Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for receiving a plurality of tiers of poultry coops containing live birds at an unloading area and automatically handling the coops to unload the birds therefrom at a location outside the hang room. A lay down unit accepts the coops one tier at a time and tilts it from an upright disposition to an inclined disposition, laying the coops down on an inclined conveyor that moves the coops to the end of the incline. The lead coop falls over the end and into a coop unloading unit having a saddle adapted to catch the coop and hold it suspended above an auxiliary conveyor, permitting the coop door to freely open and discharge the birds. A mechanism within the unloading unit moves the coop out of the saddle and onto a coop elevator, causing the coop door to automatically close. A coop elevator takes the coops to a coop inverter which turns each coop over. The coops move to a restack station provided with an outfeed conveyor. The apparatus includes pneumatically controlled hydraulic motors and cylinders for operating the various components of the apparatus, with a pneumatic control circuit providing remote control of the apparatus from the hang room.

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First Claim