735. In the illustrative embodiment depicted, the two capture members 119-1 are configured to rotate about their respective axes 117-1.

[0140] The delivery site 115-1 in the needle guide 114-1 is positioned so that when the injection needle attached to the needle mount 124-1 advances and exits from the delivery site 115-1 in the needle guide 114-1 after operation of the skin capture assembly 118-1, the injection needle pierces the skin gathered by the rotating capture member 119-1.

[0141] The capture member 119-1 of the skin capture assembly 118-1 is rotated by a drive system 116-1 contained at the end of the injection cradle 120-1. In the illustrative embodiment depicted, the drive system 116-1 is a pneumatically driven drive system, where compressed air is provided at a port 116-2 on the injection cradle 120-1.

[0142] While the skin capture assembly 118-1 provides the advantage of efficient and repeatable subcutaneous delivery of an injection needle along the injection axis 111-1, the mass of the skin capture assembly 118-1 is sufficient so that when the injection bracket 120-1 is moved to its actuated position as described herein, damping or control of the rotational speed of the injection bracket 120-1 can limit the impact forces on a bird in a poultry support aligned with the injection station 110-1.

[0143] In the exemplary embodiment of the depicted injection station 110-1, the rotational speed of the injection carriage 120-1 is controlled by Fig.14 The carriage damper 140 depicted in FIG. 1 provides a rotational damper. In one or more embodiments, the carriage damper may be described as a rotational damper because it limits the rotational speed of the injection carriage 120 - 1 about the carriage axis 121 - 1 .

[0144] In one or more embodiments, it may be preferred that the carriage damper 140 is a one-way damper that controls the rotational speed of the injection carriage 120-1 when moving from the standby position to the actuated position, but does not limit the rotational speed of the injection carriage 120-1 when moving in the opposite direction (i.e., when moving from the actuated position to the standby position). Using a one-way damper may be beneficial because moving the injection carriage 120-1 away from the bird while the bird is restrained more quickly (i.e., without damping) may allow for reduced cycle times (i.e., faster) when the bird support is moved into and out of alignment with the injection station as described herein.

[0145] exist Figure 17-Figure 18 Components of an exemplary embodiment of the bracket damper 140 are depicted separately. Specifically, Fig.17 The support device 130-1 of the injection station 110-1 is depicted, wherein the injection bracket 120-1 is removed. Fig.17 142 is exposed. The depicted embodiment of the damper unit 142 includes a gear 143 operably attached to a housing 144 containing the damping device. Specifically, rotation of the gear 143 about the damping axis 141 is hindered. Such rotational damping devices are well known and will not be described further herein.

[0146] refer to Fig.18, a complementary gear segment 145 is attached to the injection carriage 120 - 1 , wherein the gear segment 145 includes teeth 146 configured to mesh with the gear 143 on the damper unit 142 when assembled in the injection station 110 - 1 .

[0147] As the injection bracket 120-1 rotates about the bracket axis 121-1 to move the injection bracket from its standby position to its actuated position, components of the bracket damper 140 cooperate to limit or reduce the speed of the injection bracket 120-1 and thereby reduce the impact energy applied by the skin capture assembly 118-1 on a poultry held in a poultry support aligned with the injection station 110-1.

[0148] Figure 4-Figure 5 The exemplary embodiment of the injection station 110-2 depicted in Fig.19 The injection station 110-2 includes an injection carriage 120-2 operably attached to a support device 130-2. The support device includes a base 132-2, a tower 134-2, and support arms 136-2 and 137-2, wherein the injection carriage 120-2 is directly supported by the support arms 136-2 and 137-2 to rotate around a carriage axis 121-2. Fig.19 Also depicted is a carriage actuator 138 - 2 , which acts on the injection carriage 120 - 2 to rotate the injection carriage 120 - 2 about the carriage axis 121 - 2 . Fig. 20 A side view of the injection carriage 120-2 removed from the injection station 110-2 is depicted in Figure 19-20 Injection axis 111 - 2 is depicted in FIG.

[0149] The injection carriage 120-2 does not include an injection needle mount, as seen in conjunction with the injection carriage 120-1 of the injection station 110-1 described above. The injection carriage 120-2 does not include an injection needle mount, as it is designed to receive a needle carrier, which itself is configured to receive an injection needle.

[0150] An exemplary embodiment of the needle carrier 150 is Figure 20-22 Specifically, Fig. 20 A side view of the needle carrier 150 is included with the injection axis 111-2' extending through the needle carrier 150 to help understand the position of the needle carrier 150 when properly inserted into the injection bracket 120-2 (it should be understood that the injection axis 111-2' is coextensive with the injection axis 111-2 extending through the injection bracket 120-2).

[0151] The needle carrier 150 includes a pair of ports 152 configured for connection to a fluid delivery system and an injection needle mount 154. In one or more embodiments, the depicted injection needle mount 154 may be in the form of a luer fitting that mates with a complementary luer fitting on an injection needle to hold the injection needle in place in the depicted injection station. Other embodiments of the needle mount may use alternative connection devices suitable for attaching an injection needle to a needle carrier used in an injection bracket of an injection station of a poultry processing system described herein.

[0152] The ports 152 of the needle carrier 150 are in fluid communication with the injection needle mount 154, such that fluid delivered into the needle carrier 150 through any of the ports 152 flows out of the needle carrier 150 through the injection needle mount 154 to be delivered to the injection needle attached to the needle carrier 150. In one or more embodiments, the needle carrier 150 may include one or more check valves or other fluid control components to control the flow of fluid through the needle carrier 150, as described, for example, in International Publication No. WO 2021 / 211403, entitled "SINGLE NEEDLE SEQUENTIAL INJECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS."

[0153] The depicted exemplary embodiment of the needle carrier 150 includes a hole 158 (see, e.g., Fig.21 ), and the injection bracket 120-2 includes a pin 156, which is sized and positioned to be received in the hole 158 of the needle carrier 150 when the needle carrier 150 is properly inserted into the injection bracket 120-2. When the needle carrier 150 is properly inserted into the injection bracket 120-2, the needle mount 154 is aligned along the injection axis 111-2, so that the injection needle attached to the needle mount 154 moves along the injection axis 111-2, as described in conjunction with the poultry processing system described herein.

[0154] Figure 20-Figure 22 The dual port needle carrier 150 depicted in can be used for poultry processing systems, in which different fluids will be delivered using a single injection needle. Typically, the different fluids will be delivered to the same bird in the bird support aligned with the injection station 110-2, but this is not required.

[0155] Figure 23-Figure 24 The injection station 110-2 is depicted in position on the system platform 102, as also shown in FIG. Figure 4-Figure 5 As depicted. Figure 23-Figure 24 Also depicted is a pair of pumps for delivering fluid to one or more injection stations located on the system platform 102 . Figure 23-Figure 24 The poultry handling system depicted in includes two different pump assemblies, including a peristaltic pump assembly 170 and a piston pump assembly 180 .

[0156] In one or more embodiments of the poultry handling systems described herein, in which an injection station is provided for delivering different liquids via subcutaneous (or other) needle-based injection, delivering different liquids having significantly different properties may require that the liquids be delivered at different pressures, temperatures, etc. Delivering different liquids at different pressures, temperatures, etc. may, for example, ensure that appropriate volumes of liquid are delivered, improve the effectiveness of delivery, etc. The different liquids delivered using the injection stations described herein may also have different properties, such as, for example, viscosity, density, different carrier liquids (e.g., oil-based carrier vs. water-based carrier), etc. These different properties may or may not result in liquids that are not suitable for mixing prior to delivery to the poultry, and thus they are preferably delivered using a dual-port needle carrier, such as Figure 20-Figure 22 As depicted in .

[0157] As combined Figure 23-Figure 24 As depicted in the illustrative embodiment of the poultry processing system of the invention, providing two different pump assemblies on the pump base 160 can provide the ability to deliver different liquids having different properties and / or requiring delivery under different conditions. Although the illustrated embodiment of the pump assembly is in the form of a peristaltic pump assembly 170 and a piston pump assembly 180, one or more embodiments of the poultry processing system as described herein including an injection station requiring a pump can include any suitable pump assembly in place of the depicted piston pump assembly 180 and peristaltic pump assembly 170. One or more alternatives for delivering fluids to the injection needles and injection stations of the poultry processing system as described herein can include, for example, diaphragm pumps, pressurized air bags, etc.

[0158] Figure 23-Figure 24 The depicted illustrative embodiment of the poultry processing system seen in includes space for up to four different injection stations on the system platform 100, wherein each injection station is attached to the system platform 102 at a mounting location 109 on the system platform 102. Specifically, Fig.24 Depicted are three additional mounting locations 109 on the system platform 102, noting that the rightmost mounting location 109 is Figure 4-Figure 5 It is occupied by injection station 110-1.

[0159] Each pump assembly has the ability to deliver fluid to each of the four different injection stations in the event that there is space for up to four different injection stations on the system platform 102. Specifically, the peristaltic pump assembly 170 includes four outlets 172, each of which can be fluidly connected to one of the injection stations mounted on the system platform 102. Similarly, the piston pump assembly 180 includes a set of four piston pumps 184, each of which includes an outlet 182 that can be fluidly connected to one of the injection stations mounted on the system platform 102.

[0160] although Figure 23-Figure 24 The depicted illustrative embodiment of the poultry handling system seen in includes two different pump assemblies, but in one or more alternative embodiments, the poultry handling system may include two identical pump assemblies, namely a pair of peristaltic pump assemblies or a pair of piston pump assemblies. Fig.24 As can be seen, the peristaltic pump assembly 170 is located on the right side of the pumping base 160 and the piston pump assembly 180 is located on the left side of the pumping base 160, but the positions of the pump assemblies can be swapped so that the peristaltic pump assembly 170 is located on the left side of the pumping base 160 and the piston pump assembly 180 is located on the right side of the pumping base 160.

[0161] In one or more embodiments of the poultry handling systems described herein that provide a pump assembly for delivering fluids using, for example, an injection station, the pumping base 160 may be configured to receive a variety of different pump assemblies and preferably quickly and accurately accommodate those different pump assemblies.

[0162] The depicted pumping base 160 is adapted to deliver a pneumatic fluid (eg, air or any other suitable gas) to power a pump assembly located on the pumping base 160. Figure 25-26 , the pumping base 160 includes a pump assembly surface 162 located on or above a manifold 165 configured to deliver pneumatic fluid to a plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports 164 opening on the pump assembly surface 162. The pneumatic fluid may be delivered to the manifold 165 by, for example, a pneumatic connection not depicted.

[0163] The depicted illustrative embodiment of the pumping base 160 includes a pair of mounting members 163 on the pump assembly surface 162, wherein each mounting member 163 includes a plurality of mounting members 163 formed by a plurality of mounting members 163 and a plurality of mounting members 163. Fig.26 163. Within the perimeter of each mounting member 163, the actuating fluid delivery ports 164 define a delivery port pattern. To facilitate receiving a variety of different pump assemblies, each mounting member 163 includes a set of actuating fluid delivery ports 164 that define the same delivery port pattern within the corresponding mounting perimeter. As a result, different pump assemblies requiring different actuating fluid delivery ports 164 can be interchanged on each mounting member 163, as described herein.

[0164] Fig.27A Depicting the bottom surface of the piston pump assembly 180, Fig.27B The bottom surface of the peristaltic pump assembly 170 is depicted. The bottom surface of the piston pump assembly 180 is formed on a base 183, as shown in FIG. Fig.23 and Fig.24 As depicted in FIG. 1 , the bottom surface of the peristaltic pump assembly 170 is formed on the base 173, as shown in FIG. Fig.23 and Fig.24The base 183 of the piston pump assembly 180 includes a set of piston pump ports 185 that provide passage for pneumatic fluid delivered from the pumping base 160 to operate the piston pump 184 of the piston pump assembly 180 .

[0165] like Fig.27A The base 183 of the piston pump assembly 180 depicted in the drawing also includes a component 186 of a pump identification system. When the base 183 of the piston pump assembly 180 is aligned on any of the pump mounts 163, the identification system component 186 is positioned so that it is aligned with a complementary identification system component 166 in the pump mount 163 on the pumping base 160, so that the piston pump ports 185 in the base 183 are aligned with a selected group of actuation fluid delivery ports 164 in the pump mount 163 on the pumping base 160.

[0166] Similarly, if Fig.27B The base 173 of the peristaltic pump assembly 170 depicted in FIG also includes an identification system component 176 located in the base 173. When the base 173 of the peristaltic pump assembly 170 is aligned on any of the pump mounts 163, the identification system component 176 is positioned so that it aligns with a complementary identification system component 166 in the pump mount 163 on the pumping base 160, so that the peristaltic pump ports 175 in the base 173 are aligned with a selected group of actuation fluid delivery ports 164 within the pump mount 163 on the pumping base 160.

[0167] Fig.28 A sealing plate 178 is depicted that can be positioned on the pump mount 163 when only one pump assembly is required for the poultry processing system. In one or more embodiments, the sealing plate 178 includes an identification system component 179 positioned on the sealing plate 178 so that when the sealing plate 178 is aligned on any of the pump mounts 163, the identification system component 179 is aligned with a complementary identification system component 166 in the pump mount 163 on the pump base 160.

