Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
  • A22B—SLAUGHTERING
  • A22B5/00—Accessories for use during or after slaughtering
  • A22B5/20—Splitting instruments
  • A22B5/202—Guides or devices for holding the carcass during the splitting operation

Definitions

• the invention relates to control means for an apparatus for the splitting along the symmetrical plane of slaughtered animals, said apparatus comprising saw blade/splitting knives or saws for the implementation of the symmetrical splitting, said control means comprising at least two substantially identical control elements, a first control element and a second control element, said first control element and said second control element being placed substantially opposite each other.
• the invention also relates to a method and an apparatus.
• the control means comprises a pin, where the partly through-running slot permits the splitting knife to penetrate when this assumes its lowest splitting position.
• the ends of the pin are mounted on and between two horizontally separated control plates, so that the tip assumes an angle in the order of 90° in relation to the control plates.
• the pin can also be mounted in a fixed manner as described in US patent no.
• the pin is brought into a position from which it can be lowered to the centre of the cavity in the spinal cord.
• the bone structure will bring about an orientation for the pin and hereby a controlling of the cut made by the splitting knife.
• the spine is thus divided by a clean cut.
• the positioning of the pin does not at the same time allow for a clean cutting of the spinous processes, in that these are elastic in their position in the carcass. With the pin placed inside the spine, this can not control and/or align the spinous processes, the result being that these are thus split differently.
• control means which shall control the deviation of the spinal column are laid on the outside of the skin of the animal, and are pressed very strongly down around the spinal column's spinous processes which are covered with skin and tissue. Inasmuch as the control means thus does not have direct contact against the spinal column itself, no definitive control is effected of the spine itself, which will move elastically during the remaining handling of the carcass.
• the saw blade can be applied either from the belly or the back side.
• each control element comprises a surface for contact against the animal's spine comprising spinous processes which are wholly or partly laid free by a first cutting means.
• the present control means are mounted on the apparatus which following known principles is used for the cutting up by means of a saw blade.
• the control means thus serves its function after a cutting free of the spinal column has been effected, which takes place by means of a cutting-free knife, for example as disclosed in Danish Patent no. 172769. After this cutting free, where a cut right in to the spinous processes is effected, these have been exposed.
• a cutting-free knife for example as disclosed in Danish Patent no. 172769.
• a carriage which is otherwise constructed substantially in accordance with known principles, will be moved in against the spine from the belly side, inasmuch as a cutting-up of the belly has already been effected.
• the control means From the back side, where as mentioned the control means have their point of engagement, there will also be an auxiliary counter-stop element in the form of a carriage consisting in this case of two identical wheels placed opposite one another and which are rotatable, and in the periphery of which there are also mounted rotatable rollers.
• auxiliary counter-stop element By means of this auxiliary counter-stop element, a further control of the movement of the carcass itself can take place, in that the rotatability of the auxiliary counter-stop element's wheels themselves provide one form of movement, while the friction of the rollers against the skin of the animal will provide a second form of control.
• the first control element and the second control element can assume a position as disclosed in claim 3.
• a counter-stop for the control means is achieved, partly so that the spine is straightened out and partly so that this is immovable during the cutting of the saw blade through the spinous processes.
• the invention also relates to a method for the control of spinous processes, such as disclosed in claims 8-13, and where claim 8 is as follows: Method for the splitting along the symmetrical plane of a slaughtered animal whereby use is made of a control means, said control means comprising at least two and substantially identical control elements, a first control element and a second control element, said control elements being disposed sub- stantially opposite each other in the provision of an opening/passage, and where the skin of the animal and parts of underlying tissue are removed at least in the back area opposite the spinal column by means of a first cutting means, and that the first respectively the second control element are brought into direct engagement with the spinal column of the animal on each side of the spinous processes cut free from the back side, so that parts of the surface of the control element rest against the spinal column or adjoining tissue.
• the invention also relates to an apparatus for symmetrical splitting of slaughtered animals, comprising saw blade/splitting knives or saws for carrying out the symmetrical splitting and comprising control means for use during the symmetrical splitting, said control means comprising at least two, substantially identical control elements, a first control element and a second control element, said first control element and said second control element being disposed substantially opposite each other, and where each control element comprises a surface for engagement against the animal's spinal column including spinous processes, which wholly or partly have been laid free by a first cutting means.
• the invention relates to the use of the apparatus and the control means.
• fig. 1 shows a section through a spinal column and the apparatuses which are used for the splitting, including a control means according to the invention
• fig. 2 shows an example of the positioning of a control means according to the invention, seen from the side
• fig. 3 shows an example embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, where the cutting takes place from the belly side
• fig. 4 shows an example embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, where the cutting takes place from the back side
• fig. 5 shows an apparatus according to the invention comprising the saw blade, control means and counter-stop elements, and used on a porker,
• fig. 6 shows the auxiliary counter-stop element used in the example embodiment shown in fig. 5.
• Fig. 1 shows a section through a spinal column 9 and the apparatus 8 which is used for the cutting.
• the spinous processes 4 and the apparatus 8 comprising a first control element 2 and a second control element 3 which have contact on each their side of the spinous process 4, and which engage at the bottom so that the spinous process 4 does not change position.
• Each control element 2, 3 has a contact surface 20 which, for example, can be curved in the vertical direction and plane to rounded in the horizontal direction, in the provision of a surface which partly supports and partly permits a movement across the spine.
• the control means 1 for the spinous processes 4 is mounted on the same apparatus 8 as and in front of the saw blade 5, where the saw blade 5 is formed following known principles.
• the saw blade 5 is mounted in such a manner that its function follows the control means 1 for the spinous processes 4. The controlling of the spinous processes takes place just ahead of the saw blade.
• the distance between the first control element 2 and the second control element 3 is preferably in the order of 7 mm, which corresponds to the breadth of a spinous process 4 plus a certain possibility of travel of around 1 mm. This distance is maintained for the whole of their movement along the spine 9, and the first control element 2 and the second 3 control element will thus be separated during the whole of their execution, called the function extent, by which an opening/passage 21 is created between the two elements.
• the thickness of the blade lies in the order of 2-3 mm, preferably around
• the shape of the first control element 2, which is identical with the second control element 3, can for example be similar to the pin disclosed in US patent no. 4,109,347, though without the mentioned slit, or as knives as known from the splitting, but since the control means 1 shall not effect any cutting, it is not configured with a cutting edge but as a blunt control means 1.
• the positioning of the control means 1 in relation to the spine 9 can be effected in different ways, for example at right-angles or as shown in the drawing with a certain slope for further prevention of the deviation of the spinous processes 4.
• first and the second control element have a certain extent of contact surface against the spine for well-defined positioning, and at the same time that the extent in the horizontal level should be held at a minimum in order to ensure a well-defined contact against the spine. It can thus be expedient for the configuration of the contact surface to be curved in the vertical direction and narrow linear/flat- shaped in the horizontal direction.
• control means 1 there can be mounted further technical characteristics, for example such as barbs at the front end or facing in towards the spinous processes 4 for further prevention of deviation of the spinous processes 4. It can also be envisaged that the control element 1 can also be formed in a completely smooth manner, whereby its passage along the spine is made easier. None of these characteristics are shown in the drawing.
• the apparatus 8 possibly also comprises at least one control element 6 for the blade 5, a so-called blade guide, which for example can be in the form of plastic blocks. In the drawing, two control elements 6 are seen.
• control elements 6 On their one side 11 , the control elements 6 have contact against or are at a very small distance from the blade 5, whereby the deviation of the blade is considerably reduced. On their opposite side 12, they are respectively in contact against the first control element 2 and the second control element 3.
• the apparatus 8 comprises a motor 10 for execution of the function.
• the apparatus 8 can effect horizontal movements, so that its position in relation to the slaughtered animal is optimised. The movement is indicated by arrows.
• Fig. 2 shows an example of a control means 1 according to the invention seen from the side, and which shows a spinal column 9 including spinous processes 4.
• the apparatus 8 itself comprises a saw blade 5, said saw blade 5 comprising the control means 1 for the spinous processes 4 and the control ele- ment 6, in which drawing only the first control element 2 or the second control element 3 is seen, and one of the control elements 6.
• the cutting process and the control by the control means 1 take place by the saw blade 5, which rotates clockwise (see arrow indication), starting from the upper suspension, which is the hams.
• the first control element 2 and the second control element 3 move in between the first and the second spinous process 4 uppermost on the slaughtered animal, where this is cut free, and go to the bottom for contact against the innermost bottom of the joint.
• the position of the spine is hereby controlled in such a manner that the spinous process 4 sitting on the spine deviates neither to the right nor the left when the saw blade 5 subsequently runs through for cutting of remaining parts.
• the first control element 2 and respectively the second control element 3 effect control on each side of the spinous process 4, so that the saw blade 5 engages centrally in the spinous processes 4. From here, in the whole of its breadth the saw blade 5 follows the movement of the first control element 2 and the second control element 3, and follows these for the whole of their movement down towards the head region of the slaughtered animal (see arrow indication for control means).
• the saw blade 5 can be an ordinary rotating blade, but can also function as a circular stroke.
• Fig. 3 shows an apparatus 8 according to the invention during use for the splitting of a slaughtered animal, where the splitting takes place from the belly side.
• the apparatus 8 comprises first and second control elements
• a counter-stop element 15 which, via hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders 17, is displaced forwards in an inclined movement for contact and for termination of the movement.
• the counter-stop element 15 comprises movement means in the form of wheels/rollers 16, preferably four wheels, where there are two wheels on each side of the spine 9.
• This counter-stop element is also called a bogie carriage.
• the bogie carriage is fed into the belly by means of the inclined movement by means of said hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders 17.
• the movement must be resilient, so that it presses the spine out against the first and second control element, also described as metal runners.
• the fixings in the form of the bogie carriage and the metal runners are pressed together so that they straighten up the vertebra before these are sawn through by the saw blade 5. They are brought down together symmetrically with the saw blade during the sawing of the carcass, whereby the distance between the fixing means 15, 2, 3 and the saw blade 5 is constant.
• the two first and second control elements also called metal runners, run on each side of the spinous processes which are cut free. As discussed earlier, the geometry of these first and second control elements can be compared with the cutting-free knives.
• hydraulic and pneu- matic cylinders 17 these first and second control elements are moved vertically in against the spinal column 9, after which they move horizontally down towards the head. During this movement, they are controlled in the vertical movement.
• the saw blade 5 itself is fed horizontally in towards the carcass until the first zone has been sawn through, after which it continues vertically down towards the head, where it is withdrawn.
• the fixing of the spine 9 is relevant for that region known as zone 2, which is a critical part of the carcass. Moreover, it is achieved that the forces must change direction as a conse- quence of the blade changing its direction of movement on this piece.
• the controlling of the spinous processes is effected both by an external movable part and an internal movable part, where the external part consists of the first and second control element, while the internal part consists of the above-mentioned bogie carriage.
• Fig. 4 shows an example of the apparatus according to the invention where the cutting takes place from the back side.
• the saw blade 5 is fed in horizontally towards the carcass until zone 1 has been sawn through, after which it continues vertically down towards the head, where it is withdrawn.
• the horizontal movement must start as high up on the carcass as possible.
• the fixing of the pubis will hold the uppermost spinous processes in position, whereby it is possible for these to be sawn through correctly.
• zone 2 it is important that a straightening-up of the spinal column is effected before it is sawn through.
• the configuration of the first and second control elements can be similar to that of the cutting-free knife, and during the vertical movement they must be controlled horizontally.
• the bogie carriage 15 must have a flexible movement, so that it presses the vertebrae up against the first and second control elements. The saw blade, the bogie carriage and the first and second control elements must all move together during the sawing through of zone 2.
• zone 1 represents tail and pelvic vertebrae.
• the anatomy of the animal does not permit an external fixing at this zone. Internally, a stationary pubis fixing can be placed relatively easily.
• Zone 2 is the long, linear middle piece consisting of lumbar and breast vertebrae.
• the anatomy of the animal allows both an internal as well as an external fixing, where the first-mentioned takes place by means of the bogie carriage, and where the latter takes place by means of the first and the second control element. Both fixings can be variable.
• Zone 3 comprises the neck vertebrae and the head. The neck vertebrae can be fixed externally, and internally only with difficulty. The head can be fixed both internally and externally.
• the saw 5 which effects the centre piece handling and also the fore-end and boning-process, starts its fixing and processing of the centre piece from the division between the breast vertebrae no. 5 and 6, and up to the division between the pelvic vertebrae no. 2 and 3. In addition to this, it starts its fixing and processing of the fore-end from the division between breast vertebrae no. 5 and 6 and down.
• the internal/external stationary fixing is a form of fixing which supports the carcass at a number of points without moving during the splitting
• the internal and external movable fixing is a fixing which supports the carcass at a number of points and which moves during the splitting. This comprises the bogie carriage and the first and second control element discussed above.
• Fig. 5 shows an apparatus according to the invention in a preferred embodiment.
• the animal 36 in this case a porker, is suspended by the hind legs.
• a cutting-free of the spine's spinous processes is carried out by means of cutting-free knives, for exam- pie such as those configured in Danish patent no. 172769.
• the distance, the so-called first distance, between these knives, which consist of two parallel knives, is of an order which is less than the distance of the control means 1 between the contact surfaces.
• the cutting through of the spinal column 9 is carried out after the cutting- free of the spinous processes. In this case it is selected that the cutting- through thus takes place from the belly side, inasmuch as an opening of the belly is effected, after which the saw blade 5 is brought into position for the cutting through.
• auxiliary elements comprising a so-called bogie carriage 15, also called the counter-stop element, which consists of a pair of rotating rollers 16 which slide along the spine on its belly side.
• auxiliary counter-stop element 35 which is a rotatable, circular element consisting of two circular units 37, wheels, and which are otherwise described in more detail in connection with fig. 6.
• rollers which are similarly rotatable, and where these can be turned both clockwise and anticlockwise.
• control means 1 comprising two identical control elements, a first control element 2 and a second control element 3, also called runners, and which are configured substantially similar to the cutting-free knives discussed earlier, but naturally where the contact surface against the spine is blunt.
• the engagement surface of the runners lies outside the contact surfaces of the auxiliary counter-stop element, i.e. its rollers 16.
• the support elements 35 and 15 move together with the control means 1 down towards the head part of the animal, at the same time that the saw carries out its cutting through of the spinal column.
• the spinal column will be relatively immovable, due to the direct contact of the control means against the spinal column or its surrounding tissue.
• fig. 6 shows a section along the line VI-VI of the auxiliary counter-stop element shown in fig. 5, and this thus comprises two circular units 37 which can be turned around a centre axis mounted in an axle 38, and which in the periphery comprises rollers 16 which are rotatable both clockwise and anticlockwise, and where the axis of rotation is tilted 90° in relation to the axle 38.
• the control means 1 in the form of a first and a second control element are mounted between the two circular units 37, and the contact surfaces 39 of these are displaced so far forwards in relation to the rollers' engagement surfaces 35 that these surfaces are laid free. This is naturally necessary, because the rollers have contact against the skin on the back of the carcass, while the engagement surfaces 20 of the runners are in contact in against the tissue of the spinal column, possible the bone, and on each side of the exposed spinous processes.
• the system is primarily envisaged for use for porkers, but can also be used for other slaughtered animals.
• the bogie carriage consists substantially of four wheels, namely placed on each side of the spinal column. This is fed into the belly by means of an inclined movement and where the movement must be resilient, so that it presses the spine out against the metal runners and the auxiliary counter-stop element.
• the process itself is subject to a number of demands, namely that the carcass is opened along the centreline plus/minus 5 mm, that the breast shall be cut open so that all joints and the breastbone are hanging together, that the hams shall be divided, that the pubis shall be cut over in the cartilage part so that there is just as much bone on both hams, that the intestines and the inner organs shall be removed, that the head shall not be cut off, and that the spinous processes shall be wholly or partly cut free.
• the symmetrical splitting saw must thus saw through the spine of the carcass from the root of the tail. This means that with a later cutting-off of the head, the whole of the neck bone must be divided. After the sawing through, the two halves of the carcass shall be hanging together by a piece of neck skin. Demands are made with regard to both the channel depth and spinous process remains, in that the carcass shall be sawn through the spine with a precision around the centre plane of plus/minus 3 mm, measured at the depth of the spinal cord channel. In practice, this is done by measuring the depth of the channel in both halves of the carcass, and deducting the values from one another.
• the demand regarding the length of the spinous process for each single vertebra and its associated spinous process is that the length of the cut surface after sawing through shall be a minimum of 20 mm on the one side of the carcass, while the length of the cut surface on the same vertebra and spinous process on the other side shall be at least 30 mm.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Processing Of Meat And Fish (AREA)

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• 2001
  • 2001-10-03 JP JP2003531819A patent/JP2005503815A/ja active Pending
  • 2001-10-03 EP EP01974059A patent/EP1434489A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 2001-10-03 CN CNB018236871A patent/CN100396186C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-10-03 WO PCT/DK2001/000640 patent/WO2003028469A1/en active Application Filing

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