Sequential wing remover

Apparatus for removing the wings from a series of birds at the shoulder joints between the wings and the carcasses of the birds while the birds are moved in spaced series along a processing path, comprising:

• support means for supporting and aligning the birds as the birds are moved along their processing path;
• means for spreading the wings outwardly from the carcasses of the birds, positioned adjacent said support means along the processing path of the birds so as to engage the wings on each side of each bird at staggered intervals;
• cutting blades mounted at staggered intervals on opposite sides of said support means, positioned downstream from said means for spreading the wings and adapted to engage and cut through the shoulder joints between the wings and carcasses of the birds at spaced intervals;
• whereby as the birds are moved along their processing path, the wings of the birds engage said means for spreading the wings, which spreads the wings away from the carcasses of the birds, causing the shoulder joints between the wings and carcasses to open and be dislocated and pulling a desired quantity of meat from the breasts of the birds to remain with the wings for cutting therethrough by said cutting blades to separate the wings from the carcasses with a portion of breast meat remaining attached to the wings.

A method of removing the wings one at a time from the carcasses of birds suspended by their legs and moving in spaced series along a poultry processing line, comprising the steps of:

• engaging a wing on one side of each of the carcasses with a first guide means;
• urging with the guide means the wings on the one side of the carcasses outwardly from the carcasses to open the shoulder joints between the wings and the carcasses;
• cutting with a first cutting means through the open shoulder joints between the wings and carcasses on the one side of the carcasses to remove the wings from the carcasses;
• as the wings on the one side of the carcasses are being removed from the carcasses, engaging the wings on the other side of each of the carcasses with a second guide means;
• urging the wings on the other side of the carcasses outwardly away from the carcasses to open the shoulder joints between the wings and the carcasses;
• and
• cutting with a second cutting means through the open shoulder joints between the wing and carcasses on the other side of the carcasses to remove the wings from the carcasses.

A method of removing wings one at a time from poultry carcasses, comprising the steps of:

• transporting a plurality of carcasses in spaced series suspended by their legs along a processing path;
• as each carcass is transported along the processing path, moving each carcass into engagement with guide means extending along the processing path and stabilizing the carcasses with the guide means;
• urging a first wing on one side of the carcass away from the carcass in a direction to open the shoulder joint between the carcass and the first wing;
• cutting through the shoulder joint of the first wing while the shoulder joint is opened and removing the first wing from the carcass;
• urging the second wing on the other side of the carcass away from the carcass to open the shoulder joint between the second wing and the carcass;
• and
• after the first wing has been cut and removed from the carcass, cutting through the shoulder joint of the second wing while the shoulder joint is opened and removing the second wing from the carcass.