System and method for processing the posterior half of a post-slaughter poultry carcass

Abstract

A system and method for processing a rear half of a slaughtered poultry carcass, the rear half comprising a rear part and leg parts and being transported in a suspended manner by a conveyor. The system comprises a rear part inverting device having a stationary frame and a receiving element movably connected to the frame and configured to receive at least a part of the rear part and to move in the conveying direction during the continued movement of the rear half with at least a part of the rear part received in the receiving element, thereby invertingly inverting the rear part, and a separating device for separating the leg parts from the rear part with the rear part in the inverted orientation.

Description

[0001] illustrate

[0002] This invention relates to a system and method for processing the hindquarters of a slaughtered poultry carcass. The hindquarters is a portion of the slaughtered poultry carcass, comprising a rear section and legs connected to the rear section.

[0003] WO 93 / 05660A1 relates to a method and apparatus for separating a leg from the hind portion of a poultry carcass. The apparatus has an upright curved rod positioned to engage with and impede the forward movement of the hind portion of the carcass as it moves along a processing path. Consequently, the leg tends to pull up the tail edge of the hind portion, placing it above the impeded front edge, resulting in rotation of the hind portion. The hind portion is then separated from the leg.

[0004] US 6,322,438 B1 has a similar construction to the device in WO 93 / 05660A1 and discloses a device including a pair of deflecting rods. During the movement of the carcass suspended on the hook, the front of the rear of the carcass engages with the deflecting rods to rotate in the forward direction, thereby bringing the tail above the rear. The legs are then cut off from the rear.

[0005] The problem with the aforementioned device is that product quality, especially the quality of the leg meat, can be improved. Another problem is that the leg meat may be damaged during processing. Furthermore, the yield of leg meat can be improved.

[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide an improved system and method for processing the hindquarters, wherein one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages are addressed or at least mitigated. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for processing the hindquarters, wherein damage to the leg muscles is reduced. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for processing the hindquarters, wherein leg yield is increased.

[0007] The system and method according to the invention can achieve one or more of the above-mentioned objectives. In a first aspect of the invention, a system is provided for processing the rear half of a slaughtered poultry carcass. The rear half includes a rear portion and legs connected to the rear portion, and in use of the system, the rear half is transported in a suspended manner along a conveying direction by a conveyor, wherein the legs are suspended on the conveyor. The system includes:

[0008] - A rear-end flipping device having a fixed frame and a receiving element movably connected to the frame, wherein the receiving element is configured to receive at least a portion of the rear portion therein, and is further configured to move in the conveying direction during use, during continuous movement of the rear portion in the conveying direction, wherein the at least a portion of the rear portion is received in the receiving element, thereby causing the rear portion to flip upside down due to the movement of the receiving element; and

[0009] - A separation device is disposed downstream of the rear flipping device in the conveying direction and configured to separate the legs from the rear portion, wherein the rear portion is in the inverted orientation.

[0010] The effect of providing a rear flipping device is that the rear inversion flip is performed in a more controlled manner. During the rear flipping process, the tension on the leg meat, or at least the pulling force on the leg, is reduced, which reduces muscle damage and thus produces higher leg quality. Another effect is that more meat from the hip area may end up in the leg after separation. This increases leg yield.

[0011] This contrasts with the aforementioned prior art devices and methods, in which the rear flip results in a tremendous pulling force on the leg and its muscles during the flipping process, which is undesirable as it can damage the leg muscles.

[0012] With the system and method according to the invention, the rear can be flipped upside down by applying force directly to the rear, while the legs can be held, or at least largely held, unaffected by the stretching or pulling forces caused by the flipping of the rear.

[0013] In one embodiment, the receiving element is configured to retain the rear portion therein by engaging with the rear portion at least on the outer side (i.e., skin) and the opposite inner side of the rear portion.

[0014] In one embodiment, the receiving element has at least two elongated extensions defining a receiving space between them for receiving at least a portion of the rear portion of the rear half within the receiving space. In one embodiment, each elongated extension may have one or more fingers, preferably two parallel fingers defining a width, preferably such that the receiving element can receive at least one-quarter of the width of the rear portion within the receiving space. Alternatively, each elongated extension may be a single component defining the width.

[0015] In one embodiment, the receiving element may be funnel-shaped at its free end, making it easier and more reliable for the rear portion to enter the receiving space. For this purpose, the system may have a supply conveyor upstream of the rear flipping device, which supports the rear portion of the rear half as it is conveyed toward the rear flipping device.

[0016] During the flipping of the rear portion, the receiving element can be configured to move from an upstream position to a downstream position, where the rear portion enters the receiving element, for example, the receiving element is connected to a supply conveyor such that the rear portion is guided to the receiving element by the supply conveyor, and where the inverted rear portion leaves the receiving element and is further conveyed by the conveyor at the downstream position.

[0017] In one embodiment, the receiving element is configured to lift the rear portion during the movement of the receiving element in the conveying direction. Lifting the rear portion during this movement, and consequently during the inverted flipping of the rear portion, results in a slight loosening of the leg's suspension on the conveyor. In this case, the inverted flipping further reduces or eliminates the tension on the leg. Therefore, the lifting of the rear portion also leads to the lifting of the hip joint, and greater freedom of movement for any muscles near the hip joint. Thus, the lifting further helps reduce muscle damage in the leg during the movement of the receiving element, thereby contributing to higher leg quality.

[0018] In one embodiment, the movement of the receiving element in the conveying direction includes at least a rotational movement, thereby causing the rear portion to flip inverted due to the rotational movement. Rotational movement is a very convenient method for flipping the rear portion inverted. When the upper arcuate portion is used for this rotational movement, rotational movement in the vertical plane is particularly suitable for providing the lifting effect during the rotational movement.

[0019] In one embodiment, the receiving element is rotatably connected to the frame about a rotation axis, which preferably extends transversely to the conveying direction. In one embodiment, the movement of the receiving element in the conveying direction includes rotation about the rotation axis in a vertical plane. The rotation angle for inverted flipping can be between 90 and 180 degrees, preferably between 100 and 150 degrees. In one embodiment, during use, the poultry carcass moves past the rear flipping device at a level above the rotation axis, such that the upper arcuate portion of the rotation of the receiving element is used for rear flipping. The rear flipping device can be arranged to allow the receiving element to rotate fully during use. This means that the receiving element can rotate fully about the rotation axis during use, with a portion of said full rotation used for rear flipping. Alternatively, the rear flipping device can be arranged to allow the receiving element to rotate forward and backward between an upstream and downstream position, for example, within the aforementioned 100 and 150 degree angular range, for rear flipping. Such forward and backward rotation by a specific angle can also be referred to as forward and backward pivoting movements.

[0020] Alternatively, the movement may include translational movement, as well as rotational movement, such as in a manner similar to that of an elevator, and / or may include, for example, rotational movement about a rotational axis extending in the conveying direction.

[0021] In one embodiment, the rear flipping device has a plurality of said receiving elements. In this embodiment, the receiving elements are rotatably connected to the frame about a rotation axis, preferably transverse to the conveying direction, and each of the plurality of receiving elements can rotate about the rotation axis.

[0022] In one embodiment, the plurality of receiving elements comprises two, three, or four receiving elements, preferably three receiving elements, each receiving element being fixed to and extending radially from a central base, the central base defining the axis of rotation. The plurality of receiving elements are preferably regularly spaced apart at the base. This means that, in the case of three such elements, they can be spaced 120 degrees apart on the base. Providing such a plurality of receiving elements can increase the conveying speed and facilitate the operation of the rear tilting device. The central base may include bearing elements.

[0023] In one embodiment, the receiving element is configured to move in the conveying direction, wherein the rear portion is received in the receiving element such that the upstream end of the rear portion moves in the conveying direction, between the legs or at least between their hip joints, and moves past the legs or at least their hip joints.

