Abstract
A method for detaching and enclosing an outer end of the rectum of a carcass comprises the processing steps of: releasing the outer end of the rectum; pulling the released outer end of the rectum out of the carcass; placing the pulled out outer end of the rectum onto a sheet of covering material; and positioning the sheet of covering material around the pulled out outer end of the rectum such that the sheet of covering material encloses the outer end of the rectum. A device is provided for detaching and enclosing an outer end of the rectum of a carcass.
Claims
1.-16. (canceled)
17. A method for detaching and enclosing an outer end of the rectum of a carcass, comprising the processing steps of: A) releasing the outer end of the rectum; B) pulling the released outer end of the rectum out of the carcass; C) placing the pulled out outer end of the rectum onto a sheet of covering material; and D) positioning the sheet of covering material around the pulled out outer end of the rectum such that the sheet of covering material encloses the outer end of the rectum.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sheet of covering material is secured in the out outer end of the rectum enclosing position.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sheet of covering material comprises a synthetic material, for instance a polyethylene.
20. The method according to claim 17, wherein prior to the processing step C) the pubic bone is cleaved and the belly is opened, and that during processing step C) the outer end of the rectum is brought in contact with the sheet of covering material at the belly side of the carcass.
21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the outer end of the rectum is brought in contact with the sheet of covering material at a side of the carcass close to where the anal orifice is located.
22. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sheet of covering material is supplied onto a carrier close to the carcass and that during processing step C) the outer end of the rectum is placed on the sheet of covering material supported by the carrier.
23. The method according to claim 22, wherein after placing the outer end of the rectum on the sheet of covering material the outer end of the rectum is caught by the carrier such that the sheet of covering material is positioned around the pulled out outer end of the rectum by the carrier.
24. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sheet of covering material is applied around the outer end of the rectum by folding the sheet of covering material around the outer end of the rectum.
25. The method according to claim 18, wherein the sheet of covering material is secured in the out outer end of the rectum enclosing position by sealing the sheet of covering material.
26. A device for detaching and enclosing an outer end of the rectum of a carcass, comprising: a conveyor for carcasses defining a carcass transport path; a tool for releasing the outer end of the rectum of the carcass; and pull-out means for pulling the released outer end of the rectum from the carcass; wherein the device also comprises a sheet of covering material feed and compression means for enclosing the pulled out outer end of the rectum by at least one sheet of covering material.
27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the device also comprises a sheet of covering material carrier located adjacent the carcass transport path, which sheet of covering material carrier is connected with the sheet of covering material feed.
28. The device according to claim 27, wherein the sheet of covering material carrier is provided with a catch for the outer end of the rectum.
29. The device according to claim 27, wherein the sheet of covering material carrier is provided with an endless sheet of covering material feed conveyor.
30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the endless conveyor of the sheet of covering material carrier has a transport direction towards the carcass transport path.
31. The device according to claim 27, wherein the sheet of covering material carrier is provided with at least one folding arm.
32. The device according to claim 31, wherein the sheet of covering material feed is provided with a separator for separating individual sheets of covering material from a covering material buffer.
Description
[0022] The present invention will be further elucidated with reference to the non-limitative embodiments in the following figures. Herein:
[0023] FIGS. 1A-1D show schematic the successive stages of the detaching and enclosing an outer end of the rectum of a carcass according the present invention;
[0024] FIGS. 2A-2D show schematic views of successive steps of the enclosing of the outer end of the rectum of a carcass according the present invention;
[0025] FIGS. 3A-3D show schematic views of successive steps of the enclosing of the outer end of the rectum of a carcass according the present invention as an alternative for the steps shown in FIGS. 2A-2D;
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a sheet of covering material carrier;
[0027] FIGS. 5A-5C show a sheet of covering material carrier that is provided with a catch for the outer end of the rectum during various stages of the detaching and enclosing the outer end of the rectum;
[0028] FIGS. 6A-6C show schematic views of successive steps of the enclosing of the outer end of the rectum of a carcass with a sheet of covering material according the present invention wherein arms are used for automatic folding the sheet of covering material around the outer end of the rectum; and
[0029] FIGS. 7A and 7B perspective views on an embodiment of an sheet of covering material carrier as part of an embodiment of the device for detaching and enclosing an outer end of the rectum of a carcass according the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 1A shows a first processing step wherein an already cleaved and belly opened suspended carcass 1 is approached by a vent cutter 2 (see arrow P.sub.1). An outer end of the rectum (not visible here as it is surrounded by the vent cutter 2) is detached. The vent cutter 2 engages on the drilled-out outer end of the rectum (for instance using under-pressure) and as is shown in FIG. 1B the vent cutter 2 pulls the released outer end of the rectum out of the carcass 1. A relatively large pulling force may be exerted on the outer end of the rectum so that it is pulled a greater distance out of the carcass 1 and so that membrane connections between rectum and carcass 1 are broken.