[0168] Fig.291 is a schematic block diagram of a control system that can be used in conjunction with a pumping base of a poultry processing system as described herein to control the delivery of a fluid using a pump assembly mounted on the pumping base. The system can include a controller 168 operably connected to an actuation fluid delivery system 169. The controller 168 can be configured to receive a signal from an identification system component and operate the actuation fluid delivery system to deliver an actuation fluid to a selected delivery port 164 on the pumping base 160. Specifically, the controller 168 can be configured to receive a signal from a first identification component associated with a left pump mount 163 on the pumping base 160, and based on the signal, deliver the actuation fluid to a selected set of delivery ports 164 located in the periphery of the left pump mount 163. The controller 168 can be configured to receive a signal from a second identification component associated with a right pump mount 163 on the pumping base 160, and based on the signal, deliver the actuation fluid to a selected set of delivery ports 164 located in the periphery of the right pump mount 163.

[0169] In one or more embodiments, the signals provided by the identification components associated with different pump mounts and / or pump assemblies can result in the delivery of actuating fluid to different groups of delivery ports 164 in the periphery of different pump mounts 163 based on the requirements or needs of the type of pump assembly positioned on the pump mount of the pumping base 160. For example, a selected group of four delivery ports 164 in each pump mount 163 can be used to deliver actuating fluid to ports 185 on the base 183 of the piston pump assembly, such as Fig.29 and Fig.27A As depicted in FIG. 1 , a selected set of two delivery ports 164 in each pump mount 163 can be used to deliver actuating fluid to ports 175 on a base 173 of a peristaltic pump assembly, such as Fig.29 and Fig.27B As described in .

[0170] In one or more embodiments of the poultry handling system described herein that includes a pump identification system, the pump identification system may include a reader component and an identifier component. In one or more embodiments, the identifier component may be attached to the pump assembly and the reader component may be attached to the pumping base. In one or more alternative embodiments, the identifier component may be attached to the pumping base and the reader component may be attached to the pump assembly. Regardless of the location of the different components of the pump identification system, the pump identification system is configured to deliver a signal to the controller 168 indicating the type of pump assembly located on the selected pump mount so that the controller can operate the actuation fluid delivery system 169 to deliver the actuation fluid to a selected set of delivery ports 164 of the selected pump mount.

[0171] The components of the pump identification system used in one or more embodiments of the poultry handling systems described herein may take any suitable form. In one or more embodiments, the components associated with the pump assembly may take the form of an EEPROM unit, with complementary components located on the pumping base to receive information from the EEPROM unit and provide appropriate signals to the controller 168. Other potential suitable alternative embodiments of the pump identification system may use a bar code, a QR code, an RFID tag / device, a near field communication (NFC) tag / device, or any other suitable technology capable of identifying the type of pump assembly located on the pumping base and providing a signal to the controller as needed to control the actuation of the fluid delivery system.

[0172] The controller 168 used in one or more embodiments of the poultry processing system as described herein can be provided in any suitable form, and can, for example, include a memory and a controller. The controller can be, for example, in the form of one or more microprocessors, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontrollers, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) state machines, etc. The controller can include one or more any suitable input devices (e.g., keyboards, touch screens, mice, trackballs, etc.) configured to allow a user to operate the device, and a display device (e.g., a monitor (which may or may not be a touch screen), indicator lights, etc.) configured to convey information to the user.

[0173] Fig.30 An illustrative embodiment of a pump assembly including a set of piston pumps that can be used in one or more embodiments of the poultry processing system described herein is depicted in . The pump assembly 180 includes a set of piston pumps 184, each piston pump 184 including an outlet 182 and an inlet 187, wherein fluid to be pumped enters the piston pump 184 through their respective inlet 187 and is discharged from the piston pump 184 through their respective outlet 182. As discussed herein, the outlet 182 of the piston pump can be attached to one or more injection stations disposed in a poultry processing system as described herein, so that the fluid entering the piston pump through the inlet 187 can be delivered through the outlet 182 to an injection needle of an injection station of the poultry processing system.

[0174] Each piston pump 184 of the pump assembly 180 is aligned along the piston axis 181 above the pump base 200, wherein each piston pump 184 is aligned with the piston driver 202 on the pump base 200. The piston pump 184 is held in place above the pump base 200 and the piston driver 202 by a clamping device, which includes a fixed bracket 188-1 and a movable bracket 188-2, wherein the fixed bracket 188-1 is supported at a fixed position above the pump base 200, and the movable bracket 188-2 is urged in the direction of the fixed bracket 188-1 by a biasing member 189 (which may be in the form of, for example, a compression spring or any other suitable biasing device, such as, for example, an elastomeric member, a compressible bladder, etc.). As a result, a portion of the piston pump 184 is clamped between the fixed bracket 188-1 and the movable bracket 188-2 to hold the piston pump appropriately positioned above the piston driver 202 of the pump base 200.

[0175] Figure 31-Figure 32 An illustrative embodiment of a piston pump that can be used in a piston pump assembly of a poultry processing system as described herein is depicted in . The depicted piston pump 184 includes a housing 192 defining a piston chamber 193 and a chamber inlet 187 in fluid communication with the piston chamber 193 and a chamber outlet 182 also in fluid communication with the piston chamber 193 .

[0176] In one or more embodiments, a flow control device 187-1 is provided to prevent fluid from leaving the piston chamber 193 through the chamber inlet 187. In the depicted embodiment, the flow control device 187-1 is in the form of a check valve, and more specifically in the form of a ball valve, but any suitable check valve or other one-way fluid control device may be substituted for the depicted ball valve, such as a diaphragm check valve, a swing / tilt disc check valve, a flap valve, a duckbill valve, etc.

[0177] The piston 194 is configured to move within the piston chamber along the piston axis 181. The piston 194 includes a front end 195 located within the piston chamber 193 and a rear end 196 located outside the piston chamber 193. Movement of the front end 195 of the piston 194 within the piston chamber 193 along the piston axis 181 toward the chamber outlet 182 forces the fluid in the piston chamber 193 to leave the piston chamber 193 through the chamber outlet 182. In one or more embodiments, a flow control device may be provided between the piston chamber 193 and the chamber outlet 182 to provide additional control of the fluid flowing into and / or out of the piston chamber 193.

[0178] In the exemplary embodiment depicted, chamber outlet 182 is aligned with piston axis 181, wherein the alignment potentially provides an improvement in fluid flow out of chamber outlet 182. In one or more embodiments, providing a relatively straight fluid flow out of piston pump 184 can reduce turbulence in the fluid flow. This reduced turbulence can be advantageous when the fluid being conveyed using piston pump 184 is sensitive to turbulence.

[0179] The front end 195 of the piston 194 advances Fig.32 The amount of fluid delivered by the piston pump 184 through the chamber outlet 182 is defined by the difference between the position of the front end 195 of the piston pump 194 and the position of the front end of the piston 194 as depicted by the dashed line 195'.

[0180] The depicted piston pump 184 also includes a biasing device 197 configured to move the piston 194 to a stationary position. Figure 31-Figure 32 As depicted in FIG. 1 , the piston 194 of the depicted piston pump 184 is in its rest position, wherein the rest position of the piston 194 provides a rest volume in the piston chamber 193. Fig.32 As seen in FIG. 1 , when the piston 194 is in the rest position, the rest volume is defined by the rest distance measured between the front end 195 of the piston 194 within the piston chamber 193 and an end stop 193' located in the piston chamber 193. The end stop 193' is a position past which the end 195 of the piston 194 cannot advance due to mechanical resistance with the structure within the piston chamber 193. In other words, within the piston chamber 193, the piston 194 will reach its lowest point at the end stop 193' and will not advance any further.

[0181] The biasing device 197 depicted in conjunction with the piston pump 184 is in the form of a coil spring, although any suitable biasing device may be used to move the piston 194 to its resting position in the piston pump, as described herein. Other potential examples of suitable biasing devices include, but are not limited to, elastomeric members, pressurized air bags, pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, solenoid devices, magnetic devices, etc.

[0182] Controlling the delivery of precise doses of fluid using a piston pump is difficult when control is provided only by attempting to precisely control the stroke distance of the piston within the piston pump between piston pump actuation cycles, particularly when the volume of fluid delivered by the piston pump needs to be changed. In the poultry processing system described herein, by removing piston stroke control from an external position of the piston pump, a dosing disc can be used to provide precise control of the amount of fluid delivered using the piston pump of the poultry processing system described herein. In one or more embodiments, the dosing disc has a selected height corresponding to a selected stroke distance, which in turn corresponds to a selected volume within the piston chamber, such that the stroke distance of the piston within the piston pump can be precisely controlled using a dosing disc having a known height.

[0183] Figure 33-Figure 34 Depicted in Fig.30 1 and 10. The piston pump assembly 180 is shown with one of the piston pumps 184 removed. The missing piston pump 184 exposes the piston driver 202 of the pump base 200. When the piston pump 184 is located within the piston pump assembly 180, when the piston driver 202 is in the forward position (eg, Figure 33-Figure 34 ) and the piston 194 is in its rest position (also as Figure 33-Figure 34 as well as Fig.31 32 ), the piston driver 202 is adjacent to the rear end 196 of the piston 194 in the piston pump 184 (see, for example, Figure 31-Figure 32 ).

[0184] Removing the piston pump 184 from one of the piston drivers 202 exposes the cavity 203 in the piston driver 202. As will be described herein, the cavity 203 and piston driver 202 can be used to secure a dose disk 206 to the piston driver 202. Adding the dose disk 206 to the piston driver 202 raises the height of the piston driver so that when the piston driver 202 is in its advanced position, the terminal end 196 of the piston pump 184 positioned on the dose disk 206 is closer to the chamber outlet 182 to provide dose control using a piston pump as described herein.

[0185] Figure 35-Figure 37 Depicted is the operation and effect of a dose disc on a piston pump in a pump assembly of a multi-processing system as described herein. Figure 35-Figure 37 , the pump base 200 is depicted in a partial cross-sectional view, with the piston driver 202 and the dose disc 206 (when present) also depicted in a cross-sectional view.

[0186] Fig.35 The piston pump 184 is depicted on the piston driver 202 with the piston 194 in its rest position, as shown in conjunction with FIG. Figure 31-Figure 32In the rest position, the rear end 196 of the piston 194 is located near the piston driver 202. Fig.35 Also depicted is the cavity 203 in the piston driver 202. Fig.35 The pump base 200 depicted in FIG. 1 includes a cavity 204 in which the piston driver 202 moves when the piston driver 202 moves from its advanced position, such as Fig.35 (Note that the piston driver 202 of the pump base 200 is also in the forward position, as shown in FIG. Fig.30 and Figure 33-Figure 34 as described in ).

[0187] The depicted illustrative embodiment of the piston driver 202 includes a shoulder 209 that is configured to extend from the piston driver 202 to the shoulder 209 when the piston driver 202 is in a position such as Fig.35 When seen in its advanced position, the shoulder 209 is in abutting relationship with a stop 208 disposed in the piston driver cavity 204. In the depicted embodiment of the pump base 200, the stop 208 is disposed in the cover plate 200' facing the piston pump 184, but such a configuration is not required.

[0188] The depicted pump base 200 includes features configured to provide pneumatic actuation of the piston driver 202. Specifically, the piston driver chamber 204 is supplied by an inlet 205 that delivers air or any other suitable gas into the piston driver chamber 204 to move the piston driver 202 from the piston driver chamber 204 to the piston driver chamber 204. Fig.36 The static position seen moves to Fig.35 Its forward position as depicted in .

[0189] refer to Fig.36 , the dosage disk 206 is located between the piston driver 202 and the rear end 196 of the piston 194 of the piston pump 184. The dosage disk 206 has a selected height measured along the piston axis 181, which corresponds to a selected volume between the front end 195 of the piston 194 and the chamber outlet 182 in the piston chamber 193 of the piston pump 184, so that the piston 194 moves toward the chamber outlet 182. The stroke distance is equal to the height of the dosage disk 206, thereby moving a selected volume of fluid out of the piston chamber 193 through the chamber outlet 182.

[0190] The depicted dose disc 206 includes a rod 207 configured to be received in a cavity 203 provided in the piston driver 202, noting that the cavity 203 is Fig.33 Providing the dose disc 206 with a rod 207 configured to be located within the cavity 203 in the piston driver 202 ensures that the dose disc 206 remains correctly positioned between the piston driver 202 and the rear end 196 of the piston pump. Fig.36As depicted in FIG. 2 , the shoulder 209 on the piston driver 202 is spaced from the stop 208 disposed in the piston driver cavity 204. Fig.36 As seen in FIG. 1 , the dose disc 206 and the piston driver 202 are displaced to the right by the biasing device 197 of the piston pump 184. Fig.36 In one or more of the embodiments depicted in , free movement of the piston driver 202 within the piston driver chamber 204 is constrained by friction between a seal on the piston driver 202 and an inner surface of the piston driver chamber 204 .

[0191] refer to Fig.37 , the piston actuator is operated to bias or force the piston driver 202 toward the advanced position using a pumping force that is greater than the biasing force provided by the biasing device 197 of the piston pump 184. The pumping force provided by the piston actuator is large enough that when the dose disk 206 is located between the piston driver 202 and the rear end 196 of the piston 194, the piston driver 202 moves toward the advanced position and the piston 194 moves toward the chamber outlet over a stroke distance. In the depicted embodiment, the stroke distance is equal to the height of the dose disk 206 as measured along the piston axis 181.

