GB2082535A

GB2082535A - A process and apparatus for unloading live poultry

Info

Publication number: GB2082535A
Application number: GB8041452A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Cindag SA
Current assignee: Cindag SA
Priority date: 1980-08-23
Filing date: 1980-12-30
Publication date: 1982-03-10
Also published as: ES498258A0; IT8069014A0; FR2488864A1; DE3031827A1; ES8201929A1; IT1129950B; BE887844A

Abstract

An apparatus for unloading live poultry comprising several crates 6 arranged atop of one another and side by side on a transport vehicle, having an unloading channel 60,62 leading to a reception area for the animals, said unloading channel preferably being provided with a conveying means and having an open entrance area 94 for introducing the animals taken over from the crates, characterized in that the entrance area is provided at a movable end portion of the unloading channel and is arranged for height adjustment in an area adapted to be moved to a position beside a first side face of the crate load of the transport vehicle, and in that an air blower 82 is provided capable of being made effective on the crates to be emptied for moving the animals out of the crates. <IMAGE>

Description

r SPECIFICATION A process and apparatus for unloading live poultry Background of the Invention The invention relates to a process and apparatus for unloading live poultry, especially chicken, from several crates arranged side by side and on top of one another on a transport vehicle.

With modern large scale poultry keeping, especially of chicken, very large numbers of animals must be handled in the quickest possible manner. In order to ensure in this connection uniform hygienic and endurable conditions for the animals along with the necessary working speed and economy required, a largely mechanized or even automated method of operation mostly is aimed at. While such a mechanized or automated method of operation is possible to a very far reaching degree without particular difficulties as far as the keeping proper of the animals is concerned, considerable problems will result in connection with loading and unloading and during transport of the animals, especially because of the requirement for high loading and unloading speeds.For reasons connected with hygiene rearing places and processing plants, butcher's shops in general, are widely separated from each other spatially, through 200 km for example, so that large numbers of animals ready to be slaughtered have to be moved quickly, economically and with the lowest possible losses, from the rearing place to the processing plant, the object aimed at in this connection being in particular a continuous and one hundred per cent exploitation of the processing capacity. With modern chicken processing plants the processing capacity of one production line may, for instance, be 4000 animals per hour.

It is known to place the animals in the crates manually; stack the crates atop of one another and side by side in a transport vehicle, for example, with the aid of fork lift trucks; drive the vehicle to the processing plant; there unload the crates and move the animals manually out of the crates and transpose them into an unloading channel leading to a reception area for the animals and being preferably provided with a conveying means.

With this mode of operation it is not possible to obtain a high loading and unloading speed, the requirement for human labour is considerable, and when transposing the animals manually injuries may easily occur to them.

It is furthermore known when unloading, mechanically to take off one stack of filled crates at a time from the transport vehicle and convey it to a de-stacker, whence the crates of the stack are mechanically conveyed one after the other to an entrance station of the processing plant. Here the individual crates are opened manually and the animals are taken out by hand and introduced into the production line. The empty crates are guided back to a restacker where they are composed again into stacks which are returned to be placed on the vehicle.With this known process a higher speed of operation is indeed possible than with the purely mechanical unloading, but the expenses for the mechanical stacking and destacking are considerable, and the opening of the crates at the beginning of the production line and the removal of the animals require time and adroitness; and yet injuries to the animals often cannot be avoided.

Summary of the Invention The invention is based upon the problem of providing a process and apparatus with the aid of which the unloading of live poultry, especially chicken, may be carried out at high speed, while to the utmost treating the animals sparingly and employing little human labour.

According to the invention this problem is solved as far as the process is concerned with the aid of a process for unloading live poultry from several crates arranged atop of one another and side by side on a transport vehicle, which is characterized in that the crates are opened one-sidedly to an entrance region of an unloading channel blowing an air current through the opened crates expelling the animals.

It has been found that with the process according to the invention the animals may be moved out of the crates at a very high speed but without the danger of being injured, and into the unloading channel, without any harmful stress to the animals, because they will any way strive to reach the opening of the cage that has been provided and by the air current will be stimulated to perform natural movements of flying. The process according to the invention is particularly advantageous for chicken because they little tend to run and by the air current are brought to perform an aimed movement in the desired direction; as chicken have relatively little weight, substantial accelerations may be obtained with the air current over short distances.

