WO1989002405A1

WO1989002405A1 - Improved handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1989002405A1
Application number: PCT/AU1988/000357
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brendan Dever
Original assignee: Kembala Meat Pty. Limited
Priority date: 1987-09-11
Filing date: 1988-09-12
Publication date: 1989-03-23
Also published as: NZ226095A

Abstract

Handling apparatus (10) is disclosed including overhead chain conveyors (11 and 13) for the inversion during processing of animal carcasses (24) hung therebetween. The handling apparatus (10) also includes a pelting conveyeor (17) which diverges from the auxiliary conveyor (13) and which is attached by a pelt puller (22) to the pelt (20) of an animal carcass (24) hung from the auxiliary conveyor (13). The pelt (20) is gradually pulled from the animal carcass (24) as the conveyors (13 and 17) advance.

Description

"IMPROVED HANDLING APPARATUS" This invention relates to improved handling apparatus. This invention has particular but not exclusive application to the handling of animal carcasses and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications, such as materials handling equipment for machinery assembly.

In an abattoir, animal carcasses are normally hung from a travelling overhead conveyor by their legs while dressing operations such as pelt removal are carried out. For the purposes of this specification, a pelt is to be taken to mean the pelt, hide or skin of an animal. Pelt removal is often carried out by the use of expensive, purpose-built machines which are placed beside the conveyor and which may travel with the conveyor while the pelt removal occurs.

Pelt removal machines must complete a pelt removal cycle before the next carcass can be processed. Thus as the speed of high-production processing lines rises, the time available for pelt removal is reduced. Increases in the speed of pelt removal results in higher loads being applied to the pelt, and increased pelt damage often results.

While many animal carcass processing operations are best handled with a carcass hung from the hind legs, some initial operations, including pelt removal, are preferably carried out with the carcass hung from the forelegs. Accordingly, at present, spreader conveyor assemblies incorporating two parallel conveyors are often used to facilitate reversal of a carcass. The process of rehanging a carcass which is hung from its forelegs from one conveyor of a spreader conveyor assembly requires a further expensive purpose-built machine which lifts the hind less of the carcass onto the second conveyor . Mostly the conveyors of such conveyor assemblies are chain conveyors which must be lubricated and precautions must be taken to prevent, or at least minimise leakage of lubricant from the overhead conveyors as any leakage will contaminate food articles hung from the conveyors.

The present invention aims to alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide processing apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention.in one aspect resides broadly in article processing apparatus including:- a conveyor assembly having a plurality of conveyors; support means for the conveyor assembly which constrain the conveyors for movement along respective travel paths which vary with respect to a selected reference plane; connector means on each said conveyor to enable an article to be connected between the conveyors whereby an article supported by said processing apparatus will be processed as the article is conveyed along said varying travel paths.

Suitably there are two conveyor assemblies but of course any number of conveyors may be provided to suit the particular handl'ing operation. For example three conveyors may be used to simultaneously perform a number of assembly or disassembly operations. The processing operations may be ^• inversion or reorientating of an animal carcass , pelt removal or controlled movement of an article to be assembled or treated past processing stations t,o present selected parts of an article to the processing stations. Preferably the article is an animal carcass, but of course other articles such as machinery assemblies may be processed if desired. Reorientating of an article may be performed by suspending an article between vertically spaced conveyor assemblies and by causing the conveyors to invert relative to one another, while pelt removal may be performed by suspending a carcass from one conveyor assembly and by attaching a free section of the pelt adjacent the supported end of the carcass to a further conveyor assembly having a diverging travel path relative to the supporting conveyor such that actuation of the conveyors will cause the pelt to be drawn from the carcass.

A pelt puller may be used to connect the pelt to the further conveyor assembly. The latter is suitably disposed below and in the same vertical plane as the supporting conveyor, although configurations of conveyors which are inclined or horizontal may be used if desired. The angle of divergence between the supporting conveyor and the further or pelting conveyor may be arranged such that the pelt is removed over a travel length relative to the speed of the conveyors which results in pelt removal rates which minimise pelt removal forces and thus minimise pelt damage.

The pelt puller may have a pelt gripper at one end, such that it may be conveniently attached to and detached from a pelt, and a conveyor connecter at the other end, whereby it may be conveniently attached to the pelting conveyor.

In another aspect of this invention, the pelt puller may engage with pelt puller guide means attached to the support means such that operative movement of the conveyor "connecter along with the pelting conveyor beyond the pelt puller guide means will draw the pelt sripper away from the supporting conveyor, whereby a pelt may be removed from an animal carcass attached to the supporting conveyor. Suitably, the pelt puller guide means is a pulley rotatable about an axis normal to the plane containing the pelt puller and the pelting conveyor, but of course, if desired, other pelt nuller guide means such as a hook may be used. The pelt puller guide means may be used in conjunction with a pair of diverging conveyors whereby movement of the pelt, gripper away from the supporting conveyor may be produced both by divergence of the conveyors and by an interaction between the pelt puller and the pelt puller guide means. This combination may utilise the diverging conveyors to perform the initial phase of pelt pulling, and then utilise the interaction to complete the pelt pulling operation. This combination may permit the use of conveyors which diverge less than would otherwise be necessary.

In a further aspect this invention provides a carcass processing conveyor assembly having two supporting conveyors having respective first run portions travelling in vertically spaced planes and respective second run portions at which the vertical separation between the supporting conveyors is varied. Suitably the vertical separation is- reversed to facilitate the changeover from fore-leg hung to rear-leg hung carcass orientation for carcasses operatively suspended therefrom. In this respect the carcass may be suspended from the uppermost conveyor with its lower portion attached to or engaged with the lower conveyor. The weight of the carcass will or may be transferred to the previously lower conveyor as it moves vertically relative to the other conveyor to the uppermost position. The conveyor may of course be used to facilitate other orientation changes, such as a changeover from rear to front hung configuration for animal carcasses.

Preferably, the conveyor carrying the forelegs rises to a height relative to the second conveyor such that the hind legs may be easily attached to the second conveyor, then falls relative to the second conveyor until it is below the second conveyor and the forelegs may be easily detached from it. If the apparatus is to be added. t.o an existing processing establishment, one of the convevors may be the o existing main processing conveyor.

In yet another aspect, this invention ^'resides in apparatus for and a method of handling animal carcasses, the method including :- providing a first supporting conveyor assembly from which an animal carcass may be suspended; providing a pelt removal conveyor assembly below the first conveyor assembly which in operation diverges from the first conveyor assembly from a pelt removal station; providing a further conveyor assembly extending beyond the pelt removal station from a position beneath the first conveyor assembly; arranging the first and further conveyor assemblies to incorporate respective travel paths which invert whereby the further conveyor assembly is position above the first conveyor assembly; suspending a carcass from the first conveyor assembly and operatively connecting the pelt to the pelt removal conveyor; operating the first and pelt removal conveyor assemblies to remove the pelt; attaching the animal carcass to the further conveyor assembly, and operating the first and further conveyor assemblies to invert the animal carcass.

The conveyor assemblies may be open chain conveyors and may be supported by a plurality of support wheels or guides. Preferably however and in a further aspect of this invention there is provided a conveyor assembly having a chain conveyor supported and enclosed by a support channel and a plurality of hanger assemblies connected to the chain conveyor at intervals along its length. Suitably the arrangement is such that the support channel support the chain conveyor and minimises lubricant leakage from the chain conveyor assembly and the hanger assemblies are adapted for attaching articles to the chain conveyor.

The support channel may be formed with a base wall and a pair of side walls. If desired, the upper edges of the side walls may have flanges such that one hanger assembly may be supported for motion along the support channel by a slipper pad which slides along one flange. Alternatively, the hanger assembly may be supported on the base wall of the support channel. If desired, the base wall of the support channel may be lined with a low-friction material such that frictional forces and wear are minimised.

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein: -

FIG. 1 is a top view of a processing conveyor assembly; FIG. 2 is a side view of the processing conveyor assembly; FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative processing conveyor assembly, and

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a chain conveyor assembly according to this invention.

The processing conveyor, .assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a main processing conveyor 11 which passes along the processing plant at a constant height above the floor 12. An auxiliary conveyor 13 runs in association with the main processing conveyor 11 for part of its length and the two assemblies 11 and 13 run at the same speed. The auxiliary conveyor 13 runs at the same height as the main processing conveyor 11.

Initial processing may have been carried out on animal carcasses attached to either or both conveyors before the conveyors reach the pelt removal section. From the start 14 of the pelt removal section 15 the auxiliary conveyor 13 rises until its height above the main processing conveyor 11 is approximately the same as the length of an animal carcass to be handled. The auxiliary conveyor 13 then passes through a carcass inverting section 16, descending to cross the processing conveyor 11 until its height below the main processing conveyor 11 is approximately the same as the length of an animal carcass to be handled. The auxiliary conveyor 13 then returns in a loop to the start of the initial processing section and thence to the start 14 of the pelt removal section 15.

The pelting conveyor 17 runs along the length of the pelt removal section 15, descending as it travels such that the auxiliary conveyor 13 and the pelting conveyor 17 diverg by a distance sufficient to pull a pelt from a carcass. The pelting conveyor 17 then passes beyond the pelt removal section 15 whereby detached pelts may be conveyed to a pelt storage or processing area before looping to return to the start 14 of the pelt removal section 15.

In use, .an animal carcass 18 for processing is hung from the auxiliary conveyor 13 by its forelegs IS and the front end of its pelt 20 is attached via a pelt gripper 21 to a pelt puller 22. The other end of the pelt puller 22 is connected to the pelting conveyor 17, and as the conveyors 13 and 17 travel through the pelt removal section 15 and diverge, the pelt 20 is pulled from the animal carcass 18. It will be understood that a slow rate of pelt removal can be achieved with relative high rates of conveying. Removal rates being dependent on the divergence between the conveyors .

The detached pelt 23 falls onto the pelting conveyor 17 and is conveyed to the pelt storage area. The bare carcass 24 rises with the auxiliary conveyor 13 until its hind legs 25 are adjacent the main processing conveyor 11, and an operator attaches the hind lees 25 to the main processing conveyor 11. The auxiliary conveyor 13 carrying the -forelegs 26 of the bare carcass 24 then descends below the main processing conveyor 11 until the carcass 24 hangs from the main processing conveyor 11 by its hind legs, and an operato then detaches the forelegs 26 from the auxiliary conveyor 13. The carcass 24 is then hung from the main processing conveyo 11 in the correct orientation for further processing.

The processing conveyor assembly 30 shown in FIG. 3 is similar in construction to the processing conveyor assembly 10. It has a main processing conveyor 31 which passes along the processing plant at a constant height above the floor 32 An auxiliary conveyor 33 runs in association with the main processing conveyor 31 for part of its length and the two assemblies 31 and 33 run at the same speed. Initial processing may have been carried out on animal carcasses attached to either or both conveyors before the conveyors reach the pelt removal section. From the start 34 of the pelt removal section 35. the auxiliary conveyor 33 rises as it passes through the pelt removal section 35 until its height above the main processing conveyor 31 is approximatel the same as the length of an animal carcass to be handled. The pelting conveyor 36 runs along the length of the pelt removal section 35, descending as it travels such that the auxiliary conveyor 33 and the pelting conveyor 36 diverge. The pelting conveyor 36 then passes beyond the pel removal section 35 whereby detached pelts 44 may be conveyed to a pelt storage or processing area before looping to retur to the start 34 of the pelt removal section 35.

A pelting pulley 37 with a transverse axis is attached to a frame 38 which mounts to the floor 32. The pelting ^• pulley 37 is aligned between the auxiliary conveyor 33 and the pelting conveyor 36.

In use, an animal carcass 39 for processing is hung fro the auxiliary conveyor 33 by its forelegs 40 and the front end of its pelt 41 is attached via a pelt Ξripper 42 to a pelt puller 43. The other end of the pelt puller 43 is connected to the pelting conveyor 36, and as the conveyors 3 and the conveyor 36 travel through the pelt removal section 35 and diverge, the pelt 41 is pulled from the animal carcas 39. As the pelt puller 43 travels along the pelt removal section 35, it contacts the pelting pulley 37 and, as the pelting conveyor continues to travel, the pelt gripper 42 is drawn further away from the auxiliary conveyor 33.

The detached pelt 44 falls onto the pelting conveyor 36 and is conveyed to the pelt storage area.

The preferred form of conveyor chain assembly 50 is shown in FIG. 4. As illustrated it has a conveyor chain 51 which is slidable within a chain enclosure 52 , the latter being formed by attaching a pair of angle members 53 and 54 to the flanges 55 of a channel member 56. The chain enclosure 52 is supported along its length by support brackets 57 attached to the angle member 54 and to the ^■ supporting structure 58. Hanger assemblies 59 are attached at intervals along the conveyor chain 51. Each hanger assembly 59 is supported on the angle members 53 and 54 by means of a slipper pad 60 and includes a hanger arm 61 which passes around the angle member 53 and terminates below the channel member 56 in an apertured attachment lug 62.

