Scraper and processing line for cleaning the neck of poultry

Abstract

The invention relates to a scraper and processing line for cleaning the neck of poultry. A scraper (1) for removing unwanted parts from the neck region of slaughtered poultry, in particular for removing the trachea and esophagus with crop from the neck region of slaughtered poultry, the scraper (1) comprising a mandrel (2) and forwardly directed protrusions (3, 4) arranged to operate in the neck region of the slaughtered poultry during use, wherein the forwardly directed protrusions (3, 4) form part of at least one plate (5, 6), wherein the at least one plate (5, 6) is movably mounted or mountable on the mandrel (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a scraper for removing unwanted portions from the neck region of slaughtered poultry, particularly for removing the trachea and esophagus with crop from the neck region of said slaughtered poultry, said scraper comprising a spindle and a forward-oriented protrusion arranged to operate in the neck region of said slaughtered poultry during use. Background Technology

[0002] This type of scraper is known from EP-A-0 178 825, dating back to 1984. Development of this scraper has continued since 1984, as evidenced by standards such as US 5,222,905 (1992) and EP-A-0838 156 (1997). Figure 3 As demonstrated by publications such as A, US6,213,864 (1999), EP-B-1 048 214 (1999), US2005 / 0186895 (2014) and EP-B-2 299834 (2009).

[0003] US2010 / 273407 discloses a scraper for removing unwanted portions from the neck region of slaughtered poultry, particularly for removing the trachea and esophagus with crop from the neck region of said poultry. The scraper includes a spindle and a forward-oriented protrusion arranged to operate in the neck region of said poultry during use, wherein the forward-oriented protrusion forms part of at least one plate, wherein said at least one plate is mounted or can be mounted on the spindle.

[0004] Despite decades of continuous efforts since 1984, the industry has yet to provide an effective solution to the problem that procedures used to remove unwanted parts from the neck area of ​​slaughtered poultry are not always satisfactory. For example, the unsatisfactory result of unwanted parts remaining after procedures in the neck area of ​​slaughtered poultry may be caused by the fact that not all poultry are the same size. Furthermore, the strength of the tissues that must be broken down during the cleaning process may vary from animal to animal. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a solution to the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] According to the present invention, a novel scraper design is proposed, which has features according to one aspect of the invention. The invention is also embodied in a processing line for processing poultry, particularly for removing unwanted portions from the neck region of such slaughtered poultry, the processing line comprising a conveyor device and a transport line with a carrier for suspending the slaughtered poultry by its legs, the transport line guiding the suspended poultry along the conveyor device, wherein the conveyor device is provided with a scraper having features according to one aspect of the invention.

[0007] The main feature of the scraper of the present invention, which includes a mandrel and a forward-oriented protrusion arranged to operate in the neck region of slaughtered poultry during use, is that the forward-oriented protrusion forms part of at least one plate, wherein the at least one plate is mounted or can be mounted on the mandrel, and when mounted on the mandrel, the at least one plate is movable relative to the mandrel.

[0008] The shape of the plate is not important; at least one plate can be straight or curved. Utilizing the mobility of the plate with protrusions relative to the mandrel, the protrusions, which perform the scraping action on the neck region of poultry, can be positioned to the most effective point. Furthermore, because the plate can move relative to the mandrel, the scraper of the present invention can be easily adapted to the size of the poultry to be processed.

[0009] For reasons of effectiveness, it is preferable that the scraper is provided with two plates, each of which is provided with the forward-oriented protrusion, and that each of the two plates is movable relative to the spindle when the two plates are mounted on the spindle.

[0010] The most convenient method is to mount the two plates, or to mount them on opposite sides of the spindle. This balances the forces exerted on the skin of the poultry's inner neck by the forward-oriented protrusions of the two plates. This keeps the poultry in a stable suspended position during cleaning operations.

[0011] It is cost-effective to provide one or more plates that are flat in the area where the protrusions are located. This allows manufacturing costs to remain low.

[0012] Appropriately, the protrusions are arranged behind each other in the longitudinal direction of one or more plates, each of the protrusions having a forward-pointing, blunt end portion. From an operational point of view, this arrangement has proven to be the most efficient.

[0013] Ideally, one or more plates are movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel, which further facilitates the easy adjustment of the scraper of the present invention to the size of the poultry to be processed. This can be achieved by arranging one or more plates in a direction that is both longitudinal and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel.

[0014] The scraper of the present invention can be constructed in different ways, but preferably one or more plates are mounted on a movable pin of a spindle, the pin extending through a first slit oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the spindle, wherein when the pin is driven in the longitudinal direction of the spindle, the first slit oriented at an angle causes the pin to perform movement at least in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the spindle.

[0015] For the movable pin of the mandrel to drive, it is preferable that the mandrel has a hollow portion for accommodating a longitudinally movable drive rod.

[0016] The drive connection between the longitudinally movable drive rod and the movable pin of the spindle is preferably arranged such that the drive rod has a second slit oriented laterally relative to the longitudinal direction of the drive rod, and the movable pin of the spindle extends through the second slit.

[0017] The mounting of one or more plates of the mandrel is preferably achieved by each plate having an orifice, in which the movable pin of the mandrel is tightly fitted.

[0018] Ideally, each plate has at least two orifices in which the movable pin of the mandrel is tightly fitted, wherein the at least two orifices are located on opposite ends of the mandrel.

[0019] It should also be noted that the invention is also embodied in a processing line for processing poultry, particularly for removing unwanted portions from the neck region of such slaughtered poultry, the processing line comprising a conveyor device and a conveyor line having a carrier for suspending the slaughtered poultry by its legs, the conveyor line guiding the suspended poultry along the conveyor device, wherein the conveyor device is provided with a scraper according to the invention.

[0020] Suitable, the conveyor device is provided with a first track and a second track, wherein a longitudinally movable drive rod is connected to a first wheel guided in the first track, and wherein a spindle is connected to a second wheel guided in the second track, such that at least one plate can move relative to the spindle by the relative movement of the first wheel relative to the second wheel.

[0021] An advantageous embodiment of the conveyor device includes a first conveyor unit provided with a first track and a second conveyor unit provided with a second track, wherein the first and second conveyor units are movable vertically relative to each other. This provides the advantage that the vertical distance between the two conveyor units can be adjusted according to the poultry flock. Therefore, if a flock of poultry, primarily large birds, is to be processed, the distance between the two conveyor units can be increased by lowering the second conveyor unit relative to the first conveyor unit. In this way, the plate can be slightly opened at the start of processing.

[0022] Ideally, the processing line includes a drive (e.g., a hydraulic system that controls the vertical height of the second conveyor unit) for adjusting the distance between the first and second conveyor units. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The invention will be further illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments of the scraper and conveyor device according to the invention, which are not limited to the appended claims.

[0024] In the attached diagram:

[0025] - Figure 1 The scraper of the present invention is shown in an isometric view;

[0026] - Figure 2 The scraper of the present invention is shown in an exploded view;

[0027] - Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 The present invention illustrates scrapers for handling small, medium, and large poultry, respectively; and

[0028] - Figure 6 A conveyor device equipped with a scraper according to the invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Whenever the same reference numerals are used in a figure, these reference numerals refer to the same part.

[0030] First go to Figure 1 and Figure 2 It shows a scraper 1 for removing unwanted parts from the neck region of slaughtered poultry, particularly for removing the trachea and esophagus with crop from the neck region of said slaughtered poultry.

[0031] The scraper 1 of the present invention includes a spindle 2 and forward-oriented protrusions 3 and 4, which are arranged to operate on the skin of the neck from the inside of the neck and neck region of the slaughtered poultry during use, among other things.

