Processing line and method for processing products of the food processing industry and in particular stunned poultry bodies
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2024709022
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-03-03
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-14
AI Technical Summary
Current processing lines in the food industry, particularly for stunned poultry, rely heavily on operator experience to detect and correct inadequate processing, leading to inconsistent quality and potential animal welfare issues, as insufficiently processed products can proceed to downstream stations, compromising both product quality and animal safety.
A processing line equipped with detection means, such as cameras and current consumption monitoring, that automatically identifies and marks inadequately processed products, ensuring only properly processed items reach subsequent stations, utilizing a control device to manage the marking and tracking of these products along the transport path.
This solution enables real-time detection and prevention of inadequate processing, ensuring only reliably killed and processed poultry animals are further processed, maintaining product quality and improving animal welfare by visually marking and removing or reworking insufficiently processed products.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024055389_12092024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Processing line and method for processing products of the food processing industry and in particular stunned poultry carcasses
[0002] The invention relates to a processing line designed and configured for processing products of the food processing industry, in particular stunned poultry, comprising a transport device designed and configured for the suspended transport of isolated products along a transport path in the transport direction T, at least two processing stations arranged along the transport path, wherein the at least two processing stations are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T, and a control device for automatically controlling the processing line, wherein the transport device and each processing station are connected to the control device.
[0003] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for processing products of the food processing industry, in particular stunned poultry, comprising the steps of: suspended transport of individual products along a transport route in the transport direction T by means of a transport device, processing the products at a first processing station arranged along the transport route, processing the products processed at the first processing station at least at a second processing station arranged behind the first processing station in the transport direction T, wherein the transport device and the processing stations are controlled for an automatic process by means of a control device.
[0004] Such processing lines and processes are used in the food processing industry to automatically process products, particularly suspended and stunned poultry. Typically, two or more processing steps take place at processing stations arranged one after the other in the direction of transport. The quality of the processing in a first process step is often a prerequisite for the processing in the subsequent process step. In other words, subsequent process steps require the proper execution of previous process steps. With the processing lines and processes known to date, much depends on the experience of the operator working on the processing line. If the operator detects inadequate processing, they can intervene.However, reliable detection of inadequate processing is almost impossible with high-performance processing lines, and sometimes even experienced operators are unable to detect it. Consequently, products inadequately processed at a primary processing station are repeatedly processed in a subsequent processing station. This leads to inferior end products and is also to be avoided for animal welfare reasons. For animal welfare reasons, it is mandatory, in particular, to ensure that stunned poultry are killed safely and reliably before further processing.
[0005] There is therefore a need to detect potential processing errors in real time and to correctly complete the processing or the corresponding process step - automatically or manually - in order to be able to carry out the next processing step. Using the example of the processing of poultry, the stunned birds are transported along the processing line hanging in shackles. At least two processing stations are arranged along the transport route. The first processing station, for example, is a device for killing the still-living, but stunned poultry. The or each subsequent processing station then serves to further process the killed poultry. To ensure that further processing is carried out exclusively on safely killed animals, it is necessary to monitor the initial step, namely the killing of the animals.In other words, there is a need for real-time error detection and correction along an ongoing poultry slaughter line.
[0006] The invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a processing line in which the further processing of the products processed in a first processing station at a subsequent processing station is carried out reliably and exclusively with properly processed products. Specifically, the object is to propose a processing line in which only poultry that have been stunned and safely killed at a first processing station reach the subsequent processing station. The object is further to propose a corresponding method.
[0007] This object is achieved by a processing line mentioned above in that at least the first processing station arranged upstream in the transport direction T is assigned a detection means which is designed and configured to detect the processing result of the first processing station and forward the information to the control device, wherein the processing line additionally comprises means for marking products, and the control device is designed and configured to process the information received from the detection means and to mark those products defined as insufficiently processed by controlling the marking means along the transport path. This makes it clear to every operator, regardless of their experience, which product may not reach the processing station downstream of the first processing station without further post-processing.The operator can remove the inadequate product from the processing line. Optionally, the operator can also rework the inadequately processed product after removal and return it to the processing line. The solution according to the invention ensures product tracking throughout the processing line. Visualizing inadequately processed products reliably prevents incorrect processing of inadequately processed products at subsequent processing stations.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the processing line is a slaughter line for stunned poultry, with the first processing station being a device for killing stunned poultry. The processing line according to the invention thus ensures that only reliably killed poultry are further processed. It is particularly advantageous and beneficial to animal welfare that only reliably killed poultry are sent to a subsequent scalding process for defeathering.
