US3377649A - Apparatus for electrically stunning animals prior to slaughtering - Google Patents

Apparatus for electrically stunning animals prior to slaughtering Download PDF

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US3377649A
US3377649A US620810A US62081067A US3377649A US 3377649 A US3377649 A US 3377649A US 620810 A US620810 A US 620810A US 62081067 A US62081067 A US 62081067A US 3377649 A US3377649 A US 3377649A
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switch
conductor
stunning
motor
conveyor
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US620810A
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Richard W Rains
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Schluderberg-Kurdle Co Inc
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Schluderberg-Kurdle Co Inc
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22B—SLAUGHTERING
    • A22B3/00—Slaughtering or stunning
    • A22B3/06—Slaughtering or stunning by electric current

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  • ABSTRACT OF THE DISQLOSURE An apparatus for delivering successive animals to a slaughtering station, and for the electrically stunning thereof by applying a relatively low tranquilizing voltage thereto for an indefinite length of time, and then gradually increasing the low tranquilizing voltage to a relatively high stunning voltage which is maintained for a predetermined length of time and then gradually reduced and terminated.
  • the apparatus of the invention which is designed for use in slaughtering houses where large numbers of animals are successively slaughtered, includes means by which the delivery of animals to a slaughtering station, and the stunning thereof, is controlled in timed relation to the bleeding of successive animals at the stunning station.
  • the apparatus is especially adapted for utilizing the method of stunning animals which is disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 468,696, filed July 1, 1965, now Patent No. 3,314,103, issued Apr. 18, 1967.
  • the invention is shown and described herein in connection with the stunning and slaughtering of hogs, but it is equally well adapted for use in the stunning and slaughtering of cattle and sheep.
  • hogs are successively delivered from a loading station to a slaughtering station by a motor driven conveyor having the discharge end thereof disposed in position to discharge a hog therefrom onto a receiving platform at the slaughtering station.
  • a motor driven conveyor having the discharge end thereof disposed in position to discharge a hog therefrom onto a receiving platform at the slaughtering station.
  • the hogs are suspended head down from an overhead conveyor and their jugular veins out after which they are conveyed away from the slaughtering station for butchering.
  • the conveyor is stopped until the slaughterer completes the slaughtering of a previously delivered hog and is ready for the slaughtering of the next hog.
  • the stunning voltages are applied to the hogs through an applicator having a pair of electrodes which are secured in longitudinally spaced relation to each other, to a body or handle member.
  • One elec trode is adapted for application to the head of an animal, and the other electrode is adapted for application to the back of the animal.
  • a voltage applied to the electrodes will pass between the electrodes through the brain and back of an animal.
  • the stunning voltage potential is such that it will render an animal unconscious but will not stop the heart action thereof which is essential for the proper bleeding of the animal.
  • a relatively low tranquilizing voltage which soothes and pacifies an animal, is first applied to an animal at the discharge end of the conveyor during the entire dwell period of the conveyor while waiting for the completion of the slaughtering of an animal just previously delivered to the slaughtering station, and then when the slaughterer is ready for the next animal, a stunning voltage is applied to the animal by gradually increasing the relatively low tranquilizing voltage to a relatively high stunning voltage which is maintained constant for a predetermined length of time and then gradually reduced and terminated, after which the conveyor is started to discharge the stunned animal therefrom and to advance the next animal up to the discharge end of the conveyor. The foregoing operation is repeated for each successive animal delivered from the loading station to the slaughtering station.
  • the successive applications of tranquilizing and stunning voltages to an animal are initiated by an operator through a pair of manually actuated switches which are mounted on the applicator handle.
  • the operation of the conveyor is automatically controlled, through suitable inter-connected mechanism, by the application of the tranquilizing and stunning voltages to the animal in timed relation thereto.
  • the initiation of the tranquilizing voltage effects the stopping of the conveyor, and the termination of the application of the stunning voltage to the animal effects the starting of the conveyor.
  • One of the objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is especially adapted for utilizing a method of stunning animals, preparatory to the slaughtering thereof, which comprises first app-lying a low voltage tranquilizing current thereto and then applying a high voltage stunning current thereto, by the method disclosed and claimed in my aforesaid copending application Ser. No. 468,696.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an animal stunning apparatus, of the aforesaid character, by which a stun is obtained which results in a far less severe reaction by the animal thereby practically, if not entirely, eliminating convulsions and lung hemorrhaging of the animal due to the stunning thereof.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an animal stunning apparatus of the aforesaid character which can be adjusted or tuned to the type of animals being stunned taking into account the varying size, age, and temperament thereof.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an ap paratus of the aforesaid character in which the operation of a conveyor, by which animals are successively delivered to a slaughtering station, is automatically controlled by and in timed relation to the application of the tranquilizing and stunning voltages to the animals.
  • Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the aforesaid character which is of simple construction and is very efficient in operation.
  • FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a conventional animal slaughtering layout showing the relative arrangement of a corral, a slaughtering station and a connecting conveyor by which animals are successively delivered from the corral to the slaughtering station;
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevation of one type of applicator through which tranquilizing and stunning voltages are imparted to successive animals as they are being delivered from the corral to the slaughtering station;
  • FIGS. 3 and 3 joined together on the lines A--A constitute a diagrammatic layout of the: entire apparatus showing the conveyor motor energized and driving the conveyor, and the stunning mechanism in its normal inoperative condition;
  • FIGS. 4 and 4 joined together on the lines B--B constitute a view similar to FIGS. 3-3 showing the conveyor motor de-energized with the conveyor stationary, and the stunning mechanism in condition to start the gradual increase of the relatively low transquilizing voltage up to the relatively high stunning voltage;
  • FIGS. 5-5 joined together on the lines C-C constitute a view similar to FIGS. 4-4 showing the condition of the stunning mechanism at the termination of the gradual increasing of the relatively low transquilizing up to the relatively high stunning voltage;
  • FIGS. 6 and 6 joined together on the lines DD constitute a view similar to FIGS. -5 showing the stunning mechanism in condition to start the gradual reduction of the relatively high stunning voltage after it has been maintained constant for the predetermined length of time;
  • FIGS. 7 and 7 joined together on the lines EE constitute a view similar to FIGS. 6-6- showing the stunning mechanism, at the end of the gradual reduction of the stunning voltage, in condition to de-ener'gize the variable voltage source, and energize the conveyor motor thereby starting the operation of the conveyor.
  • the numeral 1 indicates generally a conveyor by which animals are successively delivered from a pen or corral 2 to a slaughtering station 3.
  • the rear end 4 of the conveyor is disposed within the corral 2, and the forward end 5 thereof is disposed in position to discharge animals therefrom to the slaughtering station 3.
  • the animals are suspended head down from an overhead conveyor 6 during slaughtering and are conveyed away from the slaughtering station thereby after bleeding.
  • the conveyor 1 which is of conventional construction, comprises a pair of similar spaced parallel units 7 and 8 which are driven in unison with each other by a motor 9 through a gear box 10.
  • the opposed inner flights 11 and 12 of the conveyor units 7 and 8 are inclined downwardly and inwardly toward each other.
  • the opposed flights 11 and 12 grip the sides of animals being conveyed to the slaughtering station with the legs of the animals extending downwardly between the lower edges of the flight.
  • the relatively low tranquilizing voltage is applied thereto; and just prior to the discharge of the animal from the conveyor to the slaughtering station, the relatively high stunning voltage is applied thereto.
  • the tranquilizing and stunning voltages are imparted to the animals through an applicator 14, such as shown in FIG. 2, which is adapted to be manually applied to the head and back of animals while they are at the discharge end 5 of the conveyor 1.
  • the applicator 14 comprises an elongated tubular body or handle member 15, having a straight downwardly extending arm 16 secured thereto adjacent the rear end thereof, and a forwardly and downwardly extending arcuate arm 17 secured to the forward end thereof.
  • a block 18, of insulating material is secured to the lower end of the arm 16, and a similar block 19 of insulating material is secured to the lower end of the arm 17.
  • An elongated cylindrical metal electrode 20 is secured to and extends downwardly from the block 18, and a similar electrode 21 is secured to and extends downwardly from the block 19.