[0192] Because the dose disk 206 moves the shoulder 209 of the piston driver 202 away from the stop 208 in the piston driver cavity 204 a distance equal to the height of the dose disk 206, operation of the piston actuator causes the piston driver 202 and the dose disk 206 to move the piston 194 toward the piston pump 184 a distance equal to, but not greater than, the height of the dose disk 206 as measured along the piston axis 181. As a result, the height of the dose disk 206 sets the stroke volume of the piston pump 184, and therefore also sets the volume of fluid delivered by the piston pump 184 during actuation of the piston driver 202.

[0193] More importantly, as described herein, the combination of the dose disk and piston driver provides precise and repeatable control of the stroke distance of the piston in a piston pump having a fixed or known advanced position provided by the stop 208 and shoulder 209 described herein. Precise and repeatable control of the stroke distance in turn provides precise and repeatable control of the volume of fluid delivered using the piston pumps described herein because the stroke distance is fixed based on the height of the dose disk.

[0194] exist Fig.38An illustrative embodiment of a control system and a set of piston actuators that may be used with one or more embodiments of a piston pump assembly of a poultry processing system as described herein is depicted in the schematic block diagram of . The control system includes a controller 268 operably connected to each piston actuator 269. In the depicted embodiment, a set of four piston actuators 269 is depicted because the illustrative embodiment of the piston assembly 180 includes four piston pumps. Providing a piston actuator for each piston pump provides control of individual actuation of each piston pump, which, while may be preferred, is not necessary for proper operation of the poultry processing system as described herein.

[0195] As discussed herein, the piston actuator 269 may be in the form of a fluid actuator in which a pressurized fluid is delivered to the piston driver chamber 204. In one or more embodiments, the pressurized fluid may be in the form of air such that the piston actuator is a pneumatic actuator, but it will be appreciated that any suitable alternative mechanism or technology may be used to drive the piston driver, including but not limited to solenoids, hydraulics, cams driven by rotary motors (electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, etc.), and the like.

[0196] Figure 39A-Figure 39B Depicted are grouped dose discs 206 that may be provided for use in a piston pump assembly of a poultry processing system as described herein. By way of example only, a dose disc 206-1 may have a height measured along a representative piston axis 181 that is equal to a first selected volume of fluid delivered by a piston pump as described herein. A dose disc 206-2 has a second height measured along a representative piston axis 181 that is equal to a second selected volume of fluid delivered by a piston pump as described herein. A dose disc 206-3 has a third height measured along a representative piston axis 181 that is equal to a third selected volume of fluid delivered by a piston pump as described herein. The dose disc 206-1 having the shortest height delivers the least amount of fluid, while the dose disc 206-3 having the greatest height delivers the greatest amount of fluid, with a dose disc 206-2 having an intermediate height delivering an intermediate volume of fluid.

[0197] Each of the dose discs 206 - 1 , 206 - 2 , and 206 - 3 preferably includes a rod 207 - 1 , 207 - 2 , and 207 - 3 (respectively) configured to be inserted into the cavity 203 of the piston driver 202 as described herein to help retain the dose disc on the piston driver 202 .

[0198] Although a dose disc alone can be used to control the volume of fluid delivered using a piston pump as described herein, Fig.40A shim is depicted that may be used in conjunction with a dose disc to regulate the volume of fluid delivered by a piston pump and / or to facilitate proper operation of the dose disc in situations where the rear end 196 of the piston 194 of the piston pump 184 does not contact the piston driver 202 when the piston driver 202 is in its advanced position as described herein.

[0199] Specifically, Fig.40 A cover plate 200' and a pair of piston drivers 202 and a set of gaskets 210-1 and 210-2 are depicted. Fig.40 The piston driver 202 on the left side of the assembly depicted in FIG. 2 comprises a cavity 203 extending from an upper surface 202′ thereof into the piston driver 202 . Fig.40 The piston driver 202 on the right side of the assembly depicted in FIG. 1 comprises a piston driver having a cavity 203, wherein a gasket 210-1 is located on an upper surface 202' of the piston driver 202. The gasket 210-1 comprises a hole 213-1 corresponding to the cavity 203 in the piston driver 202, so as to allow the rod of the dose disc to be inserted into the cavity 203.

[0200] Because the purpose of gaskets 210-1 and 210-2 is to provide finer regulation of the volume of fluid delivered by the piston pump of the poultry processing system described herein and / or to provide appropriate spacing between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston as described herein, the height of the gasket as measured along the piston axis 181 is typically significantly less than the height of the dosing disc.

[0201] By way of example only, dose disc 206-1 may have a height that provides a fluid volume equal to 0.15 mL when used with a piston pump 184 as described herein, dose disc 206-2 may have a height that provides a fluid volume equal to 0.2 mL when used with a piston pump 184 as described herein, and dose disc 206-3 may have a height that provides a fluid volume equal to 0.5 mL when used with a piston pump 184 as described herein. In contrast, shim 210-1 may have a height that provides a fluid volume equal to 0.005 mL when used with a piston pump 184 as described herein, and shim 210-2 may have a height that provides a fluid volume equal to 0.010 mL when used with a piston pump 184 as described herein. Thus, shims may be used to provide fluid volumes between the fluid volumes provided by different dose discs.

[0202] As discussed herein, it may be preferred that when the piston driver 202 is in its advanced position and the piston 194 of the piston pump 184 is in its rest position, the piston driver 202 contacts the rear end 196 of the piston 194 such that there is no gap between the piston driver 202 and the rear end 196 of the piston 194. Due to manufacturing tolerances (and possibly other factors), such tight control may not be achieved in all cases. In fact, in some cases, it may be preferred that the piston driver 202 does not contact the rear end 196 of the piston 194 such that there is a gap between the piston driver 202 and the rear end 196 of the piston 194.

[0203] exist Fig.41 This situation is depicted in , where the surface 202 ′ of the piston driver 202 does not contact the rear end 196 of the piston 194 (note that the piston axis 181 is provided for reference).

[0204] refer to Fig.42 , the dose disk 206 is positioned between the surface 202' of the piston driver 202 and the rear end 196 of the piston 194 as described herein. Although the dose disk 206 contacts both the surface 202' of the piston driver 202 and the rear end 196 of the piston 194, movement of the piston driver 202 and the dose disk 206 toward the piston 194 does not result in movement of the piston 194 over the entire height of the dose disk 206 as measured along the piston axis 181. Specifically, the distance moved by the piston 194 is equal to the height of the dose disk 206 minus the height of the gap between the surface 202' of the piston driver 202 and the rear end 196 of the piston 194, as measured along the piston axis 181. Fig.41 As described in .

[0205] To solve this problem, a spacer 210 may be provided between the dose disc 206 and the surface 202' of the piston driver 202 to occupy the height of the gap between the surface 202' of the piston driver 202 and the rear end 196 of the piston 194. Fig.43 , the spacer 210 is located between the surface 202' of the piston driver 202 and the rear end 196 of the piston 194. The height of the spacer 210 is preferably at least as great as the height of the gap between the surface 202' and the rear end 196, such as Fig.41 As described in .

