# US 10,765,122 B2 · Method and apparatus for processing poultry parts moving in succession along a path > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,122 B2 - Document ID: US10765122B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/343,600 - Filed: 2017-11-14 - Published: 2020-02-27 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-15 - Assignees: Foodmate B.V. - Applicants: Foodmate B.V. - Inventors: Jacobus Eliza Hazenbroek; Maarten Jeroen van der End - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765122B2 ## CPC - A22C 21/0053: {Transferring or conveying devices for poultry} - B65G 47/844: {the article-engaging elements being pushers transversally movable on the supporting surface, e.g. pusher-shoes} - A22C 21/003: {Filleting poultry, i.e. extracting, cutting or shaping poultry fillets} - A22C 21/0069: {Deboning poultry or parts of poultry} - B65G 47/28: during transit by a single conveyor - B65G 2207/36: Pushing shoes on conveyors - A22C: PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH (preserving A23B; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs A23J1/00; fish, meat or poultry preparations A23L; disintegrating, e.g. chopping meat, B02C18/00; preparation of proteins C07K1/00) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract Method and apparatus for processing poultry parts moving in succession along a path of conveyance. The method provides for an apparatus (1) including at least a conveyor (5) arranged to convey a succession of poultry parts along the path of conveyance downstream of a loading area. The method further includes the step of loading the poultry parts on the conveyor (5) in the loading area, while operating the conveyor to convey the poultry parts in succession. Further the apparatus provided by the method also includes a transfer means (57) in the path of conveyance downstream of the loading area. The transfer means (57) is operated to divide the succession of poultry parts into at least two parallel streams. When coincident with the at least two parallel streams the method performs at least two processing steps in a side-by-side arrangement at a location downstream along the path of conveyance. The processing steps thereby being effective to process each poultry part either identically or differently, while these are divided into the at least two parallel streams of conveyance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Method for processing poultry parts moving in succession along a path of conveyance comprising, providing a conveyor arranged to convey a succession of poultry parts along the path of conveyance downstream of a loading area, loading the poultry parts on the conveyor in the loading area, while operating the conveyor to convey the poultry parts in succession, providing a transfer means in the path of conveyance downstream of the loading area, operating the transfer means to divide the succession of poultry parts into at least two parallel streams, and performing at least two processing steps in a side-by-side arrangement at a location downstream along the path of conveyance coinciding with the at least two parallel streams, and effective to process each poultry part, while the poultry parts are divided into the at least two parallel streams. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Method as in claim 1, wherein the conveyor is provided as an endless conveyor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Method as in claim 1, wherein the poultry parts are supported by carriers being provided with the conveyor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Method as in one of claim 1, wherein the at least two processing steps are performed simultaneously. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Method as in claim 1, wherein the at least two processing steps are identical. ### Claim 6 Apparatus for processing poultry parts moving in succession along a processing path, the apparatus comprising a conveyor defining the processing path and arranged to convey a succession of poultry parts along the processing path, a transfer mechanism arranged to divide the succession of poultry parts into at least two parallel streams, and downstream of the transfer mechanism either at least one single processing unit capable of processing at least two side-by-side poultry parts in the at least two parallel streams or at least two identical processing units in a side-by-side arrangement to process at least two poultry parts, while the poultry parts are distributed substantially equally over the at least two parallel streams. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the conveyor is an endless conveyor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein the endless conveyor defines an upper stretch and a lower stretch extending between first and second redirecting rollers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second redirecting rollers of the conveyor is driven by a motor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second redirecting rollers comprises first and second lateral wheels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the first and second lateral wheels are mounted on a central shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein alternating first and second carriers are each arranged on successive pairs of first and second transverse bars defining chain links of the endless conveyor, and wherein the first and second lateral wheels are notched at their circumference to engage the pairs of first and second transverse bars defining the chain links of the conveyor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the transfer mechanism comprises a diagonal guide bar positioned for engagement by only the second carriers, and wherein the diagonal guide bar is positioned between the first and second lateral wheels of at least one of the first and second redirecting rollers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the conveyor further includes a plurality of first and second carriers, each for supporting a poultry part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein each of the first and second carriers have a base part for connection to the conveyor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein alternating first and second carriers are each arranged on successive pairs of first and second transverse bars defining chain links of the endless conveyor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) Apparatus as in claim 16, wherein each base part comprises first and second transverse bores for engaging the first and second transverse bars of each pair. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the transfer mechanism comprises a diagonal guide bar positioned for engagement by only the second carriers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) Apparatus as in claim 18, wherein each of the second carriers has a projecting guide roller for engaging the diagonal guide bar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 6) Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of meat processing stations for processing poultry parts distributed substantially equally over the at least two parallel streams. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) Apparatus as in claim 20, wherein the processing of poultry parts includes filleting poultry breast caps. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) Apparatus as in claim 21, further comprising at least one de-skinner unit downstream of the transfer mechanism. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) Apparatus as in claim 21, further including a pair of identical wishbone removing units in a side-by-side arrangement downstream of the transfer mechanism. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) Apparatus as in claim 21, further including a pair of identical first breast fillet removing units in a side-by-side arrangement downstream of the transfer mechanism. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) Apparatus as in claim 21, further comprising a pair of identical breast fillet cutters in a side-by-side arrangement downstream of the transfer mechanism. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) Apparatus as in claim 21, further comprising a pair of identical second breast fillet removing units in a side-by-side arrangement downstream of the transfer mechanism. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) Apparatus as in claim 21, wherein at least two processing steps are performed simultaneously in each of the at least two parallel streams. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) Apparatus as in claim 21, wherein at least two processing steps are identical for each of the at least two parallel streams. ### Claim 29 A method for processing poultry parts moving in succession along a path of conveyance, the method comprising: obtaining a conveyor arranged to convey a succession of poultry parts along the path of conveyance downstream of a loading area; loading the poultry parts on the conveyor in the loading area, while operating the conveyor to convey the poultry parts in succession; obtaining a transfer means in the path of conveyance downstream of the loading area; operating the transfer means to divide the succession of poultry parts into at least two parallel streams; and performing at least two processing steps in a side-by-side arrangement at a location downstream along the path of conveyance coinciding with the at least two parallel streams, and effective to process each poultry part, while the poultry parts are divided into the at least two parallel streams.