US 5,183,434 A · Method and apparatus for removing the skin from poultry carcasses

Abstract

The machine employs a plurality of individual, pointed mandrels that are attached to a closed loop conveyor having an upper processing run and a lower return run. As the mandrels move along the upper run, they are periodically reoriented into a number of successive positions so that skin removal operations can be performed on carcasses that have been impaled on the mandrels by workers stationed at the loading end of the machine. At a first station the wings are severed from each successive carcass in an upright position with special movement of the cutters being effected to prevent overly deep cutting into the breast meat. As the carcass approaches a second station with the back up and the posterior end leading, a slit is made in the back skin down the full length of the backbone by a slitting nozzle that injects air under the back skin while it is inserted between the back skin and the meat therebeneath. As the carcass passes through a third station with the breast up and the anterior end leading, a slit is made in the breast skin down the full length of the breast skin by another slitting nozzle which injects air under the breast skin as it slips between the skin and the breast meat. Subsequently, the carcass passes through a peeling station where rods engage and pull the two loosened halves of skin down toward the legs on the upright carcass, whereupon the skin halves may be manually pulled down over the legs and off the carcass to also strip the leg skin from the carcass. Thereafter, the completely skinned carcasses are automatically ejected from the machine before the mandrels start their lower return run.

Claims43

Dependent claims

In a method of removing the skin from a poultry carcass, the improvement comprising:

removing the tail and wings from the carcass;
directing an air stream under the back skin of the carcass and slitting the back skin along the backbone;
directing an airstream under the breast skin of the carcass and slitting the breast skin in a longitudinal direction along the breast to present two opposite half sheets of skin on the carcass bounded by the slits along the backbone and breast of the carcass;
and
peeling the two half sheets of skin away from the carcass generally toward the thighs of the carcass to expose the meat therebeneath.

2 more elements

In a method of removing the skin from poultry carcasses, the improvement comprising:

advancing carcasses having their wings and tails removed along a predetermined path of travel in succession;
with respect to each carcass
forcing a first stationary air nozzle under the back skin of the carcass and along the backbone as the carcass advances whereby to loosen the back skin;
inserting a first stationary knife under the loosened back skin along the backbone as the carcass advances to slit the back skin along the backbone;
forcing a second stationary air nozzle under the breast skin of the carcass and along the breast bone as the carcass advances whereby to loosen the breast skin;
inserting a second stationary knife under the loosened breast skin along the breast bone as the carcass advances whereby to slit the breast skin and present two opposite half sheets of skin on the carcass each bounded by the slits along the backbone and breast bone;
and
applying stationary peeling rods to the carcass on opposite sides of its path of travel in a manner to peel the two half sheets of skin away from the carcass generally toward the thighs of the carcass to expose the meat therebeneath.

5 more elements

In apparatus for use in removing the skin from a poultry carcass, the improvement comprising:

an air nozzle adapted to be inserted under the skin of the carcass for directing a stream of air between the skin and the meat to loosen the skin;
a rotary drive wheel closely adjacent said nozzle in position to engage the outside of the skin as the nozzle slips under the latter,
said drive wheel being rotated in such a direction as to drive the skin up onto the nozzle during insertion of the latter under the skin;
and
a knife adjacent said nozzle for slitting the skin while the latter is loosened and inflated by the stream of air from the nozzle.

2 more elements

In apparatus for removing the skin from poultry carcasses, the improvement comprising:

means for conveying a plurality of carcasses in succession along a predetermined path of travel;
a back skin slitting station positioned on said path of travel and including a first stationary air nozzle disposed to be forced under the back skin of each successive carcass along the backbone to loosen the back skin from the meat,
said back skin slitting station further including a first stationary knife disposed to slit the loosened back skin of each successive carcass along the backbone as the carcass advances;
a breast skin slitting station positioned on said path of travel in spaced relation to said back skin slitting station and including a second stationary air nozzle disposed to be forced under the breast skin of each successive carcass and along the breast bone to loosen the breast skin from the meat,
said breast skin slitting station further including a second stationary knife disposed to slit the loosened breast skin of each successive carcass as the carcass advances and present two opposite half sheets of skin on the carcass bounded by the slits along the backbone and breast;
and
a peeling station including stationary peeling rods located on opposite sides of the path of travel of the carcasses in disposition for insertion between the half sheets of skin and the meat in a manner to peel the sheets of skin away from the carcass generally toward the thighs of the carcass to expose the meat.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for removing the skin from poultry carcasses

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for removing the skin from poultry carcasses

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims43