阅读说明：本技术 用于运送家禽屠体的运送装置和方法，以及用于将家禽屠体切片的设备和方法 (Transport device and method for transporting poultry carcasses, and device and method for slicing poultry carcasses ) 是由 拉塞·里格特 阿德里安·舒尔策 马蒂亚斯·施罗德 于 2017-06-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于在运送方向(11)上连续运送多个家禽体或其部分的运送装置(10),所述运送装置(10)构造并适于将该多个家禽体定向到不同的处理位置,包括设置有用于保持该多个家禽体的多个接收元件(13)的连续的运送机(12),其中,连续运送机(12)适于在运送平面内循环并形成运送路径,其中,该多个接收元件(13)各自包括适于接收该多个家禽之一的并布置在底座元件(14)上以可绕垂直于运送方向(11)的旋转轴线枢转的鞍形元件(15),并且其特征在于,所述连续运送机(12)设置在倾斜位置,使得运送平面相对于水平面倾斜大于0°且小于90°的倾斜角α,底座元件(14)每一个借助于具有小于180°且大于90°的延伸角β的成角度元件(16)布置在连续运送机(12)上。本发明还涉及一种用于回收肉片的设备以及相应的运送和肉片回收方法。(The invention relates to a conveyor (10) for continuously conveying a plurality of poultry bodies or parts thereof in a conveying direction (11), said conveyor (10) being configured and adapted to orient the plurality of poultry bodies to different processing positions, comprising a continuous conveyor (12) provided with a plurality of receiving elements (13) for holding the plurality of poultry bodies, wherein the continuous conveyor (12) is adapted to circulate in a conveying plane and form a conveying path, wherein the plurality of receiving elements (13) each comprise a saddle element (15) adapted to receive one of the plurality of poultry and arranged on a base element (14) so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the conveying direction (11), and characterized in that the continuous conveyor (12) is arranged in an inclined position such that the conveying plane is inclined with respect to the horizontal by an inclination angle α greater than 0 ° and less than 90 °, the base elements (14) each being arranged on the continuous conveyor (12) by means of an angled element (16) having an extension angle β of less than 180 ° and greater than 90 °, and to a corresponding method for conveying and recovering pieces of meat.)

1. A conveyor (10) for continuously conveying a plurality of poultry bodies or parts thereof in a conveying direction (11), which is configured and adapted to orient the plurality of poultry bodies to different processing positions, comprises

A continuous conveyor (12) provided with a plurality of receiving elements (13) for holding the plurality of poultry bodies, wherein the continuous conveyor (12) is adapted to circulate in a conveying plane and form a conveying path, and wherein

The plurality of receiving elements (13) each comprising a saddle-shaped element (15), the saddle-shaped element (15) being adapted to receive one of the plurality of poultry bodies and being arranged on a base element (14) to be pivotable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the transport direction (11),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the continuous conveyor (12) is arranged in an inclined position such that the conveying plane is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane by an inclination angle α greater than 0 ° and less than 90 °, and

the base elements (14) are each arranged on the continuous conveyor (12) by means of an angled element (16) having an extension angle β of less than 180 ° and greater than 90 °.

2. The conveyance device (10) of claim 1, wherein the extension angle β has an angular extent corresponding to a difference between 180 ° and the inclination angle α.

3. Conveyance apparatus (10) according to one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the extension angle β has an angular extent of 135 ° and the inclination angle α has an angular extent of 45 °.

4. Conveyance apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the extension angle β of the angled element (16) is in each case adapted to be adjustable.

5. Conveyor device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the continuous conveyor (12) comprises two conveyor chains (20) arranged parallel to each other, each of the two conveyor chains (20) being guided via at least two twin sprockets (21).

6. Conveyor (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the angled elements (16) are arranged on holding devices (22), which holding devices (22) are arranged in each case on both of the two conveyor chains (20).

7. Conveyance apparatus (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the retaining means (22) are each plate-shaped and the base elements (14) are each connected with one of the retaining means (22) via two angled elements (16) each.

8. Conveyance apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the base elements (14) each comprise a guide (14) in each case, and that guide means (26) adapted to engage into the guides (14) are located at least in a partial region along the conveyance path.

9. Conveyance apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an adjustment device (19) is arranged on the saddle element (15), which adjustment device is adapted to pivot the saddle element (15) about the axis of rotation in conjunction with a control device arranged along the conveyance path.