Suitably the chain conveyor is arranged with its roller axes vertical and the links are sufficiently flexible to accommodate the necessary bending to follow height variations in the conveying path. Lateral variations in the conveying path are accommodated by pivotal movement of the chain links about, the roller axes with the rollers or links bearing against the side walls of the composite channel member or enclosure 52. Of course a link chain could be used if desired. The enclosure 52 may contain lubricant for the chain and of course as stjch lubrication is confined in the channel 52, the conveyor assembly 50 can operate efficiently with minimum risk of discharging grease and thus contaminating an article supported thereby.

In use, the conveyor chain 51 is set in motion along the chain enclosure 52, and an article to be transported is hung from the attachment lug 62. The hanger assembly 59 is drawn along the chain enclosure 52 by the conveyor chain 51, and the weight of the article and the hanger assembly 59 is carried by the slipper pad 60 as the latter slides along the flanges of the channel members 53 and 54.

It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS :-

1. Article processing apparatus including:- a conveyor assembly having a plurality of conveyors; support means for the conveyor assembly which constrain the conveyors for movement along respective travel paths which vary with respect to a selected reference plane; connector means on each said conveyor to enable an article to be connected between the conveyors whereby an article supported by said processing apparatus may be processed as the article is conveyed along said varying travel paths.

2. Article processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor assembly includes two conveyors having respective travel paths which vary by diverging.

3. Article processing apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said reference plane, is a horizontal plane.

4. , Article processing apparatus according to claim 3 and adapted for processing animal carcasses, wherein one said conveyor is a pelting conveyor.

5. Carcass processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the other said conveyor is adapted to support carcasses by their forelegs.

6. Carcass processing apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5 , wherein the angle of divergence between said other conveyor and the further or pelting conveyor is such that the pelt is removed over a travel length relative to the speed of the conveyors which results in pelt removal rates which minimise pelt removal forces and thus minimise pelt damage.

7. Processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said conveyor assemblies include two conveyors each having respective travel paths which converge, cross and then diverge with respect to a said reference plane.

8. Carcass processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein one of said two conveyors has a travel path which initially runs below the other of said two conveyors and subsequently above said other of said two conveyors.

9. A carcass processing conveyor assembly having two supporting conveyors each having respective. first run portions travelling in vertically spaced planes and respective second run portions at which the vertical separation between the supporting conveyors is varied. .

10. A carcass processing conveyor assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the vertical separation between said conveyors is reversed to facilitate the changeover from fore¬ leg hung to rear-leg hung carcass orientation for carcasses operatively suspended therefrom.

11. A carcass processing conveyor assembly according to claim 10, wherein the one conveyor carrying the forelegs rises to a height relative to the other conveyor such that the hind legs may be easily attached to said other conveyor then falls relative to said second conveyor until it is below- said second conveyor _, such that the forelegs may be easily detached from said one conveyor.

12. Processing apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said conveyors are chain conveyors having endless chains supported within a support channel arranged with its open face uppermost.

13. A conveyor assembly including an endless chain supported within a support channel arranged with its open face uppermost and a plurality of hanger assemblies connected to said endless chain at

along its length.

14. A conveyor assembly according to claim 13, wherein said support channel has a base wall, a pair of side walls and flanses along the upper edges of the side walls and said hanger assemblies being supported for motion along the support channel by respective slipper pads which slide along at least ons said flange.

15. A method of handling animal carcasses, the method includin :- providing a first supporting conveyor assembly from which an animal carcass may be suspended; providing a pelt removal conveyor assembly below the first conveyor assembly which in operation diverges from the first conveyor assembly from a pelt removal station; suspending a carcass from the first conveyor assembly and operatively connecting the pelt to the pelt removal conveyor, and operating the first and pelt removal conveyor assemblies to remove the pelt;

16. A method according to claim 15 and including:- providing a further conveyor assembly extending beyond said pelt removal station from a position beneath the first, conveyor assembly; arranging the first and further conveyor assemblies to incorporate respective travel paths which invert whereby the further conveyor assembly is position above the first conveyor assembly; attaching the animal carcass to the further conveyor assembly, and operating the first and further conveyor assemblies to invert the animal carcass.

17. Processing methods and apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings .