Automated poultry hanging system and method

An automated system for hanging poultry, comprising:

• an alignment conveyor, wherein the alignment conveyor is an endless conveyor having an upper surface positioned in an alignment conveyor plane and movable in an alignment conveyor direction, wherein the alignment conveyor comprises at least one alignment box configured to receive poultry that defines a side opening, and wherein the at least one alignment box is attached to the upper surface of the alignment conveyor;
• a hanging box comprising a lower surface, a pair of opposed sides, a rear wall defining a rear wall aperture, and a means for immobilizing the poultry, wherein the hanging box is rotatable about and between a first box position, in which the lower surface of the hanging box is substantially parallel to the plane of the alignment conveyor, and a second box position, in which the lower surface of the hanging box is at an acute angle relative to the plane of the alignment conveyor;
• an alignment stunner comprising means for urging the poultry from the at least one alignment box through the side opening and to the hanging box when the hanging box is positioned above at least a portion of the upper surface of the alignment conveyor, the alignment stunner defining at least one fluid opening in fluid communication with a fluid source that is configured to direct at least a first stream of fluid in a desired direction towards the upper surface of the alignment conveyor;
• and
• a shackle configured to grasp a portion of the poultry, the shackle being positioned in a picking line configured to carry the grasped poultry for further processing,
• wherein the hanging box contacts the poultry and inserts the poultry into the shackle as the hanging box moves from the second box position to the first box position.