US20080220705A1 - Method and apparatus for loosening a plucks set - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for loosening a plucks set Download PDF

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Publication number
US20080220705A1
US20080220705A1 US12/043,791 US4379108A US2008220705A1 US 20080220705 A1 US20080220705 A1 US 20080220705A1 US 4379108 A US4379108 A US 4379108A US 2008220705 A1 US2008220705 A1 US 2008220705A1
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Prior art keywords
carcass
mandible
tongue
windpipe
mouth
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Abandoned
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US12/043,791
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English (en)
Inventor
Peter Andersen
Kjeld N. Andersen
Carsten Jensen
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Teknologisk Institut
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Slagteriernes Forskningsinstitut
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Assigned to SLAGTERIERNES FORSKNINGSINSTITUT reassignment SLAGTERIERNES FORSKNINGSINSTITUT ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ANDERSEN, KJELD NEVE, ANDERSEN, PETER, JENSEN, CARSTEN
Publication of US20080220705A1 publication Critical patent/US20080220705A1/en
Assigned to THE DANISH TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE reassignment THE DANISH TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SLAGTERIERNES FORSKNINGSINSTITUT
Assigned to TEKNOLOGISK INSTITUT reassignment TEKNOLOGISK INSTITUT CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME, PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 026164 FRAME 0295. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Assignors: SLAGTERIERNES FORSKNINGSINSTITUT
Assigned to TEKNOLOGISK INSTITUT reassignment TEKNOLOGISK INSTITUT CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME FROM THE DANISH TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITURE TO TEKNOIOGISK INSTUTUT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 026164 FRAME 0295. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Assignors: SLAGTERIERNES FORSKNINGSINSTITUT
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22B—SLAUGHTERING
    • A22B5/00—Accessories for use during or after slaughtering
    • A22B5/0005—Eviscerating devices, e.g. removing rectum, anus, intestines, brain tissue, hypophysis

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a method and different aspects of an apparatus for loosening a plucks set including tongue, larynx, heart, lungs, windpipe and gullet from a carcass.
  • the method comprises steps of fixing said carcass by a region of the head by means of fixing means, applying a pulling force on the windpipe and gullet in a direction away from the spine, holding the plucks set at or near the larynx by means of holding means, cutting pharyngeal muscles and tissue loose from the carcass by means of pharynx cutting means and separating the tongue from the carcass.
  • a knife is introduced through the longitudinal incision in the abdomen, chest and throat of the carcass, and when the knife performs its cutting action, it is moved generally parallel to the palate of the carcass in a direction away from the carcass' hind legs (i.e. downwards, when the carcass is suspended from its hind legs hanging head down) with the cutting edge of the knife leading.
  • WO 2005/094593 describes holding the plucks set at or near the larynx by means of a clamping device.
  • the clamping device comprises two curved members, which clamp around the windpipe and the gullet, the larynx or the connections between the larynx and the tongue in order to hold the plucks set and provide a pull on the windpipe, gullet and larynx. These curved members are moveable in relation each other, so as to widen and narrow the gap between them in order to free or hold the plucks set, respectively.
  • the clamping device tends to squeeze or crush the larynx to an extend, where it becomes so damaged that it is easily torn during the subsequent processes. Furthermore, it has proven to be rather difficult to position the curved clamping members correctly relative to the larynx.
  • WO 2005/094593 mentions cutting along the two sides of the tongue in the region of the basihyoid bones and at the underside thereof (the term “underside” in this case meaning the part of the mandible that faces the ground, when the animal standing on its feet). These cuts may be performed manually by means of a knife or automatically by means of a knife tool mounted in the apparatus.
  • this is achieved by a method, where the pharynx cutting means are introduced through the mouth of the carcass. Introducing the pharynx cutting means through the mouth enables a surprisingly precise positioning of the cutting means and the cut may be executed without the cutting means damaging the tonsils.
  • contact between the apparatus and the alimentary canal including the mouth would lead to contamination, not only with bacteria but also with residual feedstuff.
  • WO 2005/094593 it was therefore attempted to reach a design, where contact with the mouth and the inside of the gullet was kept at an absolute minimum. Recent experiments have, however, surprisingly refuted this fear.
  • At least some of said fixing means are introduced into the mouth of the carcass and are brought into engagement with the inside of the oral cavity. This enables a good fixing of the head, particularly when combined with other means keeping the body of the carcass at rest, and the fixing means may in addition serve to guide the cutting means, as will be explained later.
