GROVER SAM HARBEN, III
Pilots at Edgewater Dr, Gainesville, GA

5022120, Jun 11, 1991

Oct 30, 1989

7/429088

Grover S. Harben - Gainesville GA

A22C 2100

452115

Apparatus for removing the oil bag from killed fowl without cutting the tail of the fowl. A stationary knife assembly is mounted adjacent the predetermined path traveled by the birds along a conventional overhead conveyor. The stationary knife assembly has a V-shaped notch into which the oil bag of each bird moves, but a guard member partially blocks the notch and keeps the tail of the bird from entering the notch. A movable cutting assembly moves in synchronism with the bird conveyor and cooperates with the stationary knife assembly to shear the oil bag off the bird.

4153972, May 15, 1979

Jun 18, 1975

5/587838

Grover S. Harben - Gainesville GA
Kenneth Z. Graham - Dawsonville GA

Stork-Gamco, Inc. - Gainesville GA

A22B 308

17 11

A lung removal apparatus for poultry in which an access opening to their body cavity has been formed at their vent wherein the apparatus includes a conveyor from which shackle members are flexibly suspended to engage and support the poultry by their hocks, a guide for selectively locating the shackle members, a positioning member having a hook engagable with the poultry at their access opening in opposition to the shackle member and means for selectively varying the spacing between the hook and the shackle member to support poultry between the shackle member and hook so that the access opening is in a fixed plane while the breast portion of the poultry is flexibly supported in a cantilever fashion through its bone and muscle structure. A vacuum tool is reciprocally mounted on a traveling table adjacent the fixed plane in which the access opening is located and extendible through the fixed plane and access opening into the body cavity while the table moves the tool along in alignment with the poultry. The tool is provided with an open mouth at the extending end thereof through which a vacuum is imposed while the tool is positioned in the body cavity to remove the lungs.

4382313, May 10, 1983

Aug 19, 1980

6/179516

Grover S. Harben - Gainesville GA
James S. Ellis - Gainesville GA
Joe M. Emmett - Gainesville GA

Centennial Machine Co., Inc. - Gainesville GA

A22C 2100

17 11

A system for processing a gizzard with the viscera attached where the viscera is conveyed along a poultry processing line by conveying means including adjusting means for adjusting the viscera to a predetermined length while the viscera is conveyed by the conveying means; viscera separating means for separating the gizzard from the rest of the viscera; transfer means for automatically transferring the viscera from the conveying means into said viscera separating means; conveyor means for moving the gizzard along a processing path; gizzard splitting means for splitting a gizzard moved along the processing path by the conveyor means to open the pocket in the gizzard; gizzard washing means for washing the contents from the open pocket in the gizzard moving along the processing path by the conveyor means; gizzard peeling means operatively associated with the conveyor means to receive the split and washed gizzard therefrom and peel the lining from the gizzard; transfer means for transferring the gizzard from the removal means after the viscera has been removed from the gizzard to the conveyor means while orienting the gizzard with respect to the conveyor means so that the gizzard is moved along the processing path with an orientation such that the gizzard splitting means splits the gizzard along a prescribed plane through the gizzard.

4024603, May 24, 1977

Sep 24, 1975

5/616258

Grover S. Harben - Gainesville GA
Kenneth Z. Graham - Dawsonville GA

Gainesville Machine Company, Inc. - Gainesville GA

A22B 308

17 11

A viscera removal apparatus for poultry having a preformed access opening to their body cavity including a conveying and positioning means for successively moving poultry along a prescribed path; a plurality of vacuum operated tool assemblies; carriage means for selectively moving the tool assemblies into the body cavities of the poultry through the access openings so that the operating ends thereof overlie the viscera to be removed; vacuum means for imposing a vacuum through the operating ends of the tool assemblies to withdraw the viscera; and muffler means for introducing ambient air into the body cavity to reduce the operating noise level. The method of operation is also contemplated.

4179772, Dec 25, 1979

Feb 3, 1978

5/874844

Grover S. Harben - Gainesville GA

A22C 2102

17 47

This invention relates to poultry picking machines and more particularly to a poultry picking machine for removing the feathers from fowl with multiple finger action using a first plurality of picking fingers rotatable about axes of rotation extending generally transversely of the path of travel of the fowl through the machine and with a second plurality of picking fingers rotating about axes extending generally parallel to the path of travel of the fowl through the machine so that the first plurality of picking fingers is located on one side of the path of travel while the second plurality of picking fingers is located on the opposite side of the path of travel.

4876767, Oct 31, 1989

Jun 29, 1988

7/213247

Grover S. Harben - Gainesville GA
Leonard G. Clark - Dawsonville GA

A22C 2100

17 11

Suction apparatus and process for removing fecal matter from the vents of bird carcasses such as chickens and turkeys. A hollow suction probe enters the vent of the bird, and a flow of water is introduced in the vicinity of the probe opening to provide a mass flow sufficient to transport loose fecal matter into the suction opening of the probe. Suction and water flows at the probe are controlled so that the beginning and end of the water flow is overlapped by suction, thereby preventing the unwanted entry of water into the bird beyond the end of the probe.

4799292, Jan 24, 1989

Mar 25, 1988

7/173191

Grover S. Harben - Gainesville GA

Centennial Machine Company, Inc. - Gainesville GA

A22C 2100

17 11

A gizzard peeling machine including at least one pair of toothed rolls for grasping and peeling the pocket lining from a gizzard, and having a tamper for periodically pressing the gizzard inwardly against the peeling rolls. Oscillation of the tamper occurs without connection to the peeling rolls, so that the rolls and the support bushings for the rolls are unaffected by movement of the tamper.

3992752, Nov 23, 1976

Sep 23, 1974

5/508155

Grover S. Harben - Gainesville GA
Kenneth Z. Graham - Dawsonville GA

Gainesville Machine Company, Inc. - Gainesville GA

A22C 2100

17 45

A lung removal method for poultry in which an access opening to their body cavity has been formed at their vent including the steps of supporting poultry by its hocks and at an access opening at the vent so as to locate the access opening in a fixed plane while the breast portion of the poultry is flexibly supported therefrom in cantilever fashion through the bone and muscle structure of the poultry. The method also includes inserting an eviscerating tool through the access opening to eviscerate the poultry while it is supported. A separate vacuum may be imposed through the tool on different parts of the viscera to remove same.

D286884, Nov 25, 1986

Jun 15, 1984

6/621174

Ronnie M. Conner - Dahlonega GA
Grover S. Harben - Gainesville GA

Centennial Machine Company, Inc. - Gainesville GA

D15139

3965534, Jun 29, 1976

Jul 9, 1974

5/486832

Grover S. Harben - Gainesville GA

Gainesville Machine Company, Inc. - Gainesville GA

A22C 2100

17 11

A method is disclosed for breaking the necks of fowl being conveyed along a conveyor line in an inverted position for processing. The method comprises the steps of positioning neck gripping guide bars about opposite sides of a fowl neck, converging the neck gripping guide bars into gripping engagement with the neck, and striking the gripped neck with sufficient force to break the neck. A machine is also disclosed for breaking the necks of fowl being conveyed along a conveyor line in inverted positions for processing. The machine comprises a frame and a carriage mounted to the frame for movement along an orbital path having an upper arcuate portion. At least one neck breaking blade is supported on the carriage. Cylinders are provided for reciprocally driving the blade laterally the orbital path while the carriage is moving along the upper arcuate portion of the orbital path.