With the process according to the invention very high unloading speeds are possible without any further ado; the transport capacity of the unloading channel may be designed to be correspondingly high, said channel being preferably provided with a corresponding high speed conveying means, for instance, a conveyor belt arrangement. Air velocities of more than 100 km/h may be applied without in any way endangering the animals. As the animals are not seized by hand or by any machine, the danger of injuries is very strongly reduced.

What is particularly advantageous is one embodiment of the process according to the invention in which the crates are left on the transport vehilce during the unloading operation and the entrance area of the unloading channel is moved to a position close to the crates respectively to be emptied. By this arrangement, the circumstantial de-stacking and re-stacking of the crates on the transport vehicle which is also costly from a labour standpoint, is completely avoided, and the possible unloading speed is further considerably increased.

A particularly high unloading speed is made possible when several crates are simultaneously opened towards the correspondingly dimensioned entrance area of the unloading channel. In this operation a more uniform emptying of the crates is ensured by biasing the opened crates with the air current one after the other. In each case, it is made possible through selection of a correspondingly high conveying performance in the unloading channel to transport the animals singly onward one after the other to their reception area. They will then arrive there in a less excited condition and may easily be seized at a high frequency and further processed, especially hanged individually on hooks of a slaughtering line.

To carry out the process according to the invention use is made of an apparatus for unloading live poultry, especially chicken, from several crates arranged atop of one another and side of side on a transport vehicle, said apparatus comprising an unloading channel leading to a reception area for the animals and preferably provided with a conveying means and having an open entrance area for loading the animals taken over from the crates, said apparatus being characterized in that the entrance area is provided at a movable end portion of the unloading channel and is arranged for height adjustment in an area adapted to be brought into a position beside a first side face of the load of crates on the transport vehicle, and in that for moving the animals out of the crates an air blower is provided adapted to be made effective on the crates to be emptied.

With the apparatus according to the invention the crates may be unloaded quickly and conveniently while being situated on the transport vehicle; it is only necessary to adjust the movable end portion of the unloading channel to the position, especially the height level, of the crates respectively to be unloaded, in the normal case quite a series of crates arranged one after the other longitudinally of the transport vehicle. Subsequently, the crates are opened towards the entrance area of the movable end portion and the blower made effective on the crates to be emptied; for this purpose it is recommendable that the air blower comprise at least one blowinq orifice adapted to be adjusted to different crates. The available blowing capacity may thereby be concentratedly applied to the crates respectively to be emptied.

The apparatus according to the invention may obviously be constructed very simply and in a favourable manner from a cost standpoint and may also easily be made so robust as to be suited to the rough operation in poultry slaughtering houses. The advantages of the process according to the invention which have already been described may be obtained in a simple manner.

For the air blower, many embodiments are possible. What is particularly to the purpose is the embodiment already mentioned in which the air blower is provided with at least one blowing orifice adjustable to different crates. It is easily possible movably to guide such a blowing orifice, for example, as the end section of a flexible hose line, which leads to a source of air such as a blower, for example.

Suitably, the air current passes through the crates over the entire length thereof. Accordingly, an embodiment is preferred in which the dimensions of the entrance region are adapted to first crate end faces disposed in the first side face of the load of crates, with the blower orifice adapted to be oriented with respect to second crate end faces opposed to the first crate end faces.

The apparatus according to the invention is of a particularly simple design and easy to handle when comprising a rack in which the end portion of the unloading channel and the blower orifice are supported for adjustment in two essentially parallel vertical planes of adjustment; these planes of adjustment defining between them a reception area for the crates to be unloaded which were left on the transport vehicle. All that is then necessary for unloading only is to approach the transport vehicle into a position in which the crates to be unloaded are situated in the reception area in order to have all the necessary equipment ready for the unloading operation.

Often it is advantageous when the position and/or the space between the planes of adjustment are variable. It is possible thereby to adapt the apparatus to crates of different widths. What is especially preferred is an embodiment in which the space between the planes of adjustment corresponds to the width of the load of crates on the transport vehicle.