  • a finger guard 24 is secured to the underside of the handle member adjacent the arm 16.
  • the electrodes and 21 are connected to a variable voltage source by conductors which are disposed within the tubular handle 15 and arms 16 and 17 and extend out therefrom in a cable 25.
  • the electrode 20 is applied to the head of an animal and the electrode 21 is applied to the back of the animal. Current will then flow from the voltage source to the electrode 20, thence through the brain and back of the animal to the electrode 21, and from there back to the voltage source,
  • the control mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 30, by which the tranquilizing and stunning voltages are applied to animals through the applicator 14, and the operation of the conveyor drive motor 9 are eifected and controlled in sequentially timed relation with respect to each other will now be described.
  • the mechanism 36 and the conveyor motor 9 are connected to a commercial 110 v. line 31 through a pair of line conductors 32 and 33 which are connected to the opposite sides 34 and 35 respectively of the line 31.
  • a double pole master control switch 36 is interposed in the conductors 32 and 33.
  • the motor 9 is connected between a pair of conductors 37 and 38 which are connected to the line conductors 32 and 33 respectively.
  • the conductor 37 has a normally closed manually actuated switch 37 interposed therein, which is preferably located at the corral or loading station 2, and the conductor 38 has an automatically actuated switch 39 interposed therein.
  • the switch 37 is provided so that the conveyor may be stopped independently of the control mechanism 30.
  • the variable voltage source 40 of the tranquilizing and stunning voltages comprises a manually adjustable autotransformer 41, a magnetic core step-up isolating transformer 42, and an automatically adjustable auto-transformer 43.
  • the terminal 44 of the winding 45 of the transformer 41 is connected to the line conductor 32 by a conductor 46 and the terminal 47 thereof is connected to the line conductor 33 by a conductor 48.
  • the terminal 49 of the primary winding 50 of the transformer 42 is connected to the terminal 44 of the auto-transformer winding 45 by a conductor 51, and the terminal 52 of the winding 50 is connected to the manually adjustable slider 53, of the auto-transformer 41, by a conductor 54.
  • the terminal 55 of the secondary winding 56 of the transformer 42 is connected to the terminal 57 of the winding 58 of the auto-transformer 43 by a conductor 59, and the terminal 60 of the winding 56 is connected to the terminal 61 of the winding 58 by a conductor 62.
  • the terminal 57 of the winding 58 of the auto-transformer 43 is also connected to the electrode 21 by a conductor 63, and the automatically adjustable slider 64 of the autotransformer 43 is connected to the electrode 20 by a conductor 65.
  • the magnetic core transformer 42 is interposed between the auto-transformers 41 and 43 to prevent grounding of the voltage applied to an animal on the conveyor through the animal and the conveyor.
  • An ammeter 66 which is interposed in the conductor 63, and a voltmeter 67 which is connected across the conductors 63 and 65, visually indicate the current output of the auto-transformer 43 during operation.
  • the ammeter 66 and the voltmeter 67 are provided to facilitate the manual adjustment of the auto-transformer 41 as desired and to monitor the operation of the stunning mechanism at all times during operation.
  • the output of the auto-transformer 43 may be regulated in accordance with successive positions of the slider 64 along the winding 58 of the transformer 43.
  • the energization and de-energization of the voltage source 40 is controlled by a switch 68 which is interposed in the conductor 46 connecting the terminal 44 of the winding 45, of the auto-transformer 41, to the conductor 32, and comprises a pair of spaced contacts 70 and 71 and a bridging bar 72 therefor.
  • the switch 39 which is interposed in the conductor 38, between the motor 9 and the line conductor 32, comprises a pair of spaced contacts 73 and 74 and a bridging bar 75 therefor.
  • the normally open push button switch 22 which is mounted on the applicator 14 comprises a pair of spaced contacts 79 and 80 and a bridging bar 81 therefor which is mounted on a plunger 82; and the normally open push button switch 23, which is also mounted on the applicator 14, comprises a pair of spaced contacts 83 and 84 and a bridging bar 85 therefor which is mounted on a plunger 86.
  • the contact 79 0f the switch 22 is connected to the line conductor 32 by a conductor 87, and the contact 80 thereof is connected to one end of the coil 88 of the step relay 77 by a conductor 89.
  • the other end of coil 88 is connected to the line conductor 33 by a conductor 90.
  • the slider 64 of the auto-transformer 43 is adapted to be moved back and forth along the coil 58, between the minimum and maximum voltage output positions of the auto-transformer 43, as shown in FIGS. 3--3 and 4-4 respectively, by a reversible motor which is operatively connected to the slider 64 as indicated at 101.
  • the motor 100 is also adapted to rotate a shaft 102 back and forth through 180 in unison with the back and forth movement of the slider 64, first clockwise as the slider 64 is moved from minimum to maximum output position, and then counter-clockwise as the slider 64 is moved back from maximum output position to minimum output position.
  • a plurality of cams 103, 104, 105 and 106 are mounted on the shaft 102 for rotation therewith.
  • the cam 103 is operatively associated with and is adapted to open and close a switch 107 comprising a stationary contact arm 108 and a movable contact arm 109 which is disposed in engagement with the periphery of the cam 103.
  • the cam 104 is operatively associated with and is adapted to open and close a switch 110 comprising a stationary contact arm 111 and a movable contact arm 112 which is disposed in engagement with the periphery of the arm 104.
  • the cam 105 is operatively associated with and is adapted to open and close a switch 113 comprising a stationary contact arm 114 and a movable contact arm 115 which is disposed in engagement with the periphery of the cam 105.
  • the cam 106 is operatively associated with and is adapted to open and close a switch 116 comprising a stationary contact arm 117 and a movable contact arm 118 which is disposed in engagement with the periphery of the cam 106.
  • the cams 103 to 106 are so constructed and arranged upon the shaft 102 that they will open and close the switches 107, 110, 113 and 116 in a predetermined sequence with respect to each other.
  • a normally closed switch 121 is adapted to be momentarily opened and closed by an adjustable timer 122 which is actuated by a motor 123.
  • the switch 121 comprises a pair of spaced contacts 127 and 128 and a bridging bar 129 therefor.
  • the bridging bar 129 is mounted on a rod 130 through which it is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the contacts 127 and 128 by the timer 122.
  • a plurality of switches 131, 132, 133 and 134 are adapted to be actuated in union by a relay 135 comprising an armature 136 and a coil 137.
  • the switch 131 comprises a pair of spaced contacts 138 and 139 and a bridging bar 140 therefor.
  • the switch 132 comprises a pair of spaced contacts 141 and 142 and a bridging bar 143 therefor.
  • the switch 133 comprises a pair of spaced contacts 144 and 145 and a bridging bar 146 therefor, and the switch 134 comprises a pair of spaced contacts 147 and 148 and a bridging bar 149 therefor.
  • the bridging bars 140, 143, 146 and 149 are all mounted upon the relay armature 136 and are so positioned thereon with respect to each other that the switches 132 and 133 are normally closed, and the switches 131 and 134 are normally open.
  • the contact 83 of the push button switch 23 is con- 8 nected to the line conductor 32 by the conductor 87 and a branch conductor 155, and the contact 84 of the push button switch 23 is connected to one end of the relay coil 137 by a conductor 156.
  • the other end of the relay coil 137 is connected to the line conductor 33 by a conductor 157.
  • the contact 148 of the switch 134 is connected to the contact 128 of the switch 121 by a conductor 158, and the contact 127 of the switch 121 is connected to the line conductor 32 by a conductor 159.
  • the contact 147 of the switch 134 is connected to the conductor 156 by a branch conductor 160.
  • the contact 138 of the switch 131 is connected to the line conductor 32 by conductor 161 and the contact 139 of the switch 131 is connected to the stationary contact arm 116 of the switch 110 by a conductor 162, and to the stationary contact arm 108 of the switch 107 by the conductor 162 and a branch conductor 163.
  • the contact 141 of the switch 132 is connected to the line conductor 32 by the conductor 161 and a branch conductor 164, and the contact 142 of the switch 132 is connected to the movable contact arm 115 of the switch 113 by a conductor 165.
