DE4216924A1 - Carcass cutter - has an electromagnetic converter to convert cutting sound for an evaluator to stop the cutter on a faulty cutting action - Google Patents

Abstract

In the assembly to cut slaughtered carcasses, suspended from a moving conveyor, an electromagnetic converter (126) is triggered by the sound waves of the carcass cutting action. It is connected to an electrical evaluation circuit (128) which can discriminate between a trouble-free signal and variations in the oscillations which indicate a faulty cutting action to generate an alarm and/or stop the cutting action. Pref. the electromagnetic converter (126) is a microphone at or near the cutting station, or a piezoelectric unit at the cutting mechanism. On detection of a faulty cutting action, the cutter is retracted from the carcass and the conveyor is stopped. The electrical evaluation circuit (128) has an integrator with a time constant matched to a typical frequency spectrum on a faulty cutting development, together with a filter (132) and a comparator (138). The comparator (138) is followed by a relay (142) with a static current contact (144) for the current supply at the cut-out (146) for the coil current circuit. USE/ADVANTAGE - The appts. is for use in a slaughterhouse, where the carcasses are suspended from a moving conveyor to be carried through a cutting section where the carcasses are cut for butchery. The system gives an immediate detection of a faulty cutting action for appropriate safety measures to be taken.

Description

The invention relates to a device for splitting slaughtered Carcasses, preferably along a transport track of a slaughter road are eligible, with a splitting element such as a saw by a means of a positively driven conveyor like chain along a longitudinal spar Guide device is vertically displaceable.

A device of the type described above is known (DE-OS 38 43 585). At this device is a pair of holding plates for holding the side to each dividing carcass provided. A motor is attached to a lifting carriage. The lifting carriage also contains a saw blade housing in which a saw blade is located is located, which is connected to the motor by a toothed belt. With the known Means are provided which provide for the positive drive of the lifting carriage Protect the required conveyor against dirt. With these means too achieved that the staff working in slaughterhouses from injuries by the as revolving chain trained conveyor is protected. Stands for the gap element a powerful drive is available without its replacement or over testing is only possible with great effort. In the known device lifting sled holding the splitting element to the desired extent of a forced movement  subject. The conveying member runs within a length that serves as supports holmen.

In another known device for splitting slaughtered carcasses a chainsaw is used as the splitting element, which runs along a guide device is movable. The chain saw is at a fixed distance from the guide device so that the entire device is pivoted to the animal to be brought into the sawing position or to be removed from the conveyor line. The saw itself is moved downward by gravity along the spine of the animal body, so that depending on the resistance there is a non-uniform, often paragraph-wise splitting. As a result, there is a risk of step-shaped saw cuts and that the saw at the side lower speed evades (DE-GM 74 27 791).

A device is also known in which the gap element is driven positively, e.g. B. with a rotating chain operated by a geared motor. Through a Forced feed increases the vertical speed of the saw unit (DE-GM 86 04 419).

In particular with a device of the type described in the introduction, the plurality can the slaughtered carcasses are properly split. All can be However, avoid mis-sawing. The causes of the incorrect sawing can be found in inadequate pretreatment of the carcasses, e.g. B. for skinning, or in Animal carcasses lie in which z. B. there is scoliosis. Even mistakes in the Device itself can cause sawing errors. Sawing errors lead to the fact that the sawn carcass is classified as inferior, causing financial loss arise.

The invention is based on the problem of a device for splitting continue to develop slaughtered carcasses in such a way that the start of a miscut automatically detected and the splitting process before major damage to the animal body can be ended.  

The problem is solved according to the invention in that an electromechanical Transducer is provided which is triggered by the splitting process when splitting Sound waves is applied and followed by an electrical evaluation circuit is the occurrence of vibrations in the transducer signal which are typical for a mis-sawing generates a message and / or stops the splitting element.

This device makes use of the knowledge that the gap element Different noises are generated, depending on whether the gap element is exactly in the middle through the bones or laterally offset from the bone Carcasses cut into an unwanted cut.

The invention has the great advantage that incorrect sawing is recognized immediately and before the occurrence of major damage to the animal body can be stopped. The Animal carcass can then still in the desired manner, for. B. outside the trans portbahn, to be split.

In particular, the electromechanical transducer is a microphone that is on or close to the Device is arranged. With the microphone, the noise from the Go out gap element, detected and fed to the evaluation circuit. It is also expedient to design the transducer as a piezoelectric element, so the Device is attached so that it detects the structure-borne noise that occurs in the gap element.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, when for Typical sawing vibrations, the splitting element moves away from the animal body and the funding body is shut down. The system is then in an operating state in which a check is carried out or the cause of the incorrect sawing is eliminated can be.

It is expedient if the electrical evaluation circuit has an integrator, whose time constant corresponds to the frequency spectrum that is typical when incorrect sawing occurs  is adjusted. This arrangement can be used for other types of short-term faults suppress so that false alarms do not occur.

Further details, advantages and features of the invention do not only result from the claims, the features to be extracted from them - for themselves and / or in Combination - but also from the following description of in the drawing illustrated preferred embodiments.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device of Fig. 1 and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1 in the region of a gap element.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a device (10) is shown for splitting an animal carcass (12). This can be moved along a transport path ( 14 ) which runs perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. So that the device ( 10 ) reaches the animal body ( 12 ) in the sectional position, it can be displaced perpendicular to the conveying path ( 14 ). This position is shown in dashed lines. The arrow ( 16 ) indicates the displacement movement. It can be seen that the device ( 10 ) as a unit perpendicular to the transport path ( 14 ) z. B. is displaceable by means of a pressure cylinder. There is also the possibility of moving the device ( 10 ) parallel to the transport path ( 14 ). This is indicated by the arrow ( 18 ) in Fig. 2.

The device ( 10 ) has a frame construction which essentially comprises two longitudinal spars ( 20 ) and ( 22 ), a lower crossbar ( 24 ) and an upper frame ( 26 ) which is rectangular in plan view, from the end of which faces away from the animal body ( 12 ) Struts ( 28 ) run to the lower crossbar ( 24 ). The device ( 10 ) can be moved via guide rollers ( 30 ) and ( 32 ) in a guide frame ( 34 ) along the arrow ( 16 ) towards or away from the animal body. The guide frame ( 34 ) is in turn received by a further guide frame ( 38 ) via guide rollers ( 36 ) and ( 37 ) so that the unit can be transported along the arrow ( 18 ) synchronously with the conveying speed along the conveying path ( 14 ). A vertically displaceable lifting carriage ( 40 ), in which a motor ( 42 ) is arranged, is arranged between the longitudinal bars ( 20 ) and ( 22 ). A saw blade ( 46 ) extends from the lifting carriage ( 40 ) via a saw blade housing ( 44 ) and is driven by the motor ( 42 ) via toothed belts ( 48 ) and ( 50 ). The toothed belts ( 48 ) and ( 50 ) are tensioned via a tensioning device ( 54 ) extending from the housing ( 52 ) of the lifting carriage ( 40 ). The tensioning device ( 54 ) enables not only the tensioning of the toothed belts ( 48 ) and ( 50 ), but also their relief when, for. B. an exchange or renewal of the saw blade ( 46 ) is required. In this case, only the covers ( 56 ) and ( 58 ) surrounding the toothed belts ( 48 ) and ( 50 ), which can be compared to a chain guard, have to be removed in order to axially close the toothed belts ( 48 ) and ( 50 ) remove the pulleys ( 62 ) and ( 64 ) from the hub ( 60 ) of the saw blade ( 46 ). The saw blade ( 46 ) can then be easily removed by loosening the hub, ie removing the screw element ( 66 ).

Below the saw blade ( 46 ) and from the lifting carriage ( 40 ) or the housing ( 44 ) of the saw blade ( 46 ) starting a guide roller ( 68 ) runs, which is applied during sawing on the backbone of the carcass ( 12 ) to ensure that the backbone is cut in the middle and straight.

In order to subject the lifting carriage ( 40 ) and thus the saw blade ( 46 ) to a vertical forced movement, conveying members ( 70 ) and ( 72 ) are provided in the form of endless chains, which are driven by a motor ( 74 ) in the region of the frame ( 26 ) will. The endless chains ( 70 ) and ( 72 ) are arranged within the longitudinal bars ( 22 ) and ( 20 ), which are preferably formed from T-profiles. From the lifting carriage ( 40 ) now protrude into the longitudinal spars ( 20 ) and ( 22 ) rod-shaped elements ( 76 ) and ( 78 ), which with the endless chains ( 70 ) and ( 72 ) z. B. are connected via angle iron ( 80 ) and ( 82 ). This ensures that the lifting carriage ( 40 ) is moved in synchronism with the movement of the chain.

In order to ensure that the inner region of the longitudinal bars ( 20 ) and ( 22 ) and thus the endless chains ( 70 ) and ( 72 ) are not contaminated, the passage slot for the elements ( 76 ) and ( 78 ) is provided with sealing brushes ( 84 ) and ( 86 ) covered.

The end regions ( 88 ) and ( 90 ) of the elements ( 76 ) and ( 78 ) act with guides ( 96 ) and () which run in the longitudinal direction of the bars ( 20 ) and ( 22 ) and are arranged on the inner web surfaces ( 92 ) and ( 94 ). 98 ) together. The dimensions of the individual parts are matched to one another in such a way that the lifting carriage ( 40 ) cannot move sideways, but is only subjected to a vertical movement which projects into the plane of the drawing. For this purpose, the guides ( 96 ) and ( 98 ) are designed as square iron, on the outer geometry of which U-shaped end sections ( 100 ) and ( 102 ) of the lifting carriage ( 40 ) projecting elements ( 76 ) and ( 78 ) are adapted.

In the lower area, the animal body ( 12 ) is gripped by holding plates ( 104 ) and ( 106 ) which can be placed on the animal body by pressing devices ( 108 ) and ( 110 ). The pressing devices ( 108 ) and ( 110 ) each have a vertically running, spar-shaped section ( 112 ) and ( 114 ) and a horizontally running section ( 116 ) and ( 118 ). The pressing device ( 108 ) and ( 110 ) can be pivoted about an axis ( 120 ) or ( 122 ) which runs coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the bars ( 112 ) and ( 114 ), as a result of which the holding plates ( 104 ) and ( 106 ) are pressed on the animal body ( 12 ) is guaranteed. This movement is made possible by an actuating cylinder (not shown) arranged in the lower crossmember ( 24 ).

According to the invention, it is now further provided that the holding plates ( 104 ) and ( 106 ) in the articulation area on the bars ( 116 ) and ( 118 ) can be rotated about horizontally extending axes in accordance with the direction of the arrow ( 124 ), about their longitudinal directions with the course of the muscle fibers to bring the animal body into line. This ensures that incorrect splitting of the animal body ( 12 ), which may result in poor quality, is avoided.

An electromechanical transducer ( 126 ), which can be a microphone or another sound transducer that converts sound vibrations into electrical signals, is attached to the guide frame ( 34 ) above the saw blade ( 46 ). To the transducer (126) an electrical evaluation circuit (128) is connected, with which the signals of the converter are examined for oscillations (126), which are typical for Fehlsägungen on the animal body (12). It has been shown that when sawing incorrectly, other noises are produced by the saw blade ( 46 ) than in perfect sawing operations, in which the backbone of the respective carcass ( 12 ) is cut in the middle and straight.

The converter ( 126 ) is connected in the evaluation circuit ( 128 ) via a capacitor ( 130 ) to a filter ( 132 ) with which those signal frequencies that are typical of incorrect sawing conditions are separated from the other signal frequencies that result from perfect sawing work will. The filter ( 132 ) is followed by an amplifier ( 134 ) to which an integrator ( 136 ) with averaging is connected. The integrator ( 136 ) feeds a comparator ( 138 ) to which a switching amplifier ( 140 ) is connected. A relay ( 142 ) is connected to the switching amplifier ( 140 ), of which a quiescent current contact ( 144 ) is located in the course of the power supply line of a contactor ( 146 ). The Schaltkon contacts ( 148 ) of the contactor ( 146 ) are in the course of the power supply lines of the device ( 10 ).

From an energy source ( 150 ), e.g. B. the three-phase network with 400 V, unspecified lines run over fuses to the switch contacts ( 148 ). Lines to the motor ( 42 ) and to the motor ( 74 ) are laid from the switch contacts ( 148 ) via a control circuit ( 158 ). The motors ( 42 ), ( 74 ) can be protected against overcurrent and short-circuit currents by motor protection switches. The evaluation circuit ( 128 ) receives its DC operating voltage from a power supply unit ( 152 ), which is also connected to the switch contacts ( 148 ). In series with the quiescent current contact ( 144 ) there is a pushbutton switch ( 154 ), to which an operating current contact ( 156 ) of the contactor ( 146 ) lies in parallel. The series connection of contactor coil and quiescent current contact ( 144 ) is connected to one phase of the three-phase network ( 150 ).

