Poultry neck cleaning scraper and processing line

Abstract

To provide a scraper for removing undesired parts from a neck area of slaughtered poultry, in particular for removing a windpipe and gullet with craw from the neck area of the slaughtered poultry.SOLUTION: The scraper includes a mandrel 2 and forwardly directed projections 3, 4 that are arranged to operate during use in the neck area of the slaughtered poultry, wherein the forwardly directed projections 3, 4 form part of at least one plate 5, 6, wherein the at least one plate 5, 6 is movably mounted or mountable on the mandrel 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a scraper for removing undesirable material from the neck of slaughtered poultry, in particular for removing the esophagus and trachea together with the crop from said neck region of slaughtered poultry, said scraper comprising a mandrel and forwardly facing protrusions arranged for operation during use on said neck region of the slaughtered poultry. [Background technology]

[0002] Such scrapers have been known since 1984. Since 1984, the development of such scrapers has continued, as evidenced by publications such as EP 1 299 226 from 1992, FIG. 3A of EP 1 299 313 from 1997, EP 1 299 313 from 1999, EP 1 299 313 from 1999, EP 1 299 313 from 2014 and EP 1 299 313 from 2009.

[0003] US Patent No. 5,399, 667 discloses a scraper for removing undesirable parts from the neck region of slaughtered poultry, in particular the esophagus and trachea together with the crop from said neck region of slaughtered poultry. The scraper comprises a mandrel and forwardly facing protrusions arranged for operation during use on said neck region of slaughtered poultry. The forwardly facing protrusions form part of at least one plate attached or attachable to the mandrel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 178825 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 5,222,905 [Patent Document 3] European Patent Application Publication No. 838156 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 6,213,864 [Patent Document 5] European Patent No. 1048214 [Patent Document 6] US Patent Application Publication No. 2005 / 0186895 [Patent Document 7] European Patent No. 2299834 [Patent Document 8] US Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 273407 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Despite decades of continuous efforts since 1984, the industry has not been able to effectively solve the problem that the operation of removing unwanted parts from the neck area of ​​slaughtered poultry is not always satisfactory. The unsatisfactory result of the operation of leaving unwanted parts in the neck area of ​​slaughtered poultry may be due, for example, to the fact that not all poultry have the same dimensions. Also, the strength of the tissue that has to be destroyed during the cleaning operation may differ from poultry to poultry.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the problems mentioned above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to the invention a scraper of novel design is proposed having the features of one or more of the appended claims. The invention is embodied in a processing line for processing poultry, in particular for removing undesirable parts from the neck area of ​​such slaughtered poultry. The processing line comprises a carousel arrangement and a conveyor line with carriers for suspending the slaughtered poultry by their legs. The conveyor line guides the suspended poultry along the carousel arrangement. The carousel arrangement comprises a scraper. The scraper has the features of one or more of the appended claims.

[0008] An essential feature of the scraper of the present invention, comprising a mandrel and forwardly facing projections arranged for operation during use on the neck region of slaughtered poultry, is that the forwardly facing projections form part of at least one plate, said at least one plate being attached or attachable to the mandrel, and the at least one plate being movable relative to the mandrel while attached to the mandrel.

[0009] The shape of the plates is not essential and at least one of the plates may be straight or curved. The movable plates with the protrusions relative to the mandrel allow the protrusions to be positioned in the most effective position for performing a scraping action on the neck area of ​​the poultry. Furthermore, because the plates are movable relative to the mandrel, the scraper of the present invention can be easily adapted to the size of the poultry to be processed.

[0010] For reasons of efficiency, it is preferred that the scraper comprises two plates, each of which is provided with said forwardly facing projection, each of which is movable relative to the mandrel whilst mounted on the mandrel.

[0011] Most conveniently, the two plates are attached or attachable to opposite sides of the mandrel, so that the forces exerted by the forward facing projections of the two plates on the inside of the neck of the poultry are balanced, thereby keeping the poultry in a stable suspended position during the cleaning operation. The flatness of the plate or plates in the area where the projections are provided is cost effective, thus keeping manufacturing costs low.

[0012] The projections are preferably provided behind one another in the longitudinal direction of the plate or plates, each of said projections having a blunt end portion pointing forwards, this arrangement having proven to be the most effective from an operational point of view.

[0013] It is desirable for the plate or plates to be movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel, which further facilitates the ease of adjusting the scraper of the invention to the size of the poultry to be processed. This can be realised by the plate or plates being arranged so that they are movable in the longitudinal direction of the mandrel and at the same time are movable in a direction transverse to said longitudinal direction of the mandrel.

[0014] The scraper of the invention can be interpreted in different ways, but preferably the plate or plates are attached to a movable pin of the mandrel, the movable pin extending through a first slit oriented obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel, the obliquely oriented first slit of the mandrel causing the movable pin to perform at least a movement transverse to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel when the pin is driven in the longitudinal direction of the mandrel.

