# US 2014/0194042 A1 · Method and apparatus for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook

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- Number: US 2014/0194042 A1
- Document ID: US20140194042A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/208,334
- Filed: 2014-03-13
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2010-03-01
- Assignees: Meyn Food Processing Technology B.V.
- Applicants: Meyn Food Processing Technology B.V.
- Inventors: Simon BAKKER
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194042A1

## CPC

- A22C 21/0053: {Transferring or conveying devices for poultry}
- A01K 21/00: Devices for assisting or preventing mating
- 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)
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS

## Abstract

A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook is provided. The method and apparatus allow the quality of the poultry to be classified and graded in a simpler and more effective manner to realize higher yields or an extra added value. In one exemplary embodiment, a processing apparatus for a foot of the poultry is provided that includes a foot pad inspection apparatus.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook, comprising:
subjecting at least one claw of a foot to a processing step, the processing step comprising a foot pad inspection using an image recorder for obtaining an image record of the foot pad.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook as in claim 1, wherein the images obtained with the image recorder are subjected to image identification and classification in order to sort the poultry into a predetermined quality grade.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook as in claim 1, further comprising the step of gathering and classifying the results of the foot pad inspection for use in adjusting the feed and/or living conditions of future poultry to be slaughtered and processed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook as in claim 3, wherein results of the foot pad inspection are used to employ at least one processing apparatus of a slaughter line for the poultry, activating or deactivating such a processing apparatus of the slaughter line, and/or causing the poultry to bypass such a processing apparatus of the slaughter line.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook as in claim 1, wherein prior to processing, the foot is turned into a predetermined position in relation to the conveyor hook.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook as in claim 5, further comprising a processing step selected from the group comprising cleaning the foot pad of the claw, removal of a horny layer from the foot pad, and the removal of nails from the toes of the claw.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook as in claim 5, wherein the foot in relation to the conveyor hook is turned into a predetermined position such that the angle between the foot and the conveyor hook is smaller than 180°.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook as in claim 7, wherein the angle between the foot and the hook is approximately 90°.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook as in claim 5, wherein the foot is turned by moving the poultry from a starting position in which the poultry is oriented perpendicularly or is suspended freely by the feet from the conveyor hook to an orientation where the feet are suspended obliquely from the conveyor hook, in which position the feet in relation to the carcass of the poultry have substantially a same orientation as in the starting position.