CA2097759A1 - Method and apparatus for cutting and cleaning intestines - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for cutting and cleaning intestinesInfo
- Publication number
- CA2097759A1 CA2097759A1 CA 2097759 CA2097759A CA2097759A1 CA 2097759 A1 CA2097759 A1 CA 2097759A1 CA 2097759 CA2097759 CA 2097759 CA 2097759 A CA2097759 A CA 2097759A CA 2097759 A1 CA2097759 A1 CA 2097759A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- guide member
- length
- animal intestine
- intestinal wall
- intestine
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 210000000936 intestine Anatomy 0.000 title claims abstract description 81
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 40
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 23
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 claims abstract description 78
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 44
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 41
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 27
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 238000012549 training Methods 0.000 claims abstract 2
- 230000000968 intestinal effect Effects 0.000 claims description 43
- 210000004877 mucosa Anatomy 0.000 claims description 21
- 210000003736 gastrointestinal content Anatomy 0.000 claims description 16
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000000087 stabilizing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000000149 penetrating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 235000012149 noodles Nutrition 0.000 description 8
- 235000013372 meat Nutrition 0.000 description 7
- 210000000813 small intestine Anatomy 0.000 description 7
- ODPOAESBSUKMHD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 6,7-dihydrodipyrido[1,2-b:1',2'-e]pyrazine-5,8-diium;dibromide Chemical compound [Br-].[Br-].C1=CC=[N+]2CC[N+]3=CC=CC=C3C2=C1 ODPOAESBSUKMHD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 6
- 239000005630 Diquat Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 235000015277 pork Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 3
- 241000282887 Suidae Species 0.000 description 2
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- BTFMCMVEUCGQDX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1-[10-[3-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperidinyl]propyl]-2-phenothiazinyl]ethanone Chemical compound C12=CC(C(=O)C)=CC=C2SC2=CC=CC=C2N1CCCN1CCC(CCO)CC1 BTFMCMVEUCGQDX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- HTTJABKRGRZYRN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Heparin Chemical compound OC1C(NC(=O)C)C(O)OC(COS(O)(=O)=O)C1OC1C(OS(O)(=O)=O)C(O)C(OC2C(C(OS(O)(=O)=O)C(OC3C(C(O)C(O)C(O3)C(O)=O)OS(O)(=O)=O)C(CO)O2)NS(O)(=O)=O)C(C(O)=O)O1 HTTJABKRGRZYRN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver Chemical compound [Ag] BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003146 anticoagulant agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940127219 anticoagulant drug Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 230000009172 bursting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007795 chemical reaction product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001010 compromised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002783 friction material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 231100001261 hazardous Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 229960002897 heparin Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 229920000669 heparin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 210000002429 large intestine Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000013622 meat product Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 210000000056 organ Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 210000000496 pancreas Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 229960004265 piperacetazine Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000013580 sausages Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000014347 soups Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000013547 stew Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- BFKJFAAPBSQJPD-UHFFFAOYSA-N tetrafluoroethene Chemical group FC(F)=C(F)F BFKJFAAPBSQJPD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Processing Of Meat And Fish (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present invention includes an apparatus and method for cleaning and cutting animal intestines. The apparatus includes a guide member to receive the intestine. The guide member having an upstream end and a downstream end, a cutting member and a drive system that advances the length of the intestine along the guide member past the cutting member. The drive system includes engagement elements that engage without perforating the intestine so that it is advanced along the guide member past the cutting and spray stations which clean the interior of the intestine. The method of the present invention includes (1) providing a guide member; (2) training intestine on guide member; and (3) mechanically engaging the exterior of the intestine without perforation while advancing intestine to a downstream location past the cutting member and spraying the interior of the intestine with a cleaning fluid.
The present invention includes an apparatus and method for cleaning and cutting animal intestines. The apparatus includes a guide member to receive the intestine. The guide member having an upstream end and a downstream end, a cutting member and a drive system that advances the length of the intestine along the guide member past the cutting member. The drive system includes engagement elements that engage without perforating the intestine so that it is advanced along the guide member past the cutting and spray stations which clean the interior of the intestine. The method of the present invention includes (1) providing a guide member; (2) training intestine on guide member; and (3) mechanically engaging the exterior of the intestine without perforation while advancing intestine to a downstream location past the cutting member and spraying the interior of the intestine with a cleaning fluid.
Description
~77~
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
CUTTING AND CLEANING INTESTINES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present inventlon broadly relates to methods and apparatus u~ed to clean lntestlnes from slaughtered anlmal~. More speclfically, the present invention i8 directed to a methGd and an apparatu~ for cutting and cleanlng small intestine~ of an animal, such as a hog.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Historically, animals have been slaughtered ln backyards and on farms for thousands of years to provlde food for indlvidual famllles. As the world industrlalized, the slaughterlng of animals gradually 1~ became centrallzed as lt~ own lndustry now referred to a~ the meat packlng lndustry. As countrles became further urbanized and methods for refrigeration of meat became common place!, the demand for meat products lncreased and the meat packlng lndustry grew in response. With the lncrease ln number of slaughterlng plants, the meat paclclng lndustry correspondlngly became more competltlve, and the meat industry, speclflcally the pork industry, k~egan to attempt to increase profits by flnding a market for as many parts of the slaughtered animal as posslble.
In today's ma:rket very llttle of a slaughtered hog is dlscarded. Pig skins are sold to handbag and boot manufacturers. Organs of hogs are either sold to ..
- ~ .
gourmet food shops a~ gourmet delicacle~ or are sold to the medlcal lndustry for rQsearch purpo~es. The pancrea~ of a hog, once considered an unusable product, now 1~ marketed to the medlcal fleld for the ln~lln that can be extracted.
Another product of a slaughtered hog which was hi~torically been consldQred a waste product 1~ the ~mall lnte~tlne. The meat packing industry normally ~ells only small quantitles of the hog's small lnte~tines to two limlted markets. The small intestine i8 marketed (1) for the extractlon of heparin, an anti-coagulant drug, or (2) a8 a natural casing for sausages.
~ecause there is a limited need for heparln and for natural casings, it hai been difficult for the pork industry to avold wastiny the small intestine when there has been a glut of hogs on the market. Therefore, the the pork packing industry has continued to look for other markets or uses for t:he hog's small intestines.
A market for small intestines that has not heretofore been fully tapped by the pork indu~try is tlle inte~tinal noodle market. In many foreign countries, specif1cally those countries ln the Pacific Rlm, a hog' 8 small intestine i8 cons1dered an edlble food product. In the~e countrie~ the ~mall lntestlne 19 removed and manually cut and cleaned to fo.em lntestlnal strlps or "noodlQ~" and the lntestinal noodle 18 commonly eaten ln soups or stews. The rea~on thi~ export market for a 'I .
7 l3 ~
hog' 8 small lntQstlne ha~ not been pursuQd by meat pac~ing plant~ 18 that the manual cuttlng and cleanlng of the~e smflll lntestlnes 18 labor lntenslve thus maklng the end product unprofitable. Furthermore, severing lengths of the intestine to form the intestinal "noodle" presents safety hazards to the person cuttlng the slippery intestlnal material.
While the cutting and cleanlng of the large inteRtine of a slaughtered hog has been automated, the automation of the cutting and cleaning of the small intestlne offers i~ own peculiar and difflcult problems. Apparatus use~d for processing the large lntestine utillzes a guide member which recelves the large lnte~tlne, a spiked conveyor which plerces through the intestinal wall and advances to drag the large lntestlne along the guide, and a rotary saw whlch operates to longltudinally cut through the intestinal wall. The gulde i8 provided wlth an upstream nozzle to flush-out the lnterlor of the large intestine as lt 18 placed onto the gulde. The small lntestlne, however, has a dlfferent orqanlc structure than the large lntestlne. Whereas the large lntestlne ha~ a slngle layered wall, the small lntestlne has both an outer lntestinal wall and ~n lnner mucosa llnlng. Penetratlon through these two l~yer~ durlng cleanlns must be avolded slnce penetratlon 1~111 usually contamlnate the reqlon between the two layer wlth undeslrable contents of the 2~7~
small intestlne; thereafter, it 18 dlfflcult, lf not lmpo~lble, to clean the contamlnated reglon.
Contamlnatlon o$ the lnterface reglon fouls the taste of the lntestinal noodle. Therefore, the cuttlng and cleaning process has been a manual procedure.
Accordingly, there exlsts a ~ignificant need for an automated apparatus and method for ~afely and lnexpenslvely ~llclng and cleanlng the small lntestlne to form the noodle that 18 used a~ an edible food product in order to address thls addltlonal, potentlal market. There i8 a specific need for an apparatus and method that can reduce the manual cuttlng and cleanlng of the small lntestine wlthout contaminatlng the interface region between the outer intestlnal wall and the lnner mucosa linlng.
SUMMARY OF THE INVEN~ION
It is an ob~ect of the present lnventlon to provide a new and useful apparatus and method for cuttlng a length of intestlne and for removing the lntestinal contents from the length of lntestlne ln an economical manner.
A further ob~ect of the present inventlon 18 to provide an efficient and economical method and apparatus for cleaning a slaughtered animal's intestine for processing lnto a food product.
97~
It i~ another ob~ect of the present lnvention to provlde a new and u~eful apparatus and method for cleanlng and preparlng a food product from anlmal lntestlnes that were previously waste by-products of the slaughtered anlmal.
It i5 a still further ob~ect of the presQnt lnventlon to provlde a relatively automated apparatus and method for forming an lnte4tinal noodle that 18 less hazardous to use then 1~ the manual method of forming an lntestinal noodle.
Yet another ob~ect of the present lnvention is to provide an apparatus and method for cleaning and sllttlng the small intestlne of a pig or hog automatlcally wlthout permlttlng contamlnat~on of the interface reglon between the outer intestinal wall and the lnner mucosa llnlng wlth the undeslrable lntestinal contents.
~o accomplish these ob~ects, the present inventlon comprlses both an apparatus and the method employed by such apparatus to cut and clean a length of anlmal lntestine durlng the processlng thereof into a food product. The apparatus 19 adapted to cut a length of anlmal lntestine that has an outer lnte~tlnal wall and lnner mucosa llnlng of the lntestlne wall whlch respectlvely de~lne an exterlor and lnterlor surface for the length of the lntestine and whlch together surround an lnterlor that contalns lntestlnal contents that are '~ :
7 ~ ~
removed during the cleanlng process.
The apparatu~ whlch cuts the lntestine broadly includes a gulde member operative to receive snd support a length of animal intestlne durlng the cleanlng to remove the lntestlnal contents therefrom. Thls guide member includes an upstream end portion slzed for lnsertlon lnto the lnterior of a leadlng end of a length of animal inte~tine and a downstream end portlon opposlte the up~tream end portion with a mld-portion located between the upstream and downstream end portlons. The apparatus also lncludes a cutting member and a drlve ~ystem that advances the length of the anlmal lntestlna along the gulde member past the cutting member. Thi~ drlve ~ystem lncludes engagement elements that engage the exterlor surface of the length of anlmal lntestlne when the upstream portlon of the gulde member ls lnserted thereln. The engagement elements do not penetrate through the lntestlnal wall but do grlp the wall wlth sufflcient force 80 that the drlve system acts to move the length of animal intestlnQ passed the cuttlng member whereby the lntestlnal wall and the llnlng are longltudlnally sevQred. The apparatus also lncludes spray means that are associated with the guide member and are in communicatlon with the source of cleanlng fluid for dlrecting a spray of the cleanlng fluld against the interior surface of the lntestlnal wall. After the lntestinal wall and llnlng are severed ' 2~977~
and cleaned the length of processed lntestine 19 dlscharged at the downstream end of the gu~de member.
Accordlng to the present lnventlon, the preferred drlve system lnclude~ a plurallty of plastic paddles which are carried on a conveyor. The paddle~ have a relatively large bearing surface 80 that they are operative to bear agalnst the exterlor surface of the intestlnal wall along the length of the gulde member ln the downstream direction. The cleats trap the lntestinal wall and the lining against a portion of the gulde member with sufflcient trapping pressure whereby when the paddles are moved along the gulde member the length of the anlmal lntestlne is correspondingly advanced therealong, but the trapping pressure exerted by the paddles i8 insufficlent to cause the paddles to penetrate through the outer intestinal wall and inner mucosa llnlng. To this end, the respective portions of the gulde member and each of the paddles between which the intestlnal wall is trapped may be slmllarly contoured. This of course, helps to avold slippage of the lntestinal materials that is being advanced along the guide member. To further avoid slippage of the intestlne on the guide member, the apparatus includes means for ad~usting the trapping pressure exerted by the paddles.
As noted, the paddles may preferably be carrled on A conveyor, such as a contlnuous loop conveyor mounted between two rotatable supports. ~J~,f ~ conveyor has an advance portlon that moves in a downstream direction and a return portlon that moves ln an Up9 tream dlrectlon. The conveyor 1~ drlven by a rotatable drlve that 18 operatlve to rotate at least one of the rotatable supports, and the rotatable supports may then be formed as sprockets which recelve a continuous drlve chaln that 19 part of the conveyor structure.
Alternatlvely, the rGtatable supports can be formed as rollers and the conveyor can be a continuous belt having paddle-llke cleats that are operatlve to engage the lntestlnal wall. In either structure, the rotatable support~ are spaced-apart from one another at a selectlve dlstance and lnclude means for ad~usting the selectlve dlstance whereby the tension on the conveyor may be ad~ustably varled. Alternately, a plurality of paddle wheels may be provlded to advance the length of intestlne along the gulde.
To further avold sllppage or upward deflectlon of the conveyor belt from lts engagement wlth the lntestlnal wall that 18 lnserted onto the gulde member, the apparatus lncludes a stabilizing plate. The stablllzlng plate bear~ agalnst and supports the advance portlon of the conveyor to thereby supply a stablllzlng force to the length of anlmal intestlne as lt ls advanced downstream. The stabllizlng plate lncludes ad~ustment means for varylng the stabllizing force ~97 gi~3 exerted on the advance portion of the conveyor by the stabillzlng plate.
The cuttlng member i8 preferably a statlonary blade havlng a cutting edge that ls operatlve to sever the lntestlnal wall as a length of anlmal lntestlne ls advanced thereby. The cuttlng edge ha~ an upstream edge poxtion that ls posltloned at an acute angle with respect to the guide member such that the upstream edge portlon outwardly dlverges from the quide member ln the downstream dlrectlon. The guide member may be formed a~
an elongated tubular member into whlch the cutting member can be inserted and mounted at the deslred angle 80 that the incllned upstream edge portlon engages the lntestlnal wall as lt ls advanced along the guide tube by the conveyor. The cuttlng member and the conveyor are prefsrably posltloned on opposlte sldes of the gulde member. The tubular guide member has a surroundlng sldewall that 18 ln fluld communlcatlon with the source of cleanlng fluld whereby the cleaning fluid continuously washes over,the cuttlng member to dislodge any lntestlnal contents whlch contact the cutting member. The apparatus lncludes a waste bln operatlve to recelve the lntestinal contents dislodged from the length of animal intestlne.
The gulde member has a plurallty of spray ports that are formed through the tubular sldewall; the spray port~ are each operatlve to dlrect a spray of cleaning ~ i3 ~
fluid from tha tubular gulde member in a radlal dlrectlon agalnst thQ lnner mucosa lining of thQ length of anlmal inte~tlne. This of course, removes most of the undeslred lntestinal contents. The gulde member may provlde two wash statlon3, one located upstream from the cutting member and one located downstream of thQ cuttlng member. Each of the wash statlons lnclude~ at least one spray port formed through the outer perimeter of the gulde member to define the spray means, and each of the 6pray ports ar~ operatlve to direct a spray of cleaning fluid against the inner mucosa linlng of the length of animal intestine.
Accordlng to thQ present lnventlon, the preferred mQthod broadly includes the steps of: (1) providing a guide member sized for telescoplc insertion into the lnterlor length of the anlmal intestlne; (2) trainlng the length of anlmal lntestlne over the gulde member 80 that the gulde member become~ lnserted lnto the lnterior length of the animal lntestlne whereby the guidQ member supports that length; and (3) mQchanlcally engaglng the exterlor of tha length of animal intQstinQ wlthout penetratlng through the lntQstlnal wall and therQaftQr advanclng the length of animal lntestlne along the guide member from an upqtream locatlon to a downstream locatlon whlle cuttlng the length of anlmal lntestlne longltudlnally and spraylng the lnterior surface of the lntestlnal wall wlth cleanlng fluld havlng a spray force r~ 7 5 ~
that is sufficiently forceful to remove lntestlnal contents therefrom. The cleaned lntestlne i9 then di~charged from the guide member proximate the down~tream location.
These and other ob~ects of the present lnvention wlll become ~or~ readily appreciated and understood from a con~ideration of the following detailed descrlptlon of the preferred embodlment when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIP~ION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure l is a side view in elevation and partially broken away of the apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present lnvention shown wlth the cover housing ln a closed positiont Figure 2 i8 a perspective vlew of the apparatus shown in Flgure l but wlth the cover houslng in an open po~ition) Figure 3 is a slde view in elevation of the apparatus shown In Figures l and 2 (wlth the houslng removed) and depicting an exemplary drive system and guide member according to one em~odiment of the present invention;
Flgure 4 is an end vlew ln elevation of the apparatus shown ln Flgures 1-3;
Flgure 5 i8 a sldQ vlew ln elevatlon and partlally broken sway o~ an upstream portion of the conveyor and .
7 r~
guide member ~hown ln Figure 3;
Flgure 6 18 a cross-aectional vlew taken about llne~ 6-6 of Flgure 5~
Flgure 7 1~ a perspectlve vlew of the gulde member of the present invention; and Figure 8 18 a cross-~ectional view of the guide member shown in the engagement of a sectlon of ~mall lntestlne at the downstream wash statlon;
Figure 9 1~ a perspective vlew of a palr of ad~acent paddle~ formlng part of the drive system for the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1-5;
Flgure 10 ls an end vlew ln elevatlon showing the present lnvention with a flrst alternate embodiment of the drive system~
Flgure 11 ls a slde view ln elevation of the embodlment shown in F~gures 11; and Flgure 12 19 a per~pectlve vlew of a ~econd alternate embodlment of the drive system for the pre~ent inventlon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM~ODIMENT
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method useful in cutting and cleaning a length of animal intestine, such as the small inte~tine 80 that unwanted intestinal contents are removed from the interior of the lntestlne during cleaning in order to prepare such lnte~tlne as nn edible food product, referred to a8 intestinal noodles. ~he broad a~pects of the prQsent inv~ntion are shown ln Figures 1-4 wherein the cleanlng and cuttlng apparatu~ 10 lncludea a gulde memb~r 20 and a conveyor 36 posltioned above the gulde member 20. The gulde member 20 and the conveyor 36 are visible ln Figure l ln the sxposed, broken away portlon of the v~ew, but are vlslble in Flgures 2 and 4 because housing 14 ha~ been placed ~n the open po~it~on. To thls end, houslng 14 ls hingedly connected to framework 15 of apparatus 10. When the apparatus 10 ls in operation, the housing 14 is placed ln the closed posltion, shown ln Figur~ 1, wherein the drive system including conveyor 36 and a ma~or portlon of gulde member 20 are enclosed thereln. Thus, the housing acts as a safety feature.
Flgure 1 shows gulde member 20 receivlng a length of anlmal lntestlne 11 for processlng by cleaning the unwanted intestinal content from the interior thereof and by longltudinally cuttlng through the intestlnal wall. To thls end, a supply 5 of lntestlnes are placed in a loading tray 12 supported by framework 13 connected with framework 15. As shown ln Figures 1 and 2, loading tray 12 has a drain 17. Guide member 20 has an upstream end portion 22 that terminates at upstream end 23 located above tray 12. Guide member 20 18 operatlve to recelve and support the length of anlmal lntestinQ
durlng the ~uttlng of the lntestlne and the cleanlng of the lntestlnal contents from the lnterlor of the length of animal lnte~tlne. whlle the pre~ent inventlon may be u~ed to clean nny ~ultable 1ntestlne, lt 18 partlcularly sulted for cleanlng the small 1nte~t1ne of an anlmal, such as plg or hog, where that small lntestlne has an outer intestlnal wall deflnlng an exterlor surface and an inner mucosa llning definlng an interior surface.
Together, for cour~e, the wall and the llnlng surround an lnterior that conta1n~ the unde~lred intestinal contents to be cleaned therefrom. In operatlon, a leading end of the length of anlmal lntestlne 18 inserted onto the upstream end portlon 22 of guide member 20. The upstream end portlon 22 1s located oppositely of the down~tream end portlon 26 and between the upstream end portlon 22 and the downstream end portlon 26 18 a mid-portlon 24 of gulde member 20.
After the leadlng end of the length of intest1ne ls mounted on the gulde member 20 the remalnder of the length of anlmal lntestlne whlch rests ln loadlng tray 12 18 fed onto gulde member 20. As the lntestlne proceed~ toward the mld-portlon 24 of gulde member 20, the length of lntestlne 18 engaged and advanced by conveyor 36 along passed the mld-portion 24 to the downstream end portion 26 of gulde member 20. The conveyor 36 18 preferably drlven by a sultable motor drlve 16.
~he cutting assembly of apparatus 10 19 best shown ln Flgures 5 and 6 whereln lt may be appreclated that cutting member 50 i~ formed2 ~ ~a7 ~atlonary blade supported by a bracket 52. Cutting member 50 extend3 lnto the lnterlor 21 of guide member 20 through a longltudlnal slot 51 and has a forward cuttlng edge 54 that faces the upstream dlrection. Cuttlng edge 54 extends at an acute angle 0 wlth respect to longltudinal axl8 L of gulde member 20 80 that, a~ a length of anlmal lnte~tlne 18 advanced ln the downstream dlrectlon, edge 54 present~ an lncllned attack edge 53 that acts to longitudlnally sever the intestinal wall. Thus, as shown ~n F~gure 5, an unseverPd length 11 of the lnte~tlne 18 not cut before reachlng cutting member 50 but become~ cut as severed lntestlne length 11' after passlng cuttlng member 50 when the length of animal lntestlne i3 advanced in the downqtream direction. As di~cussed more thoroughly below, slot 51 allows for the escape of pressurized cleaning fluid to prevent bulld-up of intestinal contents on cuttlng member 50.
It 18 preferred that the length of anlmal intestine 11 move smoothly pa-~t cutting member 50. To this end, as can be vlewed in Figure 1, axis L of guide member 20 slopes slightly upwardly from the downstream end of portion to the upstream end portion 22. This slope permits the force of gravlty to asslst the loading and advancement of the intestlne onto and along guide member 20 towards cuttlng member 50. In order to cut and clean the length of animal lntestine 11, though, it .
18 al~o neces~ary to provide a means for posltlvely advanclng the length of lntestine along gulde member 20.
To thls end, a drlve system 18 provlded ln all embod1ments of the present invention, and lt should be understood that other drlve system~ are within the ~cope of this inventlon as would be apparent to the ordlnarlly skllled person ln this fleld. Provlded, however, that an lmportant feature of the present Invention 1~ that the advancing means avoids penetratlon through the intestlnal wall BO that the interface reglon between the outer intestlnal wall and lnner mucosa linlng is not contamlnated wlth the inte~tlnal contents.
Therefore, ln reference to Flgures 1-6, lt should be appreciated that the purpose of conveyor 36 ls to engage the outer wall of the intestlne proxlmate the upstream end 22 of qulde member 20 and move the length of 1ntestlne along guide member 30. To thls end, conveyor 36 has an advance portion 44 that moves ln the directlon of arrow "~" and a return portion 46 that moves in the direction of arrow "8" (as shown in Figure 5). Conveyor 36 is preferably formed as a continuous looped drive chaln 38 tralnlng around and supportably driven by a pair of spaced-apart, rotatable sprocket~
42. Drive chain 38 of the conveyor 36 ls mounted on rotatable supports 40 which are formed a9 sprockets 41 and 42. Ad~ustmQnt means are provided in the form of bolts 43 and affixed nuts 45 that act on plllow blocks 2~977~9 40 whlch are movably mounted to framework 15 and support the axle of ~procket 41 to permlt the dlstance between the rotatable sprockets 41 and 42 to be ad~u~tably varied. Thls in t~rn ad~usts the ten~lon on the conveyor drlve chain 38.
Conveyor 36 18 preferably driven by a one-half horsepower varlable feed drlve motor 76 whlch i8 mounted on the frame 15 and is directly coupled to sprocket 42 through rotatable drlve ~haft 77. ThiR motor 76 is preferably operated between 25 rpm and 250 rpm, depending on the condition of the length of animal lntestine. If the animal lntestlne i9 relatively clogged wlth materlal, a hlgher rpm, such as 100 rpm to 250 rpm may be necessary, lf the lntestlne is relatively empty, 25 rpm to 75 rpm may be the approprlate range.
The speed may typically be kept at about 50 rpm's for sverage conditions.
Advance portion 44 of conveyor 36 moves ln the downstream diredtion, and the return portlon 46 moves in the upstream directlon, as noted above. Located between the advance portlon 44 and the return portion 46 of conveyor 36 i8 a stabllizlng plate 48. Stabilizlng plate 48 has a lower edge 51 adapted to bear against the advance portion 44 of the conveyor 36, and an upper edge 52 adapted to be ad~ustably mounted to the frame 15. As is shown in Flgure 6, then, the stabllizlng plate 4a has a mountlng plate 49 attached thereto by fasteners : -C~977~ .
such as nuts and bolts. The mounting plate 49 also is ad~u~tably ~ecured to L-shaped bracket 30 that 18 ln turn attached to a portlon of the frame 15.
Specifically, a plurality of threaded bolts 33 are mounted to a plate 34 that i8 attached to mountlng plate 49. Bolts 33 are received through leg 31 of bracket 30 and the effective length of bolts 33 is varled by ad~ustment of nut sets 35. Thus, the position of the lower surface 32 of the stabilizing plate 48 can be ad~usted relative to the conveyor 36. The stabilizing plate 48 is operative to prevent the advance portion 44 of conveyor 36 from upward deflection away from guide member 20. Ad~uqtment of nut sets 35 therefore permit operative ad~ustment of the trapplng pres~ure exerted by the conveyor a~embly 36.
In order to actually exert the trapping pressure on a portlon of the lntestinal wall between guide member 20 and conveyor assembly 36, conveyor assembly 36 lncludes a plurality of paddles 80 that form engagement means for engaging the exterior surface of the lntestine when it is mounted on the gulde member 20. The engagement means are formed aq a plurality of paddles 80 on the conveyor 36. These paddles 80 are best viewed ln Flgures 5, 8 and 9. The paddles 80 are each mounted to the drive chain 38 in such a manner that the teeth of the sprock~t can engage the area between the 11nks 39 of chain 38. Paddles 80 are preferably formed of a ~977~
polymerlc material, for example, a resillent plastic, and each of paddle~ 80 are mounted to a palr of arms B4 extending from a respectlve chain llnk 39 of the con~eyor 36. The contact surface 86 of each paddle 80 S 1s contoured similarly to the arcuate shape of the guide member 20. Thls contoured shape of paddle 80 permits the ensemble of paddles 80 to bear agalnst the exterlor surface of the lntestlnal wall and trap It with the selected trapping pressure. The drlve motor 16 advances moves the conveyor 36 and the paddles 80 so that the intestlne ls ad~anced downstream without perforatlon of the lntestinal wall. The engagement of the paddle~ 80 with the intestine on the guide member 20 is essentlal to avold sllppage, especlally since the posslblllty of slippage 19 increased by the spray means used for cleanlng the lntestinal contents out of the lntestlnal wall. At the same tlme, it i9 important in the processlng of small intestlnes, that the interface reglon between the outer lntestlnal wall and the inner mucosa llnlng not be compromised by mechanlcal penetratlon of paddles 80 through the intest1nal wall.
Penetratlon would, of course, make possible the introductlon of lntestinal contents lnto the interface reglon and thus foul the taste of the ultlmate food product.
In order to dlslodge the undeslred lntestlnal contents during proces~lng, gulde member 20 has spray ., ' .
~97~
means assoclated therewith for directing cleanlng fluid agalnst the lnner lntestinal wall, e.g., the lnner muco~a llnlng of the ~mall lnte~tlne. Thls spray means can be best seen ln reference to Flgures 6, 7 and 8.
In Flgure 7, guide member 20 ls shown to be preferably formed a~ an elongated plpe or tube that ls sized for lnsertion lnto the small intestine of a pig. The upstream end portlon 22 may termlnate ln a nozzle 21 whlch ls operatlve to release a spray 100 of cleaning fluid lnto the interior of the intestlne. To thls end, gulde member 20 ls ln fluld communication with a source 102 of selected cleaning fluid, such as plain or treated water, whlch i8 pumped by way of pump 104 lnto the lntarior of guide member 20. Valve 106 is provlded as an on/off valve for this fluid flow. The nozzle 21 may preferably be located proximate the loading tray 12 whlch holds the lntestines. Loading tray 12 may or may not be mounted to frame 14 of the apparatus. If loadlng tray 12 18 mounted proxlmate nozzle 21 the loadlng tray 12 should have a drain therein to remove the cleanlng fluld dlscharged by the nozzle 21 lnto loadlng tray 12.
Alternatlvely, the end of guide member 20 can be formed as a closed tip which does not emlt any cleanlng fluld.
In the preforred embodlment of the present invention, gulde member 20 has addltional spray station~. Preferably, gulde member 20 has two wash ~tatlons. The fir~t wash ~tatlon is located on the ~ o ~ ~ r~ ~ ~
upstream end portion 22 of guide member 20 lmmedlately before cuttlng member 50. Thls wash station comprises a plurallty of ports 23 that proJect radlal sprays of fluld Into the interlor of the lntestlne before lt 1~
longitudinally cut. The force of the radial spray from ports 23 does not hlnder the advancement of the intestine downstream, and these sprays actually serve to expand the lntestlne so that lt balloons outwardly ln a taut condltion. When the taut wall of intestlne is advanced to cutting edge of cutting member 20, the intestlne i8 cleanly severed and the lntestinal contents of the intestine are dislodged with a bursting ~orce and cascade downwardly to the waste bln 64.
The second wash station 1~ located downstream from cutting member 50 and compris0s a transverse slot 25 cut approxlmately half way through the upper portion of gulde member 20. Slot 25 emlts a fan shaped spray pattern upwardly agalnst the lnner wall of the lntestlne after lt has been longitudlnally severed. As ls shown ln Flgure 8, lntestlnal sectlon 11' has the lnner mucosa llnlng 108 and the outer intestlnal wall lOg. Fan spray pattern 110 should exert sufficient spraying force agalnst mucosa llnlng 108 to substantlally dlslodge any remainlng lntestlnal content~ not prevlously removed by nozzle 21 and ports 23.
As noted above, cuttlng member 50 ls mounted lnto a sllt 51 made lnto gulde member 20. To stablllze the , ~g77~
cutting member 50, it can also be mounted onto a waste bln 64 or ~rame 14 of apparatu~ 10. The sllt 51 ln gulde me~ber 20 ls slzed to permlt the cleanlng fluld to contlnuously wa~h over the lnclined cutting edge 54 of blade 50. Thus, contlnuou~ly washlng any dlslodged intestlnal contents off of cuttlng edge 54.
It should be appreciated that the spray from wash statlon~ 23, 25 and from sllt 51 renders that the severed lntestine wet and sllppery. In operatlon, the leading end of the intestine is placed on the upstream end portion ~2 of gulde member 20 and a stream of cleaning fluld from nozzle 21 of guide member 20 is forced into the interior of the length of animal intestine. The lntestlne then passes over first wash statlon 23 whlch ls formed as a plurallty of spray ports 19 that have a spray of cleanlnq fluld pro~ecting outwardly ln a radial directlon. The lntestlne wlll tend to slide off guide member 20 if the trapping pressure exerted by paddles 80 is not correctly ad~usted. To this end, stabilizing plate 48 is formed of a low friction material, for example tetrafluoroethylene and has a lower 3urface 32 that i5 posltioned to engage the advance portion 44 of conveyor 36 to eliminate any upward deflectlon of the advance portion 44 and paddles 80 from the lntestlnal wall as lt travel~ down guide member 20. To facllitate thls, the up~tream portlon of lower surface 32 of stablllzlng plata 4B may be sprayed wlth water or other friction reducing liquid.
ApparatUB 10 i8 praferably provlded wlth both an lntestlne recelvln~ chute 60 proxlmate the downstream end portion 26 of gulde member 20 and a waste chute 62 that communlcates with wa~te bln 64 that underlles gulde member 20~
In Plgures 1 and 3, the intestine receiving chute 60 and the waste chute 62 whlch are positioned proximate the downstream end portion 26 of guide member 20.
After the length of intestine ls advanced past the cutting member 50 and severed thereby, the intestine contents which were in the interior of the intestine are released to be received in waste bin 64. This waste bin 64 slope~ upwardly from the waste chute 62 toward the upstream end portlon of guide member 20. The force of gravity causes the intestlnal contents that are released lnto waste bin 64 to flow toward the waste chute 62.
Intestlne recelvlng chute 60 is downwardly sloping in the downstream dlrection so that cleaned lengths of animal lntestine may be discharged lnto any suitable recelvlng compartment or container or into other processing equlpment.
~ased on the foregoing, it should be appreclated that the method accordlng to the preferred embodlment of the present inventlon 18 dlrected to a method of cuttlng and cleanlng a length of small lntestine durlng the ~7~
processing thereof lnto a food product. The preferred method comprlses the broad steps of provldlng a gulde member slzed for telescopic lnsertlon lnto the lnterlor of the length of anlmal lntestlne; tralnlng the length o~ anlmal inte~tine over the gulde member, ~o that the gulde member becomes inserted lnto the interlor of the length of anlmal lntestlne where~y the gulde member support~ the length of anlmal lntestlne; mechanlcally engaglng the exterior of the length of anlmal intestlne without penetrating through the intestinal wall and thereafter advanclng the length of animal intestlne along the gulde member from an upstream location to a downstream locatlon; cutting the length of anlmal lntestine longltudlnally as it i8 advanced along the gulde member ln order to expo3e the lnterior sprayinq the interior surface of sald intestlnal wall wlth a cleanlng fluld havlng a spraylng force of a sufflclent force to remove the lntestlnal contents therefrom as the animal lntestlne i9 advanced along the gulde member and dlscharglng the length of animal lntestine from the gulde member proxlmate the downstream location.
Naturally, the ordlnarlly skllled person ln thls fleld should recognlze that modlficatlons of the apparatus 10 as set forth ln the flrst exemplary embodiment, above, may be modlfled without departing from the scope of thls invention. For example, dlfferently conflgured sprfly statlons could be employed ~g77~
and different drive system~ may be implemented. For example, Figures 10 and 11 show a second embodlment of a driv~ sy~tem that may be employed in the present invent on, as a replacement for conveyor 36, and Figure 12 show~ a thlrd alternate embodlment of a drive system.
Turning, then, to Flgures 10 and 11, cleaning apparatus 210 includes a drive system 236 in the form of a plurallty of paddls wheel~ 240 each of whlch are rotatably ~ournaled on a respective axel 241 to framework 215. Framework 215 also ~upports a drive motor as~embly 216 which has a drive shaft 277 coupled to a selected one of paddle wheels 240. Paddle wheels 240 are each provided with a gear, such as a gear 250, wlth gears 250 belng lnterconnected by means of a drive chaln 252. Accordingly, the ensemble of paddle wheels 240 rotate ln a common dlrectlon, and, as shown ln Flgure 11, this would be in a counterclockwise dlrection.
Each of paddle wheels 240 is provided with a plurality of resilient rectangularly shaped paddle piece~ ~80 wlth paddle piece~ 280 belnq formed of any suitable resillent materlal, such as plastlc or rubber.
each of paddle wheels 240 turn, paddle pieces 280 are rotated lnto contact wlth gulde member 220 to exert an advancing brushinq motion from upstrQam toward the downstream end of gulde member 220. Thu9, a8 a length of anlmal lntQstlne 18 engaged by paddle wheel 240 located at the upstrQam end, lt 18 advanced past cutting element 222, and each successlve downstream paddle wheel acts to advance the length of animal intestlne untll lt i5 dl3charged at chute 260.
A3 1~ ~hown ln Flgure 12, a modlflcation of the drlve system Incorporate~ the paddle pieces of the second alternate embodiment wlth the conveyor concept of the flr~t exemplary embodlment. Thus, as i9 ~hown ln Flgure 12, proce~sing and cleaning apparatu~ 310 include~ a conveyor belt 336 that lq trained around a pair of rollers 340 and 34l. Roller 341 is drlven by a motor assembly 316 so that conveyor 336 has an advanced portlon 344 and a return portion 346. Conveyor belt 336 carries B plurality of paddle pieces 380 formed of relatively soft, resllient material, such as plastic or rubber. The mountlng of roller~ 340 and 341 are similar to the mounting of sprockets 40 and 41 and sultable ad~ustment means and stabilizing plates maybe provided as noted wlth respect to the first exemplary embodlment, above. Paddle pleces 380 bear agalnst gulde member 320 which receives a length of anlmal intestine so that a trapplng of force is exerted between paddle pleces 380 and guide member 320 in a magnitude sufficient to engage the length of anlmal intestine and to advance lt along guide member 320, as described above.
Accordlngly, the present lnventlon has been described with some degree of particularlty dlrected to ~0~77~
the preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention 18 defined by the following claims construed in llght of the prlor art so that modificatlons or changes may be made to the preferred embodiment of the present inventlon without departing from the inventive concepts contained hereln.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
CUTTING AND CLEANING INTESTINES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present inventlon broadly relates to methods and apparatus u~ed to clean lntestlnes from slaughtered anlmal~. More speclfically, the present invention i8 directed to a methGd and an apparatu~ for cutting and cleanlng small intestine~ of an animal, such as a hog.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Historically, animals have been slaughtered ln backyards and on farms for thousands of years to provlde food for indlvidual famllles. As the world industrlalized, the slaughterlng of animals gradually 1~ became centrallzed as lt~ own lndustry now referred to a~ the meat packlng lndustry. As countrles became further urbanized and methods for refrigeration of meat became common place!, the demand for meat products lncreased and the meat packlng lndustry grew in response. With the lncrease ln number of slaughterlng plants, the meat paclclng lndustry correspondlngly became more competltlve, and the meat industry, speclflcally the pork industry, k~egan to attempt to increase profits by flnding a market for as many parts of the slaughtered animal as posslble.
In today's ma:rket very llttle of a slaughtered hog is dlscarded. Pig skins are sold to handbag and boot manufacturers. Organs of hogs are either sold to ..
- ~ .
gourmet food shops a~ gourmet delicacle~ or are sold to the medlcal lndustry for rQsearch purpo~es. The pancrea~ of a hog, once considered an unusable product, now 1~ marketed to the medlcal fleld for the ln~lln that can be extracted.
Another product of a slaughtered hog which was hi~torically been consldQred a waste product 1~ the ~mall lnte~tlne. The meat packing industry normally ~ells only small quantitles of the hog's small lnte~tines to two limlted markets. The small intestine i8 marketed (1) for the extractlon of heparin, an anti-coagulant drug, or (2) a8 a natural casing for sausages.
~ecause there is a limited need for heparln and for natural casings, it hai been difficult for the pork industry to avold wastiny the small intestine when there has been a glut of hogs on the market. Therefore, the the pork packing industry has continued to look for other markets or uses for t:he hog's small intestines.
A market for small intestines that has not heretofore been fully tapped by the pork indu~try is tlle inte~tinal noodle market. In many foreign countries, specif1cally those countries ln the Pacific Rlm, a hog' 8 small intestine i8 cons1dered an edlble food product. In the~e countrie~ the ~mall lntestlne 19 removed and manually cut and cleaned to fo.em lntestlnal strlps or "noodlQ~" and the lntestinal noodle 18 commonly eaten ln soups or stews. The rea~on thi~ export market for a 'I .
7 l3 ~
hog' 8 small lntQstlne ha~ not been pursuQd by meat pac~ing plant~ 18 that the manual cuttlng and cleanlng of the~e smflll lntestlnes 18 labor lntenslve thus maklng the end product unprofitable. Furthermore, severing lengths of the intestine to form the intestinal "noodle" presents safety hazards to the person cuttlng the slippery intestlnal material.
While the cutting and cleanlng of the large inteRtine of a slaughtered hog has been automated, the automation of the cutting and cleaning of the small intestlne offers i~ own peculiar and difflcult problems. Apparatus use~d for processing the large lntestine utillzes a guide member which recelves the large lnte~tlne, a spiked conveyor which plerces through the intestinal wall and advances to drag the large lntestlne along the guide, and a rotary saw whlch operates to longltudinally cut through the intestinal wall. The gulde i8 provided wlth an upstream nozzle to flush-out the lnterlor of the large intestine as lt 18 placed onto the gulde. The small lntestlne, however, has a dlfferent orqanlc structure than the large lntestlne. Whereas the large lntestlne ha~ a slngle layered wall, the small lntestlne has both an outer lntestinal wall and ~n lnner mucosa llnlng. Penetratlon through these two l~yer~ durlng cleanlns must be avolded slnce penetratlon 1~111 usually contamlnate the reqlon between the two layer wlth undeslrable contents of the 2~7~
small intestlne; thereafter, it 18 dlfflcult, lf not lmpo~lble, to clean the contamlnated reglon.
Contamlnatlon o$ the lnterface reglon fouls the taste of the lntestinal noodle. Therefore, the cuttlng and cleaning process has been a manual procedure.
Accordingly, there exlsts a ~ignificant need for an automated apparatus and method for ~afely and lnexpenslvely ~llclng and cleanlng the small lntestlne to form the noodle that 18 used a~ an edible food product in order to address thls addltlonal, potentlal market. There i8 a specific need for an apparatus and method that can reduce the manual cuttlng and cleanlng of the small lntestine wlthout contaminatlng the interface region between the outer intestlnal wall and the lnner mucosa linlng.
SUMMARY OF THE INVEN~ION
It is an ob~ect of the present lnventlon to provide a new and useful apparatus and method for cuttlng a length of intestlne and for removing the lntestinal contents from the length of lntestlne ln an economical manner.
A further ob~ect of the present inventlon 18 to provide an efficient and economical method and apparatus for cleaning a slaughtered animal's intestine for processing lnto a food product.
97~
It i~ another ob~ect of the present lnvention to provlde a new and u~eful apparatus and method for cleanlng and preparlng a food product from anlmal lntestlnes that were previously waste by-products of the slaughtered anlmal.
It i5 a still further ob~ect of the presQnt lnventlon to provlde a relatively automated apparatus and method for forming an lnte4tinal noodle that 18 less hazardous to use then 1~ the manual method of forming an lntestinal noodle.
Yet another ob~ect of the present lnvention is to provide an apparatus and method for cleaning and sllttlng the small intestlne of a pig or hog automatlcally wlthout permlttlng contamlnat~on of the interface reglon between the outer intestinal wall and the lnner mucosa llnlng wlth the undeslrable lntestinal contents.
~o accomplish these ob~ects, the present inventlon comprlses both an apparatus and the method employed by such apparatus to cut and clean a length of anlmal lntestine durlng the processlng thereof into a food product. The apparatus 19 adapted to cut a length of anlmal lntestine that has an outer lnte~tlnal wall and lnner mucosa llnlng of the lntestlne wall whlch respectlvely de~lne an exterlor and lnterlor surface for the length of the lntestine and whlch together surround an lnterlor that contalns lntestlnal contents that are '~ :
7 ~ ~
removed during the cleanlng process.
The apparatu~ whlch cuts the lntestine broadly includes a gulde member operative to receive snd support a length of animal intestlne durlng the cleanlng to remove the lntestlnal contents therefrom. Thls guide member includes an upstream end portion slzed for lnsertlon lnto the lnterior of a leadlng end of a length of animal inte~tine and a downstream end portlon opposlte the up~tream end portion with a mld-portion located between the upstream and downstream end portlons. The apparatus also lncludes a cutting member and a drlve ~ystem that advances the length of the anlmal lntestlna along the gulde member past the cutting member. Thi~ drlve ~ystem lncludes engagement elements that engage the exterlor surface of the length of anlmal lntestlne when the upstream portlon of the gulde member ls lnserted thereln. The engagement elements do not penetrate through the lntestlnal wall but do grlp the wall wlth sufflcient force 80 that the drlve system acts to move the length of animal intestlnQ passed the cuttlng member whereby the lntestlnal wall and the llnlng are longltudlnally sevQred. The apparatus also lncludes spray means that are associated with the guide member and are in communicatlon with the source of cleanlng fluid for dlrecting a spray of the cleanlng fluld against the interior surface of the lntestlnal wall. After the lntestinal wall and llnlng are severed ' 2~977~
and cleaned the length of processed lntestine 19 dlscharged at the downstream end of the gu~de member.
Accordlng to the present lnventlon, the preferred drlve system lnclude~ a plurallty of plastic paddles which are carried on a conveyor. The paddle~ have a relatively large bearing surface 80 that they are operative to bear agalnst the exterlor surface of the intestlnal wall along the length of the gulde member ln the downstream direction. The cleats trap the lntestinal wall and the lining against a portion of the gulde member with sufflcient trapping pressure whereby when the paddles are moved along the gulde member the length of the anlmal lntestlne is correspondingly advanced therealong, but the trapping pressure exerted by the paddles i8 insufficlent to cause the paddles to penetrate through the outer intestinal wall and inner mucosa llnlng. To this end, the respective portions of the gulde member and each of the paddles between which the intestlnal wall is trapped may be slmllarly contoured. This of course, helps to avold slippage of the lntestinal materials that is being advanced along the guide member. To further avoid slippage of the intestlne on the guide member, the apparatus includes means for ad~usting the trapping pressure exerted by the paddles.
As noted, the paddles may preferably be carrled on A conveyor, such as a contlnuous loop conveyor mounted between two rotatable supports. ~J~,f ~ conveyor has an advance portlon that moves in a downstream direction and a return portlon that moves ln an Up9 tream dlrectlon. The conveyor 1~ drlven by a rotatable drlve that 18 operatlve to rotate at least one of the rotatable supports, and the rotatable supports may then be formed as sprockets which recelve a continuous drlve chaln that 19 part of the conveyor structure.
Alternatlvely, the rGtatable supports can be formed as rollers and the conveyor can be a continuous belt having paddle-llke cleats that are operatlve to engage the lntestlnal wall. In either structure, the rotatable support~ are spaced-apart from one another at a selectlve dlstance and lnclude means for ad~usting the selectlve dlstance whereby the tension on the conveyor may be ad~ustably varled. Alternately, a plurality of paddle wheels may be provlded to advance the length of intestlne along the gulde.
To further avold sllppage or upward deflectlon of the conveyor belt from lts engagement wlth the lntestlnal wall that 18 lnserted onto the gulde member, the apparatus lncludes a stabilizing plate. The stablllzlng plate bear~ agalnst and supports the advance portlon of the conveyor to thereby supply a stablllzlng force to the length of anlmal intestlne as lt ls advanced downstream. The stabllizlng plate lncludes ad~ustment means for varylng the stabllizing force ~97 gi~3 exerted on the advance portion of the conveyor by the stabillzlng plate.
The cuttlng member i8 preferably a statlonary blade havlng a cutting edge that ls operatlve to sever the lntestlnal wall as a length of anlmal lntestlne ls advanced thereby. The cuttlng edge ha~ an upstream edge poxtion that ls posltloned at an acute angle with respect to the guide member such that the upstream edge portlon outwardly dlverges from the quide member ln the downstream dlrectlon. The guide member may be formed a~
an elongated tubular member into whlch the cutting member can be inserted and mounted at the deslred angle 80 that the incllned upstream edge portlon engages the lntestlnal wall as lt ls advanced along the guide tube by the conveyor. The cuttlng member and the conveyor are prefsrably posltloned on opposlte sldes of the gulde member. The tubular guide member has a surroundlng sldewall that 18 ln fluld communlcatlon with the source of cleanlng fluld whereby the cleaning fluid continuously washes over,the cuttlng member to dislodge any lntestlnal contents whlch contact the cutting member. The apparatus lncludes a waste bln operatlve to recelve the lntestinal contents dislodged from the length of animal intestlne.
The gulde member has a plurallty of spray ports that are formed through the tubular sldewall; the spray port~ are each operatlve to dlrect a spray of cleaning ~ i3 ~
fluid from tha tubular gulde member in a radlal dlrectlon agalnst thQ lnner mucosa lining of thQ length of anlmal inte~tlne. This of course, removes most of the undeslred lntestinal contents. The gulde member may provlde two wash statlon3, one located upstream from the cutting member and one located downstream of thQ cuttlng member. Each of the wash statlons lnclude~ at least one spray port formed through the outer perimeter of the gulde member to define the spray means, and each of the 6pray ports ar~ operatlve to direct a spray of cleaning fluid against the inner mucosa linlng of the length of animal intestine.
Accordlng to thQ present lnventlon, the preferred mQthod broadly includes the steps of: (1) providing a guide member sized for telescoplc insertion into the lnterlor length of the anlmal intestlne; (2) trainlng the length of anlmal lntestlne over the gulde member 80 that the gulde member become~ lnserted lnto the lnterior length of the animal lntestlne whereby the guidQ member supports that length; and (3) mQchanlcally engaglng the exterlor of tha length of animal intQstinQ wlthout penetratlng through the lntQstlnal wall and therQaftQr advanclng the length of animal lntestlne along the guide member from an upqtream locatlon to a downstream locatlon whlle cuttlng the length of anlmal lntestlne longltudlnally and spraylng the lnterior surface of the lntestlnal wall wlth cleanlng fluld havlng a spray force r~ 7 5 ~
that is sufficiently forceful to remove lntestlnal contents therefrom. The cleaned lntestlne i9 then di~charged from the guide member proximate the down~tream location.
These and other ob~ects of the present lnvention wlll become ~or~ readily appreciated and understood from a con~ideration of the following detailed descrlptlon of the preferred embodlment when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIP~ION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure l is a side view in elevation and partially broken away of the apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present lnvention shown wlth the cover housing ln a closed positiont Figure 2 i8 a perspective vlew of the apparatus shown in Flgure l but wlth the cover houslng in an open po~ition) Figure 3 is a slde view in elevation of the apparatus shown In Figures l and 2 (wlth the houslng removed) and depicting an exemplary drive system and guide member according to one em~odiment of the present invention;
Flgure 4 is an end vlew ln elevation of the apparatus shown ln Flgures 1-3;
Flgure 5 i8 a sldQ vlew ln elevatlon and partlally broken sway o~ an upstream portion of the conveyor and .
7 r~
guide member ~hown ln Figure 3;
Flgure 6 18 a cross-aectional vlew taken about llne~ 6-6 of Flgure 5~
Flgure 7 1~ a perspectlve vlew of the gulde member of the present invention; and Figure 8 18 a cross-~ectional view of the guide member shown in the engagement of a sectlon of ~mall lntestlne at the downstream wash statlon;
Figure 9 1~ a perspective vlew of a palr of ad~acent paddle~ formlng part of the drive system for the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1-5;
Flgure 10 ls an end vlew ln elevatlon showing the present lnvention with a flrst alternate embodiment of the drive system~
Flgure 11 ls a slde view ln elevation of the embodlment shown in F~gures 11; and Flgure 12 19 a per~pectlve vlew of a ~econd alternate embodlment of the drive system for the pre~ent inventlon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM~ODIMENT
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method useful in cutting and cleaning a length of animal intestine, such as the small inte~tine 80 that unwanted intestinal contents are removed from the interior of the lntestlne during cleaning in order to prepare such lnte~tlne as nn edible food product, referred to a8 intestinal noodles. ~he broad a~pects of the prQsent inv~ntion are shown ln Figures 1-4 wherein the cleanlng and cuttlng apparatu~ 10 lncludea a gulde memb~r 20 and a conveyor 36 posltioned above the gulde member 20. The gulde member 20 and the conveyor 36 are visible ln Figure l ln the sxposed, broken away portlon of the v~ew, but are vlslble in Flgures 2 and 4 because housing 14 ha~ been placed ~n the open po~it~on. To thls end, houslng 14 ls hingedly connected to framework 15 of apparatus 10. When the apparatus 10 ls in operation, the housing 14 is placed ln the closed posltion, shown ln Figur~ 1, wherein the drive system including conveyor 36 and a ma~or portlon of gulde member 20 are enclosed thereln. Thus, the housing acts as a safety feature.
Flgure 1 shows gulde member 20 receivlng a length of anlmal lntestlne 11 for processlng by cleaning the unwanted intestinal content from the interior thereof and by longltudinally cuttlng through the intestlnal wall. To thls end, a supply 5 of lntestlnes are placed in a loading tray 12 supported by framework 13 connected with framework 15. As shown ln Figures 1 and 2, loading tray 12 has a drain 17. Guide member 20 has an upstream end portion 22 that terminates at upstream end 23 located above tray 12. Guide member 20 18 operatlve to recelve and support the length of anlmal lntestinQ
durlng the ~uttlng of the lntestlne and the cleanlng of the lntestlnal contents from the lnterlor of the length of animal lnte~tlne. whlle the pre~ent inventlon may be u~ed to clean nny ~ultable 1ntestlne, lt 18 partlcularly sulted for cleanlng the small 1nte~t1ne of an anlmal, such as plg or hog, where that small lntestlne has an outer intestlnal wall deflnlng an exterlor surface and an inner mucosa llning definlng an interior surface.
Together, for cour~e, the wall and the llnlng surround an lnterior that conta1n~ the unde~lred intestinal contents to be cleaned therefrom. In operatlon, a leading end of the length of anlmal lntestlne 18 inserted onto the upstream end portlon 22 of guide member 20. The upstream end portlon 22 1s located oppositely of the down~tream end portlon 26 and between the upstream end portlon 22 and the downstream end portlon 26 18 a mid-portlon 24 of gulde member 20.
After the leadlng end of the length of intest1ne ls mounted on the gulde member 20 the remalnder of the length of anlmal lntestlne whlch rests ln loadlng tray 12 18 fed onto gulde member 20. As the lntestlne proceed~ toward the mld-portlon 24 of gulde member 20, the length of lntestlne 18 engaged and advanced by conveyor 36 along passed the mld-portion 24 to the downstream end portion 26 of gulde member 20. The conveyor 36 18 preferably drlven by a sultable motor drlve 16.
~he cutting assembly of apparatus 10 19 best shown ln Flgures 5 and 6 whereln lt may be appreclated that cutting member 50 i~ formed2 ~ ~a7 ~atlonary blade supported by a bracket 52. Cutting member 50 extend3 lnto the lnterlor 21 of guide member 20 through a longltudlnal slot 51 and has a forward cuttlng edge 54 that faces the upstream dlrection. Cuttlng edge 54 extends at an acute angle 0 wlth respect to longltudinal axl8 L of gulde member 20 80 that, a~ a length of anlmal lnte~tlne 18 advanced ln the downstream dlrectlon, edge 54 present~ an lncllned attack edge 53 that acts to longitudlnally sever the intestinal wall. Thus, as shown ~n F~gure 5, an unseverPd length 11 of the lnte~tlne 18 not cut before reachlng cutting member 50 but become~ cut as severed lntestlne length 11' after passlng cuttlng member 50 when the length of animal lntestlne i3 advanced in the downqtream direction. As di~cussed more thoroughly below, slot 51 allows for the escape of pressurized cleaning fluid to prevent bulld-up of intestinal contents on cuttlng member 50.
It 18 preferred that the length of anlmal intestine 11 move smoothly pa-~t cutting member 50. To this end, as can be vlewed in Figure 1, axis L of guide member 20 slopes slightly upwardly from the downstream end of portion to the upstream end portion 22. This slope permits the force of gravlty to asslst the loading and advancement of the intestlne onto and along guide member 20 towards cuttlng member 50. In order to cut and clean the length of animal lntestine 11, though, it .
18 al~o neces~ary to provide a means for posltlvely advanclng the length of lntestine along gulde member 20.
To thls end, a drlve system 18 provlded ln all embod1ments of the present invention, and lt should be understood that other drlve system~ are within the ~cope of this inventlon as would be apparent to the ordlnarlly skllled person ln this fleld. Provlded, however, that an lmportant feature of the present Invention 1~ that the advancing means avoids penetratlon through the intestlnal wall BO that the interface reglon between the outer intestlnal wall and lnner mucosa linlng is not contamlnated wlth the inte~tlnal contents.
Therefore, ln reference to Flgures 1-6, lt should be appreciated that the purpose of conveyor 36 ls to engage the outer wall of the intestlne proxlmate the upstream end 22 of qulde member 20 and move the length of 1ntestlne along guide member 30. To thls end, conveyor 36 has an advance portion 44 that moves ln the directlon of arrow "~" and a return portion 46 that moves in the direction of arrow "8" (as shown in Figure 5). Conveyor 36 is preferably formed as a continuous looped drive chaln 38 tralnlng around and supportably driven by a pair of spaced-apart, rotatable sprocket~
42. Drive chain 38 of the conveyor 36 ls mounted on rotatable supports 40 which are formed a9 sprockets 41 and 42. Ad~ustmQnt means are provided in the form of bolts 43 and affixed nuts 45 that act on plllow blocks 2~977~9 40 whlch are movably mounted to framework 15 and support the axle of ~procket 41 to permlt the dlstance between the rotatable sprockets 41 and 42 to be ad~u~tably varied. Thls in t~rn ad~usts the ten~lon on the conveyor drlve chain 38.
Conveyor 36 18 preferably driven by a one-half horsepower varlable feed drlve motor 76 whlch i8 mounted on the frame 15 and is directly coupled to sprocket 42 through rotatable drlve ~haft 77. ThiR motor 76 is preferably operated between 25 rpm and 250 rpm, depending on the condition of the length of animal lntestine. If the animal lntestlne i9 relatively clogged wlth materlal, a hlgher rpm, such as 100 rpm to 250 rpm may be necessary, lf the lntestlne is relatively empty, 25 rpm to 75 rpm may be the approprlate range.
The speed may typically be kept at about 50 rpm's for sverage conditions.
Advance portion 44 of conveyor 36 moves ln the downstream diredtion, and the return portlon 46 moves in the upstream directlon, as noted above. Located between the advance portlon 44 and the return portion 46 of conveyor 36 i8 a stabllizlng plate 48. Stabilizlng plate 48 has a lower edge 51 adapted to bear against the advance portion 44 of the conveyor 36, and an upper edge 52 adapted to be ad~ustably mounted to the frame 15. As is shown in Flgure 6, then, the stabllizlng plate 4a has a mountlng plate 49 attached thereto by fasteners : -C~977~ .
such as nuts and bolts. The mounting plate 49 also is ad~u~tably ~ecured to L-shaped bracket 30 that 18 ln turn attached to a portlon of the frame 15.
Specifically, a plurality of threaded bolts 33 are mounted to a plate 34 that i8 attached to mountlng plate 49. Bolts 33 are received through leg 31 of bracket 30 and the effective length of bolts 33 is varled by ad~ustment of nut sets 35. Thus, the position of the lower surface 32 of the stabilizing plate 48 can be ad~usted relative to the conveyor 36. The stabilizing plate 48 is operative to prevent the advance portion 44 of conveyor 36 from upward deflection away from guide member 20. Ad~uqtment of nut sets 35 therefore permit operative ad~ustment of the trapplng pres~ure exerted by the conveyor a~embly 36.
In order to actually exert the trapping pressure on a portlon of the lntestinal wall between guide member 20 and conveyor assembly 36, conveyor assembly 36 lncludes a plurality of paddles 80 that form engagement means for engaging the exterior surface of the lntestine when it is mounted on the gulde member 20. The engagement means are formed aq a plurality of paddles 80 on the conveyor 36. These paddles 80 are best viewed ln Flgures 5, 8 and 9. The paddles 80 are each mounted to the drive chain 38 in such a manner that the teeth of the sprock~t can engage the area between the 11nks 39 of chain 38. Paddles 80 are preferably formed of a ~977~
polymerlc material, for example, a resillent plastic, and each of paddle~ 80 are mounted to a palr of arms B4 extending from a respectlve chain llnk 39 of the con~eyor 36. The contact surface 86 of each paddle 80 S 1s contoured similarly to the arcuate shape of the guide member 20. Thls contoured shape of paddle 80 permits the ensemble of paddles 80 to bear agalnst the exterlor surface of the lntestlnal wall and trap It with the selected trapping pressure. The drlve motor 16 advances moves the conveyor 36 and the paddles 80 so that the intestlne ls ad~anced downstream without perforatlon of the lntestinal wall. The engagement of the paddle~ 80 with the intestine on the guide member 20 is essentlal to avold sllppage, especlally since the posslblllty of slippage 19 increased by the spray means used for cleanlng the lntestinal contents out of the lntestlnal wall. At the same tlme, it i9 important in the processlng of small intestlnes, that the interface reglon between the outer lntestlnal wall and the inner mucosa llnlng not be compromised by mechanlcal penetratlon of paddles 80 through the intest1nal wall.
Penetratlon would, of course, make possible the introductlon of lntestinal contents lnto the interface reglon and thus foul the taste of the ultlmate food product.
In order to dlslodge the undeslred lntestlnal contents during proces~lng, gulde member 20 has spray ., ' .
~97~
means assoclated therewith for directing cleanlng fluid agalnst the lnner lntestinal wall, e.g., the lnner muco~a llnlng of the ~mall lnte~tlne. Thls spray means can be best seen ln reference to Flgures 6, 7 and 8.
In Flgure 7, guide member 20 ls shown to be preferably formed a~ an elongated plpe or tube that ls sized for lnsertion lnto the small intestine of a pig. The upstream end portlon 22 may termlnate ln a nozzle 21 whlch ls operatlve to release a spray 100 of cleaning fluid lnto the interior of the intestlne. To thls end, gulde member 20 ls ln fluld communication with a source 102 of selected cleaning fluid, such as plain or treated water, whlch i8 pumped by way of pump 104 lnto the lntarior of guide member 20. Valve 106 is provlded as an on/off valve for this fluid flow. The nozzle 21 may preferably be located proximate the loading tray 12 whlch holds the lntestines. Loading tray 12 may or may not be mounted to frame 14 of the apparatus. If loadlng tray 12 18 mounted proxlmate nozzle 21 the loadlng tray 12 should have a drain therein to remove the cleanlng fluld dlscharged by the nozzle 21 lnto loadlng tray 12.
Alternatlvely, the end of guide member 20 can be formed as a closed tip which does not emlt any cleanlng fluld.
In the preforred embodlment of the present invention, gulde member 20 has addltional spray station~. Preferably, gulde member 20 has two wash ~tatlons. The fir~t wash ~tatlon is located on the ~ o ~ ~ r~ ~ ~
upstream end portion 22 of guide member 20 lmmedlately before cuttlng member 50. Thls wash station comprises a plurallty of ports 23 that proJect radlal sprays of fluld Into the interlor of the lntestlne before lt 1~
longitudinally cut. The force of the radial spray from ports 23 does not hlnder the advancement of the intestine downstream, and these sprays actually serve to expand the lntestlne so that lt balloons outwardly ln a taut condltion. When the taut wall of intestlne is advanced to cutting edge of cutting member 20, the intestlne i8 cleanly severed and the lntestinal contents of the intestine are dislodged with a bursting ~orce and cascade downwardly to the waste bln 64.
The second wash station 1~ located downstream from cutting member 50 and compris0s a transverse slot 25 cut approxlmately half way through the upper portion of gulde member 20. Slot 25 emlts a fan shaped spray pattern upwardly agalnst the lnner wall of the lntestlne after lt has been longitudlnally severed. As ls shown ln Flgure 8, lntestlnal sectlon 11' has the lnner mucosa llnlng 108 and the outer intestlnal wall lOg. Fan spray pattern 110 should exert sufficient spraying force agalnst mucosa llnlng 108 to substantlally dlslodge any remainlng lntestlnal content~ not prevlously removed by nozzle 21 and ports 23.
As noted above, cuttlng member 50 ls mounted lnto a sllt 51 made lnto gulde member 20. To stablllze the , ~g77~
cutting member 50, it can also be mounted onto a waste bln 64 or ~rame 14 of apparatu~ 10. The sllt 51 ln gulde me~ber 20 ls slzed to permlt the cleanlng fluld to contlnuously wa~h over the lnclined cutting edge 54 of blade 50. Thus, contlnuou~ly washlng any dlslodged intestlnal contents off of cuttlng edge 54.
It should be appreciated that the spray from wash statlon~ 23, 25 and from sllt 51 renders that the severed lntestine wet and sllppery. In operatlon, the leading end of the intestine is placed on the upstream end portion ~2 of gulde member 20 and a stream of cleaning fluld from nozzle 21 of guide member 20 is forced into the interior of the length of animal intestine. The lntestlne then passes over first wash statlon 23 whlch ls formed as a plurallty of spray ports 19 that have a spray of cleanlnq fluld pro~ecting outwardly ln a radial directlon. The lntestlne wlll tend to slide off guide member 20 if the trapping pressure exerted by paddles 80 is not correctly ad~usted. To this end, stabilizing plate 48 is formed of a low friction material, for example tetrafluoroethylene and has a lower 3urface 32 that i5 posltioned to engage the advance portion 44 of conveyor 36 to eliminate any upward deflectlon of the advance portion 44 and paddles 80 from the lntestlnal wall as lt travel~ down guide member 20. To facllitate thls, the up~tream portlon of lower surface 32 of stablllzlng plata 4B may be sprayed wlth water or other friction reducing liquid.
