Depilatory whip for pigs

Abstract

Dehairing whip (100, 300) for pigs, including: a whip head (110) comprising a through bore (118) extending substantially parallel to a principal longitudinal axis of the whip head (110), the whip head (110) having two substantially parallel ends (111) and an outer surface (113) connecting the two substantially parallel ends (111), the through bore (118) extending through the substantially parallel ends (111), the through bore (118) communicating with the outer surface (113) via a slot (116), the slot comprising at least one long side and two short sides, the long side being substantially parallel to the principal longitudinal axis of the head and the short sides being substantially parallel to the substantially parallel ends (111); and a whip body (120) with a main longitudinal axis of the body perpendicular to the through bore (118), wherein the whip body (120) has a proximal section comprising a top, a bottom and two sides, wherein the whip body (120) comprises a proximal end attached to the outer surface (113) of the whip head (110) and a distal free end; for each of the two sides of the whip body (120) a portion of the proximal end of each of the two sides is in sliding contact with at least a portion of one of the two short sides of the slot (116); wherein the whip body (120) is reversibly bendable with respect to the whip head (110), wherein one bending direction is perpendicular to the through bore (118); wherein a first bending direction enlarges the slot (116) and a second bending direction reverses this enlargement; wherein the whip body (120) has at least two configurations with respect to the whip head (110), a non-bent configuration and a bent configuration; wherein in the non-bent configuration the through bore (118) is configured to surround a spindle (200) of a pig dehairing machine (1000) so that the pig dehairing whip (100, 300) is securely mounted on the spindle (200); and in the bent configuration the spindle (200) can be passed through the slot (116) so that after passing the spindle (200) through the slot (116) the through bore (118) surrounds the spindle (200).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a depilatory whip for a depilatory machine that is removable and replaceable without having to remove other depilatory whips in the depilatory machine. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] When processing pig carcasses after slaughter, it is necessary to remove the hair before deskinning the carcass. This is usually done by first placing the carcass in boiling water and then scraping it to remove any remaining hair. Scraping may be done using a set of long, narrow dehairing whips mounted on spindles, with the spindle passing through holes at one end of the dehairing whips. Typically, each spindle contains three dehairing whips. If a dehairing whip becomes damaged or breaks, the processing line is stopped until the dehairing whip can be replaced. Replacement usually requires the spindle to be loosened from its mounting and removed from the spindle support. The broken or damaged dehairing whip can then be removed.The new dehairing whip and the undamaged dehairing whips are then positioned, the spindle is guided through the holes in the dehairing whips, and the spindle is screwed back into place. This takes time and delays the processing line.

[0003] There has therefore been a long-felt need to provide a dehairing whip for a dehairing machine that does not require the spindle to be removed from its holder or the dehairing whips to be removed from the spindle in order to replace a damaged or broken dehairing whip. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to disclose a pig dehairing whip for a pig dehairing machine which is removable and replaceable without having to remove the spindle from the pig dehairing machine or the pig dehairing whips from the spindle in the pig dehairing machine.

[0005] It is a further object of the present invention to disclose a dehairing whip for pigs, comprising: a whip head having a through-bore extending substantially parallel to a main longitudinal axis of the whip head, the whip head having two substantially parallel ends and an outer surface connecting the two substantially parallel ends, the through-bore passing through the substantially parallel ends, the through-bore communicating with the outer surface via a slot, the slot comprising at least one long side and two short sides, the long side extending substantially parallel to the main longitudinal axis of the head and the short sides extending substantially parallel to the substantially parallel ends; and a whip body having a main longitudinal axis perpendicular to the through-bore, the whip body having a proximal portion including a top, a bottom, and two sides, the whip body including a proximal end attached to the outer surface of the whip head and a distal free end; wherein, for each of the two sides of the whip body, a portion of the proximal end of each of the two sides is in sliding contact with at least a portion of one of the two short sides of the slot; the whip body is reversibly bendable with respect to the whip head, with a bending direction running perpendicular to the through-bore; a first bending direction enlarges the slot and a second bending direction reverses the enlargement; wherein the whip body has at least two configurations relative to the whip head, a non-bent configuration and a bent configuration; wherein in the non-bent configuration, the through-bore is configured to surround a spindle of a pig dehairing machine such that the pig dehairing whip is securely mounted on the spindle; and in the bent configuration, the spindle can be passed through the slot such that after the spindle passes through the slot, the through-bore surrounds the spindle.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to disclose a dehairing whip for pigs as described in any of the preceding points, wherein the attachment comprises one or more scrapers configured to remove bristles from a pig carcass.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to disclose a dehairing whip for pigs as described in any of the preceding points, wherein the sides are substantially perpendicular to the top.

