Stunning tongs for electrically stunning livestock, electrode head assembly and electrode for this purpose

Abstract

Electrode (3) for a stunning tong (100) for electrically stunning livestock, characterized in that the electrode (3) is designed without a bottom, with a hollow cylindrical electrode wall (6) surrounding an electrode opening (9) and with a toothing (10) provided on a first end face (25) with a plurality of toothed projections (11).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to stunning tongs for electrically stunning slaughter cattle as well as an electrode head arrangement and an electrode therefor.

[0002] Today, slaughterhouses are faced with increased consumer price and quality awareness and the resulting intense competitive pressure. Therefore, they must implement sustainable, cost-effective practices and ensure optimal meat quality. They must also comply with ethical animal welfare standards, which require reliable stunning prior to slaughtering livestock to avoid pain.

[0003] In modern shift operations, the electrical stunning of slaughter animals using electric current, known as electrostunning, is therefore widely used. This involves grasping the slaughter animals, such as pigs, sheep, and cattle, with stunning forceps and stunning them by injecting an electric current into their brain and / or heart. For this purpose, the stunning forceps have electrode heads with electrodes on the ends of their forceps arms. The electrodes usually have sharp-edged teeth to penetrate the skin, which has a high electrical resistance, of the slaughter animal during the stunning process and inject the electric current into the subcutaneous fat of the slaughter animal.

[0004] Electrodes with a circular shape and toothing offer a large contact area, which is advantageous. However, the electrodes used for stunning forceps available on the market are usually complex to manufacture and therefore represent a costly wear part.

[0005] DE 1952329 U discloses an electrode head assembly for stunning tongs for electrically stunning slaughter cattle. This assembly comprises an electrode with a closed base and a circular, circumferential toothing with helical projections protruding from the base. The electrode is detachably connected to an electrode head of the stunning tongs via a nut. A disadvantage of this assembly is that the electrode is machined and thus requires a high level of material.

[0006] DE 573842 A also discloses an electrode head assembly for stunning tongs for electrically stunning slaughter cattle. The electrode is designed as an annular gear ring with a U-shaped cross-section, resting with a base portion on an elastic clamping disc. The electrode is detachably connected to the electrode head via a total of four screws. The clamping disc has a centrally arranged spike-shaped protrusion and is operatively connected to a spring pin received in the electrode head such that, when pressure is applied to the spike-shaped protrusion of the clamping disc, an electrical contact is closed for the introduction of the stunning current. The clamping disc is thus a button-like component of an electrical contact.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a new alternative stunning tongs as well as an electrode head arrangement and electrode therefor for the electrical stunning of slaughter cattle in order to enable reliable stunning and handling as well as cost-effective production.

[0008] To achieve the object, the invention has the features of claim 1. Accordingly, an electrode according to the invention for stunning tongs for electrically stunning slaughter cattle is designed without a bottom and has a hollow cylindrical electrode wall surrounding an electrode opening and a toothing provided on a first end face with a plurality of toothed projections.

[0009] The particular advantage of the invention is that the electrode is designed with a substantially hollow-cylindrical electrode wall and thus is bottomless. This allows the electrode to be manufactured cost-effectively from a hollow-cylindrical base body, for example, from a tube or piece of tubing, and to form a closed, circumferential toothing system, thereby forming a sufficient number of projections. This results in a comparatively high electrical conductivity for the electrode, which can be used for stunning slaughtered animals. Furthermore, the alignment and handling of stunning tongs incorporating the electrode are facilitated by the circumferential toothing.This ensures that there are sufficient protrusions to penetrate the skin of the slaughtered animal, thus ensuring a sufficiently high electrical conductivity for electrical stunning, even if the electrode is placed at an unfavorable angle to the skin surface of the slaughtered animal. This enables reliable and cost-effective electrical stunning with a significant reduction in slaughter damage.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrode is made from a tube or tube section, preferably as a tube laser-cut component. This cost-effective production is made possible by the special geometry or shape of the electrode with an electrode wall that surrounds an electrode opening. The electrode therefore has a hollow-cylindrical basic shape, so that it can be produced from a tube or tube section as a blank or semi-finished product. The toothing can be incorporated cost-effectively using a laser cutting operation. Compared to the electrodes available on the market that are manufactured by machining or as bent sheet metal components, these (tube) laser-cut electrodes can be manufactured significantly more cost-effectively and with a more advantageous geometry, particularly in the area of ​​the toothing.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrode has at least two and preferably a total of three radially equally distributed notches or wall openings.

