JP2003304803A - Spinal cord removing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for removing the spinal cord of meat domestic animals in a short time and preventing a pollution without reducing the commercial value of meat. <P>SOLUTION: This spinal cord removing device is equipped with a first nozzle 11 and a second nozzle 12 inserted into the spinal cavity of the slaughtered body of the meat domestic animal and sucking the spine, a detector 10 for detecting the size of the slaughtered body of the meat domestic animal, and a first compressing device 1 for one side of the back side and breast side of the slaughtered body of the meat domestic animal and a second compressing device 2 for compressing the other side, and is constituted as capable of compressing the previously decided appropriate sites of the slaughtered body with the compressing devices 1, 2 by responding to the detecting signal of the detector 10 and elevating or lowering them by dimensions corresponding to the detected signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a spinal cord removing device for meat and carcass. More specifically, it relates to a device for removing the spinal cord from the spinal cavity of a carcass such as a beef cow.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, bovine spongif
Orm encephalopathy (BSE), commonly referred to as "mad cow disease", or a disease caused by an abnormal prion protein (hereinafter referred to as "prion disease"), represented by scrapie of sheep, goats, etc. Have been reported variously.
Prion disease is a progressive nervous system disease that is caused by the biosynthesis or ingestion of abnormal prion protein and the destruction of brain tissue associated with accumulation in the brain and nerves, eventually degenerating the brain into a cavernous form. , Causes death in affected individuals.

As with microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria that cause general infectious diseases, the infectivity due to abnormal prion protein is not affected even if the sterilization method by heating, irradiation, chemical solution, etc. is adopted. It is believed that. Therefore, it is said that the means for avoiding the possibility of infection by the abnormal prion protein is to avoid uptake into the body by eating or the like. In order to prevent Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from beef cattle affected by mad cow disease, recently in Japan, a test to confirm the presence of mad cow disease in all beef cattle has also been conducted. It was started. It was then agreed to incinerate the suspected affected individuals. Therefore, as a result of the examination, it is considered that there is no possibility that only the solids determined to have the abnormal prion protein in the body will be slaughtered as beef cattle and subjected to the dismantling process.

In individuals suffering from prion disease, it has been confirmed that abnormal prion protein is ubiquitously distributed in the brain, spinal cord, eyeball and distal ileum, and these are recognized as specific risk sites. Therefore, even in the case of beef cattle that have passed the mad cow disease test, efforts are being made to further improve safety by completely removing these dangerous parts, just in case.

[0005] In general, slaughter of meat and meat is performed after slaughter and exsanguination, and then horns, hoofs, tails, etc. are removed, skin peeling, decapitation, thoracic splitting, and visceral removal are performed, followed by splitting into carcasses, cooling, and deboning. The process of dividing, commercializing, is carried out. At this time, the brain, the eyeball, and the distal ileum of the dangerous parts can be relatively easily removed without contaminating the person in charge of processing and the edible part due to decapitation and visceral removal. However, with respect to the spinal cord, if the work of scraping the spinal cord is performed after splitting the spinal cord, the spinal cord may scatter during the splitting and scraping work, possibly contaminating the edible portion and the person in charge of the work.

Therefore, it is desirable to remove the spinal cord prior to splitting the back. As an attempt to do so, a method has been proposed in which high-pressure air is sent from the lumbar region to push the spinal cord out of the head. However, in this method, the edible portion is crushed and damaged by air pressure, causing a “crack” state. As a result, there is a problem that the commercial value of meat is reduced. Furthermore, when air pressure is applied, the spinal cord is also likely to scatter, which increases the possibility of contamination of the work floor.

[0007]

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and removes the spinal cord of meat meat without causing contamination and maintaining the commercial value of meat to a suitable level. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device.

[0008]

Another spinal cord removing device of the present invention is a suction nozzle for inserting the spinal cord into a spinal cavity of a carcass, and a size of the carcass. A detector for detecting, a first pressing device for pressing one of the dorsal side and the chest side of the carcass and a second pressing device for pressing the other side, and the first pressing device. Also, at least one of the second pressing device is configured to be able to move up and down.

With such a structure, the curved spinal column of the carcass is pressed from one side of the spinal column by one pressing device and the other side of the chest side by the other pressing device to correct the above-mentioned curvature, and the spinal cord suction nozzle is spined. Easy to insert into the cavity. Further, since the pressing device itself can be moved up and down according to the size of the carcass detected by the detector, the first pressing device and the second pressing device face the appropriate part of the carcass to be pressed. Can be made.

Note that one of the pressing devices may be fixed and only the other can be pressed.
In this case, the dorsal side or the chest side of the spinal column of the carcass is supported by the pressing device in the fixed state, and the pressing device in the fixed state applies a pressing force to the carcass by the pressing operation of the pressing device on the other side.

In another spinal cord removing device of the above invention, at least one of the first pressing device and the second pressing device is moved in response to the detection signal of the detector by a dimension corresponding to the detection signal. It is preferable to configure. This is because, depending on the size of the carcass, the first pressing device and the second pressing device can be automatically opposed to an appropriate part of the carcass to be pressed.

Further, a spinal cord removing device in which at least one of the first pressing device and the second pressing device is constructed so that the height position thereof can be manually adjusted is preferable. This is because, depending on the size of the carcass, the first pressing device and the second pressing device can be opposed to an appropriate part of the carcass to be pressed, and this adjustment must be performed manually (fine adjustment). Is also possible.

The spinal cord removing device of the present invention is inserted into the spinal cavity of a carcass, and has a suction nozzle for sucking the spinal cord.
A detector for detecting the size of the meat and carcass, a first pressing device that presses one side of the back side and the chest side of the meat and carcass, and a second pressing device that presses the other side, A worktable capable of moving up and down for mounting the first pressing device and the second pressing device is provided.

With this configuration, the curved spinal column of the carcass can be preferably corrected similarly to the spinal cord removal device of the present invention described above. Further, since the workbench can be raised and lowered according to the size of the carcass detected by the detector, the first pressing device and the second pressing device are opposed to an appropriate portion of the carcass to be pressed. be able to.

It should be noted that one of the pressing devices may be fixed and only the other can be pressed.
In this case, the dorsal side or the chest side of the spinal column of the carcass is supported by the pressing device in the fixed state, and the pressing device in the fixed state applies a pressing force to the carcass by the pressing operation of the pressing device on the other side.

A spinal cord removing device is preferable in which the workbench is configured to move up and down by a dimension corresponding to the detection signal of the detector in response to the detection signal of the detector. This is because, depending on the size of the carcass, the first pressing device and the second pressing device can be automatically opposed to an appropriate part of the carcass to be pressed.

Further, it is preferable that the workbench is constructed so that the height position of the workbench can be manually adjusted. This is because, depending on the size of the carcass, the first pressing device and the second pressing device can be opposed to an appropriate part of the carcass to be pressed, and fine adjustment can be performed.

At least one of the first pressing device and the second pressing device is preferably a spinal cord removing device configured to be movable relative to the carcass in the body length direction of the carcass.
This is because, depending on the size of the carcass, the first pressing device and the second pressing device can be opposed to an appropriate part of the carcass to be pressed.

The above spinal cord removing apparatus further comprises a meat and carcass suspension device having a holding portion for holding the meat and carcass, and a plurality of the detectors are provided at positions where the distance from the holding portion is determined. What has the detection part of is preferable. With such a configuration, the size of the carcass can be easily detected with a simple configuration.

In the above spinal cord removing device, it is preferable that at least one of the first pressing device and the second pressing device is constructed so that the pressing direction can be vertically swung. This is because it can be pressed in an appropriate direction depending on the shape of the carcass.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the spinal cord removing device of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a spinal cord removing device (hereinafter, simply referred to as a device) of the present invention. The illustrated device 100 is for inserting a suction nozzle into the spinal cavity of a carcass to aspirate and remove the spinal cord. Generally, the nozzle is inserted into the cavity through the spine on the neck side of the carcass. This device 100
Includes a pair of pressing devices, a first pressing device 1 for pressing the chest side of a meat carcass (hereinafter, simply referred to as a carcass) and a second pressing device 2 for pressing the back side. . Each of the pressing devices 1 and 2 uses a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, or a screw rod rotated by a motor as the drive device 3. A pressing tool 4 corresponding to the surface shape of the carcass is attached to the tip of the output shaft 3a of the drive device so as to contact the carcass. In parallel with the output shaft 3a, the output shaft 3
A guide rod 3b for guiding the advance / retreat of a is provided. These pressing devices 1 and 2 are for correcting the curvature of the spinal column originally possessed by the carcass and smoothly inserting the suction nozzles 11 and 12 described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the angle between the cervical vertebrae D and the thoracic vertebrae E may be 70-80 depending on the skeleton of the beef cattle.
It is greatly curved so that it falls below °. Therefore, when inserting the nozzle into the spinal cavity, it may be difficult to insert the nozzle into the thoracic vertebra E. Then, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the bending devices 1 and 2 are used to press the curved spinal column so that the angle between the cervical spine D and the thoracic spine E is preferably about 140 to 160 °. The condition is corrected as shown in (b). That is, the first pressing device 1 presses the chest side of the cervical vertebra D of the carcass, that is, the F point around the boundary between the cervical vertebra D and the thoracic vertebra E, and the second pressing device 2 presses the G point on the back side on the head side. Press. The pressure at this time is
0.1 to 0.2 MPa is preferable. The second pressing device 2 is inserted from the chest to the spinal column of the carcass that is cut open as shown in the figure, but the sternum H of the carcass may be pressed from the outside if necessary.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pressing devices 1 and 2 are both mounted on a column 6 having a built-in lifting device 5 such as a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, or a screw rod rotated by a motor. . The elevating device 5 elevates and lowers the pressing devices 1 and 2. Further, each of the pressing devices 1 and 2 is attached to the column 6 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction so that the pressing device 4 can be fixed by arbitrarily setting an angle formed by the advancing direction of the pressing device 4 with respect to the horizontal plane. . With this configuration, the pressing direction can be changed according to the body type of the carcass. A known mechanism may be adopted for this swinging and fixing mechanism. Further, if necessary, the lifting and swinging mechanism may be provided only for the first or second pressing device. Further, in some cases, the swinging mechanism may be omitted and the advancing direction of the pressing tool 4 may be fixed.

Further, the device 1 is provided with a suction nozzle for inserting into the spinal cavity of a carcass and sucking and removing the spinal cord. In this embodiment, a large diameter first nozzle 11 and a small diameter second nozzle 12 are provided. First nozzle 11
Has an outer diameter in the range of 15 to 17 mm and an inner diameter of 12
The range is up to 15 mm. The second nozzle 12 has an outer diameter in the range of 10 to 14 mm and an inner diameter of 6 to 10 m.
It is set in the range of m. In this embodiment, the nozzle is inserted into the spinal cavity of the carcass from its head side, but first the first nozzle 11 is inserted until its tip reaches the vicinity of the sixth lumbar vertebra (indicated by M in FIG. 2). And suction, then the first nozzle 11
Then, the second nozzle 12 is inserted up to the sacral vertebra (indicated by N in FIG. 2) and sucked. In general, since the spine becomes thinner toward the tail, the two kinds of nozzles are used in two times.

The two nozzles 11 and 12 are connected to a suction unit 21 described later via a switching device 8. The switching device 8 can switch the suction path to one of the two nozzles 11 and 12 and can stop the suction of both nozzles. Further, the apparatus 1 is provided with a sterilization tank 9 for immersing and disinfecting these nozzles 11 and 12.

Further, the apparatus 1 is provided with a detector 10 for detecting the size of the carcass. This detector 10
Then, the plurality of detection units 1 aligned in the vertical direction on the column 13 are arranged.
4 are provided. In the present embodiment, three pieces of the large carcass detection unit 14a, the medium-sized carcass detection unit 14b, and the small carcass detection unit 14c are arranged in order from the bottom, but the present invention is not limited to this number. When the size of the carcass is further classified, four or more detection units may be arranged in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the size of the carcass is detected by the detector 10 as follows. This device 1 is provided with a moving device 15 for suspending the carcass and transporting it to the processing plant. The moving device 15 has a hook 16 for holding and suspending a part of the carcass, and a rail 17 for guiding the movement of the hook 16. Then, the size of the carcass is detected by utilizing the difference between the height position of the hook 16 and the height position of each of the detection units 14a, 14b, 14c in the treatment plant.

An example of the case where the carcass is beef is as follows:
The distance X between the hook 16 and the large detection unit 14a is about 26.
The distance Y between the hook 16 and the medium-sized detector 14b is about 250 cm, and the distance Z between the hook 16 and the small-sized detector 14c is about 235 cm. For example, a photoelectric tube sensor is used as the detection unit, and the whole detection unit 1
If 4a, 14b, 14c detect the presence of the carcass, the carcass A is determined to be large, and if the medium-sized detection unit 14b and the small detection unit 14c detect the presence of the carcass, the carcass B is When it is determined that the carcass is medium-sized and the small size detection unit 14c detects the presence of the carcass, the carcass C is determined to be small. The detector 10 is configured such that the column 13 can be expanded and contracted to integrally adjust the position of the detector 14 in the vertical direction. Further, it is also easy to configure the distance between the detectors 14a, 14b, 14c to be changeable. By doing so, it becomes possible to change the determination range of the size of the carcass.