10. The transport device (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the adjustment means (19) and the control means are each in the form of a cam control which is adapted to pivot the saddle element (15) in each case about the rotation axis in steps of 90 degrees.

11. Apparatus for recovering meat slices from a plurality of poultry bodies or parts thereof, comprising a conveying device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and at least one mounting station (27) arranged along the conveying path and adapted to load the plurality of poultry bodies onto a plurality of receiving elements (13), a skinning tool (28) and a meat slice release tool (31, 32, 33, 34), a removal station (35) for completely removing meat slices from the poultry carcasses, and a discharge station (36) for removing lower, fleshless poultry carcasses from the respective receiving elements (13), wherein the mounting station (27), the discharge station (36) and the removal station (35) are arranged in an upper region of the conveying path, while the skinning tool (28) and the meat slice release tool (31, 32, 33) are arranged in the upper region of the conveying path, 34) Is arranged in a lower region of the conveying path.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising at least one measuring device (30) adapted to determine a shoulder joint position, and a control device configured to control the fillet loosening tool (31, 32, 33, 34) depending on the determined shoulder joint position.

13. Method for continuously transporting a plurality of poultry bodies or parts thereof and orienting them to different processing positions, comprising transporting the plurality of poultry bodies in a transport direction (11) by means of a continuous conveyor (12) provided with a plurality of receiving elements (13) for holding the poultry bodies, wherein the continuous conveyor (12) forms a transport path and circulates in a transport plane, and wherein the plurality of receiving elements (13) each comprise a saddle element (15), which saddle element (13) is adapted to receive one of the plurality of poultry bodies and is arranged on a base element (14) so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis perpendicular to the transport direction,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the continuous conveyor (12) circulates in a conveying plane inclined with respect to a horizontal plane at an inclination angle α greater than 0 ° and less than 90 °, and the base elements (14) are each arranged on the continuous conveyor (12) by means of an angled element (16) having an extension angle β less than 180 ° and greater than 90 °.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein an angular magnitude of the extension angle β corresponds to a difference between 180 ° and the tilt angle α.

15. The method of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the extension angle β has an angular extent of 135 ° and the inclination angle α has an angular extent of 45 °.

16. The method according to any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the extension angle β of each of the angled elements (16) is adjustable.

17. Method according to any one of claims 13-16, characterized in that the base element (14) is guided by means of a guide (24), a guide device (26) engaging to the guide (24) being arranged at least in a partial region along the transport path.

18. Method according to any one of claims 13-17, characterized in that the saddle element (15) is pivoted about the axis of rotation by means of an adjusting device (19) arranged on the saddle element (15) cooperating with a control device arranged along the transport path.

19. Method according to claim 18, characterized in that the saddle element (15) is pivoted stepwise by 90 ° steps by means of the adjusting means (19), each in the form of a cam control.

20. Method for recovering meat pieces from a plurality of poultry bodies or parts thereof, comprising a method for continuously transporting poultry bodies and orienting them to different processing positions according to any of claims 13 to 19, and the steps of:

-loading the plurality of poultry bodies onto the plurality of receiving elements (13) at an installation station (27),

-skinning the plurality of poultry bodies by means of a skinning tool (28),

-loosening the meat pieces by means of a meat piece loosening tool (31, 32, 33, 34),

-completely removing the meat pieces of the poultry carcasses at a removal station (35), and

-removing the fleshless poultry carcasses from the respective receiving elements (13) by means of a discharge station (36),

wherein the loading by means of the mounting station (27), the removal of the fleshless poultry carcasses by means of the discharge station (36) and the complete removal of the fleshy pieces by means of the removal station (35) take place in the upper region of the transport path, while the skinning by means of the skinning tool (28) and the release of the fleshpieces by means of the fleshpiece release tool (31, 32, 33, 34) take place in the lower region of the transport path.

21. Method according to claim 20, further comprising determining a shoulder joint position by means of at least one measuring device (30) and controlling the fillet loosening tool (31, 32, 33, 34) by means of a control device depending on the determined shoulder joint position.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a conveyor for continuously conveying a plurality of poultry bodies in a conveying direction, which conveyor is configured and adapted to orient the plurality of poultry bodies to different processing positions, comprising a continuous conveyor provided with a plurality of receiving elements for holding the plurality of poultry bodies, wherein the continuous conveyor is adapted to circulate in a conveying plane and form a conveying path, and wherein each receiving element comprises a saddle element adapted to receive one of the poultry bodies, and the saddle element is arranged on a base element so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis perpendicular to the conveying direction.

