Kenneth Dillard

US Patent:

54877008, Jan 30, 1996

Filed:

Jun 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/498980

Inventors:

Kenneth D. Dillard - Canton GA

Assignee:

Dapec, Inc. - Canton GA

International Classification:

A22C 2100

US Classification:

452188

Abstract:

An improved poultry shackle assembly for suspending poultry carcasses by their hocks from an overhead conveyor system for movement along a poultry processing line comprises a support frame from which a pair of spaced stirrups depend. Each of the stirrups has an upwardly extending rod that is journaled within a cylindrical sleeve on the support frame for rotation of the stirrup to accommodate spreading and rotation of the legs of a poultry carcass suspended therefrom. A pin extends outwardly from the rods through an inclined slot formed in the sleeves to restrict rotational movement of the stirrups between first and second rotary positions and to bias the stirrups gravitationally to a first rotary position wherein the pins are nestled within the bottom ends of the slots.

US Patent:

D3738833, Sep 17, 1996

Filed:

Jun 15, 1995

Appl. No.:

D/040326

Inventors:

Kenneth D. Dillard - Canton GA

Assignee:

Dapec, Inc. - Canton GA

US Classification:

D34 29

US Patent:

51940353, Mar 16, 1993

Filed:

Jan 17, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/822962

Inventors:

Kenneth D. Dillard - Canton GA

Assignee:

MEYN USA, Inc. - Gainesville GA

International Classification:

A22C 2100

US Classification:

452165

Abstract:

Automatic poultry processor and corresponding methodology permits poultry to be directly received from a conventional overhead track, without manual intervention. Spring loaded leg drags temporarily impede movement of a bird relative an overhead track, during which time a loading cone is inserted into the body cavity of the bird. The loading cone is driven by a continuous loop conveyor for positively driving the breast half of the bird as the hind quarters are positively directed by the overhead track, whereby the bird is directed towards a knife for separating the hind quarters from the breast half. Thereafter, the hind quarters are carried away by the overhead track, while the loading cone may be used to drive the breast half towards further processing steps, such as automatic halving and automatic deboning. The continuous conveyor supporting the loading cone has a double curvature in the vicinity of the conveyor flow where birds are loaded. The double curvature helps guide the tip of the loading cone into the body cavity and then helps thrust it deeper into the cavity so as to be fully seated.

US Patent:

57826854, Jul 21, 1998

Filed:

Jan 14, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/782876

Inventors:

Jacobus E. Hazenbroek - Klaaswaa, NL
Kenneth D. Dillard - Canton GA
Arend Hobbel - Numansdorp, NL

Assignee:

Systemate Holland, B. V. - Numansdorp

International Classification:

A22C 1704

US Classification:

452138

Abstract:

Poultry thighs (13) are placed on carrier trays (22) of a tray conveyor (14) and move on an endless loop conveyor first through a rectilinear loading run (24), then through a curved deboning run (26), and then through a lower return run (25). The curved deboning run extends about the deboning unit (35), which includes a stationary cam drum (36) and a revolving carrier assembly (38) that carries the series of deboning modules (55) about the drum (36). Each deboning module becomes aligned with a carrier tray and is actuated by the cam tracks (81) of the stationary cam drum (36) so as to engage and push the bone of the turkey thigh through the aperture (63) of a stripper disk (61).