Poultry conveying lines and poultry hanging systems

Abstract

The poultry conveying line includes an endless path (7) having at least one curved section (7') and at least one straight section (7''), a plurality of carriers (8) for suspending poultry, and a drive system for driving the carriers (8) along the endless path, wherein during operation, a first distance between adjacent carriers (8) moving within the at least one curved section (7') is different from a second distance between two adjacent carriers moving within the at least one straight section (7'').

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a poultry conveying line that includes an endless path or rail having at least one curved section and at least one straight section, and that includes a plurality of carriers for suspending poultry or poultry pieces, and a drive system for driving the carriers along the endless path. [Background technology]

[0002] Such poultry conveying lines are applied for example in poultry hanging systems or other poultry processing lines.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a method and apparatus for suspending live or stunned poultry to be slaughtered from conveyor brackets of an overhead conveyor. The belt conveyor transports the poultry to a dispensing surface, where the poultry are continuously guided or pushed outward toward the end of the dispensing surface to individual positions for receiving poultry with legs, the legs of the poultry protruding from the end of the position. At that position, the legs are secured to a securing means. The individual positions are then subsequently moved upward relative to the dispensing surface, and the poultry are suspended by brackets of the overhead conveyor running above and spaced from the dispensing surface for the next downward movement of the individual positions. The individual positions are then subsequently moved downward again to the level of the dispensing surface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0052924 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] While known poultry suspension systems are said to provide a more secure and gentle suspension of the poultry, this secure suspension of the poultry appears to require that the legs of the poultry be securely positioned over the edge of the dispensing surface to allow a lifting device such as that disclosed in Figures 1-7 of the '661 patent to pick up and lift the poultry from the dispensing surface. This means that the accuracy of the suspension system depends not only on the operator's precision in accurately positioning the legs of the poultry over the edge of the dispensing surface, but also on the dimensional accuracy and maneuverability of the lifting device, which is designed to accommodate the extent to which the legs of the poultry will extend over the edge of the dispensing surface. Overall, this is quite complex and prone to misalignment in multiple instances.

[0006] The above problems are further exacerbated by the fact that the worker's work pace is dependent on the conveying speed of the first carrier on the primary line. Specifically, the standard conveying speed in recent years can reach 15,000 chickens per hour at a pitch of 15 cm / 6 inches. At such high line speeds, the worker's work becomes stressful and the lifting efficiency is also compromised.

[0007] In other words, there is room for a simpler solution and improvement over the prior art, and the present invention aims to provide this simplification and improvement, in particular improving the working conditions of the workers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to the invention, for example a poultry conveying line that can be used in such a poultry hanging system is proposed, which poultry conveying line and poultry hanging system comprise the features according to one or more of the appended claims.

[0009] In a first aspect of the invention, during operation there is a first distance between adjacent carriers moving within at least one curved section of the endless path or rail, which distance is different from a second distance between two adjacent carriers moving within at least one straight section of the endless path or rail.

[0010] The carriers are preferably arranged to move freely and independently of one another along an endless path or rail.

[0011] The drive system, or part thereof, preferably contacts and pushes each of the plurality of carriers along an endless path or rail.

[0012] Preferably, the first distance is greater than the second distance.

[0013] The conveying line includes an endless path or rail for a plurality of carriers, at least one rotating wheel driving the plurality of carriers along at least one curved section of the path or rail, one or more substantially linear sections of the path or rail, and the conveying line includes a spindle drive for driving the plurality of carriers along the linear sections, the spindle drive ensuring a precise manner of driving the plurality of carriers along said linear sections at a predetermined speed that may be specialized for poultry processing operations.

[0014] Preferably, at least one of the plurality of carriers, and preferably each of them, comprises a protrusion or protrusions extending to and cooperating with at least one of the spindle drive and the rotating wheel, thereby forming part of the drive system, and the rotating wheel and / or spindle drive (e.g. its threaded portion) may have recesses cooperating with the protrusions to drive the plurality of carriers along the endless path or rail.

