A system and method for processing a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass

Abstract

A system and method are provided for processing a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass. The system comprises - cutting devices configured to make preparatory incisions in areas of the backhalve between the back portion and the legs, - a separation device configured to separate the legs and the back portion from each other, the separation device comprising a separation conveyor supporting the back portion, and a back portion guide, the separation conveyor and the back portion guide defining a longitudinal gap therebetween the gap being configured to guide therein the back portion, wherein the separation conveyor, for the purpose of tearing the legs and the back portion apart from each other by exerting a tearing force between the back portion and the legs, is configured to move the back portion at a speed different than that of the conveyor and / or is configured to move the back portion away from the conveyor, and - a leg guiding device configured to guide the legs towards each other while the tearing force is exerted.

Description

[0001] Title: A system and method for processing a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass.

[0002] Description:

[0003] The present invention relates to a system and a method for processing a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass. A backhalve is a part of a slaughtered poultry carcass comprising a back portion and legs connected thereto.

[0004] WO 2022 / 131909 A1 and US 5176563 are examples of documents describing systems and methods for processing a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass. During such processing the legs and the back portion of the backhalves are separated from each other.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved system and method for processing a backhalve in which yield of the legs is increased when the back portion and the legs are separated from each other. More in particular the invention aims at increasing said yield by increasing the percentage of separated legs which contain the so-called “oysters” of the backhalves. Alternatively phrased the invention aims at decreasing the percentage of back portions on which the oysters remain after separation of the legs and the back portions from each other.

[0006] Oysters are tender pieces of meat each having for instance for chickens a weight typically ranging between 5 and 10 gram. Such oysters therefor may contribute considerably to the value of separated legs and more than the added value of oysters would be if they would remain to the back portions. Oysters are found on either side of the backbone, nestled in a small depression which are also known as oyster sockets. This nestling in combination with the attachment of oysters to the carcass by connective tissue and a membrane causes the harvesting of oysters to be challenging especially in an automated manner.

[0007] It is a further object of the invention to separate the back portion and the legs from each other such that connections of the oyster to the leg remain intact as much as possible in order to decrease the chance that oysters are lost during further processing, such as typically portioning, of the separated legs. To this end it is a further object of the invention to harvest the oyster membranes together with the oysters and to reduce the risk that the oyster membranes stay attached to the back portion.One or more of the above objects are achieved by the system and method according to the invention.

[0008] In a first aspect of the invention a system for processing a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass is provided, the backhalve comprising a back portion and legs connected thereto and which backhalve is transported by a conveyor in a conveying direction,

[0009] the system comprising:

[0010] - cutting devices configured to make preparatory incisions in areas of the backhalve between the back portion and the legs,

[0011] - a separation device configured to separate the legs and the back portion from each other, the separation device comprising a separation conveyor supporting the back portion, and a back portion guide, the separation conveyor and the back portion guide defining a longitudinal gap therebetween the gap being configured to guide therein the back portion, wherein the separation conveyor, for the purpose of tearing the legs and the back portion apart by exerting a tearing force between the back portion and the legs, is configured to move the back portion at a speed different than that of the conveyor and / or is configured to move the back portion away from the conveyor,

[0012] - a leg guiding device configured to guide the legs towards each other while the tearing force is exerted.

[0013] An effect of the provision of the leg guiding device is that the tearing apart of the back portion and the legs can be carried out in a more controlled manner causing the respective faces of the tears between the two legs on the one hand and the back portion on the other hand to be more predictable resulting in a higher chance that the oysters stay connected to the legs during separation of the back portion and the legs from each other and that the oyster membranes are harvested together with the oyster.

[0014] In an effective embodiment the leg guiding device may be configured for pushing against sides of the respective legs facing away from each other. This allows the possibility of a controlled positioning and orienting of the legs and the back portion with respect to each other during thee tearing apart of the legs and the back portion.The leg guiding device may comprises two opposing leg guides. Such leg guides guide in use the legs during transport of the backhalve by the conveyor in the conveying direction and may be embodied as bars such as in particular bended bars and / or may be mirrored with respect to a vertical plane parallel to the conveying direction. Such guides can be applied in a simple way.

[0015] In a further embodiment the leg guides converge towards each other and / or diverge away from each other seen in the conveying direction. Such converging, which does not necessarily apply to the whole length of the leg guides, allows ensuring that legs will be positioned between the leg guides and / or a smooth pushing towards each other of the legs allowing the legs to adopt a certain orientation in which for instance the knee is facing less outwards. Such diverging may accommodate the progression of the tears between the back portion and the legs. Any diverging of the leg guides preferably is positioned at the downstream side of the leg guides, more preferably downstream of a converging part of the leg guides.