Then the blowing is performed in a transverse direction through the entire width of the load of crates. Owing to this the handling is very much simpler than with the possibility which is on principle likewise given of arranging and designing the blowing orifice at a flat nozzle, for example, in such a manner that it may be introduced in a downward direction between stacks of crates disposed side by side in the load of crates.The possibility described of varying the space between the planes of adjustment is also advantageous insofar as one may then first conveniently drive the transport vehicle into the reception area with a wide distance between the planes of adjustment at the beginning and then approach the movable end section of the unloading channel and the blowing orifice directly to the sides of the load of crates, so that the blowing-in of the air may take place with lowest possible losses.

Suitably, the length of the reception area corresponds to the length of one load of crates on the transport vehicle. The vehicle may then be unloaded in one continuous operation without having to be moved in between.

It is possible to arrange for the length of the reception area to be axially variable so that transport vehicles of different lengths may respectively be unloaded in one continuous operation.

In general, however, it will be preferable for reasons of constructional simplicity and robustness of the device to provide fixed dimensions for the reception area and a predetermined fixed space between the planes of adjustment; this will then be sufficient for the case mostly occurring in practice that transport vehicles and crates of a unitary design are used.

The apparatus according to the invention may be used in a particularly simple manner safe in operation when the end portion of the unloading channel which comprises the entrance area and the blowing orifice are adapted to be adjusted in height in synchronism with each other. Then there will result automatically a correct association of the blowing orifice with the horizontal row of crates respectively to be emptied.

Another improvement is possible by the end portion of the unloading channel being designed as a means of actuation for blocking devices of the crate doors to be opened. One may then automatically open the doors of the crates that have to be opened for unloading by approaching the end portion of the unloading channel.

From the above explanations it will be intelligible that it is advantageous for the utilization with the apparatus of the invention to use a poultry crate, especially for chicken to be slaughtered, whose width corresponds to the width of the loading platform of the transport vehicle to be loaded with it. The animals then have available to them a relatively long distance of acceleration within the crate during the operation of blowing out, so that one may operate with low blowing forces and thus low mechanical loads on the animals and low requirements of air.Such crates, however, are also advantageous in themselves because they make possible a utilization of the entire loading width of the transport vehicle without leaving any gaps and an increased loading speed, because the animals have available to themselves a greater length of brake path within the crate and the feeding speed may be selected to be correspondingly higher.

Another advantage of the apparatus according to the invention resides in that with the transport vehicle the crates may be fixedly arranged on the vehicle. This makes possible a type of construction with which the crates are forming a rack reinforcing themselves and the transport vehicle; the crates in this arrangement may be made of a relatively light material.

It is furthermore advantageous that the animals can be transported essentially individually one after the other; owing to this feature simple means of control may be used, for example, for weighing and counting the animals. For counting, a simple light barrier may be used.

Brief description of the drawings Further features and advantages of the invention will be seen from the following description of an example of embodiment in connection with the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an unloading device according to the invention; Figure 2 illustrates the unloading operation looking at the unloading device from the side opposite Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a chicken transport crate suited for use with the unloading device according to the invention; Figure 4 shows in a representation similar to Fig. 3 another embodiment of the chicken transport crate; Figure 5 is a schematic side view of a crate of the type as shown in Figs. 3 or 4, however, with modified side walls;; Figure 6 shows a schematic sectional view according to line VI-VI of Fig. 5, and Figure 7 is a sectional view of a modified embodiment corresponding to Fig. 6.

Description of preferred embodiment Figs. 1 and 2 show schematically a device for unloading live chicken from a load 4 of several crates 6 arranged atop of one another and side by side on a transport vehicle 2 and fastened between vertical posts of the transport vehicle. Each crate 6 is intended to accommodate a plurality of chicken, has a width corresponding to the loading platform of the transport vehicle, and is fixedly arranged on the transport vehicle 2. The crates 6 are respectively provided with doors 1 2 and 14 in their end walls lying in the side faces 8 and 10 of the load of crates 4; this being shown only with one crate in Fig. 1.The doors may alternatively be provided with disengageable blocking devices, for example, arresting bars; with the embodiment shown the doors 1 2 of the crates 6 are biased into the opened position (see the upper row of crates in Fig. 2) by means of springs (not shown) and rods 1 6 are provided as blocking means for these doors 1 2 which in the sim plest case extend in front of the respectively associated horizontal rows of crates over the entire length of the load of crates between the posts or walls 18, 20 respectively at the beginning and the end of the loading platform of the transport vehicle 2.With the embodiment shown also medium posts 21 are still provided for reasons connected with strength and the rods 1 6 are correspondingly subdivided into two halves.

