US3802028A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for use in evisceration of poultry
Assignee: Johnson Gordon Co
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Filing: 1972-04-10
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Granted: 1974-04-09
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Expires: 1992-04-10
Abstract
Abstract In the automatic evisceration of poultry, a vacuum scrubber is utilized to detach and extract organs such as lungs and kidneys from sockets in the body cavity of a continuously moving bird, which organs may, for example, have been intentionally left intact during prior stages of the evisceration process in which other organs such as the heart, spleen, gizzard and associated entrails were removed. Scrubbing action is initially concentrated in the lung area of the bird as the vacuum scrubber is reciprocated along its back, and then is concentrated in the kidney area of the bird. A momentary swinging of the scrubber outwardly away from the back of the bird during scrubbing facilitates an inrush of ambient air to aid in extraction of the lungs, and an automatic neck-cracking assembly operates simultaneously with the scrubber during lung and kidney extraction to crack the neck of the bird and sever a portion of the skin associated therewith.
Inventors
- 👤 D Scheier
- 👤 H Haynes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:38
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C21/00; A22C21/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
In a method of processing poultry, the automated steps of: advancing a number of birds in succession along a conveying line; intercepting each of the birds in succession with a moving support therefor; mechanically holding each bird on its support against movement in a fore-and-aft extending direction; inserting a vacuum scrubbing tool into the body cavity of a bird along a predetermined path of travel to a position overlying viscera in sockets along the back of the bird while the bird continues to be advanced and held; pressing said tool against the back of the bird in said position with a predetermined amount of pressure; reciprocating the tool longitudinally of the backbone of the bird in a prescribed, mechanically controlled movement while maintaining said pressure whereby to dislodge viscera from such sockets along the backbone; shifting said tool outwardly away from the backbone for a predetermined distance and for a predetermined amount of time while maintaining the tool in said position overlying the dislodged viscera whereby to cause an inrush of ambient air and dislodged viscera into the tool; and withdrAwing the tool from the body cavity along a predefined course of travel after extracting the dislodged viscera from the sockets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a method of processing poultry, the automated steps of: advancing a number of birds in succession along a conveying line; intercepting each of the birds in succession with a moving support therefor; mechanically holding each bird on its support against movement in a fore-and-aft extending direction; inserting a vacuum scrubbing tool into the body cavity of a bird along a predetermined path of travel to a position overlying viscera in sockets along the back of the bird while the bird continues to be advanced and held; pressing said tool against the back of the bird in said position with a predetermined amount of pressure; reciprocating the tool longitudinally of the backbone of the bird in a prescribed, mechanically controlled movement while maintaining said pressure whereby to dislodge viscera from such sockets along the backbone; shifting said tool outwardly away from the backbone for a predetermined distance and for a predetermined amount of time while maintaining the tool in said position overlying the dislodged viscera whereby to cause an inrush of ambient air and dislodged viscera into the tool; and withdrAwing the tool from the body cavity along a predefined course of travel after extracting the dislodged viscera from the sockets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a method as claimed in claim 1, wherein reciprocation of the tool in said lung area is carried out prior to reciprocation of the tool in said kidney area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a method as claimed in claim 1, wherein is provided the additional step of cracking the neck of the bird simultaneously with reciprocation of the tool.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
In a method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure is yieldable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reciprocation of the tool is carried out in the lung area of the bird, and wherein is provided an additional series of reciprocating strokes of the tool in the kidney area of the bird separate and apart from reciprocation in the lung area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a method of processing a suspended bird having an access opening cut to the body cavity thereof, the automated steps of: advancing the suspended bird along a predetermined path of travel; supporting the back of the bird as it is advanced; holding the advancing bird against upward movement; inserting a removal tool into said cavity through said opening along a path extending between the viscera and the breast of the bird; capturing viscera exclusive of the lungs and kidneys in the inserted tool; moving the tool upwardly along the back of the bird longitudinally of its backbone toward said opening as the bird continues to advance, thereby pulling the captured viscera from the cavity; inspecting the viscera pulled from the cavity as the bird continues to advance; inserting a vacuum scrubbing tool into the cavity to a position against the back of the bird as the latter continues to advance; and reciprocating the scrubbing tool longitudinally of the backbone in the lung area of the cavity while retaining the tool in said position and while the bird continues to advance to thereby scrub and extract the lungs from their sockets along the backbone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a method of processing a suspended bird having an access opening cut to the body cavity thereof, the automated steps of: advancing the suspended bird along a predetermined path of travel; supporting the back of the bird as it is advanced; holding the advancing bird against upward movement; inserting a removal tool into said cavity through said opening along a path extending between the viscera and the breast of the bird; capturing viscera exclusive of the lungs and kidneys in the inserted tool; moving the tool upwardly along the back of the bird longitudinally of its backbone toward said opening as the bird continues to advance, thereby pulling the captured viscera from the cavity; inspecting the viscera pulled from the cavity as the bird continues to advance; inserting a vacuum scrubbing tool into the cavity to a position against the back of the bird as the latter continues to advance; and reciprocating the scrubbing tool longitudinally of the backbone in the lung area of the cavity while retaining the tool in said position and while the bird continues to advance to thereby scrub and extract the lungs from their sockets along the backbone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
In a method as claimed in claim 6, wherein is provided the additional step of reciprocating the tool longitudinally of the backbone in the kidney area of the cavity after extraction of the lungs while retaining the tool in said position and while the bird continues to advance to thereby scrub and extract the kidneys from their sockets along the backbone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
In a method as claimed in claim 6, wherein is provided the additional step of shifting the tool momentarily out of said position away from the back of the bird during reciprocation of the tool in said lung area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a method as claimed in claim 6, wherein is provided the additional step of cracking the neck of the bird simultaneously with reciprocation of the tool in said lung area.
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) | 1977-04-08 | 1977-10-08 | 1978-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-08 | 1981-10-08 | 1982-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-08 | 1985-10-08 | 1986-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |