NZ228083A - Method and apparatus for opening animal carcass prior to viscera removal - Google Patents

Description

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E No: 228083 Date: 21 February 1989 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING ANIMAL CARCASSES We, THE MEAT INDUSTRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF NEW ZEALAND (INCORPORATED), an incorporated society organized and existing under the laws of New Zealand of East Street, Hamilton, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 2 This invention relates to a method and apparatus for opening animals carcasses for viscera removal.

During the dressing of carcasses of sheep, goats, calves, pigs, cattle and deer it is essential that the internal viscera (i.e. heart, lungs, trachea, diaphragm, kidneys, liver, spleen and the complete digestive system) be removed from the body cavity of the carcass quickly, efficiently and hygienically. Before the viscera can be removed an incision must be made in the abdominal wall (belly wall) and this normally involves the sternum ("brisket") being cut longitudinally from the throat to the end point of the abdomen.

In normal dressing of carcasses of sheep, goats, cattle, calves, pigs and deer the carcass is suspended by the rear legs and the pelt, or in the case of pigs, the hair, is hygienically removed prior to viscera removal. As part of the evisceration process a knife is used initially to clear the sphincter muscle from the carcass. A knife is then used by a skilled operator to cut the abdominal wall from the point between the rear legs to the brisket. As the rumen (paunch) presses against the abdominal wall while this incision is taking place it is possible that even a skilled operator can inadvertently cut the thin wall of the rumen resulting in contamination of edible meat by the contents of the stomach. In some species of animals, e.g. sheep, goats and deer, the rumen together with the liver and spleen are removed after the abdominal wall is cut but before the brisket is cut. For other species of animals, however, e.g. cattle and pigs, the brisket is cut prior to the complete removal of the viscera. 3 228083 The brisket is either cut with a circular or reciprocating saw or in the case of some small animal species with pneumatically powered shears. Irrespective of the method of cutting the brisket there is always a risk of the heart being cut or punctured thereby reducing its value.

The cutting or sawing of the brisket allows the removal of balance of the viscera (i.e. heart, lungs, trachea), in those animals where the paunch has already been removed, and once again this involves a skilled operator using a knife.

The present invention has as one object the providing of apparatus for opening an animal carcass for viscera removal which allows the brisket and abdominal wall of the carcass to be cut without causing damage to the internal organs of the carcass.

The present invention has as a second object the providing of a method for opening a carcass of an animal the method enabling the brisket and abdominal wall of the carcass to be cut without causing damage to the internal organs of the carcass.

In one broad aspect, the present invention consists of a method of opening an animal carcass for viscera removal said method comprising suspending an animal carcass, , introducing into the carcass an elongate member such that the elongate member extends longitudinally within the carcass and at least part thereof is located beneath the belly wall of the carcass, cutting the brisket and then cutting, from within the carcass, the belly wall.

According to a preferred form of the method, the elongate member which is a support member, is introduced through the throat cavity of the carcass. Preferably the brisket is cut by cutting equipment which is in part formed by the elongate member.

Preferably the step of cutting the belly wall is effected by a cutting means associated with the enlongate member such that outward movement of the elongate member results in the cutting means applying the required cutting action to the belly wall.

Preferably the carcass is suspended on all four legs with the neck facing the direction of movement of the support means.

According to a second broad aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for opening an animal carcass for viscera removal, the apparatus comprising an elongate member which in use is introduced into a suspended animal carcass, first cutting means which in use applies a cut to the brisket of the carcass and second cutting means which is adapted to apply a cut, from within the carcass, to the belly wall of the carcass.

In a preferred form of the apparatus the elongate member is adapted to be able to enter the carcass through the throat cavity to extend longitudinally within the carcass such that the leading end of the elongate bar can locate beneath the belly wall thereof. Preferably the elongate member is carried by a mechanical moving means which guides the elongate member into and within the carcass such as to avoid damage to internal organs of the carcass. 228083 Preferably the elongate member forms part of the second cutting means. The cutting action of the second cutting is preferably controlled by mechanical moving means. According to one form of the invention the second cutting means is a cutting finger located at the free or leading end of the elongate member.

In a preferred form of the apparatus the elongate member and the first cutting means co-operate to form the cut in the brisket.

In a still further preferred form of the invention the apparatus is mounted for movement such that it can move in a synchronized manner with an animal carcass suspended from and proceeding along a dressing chain.

In the following more detailed description, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows the apparatus located adjacent a dressing chain from which is suspended a carcass, the apparatus being in the rest position in a sterilizer, Figure 2 is a similar drawing which depicts the apparatus in a "wait" position prior to engaging with a carcass approaching along the dressing chain, and Figures 3 to 11 are views similar to Figure 2 but showing the different stages of operation of the apparatus.

In the preferred form of the invention the carcass is suspended from the dressing chain by all four legs 6 228083 presented to the apparatus with the neck of the carcass facing the apparatus. As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the apparatus, when at rest, is located in a sterilizer S. On receiving a signal that a carcass C is approaching the apparatus, the apparatus is actuated so that it moves out of the sterilizer C into a "wait" position as shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 2 the apparatus consists of three main components namely an elongate member 10 (which in the preferred form of the invention functions as an anvil or support bar), a belly cutting device 11 (which in the preferred form of the invention is a cutting finger 12 located at the leading end of the support bar 10), and a brisket cutting blade 13. These components 10, 11 and 13 are carried by a suitably constructed frame 14.

When the carcass C is in the correct position relative to the apparatus, i.e. the leading end of the support bar 10 is located adjacent the throat opening of the carcass C, the apparatus according to the invention moves in a synchronized manner with carcass C. In the preferred form the apparatus is "latched" to the carcass transporting chain so as to ensure correct alignment of the apparatus with the carcass during the entire operating cycle.

To more fully describe the invention, reference will now ' be made to Figures 3-11 and a complete operating cycle will be described.

The carrying frame 14 is pivotable in an upward arc about pivot 15. This movement results in the leading end of the support bar 10 entering the carcass through the 7 ?28 0c3 throat cavity (Figure 3) and moving longitudinally within the carcass (Figure 4).

At a predetermined point on the arcuate movement, as sensed by an adjustable position sensor (not shown) on frame 14, the support bar 10 is tilted downwardly about pivot 17. A mounting arrangement 18 which carries the inner end 19 of the support bar 10 is mounted for pivotal movement on the pivot shaft or axle 17. This mounting 18 also provides a location for pivot 20 to which the inner end 21 of cutting blade 13 is pivotally mounted. An arm 22 of mounting 18 provides an attachment point 23 for the body of a linear actuator 24. The piston rod 25 of the linear actuator is in turn pivotally coupled to the cutting blade 13. Thus as mounting 18 pivots about pivot 17, cutting blade 13 moves with the support bar 10-.

As can be seen by reference to Figures 5 to 7, the upward arcuate movement about pivot 15 and downward tilting movement about pivot 17 can be synchronized in such a way that the tip or leading end of the support bar 10 follows closely the inside contour of the brisket and belly wall ensuring that no damage occurs to the internal organs and risk of the diaphragm being ruptured is minimized. As can be seen, for example in Figures 5 and 6, the leading end of the support bar 10 is in firm contact with the inside of the belly wall and finger 12 is so configured that it does not apply a cutting action to the belly wall as the elongate member moves into the carcass.

Completion of the inward movement of the support bar 10 is illustrated in Figure 7. As can be seen the cutting blade has moved between the front legs of the carcass. _io Downward tilting of support bar ceases upon a predetermined point of the movements being sensed by an -i MAY 199)3! 8 adjustable position sensor on the tilting mechanism. Likewise arcuate movement of frame 14 about pivot 15 is stopped when another adjustable position sensor on frame 14 is triggered off.

At this point (see Figure 8) linear actuator 24 is operated which due to the outward movement of piston rod 25 causes the cutting blade to move toward the support bar and thereby cut the brisket. The aforementioned sensor to stop frame 14 moving acts as a means of signalling the commencement of the cutting action. The cutting blade 13 and the support bar 10 co-operate to form the cutting action. Not shown but in a preferred form of the invention, a pair of fingers, one located either side of the cutting blade 13, are bought into contact with the brisket so as to ensure that the brisket is correctly positioned and stabilized so as to achieve a symmetrical cut of the brisket by the cutting blade 13. These fingers can be controlled by suitable linear actuators with the fingers and linear actuators being mounted by carrier frame 14.