[0009] Preferably, more than two processing stations are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T, wherein the or each processing station is assigned a detection means for detecting the processing result, which is connected to the control device. This embodiment ensures that each processing station of the processing line is monitored, so that insufficiently processed products can be monitored and marked along the entire processing line. A processing line can, for example, be formed from a device for killing the stunned poultry as the first processing station and a device for scalding the killed poultry as the second processing station. Another processing line can, for example, be formed from an oil sack cutter as the first processing station, a cloaca cutter as the second processing station, and an opener as the third processing station.However, the processing line may also consist of more than three processing stations, with all devices designed and equipped for processing products of the food processing industry, and in particular stunned poultry, being considered as processing stations.
[0010] An advantageous development of the processing line is characterized in that the transport device comprises a circulating, driven transport chain on which shackles are arranged for picking up, holding, and suspended transport of one poultry carcass at a time. This embodiment ensures, on the one hand, the safe transport of the poultry carcasses (synonymous with poultry animals) from one processing station to the next. On the other hand, the aforementioned transport device can ensure simple and reliable product tracking along the transport route.
[0011] Particularly advantageously, the processing station arranged downstream in the transport direction T is designed and configured to process only those products that have been properly processed in the adjacent upstream processing station. By detecting the poultry and marking the insufficiently processed poultry, the control device can ensure that the insufficiently processed poultry are either removed or that the subsequent processing station is stopped for the processing step.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the or each detection means comprises at least one camera for recording the processing result of the respective processing station, wherein the camera is designed and configured to forward this information to the control device. Individual photos, photo series, or video sequences can be taken with the camera and processed by the control device. The images can, for example, be automatically compared with reference images. In the event of a defined deviation from the reference image, the means for marking insufficiently processed products can be controlled. Instead of one camera, several cameras directed at the processed product from different perspectives and / or other optical and / or sensory recording and / or measuring means can be used.What is crucial is that recordings and / or detections are made for each processing unit of each processing station, each processing station can have one processing unit or more than two and in particular more than ten and particularly preferably between fifteen and twenty or more than twenty processing units, which allow conclusions to be drawn about inadequate, because improper, processing.
[0013] In a further advantageous development, the or each detection means comprises at least one detection element for determining the current consumption of an electric motor assigned to one or each processing station, wherein the detection element is designed and configured to forward this information to the control device. Based on the current consumption, the load situation of the electric motor can be determined. If the electric motor is running at idle, a low current consumption can be measured. If a load acts on the electric motor, for example if a tool driven by the electric motor penetrates the product, a greater or higher current consumption can be measured. From the fluctuations in the current consumption, it can be concluded whether a tool was engaged with the product for sufficient processing, or whether only insufficient processing was carried out due to the fluctuation being too small compared to the reference value.If there is a defined deviation from the reference value, the means for marking insufficiently processed products can be activated.
[0014] In a practical embodiment, the or each processing station comprises a processing tool driven by an electric motor. This allows for real-time and reliable detection of whether the processing tool has operated properly, allowing the corresponding product to be visibly marked continuously along the entire transport route in the event of inadequate processing.
[0015] Advantageously, the device for killing the stunned poultry carcasses comprises a circular knife, which is assigned an electric motor for rotating drive. The penetration of the circular knife into the poultry carcass and the severing of the main artery leads to a certain current consumption of the electric motor. The value of this current consumption is known, for example, through empirical determination and serves as a reference value. If the detected value deviates from this reference value within a defined range, it can be concluded that proper processing has not taken place and that the poultry was not killed safely and correctly. This allows the inadequately processed product to be marked in real time, so that the operator can easily identify this product and remove it from the processing line in order to prevent further processing in a subsequent processing station or to prevent it from being processed further.to reliably kill the poultry before it is further processed and / or re-entered into the processing line.
[0016] An advantageous development of the processing line is characterized in that the or each electric motor is connected to a start-up controller, in particular a hybrid motor starter, via an interface, in particular an IO-Link protocol, and is connected to the control device. This makes it particularly easy to detect the current consumption and further process the obtained information. For this purpose, the acquired data is sent to a programmable logic controller (PLC) as the control device.
[0017] Particularly preferably, the control device comprises a programmable logic controller connected to an operating element. The operating element is a human-machine interface, such as a keyboard, a touchscreen, or the like.
[0018] An advantageous embodiment of the processing line is characterized in that the means for marking products comprises lighting means that are connected to the control device and designed and configured to mark the insufficiently processed products transported along the transport path. Lasers, diodes, LEDs, or the like can be used as lighting means to generate light points, light bands, or light sequences. The or each lighting means can be arranged below the transport device, for example, below the shackles. Other designs and arrangements are also possible. In particular, at least one lighting means can be assigned to each shackle. The or each lighting means can be designed and aligned to illuminate the insufficiently processed products.In other embodiments, the or each illuminating means is designed and configured to mark the respective position of the insufficiently processed products along the transport route.