ApparatUB 10 i8 praferably provlded wlth both an lntestlne recelvln~ chute 60 proxlmate the downstream end portion 26 of gulde member 20 and a waste chute 62 that communlcates with wa~te bln 64 that underlles gulde member 20~
In Plgures 1 and 3, the intestine receiving chute 60 and the waste chute 62 whlch are positioned proximate the downstream end portion 26 of guide member 20.
After the length of intestine ls advanced past the cutting member 50 and severed thereby, the intestine contents which were in the interior of the intestine are released to be received in waste bin 64. This waste bin 64 slope~ upwardly from the waste chute 62 toward the upstream end portlon of guide member 20. The force of gravity causes the intestlnal contents that are released lnto waste bin 64 to flow toward the waste chute 62.
Intestlne recelvlng chute 60 is downwardly sloping in the downstream dlrection so that cleaned lengths of animal lntestine may be discharged lnto any suitable recelvlng compartment or container or into other processing equlpment.
~ased on the foregoing, it should be appreclated that the method accordlng to the preferred embodlment of the present inventlon 18 dlrected to a method of cuttlng and cleanlng a length of small lntestine durlng the ~7~
processing thereof lnto a food product. The preferred method comprlses the broad steps of provldlng a gulde member slzed for telescopic lnsertlon lnto the lnterlor of the length of anlmal lntestlne; tralnlng the length o~ anlmal inte~tine over the gulde member, ~o that the gulde member becomes inserted lnto the interlor of the length of anlmal lntestlne where~y the gulde member support~ the length of anlmal lntestlne; mechanlcally engaglng the exterior of the length of anlmal intestlne without penetrating through the intestinal wall and thereafter advanclng the length of animal intestlne along the gulde member from an upstream location to a downstream locatlon; cutting the length of anlmal lntestine longltudlnally as it i8 advanced along the gulde member ln order to expo3e the lnterior sprayinq the interior surface of sald intestlnal wall wlth a cleanlng fluld havlng a spraylng force of a sufflclent force to remove the lntestlnal contents therefrom as the animal lntestlne i9 advanced along the gulde member and dlscharglng the length of animal lntestine from the gulde member proxlmate the downstream location.
Naturally, the ordlnarlly skllled person ln thls fleld should recognlze that modlficatlons of the apparatus 10 as set forth ln the flrst exemplary embodiment, above, may be modlfled without departing from the scope of thls invention. For example, dlfferently conflgured sprfly statlons could be employed ~g77~
and different drive system~ may be implemented. For example, Figures 10 and 11 show a second embodlment of a driv~ sy~tem that may be employed in the present invent on, as a replacement for conveyor 36, and Figure 12 show~ a thlrd alternate embodlment of a drive system.
Turning, then, to Flgures 10 and 11, cleaning apparatus 210 includes a drive system 236 in the form of a plurallty of paddls wheel~ 240 each of whlch are rotatably ~ournaled on a respective axel 241 to framework 215. Framework 215 also ~upports a drive motor as~embly 216 which has a drive shaft 277 coupled to a selected one of paddle wheels 240. Paddle wheels 240 are each provided with a gear, such as a gear 250, wlth gears 250 belng lnterconnected by means of a drive chaln 252. Accordingly, the ensemble of paddle wheels 240 rotate ln a common dlrectlon, and, as shown ln Flgure 11, this would be in a counterclockwise dlrection.
Each of paddle wheels 240 is provided with a plurality of resilient rectangularly shaped paddle piece~ ~80 wlth paddle piece~ 280 belnq formed of any suitable resillent materlal, such as plastlc or rubber.
each of paddle wheels 240 turn, paddle pieces 280 are rotated lnto contact wlth gulde member 220 to exert an advancing brushinq motion from upstrQam toward the downstream end of gulde member 220. Thu9, a8 a length of anlmal lntQstlne 18 engaged by paddle wheel 240 located at the upstrQam end, lt 18 advanced past cutting element 222, and each successlve downstream paddle wheel acts to advance the length of animal intestlne untll lt i5 dl3charged at chute 260.
A3 1~ ~hown ln Flgure 12, a modlflcation of the drlve system Incorporate~ the paddle pieces of the second alternate embodiment wlth the conveyor concept of the flr~t exemplary embodlment. Thus, as i9 ~hown ln Flgure 12, proce~sing and cleaning apparatu~ 310 include~ a conveyor belt 336 that lq trained around a pair of rollers 340 and 34l. Roller 341 is drlven by a motor assembly 316 so that conveyor 336 has an advanced portlon 344 and a return portion 346. Conveyor belt 336 carries B plurality of paddle pieces 380 formed of relatively soft, resllient material, such as plastic or rubber. The mountlng of roller~ 340 and 341 are similar to the mounting of sprockets 40 and 41 and sultable ad~ustment means and stabilizing plates maybe provided as noted wlth respect to the first exemplary embodlment, above. Paddle pleces 380 bear agalnst gulde member 320 which receives a length of anlmal intestine so that a trapplng of force is exerted between paddle pleces 380 and guide member 320 in a magnitude sufficient to engage the length of anlmal intestine and to advance lt along guide member 320, as described above.
Accordlngly, the present lnventlon has been described with some degree of particularlty dlrected to ~0~77~
the preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention 18 defined by the following claims construed in llght of the prlor art so that modificatlons or changes may be made to the preferred embodiment of the present inventlon without departing from the inventive concepts contained hereln.
Claims (33)
1. Apparatus adapted to cut and clean a length of animal intestine during the processing thereof into a food product wherein said length animal intestine has an outer intestinal wall and an inner mucosa lining for said intestinal wall, said intestinal wall and said lining together surrounding an interior which contains intestinal contents to be removed during cleaning, said exterior intestinal wall and said lining respectively defining and exterior and an interior surface for said length of animal intestine, said apparatus comprising:
(a) a guide member operative to receive and support said length of animal intestine during cleaning thereof to remove the intestinal contents therefrom, said guide member including an upstream end portion sized for insertion into the interior of a leading end of said length of animal intestine, a downstream end portion opposite the upstream end portion and a mid-portion located between the upstream and downstream end portions;
(b) a cutting member;
(c) means for advancing said length of animal intestine along said guide member, said means for advancing including engagement means for engaging the exterior surface of said length of animal intestine when the upstream end portion of said guide member is inserted therein without penetrating through said intestinal wall but with sufficient gripping force so that said means for advancing acts to move said length of animal intestine past said cutting member whereby said intestinal wall and said lining are longitudinally severed and thereafter discharged at the downstream end portion of said guide member; and (d) spray means associated with said guide member and in communication with a source of cleaning fluid for directing a spray of said cleaning fluid against said interior surface of said intestinal wall.
(a) a guide member operative to receive and support said length of animal intestine during cleaning thereof to remove the intestinal contents therefrom, said guide member including an upstream end portion sized for insertion into the interior of a leading end of said length of animal intestine, a downstream end portion opposite the upstream end portion and a mid-portion located between the upstream and downstream end portions;
(b) a cutting member;
(c) means for advancing said length of animal intestine along said guide member, said means for advancing including engagement means for engaging the exterior surface of said length of animal intestine when the upstream end portion of said guide member is inserted therein without penetrating through said intestinal wall but with sufficient gripping force so that said means for advancing acts to move said length of animal intestine past said cutting member whereby said intestinal wall and said lining are longitudinally severed and thereafter discharged at the downstream end portion of said guide member; and (d) spray means associated with said guide member and in communication with a source of cleaning fluid for directing a spray of said cleaning fluid against said interior surface of said intestinal wall.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said engagement means includes a plurality of paddles and wherein said advancing means moves said paddles along said guide member, said paddles operative to bear against the exterior surface of said intestinal wall and trap said intestinal wall and said lining between a portion of said guide member and a portion of each of said paddle with sufficient trapping pressure whereby, when said paddles are moved along said guide member, said length of animal intestine is correspondingly advanced therealong.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said respective portions of said guide member and each of said paddles between which the intestinal wall is trapped are similarly contoured.
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 including means for adjusting the trapping pressure exerted by said paddles.
5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said paddles are resilient.
6. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for advancing includes a continuous loop conveyor carrying said paddles and mounted between at least two rotatable supports between which said conveyor has an advance portion that moves in a downstream direction and a return portion which moves in an upstream direction and including a rotatable drive operative to rotate at least one of said rotatable supports.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said rotatable supports are formed as sprockets, said conveyor including a continuous drive chain sized and operative to engage said sprockets.
8. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said rotatable supports are spaced-apart from one another a selected distance and including means for adjusting the selected distance whereby tension on the conveyor may be adjustably varied.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for advancing includes a continuous loop conveyor and mounted between at least two rotatable supports between which said conveyor has an advance portion which moves in a downstream direction and a return portion that moves in an upstream direction and including a rotatable drive operative to rotate at least one of said rotatable supports and including a stabilizing plate operative to bear against said advance portion to prevent upward deflection of the advance portion away from said animal intestine thereby said length of animal intestine is advanced downstream without slippage.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said stabilizing plate includes an adjustment means for varying the position of the stabilizing plate relative to the advance ports on the conveyor.
11. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said cutting member and said conveyor are positioned on opposite sides of said guide member.
12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cutting member is a stationary blade having a cutting edge operative to sever said intestinal wall as said length of animal intestine 18 advanced thereby.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said cutting edge has an upstream edge portion that is inclined with respect to said guide member such that said upstream edge portion outwardly diverges from said guide member in the downstream direction.
14. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide member is formed as an elongated tubular member.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said tubular member has a tube interior surrounded by a tube sidewall in fluid communication with said source of cleaning fluid and a plurality of spray ports formed through said tube sidewall to define said spray means, said spray ports each operative to direct a spray of cleaning fluid from said tube in a radial direction against said inner mucosa lining of the length of animal intestine.
16. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said upstream end of said guide member terminates in a tip that is in a spaced-apart relationship with said cutting member.
17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said tip of said guide member 18 formed as a spray nozzle operative to direct a longitudinal spray of cleaning fluid in an upstream direction.
18. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes a housing adapted to substantially enclose said guide member, said cutting member, said means for advancing and said spray means.
19. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a waste bin operative to receive the intestinal contents dislodged from said length of animal intestine.
20. Apparatus according to claim 1 including an intestine receiving chute proximate said downstream end of said guide member and operative to receive said length of animal intestine from said guide member after said length of animal intestine has passed said cutting member.
21. Apparatus adapted to cut and clean a length of animal intestine during the processing thereof into a food product wherein said length of animal intestine has a tubular intestinal wall formed of an outer intestinal wall and an inner mucosa lining, said intestinal wall surrounding an interior which contains intestinal contents to be removed said intestinal wall having an interior surface defined by said mucosa lining and an exterior surface defined by said outer wall and said apparatus comprisings:
(a) a guide member operative to receive and support said length of animal intestine during cleaning thereof to remove the intestinal contents therefrom, said guide member including an upstream end portion sized for insertion into the interior of a leading end of said length of animal intestine, a downstream end portion opposite the upstream end portion and a mid-portion located between the upstream and downstream end portions.
