AU597431B2 - Improvements in or relating to station dressing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

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PATENT

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FOP. OF Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specif ication Lodged: Accepted: Published: 0FA us 1974 3 I ACT 1952 PECIr 1

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FICE USE CLASS INT. CLASS Priority: a 17 .1:dn I nts n.2 I '1 '?)ardL is 2cv~Lfir Related Art: NAME OF APPLICANT: MILLER IS MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT (NZ) LIMITED ADDRESS OF APPLICANT: Portsmouth Drive, Dunedin, New Zealand.

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(It NAME(S) OF ViYENTOR(S) Gary Wayne PHILIPS, Martin Herbert BISS

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ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON, Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO STATION DRESSING APPARATUS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best mettacxl of performing it known to Us F i7r.

-2- This invention relates to apparatus for use in dressing animal carcases. More particularly, it relates to apparatus upon which an animal carcase can be supported and moved into the positions necessary for dressing operations to be performed.

The processing of sheep and small animal carcases to facilitate pelt removal and carcas, dressing is carried out predominantly by systems where carcases are mounted on a chain conveyor or a series of conveyors after slaughter. Process workers and/or mechanical equipment are stationed at various points along the chain to carry out specific operations on the carcase as it passes. The cnain or series of chains undergoes a number of height and configuration changes as it passes along the slaughterboard to enable various operations to be carried out on the carcass and to allow ,uae changes of orientation of the carcase.

1 's Such dressing chains are however by virtue of their size unsuitable for use in low capital cost plants of low to medium throughput. In o X particular, they are unsuitable for use in solo butchery operations.

ra It is an object c-f the present invention to provide an animal dressing apparatus which is suitable for use by a solo operator or which at least offers the public a useful choice, *1O Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention can be said to

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0 consist in an animal carcase dressing apparatus comprising: ffront leg supporting means from which the fore legs of a carcase to be dressed can be suspendcd, hind leg supporting means from which the hind legs of said carcase to m *be dressed can be suspended; ,o position adjustment means provided above the front and hind leg r" supporting means and comprising means to raise and lower the front leg supporting means and means to raise and lower the hind leg supporting means independently of the front leg supporting means to allow the relative position of said supporting means to be adjusted.

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3 In preferred embodiments of the invention, the apparatus further includes means to which the hide of a carcase to be dressed can be attached for removal and control means capable of controlling the position adjustment means to move the leg supporting means relative to each other in a pre-set sequence.

In a further aspect, the invention may be said to consist in carcase dr ising apparatus as defined above in combination with a conveyor system including carcase delivery means and carcase removal means.

In this embodiment, the apparatus preferably includes means capable of engaging with the carcase delivery means to receive the carcase to be dressed, of supporting the carcase during dressing and of engaging with the carcase thereto.

*4 b d In still a further aspect, the invention can be said to consist in a e B o4 method of dressing an animal carcase comprising the steps of: 4O providing an animal carcase dressing apparatus as defined above; supporting a carcase to be dressed on one or other or both of the leg supporting means of the apparatus; a operating the position adjustment means to position and d reposition the carcase as appropriate for the dressing 4 4 operations to be performed; and removing the dressed carcase from the leg supporting means of the apparatus.

a" s Conveniently, the animal carcase is supported on both the front leg supporting means and the hind leg supporting means and in an inverted orientation during at least one phase of the dressing operation.

Although the present invention consists in the foregoing, it will be /i d appreciated by those persons skilled in the art that it is not limited Sthereto and that the invention also includes embodiments of which the i;i/ 4 following description provides examples. In particular, certain preferred aspects of the invention will be described in more detail in relation to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of dressing apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus according to the invention including hide attachment means Figure 3 is a plan view showing the use of the apparatus of Figure 1 in a continuous dressing facility.

Figure 4 is a schematic outline of the use of the apparatus in the processing of an animal carcase.

