CA2806223A1 - Arrangement for lateral slitting of the skin on both sides of a slaughtered animal in a saddled position, a support body of such an arrangement for saddling the animal body, a processing machine using the arrangement for slitting the skin, as well as an appropriate method for slitting the skin - Google Patents
Arrangement for lateral slitting of the skin on both sides of a slaughtered animal in a saddled position, a support body of such an arrangement for saddling the animal body, a processing machine using the arrangement for slitting the skin, as well as an appropriate method for slitting the skin Download PDFInfo
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- CA2806223A1 CA2806223A1 CA2806223A CA2806223A CA2806223A1 CA 2806223 A1 CA2806223 A1 CA 2806223A1 CA 2806223 A CA2806223 A CA 2806223A CA 2806223 A CA2806223 A CA 2806223A CA 2806223 A1 CA2806223 A1 CA 2806223A1
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- slitting
- support body
- skin
- elements
- sliding
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
- A22C—PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH
- A22C21/00—Processing poultry
- A22C21/0046—Support devices
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
- A22C—PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH
- A22C21/00—Processing poultry
- A22C21/0053—Transferring or conveying devices for poultry
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
- A22C—PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH
- A22C21/00—Processing poultry
- A22C21/0092—Skinning poultry or parts of poultry
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Processing Of Meat And Fish (AREA)
Abstract
An arrangement (1) for the lateral cutting of the skin on both sides of a slaughtered animal body in a position saddled on a support body (15) comprises a passage way (11), formed by a pair of slitting elements (12) which can be moved transversely to its direction of passage (D) by means of a control, and a control means (13). The control means (13) comprises a pair of sliding elements (14), which can be moved transversely to the direction of passage (D), with slitting elements (12) of the pair of slitting elements arranged thereon, control surfaces (16), which are associated to the sliding elements (14) and formed laterally on both sides of the support body (15) and against which the sliding elements (14) can be moved to bring about a control deflection which changes the width of the passage way (11), as well as longitudinal grooves (17) formed laterally on both sides of the support body (15) and associated to the slitting elements (12), into which the slitting elements (12) can be plunged freely. A support body (15) is set up for the arrangement (1). A processing machine, in particular provided for filleting poultry bodies is set up at one station of said arrangement (1). By means of a method for the lateral cutting of the skin on both sides of slaughtered and saddled animals a slit is made on each longitudinal side of the animal body parallel to an abutment track of a sliding element sliding along this abutment track on the outside of the animal body, wherein the slitting element (12) is guided such that if the support body is not loaded, it plunges, without making contact, into an air gap.
Description
Arrangement for lateral slitting of the skin on both sides of a slaughtered animal in a saddled position, a support body of such an arrangement for saddling the animal body, a processing machine using the arrangement for slitting the skin, as well as an appropriate method for slitting the skin The invention relates to an arrangement for lateral cutting of the skin on both sides of a slaughtered animal in a position saddled on a support body, comprising a passage way associated to the passing through of the support body, which extends in the direction of passage and is formed by a pair of slitting elements for making the slits, which is moveable by means of a control at least substantially transverse to the direction of passage and a control means for implementing the control movements. The invention also relates to a processing machine for filleting slaughtered animals, in particular poultry, with a transport conveyor forming an upper run and a lower run and being arranged in an endlessly revolving manner in the conveying direction and with a plurality of processing stations, wherein a series of support bodies, for accommodating an animal body each, is disposed on the transport conveyor. The invention furthermore is directed to a support body, which is equipped for developing the arrangement for slitting the skin. In addition, the invention comprises a method for the lateral slitting of the skin on both sides of slaughtered animals, which are saddled on a series of support bodies for transporting and processing, wherein the slitting elements, which determine a passage way for the support body and are movable transversely to the conveying direction of the support body, are controlled for producing longitudinal slits at the longitudinal sides of the conveyed animal bodies.
The arrangement for lateral cutting of the skin on both sides, referred to hereinafter also as the slitting arrangement, usually is used in the aforementioned processing apparatus for processing slaughtered animal bodies. Animal bodies, in particular, are body parts, primarily front halves and breast caps of poultry. In this manner, the processing apparatus is equipped, in particular, for handling or respectively processing poultry, and namely for filleting breast caps or front halves.
The arrangement for lateral cutting of the skin on both sides, referred to hereinafter also as the slitting arrangement, usually is used in the aforementioned processing apparatus for processing slaughtered animal bodies. Animal bodies, in particular, are body parts, primarily front halves and breast caps of poultry. In this manner, the processing apparatus is equipped, in particular, for handling or respectively processing poultry, and namely for filleting breast caps or front halves.
2 The lateral skin slits on both sides are produced primarily in order to be able to grip the skin for skinning after the slits have been made. "Slitting" is understood to be a cut or incision which cuts through the whole of the skin, which leaves the subcutaneous fatty tissue and the animal carcass untouched. Slitting in the form of slitting open the skin for the purpose of skinning is particularly required if the skin of the animal body is particularly taut, accessible only with difficulty and/or dry, so that it cannot be gripped or gripped only with difficulty with skinning tools. For example, the skin of a poultry breast cap generally can be gripped at the respiratory fold of the animal body without any tools while this is no longer or no longer reliably possible in the front halves of poultry, especially when the latter are air-dried. In such cases, use is made of an indirect control, which is provided for a wing cut, for slitting the skin if the poultry cut can be omitted. Such a control is carried out by means of adjustable sliding jaws, which, cam controlled, abut on a base, namely a saddle base plate of a support body. The known control, which can be used only if the wing cut is omitted, takes up much space and uses slitting knives, which partially come into contact with the side surfaces of the support body when slitting the skin. This leads to wear and damage.
On the other hand, it is an object of the invention to improve slitting the skin of said animal bodies significantly, especially in that the space, required for an arrangement of elements and organs for slitting the skin, is particularly small and the skin slit can be made reliably even if the skin is particularly thin, dry and/or taut without damaging the slitting element and the support body. In a processing machine, slitting the skin is not to prevent or impair other processes, especially not a wing cut.
According to the present invention, there is provided an arrangement (1) for the lateral slitting of the skin at both sides of a slaughtered animal, in a position saddled on a support body (15), comprising a passage way (11) associated to the passing through of the support body (15), which extends in the direction of the passage way (D), formed by a pair of slitting elements (12) for making the slits, which can be moved by means of a control at least substantially transversely to the direction of the passage way (D), and a control means (13) for implementing the control movements, characterized in that the control
On the other hand, it is an object of the invention to improve slitting the skin of said animal bodies significantly, especially in that the space, required for an arrangement of elements and organs for slitting the skin, is particularly small and the skin slit can be made reliably even if the skin is particularly thin, dry and/or taut without damaging the slitting element and the support body. In a processing machine, slitting the skin is not to prevent or impair other processes, especially not a wing cut.
According to the present invention, there is provided an arrangement (1) for the lateral slitting of the skin at both sides of a slaughtered animal, in a position saddled on a support body (15), comprising a passage way (11) associated to the passing through of the support body (15), which extends in the direction of the passage way (D), formed by a pair of slitting elements (12) for making the slits, which can be moved by means of a control at least substantially transversely to the direction of the passage way (D), and a control means (13) for implementing the control movements, characterized in that the control
3 means (13) is formed by a pair of sliding elements (14), which are moveable transversely to the direction of the passage way (D) and are set up for sliding contact, with slitting elements (12) of the pair of slitting elements, which are arranged thereon and protrude therefrom transversely to the direction of the passage way (D), by control surfaces (16), which are associated to the sliding elements (14), and are formed laterally on both sides of the support body (15) and against which the sliding elements (14) are moveable to bring about a control deflection which changes the width of the passage way (11) as well as by longitudinal grooves (17) formed laterally on both sides of the support body (15), which extend corresponding to the direction of the passage way (D) and are associated to the slitting elements (12) and into which the protruding slitting elements (12) can be plunged freely.
Preferably, the objects of the invention are achieved for an arrangement with the features named hereinbefore in that the control means is formed by a pair of sliding elements, which can be moved transversely to the passage way direction and are set up for sliding contact, with slitting elements of the pair of slitting elements, which are arranged thereon and protrude therefrom transversely to the direction of the passage way, as well as by the control surfaces, which are associated to the sliding elements, and are formed laterally on both sides of the support bodies and against which the sliding elements can be moved to bring about a control deflection, which changes the width of the passage way and with longitudinal grooves, which extend in accordance with the direction of the passage way and into which the protruding slitting elements can be plunged freely to avoid any direct contact with the support body. They are not in contact with the support body at any time and for any control deflection.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a processing machine (3) for filleting slaughtered animal bodies, namely poultry bodies, with a transport conveyor (4) forming an upper run (41) and a lower run (42) which is arranged in an endlessly revolving manner in the conveying direction (F) and with a plurality of processing stations (30), wherein a series of support bodies (15) for accommodating a poultry body each is arranged on the transport conveyor (4), characterized in that, in a processing station (308)
Preferably, the objects of the invention are achieved for an arrangement with the features named hereinbefore in that the control means is formed by a pair of sliding elements, which can be moved transversely to the passage way direction and are set up for sliding contact, with slitting elements of the pair of slitting elements, which are arranged thereon and protrude therefrom transversely to the direction of the passage way, as well as by the control surfaces, which are associated to the sliding elements, and are formed laterally on both sides of the support bodies and against which the sliding elements can be moved to bring about a control deflection, which changes the width of the passage way and with longitudinal grooves, which extend in accordance with the direction of the passage way and into which the protruding slitting elements can be plunged freely to avoid any direct contact with the support body. They are not in contact with the support body at any time and for any control deflection.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a processing machine (3) for filleting slaughtered animal bodies, namely poultry bodies, with a transport conveyor (4) forming an upper run (41) and a lower run (42) which is arranged in an endlessly revolving manner in the conveying direction (F) and with a plurality of processing stations (30), wherein a series of support bodies (15) for accommodating a poultry body each is arranged on the transport conveyor (4), characterized in that, in a processing station (308)
4 equipped for slitting the skin according to the arrangement as defined herein, the control means (13) is provided together with each support body (15), wherein all support bodies (15) are designed with the control surfaces (16) as well as the lateral longitudinal grooves (17) for keeping the slittiing elements (12) away from the support bodies (15).
Preferably, for a processing machine named hereinbefore, in particular for filleting slaughtered poultry carcasses, it is provided according to the invention that in a processing station, equipped for slitting skin, according to the slitting arrangement according to the invention the control means is provided together with each support body, all support bodies being designed with the control surfaces as well as with the longitudinal grooves for keeping the slitting elements away from the support bodies.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a support body (15), equipped for forming the arrangement (1) for slitting the skin as defined herein, wherein the support body (15), which is designed for saddling and transporting a slaughtered animal body, in particular a poultry body, has a saddle-like shape with a top seat surface (151) and longitudinal side surfaces (152), wherein at least one section of each longitudinal side surface (152) is designed as a control surface (16), which forms an abutment surface for a sliding element (14) holding a slitting element (12), and wherein a longitudinal groove (17) is designed, associated to said control surface (16), in at least one section of each longitudinal side surface (152), in which said slitting element (12) can engage without making contact, when said sliding element (14) abuts on the associated control surface (16).
Preferably, a support body, which is designed for saddling and transporting a slaughtered animal and has a saddle-like shape with a top seat surface and longitudinal side surfaces, is characterised according to the invention in that it is equipped for forming the slitting arrangement for slitting the skin, at least one section of each longitudinal side surface being designed as a control surface, which forms an abutment surface for a sliding element holding a slitting element, and a longitudinal groove being designed, associated to said control surface, in at least one section of each longitudinal side surface, in which longitudinal groove said sitting element can engage without making contact, in particular when said sliding element abuts on the associated control surface directly.
The saddle-like shape corresponds at least partially to the inner shape of the poultry carcass. The control surfaces correspond at least substantially to the outer shape of the carcass with and along the skin to be slit.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a method for the lateral cutting of the skin on both sides of slaughtered animal bodies, which are saddled on a series of support bodies (15) for transporting and processing, wherein slitting elements (12) determining a passage way (11) for the support body (15) and moveable transversely to the conveying direction (F) of the support bodies (15) are controlled for making longitudinal slits at the longitudinal sides of the conveyed animal body, characterized in that the slit at each longitudinal side of the animal body is made parallel to an abutment track of a sliding element (14) sliding along this abutment track on the outside of the animal body, and that by means of each sliding element (14) the associated slitting element (12) is held and guided such that when the size of the passage way (11) changes it is always kept free from the support body (15), wherein it can plunge, without making contact, into an air gap (170) designed on each support body (15) and running coincidently with the slit.
Preferably, a method according to the invention, corresponding to the functions of the physical features of the invention, for the longitudinal slitting of the skin on both sides, is characterised in that the slit at each longitudinal side of the animal body is made parallel to an abutment track of a sliding element, sliding along this abutment track on the outside of the animal body and that, by means of each sliding element, the associated slitting element is held and guided such that when the size of the passage changes, it is always kept away from the support body and can plunge, without making contact, into an air gap running coincidently with the slit. The slitting element is guided such that, at least in the case of support bodies not being provided with animal bodies, it plunges, without making contact, into the air gap running coincidently with the slit to be applied, preferably along at least the greater part of its total length. A series of advantages is achieved with the measures according to the invention.
Preferably, the slit arrangement according to the invention is characterised in particular in that the depth of the cut for slitting the skin is adapted and limited, the skin being cut through reliably whereas the subcutaneous fatty tissue or the carcass remain free of the skin cut. It is ensured reliably that the slitting element does not make any contact with the support body. Wear and damage are avoided. When the support body is not loaded and possibly before the start and/or after the end of the slitting process, the sliding elements are in direct contact with the control surfaces of the support body. During the slitting, they come into contact with the skin of the animal body to be slit, the control surface, with the interposed animal body with tissue and skin, forming a guiding counter-abutment for the sliding elements. Here, it is essential that the transverse movement of the slitting elements is adapted to the saddled carcass and the outer layer thereupon, the transverse movement of the slitting elements following the actual contour or respectively the surface structure of the animal body for slitting. Consequently, the control is direct and immediate.
The control surfaces correspond at least substantially to the outer shape of the carcass with and along the skin to be slit. Thus the controlling abutment track, along which the associated sliding element slides on the outside of the animal body, corresponds to the shape of the body along the skin to be slit. The slitting elements can also protrude relatively far at the sliding elements wherein before and/or after slitting the skin, they plunge only into the longitudinal groove without contacting the support body, that is, they plunge only into an air gap. This may be the case, for example, when the slitting element has not yet reached or respectively has left a region of skin to be slit. Any damage to the slitting elements and the support body is likewise and, in particular, reliably avoided when no animal is saddled on the support body, i.e. the support body is moving in idle operation through the passage way in the direction of passage. Said advantages of the arrangement according to the invention correspondingly result in relation to the processing machine according to the invention, the support body according to the invention and the method according to the invention.
Preferably, means, elements and/or parts of the arrangement, namely, in particular, of the control means, for example, a restoring device and/or a swivelling device with the sliding elements, are saddled on a console, a rack, a frame or a similar supporting element.
Preferably, a particularly space-saving arrangement is achieved in that the control surfaces are designed at the support body in the region of the skin to be slitof animal bodies that can be saddled. Advantageously, the control surfaces then adjoin the longitudinal grooves, adjoining the longitudinal edges of the longitudinal grooves or being formed by such longitudinal edges.
The control means for the sliding abutment of the sliding elements may be equipped in a particularly space-saving and space-utilising manner with restoring devices, which produce contact and restoring forces and are connected with the two associated sliding elements.
Advantageously, at least one of said restoring devices comprises a swivelling device with a pivot axis, about which the associated sliding element for the sliding abutment is held pivotably.
The sliding element, in conjunction with the associated slitting element, can be adjusted particularly selectively and in a particularly defined manner to the skin, that is, the skin to be slit. Accordingly, the sliding elements and slitting elements can be set up in such a manner that the slitting elements each protrude beyond the sliding surfaces of the sliding elements, depending on the thickness of the skin of the animal body that is to be slit.
For this purpose, preferably, the control means is set up with at least one adjusting means for adjusting a basic width of the passage way, starting from which the width of the passage way can be enlarged in accordance with the control deflection. In particular, the start and end of the slitting process can be set with the adjustment of the basic width.
An adjustment to the geometry of the animal body can be realised.
7a Preferably, one embodiment is characterised in that, in relation to a saddle height of the support body, the sliding elements carry the slitting elements at a height which is associated to the respiratory folds of animal bodies which can be saddled. On the one hand, the respiratory folds are used in order to cut the skin in a region which protrudes or respectively is easily accessible for gripping the skin with skinning tools and, on the other, there is a defined separation to the back skinning and breast skinning, which can be carried out after the skin is slit with a processing machine according to the invention or in accordance with the method according to the invention.
In particular and preferably, the skin slits are made in order to directly subsequently carry out at least one skin separation. The processing machine then comprises at least one skinning device, which, in the conveying direction of the processing machine or respectively in the direction of the passage way, is disposed downstream of the processing station for slitting the skin.
Preferably, the support body according to the invention is in a special relationship to the control means on account of the arrangement according to the invention. A most preferable design of the support body is achieved in that the control surfaces of the support body are formed in the region of the skin to be slit of animal bodies that can be saddled. For this purpose, the control surfaces of the support body adjoin the longitudinal edges of the longitudinal grooves.
In particular and preferably, bulbously convexly-shaped lateral side surfaces of the support body are suitable to form the longitudinal groove with an exact assignment to the slitting of the skin or respectively slitting elements. A longitudinal groove can be formed by an at least substantially straight recess that runs through the bulbous area.
Preferably, a particular design of the support body that is equipped and designed to saddle a poultry carcass in the form of a front half of a poultry carcass is achieved in that the longitudinal grooves are arranged at the longitudinal side surfaces of the support body at the 7b height of the respiratory folds of the saddled front halves. Whereas a poultry breast cap substantially consists of the part of the poultry breast containing the keel bone, the wishbones and the coracoid processes, the poultry front half additionally comprises a shoulder region with a part of the spine and free ribs. These parts of the skeleton surround a recess in the foremost region of the front half. The support body is designed with a part, in particular a saddle horn, that reaches into the recess of the saddled poultry body.
It is particularly advantageous that with the method according to the invention, the skin of dried, generally air-dried animal bodies, in particular front halves of poultry, can be slit in a defined manner and at a relatively high processing speed. Skin tautened by drying requires slitting (cutting) so that it can be taken hold of for skinning.
Only particularly practical and advantageous embodiments and possibilities will be described in more detail on the basis of the following description of the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic drawing. Each described individual or detailed design within an exemplary embodiment is to be understood as an independent exemplary detail for other embodiments and designs which fall under the invention and are not, or not completely described.
In the figures Fig. 1 shows an arrangement according to the invention in an axonometric representation as well as a support body according to the invention for the lateral cutting of the skin on both sides of a slaughtered animal body, Fig. 2A to 2C show a top view and rear view of an arrangement according to the invention according to Fig. 1, substantially formed by a support body according to the invention and a part of an associated control device and Fig. 3 shows a processing machine according to the invention with a processing station for slitting skin that is provided with an arrangement according to Fig. 1 to 2C.
Fig. 1 shows an arrangement 1 according to the invention that is realised, for example, in a processing station 308 of a processing machine 3. An example of a processing machine 3, which will be described in more detail below, is shown in Fig. 3. Located here is the processing station 308 at the end of an upper run 41 of a transport conveyor 4. Key elements of the arrangement 1 are also shown in Fig. 2A to 2C. Fig. 2C shows a detail Z of Fig. 2A.
The arrangement 1 comprises a passage way 11 and a support body 15 that is formed to pass through the passage way 11 and to interact with the passage way 11. The arrangement 1 is such that the support body 15 can pass through the passage way 11 with a front part, namely a saddlehom, leading in the conveying direction F, which here corresponds to the direction of passage D of the passage way 11.
Fig. 1 shows the support body 15 by way of example in an initial position that is reached once the front part of the support body 15 has passed through the passage way 11. Figs. 2A
to 2C show the support body 15 by way of example in a second position through which it passes with a rear part that is located in the passage way 11 and which has a maximum bulge on the longitudinal side.
The support body 15 is shaped in the form of a saddle and is connected to a saddle base plate by which it can be attached to the transport conveyor 4. Such a base plate 43 is guided on a rack 32 of the processing machine 3, the transport conveyor 4 being borne under a horizontal alignment of upper run 41 or respectively lower run 42 as well as in vertical deflecting planes and is set up for the revolving drive. In particular, the support body 15 can be connected to the base plate 43 by means of a quick connection not shown here.
As can be seen in particular in Fig. 2B, the support body 15 has a U-shaped space in the cross-section that receives a clamping device 5. This is equipped with a clamping lever 51 (Fig. 1) as well as a release lever 52 (Fig. 2B).
The support body 15 is designed to saddle a slaughtered animal body not shown here in a known way, namely in the exemplary embodiment the front half of a poultry body. In the saddled position the front half with its inside parts rests against the saddle support surfaces, namely against the upper seat surface 151 and longitudinal side surfaces 152, and is held in place by means of the clamping device 5, whereby the free end of the clamping lever 51 works against the breast bone plate of the front half of the poultry carcass or respectively against the support body 15, for example a spring-mounted bolt 53 fastened to this or the like. A clamping control mechanism not shown here that has the trigger element protruding from the base plate 43, opens or respectively closes the clamping device 5 for feeding or emptying. The elements and functions of the support body or respectively the connection with the transport conveyor 4 described above in this respect as well as associated constructions and mechanisms, which can be very diversified, are common and are known.
Inventive key features of the support body 15 are that each longitudinal side surface 152 is designed with a longitudinal groove 17 that forms an air gap 170. The longitudinal groove 17 extends in a section of the support body 15 that curves convexly outwards longitudinally in the support body cross-section. The support body surface can also be designed otherwise here, e.g. flat and/or partly set back. A further key feature is that each longitudinal groove 17 is assigned an associated control surface 16 on each side surface 152, whereby the control surface 16 extends longitudinally with the longitudinal groove 17. The control surface 16 is formed by a stripe-like or line-like surface section of the support body 15. In the exemplary embodiment it adjoins the longitudinal groove 17 on the transport or run side so that it is formed by a run-side edge of the longitudinal groove 17. This design is generally particularly advantageous.
A horizontal centre plane 153 is located in parallel alignment with the base plate 43 or respectively a conveyance or passage level. On account of the convex shape of the support body 15, the centre plane 153 can be defined by a maximum cross-section diameter QM of the support body 15 in the passage area in the centre plane (Fig. 2C).
Each control surface 16 of the control surface pair is located at the associated side surface 152 on the side/saddle height of the cross-section diameter QM. According to the described location, the longitudinal grooves 17 are located on the seat side of the support body 15 in the area between the upper seat surface 151 and the cross-section diameter QM
to which they adjoin. The longitudinal grooves 17 are assigned to the respiratory folds of the front half of the poultry that can be saddled on the support body 15 with these positions or respectively attachment points.
The support body 15 has a vertical centre plane 154 that extends in its longitudinal direction and that stands vertical to the horizontal centre plane 154. The support body 15 is shaped symmetrical relative to the vertical centre plane 154 with its parts that are essential to the invention.
µ
, The pair of control surfaces 16 and the pair of longitudinal grooves 17 are elements of a control means 13 of the arrangement 1, wherein they correspond with further elements of the control means 13, namely with sliding elements 14 and slitting elements 12.
The sliding elements 14 are assigned to the control surfaces 16. They are borne on stationary consoles 19, that are plate-shaped in the exemplary embodiment, and indeed in a horizontal position parallel to the plane of the base plate 43 in the area of the passage way 11. Instead of that, the sliding elements 14 can be borne in any other way on a rack, for example also a part of a rack 32, of arrangement 1. The consoles 19 can be elements of a rack, a frame or a similar supporting element.
The pair of sliding elements 14 and the pair of slitting elements 12 attached to these form the passage way 11. The width of this can be changed depending on the swivel positions of the sliding elements 14 around pivot axes 180 of a swivelling device 181.
Each sliding element 14 is provided with a sliding surface 140 that lies at the height of the associated control surface 16 and faces the latter. Each slitting element 12 has a cutting edge 121 that can plunge freely into the associated longitudinal groove 17.
Each slitting element 12 is rigidly fastened to the associated sliding element 14.
Each swivelling device 181 is designed such that the pivot axis 180 is arranged in the direction of passage D or respectively in the conveying direction F in the area before the passage way 11 or respectively before the sliding elements 14 and the slitting elements 12.
Each swivelling device 181 is a component part of a return device 18. This comprises an angled lever arm 183 that is firmly connected, e.g. in a screwed connection, to the sliding element 14 and which extends with a free end into the area behind the passage way 11, viewed in the direction of conveyance/passage F, D. An adjusting means 182 is mounted on the bracket 19 or another part of the rack, e.g. in the form of an adjustable stop screw, against which the free end of the lever arm 183 abuts in an initial position.
The in principle identical initial positions of the two sliding elements 14 define a basic passage width of the passage way 11, if there is no support body 15 in the passage way 11 and consequently no deflection occurs. The return device 18 further comprises a return means 184 in the form of a tension spring, one end of which is fastened to the free end of the lever arm 183 and the other end to the console 19, which is arranged such that the sliding element 14 is kept in the initial position leading to the basic passage width by means of the lever arm 183 and the adjusting means 182. It can be swivelled out from this around the pivot axis 180 to enlarge the passage way width when a support body 15 passes through the passage way 11. This takes place on account of the arrangement according to the invention by means of the control deflection effected by the elements of the control means 13.
Fig. 1 to 2C shows a saddle body 15 that passes through the passage way 11 without an animal body being saddled on this. In the aforementioned initial position according to Fig.
1 the sliding surfaces 140 of the sliding elements 14 impact on the control surfaces 16, and the sliding elements 14 increasingly swivel against the restoring force of the return device 18 when the support body 15 expanding with the convex bulge passes through the passage way 11 or respectively the sliding surfaces 140 come up against the associated control surfaces 16. In the second position described above according to Fig. 2A to 2C, the sliding elements 14 are largely pilot opened against the control surfaces 16 under the restoring force contact of the sliding surfaces 140, so that a reverse movement subsequently takes place in which the sliding elements 14 swivel back to the named initial position under the effect of the associated restoring force when the support body 15 moves forwards and leaves the passage way 11.
It can be seen that the cutting edges 121 with which the slitting elements 12 protrude at the sliding elements 14 plunge into the longitudinal grooves 17 during the control process described above, during which the sliding elements 14 abut directly sliding at the control surfaces 16, whereby they remain free from any contact with the support body 15. The longitudinal grooves 17 each form the air gap 170 with the gap width 171.
Advantageously, at least one of the slitting elements 12 can be height-adjustable transverse to the direction of passage D and transverse to the horizontal centre plane 153 or to a corresponding bearing or holding plane of a holding device, e.g. the console 19, and in a direction H corresponding to the gap width 171, and namely with a height adjustment device not shown here. This can be set up such that the slitting element 12 in its distance position in relation to the bearing/holding plane can be changed and locked relative to the associated sliding element 14 and/or together with the sliding element 14. A
simple adjustment of the position of the slitting element 12 to the position of the skin slit to be cut is achieved with such an adjusting means. When adjusting only the slitting element 12 relative to the sliding element 14, the height of the sliding element 14 remains unchanged relative to the control surface 16 and thus its abutment track.
The processing machine 3 shown in Fig. 3 comprises on the upper run 41 a loading station 301 in which consecutive support bodies 15 are each loaded with a front half of a poultry not shown here. The loaded support bodies 15 on the upper run 41 in the conveying direction F pass through a number of processing stations 30 to carry out certain cuts. The air-dried front halves of the poultry are then guided through the processing station 308 at the end of the upper run 41 to sever the dry taut skin of the front halves at the height of their respiratory folds by slitting. The rotatingly driven run transport conveyor 4 is driven by means of a drive 45 that is not shown here. At the beginning of the lower run 42, directly after the run deflection by means of a deflection roller 44, there are processing stations 309, 310, in which the front halves of the poultry are skinned. The so-called skin slits are made in the processing station 308 in preparation for the skin removal. In the processing station 309, skin-removal tools that are not shown here grip the skin areas produced by slitting to skin the front halves of the poultry from the rear, whereas in processing station 310 the breast side of the front halves of the poultry carcass is skinned in the same way.
To produce the slit, the slitting elements 12 that can be moved transverse to the conveying direction F in the processing station 308 are controlled with the control means 13 described in Fig. 1 to 2C. On each longitudinal side of the front half of the poultry the slit is made parallel to an abutment track of the sliding element 14 that slides along this abutment track on the outside of the front half of the poultry. The skin is hereby divided by slitting with a depth of cut that is determined by the dimension with which the slitting elements 12 each protrude on the associated sliding elements 14, whereby the slitting element 12 is kept at a distance by the control surface 16 or respectively the air gap 170 depending on the direct control of the sliding element 14 by means of the surface contour of the front half against which it abuts. The skin slit is made automatically in that the sliding elements 14, during the passage of the support body 15 with the saddled front half of the poultry through the passage way 11, impact against the outer sides of the front half of the poultry and thus, by means of the effect of the return device 18, abut in the area of the skin to be slit so that the named abutment tracks can be achieved. The slits are made during this abutment, i.e. also during the controlled return movement of the slitting elements 12. In addition, the associated slitting element 12 is held and guided by each sliding element 14 such that, depending on the size of the passage way 11 it can plunge into the air gap 170 running coincidentally with the slit, formed by the longitudinal groove 17, without making contact.
This plunge movement does not take place during a normal slitting of skin. But it is essential that if flaws should occur or a support body 15 or respectively the support bodies 15 that pass through the passage way 11 are not loaded, the air gap 170 according to the invention comes into effect in that it accommodates the slitting elements 12 or respectively their cutting edges 121 freely.
Following on from the processing station 310, there follows at the lower run 42 of the processing machine 3 a series of further processing stations 30 with which the front halves of the poultry are filleted by scraping off the skin in a known way.
Preferably, for a processing machine named hereinbefore, in particular for filleting slaughtered poultry carcasses, it is provided according to the invention that in a processing station, equipped for slitting skin, according to the slitting arrangement according to the invention the control means is provided together with each support body, all support bodies being designed with the control surfaces as well as with the longitudinal grooves for keeping the slitting elements away from the support bodies.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a support body (15), equipped for forming the arrangement (1) for slitting the skin as defined herein, wherein the support body (15), which is designed for saddling and transporting a slaughtered animal body, in particular a poultry body, has a saddle-like shape with a top seat surface (151) and longitudinal side surfaces (152), wherein at least one section of each longitudinal side surface (152) is designed as a control surface (16), which forms an abutment surface for a sliding element (14) holding a slitting element (12), and wherein a longitudinal groove (17) is designed, associated to said control surface (16), in at least one section of each longitudinal side surface (152), in which said slitting element (12) can engage without making contact, when said sliding element (14) abuts on the associated control surface (16).
Preferably, a support body, which is designed for saddling and transporting a slaughtered animal and has a saddle-like shape with a top seat surface and longitudinal side surfaces, is characterised according to the invention in that it is equipped for forming the slitting arrangement for slitting the skin, at least one section of each longitudinal side surface being designed as a control surface, which forms an abutment surface for a sliding element holding a slitting element, and a longitudinal groove being designed, associated to said control surface, in at least one section of each longitudinal side surface, in which longitudinal groove said sitting element can engage without making contact, in particular when said sliding element abuts on the associated control surface directly.
The saddle-like shape corresponds at least partially to the inner shape of the poultry carcass. The control surfaces correspond at least substantially to the outer shape of the carcass with and along the skin to be slit.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a method for the lateral cutting of the skin on both sides of slaughtered animal bodies, which are saddled on a series of support bodies (15) for transporting and processing, wherein slitting elements (12) determining a passage way (11) for the support body (15) and moveable transversely to the conveying direction (F) of the support bodies (15) are controlled for making longitudinal slits at the longitudinal sides of the conveyed animal body, characterized in that the slit at each longitudinal side of the animal body is made parallel to an abutment track of a sliding element (14) sliding along this abutment track on the outside of the animal body, and that by means of each sliding element (14) the associated slitting element (12) is held and guided such that when the size of the passage way (11) changes it is always kept free from the support body (15), wherein it can plunge, without making contact, into an air gap (170) designed on each support body (15) and running coincidently with the slit.
Preferably, a method according to the invention, corresponding to the functions of the physical features of the invention, for the longitudinal slitting of the skin on both sides, is characterised in that the slit at each longitudinal side of the animal body is made parallel to an abutment track of a sliding element, sliding along this abutment track on the outside of the animal body and that, by means of each sliding element, the associated slitting element is held and guided such that when the size of the passage changes, it is always kept away from the support body and can plunge, without making contact, into an air gap running coincidently with the slit. The slitting element is guided such that, at least in the case of support bodies not being provided with animal bodies, it plunges, without making contact, into the air gap running coincidently with the slit to be applied, preferably along at least the greater part of its total length. A series of advantages is achieved with the measures according to the invention.
Preferably, the slit arrangement according to the invention is characterised in particular in that the depth of the cut for slitting the skin is adapted and limited, the skin being cut through reliably whereas the subcutaneous fatty tissue or the carcass remain free of the skin cut. It is ensured reliably that the slitting element does not make any contact with the support body. Wear and damage are avoided. When the support body is not loaded and possibly before the start and/or after the end of the slitting process, the sliding elements are in direct contact with the control surfaces of the support body. During the slitting, they come into contact with the skin of the animal body to be slit, the control surface, with the interposed animal body with tissue and skin, forming a guiding counter-abutment for the sliding elements. Here, it is essential that the transverse movement of the slitting elements is adapted to the saddled carcass and the outer layer thereupon, the transverse movement of the slitting elements following the actual contour or respectively the surface structure of the animal body for slitting. Consequently, the control is direct and immediate.
The control surfaces correspond at least substantially to the outer shape of the carcass with and along the skin to be slit. Thus the controlling abutment track, along which the associated sliding element slides on the outside of the animal body, corresponds to the shape of the body along the skin to be slit. The slitting elements can also protrude relatively far at the sliding elements wherein before and/or after slitting the skin, they plunge only into the longitudinal groove without contacting the support body, that is, they plunge only into an air gap. This may be the case, for example, when the slitting element has not yet reached or respectively has left a region of skin to be slit. Any damage to the slitting elements and the support body is likewise and, in particular, reliably avoided when no animal is saddled on the support body, i.e. the support body is moving in idle operation through the passage way in the direction of passage. Said advantages of the arrangement according to the invention correspondingly result in relation to the processing machine according to the invention, the support body according to the invention and the method according to the invention.
Preferably, means, elements and/or parts of the arrangement, namely, in particular, of the control means, for example, a restoring device and/or a swivelling device with the sliding elements, are saddled on a console, a rack, a frame or a similar supporting element.
Preferably, a particularly space-saving arrangement is achieved in that the control surfaces are designed at the support body in the region of the skin to be slitof animal bodies that can be saddled. Advantageously, the control surfaces then adjoin the longitudinal grooves, adjoining the longitudinal edges of the longitudinal grooves or being formed by such longitudinal edges.
The control means for the sliding abutment of the sliding elements may be equipped in a particularly space-saving and space-utilising manner with restoring devices, which produce contact and restoring forces and are connected with the two associated sliding elements.
Advantageously, at least one of said restoring devices comprises a swivelling device with a pivot axis, about which the associated sliding element for the sliding abutment is held pivotably.
The sliding element, in conjunction with the associated slitting element, can be adjusted particularly selectively and in a particularly defined manner to the skin, that is, the skin to be slit. Accordingly, the sliding elements and slitting elements can be set up in such a manner that the slitting elements each protrude beyond the sliding surfaces of the sliding elements, depending on the thickness of the skin of the animal body that is to be slit.
For this purpose, preferably, the control means is set up with at least one adjusting means for adjusting a basic width of the passage way, starting from which the width of the passage way can be enlarged in accordance with the control deflection. In particular, the start and end of the slitting process can be set with the adjustment of the basic width.
An adjustment to the geometry of the animal body can be realised.
7a Preferably, one embodiment is characterised in that, in relation to a saddle height of the support body, the sliding elements carry the slitting elements at a height which is associated to the respiratory folds of animal bodies which can be saddled. On the one hand, the respiratory folds are used in order to cut the skin in a region which protrudes or respectively is easily accessible for gripping the skin with skinning tools and, on the other, there is a defined separation to the back skinning and breast skinning, which can be carried out after the skin is slit with a processing machine according to the invention or in accordance with the method according to the invention.
In particular and preferably, the skin slits are made in order to directly subsequently carry out at least one skin separation. The processing machine then comprises at least one skinning device, which, in the conveying direction of the processing machine or respectively in the direction of the passage way, is disposed downstream of the processing station for slitting the skin.
Preferably, the support body according to the invention is in a special relationship to the control means on account of the arrangement according to the invention. A most preferable design of the support body is achieved in that the control surfaces of the support body are formed in the region of the skin to be slit of animal bodies that can be saddled. For this purpose, the control surfaces of the support body adjoin the longitudinal edges of the longitudinal grooves.
In particular and preferably, bulbously convexly-shaped lateral side surfaces of the support body are suitable to form the longitudinal groove with an exact assignment to the slitting of the skin or respectively slitting elements. A longitudinal groove can be formed by an at least substantially straight recess that runs through the bulbous area.
Preferably, a particular design of the support body that is equipped and designed to saddle a poultry carcass in the form of a front half of a poultry carcass is achieved in that the longitudinal grooves are arranged at the longitudinal side surfaces of the support body at the 7b height of the respiratory folds of the saddled front halves. Whereas a poultry breast cap substantially consists of the part of the poultry breast containing the keel bone, the wishbones and the coracoid processes, the poultry front half additionally comprises a shoulder region with a part of the spine and free ribs. These parts of the skeleton surround a recess in the foremost region of the front half. The support body is designed with a part, in particular a saddle horn, that reaches into the recess of the saddled poultry body.
It is particularly advantageous that with the method according to the invention, the skin of dried, generally air-dried animal bodies, in particular front halves of poultry, can be slit in a defined manner and at a relatively high processing speed. Skin tautened by drying requires slitting (cutting) so that it can be taken hold of for skinning.
Only particularly practical and advantageous embodiments and possibilities will be described in more detail on the basis of the following description of the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic drawing. Each described individual or detailed design within an exemplary embodiment is to be understood as an independent exemplary detail for other embodiments and designs which fall under the invention and are not, or not completely described.
In the figures Fig. 1 shows an arrangement according to the invention in an axonometric representation as well as a support body according to the invention for the lateral cutting of the skin on both sides of a slaughtered animal body, Fig. 2A to 2C show a top view and rear view of an arrangement according to the invention according to Fig. 1, substantially formed by a support body according to the invention and a part of an associated control device and Fig. 3 shows a processing machine according to the invention with a processing station for slitting skin that is provided with an arrangement according to Fig. 1 to 2C.
Fig. 1 shows an arrangement 1 according to the invention that is realised, for example, in a processing station 308 of a processing machine 3. An example of a processing machine 3, which will be described in more detail below, is shown in Fig. 3. Located here is the processing station 308 at the end of an upper run 41 of a transport conveyor 4. Key elements of the arrangement 1 are also shown in Fig. 2A to 2C. Fig. 2C shows a detail Z of Fig. 2A.
The arrangement 1 comprises a passage way 11 and a support body 15 that is formed to pass through the passage way 11 and to interact with the passage way 11. The arrangement 1 is such that the support body 15 can pass through the passage way 11 with a front part, namely a saddlehom, leading in the conveying direction F, which here corresponds to the direction of passage D of the passage way 11.
Fig. 1 shows the support body 15 by way of example in an initial position that is reached once the front part of the support body 15 has passed through the passage way 11. Figs. 2A
to 2C show the support body 15 by way of example in a second position through which it passes with a rear part that is located in the passage way 11 and which has a maximum bulge on the longitudinal side.
The support body 15 is shaped in the form of a saddle and is connected to a saddle base plate by which it can be attached to the transport conveyor 4. Such a base plate 43 is guided on a rack 32 of the processing machine 3, the transport conveyor 4 being borne under a horizontal alignment of upper run 41 or respectively lower run 42 as well as in vertical deflecting planes and is set up for the revolving drive. In particular, the support body 15 can be connected to the base plate 43 by means of a quick connection not shown here.
As can be seen in particular in Fig. 2B, the support body 15 has a U-shaped space in the cross-section that receives a clamping device 5. This is equipped with a clamping lever 51 (Fig. 1) as well as a release lever 52 (Fig. 2B).
The support body 15 is designed to saddle a slaughtered animal body not shown here in a known way, namely in the exemplary embodiment the front half of a poultry body. In the saddled position the front half with its inside parts rests against the saddle support surfaces, namely against the upper seat surface 151 and longitudinal side surfaces 152, and is held in place by means of the clamping device 5, whereby the free end of the clamping lever 51 works against the breast bone plate of the front half of the poultry carcass or respectively against the support body 15, for example a spring-mounted bolt 53 fastened to this or the like. A clamping control mechanism not shown here that has the trigger element protruding from the base plate 43, opens or respectively closes the clamping device 5 for feeding or emptying. The elements and functions of the support body or respectively the connection with the transport conveyor 4 described above in this respect as well as associated constructions and mechanisms, which can be very diversified, are common and are known.
Inventive key features of the support body 15 are that each longitudinal side surface 152 is designed with a longitudinal groove 17 that forms an air gap 170. The longitudinal groove 17 extends in a section of the support body 15 that curves convexly outwards longitudinally in the support body cross-section. The support body surface can also be designed otherwise here, e.g. flat and/or partly set back. A further key feature is that each longitudinal groove 17 is assigned an associated control surface 16 on each side surface 152, whereby the control surface 16 extends longitudinally with the longitudinal groove 17. The control surface 16 is formed by a stripe-like or line-like surface section of the support body 15. In the exemplary embodiment it adjoins the longitudinal groove 17 on the transport or run side so that it is formed by a run-side edge of the longitudinal groove 17. This design is generally particularly advantageous.
A horizontal centre plane 153 is located in parallel alignment with the base plate 43 or respectively a conveyance or passage level. On account of the convex shape of the support body 15, the centre plane 153 can be defined by a maximum cross-section diameter QM of the support body 15 in the passage area in the centre plane (Fig. 2C).
Each control surface 16 of the control surface pair is located at the associated side surface 152 on the side/saddle height of the cross-section diameter QM. According to the described location, the longitudinal grooves 17 are located on the seat side of the support body 15 in the area between the upper seat surface 151 and the cross-section diameter QM
to which they adjoin. The longitudinal grooves 17 are assigned to the respiratory folds of the front half of the poultry that can be saddled on the support body 15 with these positions or respectively attachment points.
The support body 15 has a vertical centre plane 154 that extends in its longitudinal direction and that stands vertical to the horizontal centre plane 154. The support body 15 is shaped symmetrical relative to the vertical centre plane 154 with its parts that are essential to the invention.
µ
, The pair of control surfaces 16 and the pair of longitudinal grooves 17 are elements of a control means 13 of the arrangement 1, wherein they correspond with further elements of the control means 13, namely with sliding elements 14 and slitting elements 12.
The sliding elements 14 are assigned to the control surfaces 16. They are borne on stationary consoles 19, that are plate-shaped in the exemplary embodiment, and indeed in a horizontal position parallel to the plane of the base plate 43 in the area of the passage way 11. Instead of that, the sliding elements 14 can be borne in any other way on a rack, for example also a part of a rack 32, of arrangement 1. The consoles 19 can be elements of a rack, a frame or a similar supporting element.
The pair of sliding elements 14 and the pair of slitting elements 12 attached to these form the passage way 11. The width of this can be changed depending on the swivel positions of the sliding elements 14 around pivot axes 180 of a swivelling device 181.
Each sliding element 14 is provided with a sliding surface 140 that lies at the height of the associated control surface 16 and faces the latter. Each slitting element 12 has a cutting edge 121 that can plunge freely into the associated longitudinal groove 17.
Each slitting element 12 is rigidly fastened to the associated sliding element 14.
Each swivelling device 181 is designed such that the pivot axis 180 is arranged in the direction of passage D or respectively in the conveying direction F in the area before the passage way 11 or respectively before the sliding elements 14 and the slitting elements 12.