[0015] The mandrel preferably has a hollow portion for receiving a longitudinally movable drive rod for driving the moveable pin of the mandrel.

[0016] The power-transmitting connection between the longitudinally movable drive rod and the movable pin of the mandrel is preferably arranged as follows: the drive rod has a second slit oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of the drive rod, and the movable pin of the mandrel extends through the second slit.

[0017] The attachment of the plate or plates to the mandrel is preferably made possible by the following features: each of the plates has an opening that fits over the movable pin of the mandrel.

[0018] Each plate has at least two openings which fit over the moveable pins of the mandrel, preferably at opposite ends of the mandrel.

[0019] It is also stated that the invention is realised in a processing line for processing poultry, in particular for removing undesirable parts from the neck of such slaughtered poultry, comprising a carousel arrangement and a conveyor line with carriers for suspending the slaughtered poultry by their legs, the conveyor line guiding the suspended poultry along said carousel arrangement, said carousel arrangement being provided with a scraper according to the invention.

[0020] It is preferred that the carousel apparatus is provided with a first track and a second track, the longitudinally movable drive rod is connected to a first wheel guided by the first track, the mandrel is connected to a second wheel guided by the second track, and at least one plate is movable with respect to the mandrel by relative movement of the first wheel with respect to the second wheel.

[0021] A preferred embodiment of the carousel device comprises a first carousel unit mounted on a first track and a second carousel unit mounted on a second track, the first and second carousel units being vertically movable relative to each other, whereby the vertical distance between these two carousel units is adjusted depending on the flock. Thus, if a flock with larger poultry is to be processed, the distance between these two carousel units can be increased by lowering the second carousel unit relative to the first carousel unit, so that at the start of processing the plates can be slightly opened.

[0022] The processing line preferably includes a drive for adjusting between the first and second carousel units (eg a hydraulic system for controlling the vertical height of the second carousel unit). [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 shows an isometric view of a scraper of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 shows an exploded view of a scraper according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 shows a scraper of the present invention for use with small poultry. [Figure 4] 1 shows a scraper of the present invention for use on medium-sized poultry. [Diagram 5] 1 shows a scraper of the present invention for use with large poultry. [Figure 6] 1 shows a carousel device with a scraper according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, without limiting the scope of the appended claims, exemplary embodiments of the scraper and carousel device according to the present invention will be further described with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0025] Whenever the same reference numbers are used in different drawings, they refer to the same parts.

[0026] Reference is first made to Figures 1 and 2, which show a scraper 1 for removing unwanted parts from the neck region of slaughtered poultry, in particular for removing the esophagus and trachea together with the crop from said neck region of slaughtered poultry.

[0027] The scraper 1 of the present invention comprises a mandrel 2 and forwardly facing protrusions 3, 4. The forwardly facing protrusions 3, 4 are arranged to, in use, act on the inside of the neck and neck area of ​​a slaughtered poultry, in particular the skin of the neck.

[0028] The scraper comprises at least one straight or curved plate, but preferably comprises two such plates 5,6 as shown. Each of the two plates 5,6 is provided with said forward facing projections 3,4. The two plates 5,6 are movably mounted or attachable to the mandrel 2. "Modibly mounted or attachable" means that the plate or plates 5,6 can move relative to the mandrel 2 while they are attached to the mandrel 2. The two plates 5,6 are preferably mounted or attachable on opposite sides of the mandrel 2 as shown.

[0029] As shown most clearly in figure 2, the plate or plates 5,6 are preferably flat in the areas where the projections 3,4 are provided.

[0030] As is evident from all figures, the projections 3, 4 are provided behind one another in the longitudinal direction of the plate or plates 5, 6. Each projection 3, 4 has a forwardly pointing end portion 3', 4' which is preferably blunt.

[0031] 3, 4 and 5, it is clear that the plate or plates 5, 6 are movable relative to the mandrel 2. As shown in FIG. 3, when the scraper 1 of the invention is arranged for processing small poultry, which are small in size, the projections 3, 4 are positioned relative to the mandrel 2 so as not to extend beyond the edge of the mandrel 2. As shown in FIG. 4, when the scraper 1 of the invention is intended for processing medium-sized poultry, the projections 3, 4 of the scraper are positioned relative to the mandrel 2 so as to extend a little beyond the edge of the mandrel 2. When the scraper 1 of the invention is intended for processing relatively large poultry, the projections 3, 4 of the scraper extend the most beyond the edge of the mandrel. This latter arrangement is shown in FIG. 5.