[0032] The scraper is provided with at least one straight or curved plate, but preferably with two such plates 5, 6 as shown in the figure, wherein each of the two plates 5, 6 is provided with the forward-oriented protrusions 3, 4, and each of the two plates 5, 6 is movably mounted or can be mounted on the spindle 2. "Modibly mounted or can be mounted on the spindle" means that when one or more plates 5, 6 are mounted on the spindle 2, the one or more plates 5, 6 can move relative to the spindle 2. As shown in the figure, the two plates 5, 6 are preferably mounted or can be mounted on opposite sides of the spindle 2.

[0033] Figure 2 What is most clearly shown is that one or more plates 5, 6 are preferably flat in the area where the protrusions 3, 4 are provided.

[0034] As is clear from all the figures, the protrusions 3 and 4 are positioned behind each other in the longitudinal direction of one or more plates 5 and 6, wherein each of the protrusions 3 and 4 has a forward-pointing end portion 3', 4', which is preferably blunt.

[0035] By comparison Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 It is clear that one or more plates 5 and 6 can move relative to the spindle 2. For example... Figure 3 As depicted, when the scraper 1 of the present invention is arranged for processing small-sized poultry, the protrusions 3, 4 are positioned relative to the spindle 2 such that the protrusions 3, 4 do not extend beyond the edge of the central spindle 2. Figure 4 As depicted, when the scraper 1 of the present invention is intended to process medium-sized poultry, the protrusions 3 and 4 of the scraper extend slightly beyond the edge of the central spindle 2, and when the scraper is intended to process relatively large poultry, the protrusions 3 and 4 of the scraper extend to their maximum extension beyond the edge of the central spindle 2. This latter arrangement... Figure 5 As shown in the image.

[0036] To adapt the scraper 1 of the present invention to different sizes of poultry to be processed, one or more plates 5, 6 are movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel 2. This is achieved through comparison. Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 It is clear. In the illustrated configuration, this is achieved by arranging one or more plates 5, 6 in the longitudinal direction of the spindle 2 and simultaneously in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the spindle 2, which is achieved by the features of the scraper 1, which will be discussed below.

[0037] As is clear from all the figures, but from Figure 2As can be best understood from the exploded view shown, the front side plate 5 is mounted on the first set of movable pins 7 and 8 of the spindle 2, and the rear side plate 6 is mounted on the second set of movable pins 7' and 8' of the spindle 2.

[0038] Pins 7 and 8 supporting the front side plate 5 extend through a set of first slits 9 and 10 that are tilted relative to the longitudinal direction of the spindle 2, while pins 7' and 8' supporting the rear side plate 6 extend through another set of first slits 9' and 10' that are tilted relative to the longitudinal direction of the spindle 2.

[0039] The front side plate 5, mounted on pins 7 and 8, is provided with orifices 11 and 12. The first set of movable pins 7 and 8 of the spindle 2 are tightly fitted into orifices 11 and 12. At least two orifices 11 and 12 are located on opposite ends of the spindle 2. Correspondingly, the rear side plate 6, mounted on the second set of movable pins 7' and 8', is provided with orifices 11' and 12'. The second set of movable pins 7' and 8' of the spindle 2 are tightly fitted into orifices 11' and 12'. At least two orifices 11' and 12' are located on opposite ends of the spindle 2.

[0040] As just explained, when the pins 7 and 8 supporting the front side plate 5 are driven in the longitudinal direction of the spindle 2, the first tilt-oriented slits 9 and 10 of the spindle 2 cause the pins 7 and 8 to perform a tilt-oriented movement, which also determines the movement of the front side plate 5 relative to the spindle 2. Simultaneously, the first set of movable pins 7 and 8 also extends through slits 13 and 14 provided in the rear side plate 6, which is positioned opposite to the spindle 2. These slits 13 and 14 in the rear side plate 6 provide space for moving the pins 7 and 8 supporting the front side plate 5 without affecting the position of the rear side plate 6. Therefore, driving the pins 7 and 8 thus provides movement only for the front side plate 5.

[0041] As discussed in the previous paragraph, the corresponding and similar configurations are set up to move the rear side plate 6 in accordance with the movement of the front side plate 5. It should be noted that when the pins 7' and 8' supporting the rear side plate 6 are driven in the longitudinal direction of the spindle 2, the first tilted slits 9' and 10' of the spindle 2 cause the pins 7' and 8' to perform a tilted oriented movement relative to the longitudinal direction of the spindle 2, which also determines the movement of the rear side plate 6 relative to the spindle 2. Simultaneously, a second set of movable pins 7' and 8' also extends through slits 13' and 14' located in the front side plate 5, which are positioned opposite to the spindle 2. These slits 13' and 14' in the front side plate 5 provide space for moving the pins 7' and 8' supporting the rear side plate 6 without affecting the position of the front side plate 5. Therefore, driving the pins 7' and 8' provides movement only for the rear side plate 6.

[0042] The first set of movable pins 7, 8 and the second set of movable pins 7', 8' are preferably driven by the following arrangement: the spindle 2 has a hollow portion 2' for accommodating a longitudinally movable drive rod 15. The drive rod 15 has a second slit 16, 17 oriented laterally relative to the longitudinal direction of the drive rod 15, and the first set of movable pins 7, 8 and the second set of movable pins 7', 8' of the spindle 2 extend through the second slit 16, 17.

[0043] The up-and-down moving drive rod 15 drives the pins 7 and 8 supporting the front side plate 5 and the pins 7' and 8' supporting the rear side plate 6 in an inclined direction, which is defined by the orientation of the slits 9 and 10 for the front side plate 5 and the orientation of the slits 9' and 10' for the rear side plate 6. In fact, since the front side plate 5 and the rear side plate 6 are respectively mounted on the pins 7 and 8 and 7' and 8', the front side plate 5 performs the movement defined by the first set of movable pins 7 and 8, and the rear side plate 6 performs the simultaneous movement defined by the second set of movable pins 7' and 8'.

[0044] at last, Figure 6 A conveyor device 18 is shown, which can be assembled with a conveyor line having a carrier for suspending slaughtered poultry by its legs, the conveyor line guiding the suspended poultry along the conveyor device 18. Figure 6 The conveyor device 18 is depicted as being equipped with a scraper 1 according to the invention.

[0045] Figure 6 The conveyor device 18 is also shown to be provided with a first track 19 and a second track 20, wherein a longitudinally movable drive rod 15 is connected to a first wheel guided in the first track 19, and wherein a spindle 2 is connected to a second wheel guided in the second track 20.

[0046] Figure 6 The conveyor device 18 is also depicted as including a first conveyor unit 18' provided with a first track 19 and a second conveyor unit 18" provided with a second track 20, wherein the first and second conveyor units are capable of moving vertically relative to each other. For this purpose, the processing line includes a driver for adjusting the distance between the first conveyor unit 18' and the second conveyor unit 18" . The implementation of the driver is not shown, as it will be clear to those skilled in the art. In this way, at least one plate 5, 6 can move relative to the spindle 2 by the relative movement of the first wheel relative to the second wheel, which is caused by a change in the distance between the first conveyor unit 18' and the second conveyor unit 18" .

[0047] Embodiments of the present invention may include every combination of features disclosed herein independently of each other. Although the invention has been discussed above with reference to exemplary embodiments of the method of the invention, the invention is not limited to that particular embodiment, which may be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments discussed should not be used to strictly interpret the appended claims therein. Rather, the embodiments are intended only to interpret the wording of the appended claims and are not intended to limit the claims to that exemplary embodiment. Therefore, the scope of protection of the invention should be interpreted only according to the appended claims, wherein any ambiguity in the wording of the claims should be resolved using the exemplary embodiments.

[0048] Variations and modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the invention is intended to cover all such modifications and equivalents in the appended claims. The full disclosure of all foregoing references, applications, patents, and publications is incorporated herein by reference. Unless specifically stated above as "essential," the various components or their interrelationships are not essential for the operation of the invention. Rather, desired results can be achieved by replacing the various components and / or reconfiguring the relationships between them.

