GB2394643A

GB2394643A - Treating carcasses with hot air

Info

Publication number: GB2394643A
Application number: GB0223716A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Kelly; Nigel Cope
Original assignee: C & C Systems Ltd; C&C Systems Ltd
Current assignee: C & C Systems Ltd; C&C Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-11
Filing date: 2002-10-11
Publication date: 2004-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-11
Also published as: GB2394643B; GB0223716D0

Abstract

Apparatus for processing bird carcasses comprises a conveyor line 3 from which, in operation, carcasses are suspended by their legs, a heating cabinet 1 through which the carcasses are transported on the conveyor line 3 the heating cabinet 1 including hot air means 10, 11, to project a flow of hot air downwardly onto the carcasses to warm the outer surface on the carcasses to thereby loosen the feathers, prior to plucking. A pre-plucking step may be carried out prior to the hot air treatment.

Description

i 1 2394643

CARCASS PROCESSING APPARATUS

This invention relates to apparatus for processing carcasses of gallinaceous animals, particularly but not exclusively, chickens and turkeys.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for processing carcasses of gallinaceous animals, including a conveyor line from which, in operation, carcasses are suspended, a heating zone through which the carcasses are transported on the conveyor line, the heating zone including hot air means to project a flow of hot air onto the carcasses to warm the outer surfaces of the carcasses to thereby loosen the feathers, wherein the hot air means comprises at least one hot air jet located adjacent to the path of the carcasses through the heating zone.

Preferably, a plurality of the said hot air jets are located along the line traversed by the carcasses, preferably on both sides of the line. A plurality of the said hot air jets may be grouped as an array in a unit, a plurality of the units being located along the line.

The direction of the hot air emitted by the jets is preferably generally downwardly so as to be directed between the feathers against the lie of the feathers and to achieve this, particularly for birds of different sizes, the angular direction of the jets is adjustable.

In an alternative embodiment, the air jets of the present invention can be combined with the fan-generated hot air flow described in our co- pending Application No.0128787.9. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 3 shows a cross-section through the heating cabinet of Figure 1.

The drawing shows four lengths of the conveyor line as it follows its serpentine path through the heating cabinet. Each length of conveyor line has opposed air jets 16 which are located adjacent carcasses passing along the conveyor line and are arranged to direct a high-pressure jet of air onto the carcasses passing along the conveyor so as to

enter between the feathers. The jet or jets is/are directed generally downwardly onto the carcasses against the lie of the feathers as this tends to open the feathers out and facilitates the hot jet of air contacting the skin of the carcass. Each air jet is connected to a hot air supply passage 17, through which hot air recirculated from the cabinet is supplied to the air jets. The orientation of the air jets is adjustable by pivoting the air jets about their axes where they are connected to the hot air supply passage 17 to enable the air jets to be adjusted to accommodate the different sizes of bird passing along the conveyor line. The jets are grouped together in a small array in an air jet unit pivotally mounted on the hot air passage 17. The position of the carcasses relative to the jets may be determined by the provision of an appropriate length of the shackle by which the carcass is suspended.

It has been found that the supply of high-pressure, narrow jets of hot air to the carcasses improves the plucking effect since the hot air has a greater efficiency in penetrating to the skin of the carcass.

To further improve the penetration of hot air to the skin of the carcass, the carcass may be subjected to a pre-plucking process using conventional plucking fingers which removes approximately 30 percent of the feathers and alters the set of the remaining feathers to facilitate the flow of hot air towards the skin.

Claims

1. Apparatus for processing carcasses of gallinaceous animals, including a conveyor line from which, in operation, carcasses are suspended, a heating zone through which the carcasses are transported on the conveyor line, the heating zone including hot air means to project a flow of hot air onto the carcasses to warm the outer surfaces of the carcasses to thereby loosen the feathers, wherein the hot air means comprises at least one hot air jet located adjacent to the path of the carcasses through the heating zone.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the said hot air jets are located along the path of the carcasses through the heating zone.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the said hot air jets are located on both sides of the path of the carcasses through the heating zone.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of the jets are mounted in an array in an air jet unit.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the angular relationship of the or each hot air jet is adjustable relative to the path of the carcasses through the heating zone.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a preplucking zone is provided adjacent to the heating zone to subject the carcasses to an initial pre-

plucking process before the carcasses enter the heating zone.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the hot air jet or jets is/are arranged to be directed generally downwardly onto the carcass against the lie of the feathers.

8. Apparatus substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.