Poultry processing and transfer device

Abstract

One exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a poultry hanging and transferring system including a first conveyor line and a first loading mat. The first conveyor line may include a plurality of shackles. Each of the shackles may have a first opening configured to receive a first leg of a first WOG and a second opening configured to receive a second leg of the first WOG. The first loading mat may have a shape configured to passively align the first leg and the second leg of the first WOG with the corresponding first opening and second opening of the shackle such that linear movement of the first WOG on the first loading mat in a direction toward the shackle causes the first leg of the first WOG to be received in the first opening and the second leg of the first WOG to be received in the second opening.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 480,584, filed on January 19, 2023, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth below.

[0002] (Technical Field) Various embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to poultry processing, and more particularly to a hanging replacement device for poultry processing.

Background Art

[0003] In poultry processing, workers must hang WOG (partially processed poultry products with internal organs removed) on a moving shackle line. This operation is necessary for the processing but is difficult and dangerous. Currently, line workers must manually remove a 5 - pound bird from a bin or conveyor, lift the carcass up to about head height, and hang the legs of the bird on a moving shackle. This operation is repeated about 5 - 10 times per minute. This work requires both physical strength and endurance, and as a result, it is difficult to place personnel in such positions. Therefore, a device to assist in the hanging replacement operation is needed. The present disclosure provides such a device.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] One exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a poultry hoisting system comprising a first conveyor line and a first mounting mat. The first conveyor line may comprise a plurality of shackles. Each of the shackles may have a first opening configured to receive a first leg of a first wog (working oyster) and a second opening configured to receive a second leg of the first wog. The first mounting mat may have a shape configured to passively align the first and second legs of the first wog with the corresponding first and second openings of the shackles, such that the first leg of the first wog is received in the first opening and the second leg of the first wog is received in the second opening, as the first wog moves linearly across the mounting mat toward the shackles.

[0005] In any embodiment disclosed herein, the first mounting mat may be placed on a second conveyor line comprising a plurality of mounting mats, including the first mounting mat.

[0006] In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the first conveyor and the second conveyor may be configured to move at the same speed.

[0007] In any embodiment disclosed herein, the first mounting mat may have a shape configured such that the first and second legs of the first WOG are mounted on a first horizontal plane, and at least a first portion of the first conveyor line may be configured to transport the first shackle in a first direction such that the first and second openings of the first shackle pass alongside the first mounting mat in the first horizontal plane.

[0008] In any embodiment disclosed herein, the first mounting mat may be arranged on a second conveyor line comprising a plurality of mounting mats including the first mounting mat, and at least a portion of the second conveyor line may be configured to transport the plurality of mounting mats in a second direction parallel to the first direction.

[0009] In any embodiment disclosed herein, at least a second portion of the first conveyor line that is ahead of the first portion of the first conveyor line in the direction of travel of the first conveyor line may be configured to transport the first shackle such that the first opening and the second opening of the first shackle pass through a second horizontal plane above the first horizontal plane.

[0010] In any embodiment disclosed herein, at least a third portion of the first conveyor line that is located behind the first portion of the first conveyor line in the direction of travel of the first conveyor line may be configured to transport the first shackle such that the first opening and the second opening of the first shackle pass through the second horizontal plane.

[0011] In any embodiment disclosed herein, the above-described mounting mat may comprise a first recess, a second recess, and a third recess. The first recess may be configured to receive the torso portion of the first WOG. The second recess may be configured to receive the first leg portion of the first WOG. The third recess may be configured to receive the second leg portion of the first WOG.

[0012] In any embodiment disclosed herein, the first recess may be located between the first recess and the second recess.

[0013] In any embodiment disclosed herein, the first recess may be deeper than the second and third recesses.

[0014] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for suspending poultry. The method comprises the steps of: transporting a plurality of shackles using a first conveyor line, each of which has a first opening for receiving a first leg of a corresponding viscerated chicken (WOG); transporting a plurality of mounting mats using a second conveyor line, each of which has a shape configured to passively align the first leg of a corresponding WOG with the first opening of a corresponding shackle; and inserting the first leg of a corresponding WOG into the first opening.

[0015] In any embodiment disclosed herein, the step of inserting the first leg of the corresponding WOG into the first opening may comprise sliding the WOG horizontally from the corresponding mounting mat toward the corresponding shackle.

[0016] In any embodiment disclosed herein, the first conveyor line may comprise a first portion having a first height and a second portion having a second height lower than the first height, the second portion being located downstream of the first portion.

[0017] In any embodiment disclosed herein, when the shackle is located in the second portion of the first conveyor line, the first opening of the shackle may be in the same horizontal plane as the recess of the corresponding mounting mat.

[0018] In any embodiment disclosed herein, the first conveyor line may further comprise a third portion having a third height greater than the second height, the third portion being located downstream of the second portion.

