Method and apparatus for handling live poultry

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 including the step of releasably assembling said shackle structure in a coop structure while in transit between said farm and plant.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 including the step following said assembling of positioning said coop structure and shackle structure while in transit whereby said fowl are enabled to rest in an upright position.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 including the steps of initially loading said shackle structure with said fowl hanging head down, then releasably securing said shackle structure to said coop structure, then inverting said coop and shackle structures whereby said fowl while in transit are enabled to rest in an upright position.

Claim 6

In a fowl handling system, in combination: a. a shackle structure having a plurality of uniform shackles with means on each shackle for releasably securing selected limb portions of a plurality of live fowl, means for holding the shackles together as an integral uniform plural fowl securing and fowl supporting assembly capable of service in both farm to processing plant transport and in plant conveying operations, and means for removably suspending said assembly on a mating processing plant conveyor whereby on the same said structure assembly a plurality of said fowl may be secured and received at the farm and in transit and at the processing plant may be suspended from said conveyor for the usual processing; and b. a coop frame having means enabling said coop frame to be releasably assembled with and to support said shackle structure and enabling the fowl bodies secured on said shackle structure to be directly supported in transit between the farm and processing plant and at said plant enabling said shackle structure to be disassembled therefrom.

Claim 7

In a fowl handling system, in combination: a. a shackle structure having a plurality of uniform shackles with means on each shackle for releasably securing selected limb portions of a plurality of live fowl, means for holding the shackles together as an integral uniform plural fowl securing and fowl supporting assembly capable of service in both farm to processing plant transport and in plant conveying operations, and means for removably suspending said assembly on a mating processing plant conveyor whereby on the same said structure assembly a plurality of said fowl may be secured and received at the farm and in transit and at the processing plant may be suspended from said conveyor for the usual processing; and b. a coop frame having means enabling said coop frame to be releasably assembled with and to support said shackle structure and enabling the fowl bodies secured on said shackle structure to be directly supported in transit between the farm and processing plant and at said plant enabling said shackle structure to be disassembled therefrom.

Claim 8

A shackle structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein said coop frame includes a base frame having means enabling said base frame to releasably receive a plurality of said shackle structure assemblies each loaded with fowl, a securing frame mountable opposite said base frame for releasably receiving the same said plurality of said shackle structure assemblies, said securing frame being securable to said base frame to provide a coop-like structure for transport of said fowl between farm and plant.

Claim 9

A shackle structure as claimed in claim 6 wherein one of said base and securing frames includes a plurality of leg support bars for supporting the fowl in an upright posItion when in transit.

Claim 10

A shackle structure as claimed in claim 7 wherein said securing frame provides said leg support bars and said base and securing frames are formed for being loaded and assembled together in one position and then be inverted to an opposite position for transit.

Claim 11

A shackle structure as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means for holding said structure as an assembly comprises flexible band members capable of bending during conveyor travel.

Claim 12

In a fowl handling system, in combination: a. a shackle structure having means for releasably securing selected limb portions of a plurality of live fowl while in transit and for suspending the same fowl while so secured on a conveyor mating such structure while said fowl is being processed; and b. frame means having means for releasably holding the structure with the fowl upright and for directly supporting the fowl bodies while in transit.

Claim 13

In a fowl handling system, in combination: a. a shackle structure having means for releasably securing selected limb portions of a plurality of live fowl while in transit and for suspending the same fowl while so secured on a conveyor mating such structure while said fowl is being processed; and b. frame means having means for releasably holding the structure with the fowl upright and for directly supporting the fowl bodies while in transit.