[0012] Preferably, the notches are rectangular in shape and interrupt the toothing. The notches extend axially from the electrode wall into the toothing.

[0013] According to an alternative embodiment, the electrode preferably has at least two, and particularly preferably three, radially distributed wall openings for the passage of screws, via which the electrode can be detachably mounted on an electrode head. The wall openings are preferably designed as through-holes or as cutouts opening into a second end face of the electrode wall opposite the toothing.

[0014] According to a further development of the invention, the electrode has an axially projecting axial projection on a second end face opposite the toothing.

[0015] According to a further development of the invention, the serrated projections of the electrode's teeth project into a common contact plane. This ensures that when the electrode is applied to the skin surface of the slaughtered animal to be stunned, as many teeth as possible can simultaneously penetrate the skin into the subcutaneous fat of the slaughtered animal, thus ensuring a sufficiently high electrical conductivity for electrically stunning the slaughtered animal. The positive effect is improved stunning effectiveness, a reduction in slaughter damage, and improved meat quality.

[0016] According to a further development of the invention, a parabolic recess is formed between adjacent projections of the electrode's toothing. This advantageous geometry can be produced by laser cutting and has the positive effect of reducing the accumulation of contaminants, such as skin or meat residue, in the area of ​​the recesses or the tooth gaps of the toothing. Furthermore, the parabolic, round shape of the toothing recesses enables reduced stress loading and thus increased mechanical stability and wear resistance compared to toothing with angular recesses.

[0017] According to a further development of the invention, the projections each have a wedge angle in the range of 15° to 30°, and preferably in the range of 20° to 25°. The projections of the toothing are thus particularly pointed and can thus be designed with particularly sharp edges, which allows for improved penetration of the skin of the slaughtered animal. Preferably, a total of seven projections for the toothing are provided between the notches.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrode has a preferred diameter of 70 mm, a preferred sheet thickness of 2 mm to 4 mm and particularly preferably 3 mm and a preferred height of 32 mm.

[0019] To achieve the object, the invention has the features of claim 8. Accordingly, an electrode head arrangement according to the invention for stunning tongs for electrically stunning slaughter cattle comprises an electrode according to the invention which is detachably held on an electrode head of the stunning tongs and which is designed to be bottomless with a hollow cylindrical electrode wall surrounding an electrode opening and with a toothing provided on a first end face opposite the electrode head and having a plurality of toothed projections.

[0020] The particular advantage of the invention is that the electrode can be secured to the electrode head without a base, allowing it to be manufactured cost-effectively from a hollow cylindrical base body and forming a substantially circumferential toothing, thereby creating a sufficient number of projections. The electrode is secured to the electrode head in a positionally secure manner, thereby reducing the risk of snagging in the slaughtered animal and the resulting slaughter damage.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a clamping disk with radial projections corresponding in shape to the notches is accommodated in the electrode opening of the electrode. The clamping disk has a central opening located in the center of the axis through which a threaded pin of the electrode head is passed. The clamping disk is axially secured to the electrode head by a nut screwed onto the threaded pin. The clamping disk serves as a cover for closing the electrode head or for closing the bottom of the electrode opening.

[0022] According to a further development of the invention, the electrode has at least two notches in the region of the electrode wall that interrupt the toothing. A clamping disk with radial projections corresponding in shape to the notches is accommodated in the electrode opening in such a way that the radial projections of the clamping disk engage radially in the notches of the electrode and bear axially against the electrode in the region of the notches. The clamping disk thus serves to releasably secure the electrode axially.

[0023] According to a further development of the invention, the clamping disc is designed to be axially resilient and is axially preloaded such that the clamping disc clamps the electrode with an axial spring force directed towards the electrode head.

[0024] For this purpose, the clamping disc is preferably made of spring steel and preferably by laser cutting or as a laser-cut component. This advantageously allows the clamping disc to be manufactured cost-effectively in a single operation.

[0025] The nut is preferably designed as a cap nut. According to a preferred embodiment, the nut has a mandrel-shaped or conical tip. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the tip of the nut is axially raised relative to the projections of the toothing. In particular, the tip of the nut is raised by approximately 10 mm ± 5 mm relative to the projections of the toothing.

[0026] According to a further development of the invention, a rubber-elastic sealing ring is arranged axially between the electrode head and the clamping disc, and radially between the electrode head and the electrode wall of the electrode. The sealing ring is preferably also elastically pre-tensioned via the pre-tensioned clamping disc, thereby providing a good sealing effect. The sealing ring seals the space between the electrode wall, the clamping disc, and the electrode head, thus preventing contaminants such as blood, pieces of skin and fur, or hairs from penetrating the interior of the electrode head.

[0027] According to a further development of the invention, a metal sealing ring is provided axially between the nut and the clamping disc. The metal sealing ring is preloaded when the nut is tightened. The metal sealing ring preferably has an internal, annular, rubber-elastic sealing element, sealing the radial space between the threaded pin and the clamping disc and preventing contaminants, such as blood, pieces of skin and fur, or hair, from penetrating the interior of the electrode head.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamping disk has a number of radially evenly distributed radial projections corresponding to the number of notches on the electrode. In this respect, in addition to the shape, the number of notches in the electrode wall also corresponds to the number of radially protruding radial projections on the outer edge of the clamping disk. The number of notches and radial projections is selected such that the axial spring force generated by the nut and acting on the clamping disk is evenly distributed on the electrode. The notches are preferably rectangular. The radial projections therefore preferably have a shape corresponding to the rectangular shape. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, a total of three notches are provided for the electrode and three radial projections for the clamping disk.

[0029] According to a further development of the invention, the electrode head has a cylindrical stepped projection that protrudes into the electrode opening. The electrode head thus forms a step similar to a shaft shoulder and thus provides an axial contact surface or contact plane for the electrode. Furthermore, it ensures radial positioning of the electrode by placing the electrode on the stepped projection and enclosing it with the electrode wall.

[0030] According to a further development of the invention, the electrode head has a recess on the edge, and the electrode has an axial projection on a second end face opposite the toothing that engages the recess. This ensures radial alignment of the electrode relative to the electrode head, thus preventing misalignment of the electrode due to faulty assembly. The axial projection of the electrode is preferably approximately 5 mm ± 0.2 mm.

[0031] To achieve the object, the invention has the features of the independent claim 21. Accordingly, a stunning tong for electrically stunning slaughter cattle comprises two tong arms which are connected to one another in a crosswise manner via a pivot joint and which can be rotated relative to one another, wherein the tong arms each have a handle leg on a handle side facing an operator and an electrode leg on a side opposite the handle side, wherein an electrode head arrangement with an electrode according to the invention is provided on the ends of the electrode legs opposite the handle side.

[0032] The particular advantage of this stunning forceps according to the invention is that it has a good stunning effect, is inexpensive to produce and enables reliable, simplified handling.

[0033] The electrode head arrangements provided for the stunning forceps according to the invention can differ from the electrode head arrangements according to the invention while maintaining the invention.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment of the stunning forceps according to the invention, the two electrode head arrangements are designed as electrode head arrangements according to the invention.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, stunning tongs for electrically stunning slaughtered cattle have two tong arms that are connected to one another in a crosswise manner via a pivot joint and that can rotate mutually. On a handle side facing an operator, the tong arms each have a handle leg and, on a side opposite the handle side, an electrode leg with an electrode head on the handle legs and the electrode legs are each manufactured as a straight tubular piece. The handle leg and the electrode leg of a tong arm are each connected to one another via a frame piece. The frame pieces each have a joint opening on their inner sides facing one another, in which the pivot joint is received. This at least partial inclusion of the pivot joint in the frame pieces enables a particularly flat, compact design.Thanks to the provided frame pieces, the electrode and handle legs can be manufactured as mechanically stable and cost-effective straight tubes or tube sections. Although the tong arms are each manufactured in at least three parts, comprising an electron leg, a handle leg, and a frame piece connecting them, they offer significantly increased mechanical stability compared to conventional tong arms made of bent tubes and can be manufactured more cost-effectively.

[0036] Preferably, the frame pieces have a parallelogram-shaped basic shape, with longitudinal sides lying parallel to one another and with end sides lying parallel to one another and shortened compared to the longitudinal sides.