[0008] A further object of the present invention is to disclose a dehairing whip for pigs as described in the above embodiments, wherein the whip head additionally has guides.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to disclose a dehairing whip for pigs as described above, wherein each of the guides is in sliding contact with a proximal part of one of the sides of the whip body.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to disclose a dehairing whip for pigs as described in any of the above points, wherein the whip body comprises a number of whips in a range selected from the group consisting of 1 to 4, 1 to 2 or any range within this group.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to disclose a dehairing whip for pigs as described in any one of the above points, wherein the dehairing whip for pigs comprises natural rubber, artificial rubber, plastic, and any combination thereof.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to disclose a dehairing whip for pigs as described in any of the preceding points, wherein the main part of the head is substantially cylindrical.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to disclose a dehairing whip for pigs as described in any of the preceding points, wherein the total length of the dehairing whip for pigs is selected from the group consisting of a range of 350 mm to 600 mm, a range of 400 mm to 470 mm, a range of 405 mm to 450 mm, 407 mm or any range therebetween.

[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to disclose the dehairing whip for pigs as described in any one of the preceding points, wherein a diameter of the through-bore is selected from the group consisting of a range of 8 mm to 12 mm, 10 mm or a range therebetween.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to disclose the pig dehairing whip as described in any one of the above points, wherein a difference between the diameter of the through hole and a diameter of the spindle is selected from the group consisting of a range of 0.2 mm to 1 mm, 0.5 mm, or any range therebetween.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to disclose a dehairing whip for pigs as described in the foregoing, wherein the radius of the whip head is selected from the group consisting of a range of 12 mm to 25 mm, 17.5 mm or any range therebetween.

[0017] It is a further object of the present invention to disclose the dehairing whip for pigs as described above, wherein the difference between the radius of the through hole and the radius of the whip head is at least 8 mm.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to disclose a dehairing whip for pigs as described in the above embodiments, wherein the length of the whip head is selected from the group consisting of a range of 30 mm to 60 mm or any range therebetween.

[0019] It is a further object of the present invention to disclose the dehairing whip for pigs as described above, wherein one of the at least one long side of the slot (116) either exits the through-bore (118) tangentially to the through-bore (118) or exits the through-bore (118) at an angle other than a tangent to the through-bore (118). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMBERS

[0020] For a better understanding of the invention and its implementation in practice, several embodiments will now be described as non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. shows mounted dehairing whips in a dehairing machine for pigs; Fig. shows schematically an embodiment of the dehairing whip for pigs according to the invention; Fig. shows schematically an embodiment of the head of the dehairing whip for pigs according to the invention; Fig. shows schematically another embodiment of the dehairing whip for pigs according to the invention; Fig. 5A-C schematically shows another embodiment of the head of the dehairing whip for pigs according to the invention; and Fig. Figure 6 shows schematically another embodiment of the head of the dehairing whip for pigs according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The following description, together with all the chapters of the present invention, is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make use of the invention and represents the best modes of carrying out this invention contemplated by the inventor. However, various modifications will remain apparent to those skilled in the art since the general principles of the present invention have been specifically defined to provide a pig dehairing whip for a pig dehairing machine that is removable and replaceable without requiring the removal of other pig dehairing whips in the pig dehairing machine.

[0022] Fig. shows pig dehairing whips (100) in a typical pig dehairing machine (1000). There are a plurality of spindles (200) bolted onto spindle supports (300). Each spindle (200) holds three dehairing whips (100), with the spindle (200) passing through holes in the dehairing whips (100).

[0023] According to the state of the art, replacing a damaged or broken depilation whip (100) requires loosening the screws of the spindle (200), removing the spindle (200) from the bore(s) of the depilation whip(s) (100), removing the broken or damaged depilation whip (100), inserting the spindle (200) through the bores of the undamaged and new depilation whip (100) and replacing the screw that holds the spindle (200) to the spindle holder (300).

