Apparatus and method for cleaning poultry

Abstract

An apparatus ( 10 ) for washing eviscerated poultry carcasses ( 12 ) has a housing ( 11 ), a conveyor ( 15 a ) for moving the shackled poultry carcasses through the housing. A guide bar ( 24 ) tilts the poultry carcasses ( 12 ) from a vertical position for spraying by a first set of nozzles ( 23 ). The first set of nozzles ( 23 ) delivers a cleaning solution ( 100 ) at a sufficient flow rate and line pressure, whereby a portion of the cleaning solution ( 100 ) is deflected back out the rear opening ( 12 d ) of the poultry carcass ( 12 ).

1 . An apparatus for washing eviscerated poultry carcasses having legs, an exterior surface, abdominal fat flaps a cavity having a rear end opening and a neck end, comprising:
 a) a conveyor for conveying the carcasses;   b) a housing having an inlet and an outlet through which the carcasses pass;   c) a guide bar positioned in the housing and positioned to contact the carcasses and raise their neck ends to tilt the poultry carcasses from vertical;   d) a first set of multiple spray nozzles for providing a diffused stream of cleaning fluid into the cavity from a direction and at a sufficient flow rate, whereby a portion of the cleaning fluid is deflected out the rear end opening and beneath the abdominal fat flaps; and   e) a second set of multiple spray nozzles for spraying the exterior surface with a cleaning solution.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the carcasses having abdominal fat flaps proximate the rear end opening, the deflected cleaning solution resulting in movement of an unattached end of the abdominal fat flaps outward and away from the rear end opening by the deflected cleaning fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , the second set of nozzles are oscillating. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cleaning fluid flows at a rate of at least three gallons per minute from each nozzle of the first set of multiple spray nozzles and at a line pressure of at least 10 psi. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , the first set of multiple spray nozzles having a 10 degree or greater spray angle and spaced from a distance of from 6 to 10 inches from the rear end opening. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , the first set of nozzles comprising at least three spray nozzles. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , the second set of nozzles having a flow rate from each nozzle of at least 0.2 gallons per minute and a line pressure of 20 psi or greater.