[0024] In one embodiment, the rear-tilting device has a drive unit operatively connected to a receiving element for moving the receiving element in the conveying direction. The drive unit may be an electric motor connected to a rotating shaft for providing rotational motion, or, for example, the drive unit may include a cam follower or a pneumatic actuator. For example, the drive unit may be configured to move the receiving element at a constant speed. Alternatively, the drive unit may be configured to adjust the speed of movement of the receiving element during use, for example, based on a feedback signal, which may be a current signal, a force-related signal, or a position-related signal. The drive unit may be configured to adjust the timing of movement of the receiving element during use, for example, according to the movement of the conveyor in the conveying direction. In embodiments where the rear-tilting device has a single receiving element, the drive unit may be configured to provide the aforementioned forward and backward pivoting movements in the conveying direction.

[0025] In one embodiment, the system further includes a fixed guide for holding at least a portion of the rear half of the rear half within the receiving element during the rear half being flipped by the rear flipping device. This improves the reliability of the flipping operation.

[0026] In one embodiment, the system further includes a cutting device upstream of the rear flipping device, the cutting device being used to cut at or at least near the hip joint at a junction that may include tendons and / or cartilage. This facilitates subsequent inverted flipping of the rear portion.

[0027] In one embodiment, the separating device includes a separating conveyor supported downstream of the rear-end tilting device in its inverted orientation. To separate the legs from the rear, the separating conveyor can be configured to move at a speed different from the conveyor speed, such that the rear is pulled away from the legs, and / or can be configured to move away from the conveyor, also resulting in the rear being pulled away from the legs. Alternatively or additionally, the system may include a leg-cutting device along the separating conveyor for cutting off the rear and legs. Additional fixing guides may extend along and above the separating conveyor to assist in maintaining the rear inverted position during transport through the separating conveyor. These additional guides may further assist in pulling the rear off the legs during the movement of the separating conveyor away from the conveyor, i.e., away from the conveyor's transport path.

[0028] The corresponding embodiments are also applicable to the method according to the second aspect of the present invention described below. A system according to the first aspect of the present invention can be arranged to implement the method according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0029] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for processing the rear half of a slaughtered poultry carcass, the rear half comprising a rear portion and a leg connected to the rear portion, the method comprising:

[0030] - The rear half is transported in the conveying direction by a conveyor in a suspended manner, with the legs suspended on the conveyor;

[0031] - At least a portion of the rear portion is received in a receiving element of the rear flipping device, the receiving element being movably connected to a fixed frame of the rear flipping device;

[0032] - During the continuous movement of the rear half in the conveying direction, when at least a portion of the rear half is received in the receiving element, the rear half is inverted and flipped over by moving the receiving element in the conveying direction; and

[0033] - Separate the legs from the rear portion, wherein the rear portion is in the inverted orientation.

[0034] In one embodiment, the system according to the first aspect is used in the method according to the second aspect.

[0035] In one embodiment, for the flipping step, the rear part is lifted during the movement of the receiving element in the conveying direction, thereby lifting the rear part during the flipping process.

[0036] In one embodiment, the movement of the receiving element in the conveying direction includes at least a rotational movement, which causes the rear to flip upside down due to the rotational movement.

[0037] In one embodiment, the receiving element is rotatably connected to the frame about a rotation axis transverse to the conveying direction, and wherein, in order to flip the rear inverted position, the receiving element rotates about the rotation axis in a vertical plane.

[0038] In one embodiment, during the movement of the receiving element in the conveying direction, at least a portion of the rear portion is received in the receiving element, and the upstream end of the rear portion moves in the conveying direction, between the legs or at least between its hip joints, and moves past the legs or at least its hip joints.

[0039] The corresponding embodiments are also applicable to the system described above according to the first aspect of the present invention. The effects of the method according to the present invention are similar to those of the system according to the present invention described above.