[0024] Fig. 2A-C schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the pig dehairing whip (100) of the present invention, wherein Fig. 2A a perspective view, Fig. 2B a top view and Fig. 2C shows a side view of the pig dehairing whip (100), wherein top view and side view are shown with the pig dehairing whips (100) mounted on a spindle (see e.g. Fig. 1). The pig dehairing whip (100) of the present invention consists of two parts: a whip head (110) with a through-bore (118) and a whip body (120). The whip body (120) includes one or more scrapers (119) designed to remove the bristles from the carcass. The shape, size, and number of scrapers (119) on the whip body (120) are not relevant to the patent.

[0025] Fig. 3A-C schematically shows an embodiment of the whip head (110) of the pig dehairing whip (100) of the present invention, wherein Fig. 3A a perspective view, Fig. 3B a plan view and Fig. 3C shows a side view of the whip head (110) of the pig dehairing whip (100), wherein top view and side view are shown with pig dehairing whips (100) mounted on a spindle (see e.g. Fig. 1).

[0026] The whip head (110) comprises a head body (112) with a through-bore (118) that communicates with the outer surface of the head body (112) via a slot (116). In the illustrated embodiment, the head body (112) is substantially cylindrical, with the through-bore (118) extending perpendicular to the ends (111) of the head body (112) and parallel to the side (113) of the head body (112).

[0027] The slot (116) allows the whip body (120) to be bent relative to the whip head (110) (black arrow). Bending the whip body (120) in the direction of the black arrow enlarges the slot (116); the material(s) of at least part of the whip head (110) are sufficiently flexible to widen the slot sufficiently to allow it to be guided around the spindle (200) so that the through-bore (118) can surround the spindle (200). Bending the whip body (120) in the direction opposite to the black arrow narrows the slot (116), ensuring that the hair removal whip (100) does not detach from the spindle (200) during use.The whip head (110) further comprises guides (114), each guide (114) being in sliding contact with a proximal portion of a side (122) of the whip body (120) to ensure that the main longitudinal axis of the whip body (120) remains perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis of the through-bore (118) both during flexion of the whip body (120) relative to the whip head (110) and during use of the dehairing whip for pigs (100). As a further means of stabilizing the whip body (120) relative to the whip head (110) during use, the slot (116) is cut back into the head body (112) so that the sides of the slot that are parallel to the ends (111) of the whip head (110) slideably engage a proximal portion of the sides (122) of the whip body (120).

[0028] In this embodiment, the width of the whip body (120) is 23 mm at the proximal end of the whip body (120) (the end closest to the whip head (110)) and widens to 29.38 mm at the distal end (the free end of the whip body (120)). The widths of the whip body are not relevant to the patent.

[0029] Fig. Figure 4 schematically shows another exemplary embodiment of the pig dehairing whip (300) of the present invention. In this embodiment, the two parts of the pig dehairing whip (300) are a whip head (110) with a through-bore (118) and a whip body (120) comprising two whips (125), wherein the whips (125) comprise scrapers (119) designed to remove the bristles from the carcass. The shape, size, and number of scrapers (119) on the whips (125) are not relevant to the patent.

[0030] Fig. 5A-C schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the whip head (110) of the pig dehairing whip (300) of the present invention, wherein Fig. 5A a perspective view, Fig. 5B a plan view and Fig. 5C shows a side view of the whip head (110) of the pig dehairing whip (300), wherein top view and side view are shown with pig dehairing whips (300) mounted on a spindle (see e.g. Fig. 1).

[0031] The whip head (110) comprises a head main part (112) with a through-bore (118) that communicates with the outer surface (113) of the head main part (112) via a slot (116). In the illustrated embodiment, the head main part (112) is substantially cylindrical, with the through-bore (118) running perpendicular to the ends (111) of the head main part (112) and parallel to the side (113) of the head main part (112).