The invention also relates to a method for continuously conveying a plurality of poultry bodies and orienting them to different processing positions, comprising conveying the poultry bodies in a conveying direction by means of a continuous conveyor provided with a plurality of receiving elements for holding the plurality of poultry bodies, wherein the continuous conveyor forms a conveying path and circulates in a conveying plane, and wherein each receiving element comprises a saddle element which is adapted to receive one of the poultry bodies and which is arranged on a base element so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis perpendicular to the conveying direction.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for recovering meat pieces from a plurality of poultry bodies or parts thereof and to a corresponding method.

Background

Such a conveying device, a method for continuous conveying, a device and a method for recovering meat pieces are used in fully or semi-automatic processing of poultry bodies or parts of poultry bodies. Such a method for mechanically recovering meat from poultry bodies and an apparatus for carrying out the method are known, for example, from document DE 4234040 a1 of the applicant company.

The carcass to be treated consists of a hood. The breast cap is a part of the front half, which is obtained by dividing the carcass in the middle. Such a pectoral cap is obtained, for example, by a diagonal cut through the front half. Such a pectoral cap therefore essentially comprises a chest with ribs, a sternum and a part of the wishbone with a winged joint at the free end. One end connected with the wing-shaped joint is a wishbone, and the other end is a scapula. The carcass or breast cap is held by means of the receptacle and is carried forward of the wingjoint in the direction of its longitudinal axis. Along the transport path, various tools are arranged, by means of which the processing of the poultry takes place successively.

Disadvantageously, the receptacle for the carcass or part thereof is carried in a fixed orientation. In order to be able to carry out the desired processing steps on the carcass or carcass part by means of the respective processing tool, great demands are made on the movability of the tool. The tool must indeed work around the carcass. For this purpose, the tool must be equipped with a correspondingly large number of degrees of freedom, which results in a structurally high outlay and correspondingly high tool costs.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose a conveying device for continuously conveying a plurality of poultry bodies or parts thereof, which conveying device allows to orient the plurality of poultry bodies or parts thereof to different processing positions during the conveying operation.

The object is also to propose a corresponding apparatus for recovering meat pieces from a plurality of poultry bodies or parts thereof. Furthermore, the object is to propose a corresponding method for continuously transporting a plurality of poultry bodies or parts thereof.

This object is achieved by a conveyor device with the above-mentioned features, wherein the continuous conveyor is arranged in an inclined position such that the conveying plane is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane at an inclination angle α which is larger than 0 ° and smaller than 90 °, and each base element is arranged on the continuous conveyor by means of an angled element having an extension angle β which is smaller than 180 ° and larger than 90 °.

This provides the advantage that the orientation of the saddle elements can be changed during the circulation of the continuous conveyor. In this way, the poultry bodies or poultry parts are automatically oriented when the conveyor is circulated. Thus, by means of the conveying device according to the invention, it is possible to direct a plurality of poultry bodies or poultry parts thereof to a plurality of different processing positions for the first time during the conveying operation. The required processing steps on the poultry body or parts thereof can then be performed at those points of the transport path at which the saddle elements are positioned in the optimum position for processing purposes.

The conveying device according to the invention thus ensures an optimum orientation of the poultry bodies or poultry parts, so that the processing steps can be carried out with high precision on the one hand and with the aid of processing tools having a relatively low tool complexity in terms of their spatial movability on the other hand.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the angular extent of the extension angle β corresponds to the difference between 180 deg. and the inclination angle α, in other words, the inclined position of the inclination angle α of the transport plane of the continuous conveyor is offset by the extension angle β of the angled element in such a way that the inclination of the continuous conveyor is at least substantially compensated by the extension angle β for the angled element, which means that the rotation axis of the saddle element is advantageously oriented horizontally or vertically in a part of the transport path.

Another preferred development of the invention is distinguished by the fact that the extension angle β has an angular extent of 135 deg. and the inclination angle α has an angular extent of 45 deg. the above-mentioned choice of angular extent offers the advantage that the axis of rotation of the saddle element is oriented parallel to the horizontal in one part of the transport path and vertically in another part of the transport path.

Another advantage is that in the area of the lower part the poultry bodies or parts thereof are transported by means of the saddle elements in such a way that they are transported while being held from the top, that is to say while hanging downwards. This provides the following advantages: the part that has been separated or loosened by the working tool is free to fall down or hang due to gravity, so that the working area is free of said part and is therefore accessible for intervention by other tools.

By varying the extension angle β of the angled element, the orientation of the saddle element or the different orientations of the saddle element obtained in each cycle can be optimally adapted to the specific situation.

To this end, the angled element has, for example, an adjustment mechanism by means of which the angular extent of the extension angle β can be preset it is also possible to equip the angled element with an actuator in order to optionally make possible an adjustment of the extension angle during operation.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the continuous conveyor comprises two conveyor chains arranged parallel to each other, each conveyor chain being guided by at least two double-chain wheels. In this way, a precise guidance of the saddle elements which are connected to the conveyor chain via the base element in each case is achieved. By means of the two conveyor chains, the base element in question can be fixed precisely.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the angled elements to be arranged on holding devices which are arranged in each case on two conveyor chains. By connecting the angled element with the two carrying chains via the holding means in each case, a particularly rigid connection between the carrying chains and the angled element is achieved, so that the orientation of the receiving element is maintained precisely even when subjected to external forces acting via the poultry body, for example by means of a processing tool.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the retaining means are each plate-shaped and that each base element is connected with one of the retaining means via two angled elements. In each case one of the retaining devices, one of the base elements and two angled elements, which in each case connect the retaining device to the base element, form a particularly rigid unit which allows correspondingly precise spatial orientation.

Preferred developments of the invention are distinguished by the fact that: the base elements each comprise a guide, and guide means adapted to engage into the guide are located at least in a partial region along the transport path. This provides the following advantages: the saddle member is also guided via the base member in the partial region along the transport path. In this way, a precise orientation of the saddle member is always ensured, even under the influence of external forces, for example during operations for processing the poultry body or parts thereof. The guide of the base element and the guide means arranged in the partial region along the transport path are preferably in the form of linear guides.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is distinguished by the fact that: an adjustment device is arranged on the saddle member, which adjustment device is adapted to pivot the saddle member about a rotational axis in combination with a control device arranged along the transport path. This provides further advantages: in addition to the automatic change of the orientation of the saddle element during the cycle, the saddle element is also pivoted about said axis of rotation. The invention thus makes it possible, on the one hand, to orient the axis of rotation of the saddle element differently during the cycle of the continuous conveyor and, at the same time, to pivot the saddle element about this axis of rotation. In this way, a particularly high flexibility in the spatial orientation of the carcass or parts thereof is achieved.

Further preferably, the adjusting means and the control means are each in the form of a cam control which is adapted to pivot the saddle element in steps of 90 degrees about the axis of rotation in each case. Advantageously, the saddle element or the poultry body or poultry part being conveyed is thus automatically pivoted in steps of 90 degrees to the optimum processing position by the control means arranged along the conveying path. The cam control on the adjusting device side is preferably a maltese cross, with which the control device engages, for example in the form of a round rod.

The object is also achieved by a device for recovering meat pieces from a plurality of poultry bodies or parts thereof as described above, wherein the device comprises a conveying means having the above-mentioned features and at least one mounting station arranged along a conveying path and adapted to load the plurality of poultry bodies onto the plurality of receiving elements, a stripping tool and a meat piece releasing tool, a removal station for completely recovering meat pieces from the poultry carcasses, and a discharge station for removing fleshless poultry carcasses from the respective receiving elements, wherein the mounting station, the discharge station and the removal station are arranged in an upper region of the conveying path and the stripping tool and the meat piece releasing tool are arranged in a lower region of the conveying path. In this way, the respective processing step is carried out by means of the mentioned processing stations at the position of the transport path where the saddle elements are optimally oriented for the processing.

An advantageous development of the invention provides that the apparatus according to the invention further comprises at least one measuring device which is adapted to determine the position of the shoulder joint, and a control device which is configured to control the fillet loosening tool as a function of the determined position of the shoulder joint. The at least one measuring device is used to detect the position of the shoulder joint. On the basis of this determined position, the activation of the meat release tool is effected by means of the control device. Thus, the detected shoulder joint position can be used as a reference to coordinate the triggering of the fillet releasing tool in time. In this way, the meat pieces are released accurately.

The object is also achieved by a corresponding method for continuously transporting a plurality of poultry bodies or parts thereof and orienting them to different processing positions, wherein a continuous conveyor circulates in a transport plane inclined with an inclination angle α of more than 0 ° and less than 90 ° relative to the horizontal, the base elements each being arranged on the continuous conveyor by means of an angled element having an inclination angle of less than 180 ° and more than 90 °.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the angular extent of the extension angle β corresponds to the difference between 180 ° and the inclination angle α, the dimensioning of the angular extent having the effect that the inclined position or inclination of the transport plane and the angular position of the angled element results in a change of the orientation of the base element and the saddle element.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the extension angle β has an angular extent of 135 ° and the inclination angle α has an angular extent of 45 °. the selection of these angular extents has been found to be particularly advantageous, since the orientation of the axis of rotation thus changes periodically from horizontal to vertical in each cycle, and vice versa.

The extension angle β of each angled element is adjustable according to another preferred embodiment, which provides the advantage that the orientation of the base element and saddle element can be optimally adapted to the intended use, to this end the angled elements preferably comprise setting means by means of which the size of the extension angle β can be preset or dynamically adjusted during the continuous operation of the conveyor.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the base element is guided by means of a guide, the guide means engaging to the guide being arranged at least in a partial region along the transport path. This achieves additional guidance of the base element, so that the guidance of the base element is always maintained even under the action of external forces, for example, exerted by a processing tool arranged on the transport path.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the saddle element is pivoted about the axis of rotation by means of an adjusting device arranged on the saddle element, which adjusting device cooperates with a control device arranged along the transport path. Advantageously, the poultry body or parts thereof are thus brought into a desired orientation for carrying out the processing step. Pivoting about the axis of rotation represents another possibility to place the saddle element with the carcass or parts thereof in an optimal working position, in addition to the direction changes that have occurred during the cycle due to the inclined position of the transport plane and the arrangement of the base elements by means of the angled elements.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is distinguished by the fact that: the saddle member is pivoted stepwise in steps of 90 deg. by means of adjusting devices each in the form of a cam control. In this way, a locking function is achieved such that the saddle element can be pivoted about the axis of rotation, but automatically remains in a defined end position after the pivoting movement.

Finally, the object is also achieved by a method for recovering meat pieces from a plurality of poultry bodies or parts thereof, including a method for continuously transporting and orienting a plurality of poultry bodies to different processing locations, having the above-mentioned method features and the following further steps: loading the plurality of poultry bodies onto a receiving element at an installation station, skinning the plurality of poultry bodies by means of a skinning tool, loosening the meat pieces by means of a meat loosening tool, completely removing the meat pieces of the poultry carcasses at a removal station, removing the meat-free poultry carcasses from the receiving element by means of a discharge station, wherein loading by means of the installation station, removal of the meat-free poultry carcasses by means of the discharge station and complete removal of the meat pieces by means of the removal station take place in an upper region of the transport path, and skinning by means of the skinning tool and loosening of the meat pieces by means of the meat loosening tool take place in a lower region of the transport path.

Advantageously, the method is further provided for determining a shoulder joint position by means of at least one measuring device and for controlling the fillet loosening tool by means of a control device as a function of the determined shoulder joint position.

To avoid repetitions, reference may additionally be made to the observations described above in connection with the conveying device according to the invention and the apparatus for recovering meat pieces according to the invention, in combination with the advantages resulting from the method according to the invention. The advantageous details mentioned here also apply analogously to the method according to the invention described above.

Drawings

Further preferred and/or advantageous features and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic view in perspective of a transport device according to the invention,

figure 2 shows the transport device shown in figure 1 in a side view,

figure 3 shows the transport device shown in figure 1 with a guide,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a receiving element, an

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of an apparatus for recovering meat pieces from poultry bodies or parts thereof according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 schematically shows a transport device 10 according to the invention in a perspective view. The conveyor 10 according to the invention is adapted to continuously convey a plurality of poultry bodies (not shown in fig. 1) in a conveying direction 11. The conveyor 10 according to the invention is also suitable for orienting a plurality of poultry bodies to different processing positions. To this end, the conveyor 10 includes a continuous conveyor 12. The continuous conveyor 12 is provided with a plurality of receiving elements 13 for holding a plurality of poultry bodies. The continuous conveyor 12 is adapted to circulate within a conveying plane and thus form a conveying path for the poultry bodies. The poultry bodies held by means of the receiving elements 13 are conveyed in this way in a circulating manner by means of the continuous conveyor 12.

For this purpose, the receiving elements 13 are each adapted to receive one of the poultry bodies and comprise a base element 14 and also a saddle element 15, the saddle element 15 being arranged on the base element 14 so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the conveying direction 11.

The continuous conveyor 12 is further arranged in an inclined position the conveying plane of the continuous conveyor 12 is arranged inclined with respect to the horizontal plane by an inclination angle α between 0 ° and 90 °, the conveying plane representing the plane in which the receiving elements 13 circulate, in addition, the base elements 14 are each arranged on the continuous conveyor 12 by means of an angled element 16 having an extension angle β in the range between 180 ° and 90 °.

In other words, the continuous conveyor 12 is arranged in an inclined position such that the conveying plane is inclined by an inclination angle α with respect to the XY-plane, due to this inclined position of the conveying plane of the continuous conveyor 12, the receiving element 13 passes through the lower part 17 and the upper part 18 of the conveying path.

It is advantageous to select the angular extent of the extension angle β to be equal to the difference between 180 ° and the inclination angle α, in particular the extension angle β has an angular extent of 135 °, the inclination angle α has an angular extent of 45 °, the last-mentioned angular extent being illustrated, for example, by means of the transport device according to the invention in fig. 1, it is evident from fig. 1 that, by the above-mentioned selection of the angular extent, the axes of rotation of the saddle elements 15 in the region of the lower part 17 are oriented parallel to the Z-axis and the axes of rotation in the region of the upper part 18 are oriented parallel to the Y-axis.

In fig. 2, the transport device 10 according to the present invention is shown in a viewing direction at YZ plane. The receiving element 13 in the region of the lower part 17 of the conveying path is moved away from the observer, while the receiving element 13 in the region of the upper part 18 is moved towards the observer. The variation in the orientation of the axis of rotation of the saddle element 15 can be clearly seen, i.e. from an orientation parallel to the Z axis in the region of the lower portion 17 to an orientation parallel to the Y axis in the region of the upper portion 18.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the carcass portions are conveyed hanging downwardly in the region of the lower part of the conveying path, whereas in the region of the upper part 18 of the conveying path they are conveyed in an upright position.

Arranged on the saddle member 15 (see fig. 1 and 2) are adjustment means 19, which adjustment means 19 are adapted to pivot the saddle member 15 about their respective axes of rotation relative to the base member 14. The adjustment means 19 is in particular in the form of a pivoting guide, for example in the form of a maltese cross, which is adapted to engage with control means (not shown in the figures) arranged along the transport path. By the cooperation of the control means with the adjusting means 19 in the form of a pivoting guide, the saddle member 15 along the transport path is pivoted in each case to the desired position.

The adjusting means 19 are thus adapted to pivot the base members 14 including the saddle members 15 about their respective axes of rotation in combination with control means arranged along the transport path. In this way, it is possible to change the orientation of the saddle member 15 relative to the respective base member 14 by pivoting about the axis of rotation, and thereby optimally orient the poultry body or part thereof for the processing step to be performed.

The adjusting device 19 preferably has four recesses 40 offset by 90 ° in each case. The adjustment device 19 with the recess 40 forms a maltese cross. The adjustment means 19 and the control means are therefore in the form of cam controls and are adapted to pivot the saddle member 15 about the respective axis of rotation in steps of 90 °.

The extension angle β of the angled member 16 is preferably adapted to be adjustable (not shown in the drawings). in this way, the spatial orientation of the saddle member can be adjusted as required and adapted to the local situation.

Further preferably, the continuous conveyor 12 comprises two conveyor chains 20 arranged parallel to each other. The conveyor chains 20 are each guided by at least two twin sprockets 21. The double sprocket 21 serves on the one hand as a deflecting element for guiding and deflecting the conveyor chain and, on the other hand, at least one of the double sprockets 21 is motor-driven.

In particular, the angled elements 16 are arranged on holding devices 22, which holding devices 22 are in turn each arranged on two conveyor chains 20. Arranging the retaining devices 22 on both sides ensures that the spatial orientation of the angled element 16 relative to the continuous conveyor 12 remains as constant as possible.

Advantageously, the retaining means 22 are each plate-shaped, and each base element 14 is connected to one of the retaining means 22 via two angled elements 16. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the angled elements 16 are arranged at opposite end sides 23 of the holding means 22. Via the angled elements 16, one of the retaining devices 22 is connected in each case to one of the base elements 14. However, the connection of the retaining device 22 to the respective base element 14 can also be made by means of one or more angled elements 16.

As shown in fig. 3, the base elements 14 advantageously each comprise guides 24 which engage into guide means 26 which are located at least in a partial region along the transport path and are adapted to engage into the above-mentioned guides 24. Preferably, the guide means 26 are located in the lower portion 17 and the upper portion 18 along the transport path. In this way, the base element 14 is additionally guided in the upper part 18 and the lower part 17 and it is ensured that the base element 14 maintains the intended orientation precisely even when external forces act on the saddle element 15. The guide 24 and the correspondingly configured guide device 26 are preferably in the form of a linear guide. For example, the guides 24 each form a channel in the form of a U-shaped profile, while the guide means 26 are in the form of a bar with a corresponding rectangular cross section.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of an apparatus for recovering meat pieces from poultry bodies or parts thereof according to the invention. The plant according to the invention comprises the above-mentioned transport device 10 and a plurality of processing stations, which are not explicitly shown in fig. 5 for the sake of clarity. Each of the processing stations is indicated in fig. 5 by a dashed line to clarify their position along the transport path. The apparatus for recovering meat pieces according to the invention further comprises a mounting station 27, which mounting station 27 is adapted to load poultry bodies or parts thereof onto the receiving element 13 or saddle element 15.

The carcass or parts thereof are preferably held on the saddle member 15 by clamping by means of suitably controllable holding members 39. The mounting station 27 is followed downstream in the conveying direction by a peeling tool 28 which is adapted to remove the skin of the poultry. Downstream of the stripping tool 28, a perforating tool 29 is preferably arranged, which perforating tool 29 is adapted to remove the wishbone and/or shoulder joint. Following the punching tool is a fillet loosening tool, which is preferably formed by a measuring device 30 for determining the shoulder joint position, a single fillet cutter 31 adjusted on the basis of the determined shoulder joint position, a first fillet scraper 32, an outer fillet loosening 33 and a second fillet scraper 34. Further following the removal station 35, it is adapted to completely remove the meat pieces from the poultry carcasses. The subsequent discharge station 36 is configured and adapted to remove the fleshless poultry carcasses from the respective receiving element 13 or saddle element 15.

As is evident from fig. 5, the mounting station 27, the discharge station 36 and the removal station 35 are arranged in the upper region of the transport path, that is to say in the region of the upper section 18. The remaining devices 28 to 34 are arranged in the lower region of the transport path, i.e. in the region of the lower part 17. The removal station 35 is preferably adapted to manually completely separate the meat pieces from the poultry carcass of one of the poultry bodies. Alternatively, it is also possible that the removal station 35 comprises means for automatically removing the meat pieces. Such an automatic removal station 35 is preferably arranged in the region of the lower part 17.

As can be seen in fig. 5, the saddle elements in the upper part 18 are preferably oriented such that the axis of rotation of the saddle element 15 is oriented parallel to the Y axis in each case. In other words, the axis of rotation of the saddle member in the upper portion 18 is oriented at least substantially horizontally. On the other hand, in the lower portion 17, the axis of rotation of the saddle element 15 is oriented parallel to the Z axis, that is to say preferably vertical. In particular, the orientation of the saddle element 15 shown in fig. 5 when the saddle element 15 passes through the removal station 35 has been found to be particularly advantageous, since in the case of manual processing, the pieces of meat are removed by pulling in an oriented direction towards the ground.

Fig. 4 shows the receiving element 13 in detail in a perspective view. The receiving element 13 comprises a base element 14, two angled elements 16 being arranged on the base element 14. The angled element 16 establishes a connection to the vehicle 10, not shown in fig. 4. The saddle member 15 is arranged on the base member 14 so as to be pivotable about a rotational axis (not shown in the drawings).

Thus, the saddle elements 15 are each arranged rotatable relative to the base element 14. The axis of rotation extends centrally through the base element 14 and is oriented vertically in fig. 4. When the saddle member 15 is circulated by means of the transport device 10, the orientation of the axis of rotation changes accordingly as described above.

The saddle element 15 preferably comprises a retaining element 39, which retaining element 39 is adapted to grip and retain the poultry body on the saddle element 15 by clamping, and a guide 24, said guide 24 being in particular in the form of a groove in the form of a U-shaped profile. Further preferably, the angled elements 16 are arranged on each end side 23 of the holding means 22. The retaining device 22 is preferably arranged on a chain link 38 of the conveyor chain 20, which is only shown in hidden form in fig. 5, by means of a retaining clip 37.