[0019] Advantageously, in a further development of the processing line, a light strip is arranged along the transport path parallel to the transport device as a means for marking products, which, by means of the control device, marks each insufficiently processed poultry carcass with at least one light point, wherein the or each light point is designed and configured to move along with the insufficiently processed product in the transport direction T. In another embodiment, each shackle is assigned a light source as a means for marking products, such that the light source is designed and configured to move along with the shackle. Other options for the visual marking of insufficiently processed products are also usable.
[0020] Particularly preferably, the means for marking products comprises illuminants designed and configured to assign different light colors to different processing stations. Using the example of a processing line with an oil bag cutter as the processing station, a cesspool cutter as the downstream processing station, and an opener as the downstream processing station—each of these stations can have one or more processing units—this means, for example, that insufficiently processed products are marked with a blue light at the oil bag cutter, insufficiently processed products are marked with a red light at the cesspool cutter, and insufficiently processed products are marked with a violet light at the opener. This allows the operator to clearly identify which processing station is responsible for the insufficient processing.This information can be used by the control system to trigger an alarm, for example, to the maintenance service, so that a specific processing station can be serviced. It can also be used to specifically indicate to the operator which product was inadequately processed at which processing station.
[0021] The task is further carried out by a procedure with the aforementioned
[0022] steps in that the first processing step at the first processing station with regard to the processing result is detected by means of a detection means and the information is forwarded to the control device so that the or each subsequent processing step is only carried out if the first processing step was carried out correctly, and that products that have been inadequately processed are marked along the transport path by means of the control device using a means for marking products. The detection initially enables the decision to be made as to whether a product has been processed correctly or inadequately. With knowledge of this fact, the inadequately or improperly processed products are then marked by assigning them an illumination that directly or indirectly identifies the product. The products then run along the transport path with this marking.Each operator is then able to remove the products marked in this way and thus ensure that only properly processed products reach the subsequent processing station.
[0023] The method is preferably used for processing stunned poultry, whereby stunned poultry are killed in a first processing step at the first processing station and the killed poultry are further processed at at least a second processing station. The killing of the poultry is the central process step because, for reasons of animal welfare and animal protection, only poultry that have already been safely killed may be further processed. If the killing of the poultry is monitored, it can be ensured that only properly killed poultry are permitted for further processing. All poultry that are inadequately processed in the first process step, i.e. all poultry that are not reliably killed, are visually identified in the form of a light that moves with the product and are then sorted out and, if necessary, reprocessed.
[0024] Advantageously, the or each processing step is monitored by at least one camera, and the information is forwarded to the control device. The or each camera at each processing unit of a processing station records the processed product in order to determine, by means of the control device, whether the processed product meets the requirements of a properly processed product, for example, by comparing it with a reference image. This enables fast and reliable detection, which ensures that inadequately processed products are identified in real time. Optionally, the or each processing step is monitored by means of at least one detection element for determining the current consumption of an electric motor assigned to one or each processing station, and the information is forwarded to the control device.Fluctuations in current consumption are an indication that the load on the electric motor is too low or too high, for example if the tool driven by the electric motor does not penetrate the product at all (low resistance with low current consumption) or encounters resistance in the product (high resistance with high current consumption). For example, by comparing the measured current consumption with a reference value, it can be determined whether the product has been processed correctly or inadequately. This enables fast and reliable detection, which ensures that inadequately processed products can be marked in real time. Using the example of the killing of a stunned poultry, the circular knife driven by the electric motor results in a defined current consumption.The defined current consumption is only achieved if the circular knife penetrates the poultry at the correct position and hits the main artery. Only then can proper killing be assumed. If the detected current consumption deviates from the reference value, it can be reliably assumed that the processing step was inadequately performed.
[0025] Advantageously, products identified by the control device as insufficiently processed based on the information transmitted from the detection means to the control device are marked by an illuminating means controlled by the control device, such that the insufficiently marked products are recognizable as such during transport along the transport path from the first processing station to the downstream processing station. The illuminating means illuminates the identified products themselves or marks the position at which the identified product is currently located along the transport path. This makes it easier for the operator to identify and remove all insufficiently processed products, even during a fast processing cycle on the processing line.
[0026] In an advantageous embodiment, light points illuminate below the products identified as insufficiently processed, so that these products are reworked or removed before reaching the next processing station in the transport direction T. With the light strip, each product identified as insufficiently processed can be tracked throughout the entire processing line and displayed at any desired position. The light points can also illuminate above, behind, in front of, or to the side of the respective poultry.
[0027] Particularly preferred are light points on shackles on which the products are suspended and transported along the transport route, provided these products have been identified as insufficiently processed, so that these products are reworked or removed before reaching the next processing station in the transport direction T. This enables a direct and immediate assignment of the products to the respective shackles and the corresponding position along the transport route.
[0028] Advantageously, several processing stations arranged one after the other in the transport direction T are detected with regard to their processing results. Each product identified as inadequately processed is assigned at least one colored light spot, which can be assigned to a specific processing station based on its color. This makes it possible to quickly and easily identify at which processing station, and more precisely at which processing unit within the processing station, an error occurred. This allows for targeted repair, maintenance, or any other intervention to correct a potential problem.
[0029] Optionally, an alarm can be triggered if a predetermined number of inadequately processed products are produced at a processing station on the processing line. This ensures a quick response to correct the potential source of the error.
[0030] Most preferably, the method is carried out with a processing line according to one or more of claims 1 to 15.
[0031] Further advantages resulting from the above-mentioned process steps have already been described in connection with the processing line, which is why reference is made to the relevant passages to avoid repetition.
[0032] Further useful and / or advantageous features and developments of the processing line and method are set out in the dependent claims and the description. A particularly preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows:
[0033] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a section of a first embodiment of a poultry slaughter line,
[0034] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a section of another embodiment of a poultry slaughter line,
[0035] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the detection result for each processing unit of a first processing station of the poultry slaughter line according to Figure 2,
[0036] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the detection result for each processing unit of a second processing station of the poultry slaughter line according to Figure 2, and
[0037] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the detection result for each processing unit of a third processing station of the poultry slaughter line according to Figure 2.
[0038] The processing line shown in the drawing is used to process stunned poultry carcasses. In other embodiments, other products can also be detected and labeled. In addition to verifying proper slaughter of poultry, checking the proper execution of an oil sac incision, cloacal incisions, or opening steps, other important criteria for the processing of poultry carcasses can be detected as monitored parameters.
[0039] The preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawing shows a processing line 10 designed and configured for processing products from the food processing industry, in particular stunned poultry 11. The processing line 10 comprises a transport device 12 designed and configured for the suspended transport of individual products along a transport path in the transport direction T, at least two processing stations 13, 14, 15 arranged along the transport path, wherein the at least two processing stations 13, 14, 15 are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T, and a control device 16 for automatically controlling the processing line 10, wherein the transport device 12 and each processing station 13, 14, 15 are connected to the control device 16.
[0040] This processing line 10 is characterized according to the invention in that at least the first processing station 13 arranged upstream in the transport direction T is assigned a detection means 17 which is designed and configured to detect the processing result of the first processing station 13 and to forward the information to the control device 16, wherein the processing line 10 additionally comprises means 18 for marking products, and the control device 16 is designed and configured to process the information received from the detection means 17 and to mark those products which are defined as insufficiently processed by controlling the means 18 for marking along the transport path.
[0041] The features and developments described below represent preferred embodiments, considered individually or in combination with one another. It is expressly pointed out that features which are summarized in the claims and / or the description and / or the figures or described in a common embodiment can also functionally independently develop the processing line 10 described above.
[0042] The processing lines 10 shown are slaughter lines for stunned poultry 11. Figure 1 shows a processing line 10 with two processing stations 13, 14. The first processing station 13, not explicitly shown, is a device for killing stunned poultry 11. The second processing station 14, not explicitly shown, is a device for scalding the killed poultry 11. The device for killing the poultry 11 comprises a circular knife driven by an electric motor. For this purpose, the electric motor is also connected to the control device 16. Figure 2 shows sections of a processing line 10 with more than two processing stations 13, 14, 15, specifically with a device for cutting oil sacks as the first processing station 13, with a cloaca cutter as the second processing station 14, and with an opener as the third processing station 15.Each of the processing stations 13, 14, 15 can comprise a processing unit. In the described embodiment, the first processing station 13 has sixteen processing units, the second processing station 14 has twenty processing units, and the third processing station 15 has sixteen processing units. Each processing station 13, 14, 15 is assigned its own detection means for detecting the processing result, which is connected to the control device 16.
