NZ508097A - Cleaning of sheep prior to slaughter - Google Patents

Abstract

A wash station for cleaning animals (10) comprising a restraining/transporting conveyor (12) consisting of a pair of belts (13 and 14) in a truncated V shape. The primary wash zone has a plurality of nozzles (20) placed equi-distance apart facing inwardly from a support frame (22) dispensing a cleaning or rinsing fluid. A series of such stations can be used end to end for multiple wash and rinse cycles.

Description

A Pali.7?/.v Form fi 5 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 4 DEC 2001 received new zealand Patents Act 1953 AFTER PROVISIONAL U : DATED : TITLE: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 508097/508615 13 November 2000 Washing Sheep We. Klcnzion Limited Address. 25 Puriri Street. Taupo, New Zealand Nationality: A New Zealand company 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 : I'Hnj jwi' I1 lili CODE 1050 FIELD This invention relates to cleaning animals, and has particular, though not sole, application to the washing and cleaning of sheep prior to slaughter. It is a cognate of two earlier provisional specifications 508097 and 508615.

BACKGROUND We have developed and patented a method and apparatus of washing animals, described in New Zealand patent 328158. In that patent animals are led in single file through a race, and are sprayed with a high-pressure spray of water containing a detergent.

The higher the pressure of spray used to wash the sheep, the greater is the noise, and the 10 startle effect of the spray turning on or off. This startle effect may limit the throughput of animals, and in particular sheep through such a race, as they stop or try to back up and are reluctant to go near the spray.

OJBECT It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method and/or apparatus for rinsing 15 or washing animals, and in particular sheep, or one, which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION In one aspect, the invention provides apparatus for rinsing or applying a cleaning fluid to animals such as sheep, the apparatus including a restraining conveyor capable of restraining 20 and moving sheep towards a rinse or wash area, means for applying a pressurised cleaning fluid, at the rinse or wash area, so that the sheep are delivered to the rinse or wash area without stopping.

The following description will refer to sheep but it will be appreciated that other animals may be rinsed or washed in a similar way.

Preferably the means for supplying the pressurised cleaning fluid is raised above the ground so that the restraining conveyor lifts a sheep off the ground, and carries it up to and through the rinse or wash area. More preferably, at least two conveyors are used end to end with a p^rPRoPiRTr I OFRCE OF M.Z 00U579nz-cap.0303.doc/JP/tt 1 ^ 3 2003 i RECEIVED , small gap between for the nozzles, so that a sheep is conveyed through the rinse or wash area without stopping.

Preferably the means for supplying the cleaning fluid may run continuously, so that animals are presented with a continuous spray curtain of cleaning fluid so that as they pass through 5 the spray curtain they are fully soaked with the cleaning fluid.

Alternatively there may be means for sensing the position of the animal, at the rinse or wash station, and this may activate a valve or pump to supply the cleaning fluid to the animal as it reaches the rinse or wash station.

In either event, it is preferred that there is a drain for collecting any residual liquid from the 10 rinse or wash area, and recycling it.

Preferably the work area is enclosed to help trap and retain excess cleaning fluid.

Optionally, one or more sprays may be mounted above the restrainer/conveyor before or after the rinse or wash area.

Preferably each length of the restraining conveyor is a V-conveyor made up of two moving 15 belts, presenting a cross-sectional view of a truncated letter V. With such a restrainer/conveyor, the animal's legs may dangle in the gap between the two belts.

Preferably the cleaning fluid is water, and optionally it may include a detergent, or a sanitiser, or other antimicrobial compounds.

Optionally the cleaning fluid is recycled.

Preferably the cleaning fluid can have a different composition at each rinse or wash station, for example water plus a detergent at one station, water only at the next station, and water plus a sanitiser at the next station.

More preferably the pump system is powerful enough to rinse or wash each sheep in two seconds or less, in which case it is preferred that about 30 litres of cleaning fluid is supplied 25 to the animal. To do this the pump preferably supplies in excess of 900 litres per minute to the spray nozzles. Preferably there are at least four nozzles equi-spaced around the wash 13 JUN 2003 00U579nz-cap.0303.doc/JP/tt " received area to form a spray pattern through which the sheep must pass before it can reach the egress chute.

In another aspect the invention provides a method of rinsing or washing sheep in which the animals are conveyed by a restraining conveyor to a rinse or wash zone, and are forced 5 through the rinse or wash zone so that they are sprayed rapidly with a cleaning fluid before being ejected from the rinse or wash zone.

Preferably the animals are conveyed through a series of restraining conveyors having a rinse or wash zone located at the output of each restraining conveyor.

Optionally the animals are pre-treated with a water based detergent prior to entering any 10 restraining conveyor.

Preferably the sheep are conveyed through the rinse or wash area.