The unloading device comprises a rack 22 which is provided with a ramp 24 for the transport vehicle 2 and a bridge 26 spanning the ramp. The ramp 24 forms the bottom of a reception area 28 for the transport vehicle 2 and its load of crates 4. The bridge 26 forms a passageway 30 for respectively driving the transport vehicle 2 with its load of crates 4 situated thereon, into and out of the reception area 28. The described superstructure is very simple and space-saving and may easily be manufactured with usual means.

The bridge 26 in the embodiment shown respectively comprises one front and one rear pair of posts 32, 34 and 36, 38 which at the bottom are connected to the ramp 24 and at the top are connected to each other by means of longitudinal struts 40, 42 and transverse struts 44, 46 into a rigid formation.

In the embodiment shown the length of the reception area 28 corresponds to the length of the load of crates 4 of the transport vehicle 2.

The width of the reception area 28 corresponds to the width of the transport vehicle 2 and, at any rate, is dimensioned to be such that the transport vehicle may conveniently move into the reception area until the load 4 is disposed completely within the reception area 28. The reception area 28 is laterally defined by two essentially vertical planes of adjustment 48, 50 extending in parallel wherein longitudinal beams 52 and 54, respectively, are vertically adjustable by means of a motor drive 56,58. On the longitudinal beam 52 there is arranged a movable, essentially horizontal end portion 60 of an unloading channel 62. The end portion 60 is provided with an exit station 64 at its one end which is connected to a movable intermediate portion 66 of the unloading channel 62. The other end of the intermediate portion 66 is displaceably coupled to the end of a further channel section 68.The unloading channel leads to a place of destination for the animals 70, here a slaughtering house 72. where the oncoming animals are hung on hooks of a slaughtering line 74. The portions of the unloading channel 62 are respectively provided with belt conveyor devices.

On the longitudinal beam 54 there are provided in side by side spaced arrangement two air blower orifices 76 78 directed towards the interior of the reception area 28 which are adjustable by means of a motor 80 in the direction indicated by the double arrow longitudinally of the reception area 28. The blower orifices 76, 78 are components of an air blower device 82, in this case consisting of two blowers 84, 86 adapted to be displaced on the beam 54. Such an air blower device is very simple and may easily be built up using mass production blowers. But it is also possible to use other embodiments of air blower devices, for example, such provided with wide-slotted nozzles.

The height adjustment of the two beams 52, 54 and thus of unloading channel end portion 60 and the blowing orifices 76, 78, respectively, is synchronized by means of devices (not shown) in such a manner that with each adjustment of the end portion 60 the blowing orifices will be properly situated in the associated positions of operation. At the end portion 60 there is arranged a control stand 88 which is adjustable in height together with the end portion. This arrangement of a control stand is advantageous, because then the operator working at the control stand can exactly watch the height adjustment from the immediate neighbourhood and can, in a given case, correct it, and because the same operator is then also available in the transfer region between crate and unloading channel to interfere for correction.Also the adjustment of the blowing orifices 76, 78 longitudinally of the reception area 28 may be effected from the control stand 88. Besides, a possibility of adjustment by means of a manual control device 90 is still indicated in Fig. 1 which is coupled to the devices controlled by it via a flexible cable. There is furthermore arranged at the end portion 60 a gangway 92 for personnel from which the operator 93 may watch the unloading operation and influence it, if necessary.

The movable end portion 60 of the unload ing channel 62 comprises an entrance region extending the entire length of the reception area 28 and opening towards the reception area 28. Extending therein essentially horizontally is a belt conveyor device 96 which is visible in Fig. 2 through a cutout of the end portion 60 being shown in a diagrammatic view. The belt conveyor device 96 transports the animals 70 taken over from the crates 6 to the exit station 64 at the one end of the end portion 60. The open entrance section 94 and the belt conveyor device 96 extend the entire length of the reception area 28, so that the animals may enter into the entrance area 94 simultaneously from all the crates available on this length.