[0015] It is further preferred that the rotating wheel drives the carriers in the conveying line independently of the spindle drives for the carriers in the linear section of the conveying line. This is particularly useful for optimizing and differentiating between the speeds applied to the positions on the conveying line where certain operations, such as re-hanging of poultry, are performed. In this connection, it should also be noted that in poultry re-hanging systems, a transfer unit is preferably arranged on the conveying line opposite the rotating wheel.

[0016] Additionally, the drive system preferably independently drives the multiple carriers along at least one curved section and along at least one straight section of the endless path or rail.

[0017] The present invention may also be embodied as a poultry hanging system comprising a primary line having a first carrier, a conveying line having a second carrier, and a transfer unit for transferring poultry or poultry pieces from the second carrier on the conveying line to the first carrier on the primary line, the conveying line being a conveying line according to the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a poultry hanging system using a conveyor line of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a second embodiment of a poultry hanging system using a conveyor line of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram showing a poultry conveying line according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] When the same reference numbers are used in the drawings, they refer to the same parts.

[0020] 1 and 2 show two different embodiments of a poultry hanging system 1. Such a poultry hanging system 1 is used to feed a primary line 2 traveling at high speed, on which poultry are or will be hung from first carriers, for example suspended by their feet or suspended by their heads. The primary line 2 continuously transports the suspended poultry to specific processing equipment where the poultry will undergo further processing. Due to the high speed, it is a challenge to occupy all of the individual first carriers of the primary line 2 with suspended poultry to avoid carriers remaining empty.

[0021] The poultry suspended on the primary line 2 is supplied on a poultry supply line 3, in which the poultry is not oriented in a particular way but is transported in a crate or freely. To meet the requirement that all of the individual first carriers on the primary line 2 be able to receive the suspended poultry, at least one transport line 4 is used having second carriers movable at a second transport speed, which is lower than the first transport speed of the first carriers on the primary line 2.

[0022] 1 shows a state in which there is only one conveying line 4, while FIG. 2 shows a state in which there are two conveying lines 4. The number of conveying lines 4 can be further increased as required.

[0023] In both Figures 1 and 2 it is shown that a transfer unit 5 is provided for transferring poultry from each of the one or more conveying lines 4 to the primary line 2. What is particular to the present invention is that each of the one or more conveying lines 4 is provided with a second carrier for suspending the poultry (e.g. by the feet or by the head), which second carrier, like the first carrier of the primary line 2, is known per se. Figure 3 shows a second carrier 8 of at least one conveying line 4 diagrammatically.

[0024] As shown in both Figures 1 and 2, the poultry feeding line 3 transfers unhung poultry to a hanging position where workers 6 are positioned to remove the poultry from the feeding line 3 and hang them onto the second carriers on each of one or more conveying lines 4. Although only workers 6 are shown in Figures 1 and 2, the removal of poultry from the feeding line 3 and hanging them onto the second carriers on the conveying lines 4 may be performed by a robot or a combination of human workers and robots. The hanging position is therefore provided with a workspace for the worker and at least one automated hanging device, preferably in the form of a robot with vision and handling capabilities.

[0025] Although the distance between the carriers in the primary line 2 may be variable, it is preferred for simplicity that the distance between the first carriers in the primary line 2 is constant.

[0026] According to the present invention, the second carrier in the conveying line 4 is at a first distance near the transfer unit 5 and at a second distance at the suspension position, the first distance being greater than the second distance. This allows the distances between the multiple carriers in the conveying line 4 to be adjusted to suit the suspension and transportation operations.

[0027] It is further advantageous if the transfer unit 5 is synchronized with the primary line 2 so that all poultry suspended on the second carriers of the conveying line 4 are transferred individually to any available free first carriers on the primary line 2.

[0028] 3 shows that the conveying line 4 includes an endless path 7 for the carriers 8. In this embodiment, each of the carriers 8 moves independently and unconstrained from one another along the path 7. A plurality of rotating wheels 9 drive the second carriers 8 along at least a portion 7' ​​of the path 7, with one or more substantially linear sections 7'' of the path 7 being provided between the rotating wheels 9.

