Machine and method for conveying fowl giblets

A machine for conveying fowl giblets, for cleaning and peeling poultry giblets, the machine comprising:

• (I) a system for cleaning poultry giblets, comprising a poultry giblets guiding station set against a cleaning assembly, both set in motion by a drive assembly;
• (II) an inlet conveyor belt, conveying poultry giblets to the system for cleaning poultry giblets;
• (III) an outlet conveyor belt conveying the poultry giblets from the inlet conveyor belt and directing them to exit the cleaning system, using a collecting and distributing device;
• and
• (IV) a tensioning assembly for switching position of the conveyor belts between a stretched and working position and a retracted and sanitation position;
• the tensioning assembly comprising a first handling device, installed adjacent to the inlet conveyor belt, and a second handling device, installed adjacent to the outlet conveyor belt.

A method for conveying fowl giblets, for cleaning and peeling poultry giblets, applied in a machine comprising an inlet conveyor belt, conveying poultry giblets to a system for cleaning poultry giblets;

• and an outlet conveyor belt conveying the poultry giblets from the inlet conveyor belt and directing them to exit the cleaning system, using a collecting and distributing device;
• wherein, the system comprising a guiding station of giblets set against a cleaning assembly, both moved by a drive assembly, the system comprising the following steps:
• (a) distributing poultry giblets on the machine;
• (b) transporting the poultry giblets not classified as satisfactorily cleaned through the inlet conveyor belt onto the system;
• (c) directing the poultry giblets to a guiding region defined by the positioning of the cleaning and guiding elements of the cleaning assembly;
• (d) actuating a first directing flow of giblets in opposite directions to each other on the guiding region, and simultaneously actuating a second directing flow of giblets against the cleaning and guiding elements and towards the collecting and distributing device;
• (e) collecting giblets through the collecting and distributing device and directing these giblets to the outlet conveyor belt;
• (f) evaluating of giblets and transferring the giblets not classified as satisfactorily cleaned to the inlet conveyor belt;
• (g) repeating (b) to (f) for giblets not classified as satisfactorily cleaned;
• (h) transporting poultry giblets classified as satisfactorily cleaned from the outlet conveyor belt to a giblet collector;
• and
• (i) repeating (a) to (h), until the distribution of poultry giblets on the inlet conveyor belt is stopped.

The method, according to claim 43, wherein in (a) the distribution of giblets is performed by the giblet separating and distributing collector installed on the machine,

• wherein the giblet separating and distributing collector comprises a body with a reception and distributing duct and a diverting duct, separated from each other by a separating screen,
• wherein the reception and distributing duct ends up on the inlet conveyor belt and the diverting duct ends up into a drain pipe of the machine;
• and
• wherein in (d), the first directing flow is provided by movement of the cleaning and guiding elements relative to one other, and the second directing flow is provided by movement of a plurality of pressing elements installed along and around a rotating shaft of the guiding station.