  • the contact 144 of the switch 133 is connected to the contact 148 of the switch 134 by a jumper 166 and the contact 145 of the switch 133 is connected to the movable contact arm 118 of the switch 116 by a conductor 167.
  • the reversible motor 100 is connected to the movable contact arm 112 of the switch 110 by a conductor 170, and to the stationary contact arm 114 of the switch 113 by a conductor 171, and to the line conductor 33 by a conductor 172.
  • the stationary contact arm 117 of the switch 116 is connected to the upper end of the step-relay coil 88 by a conductor 173 and the conductor 89.
  • the movable contact arm 109 of the switch 107 is connected to the motor 123 by a conductor 174-.
  • a tranquilizing voltage of 50 volts after being applied to an animal for an indefinite length of time, is gradually increased during one and onehalf seconds to a relatively high stunning voltage of volts which is maintained constant for one-half second, and then gradually reduced during one second to 90 volts and then terminated.
  • FIGS. 3-3 in which the switches 37 and 39 in the conveyor motor 9 circuit are shown closed, and the control switch 68 for the variable voltage source 40, and the manually operable push button switches 22 and 23 mounted on the applicator 14 are shown open.
  • Current is therefore flowing from the line conductor 32 to the motor 9 through the conductor 37 and switch 37, and from the motor 9 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 38 and switch 39.
  • the motor 9 is therefore energized and driving the conveyor 1; and the switch 68 interposed in the conductor 46 between the line conductor 32 and the manually adjustable auto-transformer 41 of the variable voltage source 40, being open, the variable voltage source 40 is de-energized and inoperative to produce the tranquilizing and stunning voltages.
  • the operator momentarily closes the push button switch 22.
  • Current then flows from the line conductor 32 through the conductor 87, switch 22, and conductor 89 to the coil 88 of the step-relay 77, and from the coil 88 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 90, thereby energizing the step-relay 77.
  • the steprelay 77 being energized, opens the switch 39 moving the bridging bar 75 away from the contacts 73 and 74 thereof, and simultaneously closes the switch 68 by moving the bridging bar 72 into engagement with the contacts 70 and 71 thereof, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • the opening of the switch 39 breaks the circuit to the conveyor motor 9 thereby stopping the movement of the conveyor.
  • the switch 68 being closed, current flows from the line conductor 32 through the conductor 46 and switch 68 to the auto-transformer 41 and from the auto-transformer 41 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 48 thereby energizing the auto-transformer 41.
  • the auto-transformer 4-1 being energized, energizes the isolating transformer 42, which in turn energizes the auto-transformer 43.
  • the operator then applies the applicator 14 to the animal at the discharge end of the conveyor with the electrodes 20 and 21 in electrical contact with the head and back of the animal.
  • a tranquilizing voltage of 50 volts then flows from the slider 64, of the auto-transformer 43, through the conductor 65 to the electrode 20, then through the brain and back of the animal to the electrode 21 and from there back to the auto-transformer 43 through the conductor 63.
  • the tranquilizing voltage is maintained until the slaughtering of the animal just previously delivered to the slaughtering station 3 has been completed, at which time the operator momentarily closes the push button switch 23.
  • Current will then flow from the line conductor 32 through the conductor 87 and branch conductor 155 to the contact 83 of the push button switch 23, through the bridging bar 85 to the contact 84, and from the contact 84 through the conductor 156 to the coil 137 of the relay 135, and from the coil 137 back to the line conductor 33, thereby energizing the relay 135.
  • the relay 135 being energized will close the normally open switches 131 and 134, and simultaneously open the normally closed switche 132 and 133 by moving the bridging bars 140, 143, 146 and 149 from the position shown in FIG.
  • the switch 131 being closed, current will flow from the conductor 32 through the conductor 161, switch 131 and conductor 162 to the stationary contact arm 111 of the normally closed cam actuated switch 110, through the switch 110 and from the movable contact arm 112 of the switch 110 through conductor 170 to the reversible motor 100, and from the motor 100 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 172, thereby energizing the motor 100.
  • the motor 100 being energized will, during one and one-half seconds, advance the slider 64, of the auto-transformer 43, along the Winding 58 thereof from the 50 volt output position as shown in FIG. 44 to the 170 volt output position as shown in FIG. 5 thereby gradually increasing the relatively low 50 volt tranquilizing voltage to the relatively high 170 volt stunning voltage. Simultaneously therewith the motor 100 will, through the shaft 102, rotate the cams 103 to 106 inclusive clockwise through 180 from the position shown in FIG. 4-4 to the position shown in FIG. 5-5 thereby opening the switch 110 and closing the switches 107 and 113.
  • the opening of the switch 110 broke the circuit to the motor 100 thereby stopping the movement of the earns 1.03 to 106 and the slider 64 in the positions shown in FIG. 55.
  • the switch 107, and the switch 131 in series therewith being closed, current will flow from the line conductor 32 through the conductor 161, switch 131, conductor 162, and branch conductor 163 to the contact arms 108 and 109 of the switch 107. From the switch 107 the current flows through the conductor 174 to the timer motor 123, and from the timer mot-or 123 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 176 thereby energizing the motor 123.
  • the motor 123 being energized will operate the timer 122 which after one-half second will actuate the rod 130 to momentarily open and close the switch 121 by raising the bridging bar 129 up out of engagement with the contacts 127 and 128, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6-6 and then back into engagement therewith.
  • FIGS. 6-6 show the condition of the apparatus after the switch 121 was momentarily opened and closed at the end of the one-half second dwell.
  • the circuit to the timer motor 123 is broken since the switch 131 is now open. Therefore the motor 12-3 and timer 122 are inactive.
  • the switch 113 was closed during the clockwise rotation of the cams 103 to 106 prior to the opening of the switch 110 and the momentary opening of the switch 121, but since the switch 132 was then open no current was delivered thereto. It should also he noted that the switch 116 was also momentarily closed during the clockwise rotation of the cams 103 to 106, but since the switch 133 was open at that time no current was delivered thereto.
  • the current flows through the juniper 166 to the contact 144 of the switch 133, thence through the switch 133 and conductor 167 to the movable contact arm 118 of the switch 116, and from there through the switch 116, the conductors 173 and 89 to the coil 88, of the step-relay 77, and from the coil 88 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 90, thereby energizing the steprelay 77 to close the switch 39 and 'open the switch 68.
  • the opening of the switch 68 de-energizes the variable voltage source 40 thereby terminating the output of any voltage therefrom to the electrodes 20 and 21.
  • the closin g of the switch '39 re-makes the circuit to the conveyor motor 9 which then starts the conveyor -1 to discharge the animal just stunned from the and 5 thereof to the 9 slaughtering station '3, and to advance the next animal up to the discharge end of the conveyor in position for stunning.
  • the cams 103 to 106 are further advanced 60 counterclockwise back to their initial 0 position, as shown in FIGS. 3-3 thereby opening the switch 113; and at the same time the slider 64 of the auto-transformer 43 is further retracted from the 90 volts position shown in FIGS. 7-7 toits initial 50 volt position shown in FIGS. 3-3.
  • the opening of the switch 113 breaks the circuit to and stops the operation of the motor 100 with the entire apparatus back in initial position ready for the stunning of the next animal being advanced by the conveyor 1 from the corral 2 to the slaughtering station 3.
  • An animal stunning apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of electrodes which are adapted to be applied to the head and back of an animal in spaced relation to each other, a normally inoperative variable voltage source, conductor means connected between said variable voltage source and said electrodes, means by which said variable voltage source is rendered operative to impart a relatively low tranquilizing voltage through said conductor means to said electrodes, electric power mean operatively connected to said variable voltage source, means by which said power means is rendered operative to gradually increase said relatively low tranquilizing voltage to a relatively high stunning voltage, holding means by which said relatively high stunning voltage is maintained constant for a predetermined length of time, means by which said power means is rendered operative to gradually reduce said relatively high voltage, and means by which said variable voltage source is then rendered inoperative.