Fig. 3 shows one of the crates 6. It consists essentially of a bottom grate 98, two long grates for transverse walls 100, 102, and two shorter grates for end walls 104, 106. In the one end wall 104 which is arranged in the one side face 8 of the load of crates 4 on the transport vehicle 2 the door 1 2 is provided which may be hinged open outwardly about its upper edge and is forced into the open position (not shown) by a spring (not shown).

In the other end face 106 a door 14 capable of being hinged inwards is provided which is resiliently forced back into the closed position; through this door the crate may be loaded.

The crates are provided with feet 108 in the bottom and openings 110 fitting them in their upper edges so that several crates may be interlockingly stacked atop of one another with the bottom of the upper one respectively forming the ceiling of a lower crate. The crate underside is designed in such a manner that the crate or a stack of crates may be seized by usual fork lift trucks or the like.

The upper crate of the stack remains empty or is closed by means of a covering plate (not shown).

The described embodiment offers advantages in connection with the loading and unloading operations. The loading may easily be performed in such a manner that an end of a loading channel (not shown) fitting the door 14 is pushed against the door 1 4 so that the door will hinge open inwardly and the animals may be introduced into the crate from the loading channel. When pulling back the loading channel the door 14 will close automatically. On the unloading side the door 1 2 automatically springs open upwards and outwards, when it is no longer kept in in the closed position, i.e. when removing the rods 16, for example, which form a blocking device (Fig. 2). The door 1 2 which is hinged open upwards prevents the animals from overly flying up but does not for the rest obstruct the operation of transfer.It will be noted that it is easily possible also to provide for the doors of the crates blocking arrangements which are designed as a component of the crate in such a manner that the door 1 2 will become arrested in the closed position but in case of necessity may easily be unlocked again, especially also by approaching the end portion 60 of the unloading channel 62 (Fig.

2). Such modifications may be carried by any expert without any further ado.

It will be understood that also such crates may be used as are provided with doors of one and the same design on both end faces for loading and unloading animals. Such crates are especially suitable when they are loosely assembled into a load of crates 4 (Figs. 1 and 2). It is possible in particular to provide doors of the type of the door 1 2 in both end faces, with or without built-in blocking device.

Numerous modifications of the described device may be imagined within the framework of the invention. So, a certain capability of transverse movement may especially be provided also for the end portion 60 and the blowing orifice, so that these members may be approached closer to the load of crates after the transport vehicle has moved into the reception area. It is furthermore possible to design the end portion 60 to be shorter and horizontally adjustable; then the ends of the intermediate section 66 are to be respectively rotatably coupled also about vertical axes to the end portion 60 and the further section 68, respectively. It is also possible to use a relatively short rack and move the transport vehicle onward section by section relative to the rack. Such embodiments as well as also other possible modifications are not shown in the Figures.

The mode of operation of the apparatus results already without any further ado from the above description of the construction thereof. In short, the apparatus operates as follows.

The transport vehicle 2 loaded with live chicken ready to be slaughtered moves onto the ramp 24 in such a manner that its load of crates 4 is disposed in the reception area 28 (Fig. 2) in such a way that the first side face 8 of the load of crates 4 having the doors 1 2 intended for unloading provided therein, comes to lie beside that region (of the plane of adjustment) in which the entrance area of the end portion 60 is arranged for height adjustment. The horizontal end portion 60 of the unloading channel 62 is adjusted to such a height level that the open entrance region 94 thereof together with the belt conveying device 96 comes to lie slightly below the lower edge of a row of crates 6 to be emptied (in Fig. 2 the top row of crates).In synchronism therewith the blowing orifices 76, 78 (Fig. 1) are moving to a height level at which air can be blown with them through the end walls 106 of the same row of crates. The conveying devices of the unloading channel 62 are started. The blocking bars 1 6 of the respective row of crates are removed so that the doors 1 2 will open in an upward hingeing movement. At the same time, the air blowing means 82 is started. The chicken fall onto the belt conveyor device 96 and are conveyed thereby to the exit station 64. There they drop onto the belt conveying device of the intermediate section 66. Thence they are conveyed onward to their place of destination via further portions of the unloading channel. During this operation the blowing orifices 76, 78 are moved along the row of crates until all the crates are empty.Then the end portion 60 of the unloading channel 62 can be adjusted to another row of cages, and the operation is repeated. After all the crates have been completely emptied, the transport vehicle can at once move away again and another transport vehicle be driven into the reception area (28).

