Apparatus and method for conveying a bird along a poultry processing line

A poultry support shackle for transporting birds along the overhead conveyor system of poultry processing line toward a weigh scale for weighing the birds, the birds being supported in closely spaced relationship so that the wings of adjacent birds are likely to engage each other, said shackle comprising:

• a support frame for connection to the overhead conveyor system, said support frame including means for tilting said support means in response to the movement of said shackle along an inclined portion of the processing line;
• bird support means suspended from said support frame;
• said support frame including means for rotating said bird support means through an arc about a generally upright axis sufficient to clear the wings of birds suspended from adjacent shackles when said shackle is being weighed in response to the tilting of said support frame.

A method for conveying poultry carcasses suspended from the overhead conveyor system of a poultry processing line in a poultry processing plant toward and upon a weigh scale or similar device used to weigh the poultry, comprising the steps of:

• tilting a shackle from which each carcass is suspended in response to proceeding up an inclined ramp toward the weigh scale of the processing line;
• and
• rotating said shackle about a generally upright axis in response to the tilting of said shackle.

A method for conveying poultry suspended from the overhead conveyor system of a poultry processing line in a poultry processing plant toward and upon a weigh scale or similar device used to grade the poultry carcasses, comprising the steps of:

• tilting a portion of the shackle in response to the shackle moving along an inclined portion of the processing line;
• in response to tilting the portion of the shackle, rotating the bird carried by the shackle about an approximately upright axis.

The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of conveying said shackle on a weigh scale so that said shackle is supported by the weigh scale, and the tilting portion of said shackle away from the direction of travel as said shackle is conveyed on the weigh scale.