[0019] In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, when the first leg of the corresponding WOG is inserted into the first opening, the corresponding mounting mat and the corresponding shackle can travel at the same speed.

[0020] In any embodiment disclosed herein, the method may further comprise the step of placing the WOG on the plurality of mounting mats.

[0021] These and other aspects of the Disclosure are described below in the “Modes for Carrying Out the Invention” and the accompanying drawings. Other aspects and features of the embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art by considering the following description of specific exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. Features of the Disclosure may be described in relation to specific embodiments and drawings, but all embodiments of the Disclosure may include one or more of the features described herein. Furthermore, one or more embodiments may be described as having a particular advantageous feature, and one or more such features may be used in conjunction with the various embodiments described herein. Similarly, exemplary embodiments may be described below as embodiments of devices, systems, or methods, and it should be understood that such exemplary embodiments may be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods of the Disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0022] The following detailed description of specific embodiments of this disclosure will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For illustrative purposes, specific embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the exact configurations and means of the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0023] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows perspective views of a shackle and mounting mat according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a poultry hanging system according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0025] [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a bird hanging replacement system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0026] [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a top view of a bird hanging replacement system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0027] [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a bird hanging replacement system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0028] [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a part of a bird hanging replacement system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0029] [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a shackle according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0030] [Figure 8A] FIG. 8A shows a schematic side view of a mounting mat according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 8B] FIG. 8B shows a schematic side view of a mounting mat according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0031] [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of a bird hanging replacement method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] To facilitate understanding of the principles and features of this disclosure, various illustrative embodiments are described below. The components, processes, and materials described below as constituting various elements of the embodiments disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components, processes, and materials that perform the same or similar functions as those described herein are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure. Other such components, processes, and materials not described herein include, but are not limited to, similar components or processes developed after the development of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0033] This disclosure provides a suspending system for use in poultry processing. The system is designed to reduce and simplify the work of suspending WOGs (Women's Own Guinea) from a moving shackle line. As described above, in conventional systems, even a single WOG can be a very difficult object to handle, and workers almost always use both hands when shackling WOGs. The suspending system disclosed herein allows workers to position birds with one hand with little to no lifting. The device enables less force and more ergonomic movement, reducing the risk of injury from repeated lifting. In addition to the benefits for workers, the device can also benefit the production flow. Each unit can be designed to handle multiple WOGs simultaneously, and WOGs can be placed on a moving shackle line without downtime.

[0034] To perform the re-hanging operation, the overhead re-hanging device (OHRD) has several important features. The drawings shown herein conceptually illustrate the process for performing this operation. However, this disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Rather, as those skilled in the art will understand, the exact details or mechanisms described herein can be modified within the spirit of this disclosure. Nevertheless, the specific devices and intentions employed in some embodiments of the re-hanging system are described below.

[0035] Various embodiments of this disclosure enable workers in a poultry processing plant to suspend WOGs from moving shackles on a conveyor belt without having to lift them. As shown in Figures 1 and 7, the shackle 105 may have one or more openings 106, 107 configured to receive the legs of the WOG 101. For example, the shackle 105 may have a first opening 106 configured to receive the first leg of the WOG 101 and a second opening 107 configured to receive the second leg of the WOG 101. However, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to the shackle designs shown in the figures. Rather, various embodiments of this disclosure can employ many different shackle designs for suspending WOGs.

[0036] To enable the WOG101 to be suspended from the shackle 105 without the need to lift the WOG101 to the overhead shackle, some embodiments of the present disclosure employ a support mat 110 as shown in Figure 1. The support mat 110 may be positioned so that the WOG101 can be pushed / slid forward toward the shackle 105 on the support mat 110 so that the legs of the WOG101 are received in the openings 106,107 of the shackle 105. When the shackle 105 is lifted, for example by a conveyor, with one or more legs of the WOG101 received in the openings 106,170, the WOG101 can be suspended from the shackle 105 without the need for a worker to lift it to the shackle 105.

[0037] As shown in Figure 1, the mounting mat 110 may have a shape configured to passively align the first and second legs of the WOG 101 with the corresponding first and second openings 106 and 107 of the shackle 105. For example, the mounting mat 110 may have one or more recesses 111, 112, 113. In some embodiments, the mounting mat 110 may have a first recess 111 configured to receive the body portion of the WOG 101. In some embodiments, the mounting mat 110 may further have a second recess 112 configured to receive the first leg of the WOG 101. In some embodiments, the mounting mat 110 may further have a third recess 113 configured to receive the second leg of the WOG 101. The mounting mat 110 shown in Figure 1 includes such a first recess 111, a second recess 112, and a third recess 113. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the recesses 111, 112, and 113 may have an elongated shape to allow the WOG 101 to move linearly toward the shackle 105. Thus, the recesses 111, 112, and 113 can passively align the WOG 101 so that the first leg of the WOG 101 is received in the first opening 106 and the second leg 101 of the first WOG is received in the second opening 107 as the WOG moves linearly toward the shackle 105 on the mounting mat 110. Figures 8A and 8B show a side view of a cross section of an illustrative mounting mat. As shown in Figure 8A, the first recess 111 may be deeper than the second recess 112 and the third recess 113. However, this disclosure is not limited to the specific mounting mat design shown in the figures.