Claims

1. A scraper (1) for removing unwanted portions from the neck region of slaughtered poultry, the scraper (1) comprising a spindle (2) and forward-oriented protrusions (3, 4) arranged to operate in the neck region of the slaughtered poultry during use, wherein, The forward-oriented protrusions (3, 4) form part of at least one plate (5, 6), wherein the at least one plate (5, 6) is mounted on the mandrel (2), characterized in that the at least one plate (5, 6) is movable relative to the mandrel (2), wherein one or more plates (5, 6) are mounted on movable pins (7, 8; 7', 8') of the mandrel (2), the pins (7, 8; 7', 8') extending through a first slit (9, 10; 9', 10') inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel (2), wherein when the pins (7, 8; 7', 8') are driven along the longitudinal direction of the mandrel (2), the inclined first slit (9, 10; 9', 10') of the mandrel (2) causes the pins (7, 8; 7', 8') to perform at least a movement transverse to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel (2).

2. The scraper according to claim 1, characterized in that, The scraper (1) is provided with two plates (5, 6), each of the two plates (5, 6) being provided with the forward-oriented protrusions (3, 4), and when the two plates (5, 6) are mounted on the spindle (2), the two plates (5, 6) are each movable relative to the spindle (2).

3. The scraper according to claim 2, characterized in that, The two plates (5, 6) are mounted on opposite sides of the mandrel (2).

4. The scraper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, One or more plates (5, 6) are flat in the area where the protrusions (3, 4) are provided.

5. The scraper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The protrusions (3, 4) are arranged one in front of the other in the longitudinal direction of the one or more plates (5, 6), and each of the protrusions (3, 4) has a forward-pointing blunt end portion (3', 4').

6. The scraper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The one or more plates (5, 6) are capable of moving in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel (2).

7. The scraper according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spindle (2) has a hollow portion (2') for accommodating a longitudinally movable drive rod (15).

8. The scraper according to claim 7, characterized in that, The drive rod (15) has a second slit (16, 17) laterally oriented relative to the longitudinal direction of the drive rod (15), and the movable pin (7, 8; 7', 8') of the spindle (2) extends through the second slit (16, 17).

9. The scraper according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the plates (5, 6) is provided with an opening (11, 12; 11', 12'), and the movable pins (7, 8; 7', 8') of the mandrel (2) are tightly fitted in the opening.

10. The scraper according to claim 9, characterized in that, Each plate (5, 6) has at least two orifices (11, 12; 11', 12'), and the movable pins (7, 8; 7', 8') of the mandrel (2) are tightly fitted in the at least two orifices, wherein the at least two orifices (11, 12; 11', 12') are located on opposite ends of the mandrel (2).

11. The scraper according to claim 1, characterized in that, The scraper is used to remove the trachea and esophagus with crop from the neck area of ​​the slaughtered poultry.

12. A processing line for processing poultry, the processing line comprising a conveyor assembly (18) and a conveyor line with a carrier for suspending slaughtered poultry by its legs, the conveyor line guiding the suspended poultry along the conveyor assembly (18), characterized in that, The conveyor device (18) is provided with a scraper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The processing line according to claim 12, characterized in that, The conveyor device (18) is provided with a first track (19) and a second track (20), wherein a longitudinally movable drive rod (15) is connected to a first wheel guided in the first track (19), and wherein the spindle (2) is connected to a second wheel guided in the second track (20), such that the at least one plate (5, 6) can move relative to the spindle (2) by the relative movement of the first wheel relative to the second wheel.

14. The processing line according to claim 13, characterized in that, The conveyor device (18) includes a first conveyor unit (18') provided with the first track (19) and a second conveyor unit (18") provided with the second track (20), wherein the first conveyor unit and the second conveyor unit are capable of moving up and down relative to each other.

15. The processing line according to claim 14, characterized in that, The processing line includes a driver for adjusting the distance between the first conveyor unit (18') and the second conveyor unit (18").

16. The processing line according to claim 12, characterized in that, The processing line is used to remove unwanted parts from the neck area of ​​slaughtered poultry.

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