System for conveying carcasses or carcass parts of quadruped slaughter animals

A system for conveying carcasses or carcass parts of quadruped slaughter animals, which system comprises at least one carrier, which carrier comprises:

• a first jaw element, which first jaw element has an engagement face for engaging the carcass or carcass part,
• a second jaw element, which second jaw element has an engagement face for engaging the carcass or carcass part,
• the engagement face of the first jaw element and the engagement face of the second jaw element being spaced apart and together defining two opposite side walls of a retaining part of a holding slot for retaining the carcass or carcass part,
• the distance between the engagement face of the first jaw element and the engagement face of the second jaw element defining the width of the retaining part of the holding slot,
• the first jaw element and the second jaw element being moveable relative to each other such that the width of the retaining part of the holding slot is variable over a width range that extends between a minimum width and a maximum width,
• which carrier further comprises a tensioning structure,
• which tensioning structure has a first connection zone and a second connection zone, the first connection zone being connected to the first jaw element and the second connection zone being connected to the second jaw element,
• the connection between the first connection zone of the tensioning structure and the first jaw element and the connection between the second connection zone of the tensioning structure and the second jaw element being such that when the jaw elements move relative to each other when receiving a carcass or carcass part in the retaining part of the holding slot, the first connection zone moves along with the first jaw member and the second connection zone moves along with the second jaw member, which movement of the connection zones causes elastic deformation of the tensioning structure,
• said elastic deformation providing a clamping force to the engagement faces of the jaw elements such that the carcass or carcass part is retained in the holding slot by clamping a part of the carcass or carcass part between the engagement face of the first jaw element and the engagement face of the second jaw element.