[0038] As shown in Figure 2, one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a poultry hulling system comprising a first conveyor line 115 and a second conveyor line 120. The first conveyor line 115 may comprise a plurality of shackles 105 suspended therefrom. The first conveyor line 115 can be used to transport the suspended WOG to various locations within the poultry processing plant. The second conveyor line 120 may comprise a plurality of mounting mats 110. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 2, the second conveyor 120 may be configured as a belt conveyor. In some embodiments, the plurality of mounting mats 110 may be integrated with the surface of the second conveyor 120.

[0039] As shown in Figure 2, the mounting mat 110 may have a shape configured such that the first and second legs of the WOG are mounted on a horizontal plane, and at least a portion of the first conveyor line 115 may be configured to transport the shackles 105 in one direction such that the first opening 106 and the second opening 107 of the shackles 105 pass alongside the mounting mat 110 on the horizontal plane. For example, the first conveyor 115 may have a first section 116, a second section 117, and a third section 118. When the first conveyor 115 is moving, the first section 116 may be upstream of the second conveyor line 120. When the first conveyor 115 is in close proximity to the second conveyor 120, the second portion 117 of the first conveyor 115 partially lowers to a height lower than the first portion 116, allowing the shackle 105 to be positioned substantially on the same horizontal plane as the mounting mat 110 on the second conveyor 120. At this point, sliding the WOG forward allows it to engage with the shackle 105. As the first conveyor 115 continues to move, the third portion 118, located downstream of the second portion 117 on the first conveyor 115, can rise to a height above the second portion 117 of the first conveyor 115. As the height increases, the WOG (not shown) is lifted off the mounting mat 110 and suspended from the shackle 105.

[0040] As shown in Figure 2, the second portion 117 of the first conveyor 115 can move the shackle 105 in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the mounting mat 110 on the second conveyor 120. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first conveyor 115 and the second conveyor 120 may be configured to move at substantially the same speed so that the shackle 105 and the mounting mat 120 are aligned along the length of the second conveyor 120 and the WOG engages with the shackle 105.

[0041] However, the configuration of the first conveyor 115 is not limited to the specific configuration shown in the figure. For example, in some embodiments, the first portion 116 and the second portion 117 of the first conveyor 115 may be substantially the same height. In some embodiments, the second portion 117 and the third portion 118 of the first conveyor 115 may be substantially the same height so that when the shackle 105 of the first conveyor 115 passes beside the end of the second conveyor 120, the WOG falls at the end of the second conveyor 120 and the legs of the WOG engage with the openings 106,107 of the shackle 105 and are suspended from the shackle 105.

[0042] Figures 3 to 6 schematically show various parts of the poultry hoisting system shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows a side view viewed from a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel. As shown in Figure 3, the second part 117 of the first conveyor 115 is in substantially the same horizontal plane as the second conveyor 120 and rises after passing beside the second conveyor 120. Figure 4 shows a top view of the same part of the poultry hoisting system shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 is an end view of the poultry hoisting system shown in Figure 2, showing the system viewed from the direction opposite to the direction of travel of the first conveyor 115. Figure 6 shows a side view of a part of the poultry hoisting system where the height of the first conveyor 115 rises after passing beside the second conveyor 120. As shown in Figure 6, the height of the shackle 105 rises from shackle position 1 to shackle position 4, during which time the WOG (not shown) is lifted from the second conveyor 120 and suspended from the shackle 105.

[0043] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for suspending poultry. Figure 9 shows a flowchart illustrating the method as an example. The method 900 may comprise: step 905, which transports a plurality of shackles using a first conveyor line, each of which has a first opening for receiving a first leg of a corresponding viscerated chicken (WOG); step 910, which transports a plurality of mounting mats using a second conveyor line, each of which has a shape configured to passively align a first leg of a corresponding WOG with a first opening in a corresponding shackle; and step 915, which inserts the first leg of a corresponding WOG into the first opening. In any embodiment disclosed herein, step 910 for inserting the first leg of a corresponding WOG into the first opening may comprise sliding the WOG horizontally from the corresponding mounting mat toward the corresponding shackle.

