Butchering – Washer
Patent
1992-04-30
1994-05-17
Little, Willis
Butchering
Washer
452179, A22B 500, A22C 1708
Patent
active
053122933
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to washing of an animal head in the processing of an animal carcass in which the animal head is washed before recovery of meat such as the tongue and cheeks.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART
It is known to wash the head of an animal such as in beef or sheep abattoirs by manually directing pressurised water onto the head and through orifices to clean the head for subsequent processing. For example, any loose hair and blood needs to be removed to enable clean cuts of meat such as the tongue and cheeks to be recovered from the head. Such manual operations contribute substantially to the total costs involved in the carcass processing operation.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
It is an object of the present invention to provide a head washing apparatus which enables an animal head to be automatically washed preparatory to recovery of meat cuts from the head.
According to the present invention there is provided a head washing apparatus for washing an animal head at a head washing station, the head washing apparatus being characterised by a head support which supports the animal head so that the head is in a position with the muzzle directed generally upwardly, a plurality of nozzles arranged for directing water under pressure in a plurality of directions onto the animal head at the head washing station so that water is directed into generally upwardly opening orifices of the animal head, head turning means for turning the head support and thereby turning the animal head relative to the nozzles so that water is directed onto the head and into the orifices by the nozzles while the head is in different orientations relative to the nozzles.
In a first preferred aspect of the invention there is provided a head washing apparatus for washing an animal head at a head washing station, the head washing apparatus being characterised by a head support which supports the animal head so that the head is in a position with the muzzle directed generally upwardly, conveyor means operatively associated with the head support and operative to convey the head support and an animal head supported thereby to the head washing station and operative to convey the head support and the animal head supported thereby away from the head washing station after a head washing operation, a plurality of nozzles arranged for directing water under pressure in a plurality of directions onto the animal head at the head washing station so that water is directed into generally upwardly opening orifices of the animal head, head turning means for turning the head support and thereby turning the animal head relative to the nozzles so that water is directed onto the head and into the orifices by the nozzles while the head is in different orientations relative to the nozzles.
Preferably the conveyor means comprises an overhead conveyor line and said head support comprises a support hook having a shank, the shank being coupled to the conveyor line so that the hook hangs downwardly from the conveyor line, the conveyor line being movable so as to advance the support hook and the animal head supported thereby to the head washing station and to convey the hook and the animal head away from the head washing station after the head washing operation. In this embodiment, the head support preferably includes a support bracket which is coupled to the conveyor line, the support hook being mounted at its upper end to the support bracket, the shank of the hook being rotatable about its axis so that the animal head supported by the hook can be rotated about the vertical axis of the shank.
The head turning means may comprise deflecting tabs which are mounted by the head support, the head turning means further including co-operating guides arranged so that as the head support is advanced, each of the deflecting tabs encounters a respective one of the guides and causes the hook to rotate about the vertical axis of the shank as the respective tab engages the co-operating guide is aligned with that guide. In one possible embodiment the
REFERENCES:
patent: 1146589 (1915-07-01), Morrison
patent: 3178763 (1965-04-01), Kolman
patent: 4337549 (1982-07-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 4468839 (1984-09-01), Chittenden
Aquilini Matthew
Boyce Phillip R.
Buhot John W.
Finney Andrew L.
Heidke Darryl J.
Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation
Little Willis
Meat Research Corporation
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