[0040] In general, the present invention relates to a system and method for processing the rear half of a slaughtered poultry carcass, the rear half including a hindquarter and legs, and transported in a suspended manner by a conveyor. The system includes: a rear-part flipping device having a fixed frame and a receiving element movably connected to the frame and configured to receive at least a portion of the rear half, and configured to move in a conveying direction during continuous movement of the rear half, wherein at least a portion of the rear half is received in the receiving element, thereby flipping the rear half inverted; and a separating device for separating the legs from the hindquarter, wherein the rear half is in an inverted orientation.

[0041] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic diagrams, in which embodiments of the invention are shown, and similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements.

[0042] Figure 1 A front view of an embodiment of a system according to the invention for processing the posterior half of a slaughtered poultry carcass is shown; and

[0043] Figure 2 It shows according to Figure 1 Section II-II.

[0044] Figure 1 A system 1 is shown for processing the rear half 2 of a slaughtered poultry carcass. The rear half 2 includes a rear section 3 and legs 4 connected to the rear section. During use, the rear half 2 is continuously transported in a suspended manner by a conveyor 6 along a conveying direction 8, wherein the legs 4 are suspended on the conveyor 6, and more specifically, each leg is suspended on a carrier 10 of the conveyor 6.

[0045] The system 1 includes a rear tilting device 12, which has a fixed frame 14 (in) Figure 2(Shown schematically at medium height) and a receiving element 16 movably connected to the frame 14. The movement of the receiving element 16 in the conveying direction 8 includes at least a rotational movement, thereby causing the rear portion 3 to flip inverted due to the rotational movement. More specifically, in this embodiment, the rear flipping device 12 has three such receiving elements 16, each receiving element 16 being rotatably connected to the frame 14 about a rotation axis 18 transverse to the conveying direction 8, wherein the movement of the receiving element 16 in the conveying direction includes rotation about the rotation axis 18 in a vertical plane. The three receiving elements 16 are respectively fixed to a central base 19 and extend radially from the central base 19, which defines the rotation axis 18 with its central axis. Figure 1 As shown, three receiving elements 16 are spaced 120 degrees apart relative to the axis of rotation 18. During use, the rear half 2 moves horizontally above the axis of rotation 18 past the rear flipping device 12. This means that in the upper arcuate portion of the rotating receiving element, they can receive the rear part 3 and move from the upstream position to the downstream position in the conveying direction. During the rotation of the receiving element 16, as a result of the receiving element moving through the arcuate portion, the rear part 3 will be temporarily lifted by the receiving element. This results in a slight loosening of the suspension of the legs on the conveyor 6, resulting in a further reduction or even absence of tension on the legs 4. As shown, when one receiving element is in the upstream position, another receiving element is in the downstream position. Therefore, when a rear part enters the receiving space of the first-mentioned receiving element, the inverted rear part of the directly downstream rear half can leave the last-mentioned receiving element. The lower arcuate portion, i.e., the arcuate portion below the axis 18, is used to rotate the receiving element in the opposite conveying direction, i.e., from the downstream position back to the upstream position.

[0046] Each receiving element 16 is configured to receive at least a portion of the rear portion 3 of the rear half 2, and is further configured such that, during use, as the rear half 2 moves continuously in the conveying direction 8, the at least portion of the rear portion is received in the receiving element 16, thereby causing the rear portion 3 to flip upside down due to the movement of the receiving element 16. For this purpose, the receiving element 16 has two elongated extending elements 20, 22 defining a receiving space 24 for receiving at least a portion of the rear portion 3 of the rear half. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in the diagram, each extension element 20 or 22 has two fingers positioned adjacent to each other, i.e., adjacent to each other in the lateral direction. Alternatively, in another design, two pairs of elongated extension elements can be provided, defining a receiving space between the two pairs of extension elements. Figure 1As shown, a larger portion of the rear portion 3 is received in the receiving space 24 and thus held by the receiving element, which can be considered to be in an upstream position. This means that the orientation of the rear portion 3 relative to the receiving element 16 is at least substantially fixed during its presence in the receiving element 16.