[0032] In order to adapt the scraper 1 of the invention to the different sizes of poultry to be processed, the plates 5, 6 are movable transversely to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel 2. This is evident from figures 3, 4 and 5. In the illustrated construction, this is achieved by an arrangement in which the plate or plates 5, 6 are movable in the longitudinal direction of the mandrel 2 and at the same time in the transverse direction to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel 2. This is achieved by the features of the scraper 1 described below.

[0033] As is apparent from all the figures, but can best be seen from the exploded view shown in FIG. 2, the front plate 5 is attached to a first set of movable pins 7, 8 on the mandrel 2 and the rear plate 6 is attached to a second set of movable pins 7', 8' on the mandrel 2.

[0034] The pins 7, 8 supporting the front plate 5 extend through first slits 9, 10 oriented obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel 2, while the pins 7', 8' supporting the rear plate 6 extend through first slits 9', 10' oriented obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel 2.

[0035] The front plate 5, which is attached to the pins 7,8, is provided with openings 11,12 to fit over the first set of movable pins 7,8 of the mandrel 2. Fitting here means snugly fitting. The at least two openings 11,12 are provided at opposite ends of the mandrel 2. Similarly, the rear plate 6, which is attached to the second set of movable pins 7',8', is provided with openings 11',12' to fit over the second set of movable pins 7',8'. The at least two openings 11',12' are provided at opposite ends of the mandrel 2.

[0036] With the structure described here, when the pins 7, 8 supporting the front plate 5 are driven in the longitudinal direction of the mandrel 2, the first obliquely oriented slits 9, 10 of the mandrel 2 cause the pins 7, 8 to perform an obliquely oriented movement, which also determines the movement of the front plate 5 relative to the mandrel 2. At the same time, the first set of movable pins 7, 8 extend through slits 13, 14 provided in the rear plate 6, which is located on the opposite side to the mandrel 2. These slits 13, 14 in the rear plate 6 provide a space for the pins 7, 8 supporting the front plate 5 to move without affecting the position of the rear plate 6. Thus, by driving the pins 7, 8, only the front plate 5 can be moved.

[0037] A similar structure corresponding to that described in the previous paragraph is provided for moving the rear plate 6 in cooperation with the movement of the front plate 5. It should be noted that when the pins 7', 8' supporting the rear plate 6 are driven in the longitudinal direction of the mandrel 2, the first obliquely oriented slits 9', 10' of the mandrel 2 cause the pins 7', 8' to perform a movement oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel 2. This movement also determines the movement of the rear plate 6 relative to the mandrel 2. At the same time, a second set of movable pins 7', 8' extend through slits 13', 14' provided in the front plate 5, located on the opposite side with respect to the mandrel 2. These slits 13', 14' in the front plate 5 provide a space for the pins 7', 8' supporting the rear plate 6 to move without affecting the position of the front plate 5. Thus, by driving the pins 7', 8', only the rear plate 6 can be moved.

[0038] The first set of pins 7,8 and the second set of pins 7',8' are preferably driven in the following arrangement: the mandrel 2 has a hollow portion 2' for accommodating a longitudinally movable drive rod 15. The drive rod 15 has second slits 16,17 oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of the drive rod 15. The first set of movable pins 7,8 and the second set of movable pins 7',8' of the mandrel 2 extend through the second slits 16,17.

[0039] By moving the drive rod 15 up and down, the pins 7, 8 supporting the front plate 5 and the pins 7', 8' supporting the rear plate 6 are driven in an oblique direction, as defined by the orientation of the slits 9, 10 for the front plate 5 and by the orientation of the slits 9', 10' for the rear plate 6. In fact, the front plate 5 and the rear plate 6 are mounted on said pins 7, 8 and 7', 8' respectively. Thus, the front plate 5 performs a movement defined by a first set of movable pins 7, 8, and at the same time the rear plate 6 performs a movement defined by a second set of movable pins 7', 8'.

[0040] Figure 6 finally shows a carousel device 18 which can be assembled with a conveyor line having carriers on which the slaughtered poultry are suspended by their legs. The conveyor line guides the suspended poultry along this carousel device 18. Figure 6 depicts that the carousel device 18 is provided with a scraper 1 according to the invention.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 6, the carousel device 18 is further provided with a first track 19 and a second track. The longitudinally movable drive rod 15 is connected to a first wheel guided by the first track 19. The mandrel 2 is connected to a second wheel guided by the second track 20.

[0042] As further depicted in FIG. 6, the carousel arrangement 18 comprises a first carousel unit 18′ mounted on a first track 19 and a second carousel unit 18″ mounted on a second track 20. The first and second carousel units are vertically movable relative to each other. For this purpose, the processing line comprises a drive for adjusting between the first carousel unit 18′ and the second carousel unit 18″. The embodiment of the drive is not shown, since it is clear to the person skilled in the art. In this way, the at least one plate 5, 6 is movable with respect to the mandrel 2 by a relative movement of the first wheel with respect to the second wheel. The relative movement of the first wheel with respect to the second wheel is performed by changing the distance between the first carousel unit 18′ and the second carousel unit″.

