Method and apparatus for venting/opening, eviscerating/cropping, inspecting and cleaning of poultry

An apparatus for transporting poultry and the like through one or more processing stations, said apparatus comprising:

• a first track extending along a predetermined pathway;
• a plurality of cars movably mounted on said first track for receiving poultry;
• and
• a transmission drivingly engaged with a first car of said plurality of cars, said transmission driving said first car along a first portion of said first track at a first speed and intermittently stopping said first car at a second portion of said first track;
• said transmission includes a first rotatably driven auger supported proximate said first track, said first auger including a generally helical flute, said first car having a follower positioned within said flute, said first car being translated along said first track upon rotation of said first auger;
• said transmission further includes a second rotatably driven auger supported proximate said first track, said second auger including a generally helical flute and being positioned downstream and spaced from said first auger a predetermined distance, said plurality of cars including first, second and third car trains having followers, said second car train being located between said first and second augers, said first, second and third car trains having a length, said followers being located on said first, second and third car trains at a first end thereof, said length of said first, second and third car trains and said predetermined distance being selected such that upon rotation of said first and second augers at least one of said first, second and third car trains are translated along said first track by said first auger and the other of said first, second and third car trains is stationary with respect to translation along said first track until said translated one of said first, second and third car trains is translated the length of one of said first, second and third car trains, whereupon the translated one of said first, second and third car trains engages and moves the other of said first, second and third car trains along said first track to position said follower of said other first, second or third car trains within said flute of said second auger to translate said other of said first, second and third car trains along said first track and said translated one of said first, second and third car trains is positioned between said first and second augers in a stationary position with respect to translation along said first track.

An apparatus for transporting poultry and the like through one or more processing stations, said apparatus comprising:

• a first track extending along a predetermined pathway;
• a plurality of cars movably mounted on said first track for receiving poultry;
• and
• a transmission drivingly engaged with a first car of said plurality of cars, said transmission driving said first car along a first portion of said first track at a first speed and intermittently stopping said first car at a second portion of said first track,
• said plurality of cars includes a second car coupled to said first car, said second car moving in unison with said first car, said plurality of cars are arranged in groups of N cars each, N being a positive integer greater than one, all cars within each group being interconnected in the form of a train, and only every Nth car having a follower positioned within said flute.

An apparatus for transporting poultry and the like through one or more processing stations, said apparatus comprising:

• a first track extending along a predetermined pathway;
• a plurality of cars movably mounted on said first track for receiving poultry;
• and
• a transmission drivingly engaged with a first car of said plurality of cars, said transmission driving said first car along a first portion of said first track at a first speed and intermittently stopping said first car at a second portion of said first track;
• a second track mounted proximate said first track, each of said plurality of cars including:
• a positioning bracket pivotally mounted thereon having at least one pair of hock hooks extending therefrom;
• and
• a shoulder support arm having a first end movably mounted on said second track and a second end having shoulder supporting members extending therefrom, said shoulder support arm being slidably disposed on said positioning bracket, said first and second tracks being configured such that as said cars move along said first track said first end of said shoulder support arm moves with respect to said first track to cause said positioning bracket to pivot with respect to said car and said second end of said shoulder support arm to move with respect to said hock hooks on said positioning bracket.