Patent US3643293A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3643293A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Poultry transfer apparatus and method
Assignee: Pillsbury Co
•
Filing: 1970-10-13
•
Granted: 1972-02-22
•
Expires: 1990-10-13
Abstract
Abstract Poultry transported by a first conveyor is hung by the feet from shackles. As the birds are moved horizontally at a constant speed by the first conveyor, they are engaged by transfer shackles of a special construction which are supported from a second conveyor. The transfer shackles include a clamp for each thigh composed of a slot and a retaining lug. When the thighs of each bird are forced into the slots, the retainer lug snaps into place over the open end of the slot to prevent the thigh from being released. The birds are then carried by the transfer shackles to a third conveyor which is also provided with leg shackles. The legs of the bird are brought into registry with the shackles of the third conveyor and a cam assembly engaging the transfer shackle releases the retaining lugs and allows the thighs of the bird to fall from the transfer shackles.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack J Rejsa
- 👤 Paul K Kiker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:49
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C21/00; A22C21/0053
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method fro transferring poultry from a first conveyor to a second conveyor comprising; providing a transfer shackle including a gripping means for engaging and retaining a portion of the body of the bird, bringing the transfer shackle into proximity with a bird supported upon the first conveyor, engaging the bird upon the transfer shackle, disengaging the bird from the first conveyor whereby it is supported solely by the transfer shackle conveyor, locating the birds on the transfer shackle with respect to the shackles on the second conveyor, engaging portions of the birds with shackles of the second conveyor and disengaging and removing the transfer shackle from the bird.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method fro transferring poultry from a first conveyor to a second conveyor comprising; providing a transfer shackle including a gripping means for engaging and retaining a portion of the body of the bird, bringing the transfer shackle into proximity with a bird supported upon the first conveyor, engaging the bird upon the transfer shackle, disengaging the bird from the first conveyor whereby it is supported solely by the transfer shackle conveyor, locating the birds on the transfer shackle with respect to the shackles on the second conveyor, engaging portions of the birds with shackles of the second conveyor and disengaging and removing the transfer shackle from the bird.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the transfer shackle is placed in proximity with the joint between a leg and the body and is engaged thereupon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the transfer shackle is provided with a member having an open-ended recess and a leg of the bird is engaged therewith by forcing the leg into the open ended recess in the shackle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
123 words
A transfer apparatus for carrying poultry from a first conveyor to a second conveyor comprising; an endless transfer conveyor, a plurality of transfer shackles on the transfer conveyor, clamp means on the transfer shackles for engaging and retaining portions of the body of the bird, said transfer conveyor having a means for advancing the shackles therealong, means for locating the transfer shackle with respect to birds on the first conveyor, means for placing the transfer shackle into engagement with the birds, means for releasing the birds from the first conveyor, means for engaging parts of the birds on the transfer conveyor with the second conveyor, and means operative upon the transfer shackles for disengaging the birds therefrom when engaged by the second conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
A transfer apparatus for carrying poultry from a first conveyor to a second conveyor comprising; an endless transfer conveyor, a plurality of transfer shackles on the transfer conveyor, clamp means on the transfer shackles for engaging and retaining portions of the body of the bird, said transfer conveyor having a means for advancing the shackles therealong, means for locating the transfer shackle with respect to birds on the first conveyor, means for placing the transfer shackle into engagement with the birds, means for releasing the birds from the first conveyor, means for engaging parts of the birds on the transfer conveyor with the second conveyor, and means operative upon the transfer shackles for disengaging the birds therefrom when engaged by the second conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the transfer shackles are freely and independently movable back and forth on the transfer conveyor and a timing means including an endless timing number having lugs thereon adapted to engage the shackles is operative connected to the first conveyor for locating the transfer shackles with respect to the birds located on the first conveyor whereby the transfer shackles are positioned in alignment with the birds on the first conveyor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein a sensing means is operatively associated with the first conveyor for sensing whether or not birds are present thereon and a movable stop member positioned for movement toward and away from the shackles on the transfer conveyor is connected to the sensing means in the sense such that tHe stop will be moved to a position obstructing the forward movement of the transfer shackle when the sensing means is not actuated by the presence of a bird on the first conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the transfer shackles comprise supporting means extending downwardly from the transfer conveyor and a shackle member at the lower end thereof having at least one open-ended slot therein to receive a portion of the body of the bird and a retaining lug means operatively associated with the open end of the slot to close the open end of the slot after the said body portion has been forced into the slot and a means operatively associated with the lug for moving the lug to an out-of-the-way releasing position when the bird is to be withdrawn from the shackle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the transfer conveyor is divided into two similar parallel laterally spaced sections positioned in part on opposite sides of the second conveyor and means is provided on the transfer conveyor for orienting the birds thereon such that the birds on both sides of the second conveyor face the second conveyor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3548448A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-21 | 1975-08-23 | 1976-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-21 | 1979-08-23 | 1980-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-21 | 1983-08-23 | 1984-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |