DK201870624A1

DK201870624A1 - Apparatus for automatically measuring the diameter of intestines

Info

Publication number: DK201870624A1
Application number: DKPA201870624A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Pedersen Jan
Original assignee: Proxima Centauri Aps
Priority date: 2018-09-25
Filing date: 2018-09-25
Publication date: 2020-05-05
Also published as: WO2020064074A1; DK180135B1

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for automatically measuring the diameter of intestines. The apparatus utilizes a perforated tube for holding an intestine suspended along the tube thereby exposing an inner face of the intestine against the outer surface of the suspended intestine. Two sets of actuatable rollers hold a portion of the intestine by pressing the rollers against the outer face of a part of the suspended intestine held between the two sets of rollers. A water supply is connected to the inner lumen of the perforated tube for supplying water through the perforations of the tube and thereby expanding the intestine between the set of rollers. To determine the diameter of the expanded intestine a camera may be used.

Description

Apparatus for automatically measuring the diameter of intestines

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject of the present invention is an apparatus for the automated measuring, sorting and selection of casings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In slaughterhouses, carcasses are examined and processed based on measurement of individual carcasses. To determine the quality and/or to cut the carcass into valuable parts, the examination and processing devices are controlled relative to the location of anatomical parts of the carcass.

It is known from prior art to use photographic surface measurement of visible anatomical parts where scaled standard images of known anatomical external parts are compared to an image of a carcass in order to recognize and localize an external anatomical part of the carcass. In relation to intestines, which can be used for sausage production, a manual sorting is presently carried out.

Cleaning of intestines is normally performed immediately after the slaughtering of the animal. Afterwards the inner wall of the intestine is scrabed and subsequently a calibration of the intestine as a function of its diameter is carried out.

Importantly, an intestine varies in diameter and quality over its entire length. The calibration operation is carried out, in a known way, by inflating the intestine with water or air in order to measure its diameter. When water is used, this is displaced 50 cm each time in order to measure the diameter of the various successive portions. When air is used, the intestine is inflated over its entire length, its natural convolutions makes it possible to keep it within the operator's field of vision. It is the operator's job to detect the diameter of the intestines and the changes in diameter visually. Finally, the intestine is sorted and packaged based on size and quality.

DK 2018 70624 A1

Since these phases in the processing of the intestine are generally carried out independently of one another and empirically, the quality of the end result is governed essentially by the experience of the particular operator. It is therefore very difficult to obtain a product of constant quality.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages by providing an apparatus for automated measurement and sorting of intestines based on the diameter thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By measuring the diameter of the portions of intestine the present invention ensures that an absolutely constant length of portions of intestine is sorted (and packaged) correctly.

The present invention therefore provides an apparatus for automatically measuring the diameter of intestines. The apparatus comprises:

* a perforated tube for holding an intestine suspended along the tube thereby exposing an inner face of the intestine against the outer surface of the tube;

* two sets of actuatable rollers (mounted on and movable along a track), said rollers configured to hold a portion of the intestine by pressing the rollers against the outer face of a part of the suspended intestine held between the two sets of rollers;

* a water supply connected to the inner lumen of the perforated tube for supplying water through the perforations of the tube and thereby expanding the intestine between the set of rollers;

* a valve placed between the water supply and the perforated tube for opening and closing supply of water to the perforated tube;

* means for determining the diameter of the expanded intestine;

a controller programmed to activate the actuatable rollers to roll and thereby sequentially move the intestine along the perforated tube, and record and store information about the diameter of the expanded intestine received from the means for determining the diameter thereof, said controller further programmed to open and close the valve placed between the water supply and the perforated tube.

DK 2018 70624 A1

Preferably, the means for determining the diameter of the expanded intestine is a camera capable of determining the diameter of the expanded intestine, said camera focusing on an outer face of a part of the expanded intestine.

It is preferred that each set of rollers is shaped to engage with and press the intestine towards the perforated tube so as to close the portion of the intestine being filled with water entering the lumen of said portion via the perforated tube.

Each set of rollers is preferably made by rollers that are concave and fit the diameter of the perforated tube so as to establish a tight seal in the ends of the portion of the intestine suspended between the two sets of rollers.

The controller may be programmed to record the diameter of each portion of a measured intestine as a function of the length of the intestine. Also, the controller may be programmed to categorise measured diameters of the intestines so as to sort the measured intestines according to size.

At all events, the invention will be understood clearly from the following description with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing illustrating an embodiment of this apparatus by way of non-limiting example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown the apparatus of the present invention, which functions as follows: the operator first starts by loading a portion of intestine onto the tube having a perforated portion (1). The operator then commands the automatic start-up of the machine. The length of the intestine running through is measured continuously by the

DK 2018 70624 A1 rollers (2 or 3). If the size measured by the system is perfectly uniform, the run continues until a predetermined length has been measured. Conversely, if the system detects a change of diameter, the controller commands the stopping of the rollers (2, 3) and the meaured portion of intestine is cut before the apparatus continues to measure the diameter of the remaining intestine.

