Butchering – Viscera processing – Venting or opening preparatory to eviscerating
Patent
1990-10-22
1992-05-12
Little, Willis
Butchering
Viscera processing
Venting or opening preparatory to eviscerating
452120, 452109, A22B 500
Patent
active
051122723
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for providing a cut around the anus of an animal to free the rectum from a carcass suspended from both its back feet. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out said method.
On slaughter lines the carcasses of the animals are normally conveyed along the line suspended from their back feet. Animal slaughter lines have been established with many partially automatized functions. After scalding and removal of the outer layer of skin by means of hair shoving, black-singing and scraping, the animals are opened. One of the first stages of the opening is to free the rectum at the anus. The rectum is connected to the skin and should be cut free in such a way that it is not damaged. For this purpose a cut is performed by means of a knife around the rectum.
2. Description of the Related Art
On slaughter lines this cutting may take place manually, but as it is a very labor demanding operation, automatic devices for the operation have been proposed. A device of this kind is known from EP-A-258 939 and comprises a positioning element to be inserted into the anus by a movement in the lengthwise direction of the positioning element. The cutting operation is performed by a cutting element disposed concentrically around the positioning element and displaceable in the direction of its axis of rotation. In the known apparatus, the carcass is supported during the advancing of the positioning element by means of a supporting bracket with a fork acting as a fixation for the carcass during the cutting operation. The known device has no means for adjusting the position of the positioning element for adjust to individual differences of the carcasses. This will exclude a totally automatic operation of the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a method, by means of which cutting free of the rectum can be automated.
The invention is based on the observation that when carcasses are suspended from both their back feet, the distance in vertical direction between the root of the animal's tail and the anus is subject to only small variations. These variations are so small that the knife may be adjusted to its cutting position on the basis of measurement of the position of the root of the tail. The carcass is then advanced axially on the condition that the animal before and after the measurement is fixed such that the root of the tail may be hit by a simple movement of the sensor. To meet this requirement, the animal is fixed by means of a fixation means pressing against its back in the hind part of the animal. Preferably, the knife is provided with a gauge, which during the cutting process is introduced into the anus. The guage prevents improper positioning of a cut in an abnormally dimensioned animal. The gauge is also used for activating the preparation for a new carcass, whereby the adjustment of the knife is changed slightly before the new operation is started. If the operation fails, an alarm to set off, and the operation may then be carried out manually.
When the rectum has been cut free, the position of the animal and the opening made by the cutting may be used for the introduction of a knife with a ball-point and for dividing the crutch of the animal. As a result, more labor-consuming and awkward working process is avoided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a section through an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention and through the conveying means on a slaughter line, and
FIG. 2 shows a section through the apparatus along the line II--II according to FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The embodiment shown in the drawing of an apparatus for providing a cut around the anus of a carcass for freeing the rectum comprises a supporting frame 1 connected with a support rail 2 for supporting carcasses, which are suspended from their
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Little Willis
Nutridan Engineering A/S
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