  • An animal stunning apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of electrodes which are adapted to be applied to the head and back of an animal in spaced relation to each other; a normally inoperative variable voltage source which comprises an adjustable auto-transformer having a winding and a slider movable along said winding; conductor means by which said variable voltage source is connected to a source of alternating current; other conductor means by which one end of said winding is connected to one of said electrodes and said slider is connected to the other of said electrodes; a reversible electric motor which is operatively connected to said slider; a first motor circuit by which one side of said motor is connected between the opposite sides of said alternating current source, and through which said motor is adapted to be energized for rotation in one direction, and a second motor circuit by which the other side of said motor is connected between the opposite sides of said alternating current source, and through which said motor is adapted to be energized for rotation in the opposite direction; means by which said variable voltage source is rendered operative to impart a relatively low tranquilizing
  • An animal stunning apparatus as defined by claim 2 in which the said means by which said variable voltage source is rendered operative to impart a relatively low tranquilizing voltage to said electrodes comprises; a normally open switch which is interposed] in said conductor means between said variable voltage source and said alternating current source, a step relay which is operatively connected to said switch and is operative when initially energized to close said switch and when subsequently reenergized to open said switch, and a manually operated switch which is operative when momentarily closed and opened to effect the initial energization of said step relay.
  • An animal stunning apparatus as defined by claim 3 in which the said voltage terminating means by which said variable voltage source is rendered inoperative comprises; a normally open cam operated switch which is operative when closed to effect the subsequent re-energization of said step relay to open said normally open switch which was closed by the initial energization of said step relay.
  • stunning voltage comprises; a normally open switch and a normally closed switch interposed in said first motor circuit in series with each other, a relay which is operative when energized to close said normally open switch, and a cam which is rotated by said reversible motor in unison with the movement of said slider and is operative to open said normally closed switch, a normally open manually operable switch which is operative when momentarily closed to effect the energizing of said relay, said normally open switch being operative to close the said first motor circuit and thereby energize said motor to advance said slider along said winding, and said normally closed switch being operative when opened to open the said first motor circuit thereby de-energizing said motor and stopping the movement of said slider along said winding.
  • An animal stunning apparatus as defined by claim 2 in which the said holding means by which the relatively high stunning voltage is maintained constant for a predetermined length of time comprises; a timer mechanism which is rendered operative at the termination of the gradual increasing of said relatively low tranquilizing voltage up to said relatively high stunning voltage by the closing of a normally open cam operated switch, said timer mechanism being operative at the expiration of said predetermined length of time to eiiect the closing of said second motor circuit to initiate the rotation of said motor in the opposite direction.
  • An animal stunning apparatus of the character described comprising; a conveyor by which animals are adapted to be successively conveyed from a corral to a slaughtering station, a conveyor motor which is operative when energized to drive said conveyor; a pair of electrodes which are adapted to be applied to the head and back of an animal in spaced relation to each other; a first conductor means by which said conveyor motor is connected to a source of alternating current; a normally inoperative variable voltage source which comprises an adjustable auto-transformer having a winding and a slider movable along said winding; a second conductor means by which said variable voltage source: is connected to said source of alternating current; a third conductor means by which one end of said winding is connected to one of said electrodes and said slider is connected to the other of said electrodes; means by which said conveyor motor is de-energized to stop the operation of said conveyor and said variable voltage source is simultaneously rendered operative to impart a relatively low tranquilizing voltage through said third conductor means to said electrodes; a reversible motor
  • An animal stunning apparatus as defined by claim 7 in which the said means by which said conveyor motor is de-energized and said variable voltage source is simultaneously rendered operative comprises; a normally closed switch which is interposed in said first conductor means between said conveyor motor and said source of alternating current, a normally open switch which is interposed in said second conductor means between said variable voltage source and said source of alternating current, a step relay which is operatively connected to said normally closed switch and to said normally open switch and is operative when initially energized to open said normally closed switch and to simultaneously close said normally open switch, and a manually operable switch which is operative when momentarily closed to eifect the initial energization of said step relay.
  • An animal stunning apparatus as defined by claim 8 in which the said voltage terminating means by which said variable voltage source is rendered inoperative and said conveyor motor simultaneously rendered operative comprises a normally open cam operated switch which is operative when momentarily closed to effect the re-energization of said step relay to close the said now open normally closed switch and to simultaneously open the now closed normally open switch.
  • variable voltage source comprises an isolating magnetic core step-up transformer, a manually adjustable auto-transformer which is connected to said source of alternating current and to the primary winding of said step-up transformer, and an automatically adjustable auto-transformer which is connected to the secondary winding of said step-up transformed and to said electrodes.
  • LUCIE I-I LAUDENSLAGER, Primary Examiner.

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Description

R. W. RAINS April 16, 1968 PRIOR TO SLAUGHTERING ll Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1967 INVENTOR fizcdrd 13 2.67.21;
3 lv 4 w JP M T1 I 1 n w v M iv F -WMRK Aprzl 16, 1968 R. W. RAINS APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY STUNNING ANIMALS PRIOR TO SLAUGHTERING Filed March 6, 1967 ll Sheets-Sheet :3
,1; Hag
Affi, w/
AGENT Aprll 16, 1968 R. W. RAINS 3,377,649
APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY STUNNING ANIMALS PRIOR TO SLAUGHTERING Filed March 6, 1967 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 1/445 iii/1771 6 LEI izz AGENT April 16, 1968 R. w. RAINS 3,377,649
AFPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY STUNNING ANIMALS PRIOR TO SLAUGHTERING Filed March 6, 1967 11 Sheets-Sheet AGENT April 16, 1968 R. w. RAINS 3,377,649
APPARATUS FOR ELEGTRICALLY STUNNING ANIMALS Y PRIOR TO SLAUGHTERING Filed March 6, 1967 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR Zzahrd M41225 BYMQQ H AGENT United States Patent APPARATUS FOR ELECTRKCALLY STUNNING ANIMALS PRIOR TO SLAUGHTERlNG Richard W. Rains, Monlrton, Md, assignor to Schluderherg-Knrdle Co., Inc, Baltimore, Md, a corporation of Maryland Filed Mar. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 620,810 Claims. (Cl. 17--1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISQLOSURE An apparatus for delivering successive animals to a slaughtering station, and for the electrically stunning thereof by applying a relatively low tranquilizing voltage thereto for an indefinite length of time, and then gradually increasing the low tranquilizing voltage to a relatively high stunning voltage which is maintained for a predetermined length of time and then gradually reduced and terminated.
The apparatus of the invention, which is designed for use in slaughtering houses where large numbers of animals are successively slaughtered, includes means by which the delivery of animals to a slaughtering station, and the stunning thereof, is controlled in timed relation to the bleeding of successive animals at the stunning station. The apparatus is especially adapted for utilizing the method of stunning animals which is disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 468,696, filed July 1, 1965, now Patent No. 3,314,103, issued Apr. 18, 1967. The invention is shown and described herein in connection with the stunning and slaughtering of hogs, but it is equally well adapted for use in the stunning and slaughtering of cattle and sheep.
In accordance with the invention hogs are successively delivered from a loading station to a slaughtering station by a motor driven conveyor having the discharge end thereof disposed in position to discharge a hog therefrom onto a receiving platform at the slaughtering station. At the slaughtering station the hogs are suspended head down from an overhead conveyor and their jugular veins out after which they are conveyed away from the slaughtering station for butchering. As a hog approaches the discharge end of the conveyor at the slaughtering station the conveyor is stopped until the slaughterer completes the slaughtering of a previously delivered hog and is ready for the slaughtering of the next hog.