*r I s tt Figure 5 is an example of a circuit which can be used to control the S sequence of operations of the apparatus.

St, The present invention is directed to apparatus that allows for station dressing of animal carcases and the method that is employed associated with the apparatus. Although both the apparatus and the method will be described in more detail in relation to the processing of sheep and lamb 0 44< 0 carcases, it will be appreciated that the general concept is not limited to such applications.

The apparatus according to the invention includes hind leg supporting means and front leg supporting means which are adjustable in relation to S each other in order to accommodate the differing positions of a carcase which are necessary during the processing o. dressing of that carcase.

The apparatus further includes means capable of adjusting the position of both the front leg supporting means and the hind leg supporting means relative to each other, the range of adjustment possible being sufficient to allow the carcase being dressed to be oriented in each of the positions necessary to achieve dressing of the carcases.

4 5 The presently preferred construction of the apparatus of the invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. As shown, the apparatus is designed for station dressing of a carcase and comprises a frame 10 supported above the processing space. The frame 10 is suitably supported from a structural member preferably to minimise obstruction of the processing space, Of course, the frame 10 could also be supported from the floor of the processing area or could even be mounted to a vehicle.

The frame 10 provides a support for the position adjustment means of the apparatus. Preferably, the position adjustment means includes pistons *E to move the respective leg supporting means up and down in relation to each other.

As is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the frame 10 provides a S' support for a piston cylinder 11 which is conveniently pneumatically operated, An example of an appropriate pneumatic cylinder is the SMC cylinder CAIXN-300Y. The piston rod of piston cylinder 11 passes through the frame 10 and has secured to its free end the hind leg supporting means of the apparatus.

As illustrated the hind leg supporting meats preferably includes a horizontal bar 12 to which the free end of the piston rod of cylinder 11 is i l attached. On either side of cylinder 11 there is provided stabilising f 4 means in the form of a longitudinal guide 14 for the hind leg supporting means. Guides 14 also pass through the frame 10 and are attached to bar 12. At the top end of each guide 14 there is further provided an enlarged collar 15 which acts as a stop and sets the maximum distance that the bar 12 can move downwards. In this way, a stable support is provided for the a hind legs of an animal carcase during processing, 6 As is further shown in Figure 1, there are provided two coaxial piston cylinders 16 and 17 pivotally secured to the upwardly extending member 18 of the frame 10. Again, the cylinders are preferably pneumatic cylinders. Examples of appropriate pneumatic cylinders are the SMC cylinders CAIGN100-425Y and CAIGN100-750Y.

The piston rod 19 of cylinder 16 is attached at its free end to the front leg supporting means which is also in the form of a horizontal bar In this way, when the piston rod 19 moves downwards, the horizontal bar 20 is caused to similarly move downwards to the desired position.

Although two pneumatic cylinders are shown to move the front leg S supporting means up and down, it is of course possible to provide only a S single pneumatic cylinder of the appropriate size. However, by using two *such cylinders of appropriate 6izes the precise positioning of the front i leg supporting means during the dressing sequence is more easily controllable.

In preferred embodiments, the front leg supporting means also includes means by which the spacing or spread of the forelegs of a carcase to bp dressed can be adjusted, The presently preferred means for achieving this spacing or spread is shown in Figure 1. As shown, the bar 20 designed to support the forelegs of the animal carcase is provided with V wedging grip means attached to dependent arms 21 and 22. A single V grip means 23 is •4 provided on arm 21 and opposed grip means 24 are provided on arm 22 to allow the forelegs to be supported in either a spread or adjacent position during dressing of the carcase.

The cylinders 16 and 17 associated with the front leg supporting means Y, of the apparatus are also provided with stabilising means in the form of /y y longitAdinal guides 25 on each side of the cylinders. These guides S. pass through part of the frame 10. Again, each of the guides 25 is 7 pas. tr-hcgh pnrt nf,-h. frame 10., Again -f-2-the guides 25 ifc provided at its top with an enlarged collar 26 which acts as a stop to regulate the maximum downwards movement of the front leg supporting means.