[0043] In the described embodiment, the transport device 12 comprises a continuously driven and endless transport chain 19, on which shackles 20 are arranged for picking up, holding, and suspended transport of one poultry carcass 11 each. A sensor device (not explicitly shown) can be assigned to each shackle. By means of the transport chain 19 with the shackles 20 arranged thereon, the poultry carcasses 11 can be transported from processing station 13 to processing station 14 to processing station 15, etc. Each processing station 13, 14, 15 arranged downstream in the transport direction T is designed and configured to process only those products that have been properly processed in the adjacent upstream processing station 13, 14, 15.
[0044] Figure 2 shows a processing line 10 in which the or each detection means 17 comprises at least one camera 21 for recording the processing result of the respective processing station 13, 14, 15, wherein the camera 21 is designed and configured to forward this information to the control device. The or each camera 21 monitors and records the performance of each of the sixteen or twenty processing units of the processing stations 13, 14, 15. Figure 1 shows a processing line 10 in which the or each detection means 17 comprises at least one (not explicitly shown) detection element for determining the current consumption of an electric motor assigned to one or each processing station 13, 14, wherein the detection element is designed and configured to forward this information to the control device.
[0045] In the processing line 10 according to Figure 1, the first processing station 13 has a circular knife driven by an electric motor. In the processing line according to Figure 2, all processing stations 13, 14, 15 comprise a processing tool driven by an electric motor. The or each electric motor is connected via an interface, in particular an IO-Link protocol, to a start-up controller, in particular a hybrid motor starter, and is connected to the control device 16. The control device 16 comprises a programmable logic controller connected to an operating element. Each marking means 18 can be controlled by this control device 16.
[0046] The means 18 for marking products comprises lighting means 22 which are connected to the control device 16 and are designed and configured to mark the insufficiently processed products transported along the transport path. In the embodiment according to Figure 1, a light strip 23 is arranged along the transport path parallel to the transport device 12 as the means 18 for marking products. By means of the control device 16, this light strip 23 marks each insufficiently processed poultry carcass 11 with at least one light point 24, wherein the or each light point 24 is designed and configured to move along with the insufficiently processed product in the transport direction T. The means 18 for marking is also designed accordingly in the embodiment according to Figure 2.In this embodiment, the lighting means 22 are designed and configured to assign different light colors to different processing stations 13, 14, 15. Blue light points 24, for example, are assigned to the first processing station 13 upstream in the transport direction T in the event of insufficiently processed products. Figure 3 shows that a measured value that clearly deviates from the reference value was detected at processing unit six of the first processing station 13. Accordingly, the products processed there are marked along the transport path with one or more blue light points 24. Red light points 24, for example, are assigned to the second processing station 14 following the first processing station 13 in the transport direction T in the event of insufficiently processed products.Figure 4 shows that a measured value that clearly deviates from the reference value was detected at processing unit seventeen of the second processing station 14. Accordingly, the products processed there are marked along the transport route with a red light point 24 or several red light points 24. The third processing station 15, which follows the second processing station 14 in the transport direction T, is assigned, for example, violet light points 24 in the case of insufficiently processed products. Figure 5 shows that a measured value that clearly deviates from the reference value was detected at processing unit twelve of the third processing station 15. Accordingly, the products processed there are marked along the transport route with a violet light point 24 or several violet light points 24.In a variant not explicitly shown, each shackle is assigned a light source 22 as a means 18 for marking products, such that the light source 22 is designed and configured to be movable together with the shackle 20.
[0047] In other words, a processing line 10 is shown and described below as a system for processing poultry 11 for identifying misskills and tracking system performance. The system tracks each shackle 20 and the associated poultry 11 connected to the shackle 20 and measures small current fluctuations in the electric motors that rotate the blades that sever the neck of the poultry 11 during an initial poultry processing step, identifies the poultry 11 that was not killed in the first step, and thereby enables the missed, i.e., underprocessed, poultry 11 to be properly killed before the poultry 11 proceeds to the next step of the processing process.In addition, the system tracks the shackles 20 and the poultry 11 passing through the processing process to identify missed operations in the processing station 13, 14, 15 that need to be addressed by the operators of the processing line 10.