During the dwells in the movement of the conveyor tranquilizing and stunning voltages are applied to the hog at the discharge end of the conveyor to render it unconscious so that it will be insensitive to pain during the bleeding thereof. The stunning voltages are applied to the hogs through an applicator having a pair of electrodes which are secured in longitudinally spaced relation to each other, to a body or handle member. One elec trode is adapted for application to the head of an animal, and the other electrode is adapted for application to the back of the animal. Thus a voltage applied to the electrodes will pass between the electrodes through the brain and back of an animal. The stunning voltage potential is such that it will render an animal unconscious but will not stop the heart action thereof which is essential for the proper bleeding of the animal. A relatively low tranquilizing voltage, which soothes and pacifies an animal, is first applied to an animal at the discharge end of the conveyor during the entire dwell period of the conveyor while waiting for the completion of the slaughtering of an animal just previously delivered to the slaughtering station, and then when the slaughterer is ready for the next animal, a stunning voltage is applied to the animal by gradually increasing the relatively low tranquilizing voltage to a relatively high stunning voltage which is maintained constant for a predetermined length of time and then gradually reduced and terminated, after which the conveyor is started to discharge the stunned animal therefrom and to advance the next animal up to the discharge end of the conveyor. The foregoing operation is repeated for each successive animal delivered from the loading station to the slaughtering station. The successive applications of tranquilizing and stunning voltages to an animal are initiated by an operator through a pair of manually actuated switches which are mounted on the applicator handle. The operation of the conveyor is automatically controlled, through suitable inter-connected mechanism, by the application of the tranquilizing and stunning voltages to the animal in timed relation thereto. The initiation of the tranquilizing voltage effects the stopping of the conveyor, and the termination of the application of the stunning voltage to the animal effects the starting of the conveyor.
One of the objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is especially adapted for utilizing a method of stunning animals, preparatory to the slaughtering thereof, which comprises first app-lying a low voltage tranquilizing current thereto and then applying a high voltage stunning current thereto, by the method disclosed and claimed in my aforesaid copending application Ser. No. 468,696.
Another object of the invention is to provide an animal stunning apparatus, of the aforesaid character, by which a stun is obtained which results in a far less severe reaction by the animal thereby practically, if not entirely, eliminating convulsions and lung hemorrhaging of the animal due to the stunning thereof.
Another object of the invention is to provide an animal stunning apparatus of the aforesaid character which can be adjusted or tuned to the type of animals being stunned taking into account the varying size, age, and temperament thereof.
Another object of the invention is to provide an ap paratus of the aforesaid character in which the operation of a conveyor, by which animals are successively delivered to a slaughtering station, is automatically controlled by and in timed relation to the application of the tranquilizing and stunning voltages to the animals.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the aforesaid character which is of simple construction and is very efficient in operation.
Having stated the principal objects of the invention other and more specific objects thereof will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof in which:
FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a conventional animal slaughtering layout showing the relative arrangement of a corral, a slaughtering station and a connecting conveyor by which animals are successively delivered from the corral to the slaughtering station;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of one type of applicator through which tranquilizing and stunning voltages are imparted to successive animals as they are being delivered from the corral to the slaughtering station;
FIGS. 3 and 3 joined together on the lines A--A constitute a diagrammatic layout of the: entire apparatus showing the conveyor motor energized and driving the conveyor, and the stunning mechanism in its normal inoperative condition;
FIGS. 4 and 4 joined together on the lines B--B constitute a view similar to FIGS. 3-3 showing the conveyor motor de-energized with the conveyor stationary, and the stunning mechanism in condition to start the gradual increase of the relatively low transquilizing voltage up to the relatively high stunning voltage;
FIGS. 5-5 joined together on the lines C-C constitute a view similar to FIGS. 4-4 showing the condition of the stunning mechanism at the termination of the gradual increasing of the relatively low transquilizing up to the relatively high stunning voltage;
FIGS. 6 and 6 joined together on the lines DD constitute a view similar to FIGS. -5 showing the stunning mechanism in condition to start the gradual reduction of the relatively high stunning voltage after it has been maintained constant for the predetermined length of time; and
FIGS. 7 and 7 joined together on the lines EE constitute a view similar to FIGS. 6-6- showing the stunning mechanism, at the end of the gradual reduction of the stunning voltage, in condition to de-ener'gize the variable voltage source, and energize the conveyor motor thereby starting the operation of the conveyor.
The general construction and arrangement of the apparatus will now be specifically described in connection with the drawing by the use of reference characters in which the numeral 1 indicates generally a conveyor by which animals are successively delivered from a pen or corral 2 to a slaughtering station 3. The rear end 4 of the conveyor is disposed within the corral 2, and the forward end 5 thereof is disposed in position to discharge animals therefrom to the slaughtering station 3. At the slaughtering station the animals are suspended head down from an overhead conveyor 6 during slaughtering and are conveyed away from the slaughtering station thereby after bleeding.
The conveyor 1, which is of conventional construction, comprises a pair of similar spaced parallel units 7 and 8 which are driven in unison with each other by a motor 9 through a gear box 10. The opposed inner flights 11 and 12 of the conveyor units 7 and 8 are inclined downwardly and inwardly toward each other. The opposed flights 11 and 12 grip the sides of animals being conveyed to the slaughtering station with the legs of the animals extending downwardly between the lower edges of the flight.
As animals approach the discharge end 5 of the conveyor, and during the time they are held there awaiting the completion of the slaughtering of the animal just previously delivered to the slaughtering station, the relatively low tranquilizing voltage is applied thereto; and just prior to the discharge of the animal from the conveyor to the slaughtering station, the relatively high stunning voltage is applied thereto.
The tranquilizing and stunning voltages are imparted to the animals through an applicator 14, such as shown in FIG. 2, which is adapted to be manually applied to the head and back of animals while they are at the discharge end 5 of the conveyor 1. The applicator 14 comprises an elongated tubular body or handle member 15, having a straight downwardly extending arm 16 secured thereto adjacent the rear end thereof, and a forwardly and downwardly extending arcuate arm 17 secured to the forward end thereof. A block 18, of insulating material, is secured to the lower end of the arm 16, and a similar block 19 of insulating material is secured to the lower end of the arm 17. An elongated cylindrical metal electrode 20 is secured to and extends downwardly from the block 18, and a similar electrode 21 is secured to and extends downwardly from the block 19. A pair of normally open switches 22 and 23 of the push button type, which are adapted to be manually momentarily actuated, are mounted in the handle member 15. A finger guard 24 is secured to the underside of the handle member adjacent the arm 16. The electrodes and 21 are connected to a variable voltage source by conductors which are disposed within the tubular handle 15 and arms 16 and 17 and extend out therefrom in a cable 25. In use the electrode 20 is applied to the head of an animal and the electrode 21 is applied to the back of the animal. Current will then flow from the voltage source to the electrode 20, thence through the brain and back of the animal to the electrode 21, and from there back to the voltage source,
as will be explained in detail hereinafter. The applicator 14, per se, forms no part of the present invention. Consequently, it is not being shown and described in more detail herein.
The control mechanism, generally indicated by the numeral 30, by which the tranquilizing and stunning voltages are applied to animals through the applicator 14, and the operation of the conveyor drive motor 9 are eifected and controlled in sequentially timed relation with respect to each other will now be described.
The mechanism 36 and the conveyor motor 9 are connected to a commercial 110 v. line 31 through a pair of line conductors 32 and 33 which are connected to the opposite sides 34 and 35 respectively of the line 31. A double pole master control switch 36 is interposed in the conductors 32 and 33.
The motor 9 is connected between a pair of conductors 37 and 38 which are connected to the line conductors 32 and 33 respectively. The conductor 37 has a normally closed manually actuated switch 37 interposed therein, which is preferably located at the corral or loading station 2, and the conductor 38 has an automatically actuated switch 39 interposed therein. The switch 37 is provided so that the conveyor may be stopped independently of the control mechanism 30.
The variable voltage source 40 of the tranquilizing and stunning voltages, comprises a manually adjustable autotransformer 41, a magnetic core step-up isolating transformer 42, and an automatically adjustable auto-transformer 43. The terminal 44 of the winding 45 of the transformer 41 is connected to the line conductor 32 by a conductor 46 and the terminal 47 thereof is connected to the line conductor 33 by a conductor 48. The terminal 49 of the primary winding 50 of the transformer 42 is connected to the terminal 44 of the auto-transformer winding 45 by a conductor 51, and the terminal 52 of the winding 50 is connected to the manually adjustable slider 53, of the auto-transformer 41, by a conductor 54. The terminal 55 of the secondary winding 56 of the transformer 42 is connected to the terminal 57 of the winding 58 of the auto-transformer 43 by a conductor 59, and the terminal 60 of the winding 56 is connected to the terminal 61 of the winding 58 by a conductor 62. The terminal 57 of the winding 58 of the auto-transformer 43 is also connected to the electrode 21 by a conductor 63, and the automatically adjustable slider 64 of the autotransformer 43 is connected to the electrode 20 by a conductor 65. The magnetic core transformer 42 is interposed between the auto- transformers 41 and 43 to prevent grounding of the voltage applied to an animal on the conveyor through the animal and the conveyor. An ammeter 66 which is interposed in the conductor 63, and a voltmeter 67 which is connected across the conductors 63 and 65, visually indicate the current output of the auto-transformer 43 during operation. The ammeter 66 and the voltmeter 67 are provided to facilitate the manual adjustment of the auto-transformer 41 as desired and to monitor the operation of the stunning mechanism at all times during operation. By manually adjusting the slider 53 along the winding 45 of the auto-transformer 41 the output of the auto-transformer 43 may be regulated in accordance with successive positions of the slider 64 along the winding 58 of the transformer 43. The energization and de-energization of the voltage source 40 is controlled by a switch 68 which is interposed in the conductor 46 connecting the terminal 44 of the winding 45, of the auto-transformer 41, to the conductor 32, and comprises a pair of spaced contacts 70 and 71 and a bridging bar 72 therefor.