In further preferred embodiments of the invention, the apparatus is provided with means to which the hide 38 of a carcase 39 to be dressed can be attached to facilitate removal of the hide. The hide attachment means is provided below the position adjustment means such that each leg supporting means can be moved towards and away from the attachment means.

An embodiment of the invention in which the apparatus includes the hide attachment means is shown in Figure 2. As illustrated, the hide attachment means has a frame 40 and includes a pair of opposed jaws which are closable so as to be capable of clamping the hide of a carcase between them. These jaws, which are designated 41 and 42 are preferably closable under the operation of a ram 43, conveniently a pneumatic ram.

S It is further preferred that the apparatus of the invention incorporates a control means capable of controlling the position adjustment means to move the leg supporting means relative to each other S in a pre-set sequence. Preferably, the control means as in the form of a programmable micro-processor.

S The movement of the leg supporting means from one position relative to each other in the sequence to the next position relative to each other in the sequence can be initiated in two ways. Firstly, the initiation can be by direct actuation of the control means by the operator. Such an arrangement is preferred. However, in other embodiments the control means can incorporate a timing device, the movement of the leg supporting means from one position relative to each other in the sequence to the next position in the sequence occurring after a pre-determined length of time.

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at'~ *1 r 8 In the presently preferred embodiment where a plurality of dressing stations are associated with a conveying system, a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is used to control the sequence of movements of the leg supporting means. It is further prefered that the PLC be used to control the queuing of carcases onto the cat:case delivery means from the infeed conveyor. An example of a suitable PLC is the Hitachi P-250E having a P-500E expansion unit attached.

The PLC and its supporting electrical componentry are contained within a cabinet mounted above the apparatus and away from the conveying system.

The PLC responds to inputs from an associated operator panel which includes the emergency stop, the run/stop key and the conveyor on/off and Sspeed controls, and from a foot switch which initiates the various movements of the apparatus in sequence. Further input as to the exact a S9<, 0positioning of the components of the apparatus in the sequence is provided by appropriately positioned sensors, for example by magnetic or proximity 9*0 sensors. By way of illustration, a Pulsotronic 9966-1400 (M30 n1-30 VDC NPN) proximity sensor can be used.

On the basis of the input information received, the PLC activates the 060* various functions of the apparatus by outputting to contactors and relays t and ultimately to solenoids associated with electrovalves 11', 16' and 17' i* (not shown) to control pistons 11, 16 and 17 respectively to move the leg supporting means of the apparatus into the required positions, -u By way of example only, a circuit as shown in Figure 5 can be used to control the sequence of operations of the apparatus.

Inclusion of a programmable control means into the apparatus of the invention is particularly desirable as it allows the mode of operation to be varied to suit a particular butcher's individual preference or to suit the dressing technique required in a particular slaughterhouse.

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1 r w *r 9 The apparatus according to the invention described above is preferably associated or combined with. a conveying system which includes carcase delivery means and carcase removal means. Where the apparatus is to be associated with such a conveyor system, the hind leg supporting means further includes msann capable of engaging with the carcase delivery means to receive the carcase to be dressed, of supporting the carcase during dressing and of engaging with the carcase removal means to allow transfer of the dressed carcase thereto. In the presently preferred embodiments, the conveyor system comprises a rail conveyor upon which the carcases are mounted by slide means or hangers to be slidably movable therealong and the engagement means comprises a section of rail engagabe with both the carcase delivery rail and the carcase removal rail. This preferred construction is also illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings where a section of rail 13 is attached to the horizontal bar 12 of the hind leg supporting means by depending arms 44.

Where the apparatus of the invention is to be used in conjunction with a conveying system, more than one dressing station may be provided, An example of a layout of a conveying system supporting a plurality of Sdressing stations is shown in Figure 3.

4 As shown, an infeed conveyor 30 has conventional control and switching means to feed rails 31, 32 and 33, These ra-s deliver carcases to be dressed to the dressing station 34, 35, 36 constructed in accordance with the previous description and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, The rail section 13 fits into the feed conveyor rail and receives carcases to be dressed from that rail. After the dressing operations have been completed, the rail section 13 engages with the outfeed conveyor rail and the dressed carcases move along the outfeed conveyor rail to out feed C- 10 conveyor 37. Outfeed conveyor 37 passes the dressed carcases received from rails 31, 32 and 33 for further processing or storage.

Although it is not critical, the herring-bone arrangement shown in the layout of Figure 3 is particularly suitable to provide adequate processor space and to allow more dressing stations to be added if needed.

An example of the type of dressing process for which the apparatus of the invention is particularly suitable is in the processing of sheep or lamb carcases. This process will now be particularly described with reference to Figure 4.

The sheep or lamb carcase is subjected to normal pre-operation j treatments of stunning and bleeding and is then delivered by an i appropriate conveying system to the dressing station. At this stage, the I sheep carcase is suspended from a slider by its hind legs on rail 13. The carcase in this position is then subjected to the first step of the dressing process which comprises.clearing both sides of the head and severing the air canal, A cut is then made through the nose grissle to contnect the two cleared sides of the head of the carcase in order to form a nose flap. Clearing of the head can also be performed at this point.

This position is illustrated as 1 in Figure 4.

The front legs (forelegs) of the carcase are then attached to bar of the front leg supporting means which has been moved downwards under the influence of the pistons .16, 17. The forelegs are supported on the spreaders provided on the front leg supporting means in a position such that they are wide apart. A Y-cut is then made in the forequarter of the carcase, The forelegs are then opened up along the £ront of the legs, the trotter joint cleared and the skin severed. The brisket flap is pushed back and the legs are cleared. This position is shown at 2 in Figure 4.

11- In the position shown at 3 in Figure 4, the hind leg supporting means is lowered such that the carcase is moved towards a substantially horizontal position with the head down. While in this position, a dehider is used to clear the neck area of the carcase. Further, the brisket and belly of the animal are cleared, In the position shown at 4 in Figure 4, the hind legs are removed from the hind leg support means allowing the carcase to be suspended only from the front leg supporting means. In this position, the udder or scrotum of the carcase is removed, and the hind legs are cut in two ways, The first sKe cut is a Y-cut to the crutch of the animal whereas the second cut is down y the belly of the carcase from the brisket flap to the crutch, In position 5 in Figure 4, the carcase remains attached by the forelegs only. The pelt is then pulled towards the back of the animal to clear the brisket and shoulders. The pelt of the animal is then attached to the hide attachment means by being clamped between jaws 41 and 42 and the animal raised in height by the pistons 16, 17. This operation causes the pelt to be progressively pulled off the animal, This step is repeated until the pelt has been entirely removed from the carcase, These operations are performed at position 6 in Figure 4< As shown at 7 in Figure 4, the hind legs of the carcase are re-attached to the hind leg support means to cause the carcase to be suspended in a substantially horizontal pwoition with the head down. The anus of the carcase is now trimmed and the carcase made ready for general inspection.

The next step is to re-orientate the carcase in order to minimise the swing involved when the forelegs ari removed. This is achieved by lowering the front leg supporting means in order to place the carcase in as near to a vertical position as is practicable This position is shown at 8 in Figure 4.

-12 as near to a vprtiral pngitinn as is prart-irple This position as chown at A in Filgirp h The final step of the process is shown at 9 in Figure 4. Subsequent to the removal of the forelegs of the carcase using either a hydraulic cutter or a knife, the dressed carcase is re-suspended from its hind legs only so that it can be placed upon the carcase removal section of the conveying system and removed either to storage or to further processing, Again, it must be emphasised that the above process shows only a typical sequence of the various adjustments in orientation of a carcase during a dressing process.

