Evisceration tool, evisceration device, cam plate and jaw arm

Abstract

The invention relates to evisceration tools, evisceration devices, cam plates and gripper arms. The evisceration tool comprises gripper arms provided with grippers at the end of the gripper arms, at least one of the gripper arms being rotatable about an axis of rotation, such that the evisceration tool is movable between an open position in which the grippers can grip a poultry gut and a closed position in which the grippers can hold the poultry gut, at least one of the gripper arms being provided with an actuation portion for moving the evisceration tool between the open position and the closed position, the actuation portion comprising an aperture, the aperture being equipped to receive a cam plate, the cam plate being drivable to move at least one of the gripper arms provided with the cam plate, the cam plate being fitted into the aperture while leaving a play between the cam plate and the aperture, such that the cam plate is movable relative to the at least one gripper arm, the cam plate being subjected to a load to bias the cam plate into a preferred position in the aperture.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a evisceration tool, which includes a gripper arm with grippers at its ends. At least one gripper arm is rotatable about a rotation axis, allowing the evisceration tool to move between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the grippers can hold poultry intestines, and in the closed position, the grippers can hold poultry intestines. Furthermore, at least one gripper arm is provided with an actuating portion for moving the evisceration tool between the open and closed positions. Background Technology

[0002] This type of viscera removal tool is known from WO01 / 52659 and WO2016 / 013931.

[0003] WO01 / 52659 claims protection for a evisceration tool for processing the viscera mass of slaughtered animals, the evisceration tool comprising:

[0004] Two gripper portions, the gripper portions being adapted to move relative to each other between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the first gripper portion is at a distance from the second gripper portion, and in the closed position the first gripper portion is driven toward the second gripper portion;

[0005] Support device, used to support the gripper part;

[0006] A first actuating device, the first actuating device being used to at least partially move the support device and the gripper portion into and out of the body cavity of the animal to be slaughtered; and

[0007] A second actuating device is used to move the gripper portions relative to each other between their open and closed positions.

[0008] The first actuating device and the second actuating device are designed sequentially such that:

[0009] The first actuating device moves the support device and the gripper portion into the body cavity without substantially moving the viscera, so as to place a portion of the visceral mass between the gripper portions; the second actuating device has pre-moved the gripper portions to the open position.

[0010] The second actuating device moves the gripper portions to their closed positions so as to clamp onto said portion of the visceral mass;

[0011] The first actuator moves the support device so as to move the visceral mass.

[0012] The applicant pointed out that not only can both arms be movable, but only one of the gripper arms can be moved such that the gripper can move between an open position and a closed position.

[0013] Furthermore, the applicant has brought to the market a evisceration tool according to the preceding part, namely, an evisceration tool including a gripper arm, wherein the gripper arm is provided with a gripper at its end, wherein at least one gripper arm is rotatable about a rotation axis, such that the evisceration tool is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the gripper can hold poultry intestines, and in the closed position the gripper arm can hold poultry intestines, and wherein at least one gripper arm is provided with an actuating portion for moving the evisceration tool between the open and closed positions, the actuating portion including an orifice configured to receive a cam plate, the cam plate being drivable to move at least one gripper arm of the gripper arm provided with the cam plate.

[0014] WO2016032059 discloses a poultry viscera removal device including a removal unit movable upward or downward. The poultry viscera removal device includes: a fixing unit for fixing a body having a central axis in an upward and downward direction; a removal unit disposed on the upper portion of the fixing unit for upward or downward movement, configured to selectively push in or pull out a poultry body fixed by means of the fixing unit, the removal unit being arranged to clamp the esophagus of the poultry and thereby remove the viscera connected to the esophagus; and a plurality of removal components arranged side by side along the periphery of the body and rotating relative to the central axis of the body along the periphery of the body. Summary of the Invention

[0015] The purpose of this invention is to counteract the impact of wear and tear on the accuracy of visceration tools.

[0016] For this purpose, the viscera removal tool of the present invention is provided with one or more features of various aspects of the present invention.

[0017] In a first aspect of the invention, a cam plate is fitted into an orifice with a clearance between the cam plate and the orifice, thereby allowing the cam plate to move relative to at least one gripper arm, and the cam plate is subjected to a load to bias the cam plate into a preferred position within the orifice. Therefore, the cam plate used to drive the visceration tool always occupies a well-defined position.