When the pushbutton switch ( 154 ) is actuated, the contactor ( 146 ) picks up, as a result of which the control circuit ( 158 ) and the evaluation circuit ( 128 ) receive operating voltages. The contactor ( 146 ) maintains itself via the shunt contact ( 156 ). The device ( 10 ) then starts operating and splits slaughtered carcasses ( 12 ) centrally through the backbone. The flawless splitting process is associated with noises, which however do not lead to the actuation of the relay ( 142 ).

Incorrect sawing results in noises that differ from the noises that occur in the case of perfect sawing. The evaluation circuit is matched to the signals of the transducer ( 126 ) corresponding to the incorrect sawing, which converts the sound waves of the noises into electrical signals, which pass through the capacitor ( 130 ) to the filter ( 132 ), which is designed in particular as an active filter. The characteristics of the filter ( 132 ) are matched to the signals or frequencies typical of incorrect sawing and pass them through to the amplifier ( 134 ). The output signals of the amplifier ( 134 ) are processed by the integrator ( 136 ), the time constant of which is also adapted to the frequency spectrum typical of incorrect sawing. Short-term disturbances that do not result from incorrect sawing are suppressed with the help of the integrator ( 136 ) and the comparator ( 138 ). A response threshold can be set with the comparator ( 138 ). If this is exceeded by the output signal of the integrator ( 138 ), then the relay ( 142 ) is actuated via the switching amplifier ( 140 ), whereby the closed-circuit current contact ( 144 ) is opened. This causes the contactor ( 146 ) to be switched off, as a result of which the motors ( 42 ), ( 74 ) are switched off.

With the arrangement described above, incorrect sawing can be recognized after such a short time that no irreparable damage has yet occurred to the carcasses. When a faulty saw is detected, the device ( 10 ) is practically shut down. The appropriate measures for the proper splitting of the animal body can then be taken. It may be desirable to generate a message when the motors ( 42 ), ( 74 ) are switched off. For this purpose, an optical and / or acoustic alarm can be generated by z. B. an alarm is actuated via a closed-circuit contact (not shown) of the contactor ( 146 ).

The electromechanical transducer ( 126 ) is e.g. B. designed as a microphone or piezoelectric transducer. A piezoelectric transducer can also be used to detect structure-borne noise. B. on the blade housing ( 44 ).

In the case of a motor drive for the displacement of the lifting carriage ( 26 ) in the direction of the respective animal body ( 12 ), the control circuit ( 158 ) is preferably caused to move the lifting carriage into a rearward end position in the event of a mis-sawing before the voltage supply is also used to drive the Lifting carriage is interrupted. The voltage supply for the drive motor of the saw and the motor for the transport path is expediently switched off immediately if a mis-sawing is detected with the evaluation circuit ( 128 ).

Claims (7)

1. Device for splitting slaughtered carcasses, which can preferably be conveyed along a transport path of a slaughter road, with a splitting element such as a saw, which can be displaced vertically along a longitudinal spar by means of a positively driven conveying element such as a chain, characterized in that an electromagnetic transducer ( 126 ) is provided, which is acted upon by the splitting of sound waves triggered by the splitting process and which is followed by an electrical evaluation circuit ( 128 ) which generates a message and / or stops the splitting element when vibrations typical of a mis-sawing occur in the transducer signal . 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electromechanical transducer ( 126 ) is a microphone which is arranged on or close to the device. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized, that the electromechanical transducer is designed as a piezoelectric element which is arranged on the device. 4. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized, that when vibrations typical of saws occur, the splitting element can be moved away from the respective animal body and the conveyor can be stopped. 5. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical evaluation circuit ( 128 ) has an integrator ( 136 ), the time constant of which is adapted to the frequency spectrum typical of the occurrence of incorrect sawing. 6. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation circuit ( 128 ) has a filter ( 132 ) and a comparator ( 138 ). 7. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the comparator ( 138 ) is followed by a relay ( 142 ) having a quiescent current contact ( 144 ) arranged in the coil circuit of the contactor ( 146 ) for the power supply of the device.