NL1011563C2

NL1011563C2 - Cutting device for making opening next to anus in poultry carcass, uses compressed gas or vacuum to pull skin and tissue away from entrails

Info

Publication number: NL1011563C2
Application number: NL1011563A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Edward Johannes Tieleman
Original assignee: Tieleman Food Equipment B V
Priority date: 1999-03-15
Filing date: 1999-03-15
Publication date: 2000-09-18

Abstract

Compressed gas and/or vacuum fixtures (21) in the cutting device (8) are used to pull the skin and underlying tissue away from the entrails in the area adjacent to where the incision is to be made. An apparatus for making or enlarging an opening next to the anus in a poultry carcass comprises a cutting device uses to make a circular or straight incision next to the anus. Compressed gas and/or vacuum fixtures in the cutting device are used to pull the skin and underlying tissue away from the entrails in the area adjacent to where the incision is to be made.

Description

2

Device for making a cut in poultry

The invention relates to a device for making or enlarging an opening in the body of poultry adjacent to the vent thereof, comprising a tool for making a round or straight cut near the vent.

There is a risk that the intestines of the poultry are damaged, as a result of which the poultry becomes infected.

The object of the invention is to avoid this drawback.

According to the invention, the device is for this purpose provided with gas pressure and / or vacuum means for displacing the skin and the underlying tissue of the poultry connected thereto, outwardly away from viscera present in the poultry, near the cut to be made.

In a preferred embodiment, the device is provided with a blade mounted on a member that can move away from the vent opening to make a straight cut to form a relatively large body opening in the poultry. In this embodiment, the means for displacing the tissue sheet outwardly consists of a tube to be inserted into the vent opening connected to a pressurized gas source.

In another embodiment, the tissue sheet is moved away from the viscera by one or more mounted nozzles connected to a vacuum source. In the pre-cutting position, they are placed against or just above the sheet to be gripped. The connection to the sheet is obtained by means of suction. Finally, by moving the suction mouths away from the poultry, the skin sheet is moved away from the viscera into the body and the incision can take place.

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It is also possible to combine the aforementioned embodiments so that the sheet of tissue is drawn away from the viscera by both the suction mouths and that it is pushed from the inside by the pressurized gas. Combining the two embodiments can be advantageous because a greater force can be exerted on the sheet, allowing it to be moved further away from the viscera.

In another embodiment, the cutting device is designed as a round drill, which makes a round cut around the vent. In this embodiment, the means for displacing the skin with associated tissue from the viscera consists of one or more hollow needles to be inserted into the poultry near the vent which are connected to a source of pressurized gas.

Also, the means for displacing the sheet of tissue away from the viscera may consist of one or more nozzles located against or directly above the sheet for cutting, capable of drawing the sheet towards and away from the poultry to move. Conversely, as with the previously described device, it is also possible for the poultry to be moved away from the nozzles.

The device can be provided with suction cups as well as with one or more needles for introducing a pressurized gas.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the figures, with reference to a preferred embodiment, which illustrates but does not limit the invention. The figures show: »1011563 4

Fig. 1: shows a schematic cross-section of a part of a carousel for poultry processing, equipped with a cutting device with vacuum and compressed air members connected thereto.

Fig. 2: shows a perspective view of the cutting device of figure 1.

FIG. 3: shows a schematic representation of the operation of one of the device according to the present invention.

Fig. 4: shows a schematic cross-section of part of a carousel for poultry processing, equipped with a cutting device with vacuum members movable independently of the cutting device.

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Detailed description

Figure 1 shows an apparatus for processing poultry. In particular, the device is suitable for making or enlarging an opening in the body of the poultry in the area adjacent to the vent.

The poultry hangs on a carrying hook 1 and is clamped in positioning means 2 known per se, which consist of hip lift brackets 3 and brackets 4 arranged between the legs of the poultry. The movement of the hip lift brackets 3 is controlled via the curvature track 7.

For making or enlarging a cut near the vent, the device is provided with a cutting device 8, which comprises a knife 9 and a knife holder 10. The knife holder is connected to a fastening member 11, which engages via a curved roller 12 in a curved track 13. The knife is connected to a lever 14 which is hingedly connected to the fastening member 11 via a hinge connection 15. The lever 14 is controlled by the cam track via a curve roller 16.

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Depending on the mutual distance between the curved tracks 13, 17, the knife is in a sheath 17 in the knife holder 10 or in a unfolded position, outside the sheath 17. If the curved tracks vary in height while their mutual distance remains the same, the knife holder 10 and knife 9 are moved in the occupied position together with fastening member 11.