[0037] Preferably, the electrode legs and the handle legs are each attached to the end faces of the frame pieces and preferably oriented parallel to the end faces of the frame pieces. Particularly preferably, the electrode legs and the handle legs are each welded to the end faces of the frame pieces. Weld seams or connection points often represent a mechanical design weakness. The proposed design places these outside the pivot point of the swivel joint, thereby increasing mechanical stability.

[0038] The frame pieces are preferably designed as square profile bodies, and preferably as square profile hollow bodies. This allows the stunning tongs to be particularly light and flat or compact.

[0039] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention can be derived from the further subclaims and the following description. Features mentioned therein may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. Features and details of the electrode head assembly described according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the stunning forceps, and vice versa. Thus, the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention can always be referenced reciprocally. The drawings serve merely as examples to clarify the invention and are not limiting in nature. Identical components and component functions are identified by the same reference numerals. They show: Fig. 1 an exploded view of an electrode head arrangement according to the invention in a first embodiment, Fig. 2 the electrode head arrangement according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in a perspective view, Fig. 3 the electrode head arrangement according to Fig. 1 in a sectional view, Fig. 4 an exploded view of an electrode head arrangement according to the invention in a second embodiment, Fig. 5 the electrode head arrangement according to the invention according to Fig. 4 in a perspective view, Fig. 6 the electrode head arrangement according to the invention according to Fig. 4 in a sectional view, Fig. 7 an electrode according to the invention in a perspective individual view, Fig. 8 the electrode according to the invention Fig. 7 in a side view, Fig. 9 the electrode according to the invention Fig. 7 in a sub-view, Fig. 10 a clamping disc for an electrode head arrangement according to the invention in a perspective individual view, Fig. 11 a first embodiment of a stunning forceps according to the invention in a side view, Fig. 12 the stunning forceps according to the invention Fig. 11 in a plan view and Fig. 13 a second frame piece of the stunning forceps according to the invention according to Fig. 11 in a perspective single view.

[0040] The Fig. Figures 1 to 10 show two exemplary embodiments of an electrode head assembly 1 according to the invention for a stunning forceps 100 for electrically stunning slaughter cattle with electric current. These exemplary embodiments each comprise an electrode 3 according to the invention.

[0041] In both figurative embodiments, the electrode head arrangement 1 comprises an electrode head 2, which is provided at one end of an electrode leg 21 of a stunning tongs 100, a crown-shaped or circular-ring-shaped bottomless electrode 3 according to the invention, a clamping disk 5 and a nut 4. In addition, both embodiments have in common that a metal sealing ring 17 is provided between the nut 4 and the clamping disk 5 and a rubber-elastic sealing ring 16 is provided between the electrode head 2 and the electrode 3, which are provided to seal the electrode head 2 against dirt, for example blood, fur, hair, pieces of skin or fat from the slaughtered animal to be stunned.

[0042] A first embodiment of an electrode head arrangement 1 is shown in the Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. The electrode head 2 is designed here as a housing having a cylindrical recess for receiving the tubular electrode leg 21 of a stunning forceps 100. To secure the electrode leg 21, a threaded pin 23 is provided in the electrode head 2, which engages in a correspondingly shaped opening in the electrode leg 21. For radial sealing between the electrode leg 21 and the electrode head 2, a rubber-elastic sealing ring 22 is provided, which is arranged in a ring recess in the electrode head 2 with a rectangular cross-section.

[0043] The electrical current required for electrical stunning (electric stunning) is conducted into the electrode head 2 via an electrical line or power cable 160 (not shown in the figure). For this purpose, the electrical line or power cable 160 is guided in the tubular electrode leg 21 and in the hollow body-shaped electrode head 2. For contacting the power cable 160 or the electrical line, the electrode head 2 has a cable lug 24, which is electrically conductively connected to the electrode 3.

[0044] The electrode head 2 has a circular, stepped projection 20, which projects into an electrode opening 9 of the electrode 3 and thus holds the electrode 3 in position. The electrode wall 6 of the electrode 3 thus encloses the stepped projection 20 of the electrode head 2.