[0029] 3 shows that the conveying lines 4 are equipped with spindle drives 10 for driving the second carriers 8 in the linear sections 7" between the rotating wheels 9. It also shows that a transfer unit 5 is arranged opposite the rotating wheels 9 for at least one conveying line 4, which is the optimal position for carrying out the re-hanging of the poultry from the conveying line 4 to the primary line 2. In one embodiment (not shown), the rotating wheels 9 may be combined with the transfer unit 5.

[0030] 3 further shows that each of the second carriers 8 is provided with a protrusion 11 which extends and cooperates with the (threaded) spindle drive 10 and presses against the carrier 8. This same protrusion or another protrusion may also be applied which extends and cooperates with a number of recesses 12 provided in the rotating wheel 9. Here too, the drive system contacts and presses against the carrier 8.

[0031] Furthermore, the rotating wheel 9 is shown to drive the second carrier in the at least one transport line 4 independently from the spindle drive 10 for the second carrier in the at least one transport line 4.

[0032] During operation, there is a first distance along the endless path 7 or rail between adjacent carriers 8 moving in at least one curved section 7', which distance is different from a second distance along the endless path 7 or rail between two adjacent carriers moving in at least one straight section 7''.

[0033] Preferably, the first distance is greater than the second distance, which can be easily achieved in different ways, for example by choosing an appropriate rotation speed of the rotating wheel, by choosing the distance between the recesses of the rotating wheel, or by choosing the lead of the thread of the spindle.

[0034] Embodiments of the present invention may include any combination of features disclosed herein, independently of one another. Although the present invention has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments and may be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the described exemplary embodiments should not be used to interpret the scope of the appended claims in their strict terms. Rather, these embodiments are merely intended to explain the language of the appended claims without intending to limit the language to these exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted solely in accordance with the scope of the appended claims, and any ambiguity that may arise in the language of the claims should be resolved using these exemplary embodiments.

[0035] Variations and modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all documents, applications, patents, and publications cited above are incorporated herein by reference. Unless expressly designated above as "essential," none of the various components or their interrelationships is essential to the operation of the present invention. Rather, desired results may be achieved by substituting the various components and / or rearranging their interrelationships.

Claims

1. 1. A poultry conveying line (4) comprising an endless path (7) or rail having at least one curved section (7') and at least one straight section (7''), a plurality of carriers (8) for suspending poultry or poultry pieces, and a drive system for driving the carriers (8) along the endless path (7), 1. A poultry conveying line, characterized in that during operation, there is a first distance along the endless path (7) or rail between adjacent carriers (8) moving in the at least one curved section (7'), which distance is different from a second distance along the endless path (7) or rail between two adjacent carriers moving in the at least one straight section (7'').

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

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

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

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

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

7. 7. A poultry conveying line according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drive system comprises a rotating wheel (9) in the at least one curved section (7'), which is adapted to engage with the carriers (8) and drive them along the at least one curved section (7') of the endless path (7) or rail.

8. 8. A poultry conveying line according to claim 7 when dependent on claim 4, characterized in that the rotating wheel (9) comprises at least one recess (12) for receiving the protrusions (11) of the plurality of carriers (8).

9. 9. A poultry conveying line according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the drive system comprises a spindle drive (10) for engaging the plurality of carriers (8) and driving them within the at least one linear section (7'') of the endless path (7).

10. 10. A poultry conveying line according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 5, characterized in that the spindle drive (10), in particular the threaded portion of the spindle drive (10), is adapted to receive the protrusion (11) of at least one of the carriers (8) to drive that carrier along the linear section (7'') of the endless path (7).

11. A poultry hanging system (1) comprising a primary line (2) having a first carrier, a conveying line (4) having a second carrier, and a transfer unit (5) for transferring poultry or poultry pieces from the second carrier of the conveying line (4) to the first carrier of the primary line (2), characterized in that the conveying line (4) is a conveying line as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10.

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