The switch 39 which is interposed in the conductor 38, between the motor 9 and the line conductor 32, comprises a pair of spaced contacts 73 and 74 and a bridging bar 75 therefor. The bridging bars 72 and 75, of the switches 68 and 39 respectively, which are secured to the armature 76 of a step relay 77, are so positioned thereon with respect to each other and to their respective contacts that when the switch 39 is closed the switch 68 will be open and, vice versa, when the switch 68 is closed the switch 39 will be open.
The normally open push button switch 22 which is mounted on the applicator 14 comprises a pair of spaced contacts 79 and 80 and a bridging bar 81 therefor which is mounted on a plunger 82; and the normally open push button switch 23, which is also mounted on the applicator 14, comprises a pair of spaced contacts 83 and 84 and a bridging bar 85 therefor which is mounted on a plunger 86. The contact 79 0f the switch 22 is connected to the line conductor 32 by a conductor 87, and the contact 80 thereof is connected to one end of the coil 88 of the step relay 77 by a conductor 89. The other end of coil 88 is connected to the line conductor 33 by a conductor 90.
The slider 64 of the auto-transformer 43 is adapted to be moved back and forth along the coil 58, between the minimum and maximum voltage output positions of the auto-transformer 43, as shown in FIGS. 3--3 and 4-4 respectively, by a reversible motor which is operatively connected to the slider 64 as indicated at 101. The motor 100 is also adapted to rotate a shaft 102 back and forth through 180 in unison with the back and forth movement of the slider 64, first clockwise as the slider 64 is moved from minimum to maximum output position, and then counter-clockwise as the slider 64 is moved back from maximum output position to minimum output position. A plurality of cams 103, 104, 105 and 106 are mounted on the shaft 102 for rotation therewith.
The cam 103 is operatively associated with and is adapted to open and close a switch 107 comprising a stationary contact arm 108 and a movable contact arm 109 which is disposed in engagement with the periphery of the cam 103. The cam 104 is operatively associated with and is adapted to open and close a switch 110 comprising a stationary contact arm 111 and a movable contact arm 112 which is disposed in engagement with the periphery of the arm 104. The cam 105 is operatively associated with and is adapted to open and close a switch 113 comprising a stationary contact arm 114 and a movable contact arm 115 which is disposed in engagement with the periphery of the cam 105. The cam 106 is operatively associated with and is adapted to open and close a switch 116 comprising a stationary contact arm 117 and a movable contact arm 118 which is disposed in engagement with the periphery of the cam 106. The cams 103 to 106 are so constructed and arranged upon the shaft 102 that they will open and close the switches 107, 110, 113 and 116 in a predetermined sequence with respect to each other.
A normally closed switch 121 is adapted to be momentarily opened and closed by an adjustable timer 122 which is actuated by a motor 123. The switch 121 comprises a pair of spaced contacts 127 and 128 and a bridging bar 129 therefor. The bridging bar 129 is mounted on a rod 130 through which it is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the contacts 127 and 128 by the timer 122.
A plurality of switches 131, 132, 133 and 134 are adapted to be actuated in union by a relay 135 comprising an armature 136 and a coil 137. The switch 131 comprises a pair of spaced contacts 138 and 139 and a bridging bar 140 therefor. The switch 132 comprises a pair of spaced contacts 141 and 142 and a bridging bar 143 therefor. The switch 133 comprises a pair of spaced contacts 144 and 145 and a bridging bar 146 therefor, and the switch 134 comprises a pair of spaced contacts 147 and 148 and a bridging bar 149 therefor. The bridging bars 140, 143, 146 and 149 are all mounted upon the relay armature 136 and are so positioned thereon with respect to each other that the switches 132 and 133 are normally closed, and the switches 131 and 134 are normally open.
The contact 83 of the push button switch 23 is con- 8 nected to the line conductor 32 by the conductor 87 and a branch conductor 155, and the contact 84 of the push button switch 23 is connected to one end of the relay coil 137 by a conductor 156. The other end of the relay coil 137 is connected to the line conductor 33 by a conductor 157.
The contact 148 of the switch 134 is connected to the contact 128 of the switch 121 by a conductor 158, and the contact 127 of the switch 121 is connected to the line conductor 32 by a conductor 159. The contact 147 of the switch 134 is connected to the conductor 156 by a branch conductor 160.
The contact 138 of the switch 131 is connected to the line conductor 32 by conductor 161 and the contact 139 of the switch 131 is connected to the stationary contact arm 116 of the switch 110 by a conductor 162, and to the stationary contact arm 108 of the switch 107 by the conductor 162 and a branch conductor 163. The contact 141 of the switch 132 is connected to the line conductor 32 by the conductor 161 and a branch conductor 164, and the contact 142 of the switch 132 is connected to the movable contact arm 115 of the switch 113 by a conductor 165. The contact 144 of the switch 133 is connected to the contact 148 of the switch 134 by a jumper 166 and the contact 145 of the switch 133 is connected to the movable contact arm 118 of the switch 116 by a conductor 167.
The reversible motor 100 is connected to the movable contact arm 112 of the switch 110 by a conductor 170, and to the stationary contact arm 114 of the switch 113 by a conductor 171, and to the line conductor 33 by a conductor 172. The stationary contact arm 117 of the switch 116 is connected to the upper end of the step-relay coil 88 by a conductor 173 and the conductor 89. The movable contact arm 109 of the switch 107 is connected to the motor 123 by a conductor 174-.
The construction and arrangement of the apparatus having been described, the operation thereof will now be described, it being assumed that a tranquilizing voltage of 50 volts, after being applied to an animal for an indefinite length of time, is gradually increased during one and onehalf seconds to a relatively high stunning voltage of volts which is maintained constant for one-half second, and then gradually reduced during one second to 90 volts and then terminated.
Referring first to FIGS. 3-3 in which the switches 37 and 39 in the conveyor motor 9 circuit are shown closed, and the control switch 68 for the variable voltage source 40, and the manually operable push button switches 22 and 23 mounted on the applicator 14 are shown open. Current is therefore flowing from the line conductor 32 to the motor 9 through the conductor 37 and switch 37, and from the motor 9 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 38 and switch 39. The motor 9 is therefore energized and driving the conveyor 1; and the switch 68 interposed in the conductor 46 between the line conductor 32 and the manually adjustable auto-transformer 41 of the variable voltage source 40, being open, the variable voltage source 40 is de-energized and inoperative to produce the tranquilizing and stunning voltages.
As an animal on the conveyor 1 approaches the end 5 of the conveyor the operator momentarily closes the push button switch 22. Current then flows from the line conductor 32 through the conductor 87, switch 22, and conductor 89 to the coil 88 of the step-relay 77, and from the coil 88 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 90, thereby energizing the step-relay 77. The steprelay 77 being energized, opens the switch 39 moving the bridging bar 75 away from the contacts 73 and 74 thereof, and simultaneously closes the switch 68 by moving the bridging bar 72 into engagement with the contacts 70 and 71 thereof, as shown in FIG. 4. The opening of the switch 39 breaks the circuit to the conveyor motor 9 thereby stopping the movement of the conveyor. The switch 68 being closed, current flows from the line conductor 32 through the conductor 46 and switch 68 to the auto-transformer 41 and from the auto-transformer 41 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 48 thereby energizing the auto-transformer 41. The auto-transformer 4-1 being energized, energizes the isolating transformer 42, which in turn energizes the auto-transformer 43. The operator then applies the applicator 14 to the animal at the discharge end of the conveyor with the electrodes 20 and 21 in electrical contact with the head and back of the animal. A tranquilizing voltage of 50 volts then flows from the slider 64, of the auto-transformer 43, through the conductor 65 to the electrode 20, then through the brain and back of the animal to the electrode 21 and from there back to the auto-transformer 43 through the conductor 63.
The tranquilizing voltage is maintained until the slaughtering of the animal just previously delivered to the slaughtering station 3 has been completed, at which time the operator momentarily closes the push button switch 23. Current will then flow from the line conductor 32 through the conductor 87 and branch conductor 155 to the contact 83 of the push button switch 23, through the bridging bar 85 to the contact 84, and from the contact 84 through the conductor 156 to the coil 137 of the relay 135, and from the coil 137 back to the line conductor 33, thereby energizing the relay 135. The relay 135 being energized will close the normally open switches 131 and 134, and simultaneously open the normally closed switche 132 and 133 by moving the bridging bars 140, 143, 146 and 149 from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 The switch 134- being closed, current will flow from the line conductor 32 through the conductor 159, the normally closed switch 121, and the conductor 158 to the now closed switch 134, through the switch 134, branch conductor 160 and conductor 156 to the coil 137 of the relay 135, and from the coil 137 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 157, thereby providing a holding circuit for the relay 135 after the push button switch 23 has been released and opens.
The switch 131 being closed, current will flow from the conductor 32 through the conductor 161, switch 131 and conductor 162 to the stationary contact arm 111 of the normally closed cam actuated switch 110, through the switch 110 and from the movable contact arm 112 of the switch 110 through conductor 170 to the reversible motor 100, and from the motor 100 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 172, thereby energizing the motor 100.
The motor 100 being energized will, during one and one-half seconds, advance the slider 64, of the auto-transformer 43, along the Winding 58 thereof from the 50 volt output position as shown in FIG. 44 to the 170 volt output position as shown in FIG. 5 thereby gradually increasing the relatively low 50 volt tranquilizing voltage to the relatively high 170 volt stunning voltage. Simultaneously therewith the motor 100 will, through the shaft 102, rotate the cams 103 to 106 inclusive clockwise through 180 from the position shown in FIG. 4-4 to the position shown in FIG. 5-5 thereby opening the switch 110 and closing the switches 107 and 113. The opening of the switch 110 broke the circuit to the motor 100 thereby stopping the movement of the earns 1.03 to 106 and the slider 64 in the positions shown in FIG. 55. The switch 107, and the switch 131 in series therewith being closed, current will flow from the line conductor 32 through the conductor 161, switch 131, conductor 162, and branch conductor 163 to the contact arms 108 and 109 of the switch 107. From the switch 107 the current flows through the conductor 174 to the timer motor 123, and from the timer mot-or 123 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 176 thereby energizing the motor 123. The motor 123 being energized will operate the timer 122 which after one-half second will actuate the rod 130 to momentarily open and close the switch 121 by raising the bridging bar 129 up out of engagement with the contacts 127 and 128, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6-6 and then back into engagement therewith.
Cir
will drop back from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6 thereby opening the switches 131 and 134 and closing the switches 132 and 133. It-
will therefore be seen that during the half second between the opening of the switch 110 and the simultaneous closing of the switch 107, and the momentary opening of the switch 121, that the cams 103 to .106 remained stationary in the 180 position, and that the slider 68 of the autotransformer 42 remained stationary at the 170 volt output position thereof as shown in FIGS. 5-5 and 6-6? The 170 volt stunning voltage was therefore maintained constant during this one half second.
Referring now to FIGS. 6-6 which show the condition of the apparatus after the switch 121 was momentarily opened and closed at the end of the one-half second dwell. The circuit to the timer motor 123 is broken since the switch 131 is now open. Therefore the motor 12-3 and timer 122 are inactive. The circuit to the motor through the switches 131 and is broken since both of these switches are open. Therefore the motor is no longer energized to rotate the cams 103 and 106 in a clockwise direction or to move the slider 68 further in the same direction along the winding 58 of the auto-transformer "43, but the switch 113 and the switch 132 are now closed. Current will therefore flow from the line conductor 32 through the conductor 161, branch conductor 164, switch 132, conductor 165, switch 113, and conductor 171 to the motor 100 and from the motor 100 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 172, thereby energizing the motor 100 to rotate the cams 103 to 106 in a counterclockwise direction, and to simultaneously move the slider 64, of the auto-transformer 43, back along the winding 58 thereof toward its initial position, thereby gradually reducing the stunning voltage down from 170 volts. It is to be noted that the switch 113 was closed during the clockwise rotation of the cams 103 to 106 prior to the opening of the switch 110 and the momentary opening of the switch 121, but since the switch 132 was then open no current was delivered thereto. It should also he noted that the switch 116 was also momentarily closed during the clockwise rotation of the cams 103 to 106, but since the switch 133 was open at that time no current was delivered thereto.
At the end of one seconds counterclockwise rotation of the motor 100 the cams 103 to 106 have been rotated back through 120 from the position shown in FIGS. 66 to the position shown in FIGS. 7-7, and the slider 64 has been retracted along the winding 58 of the autotransformer -43 until the stunning voltage has been reduced from '170 volts to 90 volts. In this position, as shown in FIGS. 7-7 the cam 106 has closed the switch 116. Current then flows from the line conductor 32 through the conductor 159, switch 121 and conductor 158 to the contact 148 of the switch 134. From the contact 148 the current flows through the juniper 166 to the contact 144 of the switch 133, thence through the switch 133 and conductor 167 to the movable contact arm 118 of the switch 116, and from there through the switch 116, the conductors 173 and 89 to the coil 88, of the step-relay 77, and from the coil 88 back to the line conductor 33 through the conductor 90, thereby energizing the steprelay 77 to close the switch 39 and 'open the switch 68. The opening of the switch 68 de-energizes the variable voltage source 40 thereby terminating the output of any voltage therefrom to the electrodes 20 and 21. The closin g of the switch '39 re-makes the circuit to the conveyor motor 9 which then starts the conveyor -1 to discharge the animal just stunned from the and 5 thereof to the 9 slaughtering station '3, and to advance the next animal up to the discharge end of the conveyor in position for stunning.
During the next half second by operation of the motor 100 the cams 103 to 106 are further advanced 60 counterclockwise back to their initial 0 position, as shown in FIGS. 3-3 thereby opening the switch 113; and at the same time the slider 64 of the auto-transformer 43 is further retracted from the 90 volts position shown in FIGS. 7-7 toits initial 50 volt position shown in FIGS. 3-3. The opening of the switch 113 breaks the circuit to and stops the operation of the motor 100 with the entire apparatus back in initial position ready for the stunning of the next animal being advanced by the conveyor 1 from the corral 2 to the slaughtering station 3.
From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that I have provided a very effective and relatively simple apparatus for accomplishing the objects of this invention.
It is to be understood that I am not limited to the specific construction shown and described herein as various modifications may be made therein within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
1. An animal stunning apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of electrodes which are adapted to be applied to the head and back of an animal in spaced relation to each other, a normally inoperative variable voltage source, conductor means connected between said variable voltage source and said electrodes, means by which said variable voltage source is rendered operative to impart a relatively low tranquilizing voltage through said conductor means to said electrodes, electric power mean operatively connected to said variable voltage source, means by which said power means is rendered operative to gradually increase said relatively low tranquilizing voltage to a relatively high stunning voltage, holding means by which said relatively high stunning voltage is maintained constant for a predetermined length of time, means by which said power means is rendered operative to gradually reduce said relatively high voltage, and means by which said variable voltage source is then rendered inoperative.
