Loading device for loading broilers into crates

1. A device for loading poultry supplied in supply stations located one above another at different heights into poultry holders placed in a loading station, wherein the device comprises:

a frame;

a first carriage movable on the side of the supply stations in vertical direction along the frame;

a second carriage movable on the side of the loading stations in vertical direction along the frame at a horizontal distance from the first carriage;

a transport element connected to the first and the second carriage and extending with a horizontal component;

wherein the connection between each of the carriages and the associated end of the transport element is configured for relative rotation;

wherein the connection between the transport element and either of the carriages is configured to allow a limited relative movement in horizontal direction; and

the first carriage is provided with a conveyor connecting to the supply stations for carrying the poultry onto the transport element in any position of the transport element.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection between the first carriage and the transport element is configured to allow a limited movement in horizontal direction.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the connection between the second carriage and the transport element lies on the side of the second carriage remote from the first carriage.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection between the first carriage and the transport element allowing a limited relative movement in horizontal direction comprises a lever connected rotatably to the first carriage and to an end of the transport element.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transport element comprises a carrier connected to the first and the second carriages, that a conveyor belt is mounted on the carrier and that the first carriage is provided with the conveyor leading to a position above the conveyor belt.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a single motor is arranged for driving the conveyor belt and the conveyor.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the frame is provided with two uprights along which the first carriage is movable in guided manner in vertical direction, and that the frame is provided with two uprights along which the second carriage is movable in vertical direction.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the device comprises a winch with cable, the end of which is connected to the second carriage.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the transport element comprises a carrier connected to the first and the second carriages, a conveyor belt is mounted on the carrier, the first carriage is provided with the conveyor leading to a position above the conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt is connected for pivoting about a vertical axis to the carrier.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device is displaceable in the direction transversely of the direction of transport of the transport element by means of wheels arranged on the underside of the frame.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device is provided with more than one first carriage movable on the side of the supply stations in vertical direction along the frame, more than one second carriage movable on the side of the loading stations in vertical direction along the frame at a horizontal distance from the first carriage, and more than one transport element connected to the first and the second carriage.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a converging structure is arranged above a supply belt and at some distance from the supply belt for guiding the poultry to a part of the supply belt.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein a scraping device is placed above the supply belt downstream of the converging structure.