  • the fixing means may advantageously comprise a palate engaging member and a mandible engaging member, which are moveable relative to each other, and which are adapted to be introduced through the mouth of the carcass and to be engaged in the mouth of the carcass, said palate engaging member engaging the palate and said mandible engaging member engaging the mandible.
  • a mouth engaging fixing means is described in the Applicant's co-pending Danish patent application PA 2007 00339, from which priority is claimed.
  • the fixing means may act as guiding means for the pharynx cutting means, hence increasing the precision of the cut and accordingly minimizing the risk of touching or damaging tonsils or getting stuck in more rigid parts of the palate, mandible or cranium.
  • Tracks, recesses or projections may be provided for guiding the cutting means, but this may also be achieved by the engaging members being shaped appropriately.
  • the pharynx cutting means is moveable in a direction of movement between a starting position and an end position and the pharynx cutting means comprises a curved cutting edge, which is located on an edge of a cylindrical sheet member, the generatrixes of which are parallel to the direction of movement of the pharynx cutting means.
  • the cylindrical sheet member preferably has a directrix with a radius of curvature from 16 to 30 mm, preferably from 20 to 24 mm, for instance where the directrix is a circular arc of 150° to 210°, preferably 175° to 190°.
  • Such dimensions make the cutter particularly well suited for use on slaughter hogs having a live weight of 90-110 kg.
  • these cutting means When oriented such that the curve of the cutting edge corresponds to the concave curvature of the soft palate, these cutting means is expedient in respect of avoiding damaging the tonsils and avoiding getting stuck in the palate or cranium while cutting loose the pharyngeal muscles and tissue. If making the knife from a piece of pipe with a circular cross section, which is processed appropriately, the rounded shape thus obtained further minimises the risk of the knife getting stuck or causing damage and additionally facilitates the guiding within the fixing means.
  • a pressing means is used for forcing the part of the windpipe closest to the tongue against the cranium and a holding means is used for holding the plucks set at or near the larynx, said pressing means having an engagement side for contacting said part of the windpipe and being moveable between a retracted rest position and an advanced active position, and holding means for holding the plucks set.
  • the holding means comprise piercing members moveable relative to said pressing means between a first, retracted position, in which they do not project over the engagement side of the pressing means, and a second, protruding position, in which they project over the engagement side of the pressing means for piercing the plucks set.
  • the step of holding the plucks set at or near the larynx comprises piercing the epiglottis, the larynx and/or the windpipe between them with the holding means. In this way a reliable holding is achieved and the damages caused by the piercing is of no consequence, as the effected tissue is not regarded as saleable meat.
  • the piercing may go all the way through or merely pierce the tissue partially, depending on what is sufficient to achieve a proper holding.
  • the holding means may advantageously comprise three spikes adapted for piercing the epiglottis, the larynx and/or the windpipe between them. Spikes show a very simple geometry and pierce and hold the plucks set in a relatively uncomplicated manner. Thus, the previously experienced difficulties on positioning the holding means are eliminated. Furthermore, due to its simple geometry, the holding means in the form of spikes are uncomplicated and cheap in manufacture and maintenance.
  • Three spikes have proven to be a suitable number of spikes and they are preferably distributed along a line, which is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the pressing means between a retracted rest position and an advanced active position. On one hand, this ensures a reliable holding of the plucks set and, on the other hand, the tissue is not weakened to an extend where it is torn.
  • said pressing means have one or more apertures, through which said spikes may pass when moving from said first position to said second position.
  • the aperture(s) may also function as guiding means for the spikes.
  • the combination of the pressing means and the holding means may be said to constitute a plucks set extraction device and they are preferably mounted on one common arm of the apparatus.
  • means are preferably provided for pulling the pressing means with holding means back in a direction towards said retracted rest position, when the holding means is in its second position.
  • the tissue which is pierced by the spikes, contains relatively large amounts of cartilage.
  • Retaining means arranged underneath the holding means are therefore not needed, but may be provided as a safety device.
  • a tongue loosening means is used for the step of separating the tongue from the carcass, said tongue loosening means comprising scraping means scraping the edges of the body of the mandible facing away from the cranium to thereby weaken or break connections between the tongue and the mandible, said scraping means being moveable between a first position and a second position, the distance between these two positions corresponding substantially to the length of the body of the mandible.
  • the scraping process is less time consuming than cutting, whether by machine or by hand.
  • scraping is advantageous in that the process to a large extend can be automated or can form part of a series of automated processes, thus sparing the operator from detrimental repetitive movements.
