US3689961A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for eviscerating poultry
Assignee: FOODCRAFT EQUIPMENT COMPANY Inc
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Filing: 1971-02-08
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Granted: 1972-09-12
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Expires: 1991-02-08
Abstract
Abstract An eviscerating apparatus utilizing two opposed spoon members adapted for insertion into the body cavity of the bird to be eviscerated. The spoons are separately pivotally mounted for rotation in a vertical plane upon a carriage attached to a conveyor. Cam followers on the spoon members and associated cam tracks cause the spoons to separate, to remove the viscera from the bird and then partially close to permit an overhead carrier to lift the now eviscerated fowl from the spoons. A scraper pushes the viscera off the lower spoon and it is carried with the bird to the inspection station.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward J Crane
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:29
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C21/00; A22C21/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
In an eviscerating apparatus including means for conveying a fowl along a predetermined path and a pair of nestable, spoonlike members mounted on a conveyor for movement with said conveyor means, said members being adapted for insertion in nested fashion into the body cavity of the fowl between the viscera and the cavity boundary and thereafter being adapted for relative movement with respect to one another to remove the viscera from the cavity, the improvement comprising each of said members being moveably mounted with respect to said conveyor and means for moving each such member with respect to one another and with respect to said conveyor to effect removal of the viscera, said moving means including means for initially separating said members from each other at the portions contacting the cavity boundary and the viscera by movement of one of said members, thereafter moving the other of said members to move said portions farther apart, and finally partially closing said members together so that they are spaced apart a final amount less than their maximum spacing, whereby the viscera is pulled from the cavity of the fowl and said fowl is thereafter loosened from said members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
In an eviscerating apparatus including means for conveying a fowl along a predetermined path and a pair of nestable, spoonlike members mounted on a conveyor for movement with said conveyor means, said members being adapted for insertion in nested fashion into the body cavity of the fowl between the viscera and the cavity boundary and thereafter being adapted for relative movement with respect to one another to remove the viscera from the cavity, the improvement comprising each of said members being moveably mounted with respect to said conveyor and means for moving each such member with respect to one another and with respect to said conveyor to effect removal of the viscera, said moving means including means for initially separating said members from each other at the portions contacting the cavity boundary and the viscera by movement of one of said members, thereafter moving the other of said members to move said portions farther apart, and finally partially closing said members together so that they are spaced apart a final amount less than their maximum spacing, whereby the viscera is pulled from the cavity of the fowl and said fowl is thereafter loosened from said members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further including means for automatically lifting the fowl off said members following said final partial closing of said members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improved apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said lifting means includes a portion of said conveying means which is elevated well above the level necessary to convey the fowl in a surrounding relationShip with said members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improved apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said separating, moving, and closing means include at least one cam track and a cam follower for each of said members, said followers being mounted on each said member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The improved apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein one of said members is pivotally mounted on said conveyor at a point intermediate the fowl-engaging portion thereof and the follower engaging end thereof, and the other of said members is pivotally mounted on said conveyor at one end with said follower attached at a point intermediate the ends of said other member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improved apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further including means positioned along said path for pushing the viscera off said other member, said pushing means being positioned so as to pass above the viscera-contacting member after said point of final separation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
the improved apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including a holding member adjustably positioned adjacent to the path of travel of said members and especially adapted to press the outside surface of the fowl and hold it in place during at least portions of the movement of said spoon-like members with respect to one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
116 words
In an eviscerating apparatus including means for conveying a fowl along a predetermined path and a pair of nestable, spoon-like members mounted on a conveyor for movement with said conveyor means, said members being adapted for insertion in nested fashion into the body cavity of a fowl between the viscera and the body cavity boundary and thereafter being adapted for relative movement with respect to one another to remove the viscera from the body cavity, the improvement comprising: an upright support affixed to said conveyor for movement therewith, each of said members being pivotably mounted on said support; and spring means biasing each of said members in a predetermined pivotal direction with respect to said support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