[0206] Fig.44 A spacer 210 is depicted positioned between the dose disc 206 and the piston driver 202, wherein the dose disc 206 contacts the rear end 196 of the piston 194. As a result, the piston driver 202 moves to its actuated position, such as e.g. Fig.37 This causes the piston 194 to move over the full height of the dose disc 206 as seen in FIG.

[0207] Fig.45 Another variation is depicted in which a pair of spacers 210 and 210' are provided between the surface 202' of the piston driver 202 and the rear end 196 of the piston 194. In this arrangement, the spacers 210 may be provided to occupy a space such as Fig.41 , and the shim 210' is arranged to increase the dose delivered during operation of the piston pump by increasing the travel distance of the piston 194 by a distance equal to the height of the shim 210'.

[0208] In one or more embodiments of a piston pump for use in a poultry processing system as described herein, the piston pump may be (e.g., with reference to Fig.32 ) defines a rest volume defined by a rest distance measured between the front end 195 of the piston 194 and an end stop 193' within the piston chamber 193, the end stop 193' being located between the chamber outlet 182 and the front end 195 when the piston 194 is in the rest position. In one or more embodiments, the height of any dose disc used in conjunction with the piston pump is preferably less than or equal to the rest distance to prevent limiting the travel distance due to interference between the end stop 193' and the front end 195 of the piston 194.

[0209] Although depicted as being located between the dose disk 206 and the piston driver 202 , it will be appreciated that any spacer 210 may be disposed on an opposite end of the dose disk 206 such that the spacer 210 is located between the rear end 196 of the piston 194 and the dose disk 206 .

[0210] All references and publications cited herein are expressly incorporated into the present disclosure in their entirety by reference, unless they may be directly contradictory to the present disclosure. Although specific illustrative embodiments are described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various alternative and / or equivalent embodiments may replace the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the present disclosure is not intended to be unduly limited by the illustrative embodiments and examples set forth herein, and these examples and embodiments are presented only by way of example, and the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be limited only by the claims.

Claims

1. A poultry processing system comprising: a system platform and a support ring mounted on a base, wherein the system platform includes an injection section, the injection section including a plurality of mounting locations, wherein one or both of the system platform and the support ring are configured to rotate relative to each other about a platform axis extending through the system platform, the support ring, and the base; a plurality of bird supports mounted on a support ring outside of a perimeter of the system platform, wherein each of the plurality of bird supports is in a selected orientation relative to the platform axis at each of the plurality of mounting locations, wherein rotation of one or both of the system platform and the support ring about the platform axis moves the plurality of bird supports into and out of alignment with the plurality of mounting locations, and wherein each of the plurality of bird supports is configured to hold a bird in a selected orientation relative to the platform axis; an injection station attached to the system platform at a selected mounting location among the plurality of mounting locations, wherein the injection station comprises: a needle assembly comprising an injection needle, a needle guide, and a needle actuator operably connected to the injection needle, wherein the needle actuator is configured to move the injection needle along an injection axis between an injection position and a retracted position, wherein when the injection needle is in the injection position, a distal end of the injection needle extends along the injection axis out of a delivery site of the needle guide; and an injection carriage operably connected to a carriage actuator, wherein the needle assembly, the needle guide, and the needle actuator are mounted on the injection carriage; wherein the carriage actuator is configured to rotate the injection carriage about a carriage axis between a standby position and an actuated position; and wherein when the injection bracket is in the actuated position, the injection axis defines a base approach angle relative to the platform axis such that the injection needle approaches a poultry support positioned at a selected mounting location at the base approach angle; and a spacer configured to be positioned between a base of the injection station and the selected mounting location, wherein, when positioned between the base of the injection station and the selected mounting location, the spacer positions the base above the selected mounting location and rotates an injection axis of the injection station relative to the platform axis to an adjusted approach angle such that the injection needle approaches a poultry support positioned at the selected mounting location at the adjusted approach angle.

2. The poultry processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that When moving between the base approach angle and the adjusted approach angle, the injection axis of the injection station rotates about the delivery site of the needle guide so that the delivery site of the needle guide is positioned at the same position relative to the platform axis when the injection axis is at the base approach angle and when the injection axis is at the adjusted approach angle.

3. The poultry processing system according to claim 2, characterized in that The spacer allows the injection axis to rotate about the delivery site by 2 degrees or more, 5 degrees or more, 10 degrees or more, 15 degrees or more, or 20 degrees or more, and optionally, 30 degrees or less, 25 degrees or less, 20 degrees or less, 15 degrees or less, or 10 degrees or less.

4. The poultry handling system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The injection axis extends through the carrier axis.

5. The poultry handling system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The injection station attached to the system platform at the selected mounting location includes a first injection station of a plurality of injection stations attached to the system platform, wherein the plurality of poultry handling systems include a second injection station attached to the system platform at a second selected mounting location of the plurality of mounting locations, and wherein the second injection station includes: a second needle assembly including a second injection needle, a second needle guide, and a second needle actuator, the second needle actuator being operably connected to the second injection needle, wherein the second needle actuator is configured to move the second injection needle along a second injection axis between an injection position and a retracted position, wherein when the second injection needle is in the second injection position, a distal end of the second injection needle extends out of the second needle guide along the second injection axis. a second delivery position of the guide member, and the second injection station includes a second injection bracket, which is capable of being operably connected to a second bracket actuator, wherein the second needle assembly, the second needle guide and the second needle actuator are mounted on the second injection bracket, wherein the second bracket actuator is configured to rotate the second injection bracket around a second bracket axis between a standby position and an actuated position, and wherein when the second injection bracket is in the actuated position, the second injection axis defines a second basic approach angle relative to the platform axis, so that the second injection needle approaches the poultry support member located at the second selected mounting position at the second basic approach angle, wherein the basic approach angle of the first injection station is the same as the second basic approach angle.

6. The poultry processing system according to claim 5, characterized in that The poultry handling system includes a second gasket configured to be positioned between the base of the second injection station and the second selected mounting location, wherein, when positioned between the base of the second injection station and the second selected mounting location, the second gasket positions the base of the second injection station above the second selected mounting location and rotates the second injection axis of the second injection station relative to the platform axis to a second adjusted approach angle so that the second injection needle approaches the poultry support positioned at the second selected mounting location at the second adjusted approach angle.

7. The poultry processing system according to claim 6, characterized in that The second injection axis of the second injection station rotates about the second delivery site of the second needle guide when moving between the second base approach angle and the second adjusted approach angle such that the second delivery site of the second needle guide is positioned at the same position relative to the platform axis when the second injection axis is at the second base approach angle and when the second injection axis is at the second adjusted approach angle.

8. The poultry handling system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: Each shim of the plurality of shims positions the base and an injection axis of each of the plurality of injection stations at the same selected adjusted angle relative to the platform axis.

