EP3367804A1 - Retrait d'abats - Google Patents

Retrait d'abats

Info

Publication number
EP3367804A1
EP3367804A1 EP16788753.8A EP16788753A EP3367804A1 EP 3367804 A1 EP3367804 A1 EP 3367804A1 EP 16788753 A EP16788753 A EP 16788753A EP 3367804 A1 EP3367804 A1 EP 3367804A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
joint
travel
joints
path
station
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP16788753.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Kevin AKEHURST
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
2 Sisters Food Group Ltd
Original Assignee
2 Sisters Food Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 2 Sisters Food Group Ltd filed Critical 2 Sisters Food Group Ltd
Publication of EP3367804A1 publication Critical patent/EP3367804A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22C—PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH
    • A22C21/00—Processing poultry
    • A22C21/06—Eviscerating devices for poultry

Definitions

  • This invention relates to offal removal and particularly, although not exclusively, to offal removal from poultry such as chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and other fowl.
  • Figure 1 shows the steps of a well-known process for the processing of chickens. Firstly individual birds are hung from shackles by their hocks. The birds are then processed by the following sequential steps (as shown in Figure 1): stunning 2, bleeding 3, scalding 4, defeathering 5, eviscerating 6, chilling 7 and, optionally further processing, for example and depending on whether a whole bird or joints is required, a further step of cutting or jointing 8.
  • the carcass may be cut into individual pieces: legs, thighs, breast and so on.
  • the further processing can involve separating the carcass into nine or ten useful chicken portions.
  • the chicken carcass may be separated into two drumsticks, two wings, two thighs and three breast portions (a keel and two rib portions).
  • This nine-piece cut is particularly popular for providing chicken joints to fast food restaurants as the joints are suitably sized to provide individual (or desired) portions of chicken.
  • the joints of chicken are further processed, perhaps by coating the joints in a batter or breaded coating and then deep frying the portions for subsequent sale. Because of the nature of fast food restaurants, it is necessary and/or desirable to cook joints of meat in a short time period. For chicken, this may involve pressure frying the joints.
  • the cooked product can take on an unattractive aspect. Indeed, because of the nature of pressure frying, when exposed to the temperatures used, kidney tissue will shrivel and, to some, take on the appearance of brain tissue. Whilst this in no way impairs the flavour of the meat, it can be off-putting for some.
  • a first aspect of the invention provides an offal removal station for use in an automated jointing line, the station comprising an inlet where shackled joints can enter the station and an outlet for processed joints, the station further comprising, between the inlet and outlet, joint handling means for increasing, preferably temporarily increasing, the relative distance between paired joints travelling therethrough and/or for at least partially restraining said joint and offal removal means (or offal remover) arranged to engage a joint as it travels through said joint handling means (or joint handler).
  • the joint handling means may comprise an entrance portion, an exit portion and an intermediate portion therebetween, defining a path of travel for shackled joints travelling therethrough. It is preferred that the path of travel for a shackled joint travelling along at least part of the path or travel is non-rectilinear.
  • the path of travel may comprise an inlet path of travel (corresponding to the inlet portion) and intermediate path of travel (corresponding to the intermediate portion) and an outlet path of travel (corresponding to the outlet portion).
  • the inlet path of travel and the intermediate path of travel are non rectilinear.
  • Paired joints travelling along the path of travel may be at a maximum, or approaching or departing a maximum, inter-joint distance as at least one of the joints travels along the intermediate path of travel and/or along the intermediate portion.
  • the outlet path of travel and the intermediate path of travel may be non rectilinear.
  • At least partially restraining the joints means to substantially hold or retain the joint in its desired configuration so as to present the joint appropriately to the offal removal means.
  • Said offal removal means may be arranged to engage the joint as the joint travels along the intermediate path of travel, and/or through the intermediate portion of said joint handling means.
  • the offal removal means may be arranged to engage a shackled joint as or when the shackled joint has been displaced from an equilibrium position by said joint handling means.
  • the joints may be at a, or approaching a, maximum inter-joint distance as at least one of the joints travels along the intermediate path of travel and/or along the intermediate portion.
  • the joint handling means may be arranged to splay the portions travelling therethrough.
  • Said joint handling means may comprise at least one guide, preferably, where a pair of joints are travelling along the path of travel, a pair of guides.
  • Said one guide or one or each guide may comprise a crank therealong.
  • the, one or each guide may comprise a cranked portion, for example between the inlet portion and intermediate portion.
  • The, one or each guide is arranged to engage a joint portion as it travels along the path of travel.
  • the guide or one guide or each guide may be arranged to alter the position of a joint being conveyed along the path of travel.
  • The, one or each guide may comprise one or more guide rails, preferably each guide comprises a pair of matched guide rails, between which a joint may travel as it traverses the path of travel.
  • the sets of matched guide rails may be arranged so as to cause a pair of joints to move relative to one another as each traverses a path of travel, such that the relative spacing between the joints is increased, for example as one joint moves along the intermediate portion as compared to when it traverses the inlet portion.
  • both joints will be caused to move away from each other, thereby increasing the inter-joint spacing.
  • the joint handling means may comprise matched or staggered guides, for example matched or staggered sets of guide rails.
  • the matched guide rails may comprise an entrance portion and intermediate portion and an exit portion.
  • the inlet portion of the matched guide rails flares inwardly in a direction towards the intermediate portion.
  • the offal removal means may comprise means to contact the joint or non-contact means.
  • Contact means may comprise an abutment surface, for example a roller, brush or wiper.
  • the non-contact means may comprise a fluid spray device or vacuum application device. It is particularly preferred to use a vacuum application device, whereby the joint is not exposed to potential other contaminants from or by use of said offal removal means.
  • Said joint handling means may comprise a detector, arranged to detect passage of a joint along the path or travel.
  • Said offal removal means may be arranged to operate in response to a joint travelling along the path of ravel, for example, when detected by the or a detector.
  • a further aspect of the invention provides a method of removing offal from a joint, for example removing kidney tissue from a thigh joint of poultry, the method comprising applying a vacuum to or in the vicinity of the joint to remove said offal.
  • a yet further aspect of the invention provides a method of automatically removing kidney tissue from a thigh joint of poultry, the method comprising, in a processing line and whilst the thigh joint is suspended from a shackle, engaging the thigh portion with kidney removal means, preferably said kidney removal means comprising a source of vacuum.
  • the method may comprise processing in excess of 500 joints per hour, preferably in excess of 1000 joints per hour and still more preferably processing in excess of 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000 joints per hour, for example from 1000 to 14000 joints per hour.
  • the method may comprise restraining the joint, for example a or the thigh joint, whilst engaging said portion with kidney removal means, for example a vacuum.
  • a further aspect of the invention provides a thigh portion of poultry, for example a thigh portion processed according to the above method or using the above apparatus, absent kidney tissue.
  • a yet further aspect provides plural thigh portions of poultry (e.g. over 100 portions) processed automatically and serially and being absent kidney tissue.
  • kidney or remnants of kidney tissue
  • Figure 1 is a schematic of a prior art poultry processing scheme
  • Figure 2 is an end elevation of apparatus according to the invention.
  • Figure 2A is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 2;
  • Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus of Figure 2;
  • Figure 3A is a schematic representation of the path of travel through a portion of the apparatus of the invention.
  • Figure 4 is diagrammatic representation of apparatus according to the invention
  • Figure 5A is a schematic representation of the apparatus of the invention in use
  • FIG 5B is a further schematic representation of the apparatus of the invention in use.
  • the process steps in a poultry processing plant which includes the sequential steps or stages of stunning 2, bleeding 3, scalding 4, defeathering 5, eviscerating 6, chilling 7 and, optionally further processing, for example depending on whether a whole bird or joints is required a further processing step of cutting or jointing 8.
  • the carcass remains suspended by its hocks from a shackle.
  • the carcass is 'halved' which separates the front of the carcass (including the breast and the wings) from the rear of the carcass (including the legs and thighs).
  • the halving process enables the front of the carcass to fall away from the suspended rear of the carcass, and thence to allow the front of the carcass to be jointed separately to provide two wings and three breast portions (after a de-boning stage).
  • the rear of the carcass is then separated into two halves, each comprising a leg and a thigh portion, and wherein each half is suspended from the shackle. It is at this stage that the current invention is deployed.
  • FIG. 2 and Figure 2A there is shown apparatus for the removal of offal 10, preferably for deployment in-line, in an automated poultry processing line, such as that described in Figure 1 , for example as part of the cutting stage 8.
  • the apparatus 10 comprises a housing 11 in which is located joint handling means in the form or a pair of matched guides 12 and offal removal means in the form of a pair of fluid conduits 13 (for convenience we refer to these as hoses 13 although the lines may be flexible or rigid and may be fabricated from any suitable material).
  • the hoses 13 extend at an angle from the guide 12 to a union 13a and thence to a fluid line 14 extending from the housing 11 to a chamber 15.
  • the housing 1 1 includes an inlet 1 1 a and outlet 11 b for a line L conveyed in the direction of arrow A.
  • the line L comprises a motorised conveyor line from which depend plural shackles S and from which shackles S may be suspended chicken portions CP, typically formed from a thigh and leg of a chicken, the thigh being lowermost as a consequence of the upstream suspension of a whole chicken on a shackle S.
  • chicken portions CP typically formed from a thigh and leg of a chicken, the thigh being lowermost as a consequence of the upstream suspension of a whole chicken on a shackle S.
  • each shackle S there may be suspended a pair of chicken portions CP, each of the pair of portions CP originating from the same chicken.
  • the chicken may well have been halved (for harvesting of the breast and wing portions) and the rear of the carcass will have been separated into two halves.
  • the pair of matched guides 12 comprises a first set of guide rails 20a and a second set of guide rails 20b (as seen in Figure 3).
  • Each set (20a or 2b) comprises an inner rail 20i and an outer rail 20o and has an entrance portion 21 a, an intermediate portion 21 b and an exit portion 21c, in the direction of conveyance (i.e. arrow A).
  • each guide rail 20i, 20o is angled to provide an inwardly flaring entrance 20e so as to provide a funnel for ingressing matter.
  • the path of travel Ta along the entrance portion 21 a is rectilinear.
  • each guide rail 20i, 20o has a crank or bend so as to angle the path of travel Tb away from that of the entrance portion Ta and then adopts a rectilinear path.
  • the path of travel Tb along the intermediate portion 21 b is then angled toward the exit portion 21 c (by virtue of each guide rail 20i, 20o having a crank or bend) and the path of travel Tc along the exit portion 21 c is rectilinear.
  • the path of travel Tc along the exit portion 21 c may be aligned with and parallel to the path of travel Ta along the entrance portion 21 a.
  • the rectilinear portion of the path of travel Tb along the intermediate portion 21 b may be parallel to the path of travel Ta along the entrance portion 21a.
  • each set of rails 20a, 20b comprises an outwardly flared exit 20x, where the outer guide rail 20o of each set (20a, 20b) extends further than the inner guide rail 20i or each set (20a, 20b).
  • the outer guide rail 20o of each set of rails 20a, 20b comprises an inwardly extending guide or hook portion 20p which terminates in an outwardly flared portion, to define a U-shaped terminal portion, the inner guide rail 20b having an outwardly flaring terminal portion.
  • FIG. 4 there is shown a process diagram which sets out the functional components of the apparatus 10 of the invention.
  • a housing 11 in which are located matched guides 12 and hoses 13, from which hoses extends a line 14 which communicates with a chamber 15.
  • a vacuum and gas control system 20 and a programmable logic controller (PLC) 25 or other control means.
  • PLC programmable logic controller
  • a proximity sensor 26 may be provided for detecting the presence of an article within the housing 11.
  • Located below the chamber 15 is a tank 27.
  • a valve 26 preferably a pneumatically actuated valve, which is operable between an open and a closed state thereby to enable communication between the hoses 13 and the tank 15.
  • a vacuum pump 28 and a source of compressed air 29.
  • the compressed air from the compressed air source 29 is controlled by the PLC 25 to actuate the valve 26 to control communication between the hoses 13 and the chamber 15.
  • the vacuum pump 28 is operable to generate a vacuum within the chamber 15 which, when in communication with the hoses 13 via the line 14 will cause a suction force at the free end of the hoses 13.
  • Compressed air from the compressed air source 29 can be controlled by the PLC 2 to vary the vacuum within the chamber 15, preferably in response to a signal generated by a vacuum gauge 30.
  • the tank 27 is arranged to receive matter delivered via the line 14 from the hoses 13 under the action of the vacuum in the chamber 15.
  • the tank 27 will be suitable sized and configured to be able to receive and retain an appropriate quantity of matter, for example an amount of matter appropriate to the use to which the apparatus 10 is to be put.
  • the tank 27 may be removable from the chamber 15 (and indeed the two need not be connected at all) so as to be able to replace the tank 27 when it is full or approaches its storage capacity.
  • chickens are processed according to a chicken processing methodology (an example of which is shown in Figure 1).
  • the chickens are halved and the rear of the carcass is separated to leave two matched chicken portions CP suspended from a shackle S.
  • a shackle S In practice there are plural shackles S on the line L which is conveyed in the direction of arrow A to the apparatus 10 and through the housing 11 from the inlet 1 1 a to the outlet 1 1 b.
  • FIG. 5A shows chicken portions CP suspended from a shackle S at the inlet 1 1 a of the housing 11 with an inter-portion distance d. This is the equilibrium position of the suspended chicken portion CP.
  • the chicken portions CP enter the entrance 20e (aided by the funnel defined by the respective inner 20i and outer 20o guide rails of each set of guide rails 20a, 20b) and start to travel along the path of travel Ta of the inlet portion 21a.
  • FIG. 5B provides a schematic diagram of the chicken portions CP at one position as the chicken portions CP travel along the path of travel Tb through the intermediate portion 21 b.
  • the chicken portions CP have been pivoted by an angle ⁇ , and have thus splayed such that the inter-portion distance d' is increased away from the equilibrium position.
  • the angle is between 30° and 60°, and is preferably 45°. The effect of increasing the inter-portion distance d' is to allow greater access to the facing surfaces of the chicken portion CP.
  • the hoses 13 are positioned so that the free end is proximate to the part of the chicken portion CP likely to bear kidney tissue (where the chicken portions CP comprise thigh portions).
  • the chicken portion CP may be continuously conveyed by the line L in the direction of arrow A or the line L may temporarily stop when a chicken portion CP is proximate the free end of the hose 13.
  • the chicken portion CP is restricted in its movement as it traverses the path of travel (T1 , T2), which will limit the ability of the portion to rotate or swing as it is conveyed along its respective path of travel T1 , T2.
  • a pair of guide rails a single guide rail may be used or a guide rail and a cooperating wall, or a pair of walls may be used.
  • the outer guide rails 20o act to align the portions CP appropriately for downstream processing, which may involve separating the thigh portion from the leg (drumstick).
  • the hose 13 and line 14 When used for removing kidney tissue from a chicken portion we prefer that the hose 13 and line 14 has a diameter of about 30mm and may be about 1.2m long although other diameters and widths may be used.
  • the tank 27 may have a capacity for 60000 kidneys, although it may be larger or smaller.
  • the apparatus 10 By using the apparatus 10 it is possible to process chicken portions CP continuously and in-line with other poultry processing stages and without disturbing the volume throughput. Moreover, the apparatus 10 can be installed at a plant without any substantive disruption to the rest of the plant.
  • a vacuum source it would also be possible to remove kidney tissue or other matter using other offal removal means, for example compressed air to blow it away or contact means such as scrapers, rollers, brushes and so on.
  • offal removal means for example compressed air to blow it away or contact means such as scrapers, rollers, brushes and so on.
  • a vacuum source is preferred because other matter can be drawn away from the chicken portion CP.

Abstract

L'invention concerne une station de retrait d'abats (10) destinée à être utilisée dans une chaîne de transformation de la viande automatisée, la station (10) comprenant une entrée (11A) permettant l'introduction d'articulations maillées (CP) dans la station (10) et une sortie (11b) pour des articulations maillées traitées, la station (10) comprenant en outre, entre l'entrée (11a) et la sortie (11b), un moyen de manipulation d'articulation (12) pour augmenter, de préférence augmenter temporairement, la distance relative entre des paires d'articulations (CP) se déplaçant à travers ce dernier et/ou retenir au moins partiellement une partie d'articulation (CP) et un moyen de retrait d'abats (13) conçu pour entrer en prise avec une articulation à mesure qu'elle se déplace à travers ledit moyen de manipulation d'articulation (12).
EP16788753.8A 2015-10-26 2016-10-26 Retrait d'abats Withdrawn EP3367804A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1518885.7A GB2545159A (en) 2015-10-26 2015-10-26 Offal removal
PCT/GB2016/053326 WO2017072501A1 (fr) 2015-10-26 2016-10-26 Retrait d'abats

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3367804A1 true EP3367804A1 (fr) 2018-09-05

Family

ID=55130206

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16788753.8A Withdrawn EP3367804A1 (fr) 2015-10-26 2016-10-26 Retrait d'abats

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3367804A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB2545159A (fr)
WO (1) WO2017072501A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3750231A (en) * 1971-10-12 1973-08-07 Swift & Co Poultry processing improvement
US3930282A (en) * 1974-09-19 1976-01-06 Victor F. Weaver, Inc. Machine for processing the backs of poultry
US5015213A (en) * 1990-01-31 1991-05-14 Hazenbroek Jacobus E On-line cut-up system with joint opener
US5873774A (en) * 1996-06-04 1999-02-23 Johnson Food Equipment, Inc. Poultry lung removal apparatus
NL1010411C2 (nl) * 1998-10-28 2000-05-01 Tieleman Food Equipment B V Inrichting voor het door zuigwerking uit geslachte kippen of ander pluimvee verwijderen van organen zoals longen en nieren.
NL2007786C2 (en) * 2011-11-15 2013-05-16 Marel Stork Poultry Proc Bv Organ removal device and a method for organ removal.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2017072501A1 (fr) 2017-05-04
GB2545159A (en) 2017-06-14
GB201518885D0 (en) 2015-12-09

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