Each swivelling device 181 is a component part of a return device 18. This comprises an angled lever arm 183 that is firmly connected, e.g. in a screwed connection, to the sliding element 14 and which extends with a free end into the area behind the passage way 11, viewed in the direction of conveyance/passage F, D. An adjusting means 182 is mounted on the bracket 19 or another part of the rack, e.g. in the form of an adjustable stop screw, against which the free end of the lever arm 183 abuts in an initial position.
The in principle identical initial positions of the two sliding elements 14 define a basic passage width of the passage way 11, if there is no support body 15 in the passage way 11 and consequently no deflection occurs. The return device 18 further comprises a return means 184 in the form of a tension spring, one end of which is fastened to the free end of the lever arm 183 and the other end to the console 19, which is arranged such that the sliding element 14 is kept in the initial position leading to the basic passage width by means of the lever arm 183 and the adjusting means 182. It can be swivelled out from this around the pivot axis 180 to enlarge the passage way width when a support body 15 passes through the passage way 11. This takes place on account of the arrangement according to the invention by means of the control deflection effected by the elements of the control means 13.
Fig. 1 to 2C shows a saddle body 15 that passes through the passage way 11 without an animal body being saddled on this. In the aforementioned initial position according to Fig.
1 the sliding surfaces 140 of the sliding elements 14 impact on the control surfaces 16, and the sliding elements 14 increasingly swivel against the restoring force of the return device 18 when the support body 15 expanding with the convex bulge passes through the passage way 11 or respectively the sliding surfaces 140 come up against the associated control surfaces 16. In the second position described above according to Fig. 2A to 2C, the sliding elements 14 are largely pilot opened against the control surfaces 16 under the restoring force contact of the sliding surfaces 140, so that a reverse movement subsequently takes place in which the sliding elements 14 swivel back to the named initial position under the effect of the associated restoring force when the support body 15 moves forwards and leaves the passage way 11.
It can be seen that the cutting edges 121 with which the slitting elements 12 protrude at the sliding elements 14 plunge into the longitudinal grooves 17 during the control process described above, during which the sliding elements 14 abut directly sliding at the control surfaces 16, whereby they remain free from any contact with the support body 15. The longitudinal grooves 17 each form the air gap 170 with the gap width 171.
Advantageously, at least one of the slitting elements 12 can be height-adjustable transverse to the direction of passage D and transverse to the horizontal centre plane 153 or to a corresponding bearing or holding plane of a holding device, e.g. the console 19, and in a direction H corresponding to the gap width 171, and namely with a height adjustment device not shown here. This can be set up such that the slitting element 12 in its distance position in relation to the bearing/holding plane can be changed and locked relative to the associated sliding element 14 and/or together with the sliding element 14. A
simple adjustment of the position of the slitting element 12 to the position of the skin slit to be cut is achieved with such an adjusting means. When adjusting only the slitting element 12 relative to the sliding element 14, the height of the sliding element 14 remains unchanged relative to the control surface 16 and thus its abutment track.
The processing machine 3 shown in Fig. 3 comprises on the upper run 41 a loading station 301 in which consecutive support bodies 15 are each loaded with a front half of a poultry not shown here. The loaded support bodies 15 on the upper run 41 in the conveying direction F pass through a number of processing stations 30 to carry out certain cuts. The air-dried front halves of the poultry are then guided through the processing station 308 at the end of the upper run 41 to sever the dry taut skin of the front halves at the height of their respiratory folds by slitting. The rotatingly driven run transport conveyor 4 is driven by means of a drive 45 that is not shown here. At the beginning of the lower run 42, directly after the run deflection by means of a deflection roller 44, there are processing stations 309, 310, in which the front halves of the poultry are skinned. The so-called skin slits are made in the processing station 308 in preparation for the skin removal. In the processing station 309, skin-removal tools that are not shown here grip the skin areas produced by slitting to skin the front halves of the poultry from the rear, whereas in processing station 310 the breast side of the front halves of the poultry carcass is skinned in the same way.
To produce the slit, the slitting elements 12 that can be moved transverse to the conveying direction F in the processing station 308 are controlled with the control means 13 described in Fig. 1 to 2C. On each longitudinal side of the front half of the poultry the slit is made parallel to an abutment track of the sliding element 14 that slides along this abutment track on the outside of the front half of the poultry. The skin is hereby divided by slitting with a depth of cut that is determined by the dimension with which the slitting elements 12 each protrude on the associated sliding elements 14, whereby the slitting element 12 is kept at a distance by the control surface 16 or respectively the air gap 170 depending on the direct control of the sliding element 14 by means of the surface contour of the front half against which it abuts. The skin slit is made automatically in that the sliding elements 14, during the passage of the support body 15 with the saddled front half of the poultry through the passage way 11, impact against the outer sides of the front half of the poultry and thus, by means of the effect of the return device 18, abut in the area of the skin to be slit so that the named abutment tracks can be achieved. The slits are made during this abutment, i.e. also during the controlled return movement of the slitting elements 12. In addition, the associated slitting element 12 is held and guided by each sliding element 14 such that, depending on the size of the passage way 11 it can plunge into the air gap 170 running coincidentally with the slit, formed by the longitudinal groove 17, without making contact.
This plunge movement does not take place during a normal slitting of skin. But it is essential that if flaws should occur or a support body 15 or respectively the support bodies 15 that pass through the passage way 11 are not loaded, the air gap 170 according to the invention comes into effect in that it accommodates the slitting elements 12 or respectively their cutting edges 121 freely.
Following on from the processing station 310, there follows at the lower run 42 of the processing machine 3 a series of further processing stations 30 with which the front halves of the poultry are filleted by scraping off the skin in a known way.
Claims (21)
1. An arrangement (1) for the lateral slitting of the skin at both sides of a slaughtered animal, in a position saddled on a support body (15), comprising a passage way (11) associated to the passing through of the support body (15), which extends in the direction of the passage way (D), formed by a pair of slitting elements (12) for making the slits, which can be moved by means of a control at least substantially transversely to the direction of the passage way (D), and a control means (13) for implementing the control movements, characterized in that the control means (13) is formed by a pair of sliding elements (14), which are moveable transversely to the direction of the passage way (D) and are set up for sliding contact, with slitting elements (12) of the pair of slitting elements, which are arranged thereon and protrude therefrom transversely to the direction of the passage way (D), by control surfaces (16), which are associated to the sliding elements (14), and are formed laterally on both sides of the support body (15) and against which the sliding elements (14) are moveable to bring about a control deflection which changes the width of the passage way (11) as well as by longitudinal grooves (17) formed laterally on both sides of the support body (15), which extend corresponding to the direction of the passage way (D) and are associated to the slitting elements (12) and into which the protruding slitting elements (12) can be plunged freely.
2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the control surfaces (16) are designed on the support body (15) in the region of the skin to be slit of animal bodies that can be saddled.
3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control surfaces (16) of the support body (15) adjoin the longitudinal grooves (17).
4. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control means (13) that are associated and connected with both sliding elements (14) comprise restoring devices (18), creating contact and restoring forces for the sliding abutment of the sliding elements (14).
5. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one of said restoring devices (18) comprises a swivelling device (181) with a pivot axis (180), about which the associated sliding element (14) is held pivotably for the sliding abutment.
6. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control means (13) is equipped with at least one adjusting means (182) for adjusting a basic passage width of the passage way (11), starting from which the width of the passage way can be enlarged in accordance with the control deflection.
7. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, in relation to a saddle height of the support body (15), the sliding elements (14) carry the slitting elements (12) at a height which is associated to the respiratory folds of animal bodies which can be saddled.
8. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one slitting element (12) is adjustable in height in a direction corresponding to a gap width (171) of the associated longitudinal groove (17).
9. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sliding elements (14) have sliding surfaces (140), beyond which the slitting elements (12) protrude depending on the thickness of the skin of the animal body that is to be slit.
10. A processing machine (3) for filleting slaughtered animal bodies, namely poultry bodies, with a transport conveyor (4) forming an upper run (41) and a lower run (42) which is arranged in an endlessly revolving manner in the conveying direction (F) and with a plurality of processing stations (30), wherein a series of support bodies (15) for accommodating a poultry body each is arranged on the transport conveyor (4), characterized in that, in a processing station (308) equipped for slitting the skin according to the arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the control means (13) is provided together with each support body (15), wherein all support bodies (15) are designed with the control surfaces (16) as well as the lateral longitudinal grooves (17) for keeping the slittiing elements (12) away from the support bodies (15).
11. Processing machine according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one skinning device (309, 310) with gripping elements for gripping the skin slit by means of the processing station (308) for slitting the skin is, in the conveying direction (F), arranged downstream of the processing station (308) for slitting the skin.
12. A support body (15), equipped for forming the arrangement (1) for slitting the skin according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the support body (15), which is designed for saddling and transporting a slaughtered animal body, in particular a poultry body, has a saddle-like shape with a top seat surface (151) and longitudinal side surfaces (152), wherein at least one section of each longitudinal side surface (152) is designed as a control surface (16), which forms an abutment surface for a sliding element (14) holding a slitting element (12), and wherein a longitudinal groove (17) is designed, associated to said control surface (16), in at least one section of each longitudinal side surface (152), in which said slitting element (12) can engage without making contact, when said sliding element (14) abuts on the associated control surface (16).
13. Support body according to claim 12, characterized in that the control surfaces (16) of the support body (15) are designed in the region of the skin to be slit of animal bodies that can be saddled.
14. Support body according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the control surfaces (16) of the support body (15) adjoin the longitudinal edges of the longitudinal grooves (17).
15. Support body according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterised in that the longitudinal side surfaces (152) are formed bulbously convexly and the associated longitudinal groove (17) is formed by an at least substantially straight gap-like recess which runs through the bulbous region.
16. Support body according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the support body (15) is equipped and designed for saddling a poultry body in the form of a poultry front half and that the longitudinal grooves (17) are arranged at the height of the respiratory folds of the front halves that can be saddled.
17. A method for the lateral cutting of the skin on both sides of slaughtered animal bodies, which are saddled on a series of support bodies (15) for transporting and processing, wherein slitting elements (12) determining a passage way (11) for the support body (15) and moveable transversely to the conveying direction (F) of the support bodies (15) are controlled for making longitudinal slits at the longitudinal sides of the conveyed animal body, characterized in that the slit at each longitudinal side of the animal body is made parallel to an abutment track of a sliding element (14) sliding along this abutment track on the outside of the animal body, and that by means of each sliding element (14) the associated slitting element (12) is held and guided such that when the size of the passage way (11) changes it is always kept free from the support body (15), wherein it can plunge, without making contact, into an air gap (170) designed on each support body (15) and running coincidently with the slit.
18. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the animal bodies are skinned after the slits have been made, wherein the skin sections created through the slitting of the skin are gripped for skinning.
19. Method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the skin of dried animal bodies is slit.
20. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the slits are made along respiratory folds of the animal body.
21. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that animal bodies, which are front halves of poultry bodies, are slit by means of the slits.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP12153780.7A EP2622963B1 (en) | 2012-02-03 | 2012-02-03 | Assembly for scratching both sides of the skin of a slaughtered animal in mounted position, support body of such an assembly for mounting the carcass, a processing machine that uses the skin scratching assembly and skin scratching method |
| EP12153780.7-1260 | 2012-02-03 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2806223A1 true CA2806223A1 (en) | 2013-08-03 |
| CA2806223C CA2806223C (en) | 2014-08-05 |
Family
ID=45562156
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2806223A Active CA2806223C (en) | 2012-02-03 | 2013-01-29 | Arrangement for lateral slitting of the skin on both sides of a slaughtered animal in a saddled position, a support body of such an arrangement for saddling the animal body, a processing machine using the arrangement for slitting the skin, as well as an appropriate method for slitting the skin |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP2622963B1 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN103355396B (en) |
| BR (1) | BR102013002512A8 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2806223C (en) |
| DK (1) | DK2622963T3 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2662353T3 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11779027B2 (en) | 2020-07-07 | 2023-10-10 | Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader Gmbh + Co. Kg | Apparatus and method for automatically processing gutted poultry carcasses or parts thereof |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL2011946C2 (en) * | 2013-12-12 | 2015-06-15 | Marel Stork Poultry Proc Bv | COMBINATION OF A TRANSPORTATION DEVICE FOR ANIMAL ANIMALS AND A LOOSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH COMBINATION. |
| DE102019118268B3 (en) | 2019-07-05 | 2020-10-22 | Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader Gmbh + Co. Kg | Device and method for cutting into breast fillets connected to one another at least in the region of a breastbone of a carcass of poultry carcasses or parts thereof along the breastbone |
| CN110250250B (en) * | 2019-07-22 | 2021-06-01 | 南京幸庄科技创新产业园管理有限公司 | Method for automatically cutting pig trotters |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3067534A (en) * | 1961-03-07 | 1962-12-11 | Floyd G Paxton | Method of marking poultry |
| US4682386A (en) | 1983-07-13 | 1987-07-28 | Systemate B.V. | Poultry breast filleting system |
| NL8302494A (en) * | 1983-07-13 | 1985-02-01 | Systemate Bv | FIELDING MACHINE. |
| US5183434A (en) * | 1991-07-03 | 1993-02-02 | Johnson Food Equipment, Inc. | Method and apparatus for removing the skin from poultry carcasses |
| US5697837A (en) * | 1995-07-17 | 1997-12-16 | Sytemate Holland, B.V. | Poultry breast filleting apparatus |
| NL1001281C2 (en) | 1995-09-26 | 1997-03-28 | Meyn Maschf | Method and apparatus for filleting the poultry breast piece. |
| EP2258202B1 (en) * | 2002-12-20 | 2015-02-11 | Marel Stork Poultry Processing B.V. | Method and device for processing a carcass part of slaughtered poultry |
| DE202008009594U1 (en) * | 2008-07-17 | 2008-09-18 | Csb-System Ag | Device for positioning carcass halves for optical recordings in the cleavage plane |
-
2012
- 2012-02-03 EP EP12153780.7A patent/EP2622963B1/en active Active
- 2012-02-03 DK DK12153780.7T patent/DK2622963T3/en active
- 2012-02-03 ES ES12153780.7T patent/ES2662353T3/en active Active
-
2013
- 2013-01-29 CA CA2806223A patent/CA2806223C/en active Active
- 2013-02-01 BR BR102013002512A patent/BR102013002512A8/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2013-02-01 CN CN201310041215.3A patent/CN103355396B/en active Active
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11779027B2 (en) | 2020-07-07 | 2023-10-10 | Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader Gmbh + Co. Kg | Apparatus and method for automatically processing gutted poultry carcasses or parts thereof |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| BR102013002512A2 (en) | 2015-08-11 |
| BR102013002512A8 (en) | 2019-08-06 |
| EP2622963B1 (en) | 2018-01-24 |
| CN103355396B (en) | 2016-01-20 |
| DK2622963T3 (en) | 2018-04-30 |
| CA2806223C (en) | 2014-08-05 |
| CN103355396A (en) | 2013-10-23 |
| EP2622963A1 (en) | 2013-08-07 |
| ES2662353T3 (en) | 2018-04-06 |
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