9. The poultry handling system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The injection station includes a carriage damper operably connected to the injection carriage, the carriage damper being configured to limit a rotation speed of the injection carriage during rotation of the injection carriage from the standby position to the actuated position.

10. The poultry handling system according to claim 9, characterized in that The carriage damper comprises a one-way damper such that the carriage damper is configured to limit a rotational speed of the injection carriage only during rotation of the injection carriage from the standby position to the actuated position.

11. The poultry processing system according to claim 9, characterized in that The bracket damper includes a rotation damper.

12. The poultry processing system according to claim 9, characterized in that The bracket damper includes a passive damper.

13. The poultry handling system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The poultry handling system includes a piston pump assembly in fluid communication with an injection needle of the injection station, wherein the piston pump assembly includes: A piston pump, comprising: a housing defining a piston chamber; a chamber inlet in fluid communication with the piston chamber; a chamber outlet in fluid communication with the piston chamber; a flow control device configured to prevent fluid from leaving the piston chamber through the chamber inlet; a piston including a front end located in the piston chamber and a rear end located outside the piston chamber, the piston being configured to move along a piston axis within the piston chamber, wherein movement of the front end of the piston within the piston chamber along the piston axis toward the chamber outlet is configured to force fluid in the piston chamber to leave the piston chamber through the chamber outlet; and a biasing device configured to move the piston to a rest position, wherein the biasing device is configured to resist movement of the piston toward the chamber outlet; a pump actuator comprising a piston driver, wherein the pump actuator is configured to move the piston driver toward the chamber outlet to an advanced position, wherein when the piston driver is in the advanced position and the piston is in the rest position, the piston driver is proximate a rearward end of the piston; and a dose disk configured to be placed between the rear end of the piston and the piston driver, wherein the dose disk comprises a selected height corresponding to a selected volume within the piston chamber between the front end of the piston and the chamber outlet, such that the piston moves toward the chamber outlet by a stroke distance equal to the selected height of the dose disk, thereby causing the selected volume of fluid to move out of the piston chamber through the chamber outlet.

14. The poultry handling system of claim 13, wherein: When the dose disc is located between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston, the piston driver is spaced from the advanced position, and wherein the assembly comprises a controller operably connected to the piston actuator, wherein the controller is configured to: optionally operating the piston actuator to bias the piston driver toward the advanced position using a base force such that when the dose disc is located between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston, the piston driver exerts a driving force on the rear end of the piston that is equal to or less than the base force; as well as The piston actuator is selectively operated to bias the piston driver toward the advanced position with a pumping force greater than the base force, wherein the pumping force is sufficiently great that when the dose disk is located between the piston driver and a rear end of the piston, the piston driver moves toward the advanced position and the piston moves toward the chamber outlet through the stroke distance.

15. The poultry handling system of claim 13, wherein: When the piston driver is in the advanced position and the piston is in the rest position, the piston driver does not contact the rear end of the piston such that there is a gap between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston.

16. The poultry handling system of claim 15, wherein: The assembly includes a shim located between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston, wherein the shim occupies a gap between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston.

17. The poultry processing system of claim 13, wherein: The piston pump comprises a rest volume defined by a rest distance measured between a front end of the piston and an end stop in the piston chamber, the end stop being located between the chamber outlet and the front end when the piston is in the rest position, wherein the selected height of the dose disc is less than or equal to the rest distance.

18. The poultry processing system of claim 13, wherein: The piston pump comprises a rest volume defined by a rest distance measured between a front end of the piston and an end stop in the piston chamber, the end stop being located between the chamber outlet and the front end when the piston is in the rest position, wherein the selected height of the dose disc is less than the rest distance.

19. The poultry processing system of claim 13, wherein: The piston actuator comprises a fluid pressure actuator.

20. The poultry processing system of claim 13, wherein: The flow control device includes a check valve.

21. The poultry processing system of claim 13, wherein: The biasing device comprises a spring.

22. The poultry processing system of claim 13, wherein: The chamber outlet is aligned with the piston axis.

23. The poultry handling system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The system comprises: a first pump positioned on a first mount attached to a pumping base of the system platform, wherein the first mount includes a first mount perimeter and a first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports within the first mount perimeter, wherein the first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports define a first delivery port pattern in the first mount perimeter; a second pump positioned on a second mount attached to a pumping base of the system platform, wherein the second mount includes a second mount perimeter and a second plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports within the second mount perimeter, wherein the second plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports define a second delivery port pattern in the second mount perimeter, wherein the second delivery port pattern is the same as the first delivery port pattern; an actuation fluid delivery system configured to deliver actuation fluid to the first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports and the second plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports; a first pump identification system configured to provide a first signal identifying the first pump; a second pump identification system configured to provide a second signal identifying the second pump; a controller operably connected to the actuation fluid delivery system, the first pump identification system, and the second pump identification system, wherein the controller is configured to: receiving the first signal and the second signal; operating the actuation fluid delivery system based at least in part on the first signal to deliver actuation fluid to selected ones of the first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports at selected times; and The actuation fluid delivery system is operated based at least in part on the second signal to deliver actuation fluid to selected ones of the second plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports at selected times.

24. The poultry processing system of claim 23, wherein: The first pump identification system includes a first identifier and a first reader, wherein the first reader is configured to read the first identifier and transmit a selected first signal indicative of a pump type of the first pump.

25. The poultry handling system of claim 24, wherein: The first identifier is attached to the first pump and the first reader is attached to a pumping base; or the first reader is attached to the first pump and the first identifier is attached to a pumping base.

26. The poultry processing system of claim 23, wherein: The second pump identification system includes a second identifier and a second reader, wherein the second reader is configured to read the second identifier and transmit a selected second signal indicative of a pump type of the second pump.

27. The poultry processing system of claim 26, wherein: The second identifier is attached to the second pump and the second reader is attached to a pumping base; or the second reader is attached to the second pump and the second identifier is attached to a pumping base.

28. The poultry processing system of claim 23, wherein: The pump type is selected from a piston pump and a peristaltic pump.

29. The poultry processing system of claim 23, wherein: When the first pump comprises a piston pump, the controller is configured to operate an actuation fluid delivery system to deliver actuation fluid to a first set of selected delivery ports of the first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports; wherein, when the first pump comprises a peristaltic pump, the controller is configured to operate the actuation fluid delivery system to deliver actuation fluid to a second set of selected delivery ports of the first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports; Wherein the first set and the second set include different sets of the first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports.