The apparatus of the present invention performs a process for automatically measuring the diameter of portions of an intestine and sorting thereof based on the measured diameter. In such a process an intestine is placed on the tube having a perforated portion (1) for holding the intestine suspended along the tube (1) thereby exposing an inner or outer face of the intestine against the outer surface of the tube (1). Then a piece of the intestine is aligned between two sets of actuatable rollers (2, 3) mounted on and movable along a track, while the rollers (2, 3) are configured to hold a portion of the intestine by pressing the rollers (2, 3) against the outer face of a part of the suspended intestine held between the two sets of rollers (2, 3). Opening the valve (5) will activate a liquid or gas supply (6) connected to the inner lumen of the perforated tube (1) for supplying liquid or gas, preferably water, through the perforations (7) of the tube and thereby expanding the intestine between the set of rollers. The diameter of the expanded intestine is then measured, e.g. with a camera. Then the rollers (2, 3) are activated to roll and thereby sequentially move the intestine along the perforated tube (1) and record information about the diameter of the expanded intestine, and opening and/or closing the valve (4) to maintain a predeterming pressure of the liquid or gas so as to expand the intestine evenly throughout the process. The intestine is normally cut according to a predetermined protocol based on the measured diameter.

As emerges from the foregoing, the invention affords a great improvement to the existing technique by providing an apparatus of simple design and structure, making it possible simultaneously to carry out the size measurement, length measurement and sorting/packaging of portions of intestine.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically measuring the diameter of intestines comprising:

• A tube having a perforated portion (1) for holding an intestine suspended along the tube (1) thereby exposing an inner or outer face of the intestine against the outer surface of the tube (1);

• two sets of actuatable rollers (2, 3) mounted on and movable along a track, said rollers (2, 3) configured to hold a portion of the intestine by pressing the rollers (2, 3) against the outer face of a part of the suspended intestine held between the two sets of rollers (2, 3);

• a liquid or gas supply, such as a water supply (6), connected to the inner lumen of the perforated tube (1) for supplying water through the perforations (7) of the tube and thereby expanding the intestine between the set of rollers;

• a valve (5) placed between the liquid or gas supply and the perforated tube (1) for opening and closing the liquid or gas supply to the perforated tube (1);

• means (4) for determining the diameter of the intestine expanded between the two sets of rollers (2, 3);

• means for cutting the intestine;

• a controller programmed to activate the actuatable rollers (2, 3) to roll and thereby sequentially move the intestine along the perforated tube (1) and record information about the diameter of the expanded intestine received from the means (4) for determining the diameter thereof, said controller further programmed to open and close the valve (4) placed between the liquid or gas supply and the perforated tube (1), and to cut the intestine according to a predetermined protocol based on the measured diameter.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means (4) for determining the diameter of the expanded intestine is a camera (4) capable of determining the diameter of the expanded intestine, said camera (4) focusing on an outer face of a part of the expanded intestine.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each set of rollers (2, 3) is shaped to engage with and press the intestine towards the perforated tube (1) so as to close the portion of the intestine being filled with water entering the lumen of said portion via the perforated tube (1).

4. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 1-3, wherein each set of rollers (2, 3) is made by rollers with a concave surface (2, 3) and fit the diameter of the perforated tube (1)

DK 2018 70624 A1 so as to establish a tight seal in the ends of the portion of the intestine suspended between the two sets of rollers (2, 3).

5. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is programmed to record the diameter of each portion of a measured intestine as a function of the length of the intestine.

6. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is programmed to categorise measured diameters of the intestines so as to sort the measured intestine according to size.

7. A process for automatically measuring the diameter of portions of an intestine and sorting thereof based on the measured diameter, said process involving the steps of:

• placing an intestine on a tube having a perforated portion (1) for holding the intestine suspended along the tube (1) thereby exposing an inner or outer face of the intestine against the outer surface of the tube (1);

• aligning a piece of the intestine between two sets of actuatable rollers (2, 3) mounted on and movable along a track, said rollers (2, 3) configured to hold a portion of the intestine by pressing the rollers (2, 3) against the outer face of a part of the suspended intestine held between the two sets of rollers (2, 3);

• opening a valve (5) to activate a liquid or gas supply (6) connected to the inner lumen of the perforated tube (1) for supplying liquid or gas through the perforations (7) of the tube and thereby expanding the intestine between the set of rollers;

• determining the diameter of the intestine expanded between the the two sets of rollers (2, 3);

• activating the actuatable rollers (2, 3) to roll and thereby sequentially move the intestine along the perforated tube (1) and record information about the diameter of the expanded intestine, and opening and/or closing the valve (4) to maintain a predeterming pressure of the liquid or gas so as to expand the intestine evenly throughout the process, and • optionally cut the intestine according to a predetermined protocol based on the measured diameter.