The knife holder 10 is provided with two channels 18 which extend from its bottom 19 to its top 20 where they are connected to a source of pressurized gas (not shown), see figure 2. Also, the knife holder 10 is provided with two vacuum nozzles 21 through which channels 22 extend from the bottom 23 of those vacuum nozzles 21, through the blade holder 10, to the top 20 thereof, where they are connected to a vacuum source (not shown).

A cut is made in the area between the legs of the poultry according to the present invention with the following steps: the knife holder 10 with the knife 9 located therein is introduced into the vent opening of the poultry, see arrow in figures 1 and 3; - a gas is pumped through the channels 18 into the body of the poultry, whereby the sheet of tissue with tissue bulges up between the legs, - simultaneously the vacuum nozzles 21 engage on the sheet and the knife holder is moved a short distance from the poultry removed, thereby moving the tissue sheet away from the intestines of the bird; finally, a cut 25 is made by moving the knife 9 out of the sheath as indicated by the arrow 26.

All this is shown schematically in Figure 3.

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Another embodiment of the present invention, shown in Figure 4, is especially suitable for making a round cut around the butt of a poultry with a butt drill 27. This embodiment differs from the previous one in that the cutting device 8 has been replaced. by a drilling device 28. The drilling device is controlled in a similar manner by the cam track 29 and the cam roller 30.

According to the present invention, a pressurized gas is now introduced through a needle 31 into the poultry body to bulge the sheet of tissue between the legs.

This device is also provided with vacuum nozzles 4 which are mounted on a guide 33 on the carrying rod 5 and which can be moved with respect to the poultry by means of the curved roller 34 and the curved track 35. The vacuum nozzles 32 mainly comprise the same members as the vacuum nozzles 21 on the knife holder 10.

The vacuum nozzles 32 are brought into contact with the poultry skin by moving the guide 33. By subsequently gripping the sheet and moving the vacuum nozzles 32 away from the poultry, the distance between the tissue sheet to be cut and the underlying viscera is increased.

By making the drill 27 turn and lowering the drilling device 28, the cut can now be made.

In practice, with the device according to Figure 4, a cut will first be made around the sphincter sphincter and then with the device according to Figure 2, the cut will be made which enlarges the opening in the body. In either embodiment, it is only possible to work with compressed air (or another compressed gas), exclusively with vacuum or with compressed air and vacuum.

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Claims

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Device for making or enlarging an opening in the body of poultry adjacent to the vent thereof, comprising a cutting tool for making a round or straight cut near the vent 5, characterized in that gas pressure and / or vacuum means are provided to displace the sheet and the poultry tissue underlying it associated with the sheet outwardly away from the entrails present in the poultry near the cut to be made. 10
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said tool comprises a blade mounted on a member which can move away from the vent opening to make a straight cut to form a relatively large body opening in the poultry, and the means for displacing the tissue sheet outwardly of the viscera 15 consist of a tube to be inserted into the vent opening connected to a pressurized gas source.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool comprises a blade mounted on a member which can move away from the vent opening to make a straight cut to form a relatively large body opening in the poultry, and the means for displacing the sheet of tissue outwards consist of one or more suction nozzles arranged near the blade, which are connected to a vacuum source and which are located on or near the sheet in the cutting position of the blade, by means of a suction connection with the sheet and displace the sheet 25 with tissue outward from the viscera. 7 »%» 1011563 8
4. Device as claimed in claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the means for displacing the viscous sheet outwardly comprise both a tube to be introduced into the vent opening, connected to a pressurized gas source and one or more nozzles connected to a vacuum source connected to the blade and located on or just above the sheet in the cutting position of the blade.
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool is a drill 10 making a round cut around the sphincter and the means for moving the viscera outwardly of the sheet of tissue consists of one or more near the vent hollow needles to be inserted into the poultry connected to a source of pressurized gas.
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool is a drill making a round cut around the sphincter and the means for displacing the viscera outwardly of the sheet of tissue consists of one or more nozzles located in the drill position of said drill is on or just above the sheet, can suck the sheet towards it and move it upwards. 20
Device according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the means for displacing the sheet of tissue outwardly consist both of a needle to be inserted into the carcass outside the vent opening and connected to a source of pressurized gas as from one or more suction nozzles which are in the drilling position of said drill on or just above the sheet. 1011563 i i