Animal product drying system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drying system for hanging and drying animal products used for pets to chew, clean their teeth, and play. The invention relates to the development of suspension and clamping system components to be used during the hanging and drying of animal products. The invention further relates to the development of a chain component capable of providing pre-tension during drying, wherein the amount of tension can be easily adjusted. The invention also relates to the development of a clamp that, during the drying of bovine penis or equivalent leather products, creates minimal deformation on the product or leaves a trace in a manner that does not damage the product quality.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] ANIMAL PRODUCT DRYING SYSTEM

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates to a drying system designed for drying animal products, which are used for pets to chew, clean their teeth, and play with, by hanging.

[0005] Prior Art

[0006] Many body parts of animals, which are not consumed by humans, are separated for the consumption of carnivorous domestic animals such as dogs, cats, and similar pets. Such products are collected from slaughterhouses and transformed into high economic value, long shelf-life, and functional products to be sold for pets. Parts such as cartilaginous ears, nose, tail, penis, as well as animal hides, are preferred for consumption by cats and dogs due to their high aromatic content and resistance to chewing. Such animal products are purchased by pet owners as treats, toys, and for the purpose of tooth scratching / cleaning.

[0007] After the preliminary preparation of such animal products under sterile conditions, they need to be dried and converted into long shelf-life products. Typically, the first step includes removing the fat from the surface of the products, peeling / cutting the hide, and, if necessary, performing pre-shaping. After this stage, drying is carried out to preserve the form of the product and make it ready for packaging.

[0008] In patent document US7282234, known in the art, a skin element dressed onto a body of a certain form prior to drying is mentioned. The final product is obtained by baking and drying this skin element on the mold.

[0009] In another U.S. patent, US8479687, known in the art, a food product consumable by dogs through chewing is described, where skin elements are braided prior to drying. The braiding is performed after sizing, and the product is dried in braided form.

[0010] Another example is disclosed in PCT application WO2021127756. In this application, bovine penises to be dried either in braided or flat form are hung on a rack system either with hooks or suspended from both sides on a rack bar. The holes opened for the hooks to clamp or the deformations occurring on the surface in contact with the rack bar cause permanent surface defects as the product dries.

[0011] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention relates to the development of suspension and holding system components to be used during the hanging and drying of animal products. The invention further relates to the development of a chain component capable of providing pre-tension during drying and allowing the amount of tension to be easily adjusted. It also relates to the development of a clamp that will create the least possible deformation on products containing soft tissue, skin, and cartilage such as animal feet, noses, and ears during drying, or that will form a trace in such a way that the resulting deformation does not damage the product quality. In addition, some animal parts are highly prone to deformation during drying. Among these are penis, body skin, head skin, neck nerve, heart vessel (aorta tube), foot tendon, lung, liver, tongue, heart, tripe and larynx.

[0013] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] For a better explanation of the animal product drying system developed by the invention, the drawings used and the related descriptions are provided below.

[0015] Figure 1: A schematic perspective view of the drying system according to the invention.

[0016] Figure 2: A side view of the clamp to be used in the drying system according to the invention.

[0017] Figure 3: A side view of the suspension rack to be used in the drying system according to the invention.

[0018] Figure 4: A side view of the suspension rod to be used in the drying system according to the invention.

[0019] Figure 5: A perspective view of the base plate to be used in the drying system according to the invention.

[0020] Figure 6: A perspective view of the body of the drying system containing suspension racks according to the invention. Figure 7: A perspective view of the clamp to be used in the drying system according to the invention.

[0021] Figure 8: A top view of the clamp to be used in the drying system according to the invention.