[0047] The rear flipping device 12 has a drive unit 28 operably connected to the receiving element 16. The drive unit 28 is used to move the receiving element 16 in the conveying direction, i.e., to rotate the receiving element 16 about axis 18 in the rotational direction 13. Axis 18 is the central axis of the drive shaft, which is connected to the drive unit 28. Due to the rotation of the receiving elements 16, they can receive the rear part 3 each time, which is supplied to the rear flipping device by the conveyor 6. Because of the rotation of the receiving element in direction 13, it can move together with the rear half 2, thereby temporarily lifting the rear part 3 and flipping it inverted. Then, due to the continued movement of the rear part in the conveying direction 8, the rear part leaves the receiving element again. Figure 1 The image shows a rear half 2 that has just left the rear flipping device 12, with the rear half 3 having been flipped upside down. The receiving elements 16 are respectively configured to move in the transport direction 8, with the rear half 3 received in the receiving elements 16 such that the upstream end 3a of the rear half 3 moves in the transport direction 8, between the legs 4 or at least between their hip joints 26, and moves past the legs 4 or at least their hip joints 26.

[0048] The system also includes a guide 30 for retaining at least a portion of the rear portion 3 of the poultry carcass 2 within the receiving element 16 during the flipping of the rear portion 3 by the rear flipping device 12. This means that the guide 30 effectively prevents the rear portion 3 from prematurely leaving the receiving element for any reason. The system 1 also includes a cutting device 32 (shown schematically) positioned upstream of the rear flipping device 12 for cutting at or near the hip joint 26, at or near the hip joint 26, at a junction that may include tendons and / or cartilage. The cutting device 32 is positioned directly above the supply conveyor 38.

[0049] During the conveying process away from the rear tilting device 12, the rear part 3, which is in the inverted orientation, is supported by the separating conveyor 34 of the separating device 40, which is located downstream of the rear tilting device 12 in the conveying direction 8. Figure 1As shown, conveyor 34 bends downwards while conveyor 6 continues its horizontal movement. Furthermore, conveyor 34 can have a speed lower or higher than that of conveyor 6. The path of conveyor 34 is followed by guide 36, which thereby grasps the rear portion 3 between conveyor 34 and guide, thus separating leg 4 from rear portion 3, where rear portion 3 is in the inverted orientation. This shows the leftmost rear half 2, or at least the leg 4 of rear half 2 and the separated rear portion 3. Therefore, the separating conveyor 34, used to separate leg 4 from rear portion 3, is configured to move away from conveyor 6.

[0050] As can be seen from the above description of embodiments of the system according to the present invention, the method for processing the latter half of a slaughtered poultry carcass using such system 1 includes:

[0051] -The rear half 2 is transported in a suspended manner in the conveying direction 8 via conveyor 6, wherein the legs 4 are suspended on conveyor 6;

[0052] - At least a portion of the rear part 3 is received in the receiving element 16 of the rear flipping device 12, the receiving element 16 being movably connected to the fixed frame 14 of the rear flipping device 12.

[0053] - During the continuous movement of the poultry carcass in the conveying direction 8, when at least a portion of the rear portion 3 is received in the receiving element 16, the rear portion 3 is inverted and flipped over by moving the receiving element 16 in the conveying direction 8, the movement including rotational motion; and

[0054] - Separate the leg 4 from the rear 3, wherein the rear 3 is in the inverted orientation.

[0055] For the flipping step, the rear part 3 can be lifted during the movement of the receiving element 16 in the conveying direction 8.