In this way, by detecting the size of the carcass to be processed, in response to the signal from the detector 10, the pressing devices 1 and 2 are automatically set to the positions suitable for the carcass. It can be raised and lowered (generally raised) and pressed against the appropriate part of the carcass shown in FIG. 2 to properly correct the curvature of the spinal column. After the work, the pressing devices 1 and 2 descend to the initial position. The lifting distance of the pressing devices 1 and 2 is the hook 1
It is determined in advance based on the distance between the carcass of the sizes (large, medium, and small) determined to have the height position of 6 and the above-mentioned pressing portions (FIG. 3).

Each of the members described above is a moving device 1 for a carcass.
It is mounted on the workbench 18 shown in FIG. However, in the case where high temperature water or high temperature steam is used as the sterilizing agent, the sterilization tank 9 may be installed apart from the work table 18 for the safety of the operator. In addition to the members described above, the workbench 18 is provided with a hand-washing tub 19 for workers and an operating device 20 for finely adjusting the height positions of the pressing devices 1 and 2. This operating device 2
0 indicates that the operator presses the up button and the down button to drive the elevating device 5 to press the pressing device 1,
2 is moved up and down by a minute distance. In this embodiment, the drive device 5 operates while the button is pressed.

FIG. 5 shows the suction unit 21 described above. The suction unit 21 includes a suction pipe 22, a vacuum tank 23 connected to the suction pipe 22, a vacuum filter 24, and a vacuum pump 25, respectively. The vacuum pump 25 has a collection container 26 for containing the sucked spinal cord.
Are connected. Pressure during suction is 12 to 15 inHg
It is a degree. Reference numeral 27 is instruments such as a pressure gauge.

Most of the spinal cord removing device (hereinafter, simply referred to as device) 110 shown in FIG. 6 has the same structure as the device 1 shown in FIG. The difference is that in the device 1 of FIG. 1, the pressing devices 1 and 2 are configured to move up and down, whereas in the device 110, the pressing devices 31 and 32 do not move up and down, but the work table 33 moves up and down. It is a point that is configured in. That is, the workbench 33 is installed on the floor with an elevating device 34 for elevating the workbench 33 interposed. The elevating device 34 vertically expands and contracts an arm 35 in which a plurality of rod members are assembled in a pantograph shape by a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) or a driving device including a screw rod rotated by a motor.

Then, the size of the carcass is detected by the detector 10, and the elevating device 34 automatically elevates and lowers the workbench 33 in response to a signal from the detector 10. The workbench 33 is moved up and down by the elevating device 34 to a position where the pressing devices 1 and 2 press an appropriate part of the carcass to appropriately correct the curvature of the spinal column. The ascending / descending distance of the workbench 33 is determined in advance based on the distance between the height position of the hook 16 and each pressing portion (FIG. 3) of the carcass of the size (large, medium, small) determined. There is.

Since the work table 33 moves up and down in this manner, the detector 10 is naturally installed not on the work table 33 but on an immovable floor surface. Further, the device 31 is provided with an operating device 36 on the workbench for the worker to finely adjust the height position of the workbench 33. The operating device 36 is configured to drive the elevating device 34 to raise and lower the workbench 33 by a minute distance when the operator presses the up button and the down button. In the present embodiment, the drive device of the elevating device 34 operates while the button is pressed.

The present apparatus 31 has the same configuration as the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 except for the above configuration. Therefore, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The pressing devices 1, 2, 3 described above are also used.
Each of 1 and 32 is for pressing a predetermined part of the carcass by advancing the pressing tool 4 with a hydraulic cylinder or the like. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, one of the pair of pressing devices may be configured as the fixed supporting member 37. The support member 37 simply contacts the dorsal or chest side of the spinal column of the carcass, and the pressing operation of the other pressing device 2 causes a reaction force to act on the carcass. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a driving device such as a hydraulic cylinder for the supporting member 37, and a plate-shaped or rod-shaped member having high rigidity as shown in the drawing may be used. Further, the support member 37 may be allowed to move up and down as needed. Further, it is convenient to arrange the support member 37 on the chest side of the carcass as shown in the figure. This is because it is easy to contact the sternum H of the carcass.

FIG. 8 shows one of the devices 100 and 11 described above.
2 is a time chart showing an example of the process of removing the spinal cord from an integrated beef carcass using 0. The reference numerals of the members in the description are representative of those in the apparatus 100 of FIG. First, (1) the carcass is hung on the hook and conveyed to the work table 18 by the moving device 15. Then, (2) detector 10
The size of this carcass is detected by. (3) The pressing devices 1 and 2 move up in response to the detection result. (4) The pressing devices 1 and 2 operate to correct the curvature of the spinal column of the carcass. (5)
A worker inserts the nozzles 11 and 12 into the spinal cavity of the carcass to remove the spinal cord. (6) The pressing operation of the pressing devices 1 and 2 is released. Alternatively, it is released by the operation of the worker.
(7) The pressing devices 1 and 2 descend and return to the initial position. The above operation is repeated. After the work (5) is completed, the worker inserts the nozzle into the sterilization tank 9 to sterilize it.