[0022] The elements shown in the figures are numbered, and their references are given below:

[0023] 1. Drying system

[0024] 2. Suspension rack

[0025] 3. Suspension rod

[0026] 4. Product

[0027] 5. Chain

[0028] 6. Clamp

[0029] 7. Chain hook

[0030] 8. Clamp tooth

[0031] 9. Spring

[0032] 10. Handle

[0033] 11. Rod slot

[0034] 12. Clamp hook

[0035] 13. Rack slot

[0036] 14. Base plate

[0037] 15. Base claw

[0038] 16. Dome

[0039] Detailed Description Of The Invention

[0040] The drying system (1) subject to the invention is a cabinet in the form of an open rack system. In this drying system (1), which has multiple horizontal suspension racks (2), suspension rods

[0041] (3) are suspended from the suspension racks (2). Clamp hooks (12), directly or via a chain hook (7), are attached to rod slots (11) on the suspension rods (3). These clamp hooks (12) remain fixed on the suspension rods (3), maintaining their positions. The suspension rods (3) bear the load of the products (4) and provide spacing between the products (4).

[0042] The reason for having multiple suspension racks (2) stacked vertically is the variation in product

[0043] (4) lengths, which requires suspension rods (3) to be attachable at different heights. Similar to the suspension rods (3), the suspension racks (2) maintain the positions of the suspension rods (3) via the rack slots (13) provided on them.

[0044] Chain hooks (7) attached to the rod slots (11) on the suspension rods (3) carry the chains (5). Since the chains (5) consist of multiple links, they can be hooked onto the chain hooks (7) at any desired level. While one end of the chains (5) is on the chain hooks (7), their other ends are attached to the clamp hooks (12) of the clamps (6). The clamps (6) are hand tools similar to pliers, where the operator can open and close the clamp teeth (8) via two handles (10).

[0045] The element that ensures the clamp teeth (8) of the clamp (6) remain continuously pressed together is the spring (9). Since the tension spring (9) is positioned near the teeth (8), it continuously drives the clamp (6) to close and press the teeth (8) against each other. The only way to prevent this movement is for the operator to squeeze the handles (10) to open the clamp (6). Springs are designed to act under compression or tension against applied loads. Any of the various types of springs can be used in the clamp (6) subject to the invention. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a conical tension spring (9) is used. Due to its nature, this spring allows for wider opening despite its short length thanks to its wide-diameter coils.

[0046] By opening the clamp (6), a strip-shaped product (4) can be clamped between the teeth (8). The product (4) can be clamped from the top by a clamp (6) and suspended from a suspension rod

[0047] (3) near the top of the drying system (1). At the same time, in order to prevent the product (4) from swaying and to enable it to dry under tension, the same strip-shaped product (4) may be clamped from below by another clamp (6). For the required tension, a chain hook (7) properly engaged with the chain (5) links and a clamp hook (12) will be sufficient.

[0048] The base plate (14), located at the bottom of the drying system (1), which is necessary for keeping the product (4) taut, has base claws (15) that allow the attachment of multiple chain hooks (7) or direct attachment of the chain (5). By changing the position of the clamp (6) attached to the chain (5) link fixed on the base claw (15), the amount of tension applied to the product (4) from below can be adjusted. However, to ensure this effect remains continuous without operator intervention, spring-loaded tensioning components may be added to the base claws (15) of the base plate (14). Especially after initial tensioning when the product (4) is clamped by the clamp (6) while still moist, these components will further tighten as the product

[0049] (4) begins to dry and will continuously keep the product (4) flat and taut. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the clamp teeth (8) may be ordinary prismatic pointed teeth, or they may have specially shaped forms that imprint the manufacturer’s logo onto the product (4). In this way, since the deformation created on the product has a meaningful representation, it will not be perceived as a defect by the consumer.

[0050] Moreover, the clamp teeth (8) may be positioned on two jaws pressing against each other like ordinary pliers, or the clamp (6) may also include more jaws and clamp teeth (8). In another embodiment of the invention, the clamp (6) has a total of four jaws with clamp teeth (8), clamping the product (4) more circumferentially. In this embodiment, the opposing jaws, i.e., the opposing clamp teeth (8), may close fully in contact with each other, or alternatively, the tip points of the clamp teeth (8) may have a gap “b” between them. The gap “b” may range from 1-6 mm, allowing the clamp-to-clamp different products (4) without leaving marks on them. Similarly, the jaws positioned side by side and moving together, i.e., the clamp teeth (8), may also have a gap “a.” The gap “a” ensures that the product (4) is directed and clamped without being damaged, as the compressed product (4) is pressed into the gap between two parallel clamp teeth (8) without being crushed. The gap “a” may range from 1-12 mm.