  • the mandible scraping means may advantageously comprise at least one scraping edge adapted for abutting an edge of the body of the mandible substantially facing away from the cranium of the carcass. Scraping this particular region of the mandible of the carcass facilitates the above-described weakening of the connection between the tongue sides and the mandible.
  • said scraping means comprises at least one scraper having a protrusion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said scraping edge, said protrusion comprising a contact edge adapted for abutting an edge of the body of the mandible substantially facing away from a vertical median plane in the carcass, said contact edge meeting said scraping edge in a non-acute angle.
  • the protrusion serves as a guiding means preventing the scarping means from moving inwards towards the centre plane of the symmetry plane of the mandible and cranium.
  • the contact edge may be sharpened to serve as a second scraping edge, which facilitates the above-described weakening of the connection between tongue sides and mandible. This, however, necessitates that the jowl has been loosened in advance.
  • the scrapers are resiliently suspended. This enables the scraping means to automatically adapt to the contours of the mandible, thus providing a thorough scraping close to the mandible.
  • the scraping of the two mandible sides may in principle be performed with one and the same scraping means, but it is preferred to use two scrapers, which are substantially mirror-imaged and forced towards each other by suitable means such as hydraulic cylinders or the like. In this way the forces affecting the carcass is kept substantially at equilibrium.
  • said apparatus furthermore comprises cutting means, such as e.g. a circular cutter, adapted for loosening the tongue of the carcass from the carcass in the region of the basihyoid bones, and positioning means for positioning said cutting means relative to the mandible of the carcass.
  • cutting means such as e.g. a circular cutter
  • FIG. 1 is a sketch (not drawn to scale) seen from the side of an apparatus for loosening a plucks set from a pig carcass hung from its hind legs with the plucks set held by a holding device,
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of a part of said apparatus, particularly the pressing means, holding means and dilating members,
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the part of the apparatus according to FIG. 2
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical cross section of a pig's head, illustrating inter alia the position of the pharynx cutting means of the apparatus relative to the tonsils of the carcass,
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the scraping means of the apparatus
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the scraping means according to FIG. 5 abutting the mandible of a carcass
  • FIG. 7 is a side view of the lowermost part of the carcass, where the meat has been partially removed in the region of the mandible.
  • the apparatus is used on a pig carcass 1 , suspended by the hind legs hanging head 29 down e.g. from a gambrel on an overhead conveyor (not shown).
  • the abdominal cavity of the carcass has been cleared. Viscera and several of the internal organs have been removed so that only a plucks set 3 comprising heart and lungs is left, hanging by the windpipe and gullet 4 out through an incision in the throat, chest and abdomen.
  • the apparatus may, however, also be used on carcasses where all or more of the internal organs and possibly the viscera are left in the plucks set.
  • the body of the carcass 1 is held by means of shackles 5 arranged around the forelegs 6 . These shackles pull the carcass backwards so that its back is pressed against an abutment 8 .
  • the pull of the shackles on the forelegs causes the carcass to open at the incision in the abdomen, chest and throat.
  • the head 29 of the carcass is held in position by means of a vertically adjustable forehead or snout rest 7 , which may automatically adjust to the anatomy of the carcass.
  • Arrows on FIG. 1 indicate suggested possibilities of movement, which may be achieved with any suitable means known to persons skilled in the art, such as hydraulic cylinders or chain drives (not shown).
  • mouth engaging fixing means 10 are introduced through, and subsequently engaged in, the mouth 2 of the carcass as may be seen more clearly in FIG. 4 .
  • the mouth engaging fixing means 10 may be of the type described in the Applicant's co-pending Danish patent application PA 2007 00339.
  • the mouth engaging fixing means 10 comprise a palate engaging member 11 and a mandible engaging member 12 .
  • the two engaging members 11 , 12 are spread apart in the general direction denoted by the arrow H, causing said palate engaging member 11 to engage the palate 13 , and said mandible engaging member 12 to engage the mandible 14 .
  • a holding device 20 exerts a pull on the windpipe and the gullet 4 away from the carcass 1 as indicated by the arrow A.
  • the pull of the holding device 20 causes part of the membranes and connective tissue connecting the windpipe and gullet 4 to the interior of the carcass 1 to be torn and the remaining to be stretched, thereby making room from the abdominal cavity all the way down to the larynx (not visible in FIG. 1 ).
  • the holding device 20 could be of any suitable type, for instance the one described in WO 2005/094593, which is a holding device comprising two plate-like holding members, which are moveable between a first position, wherein the heart and lungs are allowed to pass between them, and a second position, wherein only the windpipe and gullet 4 are allowed to pass.
  • WO 2005/094593 is a holding device comprising two plate-like holding members, which are moveable between a first position, wherein the heart and lungs are allowed to pass between them, and a second position, wherein only the windpipe and gullet 4 are allowed to pass.
  • FIG. 1 Another example of a holding device 20 functioning in a similar way is known from the Applicant's Danish patent DK 173879, which describes a holding device to be brought around the windpipe and gullet to thereby arrange them in a slot in the holding device.
  • the holding device 20 is simply a hook shaped element adapted to catch and retain the windpipe and gullet 4 in proximity of the heart and lungs.
  • a pressing means in the form of a thrust pad 40 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is inserted through the incision in the abdomen, chest and throat. While maintaining a pull exerted by the holding device 20 on the windpipe and gullet, the thrust pad 40 is forced inwards towards the spine and downwards towards the head so that an engagement side 44 of the thrust pad is forced against the exposed side of the larynx. This causes the windpipe and gullet to be clamped between the thrust pad 40 and the cranium. In addition, it may contribute to breaking at least some of the membranes and connective tissue, if any, still connecting the windpipe, gullet and larynx to the inside of the carcass.
  • the movement of the thrust pad 40 is continued until it comes into a firm direct or indirect abutment against one or more parts of the inside of the head 29 of the carcass 1 , e.g. against the mandible 14 or against permite paracondylaris, which is located on the cranium close to its connection to the spine.
  • the details of the thrust pad 40 may be of any suitable design, such as described for instance in WO 2005/094593, so as to ensure good contact with the tissue and bone inside the pig head and to also be adaptable for the use of the present method and apparatus on other species of animal, such as cattle.
  • the thrust pad 40 When the thrust pad 40 is in its end position, it contributes considerably to the fixing of the head.
  • a holding means 21 comprise three spikes 22 , each measuring approximately 4 mm in diameter.
  • the spikes 22 are pointing in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of movement J of the thrust pad 40 during insertion thereof and are distributed along a line parallel to this direction J.
  • the holding means 21 are moved from a first position, depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 , where it is located opposite the engagement side of the thrust pad 40 , to a second position (not shown), in which the holding means 21 project below the thrust pad to thereby pierce and fix the epiglottis, the larynx and/or the windpipe between them relative to the thrust pad 40 .
  • This movement is achieved by rotating the arm 211 , on which the spikes 22 are formed, about the axis L. In the embodiment shown, this rotation is brought about by a piston rod 212 pushing on a second arm 213 , but other means will be evident to persons skilled in the art. Similarly, it will be evident, that the movement of the spikes 22 may also be achieved by a displacement along a substantially vertical axis.
  • An oblong aperture 43 in the thrust pad 40 is adapted to allow the spikes 22 to pass, but a number of smaller apertures corresponding in number to the number of spikes may also be employed. These aperture(s) 43 may act as guiding means for the spikes 22 .
  • spikes 22 there may be ten thinner spikes in one or more rows or other patterns, which may result in an equivalent holding effect.
  • Such an embodiment is, however, less preferred, as it will be harder to clean.
  • Arranging the spikes 22 along a line, which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the windpipe has the advantage that the weakening caused by the piercing of the tissue is distributed over several sections of the windpipe. If the spikes are instead arranged in a row that extends perpendicularly to the windpipe, the weakening caused by each of the spikes will affect the same section of the windpipe and thus make it much more likely to tear. The gullet has been left out from these considerations as it has virtually no strength or resistance to tearing in comparison with the windpipe.
  • a reliable holding of the pluck set may be achieved with the thrust pad 40 and holding means 21 in cooperation.
  • the spikes 22 are piercing the larynx, epiglottis or the portion of the windpipe connecting these, the cartilaginous tissue in these organs will fit so tightly on the spikes that the plucks set is retained on the spikes by friction.
  • Other means of retaining the plucks set such as shackles arranged underneath the thrust pad may, however, also be employed.
  • dilating means such as the pair of spoon-like dilating members 23 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , contacts the tissue on the two sides of the incision in the carcass in a manner known from WO 2005/094593 as well as from WO2006/102897.
  • the dilating members 23 When introduced into the carcass 1 the dilating members 23 are substantially parallel, and when they are in place within the carcass they are spread apart as indicated by the arrows E in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the dilating members 23 pivoting around axes 24 and 25 as described in the WO-publications mentioned above.
  • the thrust pad 40 , holding means 21 and dilating device 23 are integrated, but three separate devices are conceivable.