Thus, in accordance with the invention there is provided an animal carcase dressing apparatus of reduced cost, of simple construction and which allows a single operator to perform a multitude of operations during *0 0 the dressing of the carcase, This latter feature is particularly Further, the apparatus Of the invention occpies much less spice than provideo a transportable dressing stationa t will be appreciated by those persnons skilled in the ae shat the an bon decrain system is provided by way pro ess xampflexibil and that to suit b o invention is limited enly by the appended aa s,n '7; I

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Claims (13)

1. Animal carcase dressing apparatus comprising: front leg supporting means from which the fore legs of a carcase to be dressed can be suspended; hind leg supporting means from which the hind legs of said carcase to be dressed can be suspended; position adjustment means provided above the front and hind leg supporting means and comprising means to raise and lower the front leg supporting means and means to raise and lower the hind leg supporting means independently of the front leg supporting means to allow the relative position of said supporting means to be adjusted,

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the front leg supporting means are provided with means by which the spacing or spread of the forelegs of a carcase to be dressed can be "adjusted. t t

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the means to raise and lower the front leg supporting means comprises at least one piston. 4*

4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the means to raise and lower the hind leg siupporting means comprises at least one L- piston. ,I 4" Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 further including means to which the hide of a carcase to be dressed can be attached, said hide attachment means being provided below the position f adjustment means such that each leg supporting means can be moved towards and away from the attachment means. 00 C -14-

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the hide attachment means includes a pair of opposed jaws, said jaws being closable so as to be capable of clamping the hide of a carcase therebetween.

7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 further including control means capable of controlling the position adjustment mea:is to move the leg supporting means relative to each other in a pre-set sequence.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the control means includes manual actuation means, the movement of the leg suppo)rting means from one position relative to each other in the sequence to the next position relative to each other in the sequence being initiated by actuation of said actuation means by an operator.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the control means includes timing means, the movement of the leg supporting means from ona position relative to each other in the sequence to the next position relative to each other in the sequence occurring after a pre-determined length of time. 10, Animal carcase dressing Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-9 in combination with a conveyo'c system including carcase delivering means and carcase removal means.

11. A combination according to claim 10 whereii the hind leg supporting means includes means capable of engaging with the carcase delivery means to receive the carcase to be dressed, of supporting the carcase during dressing and of engagitg with the carcase removal means to I t mean to reev hfacs ob rssd fspotn h acs allow transfer of the dressed carcase thereto.

12. A combination according to claim 11 wherein the conveyor system comprises a rail conveyor upon which the carcases are mounted by slide means to be slidably movable therealong and the engagement mean; comprises a section of rail engagable with both the carcase delivery rail and the carcase removal rail.

13. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein more than one carcase dressing station is provided, each dressing station being provided with separate carcase delivery means and carcase S. removal means, i 14. A method of dressing an animal carcase comprising the steps of: providing animal carcase dressing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9; supporting a carcase to be dressed on one or the other or both of the leg supporting means of said apparatus; operating the position adjustment means to position and 1 re-position the carcase as appropriate for the dressing operations to be performed; and removing the dressed carcase from the leg supporting means, A method as rlaimed in claim 14 whereLit t0 "a imal tarca'e is supported on both the front leg supporting means and the hind leg supporting means and in an inverted orientation during at least one phase of the dressing operation. Ly t/" *nt 1 11 I I 16

16. An animal carcase dressing apparatus substant~ally as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

17. A method of dres 4ng an animal carcase substantially as hereinbefore described with rcference to the drawings. DATED this 27th day of February 1990 MILLER'S MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT (NZ) LIMtTED By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON 4 I *a4~4 4 I. .4 4 4. I 4* -e I 4 I 44 #4 t 414 ''It I C 1414 144 I 11 44 4 .4 I, K 900227, ,gjnape,001, ,y793 29. ca,1 6 hh.~ II