Poultry processing systems and methods

A poultry processing system comprising:

• a system platform and a support ring mounted on a base, wherein the system platform comprises an injection sector comprising a plurality of mounting sites, wherein one or both of the system platform and the support ring are configured to rotate relative to each other about a platform axis extending through the system platform, the support ring, and the base;
• a plurality of bird supports mounted on a support ring outside of a perimeter of the system platform, wherein each bird support of the plurality of bird supports is in a selected orientation relative to the platform axis at each mounting site of the plurality of mounting sites, wherein rotation of one or both of the system platform and the support ring about the platform axis moves the plurality of bird supports into and out of alignment with the plurality of mounting sites, and wherein each bird support of the plurality of bird supports is configured to retain a bird in a selected orientation relative to the platform axis;
• an injection station attached to the system platform at a selected mounting site of the plurality of mounting sites, wherein the injection station comprises:
• a needle assembly comprising an injection needle, a needle guide, and a needle actuator operably connected to the injection needle, wherein the needle actuator is configured to move the injection needle between an injection position and a retracted position along an injection axis, wherein a distal end of the injection needle extends out of a delivery site of the needle guide along the injection axis when the injection needle is in the injection position, and
• an injection carriage operably connected to a carriage actuator, wherein the needle assembly, the needle guide, and the needle actuator are mounted on the injection carriage,
• wherein the carriage actuator is configured to rotate the injection carriage about a carriage axis between a standby position and an actuation position,
• and wherein the injection axis defines a base approach angle relative to the platform axis when the injection carriage is in the actuation position such that the injection needle approaches a bird support positioned at the selected mounting site at the base approach angle;
• and
• a shim configured to be positioned between the base of the injection station and the selected mounting site, wherein, when positioned between the base of the injection station and the selected mounting site, the shim positions the base above the selected mounting site and rotates the injection axis of the injection station to an adjusted approach angle relative to the platform axis such that the injection needle approaches a bird support positioned at the selected mounting site at the adjusted approach angle.