[0016] T o promote a consistent and effective tearing apart of the back portion and the legs the distance between the leg guides and the gap increases seen in the conveying direction. This way the legs basically remain in place while the back part moves away for tearing apart the legs and the back part.

[0017] In an embodiment the leg guides extend at least partly, preferably fully, above the separation conveyor. Such positioning of the leg guides have shown to be beneficial for separating the legs from the back part while the oysters as well as the oyster membranes remain attached to the legs.

[0018] In a further embodiment a distance between the leg guides is at most 8 cm, preferably at most 4 cm. This distance can be measured from a top view and determines the extent to which the legs are pushed towards each other.

[0019] In order to stretch the legs before separating the legs from the back portion the leg guides may extend parallel to the gap over a downwardly sloping part of the gap.

[0020] The downwardly sloping part of the may be straight and / or enclose an angle with a horizontal plane, the angle being between 70 degrees and 90 degrees.

[0021] In a further embodiment the system comprises the conveyor. The conveyor may be an overhead conveyor which is configured to transport the backhalvein a suspended manner with the legs hanging from the conveyor allowing automated processing of backhalves with a high capacity.

[0022] In order to anatomically separate the legs and the back portion from each other, the system may comprise a hip joint dislocation device which is provided at the upstream side of the separation conveyor. During dislocation of the hip joint the femoral head of the thigh bone is popped out of the hip sockets and some ligaments in that area are torn. Such hip joint dislocation devices are for example disclosed in US 2908650 B1, US 6322438 B1 and WO 9305660 A1.

[0023] The hip joint dislocation device may comprise a back turning device which is configured to turn the back portion of backhalves upside-down for example such as disclosed in WO 2022 / 131909 A1.

[0024] In a second aspect of the present invention, the invention provides a method of automated processing a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass, the backhalve comprising a back portion and legs connected thereto, the method comprising:

[0025] - transporting the backhalve in a suspended manner by a conveyor in a conveying direction, with the legs hanging from the conveyor;

[0026] - making preparatory incisions in areas of the backhalve between the back portion and the legs,

[0027] - after having made the preparatory incisions separating the legs from the back portion by exerting a tearing force between the back portion and the legs,

[0028] - guiding the legs towards each other during the exerting of a tearing force.

[0029] The skilled person will understand advantages of such method based on the above description of the system according to the invention. In an embodiment the system according to the first aspect of the invention is used in a method according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0030] The method may comprise the steps of

[0031] - transporting the backhalve in a suspended manner by the conveyor with the legs hanging from the conveyor,

[0032] - exerting the tearing force while the backhalve is hanging with the legs from the conveyor.In another embodiment the legs are guided towards each other by pushing against sides of the respective legs facing away from each other.

[0033] The present invention is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0034] Figures 1 and 2 show, in two different isometric views, a part of an embodiment of a system for processing a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass in accordance with the present invention; and

[0035] Figures 3, 4 and 5 show respectively a side view, a front view and a top view of a downstream part of the system as shown in figures 1 and 2;

[0036] Figures 6, 7 and 8 show three perspective views of the system at the downstream end thereof during use of the system.

[0037] System 1 as partly shown in figures 1 tot 5 is configured for automated processing of a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass. In the figures some parts of the system 1 , which parts are known to the skilled person, are not shown for reasons of clarity. Backhalves each comprise a back portion 3 and two legs 4 connected thereto. Figures 6 to 8 show the back portion 3 and legs 4 of a backhalve during the separation apart of the back portion 3 and the legs 4. System 1 basically resembles to a large extent the system as described in WO 2022 / 131909 and shown in the figures thereof.

[0038] In use of system 1, backhalves are successively transported by an overhead conveyor in a suspended manner in a conveying direction 5 with the legs 4 hanging from the overhead conveyor, more specifically, each hanging from a carrier 6 (figure 6) of the overhead conveyor. The conveying direction 5 is oriented horizontally.

