Poultry Evisceration Esophagus Control via Neck Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for eviscerating poultry, such as waterfowl, often result in uncontrollable removal or incomplete removal of the esophagus, leading to inefficiencies in the processing of poultry carcasses.

Innovation Solution

A method involving controlled removal of the esophagus by damaging the skin and esophagus at specific locations, allowing for peeling without breaking, and subsequent removal with the viscera pack, utilizing a system with cutting devices and a collector device optimized for poultry evisceration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the current method of inserting a collector device at the vent end to engage with the viscera pack is used, then the viscera pack can be removed from the body cavity, but the esophagus is uncontrollably removed or remains partially in the poultry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveesophagus removal controlVSAvoidevisceration efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The esophagus is damaged and separated from the skin at the neck region before the main evisceration process. This preliminary action ensures that when the viscera pack is subsequently removed, the esophagus can be reliably controlled to be removed along with the viscera pack without remaining in the poultry or being uncontrollably removed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The evisceration process is divided into distinct stages: first damaging the skin and esophagus at the neck, then removing the skin with the esophagus attached, and finally removing the viscera pack. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently, improving overall reliability of esophagus removal control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the skin is removed from the neck along with the esophagus by damaging both at specific locations, then the esophagus can be reliably separated from the neck, but additional processing steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveesophagus separation controlVSAvoidprocessing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The removal of skin from the neck and the separation of the esophagus from the neck are combined into a single integrated operation. By damaging both the skin and esophagus at the same location and removing them together, the patent eliminates the need for separate skinning and esophagus removal steps, thereby reducing overall process complexity while maintaining reliable esophagus separation control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11540526B2Method to eviscerate poultry, a pre-evisceration device, an evisceration system, and a collector device

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 PMJ GRP BV

AI summary

A method to eviscerate poultry, in particular waterfowl such as ducks, having a carcass with a body, neck and head is disclosed. The method involves damaging skin of the poultry at a back side of the neck of the poultry, damaging an esophagus of the poultry at or near the head of the poultry, removing skin from the neck of the poultry in which the esophagus is removed along with the skin, and removing a viscera pack from the poultry along with the esophagus removed from the neck of the poultry. Further, a collector device for collecting a viscera pack of poultry is also disclosed.