Preferably the cleaning fluid is water.

Optionally the cleaning fluid includes recycled water at one or more rinse or wash zones.

Optionally the cleaning fluid includes a water-based detergent, at one or more rinse or wash 15 zone.

Optionally the fluid additionally contains a sanitiser or other antimicrobial compounds, at one or more rinse or wash zone.

These and other aspects of this invention, which we considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example only, 20 with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic view of a restrainer/conveyor, and wash system for sheep; Figure 2 is a part sectional view of two conveyor lengths. 508097 Example 1 In the schematic diagram of Figure 1, a wash station 10 is situated above the ground, and an animal such as a sheep 11 is led along a race towards a conveyor 12. This conveyor is preferably a restrainer/conveyor made up of a pair of belts 13 and 14, presenting a truncated 5 V to the animal. As the animal enters the entrance of the restrainer/conveyor, it moves forwards until the two moving belts capture and secure the animal which is carried by the restrainer/conveyor towards the wash zone.

Although not shown there may be one or more additional sprays above the wash zone, and means for collecting any residual liquid at that point.

The primary wash zone has a plurality of nozzles 20, in this case four such nozzles are illustrated, facing inwardly from a support frame 22, to form a diamond-like spray pattern through which the animal must pass, as it is pushed off the end of the restrainer/conveyor.

Preferably the wash area has a relatively small wash table 25 so that as the animal enters the wash zone, it emerges quickly from the other side, and slides down an optional egress chute 15 30 (shown cut-away in Figure 1). The wash area may be covered, or uncovered, and similarly the egress chute may be covered or uncovered.

Preferably there is a drain 32 below the wash table 25, and an appropriate drain pipe 36 to collect any residual liquid, and to send it to a holding tank (not shown) for either recycling, or discharge.

A controller 40 is illustrated having connections to the pump 41 and valves, to supply the cleaning fluid from a suitable holding tank.

Preferably the cleaning fluid is water, it may have additional detergents, sanitisers, or antimicrobial compounds or compositions, in order to reduce the microbe count of the animal after treatment.

As discussed in our earlier patent 328158, it is preferred that the animals are left for a required dwell time to allow the cleaning fluid to work into the animal's pelt and loosen any dirt, dags or other contamination on the pelt, so that the animal can be subsequently washed, and/or dried prior to slaughter. 00u579nz-cap.0303 .doc/JP/tt 13 JUN. 2003 JlECEIVFn By using a restrainer/conveyor as illustrated in Figure 1, it is possible to increase the throughput of animals, and in particular sheep, whilst maintaining a substantially uniform application of cleaning fluid to each animal. The movement of the restrainer/conveyor prevents the animals from stopping, or blocking the approach to the wash area. By this 5 means it is possible to increase the throughput, and to present the animals to the wash area in a uniform manner.

If more than one restrainer/conveyor is used it is possible to space out the animals, by having one conveyor move faster than the other, but we prefer to use a single restrainer/conveyor, and to present the animals to the wash station as quickly as possible, so that the application 10 of the cleaning fluid can be maximised.

In this example we prefer to treat each animal in less than 2 seconds with approximately 30 litres of cleaning fluid , and this involves the application of approximately 900 litres per minute of the cleaning fluid , applied through four oscillating nozzles as shown in Figure 1.

In this example there are two conveyor lengths placed end to end with a small gap between them. The gap is small enough to allow a sheep to leave the first conveyor length 50 and be picked up by the next conveyor length 51, yet large enough to allow placement of the nozzles 60, 61, 62 in the gap. In our initial prototype the gap is about 20mm.

Figure 2 shows the V-conveyors 50, 51 and drive rollers 52.

Preferably a cover 55 surrounds the wash station and the gap between the conveyor sections. Inside this cover there are nozzles to create a similar spray pattern to that shown in Figure 1.

The cover can include a suitable drain and outlet to capture excess cleaning fluid.

In this arrangement it is preferable to run the pump and spray nozzles continuously when the conveyor is operating, as there is no need to stop or start the spray as sheep are moved 25 continuously through the wash area.

The conveyor may lead to a platform and exit chute as in Example 1, or may lead to a holding pen or directly to a killing chain or similar.

Example 2 00U579nz-cap.0303.doc/JP/tt received Example 3 In this example a number of restrainer/conveyors and wash stations, as shown in Figure 1, are used end to end to form a multi-stage cleaning process. At each wash station a different cleaning fluid can be used. By way of example a cleaning fluid containing a detergent could 5 be used at the first wash station, recycled washing water could be used at two following wash stations and clean rinsing water could be used at two further wash stations.

As a further option, for example if the apparatus of the present invention is used downstream of some other cleaning method, then a series of wash stations of the present invention could be used as rinsing stations, using only water.