[0045] The electrode head 2 further comprises a threaded pin 14, which is held in a threaded recess in the electrode head 2 by means of a thread. The threaded pin 14 protrudes from the electrode head 2 and serves to accommodate the nut 4. The nut 4 is designed here as a cap nut and is provided for the axial fixing and generation of an axial preload of the clamping disk 5. The metal sealing ring 17 is arranged axially between the clamping disk 5 and the nut 4. The clamping disk 5 has a centrally arranged central opening 13, which here is designed as a circular through-bore. In the electrode head arrangement 1, the central opening 13 is pierced by the threaded pin 14.

[0046] The clamping disk 5 is made of a springy or elastic material, preferably spring steel sheet, so that it exerts an axial spring force on the electrode 3. This clamping of the clamping disk 5 presses the electrode 3 against the electrode head 2. The crown-shaped or, in cross-section, circular, bottomless electrode 3 has a total of three radially evenly distributed notches 7, into which three radial projections of the clamping disk 5, also equally distributed, engage. The notches 7 of the electrode 3 are rectangular, and the radial projections 8 of the clamping disk 5 are also rectangular in shape and protrude radially from the clamping disk 5. According to the electrode head arrangement 1, the clamping disk 5 is preloaded via the nut 4 such that the nut 4 bears against the bottom sections of the notches 7 of the electrode 3 in the area of ​​the radial projections 8.

[0047] The notches 7 of the electrode 3 run from the toothing 10 into the electrode wall 6 of the electrode 3.

[0048] The toothing 10 of the electrode 3 provides a plurality of jagged, sharp-edged projections 11, with a total of seven projections 11 being provided between each two notches 7 of the electrode 3. A substantially parabolic, curved recess 12 is provided between each two adjacent projections 11. The projections 11 of the toothing 10 are each pointed such that a wedge angle α is a maximum of 30° and, in the illustrated embodiments, approximately 22°. The projections 11 of the toothing 10 are arranged in a common contact plane, or at the same height. This ensures that the electrode 3 engages the slaughtered animal to be stunned with a sufficient number of projections 11, even when positioned at an angle, and injects a sufficiently high stunning current. The toothing 10 is provided on a first end face 25 of the electrode 3.

[0049] A second, opposite end face 26 of the electrode 3 rests on the stepped projection 20 of the electrode head 2. For radial positioning, the electrode 3 has an axially raised projection 19 that engages a corresponding recess 18 in the electrode head. This allows the electrode 3 to be mounted on the electrode head 2 in only one permissible position, simplifying assembly and preventing misalignment of the electrode 3.

[0050] The Fig. The second embodiment of an electrode head arrangement 1 according to the invention shown in Figures 4 to 6 differs only in the design of the nut 4 from the embodiment according to Fig. 1. In the embodiment according to Fig. 4, the nut 4 is also designed as a cap nut, but has a conical or spike-shaped tip 15 that is axially raised relative to the toothing 10 of the electrode 3. Here, the nut 4 is preferably also electrically connected to the electrical line or power cable 160, so that the electrical stunning current can be injected into the slaughtered animal via this in addition to the electrode 3.

[0051] Individual views of the electrode head arrangements 1 according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 used electrode 3 are in the Fig. 7 to 9 are indicated.

[0052] A detailed view of the electrode head arrangements according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 used clamping disc 5 is in the Fig. 10 is given.

[0053] An embodiment of a stunning forceps 100 according to the invention is shown in the Fig. 11 to Fig. 13. The stunning forceps 100 has two forceps arms 101, 102, which are mounted so as to cross over or rotate in opposite directions via a pivot joint 103. The forceps arms 101, 102 are each essentially constructed in three parts, comprising an electrode leg 111, 112, a frame piece 131, 132, and a handle leg 121, 122. The electrode legs 111, 112 and handle legs 121, 122 are each constructed as straight tubes or tube pieces and are connected to one another via the frame pieces 131, 132. The pivot joint 103 is positioned between the frame pieces 131, 132, with the frame pieces 131, 132 each having a joint opening 162 on their inner sides facing one another, into which the pivot joint 103 is partially received. This advantageously enables a particularly flat and compact design for the stunning forceps 100.

[0054] At the free ends of the electrode legs 111, 112, an electrode head arrangement 141, 142 according to the invention is provided, as in the embodiment according to Fig. 1. A grip sleeve 151, 152 is attached to each of the free ends of the handle limbs 121, 122, i.e., the ends opposite the frame pieces 131, 132. The grip sleeve 151, 152 is preferably made of an electrically non-insulating material, preferably rubber. The second handle limb 122 of the second pliers arm 102 has a corresponding recess for the passage of the power cable 160.