2. An animal stunning apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of electrodes which are adapted to be applied to the head and back of an animal in spaced relation to each other; a normally inoperative variable voltage source which comprises an adjustable auto-transformer having a winding and a slider movable along said winding; conductor means by which said variable voltage source is connected to a source of alternating current; other conductor means by which one end of said winding is connected to one of said electrodes and said slider is connected to the other of said electrodes; a reversible electric motor which is operatively connected to said slider; a first motor circuit by which one side of said motor is connected between the opposite sides of said alternating current source, and through which said motor is adapted to be energized for rotation in one direction, and a second motor circuit by which the other side of said motor is connected between the opposite sides of said alternating current source, and through which said motor is adapted to be energized for rotation in the opposite direction; means by which said variable voltage source is rendered operative to impart a relatively low tranquilizing voltage through said other conductor means to said electrodes; other means by which said motor is rendered operative through said first motor circuit to advance said slider along said windin g to thereby gradually increase said relatively low tranquilizing voltage to a relatively high stunning voltage; holding means by which said relatively high stunning voltage is maintained constant for a predetermined length of time; still other means by which said motor is rendered operative through said second motor circuit to retract said slider along said winding to thereby gradually reduce said relatively high stunning voltage; and voltage terminating means by which said variable voltage source is rendered inoperative.
3. An animal stunning apparatus as defined by claim 2 in which the said means by which said variable voltage source is rendered operative to impart a relatively low tranquilizing voltage to said electrodes comprises; a normally open switch which is interposed] in said conductor means between said variable voltage source and said alternating current source, a step relay which is operatively connected to said switch and is operative when initially energized to close said switch and when subsequently reenergized to open said switch, and a manually operated switch which is operative when momentarily closed and opened to effect the initial energization of said step relay.
4. An animal stunning apparatus as defined by claim 3 in which the said voltage terminating means by which said variable voltage source is rendered inoperative comprises; a normally open cam operated switch which is operative when closed to effect the subsequent re-energization of said step relay to open said normally open switch which was closed by the initial energization of said step relay.
5. An animal stunning apparatus as defined by claim 2 in which the said other means by which said motor is rendered operative to advance said slider along said winding to thereby gradually increase said relatively low tranquilizing voltage to a relatively high. stunning voltage comprises; a normally open switch and a normally closed switch interposed in said first motor circuit in series with each other, a relay which is operative when energized to close said normally open switch, and a cam which is rotated by said reversible motor in unison with the movement of said slider and is operative to open said normally closed switch, a normally open manually operable switch which is operative when momentarily closed to effect the energizing of said relay, said normally open switch being operative to close the said first motor circuit and thereby energize said motor to advance said slider along said winding, and said normally closed switch being operative when opened to open the said first motor circuit thereby de-energizing said motor and stopping the movement of said slider along said winding.
6. An animal stunning apparatus as defined by claim 2 in which the said holding means by which the relatively high stunning voltage is maintained constant for a predetermined length of time comprises; a timer mechanism which is rendered operative at the termination of the gradual increasing of said relatively low tranquilizing voltage up to said relatively high stunning voltage by the closing of a normally open cam operated switch, said timer mechanism being operative at the expiration of said predetermined length of time to eiiect the closing of said second motor circuit to initiate the rotation of said motor in the opposite direction.
7. An animal stunning apparatus of the character described comprising; a conveyor by which animals are adapted to be successively conveyed from a corral to a slaughtering station, a conveyor motor which is operative when energized to drive said conveyor; a pair of electrodes which are adapted to be applied to the head and back of an animal in spaced relation to each other; a first conductor means by which said conveyor motor is connected to a source of alternating current; a normally inoperative variable voltage source which comprises an adjustable auto-transformer having a winding and a slider movable along said winding; a second conductor means by which said variable voltage source: is connected to said source of alternating current; a third conductor means by which one end of said winding is connected to one of said electrodes and said slider is connected to the other of said electrodes; means by which said conveyor motor is de-energized to stop the operation of said conveyor and said variable voltage source is simultaneously rendered operative to impart a relatively low tranquilizing voltage through said third conductor means to said electrodes; a reversible motor which is operatively connected to said slider; other means by which said motor is rendered operative to advance said slider along said winding to thereby gradually increase said relatively low tranquilizing voltage to a relatively high stunning voltage; holding means by which said relatively high stunning voltage is maintained constant for a predetermined length of time; still other means by which said motor is rendered operative to retract said slider along said winding to thereby gradually reduce said relatively high stunning voltage; and voltage terminating means by which said variable voltage source is rendered inoperative and said conveyor motor is simultaneously rendered operative to drive said conveyor.
8. An animal stunning apparatus as defined by claim 7 in which the said means by which said conveyor motor is de-energized and said variable voltage source is simultaneously rendered operative comprises; a normally closed switch which is interposed in said first conductor means between said conveyor motor and said source of alternating current, a normally open switch which is interposed in said second conductor means between said variable voltage source and said source of alternating current, a step relay which is operatively connected to said normally closed switch and to said normally open switch and is operative when initially energized to open said normally closed switch and to simultaneously close said normally open switch, and a manually operable switch which is operative when momentarily closed to eifect the initial energization of said step relay.
9. An animal stunning apparatus as defined by claim 8 in which the said voltage terminating means by which said variable voltage source is rendered inoperative and said conveyor motor simultaneously rendered operative comprises a normally open cam operated switch which is operative when momentarily closed to effect the re-energization of said step relay to close the said now open normally closed switch and to simultaneously open the now closed normally open switch.
10. An animal stunning apparatus as defined by claim 2 in which said variable voltage source comprises an isolating magnetic core step-up transformer, a manually adjustable auto-transformer which is connected to said source of alternating current and to the primary winding of said step-up transformer, and an automatically adjustable auto-transformer which is connected to the secondary winding of said step-up transformed and to said electrodes.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,110,925 11/1963 McMath et a1. l71 3,123,852 3/1964 Cervin 171 3,152,357 10/1964 Wemmer 17-1 3,314,102 4/1967 Rains 17-l OTHER REFERENCES Schermer et al.: German Application No. 1,144,145 (1 sht. dwg., 2 pp. spec), published Feb. 21, 1963.
LUCIE I-I. LAUDENSLAGER, Primary Examiner.
US620810A 1967-03-06 1967-03-06 Apparatus for electrically stunning animals prior to slaughtering Expired - Lifetime US3377649A (en)

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3833966A (en) * 1970-03-25 1974-09-10 Gainesville Machine Co Inc Method and apparatus for killing poultry
US4338700A (en) * 1979-05-10 1982-07-13 Machinefabriek G.J. Nijhuis B.V. Apparatus for electrically stunning animals to be slaughtered
US4406036A (en) * 1980-05-08 1983-09-27 Machinefabriek G. J. Nijhuis B.V. Apparatus for conveying animals to be stunned
US6712684B2 (en) * 2001-09-27 2004-03-30 Hormel Foods, Llc Electrical stunning device

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3110925A (en) * 1961-09-12 1963-11-19 Cincinnati Butchers Supply Co Electric stunner for livestock
US3123852A (en) * 1964-03-10 cervin
US3152357A (en) * 1960-09-02 1964-10-13 Armour & Co Animal electrical stunning apparatus
US3314102A (en) * 1965-07-01 1967-04-18 Schluderberg Kurdle Co Inc Apparatus for electrically stunning animals

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3123852A (en) * 1964-03-10 cervin
US3152357A (en) * 1960-09-02 1964-10-13 Armour & Co Animal electrical stunning apparatus
US3110925A (en) * 1961-09-12 1963-11-19 Cincinnati Butchers Supply Co Electric stunner for livestock
US3314102A (en) * 1965-07-01 1967-04-18 Schluderberg Kurdle Co Inc Apparatus for electrically stunning animals

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3833966A (en) * 1970-03-25 1974-09-10 Gainesville Machine Co Inc Method and apparatus for killing poultry
US4338700A (en) * 1979-05-10 1982-07-13 Machinefabriek G.J. Nijhuis B.V. Apparatus for electrically stunning animals to be slaughtered
US4406036A (en) * 1980-05-08 1983-09-27 Machinefabriek G. J. Nijhuis B.V. Apparatus for conveying animals to be stunned
US6712684B2 (en) * 2001-09-27 2004-03-30 Hormel Foods, Llc Electrical stunning device

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