[0048] The method for processing products from the food processing industry, in particular stunned poultry 11, is explained in more detail below. The poultry 11 are transported individually along a transport route in the transport direction T by means of a transport device 12. In doing so, they pass through at least two processing stations 13, 14, 15. The poultry 11 are processed at a first processing station 13 arranged along the transport route, which in Figure 1 is a device for killing stunned poultry 11, and in Figure 2 is an oil sack cutter. The poultry carcasses 11 processed at the first processing station 13 are then processed at least at one second processing station 14 arranged downstream of the first processing station 13 in the transport direction T, which station is a device for scalding killed poultry 11 in Figure 1, and a cloaca cutter in Figure 2.The poultry 11 processed in this way can then be further processed, for example at a third processing station 15, an opener in Figure 2. The transport device 12 and the processing stations 13, 14, 15 are controlled for an automatic process by means of a control device 16. This method is characterized according to the invention in that the first processing step at the first processing station 13 is detected with regard to the processing result by means of a detection means 17 and the information is forwarded to the control device 16 so that the or each subsequent processing step is only carried out if the first processing step was carried out correctly, and that products that have been insufficiently processed are marked by means of the control device 16 using a means for marking products along the transport path.The processed product and / or a tool carrying out the processing are therefore monitored with regard to certain parameters and / or the appearance of the poultry and / or other parameters allowing conclusions to be drawn about the processing and, if they are identified as not having been processed correctly, are marked.
[0049] As described, the method shown in Figure 1 is used for processing stunned poultry 11, wherein stunned poultry 11 are killed in a first processing step at the first processing station 13 and the killed poultry 11 are further processed at at least one second processing station 14, 15. The or each processing step is monitored, in the method with a processing line 10 according to Figure 1 by means of at least one detection element for determining the current consumption of an electric motor assigned to one or each processing station 13, 14, wherein the information is forwarded to the control device 16. In the method with a processing line 10 according to Figure 2, the monitoring of the processing stations 13, 14, 15 orthe respective processing results at the processing stations 13, 14, 15 by means of at least one camera 21, whereby this information is also forwarded to the control device 16.
[0050] Products identified by the control device 16 as inadequately processed based on the information transmitted by the detection means 17 are marked by an illuminating means 22 controlled by the control device 16, such that the inadequately marked products can be identified as such during transport along the transport path from the first processing station 13, 14, 15 to the downstream processing station 13, 14, 15. The control device 16 processes the incoming information, data, recordings, and the like, for example, by comparing them with previously defined and stored reference values. One criterion for triggering the illuminating means 22 can be, for example, if the detected measured value, i.e., an image recording, a measured current consumption, or the like, lies outside a previously defined and stored tolerance range.This results in the light source 22 being controlled for the product in question. As a result of the control, light points 24 illuminate beneath the products identified as insufficiently processed, so that these products are reworked or removed before reaching the next processing station 13, 14, 15 in the transport direction T. Optionally, the light points 24 can also illuminate on shackles 20, from which the products are transported suspended along the transport route, provided that these products have been identified as insufficiently processed, so that these products are reworked or removed before reaching the next processing station 13, 14, 15 in the transport direction T. After rework, the products can be fed back into the processing line 10.
[0051] In the method with the processing line 10 according to Figure 2, several processing stations 13, 14, 15 arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T are detected with regard to their processing results, wherein the products identified as insufficiently processed are each assigned at least one colored light point 24, which is assigned in terms of color to a specific processing station 13, 14, 15. If a predetermined number of insufficiently processed products are produced at a processing station 13, 14, 15 of the processing line 10, an alarm is triggered. Optionally, the method is carried out with a processing line 10 according to one or more of claims 1 to 15.
[0052] In other words, the inventive concept provides—as already described above—in one variant for determining the current consumption of the individual electric motors at the processing stations 13, 14, 15, for example, using a hybrid motor starter. The data collected in this process is sent to a control device (PLC) 16. The control device 16 uses a sensor in the shackle 20 to assign the determined current consumption to the poultry carcass 11 hanging on the shackle 20. In the event that this poultry carcass 11 has been inadequately processed, for example because the killing process did not function properly—based on the lower current consumption—the poultry carcass 11 and / or the shackle 20 are illuminated, with the illumination following the poultry carcass 11 along the transport route. This allows the operator to immediately identify which poultry carcass 11 has been inadequately processed.
[0053] Specifically, in one embodiment, the poultry, i.e., the poultry animals 11, in a processing line 10 are suspended from an overhead conveyor as a transport device 12 with a bracket or a carrier as a shackle 20 as they enter a killing device as a processing station 13 for the killing step of the processing process. The killing device comprises a circular blade that rotates through the actuation of an electric motor. The motor is connected to a hybrid motor starter via an IO-Link protocol. The motor is also controlled by a programmable logic controller ("PLC") connected to a human-machine interface. The system monitors the motor's current via the hybrid motor starter. The PLC monitors the data from the hybrid motor starter and also receives data that associates the shackle 20, which presents the poultry, with the killing device.If a bar passes the killing device and the system does not detect a sufficient change in current, indicating the resistance of the electric motor rotating the circular blade, the system detects a missed kill. A light indicator system, as a means of marking 18, located beneath the poultry, illuminates a series of lights next to the unkilled poultry.
[0054] Figure 1 shows a light indicator system near the poultry leaving the killing apparatus, with a series of indicator lights, shown as red lights, illuminated near the unkilled poultry. Other arrangements of the indicator lights include lights arranged above, below, behind, in front of, or to the side of the poultry. In one embodiment, the poultry is illuminated by a light. In this example, the indicator lights next to poultry 150 indicate unkilled birds, and as the poultry moves from left to right along the conveyor belt, the indicator lights next to the poultry follow, indicating the unkilled birds. Personnel attending to the processing line can use the lights to determine which poultry needs attention.
[0055] Figure 2 shows and describes an implementation of additional processing steps and performance monitoring and tracking in which a light indicator system adjacent to a conveyor system provides an indication of incomplete operations by a processing unit of processing stations 13, 14, 15. A processing station 13, 14, 15 may have one or more processing units. In one aspect of the performance monitoring and tracking system and method, in a situation during poultry processing in which the poultry first encounters an oil sack cutter processing machine, then a vent cutter processing machine, and finally an opener processing machine, cameras 21 connected to an imaging system of the PLC monitor the performance of each processing unit of each processing station 13, 14, 15. The PLC receives data linking each stirrup to each piece of poultry in the processing process.When a camera 21 detects a missing or incomplete operation by a processing unit of a processing station 13, 14, 15, the system assigns a series of colored lights that move alongside the poultry along the processing line 10. For example, if one of the processing units of the oil bag processing machine performs an incomplete operation on a poultry carcass, such as miscuts, or does not perform the operation, such as unit six of the sixteen units (see Figure 3), the system assigns a first series of colored lights to the shackle 20 that transports the poultry along the processing line 10 to indicate to an operator that maintenance of the processing system is required to correct the problem. If one of the processing units of the poultry processing machine performs an incomplete operation, such as miscuts, or does not perform the operation, such as unit six of the sixteen units (see Figure 3), the system assigns a first series of colored lights to the shackle 20 that transports the poultry along the processing line 10.For unit seventeen of the twenty units (see Figure 4), the system assigns a series of second colored lights to shackle 20, which transports the poultry. If one of the processing units of the opener processing machine performs an incomplete operation, such as miscuts, or fails to perform the operation, such as unit twelve of the sixteen units (Figure 5), the system assigns a series of third colored lights to shackle 20, which transports the poultry.
[0056] The method was described using the example of detecting and marking unkilled poultry carcasses and insufficiently processed poultry carcasses in an oil bag cutter, a cloaca cutter, and an opener. However, the detection and corresponding marking according to the invention can also be used in a corresponding manner in other applications, for example in detecting and identifying killed poultry 11 after hanging on the shackles, in re-hanging poultry 11 removed from the processing line, in detecting and identifying injured poultry 11, in detecting and identifying poultry 11 that still have a head, in detecting and identifying poultry 11 that still have a neck, in detecting and identifying mutilated poultry 11, or in detecting and
[0057] Identifying poultry 11 that still contain contamination after cleaning / washing the poultry 11.
Claims
1. A processing line (10) designed and configured for processing products of the food processing industry, in particular stunned poultry (11), comprising a transport device (12) designed and configured for the suspended transport of isolated products along a transport path in the transport direction T, at least two processing stations (13, 14, 15) arranged along the transport path, wherein the at least two processing stations (13, 14, 15) are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T, and a control device (16) for automatically controlling the processing line (10), wherein the transport device (12) and each processing station (13, 14, 15) are connected to the control device (16), characterized in that a detection means (17) is assigned to at least the first processing station (13) arranged upstream in the transport direction T,which is designed and configured to detect the processing result of the first processing station (13) and forward the information to the control device (16), wherein the processing line (10) additionally comprises means (18) for marking products, and the control device (16) is designed and configured to process the information received from the detection means (17) and to mark those products that are defined as insufficiently processed by controlling the means (18) for marking along the transport path.
2. Processing line (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing line (10) is a slaughter line for stunned poultry (11), wherein the first processing station (13) is a device for killing stunned poultry (11).
3. Processing line (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that more than two processing stations (13, 14, 15) are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T, wherein the or each processing station (13, 14, 15) is assigned a detection means (17) for detecting the processing result, which is connected to the control device (16).
4. Processing line (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transport device (12) comprises a circulating driven transport chain (19) on which shackles (20) for receiving, holding and suspended transport of a poultry carcass (11) are arranged.
5. Processing line (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the processing station (13, 14, 15) arranged downstream in the transport direction T is designed and configured to process only those products which have been properly processed in the processing station (13, 14, 15) arranged adjacent upstream.
6. Processing line (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the or each detection means (17) comprises at least one camera (21) for recording the processing result of the respective processing station (13, 14, 15), wherein the camera (21) is designed and configured to forward this information to the control device (16).
7. Processing line (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the or each detection means (17) comprises at least one detection element for determining the current consumption of an electric motor assigned to one or each processing station (13, 14, 15), wherein the detection element (17) is designed and configured to forward this information to the control device (16).
8. Processing line (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the or each processing station (13, 14, 15) comprises a processing tool driven by an electric motor.
9. Processing line (10) according to one or more of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the device for killing the stunned poultry carcasses (11) comprises a circular knife to which an electric motor is assigned for rotating drive.
10. Processing line (10) according to one or more of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the or each electric motor is connected via an interface, in particular an IO-Link protocol, to a start-up control, in particular a hybrid motor starter, and is connected to the control device (16).
11. Processing line (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the control device (16) comprises a programmable logic controller connected to an operating element.
12. Processing line (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the means (18) for marking products comprises lighting means (22) which are connected to the control device (16) and are designed and arranged to mark the insufficiently processed products transported along the transport path.
13. Processing line (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to claim 12, characterized in that a light band (23) is arranged along the transport path parallel to the transport device (12) as a means (18) for marking products, which means, by means of the control device (16), marks each insufficiently processed poultry carcass (11) with at least one light point (24), wherein the or each light point (24) is designed and arranged to move along with the insufficiently processed product in the transport direction T.
14. Processing line (10) according to one or more of claims 4 to 13, characterized in that each shackle (20) is assigned a lighting means (22) as a means (18) for marking products, such that the lighting means (22) is designed and arranged to be movable together with the shackle (20).
15. Processing line (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the means (18) for marking products comprises lighting means (22) which are designed and arranged to to assign different light colours to different processing stations (13, 14, 15).
16. A method for processing products of the food processing industry, in particular stunned poultry (11), comprising the steps of: suspended transport of individual products along a transport path in the transport direction T by means of a transport device (12), Processing the products at a first processing station (13, 14, 15) arranged along the transport route, Processing the products processed at the first processing station (13, 14, 15) at least at one second processing station (13, 14, 15) arranged behind the first processing station (13, 14, 15) in the transport direction T, wherein the transport device and the processing stations (13, 14, 15) are controlled for an automatic process by means of a control device (16), characterized in that the first processing step at the first processing station (13, 14, 15) is detected with regard to the processing result by means of a detection means (17) and the information is forwarded to the control device (16), so that the or each subsequent processing step is only carried out if the first processing step was carried out correctly, and that products which were insufficiently processed,by means of the control device (16) by a means (18) for marking products along the transport path., 17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that it is used for processing stunned poultry (11), wherein stunned poultry are killed in a first processing step at the first processing station (13, 14, 15) and the killed poultry (11) are further processed at at least one second processing station (13, 14, 15).
18. Method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the or each processing step is monitored by means of at least one camera (21) and the information is forwarded to the control device (16).
19. Method according to one or more of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the or each processing step is monitored by means of at least one detection element for determining the current consumption of an electric motor assigned to one or each processing station (13, 14, 15) and the information is forwarded to the control device (16).
20. Method according to one or more of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that products which have been identified by the control device (16) as insufficiently processed on the basis of the information transmitted by the detection means (17) are marked by means of a lighting means (22) controlled by the control device (16) in such a way that the insufficiently marked products can be recognized as such during transport along the transport path from the first processing station (13, 14, 15) to the downstream processing station (13, 14, 15).
21. Method according to one or more of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that light points (24) light up below the products identified as insufficiently processed, so that these products are reworked or removed before reaching the next processing station (13, 14, 15) in the transport direction T.
22. Method according to one or more of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that light points (24) light up on shackles (20) on which the products are transported suspended along the transport route, provided that these products have been identified as insufficiently processed, so that these products are reworked or removed before reaching the next processing station (13, 14, 15) in the transport direction T.
23. Method according to one or more of claims 16 to 22, characterized in that several processing stations (13, 14, 15) arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T are ses are detected, wherein the products identified as insufficiently processed are each assigned at least one colored light point (24) which can be assigned to a specific processing station (13, 14, 15) with regard to its color.
24. Method according to one or more of claims 16 to 23, characterized in that an alarm is triggered in the event that a predetermined number of insufficiently processed products are produced at a processing station (13, 14, 15) of the processing line 10.
25. Method according to one or more of claims 16 to 24, characterized in that it is carried out with a processing line (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 15.