30. The poultry processing system of claim 23, wherein: The first pump comprises a piston pump and the second pump comprises a peristaltic pump; the injection station comprising a dual-port delivery chamber comprising a first inlet port, a second inlet port, and a needle port, wherein the first inlet port and the second inlet port are in fluid communication with the needle port, and the injection needle is in fluid communication with the needle port; wherein the first pump comprises a piston pump in fluid communication with the first inlet port, and the second pump comprises a peristaltic pump in fluid communication with the second inlet port; wherein the controller is configured to operate an actuation fluid delivery system to deliver actuation fluid to a first selected set of delivery ports of the first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports; wherein the controller is configured to operate the actuation fluid delivery system to deliver actuation fluid to a second set of selected delivery ports of the second plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports; wherein a first group of the first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports defines a first selected pattern on the first mount and a second group of the second plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports defines a second selected pattern on the second mount, wherein the first selected pattern on the first mount and the second selected pattern on the second mount are different patterns.

31. A piston pump assembly, the piston pump assembly comprising: A piston pump, comprising: a housing defining a piston chamber; a chamber inlet in fluid communication with the piston chamber; a chamber outlet in fluid communication with the piston chamber; a flow control device configured to prevent fluid from leaving the piston chamber through the chamber inlet, a piston including a front end located in the piston chamber and a rear end located outside the piston chamber, the piston being configured to move along a piston axis within the piston chamber, wherein movement of the front end of the piston within the piston chamber along the piston axis toward the chamber outlet is configured to force fluid in the piston chamber to leave the piston chamber through the chamber outlet; and a biasing device configured to move the piston to a rest position, wherein the biasing device is configured to resist movement of the piston toward the chamber outlet; a pump actuator comprising a piston driver, wherein the pump actuator is configured to move the piston driver toward the chamber outlet to an advanced position, wherein when the piston driver is in the advanced position and the piston is in the rest position, the piston driver is proximate a rearward end of the piston; and a dose disk configured to be placed between the rear end of the piston and the piston driver, wherein the dose disk comprises a selected height corresponding to a selected volume in the piston chamber between the front end of the piston and the chamber outlet, so that the piston moves toward the chamber outlet through a stroke distance equal to the selected height of the dose disk, thereby causing the selected volume of fluid to move out of the piston chamber through the chamber outlet.

32. The piston pump assembly of claim 31, wherein: The piston driver is spaced from the advanced position when the dose disk is located between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston, and the assembly includes a controller operably connected to the piston actuator, wherein the controller is configured to selectively operate the piston actuator to bias the piston driver to the advanced position so that the piston moves toward the chamber outlet through the travel distance when the dose disk is located between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston.

33. A piston pump assembly according to any one of claims 31 to 32, characterised in that When the piston driver is in the advanced position and the piston is in the rest position, the piston driver does not contact the rear end of the piston such that there is a gap between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston.

34. The piston pump assembly of claim 33, wherein: The assembly includes a spacer located between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston, wherein the spacer occupies a gap between the piston driver and the rear end of the piston.

35. A piston pump assembly according to any one of claims 31 to 32, characterised in that The piston pump comprises a rest volume defined by a rest distance measured between a front end of the piston and an end stop in the piston chamber, the end stop being located between the chamber outlet and the front end when the piston is in a rest position, wherein the selected height of the dose disc is less than or equal to the rest distance.

36. A piston pump assembly according to any one of claims 31 to 32, characterised in that The piston pump comprises a rest volume defined by a rest distance measured between a front end of the piston and an end stop in the piston chamber, the end stop being located between the chamber outlet and the front end when the piston is in a rest position, wherein the selected height of the dose disc is smaller than the rest distance.

37. A piston pump assembly according to any one of claims 31 to 32, characterised in that The piston actuator comprises a fluid pressure actuator.

38. A piston pump assembly according to any one of claims 31 to 32, characterised in that The flow control device includes a check valve.

39. A piston pump assembly according to any one of claims 31 to 32, characterised in that The biasing device comprises a spring.

40. A piston pump assembly according to any one of claims 31 to 32, characterised in that The chamber outlet is aligned with the piston axis.

41. A poultry processing system comprising: a system platform and a support ring mounted on a base, wherein the system platform includes an injection section including a plurality of injection sites, wherein one or both of the system platform and the support ring are configured to rotate relative to each other about a platform axis extending through the system platform, the support ring, and the base; a plurality of bird supports mounted on a support ring outside of a perimeter of the system platform, wherein each of the plurality of bird supports is configured to hold a bird in a selected orientation relative to the platform axis at each of the plurality of injection sites, wherein rotation of one or both of the system platform and the support ring about the platform axis moves the plurality of bird supports into and out of alignment with the plurality of injection sites; an injection station attached to the system platform at each of the plurality of injection sites, wherein each injection station comprises a needle assembly including an injection needle, a needle guide, and a needle actuator operably connected to the injection needle, wherein the needle actuator is configured to move the injection needle along an injection axis between an injection position and a retracted position, wherein when the injection needle is in the injection position, a distal end of the injection needle extends along the injection axis out of a delivery site of the needle guide; a first pump positioned on a first mount attached to a pumping base of the system platform, wherein the first mount includes a first mount perimeter and a first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports within the first mount perimeter, wherein the first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports define a first delivery port pattern in the first mount perimeter; a second pump positioned on a second mount attached to a pumping base of the system platform, wherein the second mount includes a second mount perimeter and a second plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports within the second mount perimeter, wherein the second plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports define a second delivery port pattern in the second mount perimeter, wherein the second delivery port pattern is the same as the first delivery port pattern; an actuation fluid delivery system configured to deliver actuation fluid to the first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports and the second plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports; a first pump identification system configured to provide a first signal identifying the first pump; a second pump identification system configured to provide a second signal identifying the second pump; a controller operably connected to the actuation fluid delivery system, the first pump identification system, and the second pump identification system, wherein the controller is configured to: receiving the first signal and the second signal; operating the actuation fluid delivery system based at least in part on the first signal to deliver actuation fluid to a selected delivery port of the first plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports at a selected time; as well as The actuation fluid delivery system is operated based at least in part on the second signal to deliver actuation fluid to selected ones of the second plurality of actuation fluid delivery ports at selected times.

42. The system according to claim 41, characterized in that The first pump identification system includes a first identifier and a first reader, wherein the first reader is configured to read the first identifier and transmit a selected first signal indicative of a pump type of the first pump.

43. The system according to claim 42, characterized in that The first identifier is attached to the first pump and the first reader is attached to the pumping base; or the first reader is attached to the first pump and the first identifier is attached to the pumping base.

44. The system according to claim 42, characterized in that The second pump identification system includes a second identifier and a second reader, wherein the second reader is configured to read the second identifier and transmit a selected second signal indicative of a pump type of the second pump.

45. The system according to claim 44, characterized in that The second identifier is attached to the second pump and the second reader is attached to the pumping base; or the second reader is attached to the second pump and the second identifier is attached to the pumping base.

46. ​​A system according to any one of claims 41 to 45, characterized in that The pump type is selected from a piston pump and a peristaltic pump.

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