Upon completion of the cutting action by cutting blade 13, the cutting blade is retracted by the linear actuator 24. The support bar 10 is now withdrawn by a reverse outward arc of the carrier frame 14 about pivot 15 coupled with a tilting upward movement of the support bar 10 about pivot 17. This combination of the two movements (see Figures 9 and 10) causes the belly cutting finger 12 to pierce (from within the carcass) and cut the belly wall from the hindquarters to the end of the cut made by the brisket cutter 13 (as previously described). At the completion of this movement the carcass is open and ready for evisceration. 9 ^2808 The apparatus then continues its movement until fully withdrawn and located within the sterilizer cabinet S whereupon sterilization is carried out. Upon clearing the carcass C the apparatus is "unlatched" from the carcass transporting chain and returns to the waiting position ready for approach of the next carcass.

In the preferred form of the invention the rotational action about pivot point 15 is achieved with an hydraulic actuator (not shown) which is coupled to pivot point 26 while the controlled movement of mounting 18 about pivot 17 is achieved with pneumatic actuator(s) (also not shown) coupled between pivot point 27 on carrier frame 14 and pivot 28 located with mounting 18. In the preferred form the linear actuator which controls the cutting action of blades 13 is an hydraulic actuator.

Movement of support bar 10 relative to carcass C is the result of the combined action about pivots 15 and 17 and can therefore be controlled by adjusting the action speed of the individual actuators relative to each other. This applies to both the inward and outward action of the support bar.

The adjustable position sensors and flow controls for the actuators are generally set only once and in such a way that the correct action of the support bar is obtained for a full range of animal sizes. A single setting for all sizes is possible because the variation in brisket/belly position relative to the machine is small due to the manner in which the animal is suspended and the tolerance is wide due to the "flexibility" of the carcass. 228083 In an alternative form the elongate member 10 can have a cutting edge which co-operates in a shearing (i.e. scissor) action with blade 13. Also in a modified form of the apparatus and method the cutting blade 13 can be kept in the "closed" position with elongate member 10 while the belly cutting operation is completed.

The invention therefore provides a method and apparatus whereby mechanical opening of a suspended carcass can be carried out in an effective manner while ensuring no damage to internal organs and minimization of rupture of the diaphragm. 2280 n

Claims (16)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS;-

1. A method of opening an animal carcass for viscera removal said method comprising suspending an animal carcass, introducing into the carcass an elongate member such that the elongate member extends substantially longitudinally within the carcass and at least part thereof is located beneath the belly wall of the carcass, cutting the brisket and then cutting, from within the carcass, the belly wall.

2. The method according to Claim 1 wherein the elongate member, which is in the form of a support member, is introduced through the throat cavity of the carcass.

3. The method according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the brisket is cut by cutting equipment which is formed in part by the elongate member.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the step of cutting the belly wall from within the carcass is effected by a cutting means associated with the elongate member such that outward movement of the elongate member results in a cutting action being applied to the belly wall.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the carcass is suspended from all four legs with the neck facing the direction of movement of the support means.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the movement of the elongate member is controlled such that the leading end thereof closely 12 follows the contour of the brisket and belly wall during movement into the carcass.

7. Apparatus for opening an animal carcass for viscera removal, the apparatus comprising an elongate member which in use is introduced into a suspended animal carcass, first cutting means which in use applies a cut to the brisket of the carcass and second cutting means which is adapted to apply a cut, from within the carcass, to the belly wall of the carcass.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein the elongate member is adapted to be able to enter the carcass through the throat cavity to extend longitudinally within the carcass such that the leading end of the elongate member can locate beneath the belly wall thereof.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 7 or 8 wherein the elongate member is carried by a mechanical moving means which guides the elongate member into and within the carcass such as to avoid damage to internal organs of the carcass.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the mechanical moving means controls the cutting action of the second cutting means.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of preceding Claims 7 to 10 wherein the elongate member forms part of the second cutting means.

12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 or 11 wherein the second cutting means is a cutting finger located at the free or leading end of the elongate member. 22808 13

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 12 wherein the elongate member and the first cutting means co-operate to form the cut in the brisket.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 13 wherein the apparatus is mounted for movement such that it can move in a synchronized manner with an animal carcass suspended from and proceeding along a dressing chain.

15. A method of opening an animal carcass for viscera removal substantially as herein described.

16. Apparatus for opening an animal carcass for viscera removal substantially as herein described. THE MEAT INDUSTRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF NEW ZEALAND (INCORPORATED) By its Attorney Don Hopkins Registered Patent Attorney