Method and apparatus for removing wings from a poultry carcass

An apparatus for separating wings from a poultry carcass comprising:

• a conveyor system configured to move the poultry carcass suspended by its legs from shackles sequentially along a processing path with the back of the poultry carcass facing the direction of movement;
• a tilting fixture configured to tilt the poultry carcass such that the back of the poultry carcass faces in a generally downward direction;
• a back support assembly configured to support the back of the poultry carcass as the poultry carcass moves along the processing path;
• pre-cut blades adjacent the back support assembly, the pre-cut blades being positioned to pre-cut the poultry carcass from the back at a position that severs tissue and tendons that attach the humerus bones of the wings to the poultry carcass thereby allowing the balls and sockets of the shoulder joint to begin to separate;
• rotary blades on either side of the processing path, the rotary blades being positioned and oriented to cut progressively between the balls and sockets of the shoulder joints to separate the wings from the carcass;
• and
• a tensioner configured to urge the wings away from the carcass as the rotary blades cut progressively between the balls and sockets thereby progressively separating the balls and sockets as the rotary blades execute their cut.