[0056] Those skilled in the art, in practicing the claimed invention, can understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments through study of the accompanying drawings, disclosure, and appended claims. The foregoing description provides embodiments of the invention by way of example only. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. One or more objects of the invention are achieved by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system for processing the rear half of a slaughtered poultry carcass, the rear half comprising a rear portion and legs connected to the rear portion, wherein, in use of the system, the rear half is transported in a suspended manner along a conveying direction by a conveyor, wherein the legs are suspended on the conveyor. The system includes: - A rear flipping device having a fixed frame and a receiving element movably connected to the frame, wherein the receiving element is configured to receive at least a portion of the rear portion therein, and further configured to move in the conveying direction during use, during continuous movement of the rear half in the conveying direction, wherein the at least a portion of the rear portion is received in the receiving element, thereby causing the rear portion to flip inverted due to the movement of the receiving element, wherein the receiving element has at least two elongated extension elements defining a receiving space between the extension elements for receiving the at least a portion of the rear half in the receiving space; and - A separation device disposed downstream of the rear flipping device in the conveying direction and configured to separate the leg from the rear portion, wherein the rear portion is in the inverted orientation.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The receiving element is configured to lift the rear portion during the movement of the receiving element in the conveying direction.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The movement of the receiving element in the conveying direction includes at least a rotational movement, which causes the rear portion to flip upside down due to the rotational movement.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein, The receiving element is rotatably connected to the frame about a rotation axis transverse to the conveying direction, and wherein the movement of the receiving element in the conveying direction includes rotation about the rotation axis in a vertical plane.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein, The rear flipping device has a plurality of receiving elements, each of which is rotatable about the rotation axis.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein, The plurality of receiving elements are two, three, or four receiving elements, each of which is fixed to a central base and extends radially from the central base, which defines the axis of rotation.

7. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The receiving element is configured to move in the conveying direction, wherein the rear portion is received in the receiving element such that the upstream end of the rear portion moves in the conveying direction, between the legs or at least between the hip joints of the legs, and moves past the legs or at least the hip joints of the legs.

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The rear flipping device has a drive unit operably connected to the receiving element, the drive unit being used to move the receiving element in the conveying direction.

9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the system further comprising a fixed guide for retaining at least a portion of the rear half in the receiving element during the rear half being flipped by the rear half flipping device.

10. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the system further comprising a cutting device upstream of the rear flipping device, the cutting device being used to cut the connection at or at least near the hip joint.

11. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The separating device includes a separating conveyor supported downstream of the rear tilting device in its inverted orientation, wherein, in order to separate the legs from the rear portion, the separating conveyor is configured to move at a speed different from that of the conveyor, and / or configured to move away from the conveyor, and / or wherein the system includes a leg cutting device along the separating conveyor.

12. A method for processing the hindquarters of a slaughtered poultry carcass, the hindquarters comprising a rear portion and a leg connected to the rear portion, the method comprising: -The rear half is transported in a suspended manner in the conveying direction by a conveyor, wherein the legs are suspended on the conveyor; - At least a portion of the rear portion is received in a receiving element of a rear flipping device, the receiving element being movably connected to a fixed frame of the rear flipping device, wherein the receiving element has at least two elongated extension elements defining a receiving space between the extension elements for receiving the at least a portion of the rear portion of the rear half in the receiving space. - During the continuous movement of the rear half in the conveying direction, when at least a portion of the rear half is received in the receiving element, the rear half is inverted and flipped over by moving the receiving element in the conveying direction; and - Separate the leg from the rear portion, wherein the rear portion is in the inverted orientation.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, Use the system according to any one of claims 1-11.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein, For the flipping step, the rear part is lifted during the movement of the receiving element in the conveying direction.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein, The movement of the receiving element in the conveying direction includes at least a rotational movement, which causes the rear portion to flip upside down due to the rotational movement.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The receiving element is rotatably connected to the frame about a rotation axis transverse to the conveying direction, and wherein, in order to flip the rear inverted position, the receiving element rotates in a vertical plane about the rotation axis.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12-16, wherein, During the movement of the receiving element in the conveying direction, at least a portion of the rear portion is received in the receiving element, and the upstream end of the rear portion moves in the conveying direction, between the legs or at least between the hip joints of the legs, and moves past the legs or at least the hip joints of the legs.

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