[0043] The embodiments of the present invention may include any combination of the features disclosed herein, independently of each other. Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this particular embodiment, which can be varied in many ways without departing from the present invention. Therefore, the described exemplary embodiment shall not be used to strictly interpret the appended claims according to the same embodiment. On the contrary, the embodiment is merely for explaining the wording of the appended claims, and is not intended to limit the claimed invention to these exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be interpreted only according to the appended claims, and any ambiguity that may occur in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using the exemplary embodiment.

[0044] Variations and modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all documents, applications, patents, and publications cited above are incorporated herein by reference. Unless specifically described above as "essential," none of the various components or their interrelationships are essential to the operation of the present invention. Rather, desired results may be achieved by substituting the various components and / or rearranging their interrelationships.

Claims

1. A scraper (1) for removing unwanted parts from the neck area of ​​slaughtered poultry, in particular for removing the esophagus and trachea together with the crop from said neck area of ​​slaughtered poultry, comprising: A mandrel (2); forwardly facing projections (3, 4) arranged for operation during use on said neck region of a slaughtered poultry; Equipped with the forwardly facing projections (3, 4) form part of at least one plate (5, 6); said at least one plate (5, 6) being attached or attachable to a mandrel (2); A scraper (1), characterized in that at least one plate (5, 6) is movable relative to the mandrel (2) while attached to the mandrel (2).

2. It comprises two plates (5, 6), Each of the two plates (5, 6) is provided with said forward facing projections (3, 4); 2. A scraper according to claim 1, characterized in that the two plates (5, 6) are each movable relative to the mandrel (2) while being attached to the mandrel (2).

3. 3. Scraper according to claim 2, characterized in that the two plates (5, 6) are attached or can be attached to opposite sides of the mandrel (2).

4. Scraper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the plates (5, 6) are flat in the areas where the projections (3, 4) are provided.

5. The projections (3, 4) are provided along the longitudinal direction of the plates (5, 6), A first protrusion (3) of the protrusions (3, 4) is located in a first direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, The second protrusion (4) of the protrusions (3, 4) is located in a second direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction and opposite to the first direction, Scraper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of the protrusions (3, 4) has a blunt portion (3', 4') pointing forward.

6. A scraper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the plates (5, 6) are movable transversely to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel (2).

7. The plates (5, 6) are attached to movable pins (7, 8; 7', 8') of the mandrel (2), said movable pins (7, 8; 7', 8') extend through first slits (9, 10; 9', 10') oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel (2); 4. The scraper according to claim 1, characterized in that the obliquely oriented first slits (9, 10; 9', 10') of the mandrel (2) make the movable pin (7, 8; 7', 8') perform at least a movement transverse to the longitudinal direction of the mandrel (2) when the movable pin (7, 8; 7', 8') is driven in the longitudinal direction of the mandrel (2).

8. The mandrel (2) has a hollow portion (2') for accommodating a longitudinally movable drive rod (15); 8. Scraper according to claim 7, characterized in that the drive rod (15) drives the movable pins (7, 8; 7', 8') in the longitudinal direction of the mandrel (2).

9. The drive rod (15) has second slits (16, 17) oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of the drive rod (15); 9. Scraper according to claim 8, characterized in that the movable pins (7, 8; 7', 8') of the mandrel (2) extend through the second slits (16, 17).

10. 8. Scraper according to claim 7, characterized in that each of the plates (5, 6) is provided with an opening (11, 12; 11', 12') adapted to fit a movable pin (7, 8; 7', 8') of the mandrel (2).

11. Each plate (5, 6) has at least two openings (11, 12; 11', 12') adapted to fit the movable pins (7, 8; 7', 8') of the mandrel (2); 11. Scraper according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least two openings (11, 12; 11', 12') are provided at the end facing the mandrel (2).

12. A processing line for processing poultry, in particular for removing unwanted parts from the neck area of ​​slaughtered poultry, comprising: A carousel device (18); a conveyor line having carriers for suspending the slaughtered poultry by their legs; Equipped with a conveyor line for guiding the suspended poultry along said carousel device (18); A processing line, characterized in that the carousel device (18) is provided with a scraper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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

14. The carousel device (18) comprises: a first carousel unit (18') mounted on a first track (19); a second carousel unit (18'') mounted on a second track (20); Equipped with 14. The processing line according to claim 13, wherein the first carousel unit and the second carousel unit are vertically movable relative to each other.

15. 15. A processing line according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises a drive device for adjusting the distance between the first carousel unit (18') and the second carousel unit (18'').

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