[0018] Preferably, the clearance allows for (partial) rotational movement of the cam plate relative to at least one gripper arm.

[0019] Preferably, the cam plate is equipped with a spring. The spring is a reliable and inexpensive tool for providing load to the cam plate.

[0020] In a preferred arrangement, the cam plate is provided with a first lateral extension arm, and at least one of the gripper arms with the cam plate is provided with a second lateral extension arm, and both the first and second lateral extension arms are loaded with springs. This provides a reliable and inexpensive way to apply loads to the cam plate.

[0021] In a suitable arrangement, the spring is mounted on bolts and nuts located on the second lateral extension arm.

[0022] The advantage of this invention is that it is most fully utilized in a evisceration apparatus comprising a plurality of evisceration tools according to the invention, which can be placed in a processing line for eviscerating poultry, the processing line including a conveyor for driving the respective evisceration tools.

[0023] The invention is also embodied in a cam plate as described as part of a viscera removal tool according to the invention, the cam plate comprising: an internal opening capable of receiving a drive pin; and an outer circumference adapted to an aperture provided in an actuating portion of a gripper arm of the viscera removal tool, wherein the cam plate is provided with a first lateral extension arm.

[0024] Specifically, the cam plate includes a single uninterrupted internal opening defined by an outer peripheral wall that directly defines the single internal opening on its side facing the internal opening, wherein the peripheral wall is shaped differently from a circular shape on its side away from the internal opening, and wherein the cam plate is provided with a first lateral extension arm fixed to the cam plate in a non-removable manner.

[0025] The internal opening is arranged to receive the drive pin, and the circumferential wall is customized to fit into an aperture provided in the actuating portion of the gripper arm of the visceration tool.

[0026] The invention is also embodied in a gripper arm as described as part of an evisceration tool according to the invention, the gripper arm including an aperture adapted to receive a cam plate, wherein the gripper arm is provided with a second lateral extension arm capable of retaining a spring mounted on a bolt and nut.

[0027] Specifically, the gripper arm includes a rotation axis defined by a pin hole and an orifice in the actuation portion of the gripper arm, wherein the gripper arm, which is away from the pin hole, is positioned in the actuation portion at a position opposite to the pin hole compared to the gripper arm, wherein the orifice is larger than the pin hole and is shaped differently from the pin hole, and the orifice and the pin hole are the only through holes of the gripper arm, and wherein the gripper arm, which is away from the pin hole and away from the gripper arm, is provided with a second lateral extension arm.

[0028] The second lateral extension arm can hold the springs mounted on the bolts and nuts. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this application, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0030] In the attached diagram:

[0031] Figure 1 The visceration tool of the present invention is shown in the closed position;

[0032] Figure 2 It is shown in the open position. Figure 1 Internal organ removal tools;

[0033] Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 The gripper arm of the visceration tool is equipped with a cam plate.

[0034] Figure 4 This shows the case without a cam plate. Figure 3 The gripper arm shown; and

[0035] Figure 5 The cam plate is shown.

[0036] Whenever the same reference numerals are used in the accompanying drawings, these reference numerals refer to the same parts. Detailed Implementation

[0037] Now, let's move on to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The invention illustrates a viscera removal tool 1 according to the present invention, which includes gripper arms 2 and 3, with grippers 4 and 5 provided at the ends of the gripper arms 2 and 3.

[0038] Typically, there are several evisceration tools 1, all of which form part of an evisceration apparatus that can be installed in a processing line for eviscerating poultry, the processing line including a conveyor for driving the respective evisceration tools 1. This structure is clear to those skilled in the art and is therefore not shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0039] At least one of the gripper arms, namely gripper arm 3, has a rotation axis 6' provided by pin 6, which allows the evisceration tool 1 to rotate as follows: Figure 2 The opening position described in the text is similar to... Figure 1 It moves between the closed positions depicted in the diagram. Figure 2In the open position shown, claws 4 and 5 can grip poultry intestines, and Figure 1 In the closed position shown, grippers 4 and 5 can hold the poultry intestines.

[0040] At least one of the gripper arms 2 and 3, in this case only gripper arm 3 is provided for positioning the grippers 4 and 5 in the open position of the evisceration tool 1. Figure 2 ) and the closed position of the internal organ removal tool 1 ( Figure 1 The actuating part 7 moves between ) . For example, in Figure 4 As best shown, the actuating portion 7 includes an aperture 8, which is configured to receive in Figure 5 Cam plate 9 is shown separately. Figure 3 The accompanying drawing shows the gripper arm 3, with the cam plate 9 assembled with it. It can be noted from the drawing that the gripper 5, with orifice 8 away from the gripper arm 3, is positioned in the actuating portion 7 at a position opposite to that of the pin hole 6'. The orifice is also larger than the pin hole 6' and has a different shape than the pin hole 6'. Furthermore, orifice 8 and pin hole 6' are the only through holes in the gripper arm 3.

[0041] The gripper 5 is located away from the pin hole 6' and away from the gripper arm 3, which is provided with a second lateral extension arm 12.

[0042] Despite Figure 1 and Figure 2 This can also be seen in the middle, but in Figure 3 The optimal arrangement shows a cam plate 9 fitted into an orifice 8 with a small clearance 16 between the cam plate 9 and the orifice 8, allowing the cam plate 9 to move relative to at least one gripper arm 3. To eliminate the clearance on a critical side associated with reliable operation of the visceration tool 1, a load is applied to the cam plate 9 to bias it into a preferred position within the orifice 8. As will be explained below, the load can be applied appropriately using a spring, but other loading devices are also feasible.

[0043] Further reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the cam plate 9 is actuated by an external drive pin 10 of the evisceration device, which forms part of the evisceration tool 1. This drive pin is arranged to move the associated gripper arm 3 on which the cam plate 9 is mounted. The external drive pin 10 is operated in a known manner by the movement of a cam, which follows a cam track at the circumference of a rotating machine, also known as a conveyor. This structure does not relate to the essence of the invention and is therefore not further shown in the drawings, not to mention that the structure is perfectly clear to those skilled in the art as it is a common method for moving the drive pin 10.

[0044] Despite the description in the preceding paragraphs, protection is also claimed with respect to a evisceration apparatus comprising a plurality of evisceration tools according to the invention, the evisceration apparatus being capable of being placed in a processing line for eviscerating poultry, and the processing line including a conveying device for driving the respective evisceration tools according to the invention.

[0045] like Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, the cam plate 9 is provided with a first lateral extension arm 11. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The image shows a gripper arm 3 with a cam plate 9, which is equipped with the aforementioned second lateral extension arm 12. Specifically, in... Figure 3 In China, and also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The diagram shows a first lateral extension arm 11 and a second lateral extension arm 12 equipped with springs 13. This is an arrangement that applies a load to the cam plate 9 to bias the cam plate 9 into a preferred position in the orifice 8 and limits the effect of wear and abrasion on the drive motion applied to at least one gripper arm 3.

[0046] It also seeks protection for the individual cam plate 9, such as in Figure 5 The best example shown is one that has the ability to accept, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 The internal opening 17 of the drive pin 10 is depicted. Furthermore, in particular, Figure 3 The diagram shows a cam plate 9 with an outer circumference adapted to an orifice 8 in the actuation portion 7 of the gripper arm 3 of the visceration tool 1. Specifically, the cam plate 9 includes a single, uninterrupted internal opening 17 defined by an outer circumferential wall 18, which directly defines the internal opening 17 on its side facing the internal opening 17, wherein the circumferential wall 18 is configured on its side opposite to the internal opening 17 to fit into the orifice 8 in the actuation portion 7 of the gripper arm 3 of the visceration tool 1.

[0047] The first lateral extension arm 11 of the cam plate 9 is fixed to the cam plate 9 in a non-removable manner.

[0048] Correspondingly, protection is also claimed for individual gripper arms 3, which include an aperture 8 adapted to receive a cam plate 9 according to the preceding paragraph, and are provided with a second lateral extension arm 12 capable of retaining a spring 13 mounted on a bolt 14 and a nut 15. Specifically, the gripper arm 3 includes a rotation axis 6' in a pin hole 6 and includes an aperture 8 in an actuating portion 7 of the gripper arm 3, the aperture 8 being arranged to receive a cam plate 9 for actuating the gripper arm 3. A gripper 5, located away from the aperture 8 and the gripper arm 3, is positioned in the actuating portion 7 in a position opposite to that of the pin hole 6, and the aperture 8 is larger than the pin hole 6 and shaped differently from the pin hole 6. The aperture 8 and the pin hole 6 are the only through holes in the gripper arm 3. The gripper 5, located away from the pin hole 6 and away from the gripper arm 3, is provided with a second lateral extension arm 12 capable of retaining a spring 13 mounted on a bolt 14 and a nut 15. In this way, the load that the spring 13 can apply to the cam plate 9 can be easily adjusted.

[0049] Embodiments of the present invention may include each combination of features disclosed herein independently of each other. Although the invention has been discussed above with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the invention is not limited to that particular embodiment, and embodiments may vary 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 not to limit the claims to those exemplary embodiments. 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.

[0050] Variations and modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the invention is intended to cover all such variations and equivalents in the appended claims. The full disclosure of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above 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 substituting the various components and / or reconfiguring the relationships between them.

Claims

1. A viscera removal tool (1), the viscera removal tool (1) comprising gripper arms (2, 3), wherein gripper arms (2, 3) are provided with grippers (4, 5) at their ends, wherein, At least one of the gripper arms (2, 3) is rotatable about a rotation axis, allowing the eviscerating tool (1) to move between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the grippers (4, 5) are capable of gripping poultry intestines, and in the closed position, the grippers (4, 5) are capable of holding the poultry intestines. At least one of the gripper arms (2, 3) is provided with an actuating portion (7) for moving the eviscerating tool (1) between the open and closed positions. The actuating portion (7) includes an opening (…). 8), the orifice (8) is configured to receive a cam plate (9), the cam plate (9) being driven to move at least one gripper arm (3) of the gripper arms (2, 3) on which the cam plate (9) is disposed, characterized in that the cam plate (9) is fitted into the orifice (8) while a clearance (16) is left between the cam plate (9) and the orifice (8), thereby enabling the cam plate (9) to move relative to the at least one gripper arm (3), and the cam plate (9) is subjected to a load to bias the cam plate (9) into a preferred position in the orifice (8).

2. The viscera removal tool (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cam plate (9) is equipped with a spring (13).

3. The viscera removal tool (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cam plate (9) is provided with a first lateral extension arm (11), and at least one of the gripper arms (2, 3) provided with the cam plate (9) is provided with a second lateral extension arm (12), and the first lateral extension arm (11) and the second lateral extension arm (12) are loaded with the spring (13).

4. The viscera removal tool (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The spring (13) is mounted on a bolt (14) and a nut (15) provided on the second lateral extension arm (12).

5. The viscera removal tool (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cam plate (9) includes an internal opening (17), characterized in that, The cam plate (9) includes a single uninterrupted internal opening (17) defined by an outer peripheral wall (18) which directly defines the single internal opening (17) on its side facing the internal opening (17), wherein the outer peripheral wall (18) is shaped differently from a circle on its side away from the internal opening (17), wherein the cam plate (9) is provided with a first lateral extension arm (11) fixed to the cam plate (9) in a non-removable manner.

6. The viscera removal tool (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The internal opening (17) is arranged to receive the drive pin (10), and the outer peripheral wall (18) is customized to fit into an opening (8) in the actuating portion (7) of the gripper arm (3) of the visceration tool (1).

7. The visceration tool (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the gripper arm (3) comprises a rotation axis in a pin hole (6') and an orifice (8) in the actuating portion (7) of the gripper arm (3), characterized in that, The jaw (5) of the jaw (8) away from the jaw arm (3) is located in the actuating part (7) at a position opposite to that of the jaw (5) relative to the pin hole (6'), wherein the jaw (8) is larger than the pin hole (6') and is shaped differently from the pin hole (6'), and the jaw (8) and the pin hole (6') are the only through holes of the jaw arm (3), and wherein the jaw (5) away from the pin hole (6') and away from the jaw arm (3) is provided with the second lateral extension arm (12).

8. The viscera removal tool (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The second lateral extension arm (12) is able to hold the spring (13) mounted on the bolt (14) and nut (15).

9. A evisceration apparatus comprising a plurality of evisceration tools according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the evisceration apparatus being capable of being disposed in a processing line for eviscerating poultry, the processing line comprising a conveying device for driving the respective evisceration tools.

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