[0031] In FIG. 1C is shown that the outer end of the rectum 3 (now visible as the vent cutter is free from the outer end of the rectum 3) is placed onto a sheet of covering material 4 (e.g. a foil layer). And is a subsequent processing step, see FIG. 1D, the outer end of the rectum 3 is enclosed by the sheet of covering material 4.
[0032] FIGS. 2A-2D show the use of a sheet of covering material carrier 5, here depicted with and endless conveyor belt 6 for feeding a sheet of covering material towards the carcass 1 (in the direction P.sub.2). In FIG. 2A the sheet of covering material carrier 5 is shown in a position close to the carcass 1 that is moved along a transport path defined by a conveyor 7 along which carcasses hanging on a hook 8 are moved (see arrow P.sub.3). In FIG. 2B is shown that a sheet of covering material 4 is loaded onto the sheet of covering material carrier 5 and subsequently, as shown in FIG. 2C, the outer end of the rectum 3 is placed onto the sheet of covering material 4 supported by the sheet of covering material carrier 5. In a next step, as illustrated in FIG. 2D, the sheet of covering material 4 is folded around the outer end of the rectum 3 so that it is enclosed and contamination of especially the carcass 1 is prevented.
[0033] In the FIGS. 3A-3D an alternative embodiment of the sheet of covering material carrier 40 is show with an aperture 41 on the topside 42. Under the carrier 40 are two moveable clamping beams 43, 44 provided as shown in FIG. 3A that may be used to clamp the sheet of covering material 45 together as it is placed onto the carrier 40 depicted in FIG. 3B. The clamping beams shown in FIG. 3A may also be provided with a sealing heat wire to seal the sheet of covering material 45 after the outer end of the rectum 46 has been placed onto the sheet 45 (see FIG. 3C) and the rectum 46 and the sheet have been pushed downwards into the aperture 41 (for instance by a vent cutter 2 as illustrated in FIG. 1B). After the end of the rectum 46 and a part of the sheet of covering material are pushed into the aperture 41 the clamping beams 43, 44 are moved towards each other (see FIG. 3D) and the clamping beams 43, 44 are subsequently used to seal the sheet 45 in the clamped together position thus enclosing the end of the rectum 46. Afterwards the clamping beams 43, 44 may be moved away from each other so that the sheet enclosed rectum 46 is free for further transportation.
[0034] FIG. 4 shows a sheet of covering material carrier 50 with a sheet contact surface 51 having an edge opening 52. Below the edge opening 52 two clamping sealing beams 53, 54 are located that are moveable towards each other by a drive 55. At least one of the two clamping sealing beams 53, 54 has a heatable wire 56 to enable the beams 53, 54 to seal a sheet when clamped between the two clamping sealing beams 53, 54. For positioning an outer end of the rectum the covering material carrier 50 is also provided with a gripper 57 to prevent the outer end of the rectum to move away during the sheet covering process.
[0035] In the FIGS. 5A-5C an alternative sheet of covering material carrier 10 is shown provided with a catch 11, here in the form of a narrowing aperture 12. In FIG. 5B is shown that an outer end of the rectum 13 may be positioned in the catch 11, but preferablyas is shown in FIG. 5Ca sheet of covering material 14 is placed onto the sheet of covering material carrier 10 before the outer end of the rectum 13 is positioned in the catch 11.
[0036] FIGS. 6A-6C show schematic views of successive steps of an alternative for enclosing an outer end of the rectum 20 with a sheet of covering material 21 wherein arms 22 are used for automatic folding the sheet of covering material 21 around the outer end of the rectum 20. In FIG. 6A is depicted that a sheet of covering material carrier 23 is provided with two apertures 24. In FIG. 6B the outer end of the rectum 20 is placed onto the sheet of covering material 21 that has been brought onto the sheet of covering material carrier 23. Now in FIG. 6C is shown that arm 22 are moved through the apertures 24 such that the sheet of covering material 21 is folded around the outer end of the rectum 20.
[0037] In FIGS. 7A and 7B perspective views on a further alternative sheet of covering material carrier 30 is shown wherein and endless conveyor belt 31 with apertures 32 for folding arms 33 are shown. It must be clear that it is important that the relative orientation of the endless conveyor belt 31 to the folding arms 33 has to be controlled; only with the correct relative allocation the arms 33 are able to pass through the apertures 32. Also visible in FIG. 7A is a catch 34 for the outer end of a rectum. Furthermore the sheet of covering material carrier 30 comprises a conveyor belt drive 35 and a folding drive 36 for the arms 34. Yet another feature is a sheet of covering material cutter 37 located above the endless conveyor belt 31. The sheet of covering material cutter 37 may use under-pressure to suck the sheet of covering material towards the sheet of covering material cutter 37. In the sheet of covering material cutter 37 a heated wire may be provided (not visible here) that cuts the sheet of covering material as soon as the under-pressure brings the sheet of covering material into contact with the heated wire. With such a sheet of covering material cutter 37 the portioning of the sheet of covering material pieces to be used may be mechanised/automated.