[0032] The slot (116) allows the whips (125) of the whip body (120) to be bent relative to the whip head (110) (black arrow). Bending the whips (125) in the direction of the black arrow enlarges the slot (116); the material(s) of at least part of the whip head (110) are sufficiently flexible to widen the slot sufficiently to allow it to be guided around the spindle (200) so that the through-bore (118) can enclose the spindle (200). Bending a whip (125) in the direction opposite to the black arrow narrows the slot (116), ensuring that the hair removal whip (300) does not detach from the spindle (200) during use.To stabilize the whip body (120) relative to the whip head (110) during use, the slot (116) is cut back into the main part (112) of the head so that the sides of the slot that run parallel to the ends (111) of the whip head (110) slide against a proximal part of the sides (122) of the whip body (120).

[0033] In the exemplary embodiments of the whip head (110) shown above, the slot (116) is radially curved; it does not extend in a straight line from the through-bore (118) to the outer surface (113), as in the Fig. 3A and Fig. 5A is most clearly visible. Fig. Figure 6 schematically shows a whip head (110) in which the slot (116) extends in a straight line from the through-bore (118) to the outer surface (113).

[0034] The embodiment of Fig. 6 also includes recesses (129) configured to receive a user's finger or thumb to assist the user in widening the slot (116) during removal or replacement of a pig dehairing whip (100, 300) on a spindle (200).

[0035] In preferred embodiments, one of the long sides of the slot (116) exits the through-bore (118) tangentially to the through-bore (118). In less preferred 7

[0036] In some embodiments, one of the long sides of the slot (116) exits the through-bore (118) at an angle other than tangential to the through-bore (118).

[0037] The whip head (110) and the whip body (120) can be made of the same material or different materials. The material(s) must be flexible, but if different materials are used for the whip head (110) and the whip body (120), they can also have different levels of flexibility. Typically, the dehairing whip (100, 300) for pigs is made of natural rubber, but the dehairing whip (100, 300) for pigs can also be made of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or a combination thereof.

[0038] In these embodiments, the total length of the hair removal whip (100, 300) is 407 mm. The total length of the hair removal whip (100, 300) is not relevant to the patent. Typically, the total length of the hair removal whip (100, 300) can be in a range of 350 mm to 600 mm, in a range of 400 mm to 470 mm, in a range of 405 mm to 450 mm, or in another range in between.

[0039] The diameter of the through-hole (118) is 10 mm. It can range from 8 mm to 12 mm, or any range therebetween. Preferably, the diameter of the through-hole (118) is 0.5 mm larger than the diameter of the spindle (200) on which it is to be mounted. The difference between the diameter of the through-hole (118) and the diameter of the spindle (200) can range from 0.2 mm to 1 mm, or any range therebetween.

[0040] In these embodiments, the radius of the whip head (110) is 17.5 mm. The radius of the whip head (110) is not relevant to the patent. The radius of the whip head (110) can range from 12 mm to 25 mm, or any range in between, as long as the difference between the radius of the through-bore (118) and the radius of the whip head (110) is at least 10 mm.

[0041] In this embodiment, the length of the whip head (110) is 45 mm. The length of the whip head (110) is not relevant to the patent. The radius length of the whip head (110) can range from 30 mm to 60 mm or any range in between.

[0042] Typically, a whip body (120) comprises one or two whips (125); the number of whips may range from 1 to 4 or any range therebetween.

[0043] In use, the dehairing whip (100, 300) is preferably positioned such that the whip body (120) bends upon contact with the pig carcass in a direction that narrows the slot (116), thereby preventing detachment of the dehairing whip (100, 300) from the spindle (200).

[0044] The invention is not limited to the particular combinations of features of the whip head (110) described in the Fig. 2 to 6. A whip head may include any combination of the whip head features (110) disclosed herein. As a non-limiting example, the slot (116) may have a straight and a curved section, or a whip head (110) may have guides (114) and one or more recesses (129). Many other such combinations of features will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0045] The invention is not limited to the Fig.2 to 5. Any whip head (110) disclosed herein can be attached to any whip body (120) disclosed herein.

[0046] To replace a damaged or broken depilation whip (100, 300), the whip body (120) is bent to enlarge the slot (116). When the slot (116) is sufficiently enlarged, the depilation whip (100, 300) is pulled away from the spindle (200) so that the spindle (200) passes through the slot and the depilation whip (100, 300) is freed from the depilation machine (1000) without having to detach the spindle (200) from the spindle supports (300) or remove other depilation whips (100, 300) from the spindle (200).A new dehairing whip (100, 300) can then be mounted on the spindle (200) by bending the new dehairing whip (100, 300) so that the slot (116) is sufficiently enlarged to allow the spindle (200) to pass through the slot (116) so that the through hole (118) surrounds the spindle (200), and after the new dehairing whip (100, 300) has been mounted on the spindle (200), the processing line can start again.

Claims

[1] Dehairing whip (100, 300) for pigs, comprising: a whip head (110) comprising a through-bore (118) extending substantially parallel to a main longitudinal axis of the whip head (110), the whip head (110) having two substantially parallel ends (111) and an outer surface (113) connecting the two substantially parallel ends (111), the through-bore (118) extending through the substantially parallel ends (111), the through-bore (118) communicating with the outer surface (113) via a slot (116), the slot comprising at least one long side and two short sides, the long side extending substantially parallel to the main longitudinal axis of the head and the short sides extending substantially parallel to the substantially parallel ends (111); and a whip body (120) having a main longitudinal body axis perpendicular to the through-bore (118), the whip body (120) having a proximal portion comprising a top, a bottom, and two sides, the whip body (120) having a proximal end secured to the outer surface (113) of the whip head (110) and a distal free end; for each of the two sides of the whip body (120), a portion of the proximal end of each of the two sides is in sliding contact with at least a portion of one of the two short sides of the slot (116); wherein the whip body (120) is reversibly bendable with respect to the whip head (110), wherein a bending direction is perpendicular to the through-bore (118); wherein a first bending direction enlarges the slot (116) and a second bending direction reverses this enlargement; wherein the whip body (120) has at least two configurations with respect to the whip head (110), a non-bent configuration and a bent configuration; wherein in the non-bent configuration, the through-bore (118) is configured to surround a spindle (200) of a pig dehairing machine (1000) such that the pig dehairing whip (100, 300) is securely mounted on the spindle (200); and in the bent configuration, the spindle (200) is adapted to pass through the slot (116) such that after the spindle (200) has been passed through the slot (116), the through-bore (118) surrounds the spindle (200). [2] A dehairing whip for pigs according to claim 1, wherein the upper part comprises one or more scrapers (119) designed to remove bristles from a pig carcass. [3] A dehairing whip for pigs according to claim 1, wherein the sides are substantially perpendicular to the top. [4] Dehairing whip for pigs according to claim 1, wherein the whip head (110) additionally has guides (114). [5] A dehairing whip for pigs according to claim 4, wherein each of the guides (114) is in sliding contact with a proximal portion of one of the sides (122) of the whip body (120). [6] A dehairing whip for pigs according to claim 4, wherein the whip body (120) has a number of whips (125) in a range selected from the group consisting of 1 to 4, 1 to 2, or any range therebetween. [7] The pig dehairing whip according to claim 1, wherein the pig dehairing whip comprises natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, and any combination thereof. [8] A dehairing whip for pigs according to claim 1, wherein the head main part (112) is substantially cylindrical. [9] The pig dehairing whip of claim 1, wherein the overall length of the pig dehairing whip (100, 300) is selected from the group consisting of a range of 350 mm to 600 mm, a range of 400 mm to 470 mm, a range of 405 mm to 450 mm, 407 mm, or any range therebetween. [10] The pig dehairing whip of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the through-bore (118) is selected from the group consisting of a range of 8 mm to 12 mm, 10 mm, or any range therebetween. [11] A dehairing whip for pigs according to claim 1, wherein the difference between the diameter of the through-bore (118) and the diameter of the spindle (200) is selected from the group consisting of a range of 0.2 mm to 1 mm, 0.5 mm or any range therebetween. [12] A dehairing whip for pigs according to claim 1, wherein the radius of the whip head (110) is selected from the group consisting of a range of 12 mm to 25 mm, 17.5 mm or any range therebetween [13] A dehairing whip for pigs according to claim 1, wherein the difference between the radius of the through hole (118) and the radius of the whip head (110) is at least 8 mm. [14] A dehairing whip for pigs according to claim 1, wherein the length of the whip head (110) is selected from the group consisting of a range of 30 mm to 60 mm or any range therebetween. [15] A dehairing whip for pigs according to claim 1, wherein one of the at least one long side of the slot (116) either exits the through-bore (118) tangentially to the through-bore (118) or exits the through-bore (118) at an angle other than a tangent to the through-bore (118).

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