Method and apparatus for making a contoured opening cut in a poultry carcass

Title:

Method and apparatus for making a contoured opening cut in a poultry carcass

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO1998031232

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

Poultry carcasses hanging by their legs from a moving overhead conveying line are presented to corresponding carcass processing fixtures moving in a closed loop of travel around an upright axis. As each carcass is presented to its fixture, a holder on the fixture takes control of the carcass and stabilizes it with the breast facing outwardly. Once the carcass is stabilized, a knife on the fixture moves down into a previously prepared vent hole to a position slightly inside the body cavity. The knife then swings quickly outwardly to and beyond the sternum along an off-center, generally arched cutting path that runs much closer to one leg of the carcass than the other. The contour cut thus produced creates a single, disproportionately large tissue flap under the arch of the cut and on one side thereof which facilitates inspection and keeps the entire fat pad attached to one flap.

Inventors:

TIELEMAN RUDOLF J (US)
SORENSEN WILLIAM R (US)

Application Number:

PCT/US1997/020785

Publication Date:

October 01, 1998

Filing Date:

November 13, 1997

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

JOHNSON FOOD EQUIPMENT INC (US)

International Classes:

A22C21/06; (IPC1-7): A22C21/06

Foreign References:

US4257142A	1981-03-24
US4265001A	1981-05-05
US4283813A	1981-08-18
US4467500A	1984-08-28
US4339849A	1982-07-20
US4486920A	1984-12-11
US4731907A	1988-03-22
US4899421A	1990-02-13
US5342237A	1994-08-30

Other References: