GB1587115A

GB1587115A - Device for electrically stunning butchers beasts in particular pigs

Info

Publication number: GB1587115A
Application number: GB19904/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Machinefabriek GJ Nijhuis BV
Current assignee: Machinefabriek GJ Nijhuis BV
Priority date: 1977-05-18
Filing date: 1978-05-16
Publication date: 1981-04-01
Also published as: NL176994B; NL7705519A; IE780994L; DK146642B; SE8206351L; IT1095819B; NL170223B; ATA358378A; CH628500A5; NL8200944A; IT8319217A0; SE8206351D0; DE2821440A1; IE46843B1; BE867152A; IT7823505A0; FR2390903A1; DE2821440C2; NL170223C; IT1218340B

Abstract

The apparatus has two continuous conveyor belts (1, 2) which operate synchronously with and parallel to one another and are arranged in a V-shape, and has a floor (3) which is inclined downwards in the direction of movement of the belts so that the pigs lose their footing and are clamped tight between the belts (1, 2). Electrodes (5, 6) which extend between the conveyor belts and are pivotable about horizontal shafts (7, 8) are arranged in a frame in such a way that they are able to come into contact with the head at two points, one of which is situated below the other, to permit the flow of a control current. The current pulse to stun the animal is then emitted. The stunning process achieved in this manner is more effective and uniform than manual stunning using hand tongs. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) DEVICE FOR ELECTRICALLY STUNNING BUTCHER'S BEASTS, IN PARTICULAR PIGS (71) We, MACHINEFABRIEK G.J. NIJHUIS B.V., a Dutch Body Corporate, of Parallelweg 4, Winterswijk, The Netherlands, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement::- The invention relates to a device for electrically stunning butcher's beasts, especially comprising two synchronously and parallel running endless conveying belts, the operating surfaces of which are substantially flat and are inclined in opposite directions with respect to a central vertical line between the belts such that the belts define between them a V-shaped passage, a floor being provided beneath these belts having a portion which slopes downwardly in the direction of travel of the belts, and a couple of electrodes which may be brought into engagement with the head of an animal.

Such a device is generally known. The above-mentioned conveying device with this type of endless conveying belts having a sloping floor beneath these belts is described in the technical literature as a strainer". In this prior art the stunning is done by means of a pair of electric tongs provided with two electrodes. This pair of tongs is handled by an operator who has to place the pair of tongs manually transversely behind or longitudinally on the head of the animal to be stunned. To ensure a correct contact the electrodes positioned on the pair of tongs are provided with sharp points.

This does not however, alter the fact that with this known device, and also as a result of the manual handling of the electrodes, no uniform stunning can be obtained and in addition this method of stunning imposes a great strain on the operator psychologically as well as physically.

If the operator is working without a restrainer, i.e. completely manually, then panic may break out among the pigs. This may lead to internal bleeding and internal fractures and ruptures in the animals. So the restrainer already constitutes one step forward.

But even with a restrainer this may happen. Insufficient contact of the electrodes with the skin of the animal also leads to muscle contractions with the same result of fractures of the spine, internal bleeding, etc.

If another animal is in contact with the animal to be stunned at the moment when the electrodes are applied the same may occur.

The operator aims for a stunning time which is as short as possible, e.g. 1+ seconds.

Additionally the stunning has to be such that the animal will not come round after being stunned, which means that one has to try to stab the animal within one minute after the stunning, after which all of the blood should be allowed to flow away in as short a time as possible.

The present invention seeks to provide a device by means of which an effective and uniform stunning is possible causing as little strain as possible in the animal to be stunned and by means of which human actions are no longer necessary.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for electrically stunning butcher's beasts, especially pigs, comprising two synchronously and parallel running endless conveying belts, the operating surfaces of which are substantially flat and are inclined in opposite directions with respect to a central vertical plane between the belts such that the belts define between them a V-shaped passage, a floor provided beneath the belts and having a portion which slopes downwardly in the direction of travel of the belts, and two sets of electrodes positioned at the distance from each other seen in the direction of travel of the belts, which electrodes are pivotally suspended from horizontal shafts which extend transverse to the said direction of travel, wherein the electrodes extend downwardly from the shafts -into the V-shaped passage.

The electrodes may take the form of chains, rotatable brushes, the bristles of which form the electrodes, thread curtains, etc.

In the present invention, the electrodes are pivotally suspended from horizontal shafts and extends downwardly into the V shaped passage. It appears that when an animal sees the first electrode it will move its head downwardly to pass below it. The animal does not succeed in this but it feels the electrode sweeping its head and then lifts up its head whereby the snout of the animal will come into contact with the second electrode after which the pulse of electric current will directly flow along the most suitable path via snout, brain and neck. Preferably the electrodes are positioned such that the current flows via the eyes ta the neck. By this means an effective and uni form stunning is possible. With the known tongs it was not possible to obtain this favourable current path.Stunning via the brain is better than via the muscles, which is the case with a pair of tongs placed on the neck, because there is less danger of muscle contractions which can result in injuries.

Preferably the electrodes are maintained in their initial position by means of springs.

FilitheP the electrOdes are arranged so that, when taken in the direction of travel of the belts, the first electrodes have a substantially vertically initial position and the second electrodes arc sloping forwardly over the grltCi part of their length. With this ar rangement the contact with Snout is im- proved when the head is raised.

Preferably each electrode comprises a plurality of downwardly directed rods, so that if the animal moves its head laterally its snout will still commie into contact with an electrode.

Preferably the second electrodes are divided over the width of the restrainer in sUch a way that at least one of the eyes of the animal will come into contact with an electrode irrespective of the position of the head df the animal.

Preferably the device is further con struted so that full power is switched in only after a current of low power has passed from one af the electrodes to the other. Then by checking the value of the controlling current it is guaranteed that the contact is sufficient to; allow the main pulse of current to take lilac.

Further the controlling device can be constructed So that, after having delivered the full power for å short period, i.e. a pulse sufficient for one stunning', the device is prevented from delivering a further pulse of current during a predetermined longer period. This avoids the possibility that a pig following a just-stunned pig and being in contact with it will receive the pulse of current too early because it comes into contact with the first electrode while the second is still in contact with the preceding animal.

Another way to avoid this possibility is to take care to separate the pigs, e.g. by using iwo restrainers and to mairitaili the velocity of the firSt one at a lower level than that of the second one in which the electrodes are provided.

One embodiment of the present invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the present invention with certain parts being omitted for clarity, and Figure 2 shows a front view of the em bodiment shown in Figure 1.

The drawing shows a restrainer comprisin two parallel running endless belts 1 and 2 defining between them a V-shaped passageway, with below them a floor 3 which is sloping downwardly in the the direction of travel of the belts. The pigs, being supplied according to arrow 4, lose the support under their feet in consequence of the downwardly sloping floor 3 and are clamped at their sides between the belts 1 and 2.

In the frame of the device, electrodes 5 and 6 are positioned so as to pivot about horizontal shafts 7 and 8, respectively, whilst being maintained in their initial position by means of sprngs 9 and 10, respectively. As shown in Figure 2, these electrodes comprise a plurality of rods; the length of which is substantially fixed by the dimensions of the V-shaped passageway defined between the belts 1 and 2. The electrodes 5 are suspended substantially vertically, whilst the electrodes 6 comprises a sloping portion 6' which is directed forwardly in the direction of travel of the belts.

The pig arriving at the electrodes 5 will push away these electrodes with its head Sd that these will pivot about the shaft 7 anticlockwise. When the head has passed these electrodes 5 the snout comes within the reach of the electrodes 6, arid, as soon as the snout or the eyes, respectively, come into contact with these electrodes, the eon- trolling current will start td flow, followed immediately thereafter with the main pulse of current. The first electrodes then are positioned on the neck of the animal. Cur- rent via the eye is advantageous because the eyes have a direct c'onnection with the brain.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device for electrically stunning butcher's beasts, especially pigs, comprising two synchronously and parallel führiing end- less conveying beltS, the operating surfaces of which are substantially flat aiiil are in- dined in opposite directions with respect tb å central vertical plane between the belts such that the belts define between them a V-shaped passage, a floor provided beneath

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. are pivotally suspended from horizontal shafts and extends downwardly into the V shaped passage. It appears that when an animal sees the first electrode it will move its head downwardly to pass below it. The animal does not succeed in this but it feels the electrode sweeping its head and then lifts up its head whereby the snout of the animal will come into contact with the second electrode after which the pulse of electric current will directly flow along the most suitable path via snout, brain and neck. Preferably the electrodes are positioned such that the current flows via the eyes ta the neck. By this means an effective and uni form stunning is possible.With the known tongs it was not possible to obtain this favourable current path. Stunning via the brain is better than via the muscles, which is the case with a pair of tongs placed on the neck, because there is less danger of muscle contractions which can result in injuries. Preferably the electrodes are maintained in their initial position by means of springs. FilitheP the electrOdes are arranged so that, when taken in the direction of travel of the belts, the first electrodes have a substantially vertically initial position and the second electrodes arc sloping forwardly over the grltCi part of their length. With this ar rangement the contact with Snout is im- proved when the head is raised. Preferably each electrode comprises a plurality of downwardly directed rods, so that if the animal moves its head laterally its snout will still commie into contact with an electrode. Preferably the second electrodes are divided over the width of the restrainer in sUch a way that at least one of the eyes of the animal will come into contact with an electrode irrespective of the position of the head df the animal. Preferably the device is further con struted so that full power is switched in only after a current of low power has passed from one af the electrodes to the other. Then by checking the value of the controlling current it is guaranteed that the contact is sufficient to; allow the main pulse of current to take lilac. Further the controlling device can be constructed So that, after having delivered the full power for å short period, i.e. a pulse sufficient for one stunning', the device is prevented from delivering a further pulse of current during a predetermined longer period. This avoids the possibility that a pig following a just-stunned pig and being in contact with it will receive the pulse of current too early because it comes into contact with the first electrode while the second is still in contact with the preceding animal. Another way to avoid this possibility is to take care to separate the pigs, e.g. by using iwo restrainers and to mairitaili the velocity of the firSt one at a lower level than that of the second one in which the electrodes are provided. One embodiment of the present invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the present invention with certain parts being omitted for clarity, and Figure 2 shows a front view of the em bodiment shown in Figure 1. The drawing shows a restrainer comprisin two parallel running endless belts 1 and 2 defining between them a V-shaped passageway, with below them a floor 3 which is sloping downwardly in the the direction of travel of the belts. The pigs, being supplied according to arrow 4, lose the support under their feet in consequence of the downwardly sloping floor 3 and are clamped at their sides between the belts 1 and 2. In the frame of the device, electrodes 5 and 6 are positioned so as to pivot about horizontal shafts 7 and 8, respectively, whilst being maintained in their initial position by means of sprngs 9 and 10, respectively. As shown in Figure 2, these electrodes comprise a plurality of rods; the length of which is substantially fixed by the dimensions of the V-shaped passageway defined between the belts 1 and 2. The electrodes 5 are suspended substantially vertically, whilst the electrodes 6 comprises a sloping portion 6' which is directed forwardly in the direction of travel of the belts. The pig arriving at the electrodes 5 will push away these electrodes with its head Sd that these will pivot about the shaft 7 anticlockwise. When the head has passed these electrodes 5 the snout comes within the reach of the electrodes 6, arid, as soon as the snout or the eyes, respectively, come into contact with these electrodes, the eon- trolling current will start td flow, followed immediately thereafter with the main pulse of current. The first electrodes then are positioned on the neck of the animal. Cur- rent via the eye is advantageous because the eyes have a direct c'onnection with the brain. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for electrically stunning butcher's beasts, especially pigs, comprising two synchronously and parallel führiing end- less conveying beltS, the operating surfaces of which are substantially flat aiiil are in- dined in opposite directions with respect tb å central vertical plane between the belts such that the belts define between them a V-shaped passage, a floor provided beneath

the belts and having a portion which slopes downwardly in the direction of travel of the belts, and two sets of electrodes positioned at the distance from each other seen in the direction of travel of the belts, which elec trodes are pivotally suspended from horizon tal shafts which extend transverse to the said direction of travel, wherein the electrodes extend downwardly from the shafts into the V-shaped passage.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each set of electrodes comprises a plurality of rods which, in their initial positions, extend parallel to each other.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first electrodes have a substantially vertical initial position and the second electrodes are sloping forwardly over the greater part of their length, when taken in the direction of movement of the belts.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including means for controlling the electrical power supplied by the electrodes wherein the control means is constructed so that its full power is switched in only after an electric current of lower power has passed from any one of the elec trodes to any other electrode.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 where in the control means is constructed so that, after having delivered its full power for a period of time sufficient for one stunning of a beast, the control means is prevented from delivering electric current for a predelermined longer period of time.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, in front of the device consisting of the two endless conveying belts, which between them define the V-shaped passage, a second similar device is positioned also having two endless belts, the working surfaces of which being, in the same inclined planes as the working surfaces of the belts, of the first-mentioned device, and the floor beneath the second device being at a constant distance from the belts of the second device, wherein the velocity of the belts of second device are lower than the velocity of the corresponding belts of the device succeeding it.

7. A device for electrically stunning butcher's beasts, especially pigs, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.