[0039] System 1 comprises an endless supply conveyor 10 of which in figures 1, 2 and 5 only a downstream part is shown. Supply conveyor 10 comprises two mirrored endless chains 11 which are positioned centrally below and parallel to the overhead conveyor and to each other. The upper sides 12 of those endless chains 11 provide in use a supporting surface for passing backhalves hanging from a carrier 6 and run, at the upper sides 12, in the same direction and at the same speed as conveyor 6. System 1 further comprises cutting devices provided for makingpreparatory cuts by cutting connections which may include tendons and / or cartilage in the groin area of passing backhalves 2 at or at least near the hip joints thereof while the back portions 3 are supported on the supporting surfaces 12 of chains 11. The cutting devices are known as such to the skilled person and provided below carriers 6 and just above the supply conveyor 22.

[0040] System 1 further comprises a back turning device 30 which is provided at the downstream end of supply conveyor 10 and similar to the one which is described in detail in WO 2022 / 131909. In use the back turning device 30 turns the back portion 3 of passing backhalves which have been cut by the above mentioned cutting devices upside-down. Such turning of the back portion 3 with respect to the legs 4 causes the hip joints to be dislocated and the femoral head 8 to pop out of the hip socket 9 or acetabulum (figure 7). Although also during this dislocation some connections in the region of the hip joints are torn, some other muscles, tendons and connective tissues however still interconnect the legs 4 and the back portion 3.

[0041] System 1 further comprises a separation device 40 having an endless separation conveyor 42 and a guide comprising a guide strip 43 and at the downstream end thereof a guide plate 44. The conveyor 42 is positioned straight below and parallel to the overhead conveyor comprises and endless chain 48 which is wound around sprocket wheels to define its path of movement. Sides of the guide strip 43 and the guide plate 44 facing the chain 48 follow the path of the conveyor 42 over part of its length. A longitudinal gap 46 is formed between chain 48 on the one hand and guide strip 43 and guide plate 44 on the other hand. At its upstream side gap 46 follows a straight path 46a over the length of guide strip 32 and slopes slightly downward with respect to a horizontal plane. The angle between this sloping direction and the horizontal plane is 5 degrees.

[0042] In use the back portion 3 of passing backhalves are caught in this straight part 46a of gap 46 while the legs 4 are positioned on opposite sides of the guide strip 43. Because of the sloping orientation of path 46a system 1 in use stretches the legs 4 since the distance between the carriers 6 of the overhead conveyor and the upper side of the gap 46, which upper side effectively corresponds to the lower side of the guide plate 43, is slightly increased resulting in a pulling force acting on the legs 4.The chain 48 is provided with outwardly extending teeth 50. Chain 48 in use therefore not only supports the back portion 3 but also grips the back portion 3 and ensures that the back portion 3 moves with the same speed and in the same direction as the chain 48 at the position of the back portion 3. The speed of the chain 48 might in use differ a bit, for instance between 115 and 150 %, with respect to the speed of the overhead conveyor.

[0043] At the downstream end of the straight path 46a the gap 46 adjoins a downward curved part 46b of gap 46 due to a sprocket wheel around which the chain 46 is wrapped at the upstream side of system 1. The curved side of guide plate 44 which faces the chain 48 can be considered as a longitudinal curved tearing side 47 whereas the two longitudinal edges of this tearing side 47 can be considered as tearing edges 49.

[0044] On opposite sides of the chain 48 system 1 is provided with supporting plates 52 which plates follow part of the path of the chain 48. Respective straight parts 52a of supporting plates 52 extend parallel to the straight path 46a of gap 46 whereas curved parts 52b of supporting plates 52 extend parallel to the upper halve of the downward curved path 46b of gap 46.

[0045] The downward direction of gap 46 causes a back portion 3 following this gap 3 to be forced downwardly while the legs 4 remain suspended from its carrier 6. This will result in firstly the stretching of legs 4 and thereafter the tearing apart of the back portion 3 and the legs 4 causing the legs 4 and the back portion 3 to be separated from each other. The tears in question start from the preparatory cuts which have been made as described above and start from the downstream side of the backhalve, so from the tail side of the backhalve, and develop into the upstream side of the backhalve, so towards the oyster side.

[0046] System 1 differs from known systems in that the separation device thereof is provided with two opposing guides 60 which are mirrored with respect to a vertical plane parallel to the conveying direction 5. The guides 60, which extend within the length of straight path 46a and curved path 46b seen in in top view, are embodied as round bars which are bended and are oriented parallel to the straight path 46a of gap 46. The bars 60 are adjustably mounted on the straight parts 52a of supporting plates 52. At the downstream end of straight part 46a of gap 46 the distance h between the guides and the gap 46 increases seen in the conveying direction 5.In top view (figure 5) the bars 60 converge towards each other within the length of guide strip 43. At the downstream end of this converging part the distance d between the bars is typically between 4 cm and 8 cm. This distance is smaller than the distance D (figure 6) between the sides of the legs which face each other at the position of the carrier 6. Distance D typically is within the range of 13 cm and 18 cm. Within the length of tearing edges 49 of guide plate 44 (again seen in top view) the bars slightly diverge away from each other.

[0047] In use of system 1 the bars 60 push the legs 4 of a backhalve which is caught in the straight part 46a of gap 46 inward during transport of the backhalve by the overhead conveyor. The back portion 3 is simultaneously forced downward due to the downward orientation of gap 46 in the straight part 46a causing the legs 4, as already described above, to stretch and possibly also causing tears between the back portion 3 and the legs 4. When next the backhalve enters the curved part 46b of gap 46 the back portion 3 is forced downward more rapidly and to a larger extent such that the back portion 3 and the legs 4 are teared apart from each other. The tearing edges 49 function as respective tearing edges over which the tears between the legs 4 and the back portion 3, more in particular the meat parts thereof, are made. The bars 60 causes the force which acts on the area of the backhalve where the tears are made to be oriented in a vertical direction or at least in a more vertical direction compared to the situation in which the bars 60 would not be present. This causes the force direction to be relatively well defined resulting in a more consistent tearing apart of the back portion 4 and the legs 3. More in particular this results in a higher chance that the oysters as well as the oyster membrane stays attached to the legs 3. This reduces the risk that at a later stage, typically during subsequent deboning or portioning of the legs 3, the oysters would unintentionally become separated from the legs 3. The diverging of the bars 60 compensate for the tearing which has already taken place.

Claims

9CLAIMS1. A system for processing a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass, the backhalve comprising a back portion and legs connected thereto and which backhalve is transported by a conveyor in a conveying direction,the system comprising:- cutting devices configured to make preparatory incisions in areas of the backhalve between the back portion and the legs,- a separation device configured to separate the legs and the back portion from each other, the separation device comprising a separation conveyor supporting the back portion, and a back portion guide, the separation conveyor and the back portion guide defining a longitudinal gap therebetween the gap being configured to guide therein the back portion, wherein the separation conveyor, for the purpose of tearing the legs and the back portion apart from each other by exerting a tearing force between the back portion and the legs, is configured to move the back portion at a speed different than that of the conveyor and / or is configured to move the back portion away from the conveyor, and- a leg guiding device configured to guide the legs towards each other while the tearing force is exerted.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the leg guiding device is configured for pushing against sides of the respective legs facing away from each other.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the leg guiding device comprises two opposing leg guides4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the leg guides converge towards each other and / or diverge away from each other seen in the conveying direction.

5. The system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the distance between the leg guides and the gap increases seen in the conveying direction.

6. The system according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the leg guides extend at least partly, preferably fully, above the separation conveyor.

7. The system according to any one of claim 3 to 6, wherein a distance between the leg guides is at most 8 cm.

8. The system according to any one of claim 3 to 7, wherein the leg guides extend parallel to the gap over a downwardly sloping part of the gap.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the downwardly sloping part of the gap is straight and / or encloses an angle with a horizontal plane, the angle being between 70 degrees and 90 degrees.

10. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system comprises the conveyor, the conveyor preferably being an overhead conveyor which is configured to transport the backhalve in a suspended manner with the legs hanging from the conveyor.

11. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system comprises a hip joint dislocation device which is provided at the upstream side of the separation conveyor.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the hip joint dislocation device comprises a back turning device which is configured to turn the back portion of backhalves upside-down.

13. A method of automated processing a backhalve of a slaughtered poultry carcass, the backhalve comprising a back portion and legs connected thereto, the method comprising:- transporting the backhalve in a suspended manner by a conveyor in a conveying direction, with the legs hanging from the conveyor;- making preparatory incisions in areas of the backhalve between the back portion and the legs,- after having made the preparatory incisions separating the legs from the back portion by exerting a tearing force between the back portion and the legs and thus tearing the legs and the back portion apart from each other,- guiding the legs towards each other during the exerting of a tearing force.

14. The method according to claim 13 comprising the steps of- transporting the backhalve in a suspended manner by the conveyor with the legs hanging from the conveyor,- exerting the tearing force while the backhalve is hanging with the legs from the conveyor.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the legs are guided towards each other by pushing against sides of the respective legs facing away from each other.

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