With an apparatus of the type described above it is possible, for example, to unload 8000 chicken per hour or more than two ckicken per second and transport them indi vidually one after the other into the processing plant. As the animals follow singly one after the other, simple counting devices may be used, for example, a light barrier with electronic counter. What is particularly striking is the fact that the chicken appear little encumbered and use the air which is blown towards them as well as the short distances of dropping between the sections of the unloading channel (falling from a height of 40 cm, for example) to perform movements with their wings which to all appearance they enjoy as being agreeable.

Fig. 4 shows in a representation similar to the one of Fig. 3 a modified embodiment of a chicken transport crate 406 (without top and bottom) which is sutied for the above described unloading device. Same as is the case with the crate according Fig. 3 the crate according to Fig. 6 likewise has two shorter grates for transverse walls or end walls 504, 506 with doors 412 and 414, respectively, and two longer grates for transverse walls or side walls 500, 502. The crate 406, however, in contrast to the embodiment according to Fig. 3, is composed of several sections, in the present case two sections 522, 524 arranged in a series one after the other. This may be favourable for handling and storekeeping. For unloading the animals (not shown) an air current 526 is passed through the crate.

This process has been described in more detail in the foregoing in connection with the embodiments according to Figs. 1 to 3. So that as little of the air current as possible escapes through the vent openings 528 formed by the grate structure of the side walls 500, 502, it is to the purpose that such side walls be provided with air guiding baffles for laterally limiting and guiding the current of blown air 526 passed through the crate. With the crate according to Fig. 4 simply vertically extended ribs are provided for air guiding baffles 530 in the venting openings 528.

Figs. 5 and 6 show diagrammatically a side wall 600 and a bottom 632 of another embodiment of a crate which for the rest corresponds to the construction according to Figs.

3 or 4.

The grate structure of the side wall 600 forms venting openings 628 having again ribs arranged therein as air guiding baffles 630.

These air guiding baffles 630, however, are positioned obliquely in the sense of the current of blown air 626; this improves the limiting and guiding function of the air guiding baffles.

Fig. 7 shows in a representation similar to Fig. 6 a modified embodiment in which air guiding baffles 830 are again arranged in the venting openings 828 of the side wall 832 shown in the drawing. These air guiding baffles are curved in the sense of the current of blown air 826; in addition, they may also still be positioned obliquely in a manner similar to the one shown in Figs. 5 and 6 DO connection with the side walls 630. The posts 834 standing between the individual venting openings 828 in the grate structure of withe side wall 832, in the embodiment according to Fig. 7 are likewise designed as air guiding baffles 834. For this purpose the faces' of the posts 834 disposed transversely to the current of blown air 826 are curved in the sense of the current of blown air 826. Thereby, the formation of detrimental whirls and laterally directed air drifts occurring at the posts is also counteracted.

Claims

1. A process for unloading live poultry, especially chicken, from several crates arranged atop of one another and side by side on a transport vehicle, characterized in that the crates are onesidedly opened towards an entrance region of an unloading channel and an air current is blown through the crates expelling the animals.

2. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that the air current has a speed of more than 100 km/h.

3. The process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the crates are left on the transport vehicle during the unloading opera- tion and that the entrance region of the unloading channel is moved into a position directly adjacent the respective crates or groups of crates to be emptied.

4. The process according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that several crates are simultaneously opened towards the entrance region.

5. The process according to claim 4, characterized in that the opened Crates are biased with the air current one after the other;

6. The process according to any orie of the preceding claims, characterized in that the unloaded animals are individually transported onward one after the other in the unloading channel.