In an eviscerating apparatus including means for conveying a fowl along a predetermined path and a pair of nestable, spoon-like members mounted on a conveyor for movement with said conveyor means, said members being adapted for insertion in nested fashion into the body cavity of a fowl between the viscera and the body cavity boundary and thereafter being adapted for relative movement with respect to one another to remove the viscera from the body cavity, the improvement comprising: an upright support affixed to said conveyor for movement therewith, each of said members being pivotably mounted on said support; and spring means biasing each of said members in a predetermined pivotal direction with respect to said support.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 which further comprises cam means and cam follower means on said members and along said predetermined path for selectively overcoming the influence of said spring means and maintaining said members at desired positions relative to one another and to said support.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said spring means bias each of said members in the same pivotal direction with respect to said support.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said conveyor is positioned generally below said conveyor means an wherein said spoon-like members are biased generally downwardly by said spring means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of eviscerating a bird which is conveyed along a predetermined path by an overhead conveyor, said method having the steps of: inserting a pair of nested, spoon-like members into the body cavity of the bird between the viscera and the body cavity boundary thereof; moving said members along said predetermined path at a rate of speed generally equal to the speed of said overhead conveyor; and, moving each of said members in diverging, curved directions with respect to one another in accordance with a predetermined scheme to at least partially eviscerate said bird while retaining both of said members within the body cavity of said bird; moving said members while both are within the body cavity of said bird in converging directions with respect to one another such that the bird thereafter loosely fits over said members; and withdrawing said members from said bird.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of eviscerating a bird which is conveyed along a predetermined path by an overhead conveyor, said method having the steps of: inserting a pair of nested, spoon-like members into the body cavity of the bird between the viscera and the body cavity boundary thereof; moving said members along said predetermined path at a rate of speed generally equal to the speed of said overhead conveyor; and, moving each of said members in diverging, curved directions with respect to one another in accordance with a predetermined scheme to at least partially eviscerate said bird while retaining both of said members within the body cavity of said bird; moving said members while both are within the body cavity of said bird in converging directions with respect to one another such that the bird thereafter loosely fits over said members; and withdrawing said members from said bird.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 which further comprises the step of increasing the vertical distance between said overhead conveyor and said members after the latter have converged to withdraw said members from said bird.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of eviscerating poultry by the use of a pair of nestable, shovel-like members adapted to be inserted into the body cavity of a fowl between the viscera and the interior body cavity boundary thereof, said method having the steps of: nesting said members together; inSerting said members into the body cavity; separating said members by moving at least one such member with respect to the other in a first direction; resiliently restraining the other such member from movement in such first direction during the separating step but permitting the same to move with said one member in such first direction in the event the strain exerted on the bird by the separating step exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of eviscerating poultry by the use of a pair of nestable, shovel-like members adapted to be inserted into the body cavity of a fowl between the viscera and the interior body cavity boundary thereof, said method having the steps of: nesting said members together; inSerting said members into the body cavity; separating said members by moving at least one such member with respect to the other in a first direction; resiliently restraining the other such member from movement in such first direction during the separating step but permitting the same to move with said one member in such first direction in the event the strain exerted on the bird by the separating step exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
138 words
An eviscerating apparatus comprising: means for conveying a fowl along a predetermined path; a pair of nestable, spoon-like members mounted on a conveyor for movement with said conveyor means, said members being adapted for insertion in nested fashion into the body cavity of the fowl between the viscera and the cavity boundary and thereafter being adapted for relative movement with respect to one another to remove the viscera from the cavity, each said members being moveably mounted with respect to said conveyor; means for moving at least one member with respect to the other in a first direction; and, means for restraining the other such member from movement in said first direction but permitting the same to move with said one member in such first direction in the event the strain on the fowl exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
138 words
An eviscerating apparatus comprising: means for conveying a fowl along a predetermined path; a pair of nestable, spoon-like members mounted on a conveyor for movement with said conveyor means, said members being adapted for insertion in nested fashion into the body cavity of the fowl between the viscera and the cavity boundary and thereafter being adapted for relative movement with respect to one another to remove the viscera from the cavity, each said members being moveably mounted with respect to said conveyor; means for moving at least one member with respect to the other in a first direction; and, means for restraining the other such member from movement in said first direction but permitting the same to move with said one member in such first direction in the event the strain on the fowl exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said restraining means comprises a spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |