Automatic Intelligent Transfer System

Research Focus

The intelligent transfer project team continued to make good

progress in developing an automated system for transferring
live birds from a moving conveyor belt to a moving shackle
line.

The research team investigated the effects of size variation

and bird reflexes on the performance of automatically
shackling (in an upright position) a sequence of singulated
live birds, performed a parametric study for integrating a Georgia Tech researchers are
humane-killing (HK) system as a part of the inversion developing an intelligent live-bird
process, and then proceeded to develop an integrated transfer system that promises to
system design that employs singulating, orienting, grasping, automate this labor-intensive, quality-
shackling, stunning, inverting, and killing mechanisms. impacting function using bird response
and high-tech design elements.
Two specific tasks were addressed over the past 12 months. First, researchers developed a
motion control algorithm and the mechanisms to allow sequential shackling of multiple birds (in
the upright position), which also provides some flexibility to vary the transfer rate and to
accommodate birds with weights over 4 pounds. Experiments on sequentially shackling three
successive birds have shown that the computer- controlled inverter on the shackling mechanism
has the capability to shackle and invert live, forward-facing birds sequentially at a cycle time on
the order of one per second. Next, researchers studied methods of incorporating electrical
stunning and neck- cutting into the transfer process. Based on parametric studies and experiment
results obtained in collaboration with Bruce Webster (University of Georgia) and Jeff Buhr
(USDA/ARS), the project team has confirmed that it is feasible to integrate the HK system as a
part of the upright shackling and body-inversion process.

Potential benefits that could be drawn from adding a HK system include the elimination of any
potential trauma from inverting a conscious bird together with helping reduce wing flapping during
the inversion process that can lead to wing breakage; and the infusion of decapitation into the
transfer process could ensure that no bird revives from being stunned before entering the scalder.
An experimental study with live birds has shown that the HK process can be completed within 5
seconds, including decapitation immediately after the inversion.

Acknowledgements

The project team wishes to recognize the collaboration of Bruce Webster with the University of
Georgia’s Poultry Science Department and Jeff Buhr of the USDA’s Agricultural Research
Service-Poultry Processing and Meat Quality Research Unit.

Co-Project Directors:
Kok-Meng Lee - 404.894.7402 - kokmeng.lee@me.gatech.edu
Craig Wyvill - 404.894.3412 - craig.wyvill@gtri.gatech.edu