7. An apparatus for unloading' live poultry, especially chicken, according to the process of any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, from several crates arranged atop of one another and side by side on a transport vehicle, comprising an unloading channel leading to a reception area for the animals and preferably provided with a conveying means and having an open entrance region for infroducing the animals, characterized in that the entrance region (94) is provided at a movable end portion (60) of the unloading channel (62) and is arranged to be capable of height adjustment in a region adapted to be moved to a position beside a first side face (8) of the load of crates (4) of the transport vehicle (2\ and in that for removing the animals (70) from the crates (6) an air blower arrangement (82) is provided which is adapted-to be raad,'e effective on the crates 'to be era,-

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the air blower device (82) is provided with at least one blowing orifice (76, 78) adapted to be adjusted to different crates.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the dimensions of the entrance region (94) are adapted to first crate end faces (104) which are disposed in the first side face (8) of the load of crates, and that the blowing orifice (76, 78) is adapted to be aligned with second crate end faces (106) opposed to the first crate end faces (104).

10. The apparatus according to claims 8 or 9, characterized by a rack (22) in which the end portion (60) of the unloading channel (62) and the blowing orifice (76, 78) are supported for adjustment in two essentially parallel vertical planes of adjustment (48, 50) defining between them a reception area (28) for the crates (6) to be unloaded which are situated on the transport vehicle (2).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the position and/or the distance between the planes of adjustment (48, 50) are variable.

1 2. The apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the distance between the planes of adjustment essentially corresponds to the width of the load of crates (4) of the transport vehicle (2).

1 3. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the length of the reception area (28) corresponds to the length of one load of crates (4) of a transport vehicle (2).

14. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the length of the reception area (28) is variable.

1 5. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the rack (22) comprises a ramp (24) and a bridge (26) spanning the latter with the ramp constituting the bottom of the reception area (28) and the bridge forming a passageway (30) for the transport vehicles (2) moving in and out with the loads of crates (4).

1 6. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the movable end portion (60) of the unloading channel (62) comprises a conveying device (96) extended in the entrance region (94) which conveys the animals (70) to an exit station (64) and in that the exit station (64) is connected to a movable intermediate portion (66) of the unloading channel (62).

1 7. The apparatus according to claim 1 6, characterized in that the conveying device (96) extends the entire length of the reception area (28).

18. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 7 to 17, characterized in that a personnel gangway (92) is arranged at the movable end portion (60) of the unloading channel (62).

19. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 10 to 18, characterized in that the blowing orifice (76, 78) is adjustable on a height-adjustable beam (54) longitudinally of the reception area (28).

20. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 10 to 19, characterized in that several blowing orifices (76, 78) are disposed in side by side spaced arrangement.

21. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 1 9 or 20, characterized in that the blowing orifice (76, 78) is provided at an air blower (84, 86) which is displaceable on the beam (54).

22. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 7 to 21, characterized in that the end portion (60) of the unloading channel (62) comprising the entrance region (94) and the blowing orifice (76, 78) are synchronously adjustable in height.

23. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 7 to 22, characterized in that for height adjustment of the end portion (62) a control stand (88) is provided with is movable in height together with the end portion.

24. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 7 to 23, characterized in that the movable end portion of the unloading channel is designed as a means of actuation for the blocking device3 of crate doors capable of being opened.

25. A poultry transport crate especially for chicken ready to be slaughtered, for use with an unloading apparatus according to any one of the claims 7 to 24, characterized in that the width thereof corresponds to the width of the loading platform of a transport vehicle (2) to be loaded therewith.

26. The transport crate according to claim 25, characterized in that it has doors of one and the same design on both end faces for loading and unloading animals.

27. The transport crate according to claim 25, characterized in that it is provided in a first end face (104) thereof with an outwardly opening door (1 2) resiliently biased into the open position and in the other end face (106) thereof is provided with an inwardly opening door (14) resiliently biased into the closed position.

28. The transport crate according to any one of the claims 25 to 27, characterized in that it is composed of several sections (522, 524) arranged in a series orle after the other.

29. The transport crate according to any one of the claims 25 to 28, having side walls provided with venting openings, characterized in that the side walls (500, 502) are provided with'air guiding baffles (530) for laterally limiting and guiding a current of blowing air (526) passed through the crate (406).

30. The transport crate according to claim 29, characterized in that the air guiding baffles (834) define the venting openings (828).

31. The transport crate according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that the air guiding baffles {630; 830, 834) are positioned obliquely or curved in the sense of the current of blowing air used to unload the animals.

32. A poultry transport vehicle for use with an unloading device according to any one of the claims 7 to 24, characterized in that poultry transport crates (6) are fixedly arranged on the transport vehicle (2).