[0055] The frame pieces 131, 132 are each designed as a substantially parallelogram-shaped hollow body, with opposite, parallel longitudinal sides and end faces that are shortened relative to the longitudinal sides and parallel to each other. The electrode legs 111, 112 and handle legs 121, 122 are welded to the end faces of the frame pieces 131, 132 and are oriented substantially parallel to the end faces. In cross-section, the frame pieces 131, 132 are square.

[0056] A perspective view of the second frame piece 132 of the second tong arm 102 is shown in the Fig. 13. The second frame piece 132 here has a mounting opening 170, which can be closed by means of a cover plate (not shown in the figure). The cover plate is preferably screwed to the second frame piece 132 by means of a plurality of screws, which provide corresponding threaded through-holes for this purpose.

[0057] The invention is not limited to the embodiments of the electrode head arrangement 1 and the stunning forceps 100 shown in the figures.

[0058] Of course, the stunning forceps 100 can be used instead of the electrode head arrangements 141, 142 according to the embodiment according to Fig. 1 also electrode head arrangements 141, 142 according to the embodiment according to Fig. 4.

[0059] According to an alternative embodiment, a stunning forceps 100 according to the invention can provide a different frame construction, i.e., alternative embodiments for the forceps arms 101, 102. For example, the forceps arms 101, 102 can be designed essentially as one-piece, S-shaped tubes.

[0060] According to an alternative exemplary embodiment, the stunning tongs 100 have the frame construction shown in the figure with the essentially three-part tong arms 101, 102 with the electrode legs 111, 112 and handle legs 121, 122, each designed as straight tubes or tube pieces, and the frame pieces 131, 132 connecting them, wherein electrode head arrangements 141, 142 not according to the invention can also be provided at the free ends of the electrode legs 111, 112, for example with a differently shaped, for example rectangular, square or deviating polygonal electrode 3. The method of fastening the electrode 3 to the electrode head 2 can also be realized alternatively. List of reference symbols 1 Electrode head arrangement 2 Electrode head 3 Electrode 4 mother 5 clamping disc 6 Electrode wall 7 Notch 8 Radial projection 9 Electrode opening 10 Gearing 11 lead 12 Deepening 13 Central opening 14 threaded pin 15 lace 16 Sealing ring 17 Metal sealing ring 18 Head recess 19 Axial projection 20 step projection 21 electrode legs 22 Sealing ring 23 Threaded pin 24 cable lugs 25 first front side 26 second front side 100 stunning forceps 101 first pliers arm 102 second clamp arm 103 Swivel joint 111 first electrode leg 112 second electrode leg 121 first handle shank 122 second handle shank 131 first frame piece 132 second frame piece 141 first electrode head arrangement 142 second electrode head arrangement 151 first grip sleeve 152 second grip sleeve 160 power cables 162 joint opening 170 mounting opening α wedge angle QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 1952329 U

[0005] DE 573842 A

[0006]

Claims

[1] Electrode (3) for a stunning tongs (100) for electrically stunning slaughter cattle, characterized by that the electrode (3) is designed bottomless with a hollow cylindrical electrode wall (6) surrounding an electrode opening (9) and with a toothing (10) provided on a first end face (25) with a plurality of toothed projections (11). [2] Electrode (3) according to claim 1, characterized by that the electrode (3) is made from a tube and / or piece of tube and preferably as a tube laser cutting component. [3] Electrode (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that in the region of the electrode wall (6) at least two and preferably a total of three radially equally distributed notches (7) and / or wall openings are included. [4] Electrode (3) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the notches (7) interrupt the toothing (10) and have a rectangular shape. [5] Electrode (3) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the tooth-shaped projections (11) of the toothing (10) of the electrode (3) project into a common contact plane. [6] Electrode (3) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that a parabolic recess (12) is formed between adjacent projections (11) of the toothing (10). [7] Electrode (3) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the projections (11) of the toothing (10) each have a wedge angle (α) in the range of 15° to 30° and preferably in the range of 20° to 25°. [8] Electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) for stunning tongs (100) for electrically stunning slaughtered cattle, comprising a bottomless electrode (3) according to one of claims 1 to 7, which is detachably held on an electrode head (2) of the stunning tongs (100), with a hollow cylindrical electrode wall (6) surrounding an electrode opening (9) and with a toothing (10) provided on a first end face (25) opposite the electrode head (2) and having a plurality of toothed projections (11). [9] Electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) according to claim 8, characterized byin that a clamping disk (5) is received in the electrode opening (9) of the electrode (3), wherein the clamping disk (5) has a central opening (13) in the center of the axis through which a threaded pin (14) of the electrode head (2) is passed and wherein the clamping disk (5) is held axially on the electrode head (2) by means of a nut (4) screwed onto the threaded pin (14). [10] Electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) according to claim 9, characterized by that the clamping disk (5) has radial projections (8) corresponding in shape to notches (7) provided in the electrode wall (6) of the electrode (3), wherein the radial projections (8) of the clamping disk (5) engage radially in the notches (7) of the electrode (3) and bear axially against the electrode (3) in the region of the notches (7). [11] Electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized bythat the clamping disc (5) is designed to be axially resilient and is axially pre-tensioned such that the clamping disc (5) clamps the electrode (3) with an axial spring force directed towards the electrode head (2). [12] Electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by that the clamping disc (5) is made of spring sheet steel and preferably by laser cutting. [13] Electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized by that the nut (4) is designed as a cap nut. [14] Electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) according to claim 13, characterized by that the nut (4) has a mandrel-shaped and / or conical tip (15). [15] Electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) according to claim 14, characterized by that the tip (15) of the nut (4) is axially raised relative to the projections (11) of the toothing (10). [16] Electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) according to one of claims 9 to 15, characterized by that a rubber-elastic sealing ring (16) is arranged axially between the electrode head (2) and the clamping disc (5) and radially between the electrode head (2) and the electrode wall (6) of the electrode (3). [17] Electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) according to one of claims 9 to 16, characterized by that a metal sealing ring (17) is provided axially between the nut (4) and the clamping disc (5). [18] Electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) according to one of claims 9 to 17, characterized by that the clamping disc (5) has three radially evenly distributed radial projections (8). [19] Electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) according to one of claims 8 to 18, characterized by that the electrode head (2) has a cylindrical step projection (20) which projects into the electrode opening (9) of the electrode (3). [20] Electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) according to one of claims 8 to 19, characterized by that the electrode head (2) has a head recess (18) on the edge and the electrode (3) has an axial projection (19) engaging in the head recess (18) on a second end face (26) opposite the toothing (10). [21] Stunning tongs (100) for electrically stunning slaughtered cattle, comprising two tong arms (101, 102) which are connected to one another in a crosswise manner via a pivot joint (103) and which are mutually rotatably connected, wherein the tong arms (101, 102) each have a handle leg (121, 122) on a handle side facing an operator and an electrode leg (21, 111, 112) on a side opposite the handle side, characterized by that an electrode head arrangement (1, 141, 142) with an electrode (3) according to one of claims 1 to 7 is provided at the ends of the electrode legs (21, 111, 112) opposite the handle side. [22] Stunning forceps (100) according to claim 21, characterized by that the electrode head arrangements (1, 141, 142) are designed according to one of claims 8 to 20. [23] Stunning forceps (100) according to claim 21 or 22, characterized by that the handle legs (121, 122) and the electrode legs (21, 111, 112) are each produced as a straight tubular piece and that the handle leg (121, 122) and the electrode leg (121, 122) of a tong arm (101, 102) are connected to one another via a frame piece (131, 132), wherein the frame pieces (131, 132) each have a joint opening (162) on mutually facing inner sides, in which the rotary joint (103) is received. [24] Stunning forceps (100) according to claim 23, characterized bythat the frame pieces (131, 132) have a parallelogram-shaped basic shape with mutually parallel, opposite longitudinal sides and with mutually parallel, opposite end sides which are shortened compared to the longitudinal sides. [25] Stunning forceps (100) according to claim 24, characterized by that the electrode legs (21, 111, 112) and the handle legs (121, 122) are each fixed to the end faces of the frame pieces (131, 132) and are preferably oriented parallel to the end faces of the frame pieces (131, 132). [26] Stunning forceps (100) according to one of claims 23 to 25, characterized by that the frame pieces (131, 132) are designed as square profile bodies and preferably as square profile hollow bodies.

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