Self realigning rotary shackle
AssigneeSystemate Group, B.V.
InventorsJacobus E. Hazenbroek, Jaco Gardenier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shackle assembly (10) transports poultry carcasses along a poultry processing line. Turning block (50) turns the stirrups (18) of the shackle in response to engagement with turning pins (75) that are located along the processing path, so as to properly orient the bird carried by the shackle to the next cutting station. One of the side wings (66) of the turning block (50) is relieved such that its turning slots will not engage the turning pin, thereby avoiding the turning of the stirrups. This assures that the stirrups, and therefore the bird carried by the stirrups, are properly oriented for the next cutting station.
Claims8
A shackle assembly for transporting poultry carcasses along a poultry processing line, comprising:
- a shackle having a support rod with a first end for upright suspension from a suspended conveyor line and a second end for suspension below said first end, said second end including stirrups mounted thereto configured for supporting the legs of a poultry carcass,
- a turning block having a body defining a central axis and side wings extending normal to said central axis,
- said turning block non-rotatably mounted at its central axis to said second end of said support rod, with said side wings extending radially from said support rod,
- said turning block defining turning slots positioned between each said side wing, so that as said turning block advances toward a turning pin of a predetermined size positioned alone the processing line a turning slot receives the turning pin and the turning block steps around the turning pin to turn the turning block and said stirrups about said central axis,
- at least one of said side wings of said turning block being of a smaller thickness than the others of said side wings so that said smaller thickness side wing can pass about a short turning pin positioned along the processing line that is shorter than the other turning pins without turning the turning block and shackle.
A method of reorienting a poultry carcass carried by a shackle assembly having stirrups for supporting the legs of the poultry carcass to a predetermined orientation as the shackle assembly advances along a poultry processing line wherein said shackle assembly includes a turning block non-rotatably affixed to the stirrups and with the turning block including a central axis and thick and thin turning wings radiating from said central axis, comprising:
- advancing the turning wings of the turning block toward a series of tall and short turning pins positioned along the processing line,
- engaging all of the thick and thin turning wings of the turning block against the tall turning pins, and in response to the engagement turning the turning block about the tall turning pins and reorienting the stirrups and the poultry carcass, and
- avoiding engagement of at least one of the thin turning wings of the turning block against the short turning pins and thereby avoiding turning the turning block as the turning block moves adjacent the short turning pins to leave the shackle assembly and the poultry carcass in the predetermined orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.