Method and apparatus for removing fecal matter in poultry

Abstract

An apparatus for removing the fecal matter from the rectal cavity of slaughtered poultry in a poultry processing line, prior to evisceration, including a hollow probe for insertion into and extraction form the rectal cavity, the movements thereof being controlled in such a manner that, after the poultry is positioned, the probe is inserted into the rectal cavity of the poultry while pulling a pulsating vacuum and then extracted while pulling a continuous vacuum thus removing the fecal matter in a two-stage process. A water flush for the probe is provided to thoroughly clean the probe of fecal matter with a continuous stream of water near the back of the apparatus prior to automatically engaging other oncoming birds at the fecal removal apparatus. As an alternate embodiment, the vacuum can be combined with a water flush to facilitate the removal of the fecal matter.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.