DECROPPING TOOL AND WRAPPED CAM FOR USE IN FOOD PROCESSING MACHINERY

摘要

A tool or probe (60) is provided for insertion into a avian or poultry carcass (10) for removing the crop (12) and/or windpipe (14, 16) and/or gullet and/or other undesired viscera from the neck (26) of the bird carcass (10). The probe (60) has helical threads (81, 82, 83) protruding from a probe body (66). V-shaped voids (84) are cut into the helical threads (81, 82, 83) to provide teeth (68) for removal of the crop (12) and other inedible viscera from the carcass (10). A cam (63) and method of manufacturing a cam for use in decropping machines and other food processing machinery is provided. The cam (63) includes plastic guides (64, 65) that are pre-shaped in two dimensions and then wrapped about a three dimensional cam frame (76, 78, 79) to provide a desired path (67) for a cam follower (62).