VARIATIONS Various alterations or modifications may be made to the foregoing. For example additional spray units may be provided along the length of the conveyor. The conveyors may be run in parallel so that animals are presented to a number of wash stations side by side.

The cleaning fluid may be applied continuously whilst the restrainer/conveyor is running, or 15 may be switched on or off, based on some sensor for example a wand sensor 50, sensing the location of the animal as it approaches the wash area.

Finally various other alterations or modifications may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of this invention as claimed intellectual property ofrce of m.z 13 JUN 2003 00U579nz-cap.0303.doc/JP/tt

Claims (26)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for rinsing or applying a cleaning fluid to animals such as sheep, the apparatus including a restraining conveyor capable of restraining and moving animals towards a rinse or wash area, means for applying a pressurised cleaning fluid, at the rinse or wash area, so that the animals are delivered to the rinse or wash area without stopping.

2. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for supplying the pressurised cleaning fluid is raised above the ground so that in use the restraining conveyor lifts the animals off the ground, and carries them up to and through the rinse or wash area.

3. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, at least two conveyors are used end to end with a small gap between for the nozzles, so that the animals are conveyed through the rinse or wash area without stopping.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for supplying the cleaning fluid can be run continuously, so that in use the animals are presented with a continuous spray curtain of cleaning fluid so that as they pass through the spray curtain they are fully soaked with the cleaning fluid.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of clams 1 to 4, wherein there is means for sensing the position of the animal, at the rinse or wash station, and means for activating a valve or pump to supply the cleaning fluid to the animal as it reaches the wash station.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is a drain for collecting any residual liquid from the rinse or wash area, to enable it to be recycled.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rinse or wash area is enclosed to help trap and retain excess cleaning fluid.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one or more additional spray nozzles are mounted above the restrainer conveyor before or after the rinse or wash area. 00U579nz-cap.0303.doc/JP/tt

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each length of the restraining conveyor is a V-conveyor made up of two moving belts, presenting a cross-sectional view of a truncated letter V.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes a reservoir 5 of cleaning fluid, and the cleaning fluid is water and can include a detergent, a sanitiser, and/or other antimicrobial compounds.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the cleaning fluid can have a different composition at each rinse or wash station, for example water plus a detergent at one station, water only at the next station, and water plus a sanitiser at the next station. 10

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pump system is powerful enough to wash each animals in two seconds or less.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pump is capable of supplying at least 900 litres per minute to the spray nozzles.

(^Tj^Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are four oscillating nozzles 15 equi-spaced around the rinse or wash area to form a spray pattern through which the animals must pass.

15. A method of washing animals such as sheep in which the animals are conveyed by a restraining conveyor to a rinse or wash zone, and are forced through the rinse or wash zone so that they are sprayed rapidly with a cleaning fluid before being ejected from the 20 rinse or wash zone.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the animals are conveyed through a series of restraining conveyors having a rinse or wash zone located at the output of each restraining conveyor.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the animals are pre-treated with a water 25 based detergent prior to entering any restraining conveyor.

18. A method as claimed in any of claims 15 to 17, wherein about 30 litres of cleaning fluid is sprayed onto each animal at each rinse or wash zone. 00U579nz-cap.0303 .doc/JP/tt *3 JUtt 2003 RECElVFn

19. A method as claimed in any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the animals are conveyed through each rinse or wash area.

20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the cleaning fluid is water.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the cleaning fluid includes recycled water at 5 one or more rinse or wash zones.

22. A method as claimed in any of claims 15 to 20, wherein the cleaning fluid includes a water-based detergent, at one or more rinse or wash zone.

23. A method as claimed in any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the fluid additionally contains a sanitiser or other antimicrobial compounds, at one or more rinse or wash zone. 10

24. A method of rinsing animals such as sheep that have been treated with a water-based detergent, in which the treated animals are conveyed by a restraining conveyor to a rinsing zone, and are forced through the rinsing zone so that they are sprayed with water before being ejected from the rinse zone.

25. A method of rinsing or washing animals such as sheep, substantially as herein described 15 with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

26. Apparatus for rinsing or washing animals such as sheep, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. PIPERS 20 Attorneys for KLENZION LIMITED 00U579nz-cap.0303.doc/JP/tt -11 - ABSTRACT A wash station 10 is situated above the ground, and an animal such as a sheep 11 is led along a race towards arestrainer/conveyor 12, made up of a pair of belts 13 and 14, presenting a 5 truncatedV to the animal. The primary wash zone has a plurality of nozzles 20, facing inwardly from a support frame 22, to form a diamond-like spray pattern through which the animal must pass, as it is pushed through the wash zone by the restrainer conveyor. A series of restrainer/conveyors and wash stations can be used end to end to more completely wash or rinse the animals.