Automatic transfer apparatus

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Apparatus for transferring slaughtered birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, etc. from one overhead chain conveyor to another. The apparatus includes a rotary hock cutter and a rotary transfer table which incorporates a mechanism enabling it to function as an eccentric wheel having a plurality of knuckle-receiving notches about its periphery. The mechanism continuously varies the spacings between the notches as the transfer rotates. Thus bird, carcasses received by the transfer table at a first spacing are enabled to be delivered to such as an overhead chain conveyor at a second spacing.