[0044] It should be understood that the embodiments and claims disclosed herein are not limited in their application to the structural and arrangement details of the components described herein and shown in the drawings. Rather, this specification and the drawings provide examples of conceivable embodiments. The embodiments and claims disclosed herein are further possible in other embodiments and can be carried out and implemented in various ways. It should also be understood that the expressions and terms used herein are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered to limit the scope of the claims.

[0045] Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that the ideas underlying this application and its claims can be readily used as the basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems to carry out the embodiments and some of the objectives of the claims presented herein. It is therefore important that the claims be considered to include such equivalent configurations.

[0046] Furthermore, the purpose of the abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the general public, including those skilled in the art who are not particularly familiar with patent and legal terminology and expressions, to quickly grasp the content and essence of the technical disclosure of this application by reading it at a glance. The abstract does not define, nor does it limit, the claims of this application in any way.

Claims

1. A first conveyor line comprising a plurality of shackles, each of which has a first opening configured to receive a first leg of a first viscerated chicken (WOG) and a second opening configured to receive a second leg of the first WOG, A poultry hanging and changing system comprising: a first mounting mat having a shape configured such that, as the first WOG moves linearly across the first mounting mat toward the shackle, the first leg of the first WOG is received by the first opening and the second leg of the first WOG is received by the second opening, thereby passively aligning the first leg and the second leg of the first WOG with the corresponding first and second openings of the corresponding shackle.

2. The poultry hanging and changing system according to claim 1, wherein the first placement mat is arranged on a second conveyor line comprising a plurality of placement mats, one of which is the first placement mat.

3. The poultry hanging and transfer system according to claim 2, wherein the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line are configured to move at the same speed.

4. The first mounting mat has a shape further configured such that the first and second legs of the first WOG are placed on the first horizontal surface. The poultry hoisting system according to claim 1, wherein at least a first portion of the first conveyor line is configured to transport the first shackles in a first direction such that the first opening and the second opening of the first shackle of the plurality of shackles pass beside the first mounting mat in the first horizontal plane.

5. The first mounting mat is placed on a second conveyor line comprising a plurality of mounting mats, one of which is the first mounting mat. The poultry hanging and transfer system according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the second conveyor line is configured to transport the plurality of mounting mats in a second direction parallel to the first direction.

6. The poultry hoisting system according to claim 4, wherein at least a second portion of the first conveyor line that is ahead of the first portion of the first conveyor line in the direction of travel of the first conveyor line is configured to transport the first shackle such that the first opening and the second opening of the first shackle pass through a second horizontal plane that is above the first horizontal plane.

7. The poultry hoisting system according to claim 6, wherein at least a third portion of the first conveyor line located behind the first portion of the first conveyor line in the direction of travel of the first conveyor line is configured to transport the first shackle such that the first opening and the second opening of the first shackle pass through the second horizontal plane.

8. The first mounting mat is A first recess configured to receive the fuselage portion of the first WOG, A second recess configured to receive the first leg of the first WOG, The poultry hanging system according to claim 1, further comprising: a third recess configured to receive the second leg of the first WOG.

9. The poultry hanging and changing system according to claim 8, wherein the first recess is located between the second recess and the third recess.

10. The poultry hanging and changing system according to claim 8, wherein the first recess is deeper than the second recess and the third recess.

11. A step of transporting a plurality of shackles using a first conveyor line, wherein each of the shackles has a first opening for receiving a first leg of a corresponding viscerated chicken (WOG), A step of transporting a plurality of mounting mats using a second conveyor line, wherein each of the mounting mats has a shape configured to passively align the first leg of the corresponding WOG with the first opening of the corresponding shackle, A method for changing the hanging of poultry, comprising the step of sliding the WOG horizontally from the corresponding mat toward the corresponding shackle, thereby inserting the first leg of the corresponding WOG into the first opening.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first conveyor line comprises a first portion having a first height and a second portion having a second height lower than the first height, the second portion being located downstream of the first portion.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein when the shackle is in the second portion of the first conveyor line, the first opening of the shackle is in the same horizontal plane as the recess of the corresponding mounting mat.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first conveyor line further comprises a third portion having a third height higher than the second height, the third portion being downstream of the second portion.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein when the first leg of the corresponding WOG is inserted into the first opening, the corresponding mounting mat and the corresponding shackle are traveling at the same speed.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of placing WOG on the plurality of mounting mats.

17. Each shackle further has a second opening for receiving the corresponding second leg of the WOG, Each of the previously mentioned mats is A first recess configured to receive the fuselage portion of the WOG, A second recess configured to receive the first leg of the WOG, It comprises a third recess configured to receive the second leg portion of the WOG, The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of inserting the second leg of the corresponding WOG into the second opening by sliding the WOG horizontally from the corresponding mounting mat toward the corresponding shackle.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first recess is located between the second recess and the third recess.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first recess is deeper than the second recess and the third recess.

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