Poultry processing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for simultaneously injecting a material into the breast and thigh and drum portion of a poultry carcass comprising: a needle assembly for injecting the material into the poultry carcass connected to a source of injection material, said needle assembly including a pair of spaced needles adapted for injecting both sides of the breast portion of a poultry carcass, a pair of opposed arms on said needle assembly each at a predetermined angle to said pair of breast injection needles, and actuation means on each of said arms responsive to an applied force for movement toward and away from said poultry carcass when said breast injection needles are inserted into the poultry carcass, each of said actuation means having connected thereto at least one injection needle adapted for injecting the thigh and drum portion of the poultry carcass.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the arms on said needle assembly are provided at an angle of between 40* to 75* to the breast injection needles.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the actuation means comprises a positive displacement air cylinder connected to each of said arms for urging the thigh injection needle toward and away from said carcass.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said actuation means and the injection needle connected thereto are provided at a 90* angle to said arm and adjustable by movement along the length of said arms.

Claim 6

Apparatus for simultaneously injecting a material into the breast and thigh and drum portions of a poultry carcass comprising: a frame having a pair of spaced needles adapted for injecting both sides of the breast portion of a poultry carcass, said frame having a portion spaced a predetermined distance beneath said breast injection needles and including arms positioned at a predetermined angle to said breast injection needles, a pair of actuation means on said arms responsive to an applied force, at least, one injection needle connected to each of said actuation means and movable in response thereto for injecting the thigh and drum portion of the poultry carcass and each of said needles being connected to a source of injection material.

Claim 7

Apparatus for simultaneously injecting a material into the breast and thigh and drum portions of a poultry carcass comprising: a frame having a pair of spaced needles adapted for injecting both sides of the breast portion of a poultry carcass, said frame having a portion spaced a predetermined distance beneath said breast injection needles and including arms positioned at a predetermined angle to said breast injection needles, a pair of actuation means on said arms responsive to an applied force, at least, one injection needle connected to each of said actuation means and movable in response thereto for injecting the thigh and drum portion of the poultry carcass and each of said needles being connected to a source of injection material.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said actuation means comprises a positive displacement air cylinder connected to said arm.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said portion of said frame is approximately 2 - 3 inches beneath said breast injection needles and said arms are at an angle of between approximately 40* - 75* to said breast injection needles.

Claim 10

Apparatus for simultaneously injecting a material into the breast and thigh and drum portions of a poultry carcass comprising: a pump connected to a source of injection material, a control valve connected to said pump for controlling the flow of injection material, a needle assembly for simultaneously injecting the material into the breast and thigh and drum portions of a poultry carcass, a flexible hose connecting said needle assembly to said control valve, said needle assembly including a manifold member having a pair of spaced needles adapted for injecting the material inTo both sides of the breast portion of a poultry carcass, said needle assembly including a support member beneath said manifold and having arms thereon at a predetermined angle to said spaced needles, a pair of actuation means on said arms, each of said actuation means having connected thereto, at least, one injection needle adapted for injecting the thigh and drum portion of said carcass and each of said needles being connected to said hose at said needle assembly, a check valve in said hose at each of said needles to prevent leakage of injection material when said needles are not in the poultry carcass and means controlling the quantity of injection material supplied to said needle assembly, said means also controlling the movement of said actuation means.

Claim 11

Apparatus for simultaneously injecting a material into the breast and thigh and drum portions of a poultry carcass comprising: a pump connected to a source of injection material, a control valve connected to said pump for controlling the flow of injection material, a needle assembly for simultaneously injecting the material into the breast and thigh and drum portions of a poultry carcass, a flexible hose connecting said needle assembly to said control valve, said needle assembly including a manifold member having a pair of spaced needles adapted for injecting the material inTo both sides of the breast portion of a poultry carcass, said needle assembly including a support member beneath said manifold and having arms thereon at a predetermined angle to said spaced needles, a pair of actuation means on said arms, each of said actuation means having connected thereto, at least, one injection needle adapted for injecting the thigh and drum portion of said carcass and each of said needles being connected to said hose at said needle assembly, a check valve in said hose at each of said needles to prevent leakage of injection material when said needles are not in the poultry carcass and means controlling the quantity of injection material supplied to said needle assembly, said means also controlling the movement of said actuation means.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the arms on said needle assembly are provided at an angle of between 40* - 75* to the breast injection needles.