The time required for the processing step (1 cycle) of the above-mentioned integrated beef carcass is about 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Step (1) is about 30 seconds, Step (2) is about 0 seconds, Step (3) is about 5 seconds, Step (4) is about 2 seconds, Step (5) is about 105 seconds, Step (6) About 2 seconds, step (7) is about 5 seconds. The above times are examples. In this way, the processing time is significantly shortened compared to the conventional case.

It is more convenient if the worktables 18, 33 described above are portable. For example, attaching wheels. By doing so, for example, the moving device 15
Since the spinal cord removal device can be arranged at a suitable position along the rail 17 of, the degree of freedom of arrangement is improved.

[0042]

According to the present invention, the work for a short time enables
Depending on the size of the edible carcass, it is possible to easily remove the spinal cord of the edible carcass without causing contamination of the edible part, workers, the floor of the workplace, etc. and without degrading the commercial value of the meat. It will be possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a spinal cord removing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of a nozzle of the spinal cord removing apparatus of FIG. 1 and a carcass processed by the spinal cord removing apparatus.

3 (a) and 3 (b) are side views for explaining a procedure for correcting the curvature of the spinal column of a carcass by the spinal cord removal device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the operation of the detector in the spinal cord removal device of FIG.

5 is a schematic view showing an example of a suction unit connected to the spinal cord removal device of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the spinal cord removal device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing another example of the pressing device in the spinal cord removing device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a time chart showing an example of a spinal cord removing process by the spinal cord removing device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100, 110 ... Spinal cord removal device 1 ... First pressing device 2nd second pressing device 3 ... Drive device 3a ... Output shaft (of drive unit) 3b ... Guide rod 4 ... Pressing tool 5 ... Lifting device 6 ... Support 8 ... Switching device 9 ... Sterilization tank 10 ... Detector 11 ... First nozzle 12 ... Second nozzle 13 ... Support 14 ... Detector 14a ... Large-sized detector 14b ... Medium-sized detector 14c ... Small size detector 15: Moving device 16 ... Hook 17 ... Rail 18 ... Workbench 19: Hand wash tank 20: Operating device 21 ... Suction unit 22 ... Suction piping 23 ... Vacuum tank 24 ... Vacuum filter 25 ... Vacuum pump 26 ... Collection container 27 ... Instruments 31 ... First pressing device 32 ... Second pressing device 33 ... Workbench 34 ... Lifting device 35 ... Arm 36 ... Operating device A: Large carcass B: Medium size carcass C: Small carcass D ... cervical spine E ... thoracic vertebra H ... Sternum

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A suction nozzle for inserting into a spinal cavity of a carcass to suck the spinal cord, a detector for detecting the size of the carcass, and a back of the carcass. A first pressing device that presses one of the side and the chest side and a second pressing device that presses the other side, and at least one of the first pressing device and the second pressing device is configured to be able to move up and down. A spinal cord removal device that is used. 2. The at least one of the first pressing device and the second pressing device is configured to move up and down by a dimension corresponding to the detection signal in response to the detection signal from the detector. Spinal cord removal device. 3. The spinal cord removal device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first pressing device and the second pressing device is configured such that a height position thereof can be manually adjusted. 4. A suction nozzle for inserting the spinal cord into a spinal cavity of a carcass, a detector for detecting the size of the carcass, and a spine of the carcass. A first pressing device that presses one of the sides and the chest side and a second pressing device that presses the other side, and a worktable that can be moved up and down for mounting the first pressing device and the second pressing device. A spinal cord removal device provided. 5. The spinal cord removal device according to claim 4, wherein the workbench is configured to move up and down by a dimension corresponding to the detection signal in response to the detection signal from the detector. 6. The spinal cord removal device according to claim 4, wherein the workbench is configured such that the height position thereof can be manually adjusted. 7. The spinal cord removal device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing device is configured to be movable relative to the carcass in the body length direction of the carcass. 8. A meat and carcass suspension device having a holding part for holding the carcass and carcass, wherein the detector is provided with a plurality of detection parts at positions where a distance from the holding part is determined. The spinal cord removal device according to claim 1 or 4, further comprising: 9. The spinal cord removal device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first pressing device and the second pressing device is configured so that the pressing direction can be vertically swung.