(b) a cutting member positioned proximate to said guide member;
(c) a pair of spaced-apart rotatable supports journaled for rotation on respective parallel rotational axes;
(d) drive means for rotatably driving at least one of said rotatable supports;
(e) an endless conveyor extending around and supported by said rotatable supports, said rotatable supports positioned such that said conveyor has an advance portion facing said guide member and a return portion, said conveyor including a plurality of resilient paddles operative to engage the exterior surface of said length of animal intestine when the animal intestine is inserted on said guide member without penetrating through said intestinal wall whereby said conveyor may advance the length of animal intestine in a downstream direction past said cutting member so that said intestinal wall and said mucosa lining are longitudinally severed and thereafter advanced along the mid-portion of said guide member to the downstream end portion thereof;
(f) a stabilizing plate positioned along said advance portion of said conveyor and operative to prevent upward deflection of said advance portion away from said animal intestine of that said plurality of paddles advance said animal intestine in a downstream direction in a smooth, continuous manner without perforating the intestinal wall; and (g) spray means associated with said guide member and in communication with a source of cleaning fluid for directing a spray of said cleaning fluid against the interior surface of said intestinal wall with a spraying force sufficient to dislodge at least some of the intestinal contents therefrom.
(a) a guide member operative to receive and support said length of animal intestine during cleaning thereof to remove the intestinal contents therefrom, said guide member including an upstream end portion sized for insertion into the interior of a leading end of said length of animal intestine, a downstream end portion opposite the upstream end portion and a mid-portion located between the upstream and downstream end portions.
(b) a cutting member positioned proximate to said guide member;
(c) a pair of spaced-apart rotatable supports journaled for rotation on respective parallel rotational axes;
(d) drive means for rotatably driving at least one of said rotatable supports;
(e) an endless conveyor extending around and supported by said rotatable supports, said rotatable supports positioned such that said conveyor has an advance portion facing said guide member and a return portion, said conveyor including a plurality of resilient paddles operative to engage the exterior surface of said length of animal intestine when the animal intestine is inserted on said guide member without penetrating through said intestinal wall whereby said conveyor may advance the length of animal intestine in a downstream direction past said cutting member so that said intestinal wall and said mucosa lining are longitudinally severed and thereafter advanced along the mid-portion of said guide member to the downstream end portion thereof;
(f) a stabilizing plate positioned along said advance portion of said conveyor and operative to prevent upward deflection of said advance portion away from said animal intestine of that said plurality of paddles advance said animal intestine in a downstream direction in a smooth, continuous manner without perforating the intestinal wall; and (g) spray means associated with said guide member and in communication with a source of cleaning fluid for directing a spray of said cleaning fluid against the interior surface of said intestinal wall with a spraying force sufficient to dislodge at least some of the intestinal contents therefrom.
22. Apparatus according to claim 21 including adjustment means for increasing or decreasing the downward stabilizing force exerted by said stabilizing plate on said advance portion of said conveyor.
23. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said cutting member and said conveyor are positioned on opposite sides of said guide member.
24. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said cutting member is a stationary blade having a cutting edge operative to sever said intestinal wall as said length of animal intestine is advanced thereby.
25. Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said cutting edge has an upstream edge portion that is inclined with respect to said guide member such that said upstream edge portion outwardly diverges from said guide member in the downstream direction.
26. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said guide member has an interior surrounded by an outer perimeter, said interior in fluid communication with said source of cleaning fluid, said guide member also having two wash stations, one located upstream from said cutting member and one located downstream of said cutting member, each of said wash stations including at least one spray port formed through said outer perimeters to define said spray means, each of said spray ports operative to direct a spray of cleaning fluid against the inner mucosa lining of the length of animal intestine.
27. Apparatus adapted to cut and clean a length of animal intestine during the processing thereof into a food product wherein said length of animal intestine has a tubular intestinal wall formed of an outer intestinal wall and an inner mucosa lining, said intestinal wall surrounding an interior which contains intestinal contents to be removed said intestinal wall having an interior surface defined by said mucosa lining and an exterior surface defined by said outer wall and said apparatus comprising:
(a) a guide member operative to receive and support said length of animal intestine during cutting thereof, said guide member including an upstream end portion sized for insertion into the interior of a leading end of said length of animal intestine, a downstream end portion opposite the upstream end portion and a mid-portion located between the upstream and downstream end portions;
(b) means for advancing said length of animal intestine along said guide member, said means for advancing including engagement means for engaging the exterior surface of said length of animal intestine inserted on said guide member without penetrating through said intestinal wall but with sufficient gripping force so that said means for advancing acts to move said length of animal intestine in a downstream direction;
(c) a cutting member positioned proximate said guide member so that when said length of animal intestine is advanced in a downstream direction it passes said cutting member whereby said intestinal wall and lining are severed and said intestinal contents are released from the interior of said length of animal intestine and;
(d) spray means associated with said guide member in communication with a source of cleaning fluid for directing a spray of said cleaning fluid against said interior surface of said intestine and for directing a spray of cleaning fluid proximate said cutting member to remove any intestinal contents which may have lodged on said cutting member.
(a) a guide member operative to receive and support said length of animal intestine during cutting thereof, said guide member including an upstream end portion sized for insertion into the interior of a leading end of said length of animal intestine, a downstream end portion opposite the upstream end portion and a mid-portion located between the upstream and downstream end portions;
(b) means for advancing said length of animal intestine along said guide member, said means for advancing including engagement means for engaging the exterior surface of said length of animal intestine inserted on said guide member without penetrating through said intestinal wall but with sufficient gripping force so that said means for advancing acts to move said length of animal intestine in a downstream direction;
(c) a cutting member positioned proximate said guide member so that when said length of animal intestine is advanced in a downstream direction it passes said cutting member whereby said intestinal wall and lining are severed and said intestinal contents are released from the interior of said length of animal intestine and;
(d) spray means associated with said guide member in communication with a source of cleaning fluid for directing a spray of said cleaning fluid against said interior surface of said intestine and for directing a spray of cleaning fluid proximate said cutting member to remove any intestinal contents which may have lodged on said cutting member.
28. Apparatus according to claim 27 wherein said cutting member is mounted in said guide member so that said cleaning fluid continuously washes over said cutting member wherein any intestinal contents dislodges from the intestinal wall which contact said cutting member are removed by the cleaning fluid.
29. Apparatus according to claim 27 wherein said means for advancing includes a pair of spaced-apart rotatable supports journaled for rotation on respective parallel rotational axes, drive means for rotatably driving at least one of said rotatable supports, and an endless conveyor extending around and supported by said rotatable supports.
30. Apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said rotatable supports are positioned such that said conveyor has an advance portion facing said guide member and a return portion, said conveyor including engagement means having a plurality of contoured paddles operative in conjuction with the advance portion of said conveyor to engage the exterior surface of said length of animal intestine when the animal intestine is inserted on said guide member without penetrating through said intestinal wall.
31. Apparatus according to claim 30 including a stabilizing plate positioned adjacent to and along said advance portion of said conveyor and operative to prevent upward deflection of the advance portion from the guide member so that said contoured paddles advance said animal intestine in a downstream direction in a smooth, continuous manner without perforating the intestinal wall.
32. Apparatus according to claim 31 including means for reducing the friction between the stabilizing plate and the advance portion of said conveyor when said length of animal intestine is being advanced downstream.
33. A method of cutting and cleaning a length of animal intestine during the processing thereof into a food product, said length of animal intestine has an outer intestinal wall and an inner mucosa lining for said intestinal wall, said intestinal wall and said lining together surrounding an interior which contains intestinal contents to be removed during cleaning, said exterior intestinal wall and said lining respectively has an exterior surface and an interior surface for said length of animal intestine, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a guide member sized for telescopic insertion into the interior of the length of animal intestine;
b) training the length of animal intestine over said guide member so that said guide member becomes inserted into the interior of the length of animal intestine whereby said guide member supports said length of animal intestine;
(c) mechanically engaging the exterior of said length of animal intestine without penetrating through the intestinal wall and thereafter advancing said length of animal intestine along said guide member from an upstream location to a downstream location;
(d) cutting said length of animal intestine longitudinally as it is advanced along said guide member in order to expose the interior thereof;
(e) spraying the interior surface of said intestinal wall with a cleaning fluid having a spraying force of sufficient force to remove the intestinal contents therefrom as said animal intestine is advanced along said guide member; and (f) discharging said length of animal intestine from said guide member proximate the downstream location.
?
(a) providing a guide member sized for telescopic insertion into the interior of the length of animal intestine;
b) training the length of animal intestine over said guide member so that said guide member becomes inserted into the interior of the length of animal intestine whereby said guide member supports said length of animal intestine;
(c) mechanically engaging the exterior of said length of animal intestine without penetrating through the intestinal wall and thereafter advancing said length of animal intestine along said guide member from an upstream location to a downstream location;
(d) cutting said length of animal intestine longitudinally as it is advanced along said guide member in order to expose the interior thereof;
(e) spraying the interior surface of said intestinal wall with a cleaning fluid having a spraying force of sufficient force to remove the intestinal contents therefrom as said animal intestine is advanced along said guide member; and (f) discharging said length of animal intestine from said guide member proximate the downstream location.
?
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US89812892A | 1992-06-12 | 1992-06-12 | |
| US07/898,128 | 1992-06-12 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2097759A1 true CA2097759A1 (en) | 1993-12-13 |
Family
ID=25408985
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2097759 Abandoned CA2097759A1 (en) | 1992-06-12 | 1993-06-04 | Method and apparatus for cutting and cleaning intestines |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2097759A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7828636B2 (en) | 2007-03-29 | 2010-11-09 | Jbs Swift & Company | Method and system for washing intestines |
| CN103704312A (en) * | 2013-01-10 | 2014-04-09 | 尹振军 | Automatic cleaning cutter for animal intestines |
| CN103704311A (en) * | 2013-01-10 | 2014-04-09 | 尹振军 | Conveying apparatus for automatic cleaning cutter for animal intestines |
| ES2498894A1 (en) * | 2014-03-11 | 2014-09-25 | Triposona, S. A. | Procedure to clean heavy casings of livestock and food, pharmaceutical or animal feed, semi-processed or processed with a thick casing of livestock obtained by said procedure (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) |
-
1993
- 1993-06-04 CA CA 2097759 patent/CA2097759A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7828636B2 (en) | 2007-03-29 | 2010-11-09 | Jbs Swift & Company | Method and system for washing intestines |
| CN103704312A (en) * | 2013-01-10 | 2014-04-09 | 尹振军 | Automatic cleaning cutter for animal intestines |
| CN103704311A (en) * | 2013-01-10 | 2014-04-09 | 尹振军 | Conveying apparatus for automatic cleaning cutter for animal intestines |
| CN103704311B (en) * | 2013-01-10 | 2015-06-24 | 左海彤 | Conveying apparatus for automatic cleaning cutter for animal intestines |
| ES2498894A1 (en) * | 2014-03-11 | 2014-09-25 | Triposona, S. A. | Procedure to clean heavy casings of livestock and food, pharmaceutical or animal feed, semi-processed or processed with a thick casing of livestock obtained by said procedure (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| FZDE | Dead |