Apparatus and method for processing poultry carcasses

An apparatus configured and adapted for processing poultry carcasses or parts thereof with a slaughter opening located between the legs, comprising:

• a conveying device with a drivable transport conveyor for continuously conveying the poultry carcasses to be processed or parts thereof suspended by the legs along a transport path in the transport direction, and at least one holding apparatus arranged on the transport conveyor for holding the poultry carcasses or parts thereof by the legs during conveying along the transport path;
• a processing station arranged along the transport path in the region of the transport conveyor, wherein the processing station comprises a rotatable engagement basic body mounted on a rotary axis, wherein the rotary axis extends through the processing station, at least one engagement element, and the at least one engagement element is configured and adapted for at least partial coupling with the slaughter opening of the poultry carcasses;
• wherein during the at least partial coupling of the at least one engagement element with the poultry carcass or parts thereof a widening of the slaughter opening is effected while maintaining the continuous conveyance of the poultry carcass along the transport path with the generation of a torque, and the engagement basic body is configured and adapted for receiving the torque;
• wherein, when the torque received by the engagement element exceeds a predetermined torque, the engagement element is automatically released from the slaughter opening by rotation of the engagement basic body about the rotary axis.