  • the thrust pad 40 with the holding means 21 in their second, holding position are then pulled away from the carcass 1 in order to further loosen the plucks set 3 from the carcass, the unit consisting of the thrust pad and the holding means functioning as a plucks set extraction device.
  • the pull is carried out with variable force, the initial pulling force being greater than the subsequent pulling force. Tests have shown that a pulling force of approximately 700 N during the initial pull over a distance of approximately 125 mm, and a pulling force of approximately 350 N during a subsequent pull over a distance of approximately 80 mm may be appropriate.
  • a cutting tool 15 is advanced into the mouth 2 of the carcass 1 as illustrated in FIG. 4 .
  • the mouth engaging fixing means 10 act as guiding means for the cutting tool 15 , hence increasing the precision of the cut and accordingly minimizing the risk of touching or damaging especially the tonsils 27 , but also palate 13 , tongue 28 , mandible 14 or cranium of the carcass 1 .
  • the pharynx cutting tool 15 is a knife comprising an elongated main part 16 , an inclined leading edge 17 and a cutting edge 18 (not clearly discernible) along at least a part of the leading edge 17 .
  • the elongated main part 16 including the inclined leading edge 17 and the cutting edge 18 are curved around an axis B being substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the elongated main part 16 , the cutting edge covering approximately 1 ⁇ 3 of the end edge.
  • the knife may be manufactured from a cylindrical sheet, such as a split pipe, which is cut in an inclined angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the pipe and subsequently sharpened along at least a part of the inclined cut.
  • the tonsils 27 which should never be touched by the knife, is located in the tissue interconnecting the sides of the tongue 28 and the soft palate, thus forming a pipe-like structure.
  • the cut to be made is located adjacent to the soft palate with very little room to manoeuvre in.
  • the above design of the knife 15 is expedient as it renders possible cutting between the tonsils 27 and the soft palate so that the tonsils are cut loose from the soft palate.
  • the curvature in combination with the inclined leading edge 17 ensures that the tonsils 27 are not damaged.
  • the pluck set 3 including tongue 28 has now been cut partially loose from the carcass 1 , but to separate it completely from the carcass 1 , the tongue 28 must also be loosened along its sides 36 .
  • Loosening the tongue 28 in the region of the basihyoid bones is preferably done by cutting. As described in WO 2005/094593 this can be done with a circular cutter and positioning means for positioning the circular cutter relative to the mandible 14 of the carcass 1 .
  • scrapers 30 In order to weaken the connections between the sides 36 of the tongue 28 and the mandible 14 , scrapers 30 , such as those depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6 , scrape along the mandible.
  • there are two similar, mirror-inverted scrapers 30 each comprising a base part 37 , a leading edge comprising a scraping edge 31 and a protrusion 38 comprising a contact edge 32 .
  • the scraping edge 31 abuts the edge 142 of the body of the mandible 143 generally facing away from the cranium of the carcass 1
  • the contact edge 32 abuts the edge of the body of the mandible generally facing away from a vertical median plane C in the carcass 1 .
  • the scraping and contact edges 31 , 32 meet each other in a non-acute angle D as is most clearly seen from FIG. 5 , this angle corresponding to the shape of the mandible.
  • This design provides a thorough and close scraping of the mandible 14 .
  • the protrusion 38 assists in guiding the scraper 30 relative to the mandible.
  • the scrapers 30 are initially brought into engagement with the body 143 of the mandible (corpus mandibulae) immediately below the bend 141 , where it meets the branch 144 of the mandible (ramus mandibulae), and are then moved down-wards along the mandible as shown in FIG. 7 until reaching the point where its two bodies meet.
  • the scrapers are swung about respective axes 39 as indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6 to thereby keep them in close contact with the mandible.
  • This swinging may be activated mechanically or result from an appropriate spring loading of the scrapers.
  • the scraping is described as a downwards movement, i.e. towards the snout 45 , but it is to be understood that it may also be upwards, i.e. away from the snout.
  • Scraping the edge 142 of the body 143 of the mandible generally facing away from the cranium is of primary importance, whereas scraping the edge generally facing away from the vertical median plane C in the carcass 1 is clearly advantageous and preferred, but not strictly necessary depending on whether or not the jowls have been cut in advance.
  • the scrapers may also have a U-shape (not shown) presenting cutting edges on all three edges. This would, in addition to the two above-mentioned edges of the mandible 14 , also enable a scraping of the part of the mandible 14 generally facing towards the vertical median plane C in the carcass 1 . However, this is not a preferred embodiment, as U-shaped scrapers might damage the tongue 28 and will be highly sensitive to size variations between animals.