[0051] To create parallel clamp teeth and the gap (a) between them, the clamp (6) is specially manufactured. As in the manufacturing technique of scissors, the handles (10) are joined by inserting a pin, rivet, or screw through a hole located in the middle of two identical parts. At this stage, the handles (10) and clamp teeth (8) approach and move apart relative to each other. To allow each clamp tooth (8) to be positioned next to another clamp tooth (8), the clamp teeth (8) are produced on these identical parts facing away from each other. To manufacture the two halves of the clamp (6), these parts are cut from a sheet plate by laser or an equivalent method, machined from solid material, or forged.

[0052] Especially in cases where the clamp is manufactured by cutting from a sheet plate, the secondary clamp teeth (8) are bent after cutting in order to be positioned side by side at a distance that forms the gap (a). Thus, the clamp teeth (8) cut back-to-back from the sheet plate are brought side by side by bending, so that the bent clamp tooth (8) on one half faces the unbent clamp tooth (8) on the opposite half. The same applies vice versa for the other half of the clamp (6).

[0053] The secondary teeth bent into position without changing orientation are thus aligned with the opposing clamp teeth (8). While in scissors the distance between the planes of movement of the jaws is essentially “0,” since the blades must rub against each other to cut paper, in the clamp (6) of the invention, the two halves are positioned with a spacing equal to the value “a,” thereby creating a gap. This spacing is ensured by the clamp hook (12). The thickness of the clamp hook (12) and / or the total thickness of components such as washers that separate the two halves of the clamp (6) is equal to the value “a.”

[0054] Although the spring (9) that draws the two halves of the clamp (6) together tends to bring the clamp teeth (8) closer, angular movement may be limited by stops added to the clamp (6). Through this limitation, the gap value “b” can be adjusted as desired.

[0055] To increase the strength of the clamp body (6), which is manufactured from sheet plate and subjected to lateral loads, domes (16) are formed on the cut part with a mold after cutting. These domes (16), concave on one side and convex on the other, provide greater resistance to lateral loads compared to equivalent flat parts of the same thickness.

[0056] Products (4) such as poultry feet, legs, larynxes, and necks will be relatively smaller compared to similar organs of small and large ruminants. Therefore, clamps can be manufactured with modified “a” and “b” values to clamp different products (4) without damaging their tissue.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A drying system (1) for drying animal products (4) used for pets to chew, clean their teeth, and play, by hanging them; comprising an open rack system having a plurality of horizontal hanging shelves (2), on which the load of the products (4) is carried by means of a clamping hook (12) suspended on hanging shafts (3) of the shelves (2); wherein the clamping hook (12) is a hand tool like pliers, in which two identical parts are fastened together at their middle sections by means of a pin, rivet, or screw passing through a hole, such that the two handles (10) allow the clamping teeth (8) to open and close, a spring (9) keeps the clamping teeth (8) tightened, the clamping hook (12) has a total of four jaws to grasp the product (4) in a more circumferential manner, and wherein the two half-parts are positioned with a gap between them to allow an opening between adjacent clamping teeth (8) that move together.

2. The drying system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the clamp (6) has a conical tension spring (9) which, thanks to its wide windings, allows wider opening despite its short length.

3. The drying system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the clamping teeth (8) have tip points spaced (b) 1-6 mm apart from each other, thereby allowing the products (4) to be grasped without leaving marks on them.

4. The drying system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the two parallel clamping teeth (8) have a spacing (a) of 1-12 mm between them, so that the squeezed product (4) is not crushed when pressed.

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