  • the scrapers 30 are arranged to abut the mandible 14 of the carcass 1 approximately in the position depicted in FIG. 6 . As the scrapers 30 are moved downwards, i.e. generally in the direction denoted by I in FIG. 7 , along the mandible, they are pressed against the above-mentioned edges of the mandible.
  • the resilient suspension 33 ensures that the scrapers 30 are always in close contact with the mandible, thus providing a thorough and close scraping resulting in a proper weakening of the connections between the tongue sides 36 and mandible 14 .
  • the scraping may preferably be carried out with a scraping force along the mandible edge of approximately 1000 N together with a sufficient contact pressure, which has proven to yield good results relative to a proper weakening of the connections. Nevertheless, the scraping force should never be so big that damage is caused to the mandible 14 .
  • the plucks set 3 which is now completely detached from the carcass 1 , is now hanging from the thrust pad 40 and is held in place by the holding means 21 and holding device 20 .
  • Receiving means may now be introduced below the plucks set 3 .
  • the receiving means may for example be in shape of an arm with an indented or curved portion for receiving the plucks set 3 .
  • the plucks set can then be released from the thrust pad 40 , holding means 21 and holding device 20 by removing the holding device 20 and retracting the spikes 22 to their first, inactive position, resulting in the plucks set falling onto the receiving means.
  • the spikes 22 are pulled back through the aperture 43 in the thrust pad 40 , the spikes comes out of the pierced tissue.
  • the receiving means may simply be a tray into which the plucks set is dropped when being released.
  • the method and apparatus of the disclosure have been described for use in relation to a pig carcass hung by the hind legs, head down. It is, however, to be understood, that the disclosure may also be used for the processing of other types of carcasses, for instance cattle and that the carcass may be oriented differently, e.g. lying down. Indications of size, force and direction given in the above should then be adjusted accordingly.
  • pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders or other driving devices may be used for moving the tools, devices, knifes etc. mentioned above as will be evident to persons skilled in the art.
  • a control device may control the operation of these driving devices, so that a processing program resulting in the above functions for loosening the plucks set may be carried out for each carcass.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Chain Conveyers (AREA)
  • Surgical Instruments (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)
  • Tyre Moulding (AREA)
  • Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
  • Pressure Welding/Diffusion-Bonding (AREA)
  • Soil Working Implements (AREA)
  • Ropes Or Cables (AREA)
US12/043,791 2007-03-06 2008-03-06 Method and apparatus for loosening a plucks set Abandoned US20080220705A1 (en)

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DKPA200700339 2007-03-06
DKDK200700339 2007-03-06

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US12/043,826 Expired - Fee Related US7625267B2 (en) 2007-03-06 2008-03-06 Device and a method for fixing a carcass

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US (2) US20080220705A1 (fr)
EP (2) EP1967070B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE484955T1 (fr)
CA (2) CA2624212A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE602008003045D1 (fr)
DK (2) DK1967071T3 (fr)
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CN111771942A (zh) * 2020-07-11 2020-10-16 安徽聚丰畜禽开发有限公司 一种全自动刺杀的屠宰场用小型刺杀装置

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PL1967071T3 (pl) * 2007-03-06 2011-05-31 Slagteriernes Forskningsinstitut Urządzenie i sposób mocowania tuszy
US8821221B1 (en) * 2013-03-13 2014-09-02 Randall Bock Captive bolt tool system for use in humane dispatch of livestock
CN106386991B (zh) * 2016-10-28 2018-08-21 南通今天食品有限公司 一种生猪屠宰加工工艺
CN107912513A (zh) * 2017-11-16 2018-04-17 正大食品（襄阳）有限公司 分割猪头操作台

Citations (8)

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CA2624212A1 (fr) 2008-09-06
US7625267B2 (en) 2009-12-01
DK1967071T3 (da) 2010-11-29
EP1967070A2 (fr) 2008-09-10
PL1967071T3 (pl) 2011-05-31
EP1967070A3 (fr) 2008-11-05
DK1967070T3 (da) 2012-10-01
EP1967071A1 (fr) 2008-09-10
EP1967070B1 (fr) 2012-06-27
US20080220706A1 (en) 2008-09-11
CA2624366A1 (fr) 2008-09-06
DE602008003045D1 (de) 2010-12-02
EP1967071B1 (fr) 2010-10-20
ATE484955T1 (de) 2010-11-15

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