Method and device for releasing intestines

A method and device for releasing intestines in a carcass opened on the abdominal side, in particular a sheep, pig or cattle carcass, having the steps of: PA1 placing at least one bracket member in an operative position between the peritoneum and the abdominal wall, PA1 moving the bracket member substantially parallel to the spinal column whereby the peritoneum with organs arranged therein is at least partially released from the abdominal wall, and PA1 carrying the bracket member from the operative position out of the carcass.

The invention relates to a method for releasing intestines in a carcass 
opened on the abdominal side, in particular of a sheep, pig or cattle 
carcass. The invention also relates to a device for performing this 
method. 
Release of the intestines from a carcass opened on the abdominal side has 
heretofore taken place manually. Particularly in an automatic slaughtering 
line this is a labour-intensive process wherein the working conditions are 
heavy. 
The object of the present invention is to provide a method and device for 
at least partly automatically releasing intestines from a carcass. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention provides for this purpose a method for releasing intestines 
in a carcass opened on the abdominal side, in particular a sheep, pig or 
cattle carcass, comprising the successive steps of: 
placing at least one bracket member in an operative position between the 
peritoneum and the abdominal wall, 
moving the bracket member substantially parallel to the spinal column 
whereby the peritoneum with organs arranged therein is at least partially 
released from the abdominal wall, and 
carrying the bracket member from the operative position out of the carcass. 
The invention also provides a device for releasing intestines in a carcass 
opened on the abdominal side, comprising: 
a feed device for opened carcasses, 
a manipulator provided with at least one bracket member for placing the 
bracket member in an operative position between the peritoneum and the 
abdominal wall, causing the bracket member to move substantially parallel 
to the spinal column of the carcass, and carrying the bracket member from 
the operative position to a position outside the carcass, and 
a discharge device for processed opened carcasses. Automation of the 
release reduces the personnel required, particularly in a slaughter line; 
this can result in considerable savings. Another important advantage is 
that the heavy physical work can be performed by mechanically driven tools 
and a carcass can be stripped with fewer treatment steps. Yet another 
advantage is that the danger of the carcass being soiled by liquids 
present in the intestines can be limited. This simplifies further 
processing of the carcasses. Finally, it is possible using the invention 
to realize a more constant quality of processed carcasses. These 
advantages can be realized by making use of the anatomy of the slaughtered 
animal. In the abdomen are situated the stomach(s), the duodenum, the 
small intestine, the large intestine and subsequently the rectum. The 
outer end of the rectum forms the anus which is joined to the wall of the 
carcass. At the height of the duodenum are also situated branches of the 
pancreas, the liver and the spleen. The above intestines and organs are 
enclosed by the peritoneum. The kidneys moreover are, as it were, fused 
together with the peritoneum. Between the peritoneum and the abdominal 
wall is situated a fat layer. By now at least partially breaking the 
connection between the peritoneum and the abdominal wall it becomes 
possible to take the said intestines and organs as one whole out of the 
carcass. The bag-shaped construction formed by the peritoneum holds 
together the intestines and organs and thereby enables a simpler and less 
contaminating removal of the objects for removal arranged in the abdominal 
cavity. An additional important advantage is that, due to the strong 
adhesion of the leaf fat (fat situated between abdominal wall and 
peritoneum) to the peritoneum, the leaf fat can also be released from the 
carcass when the peritoneum is released. The leaf fat thereby no longer 
has to be removed from the carcass manually or otherwise. 
The bracket member is preferably introduced close to the midriff. The 
carcass is preferably also suspended at least on the hind legs and in the 
operative position the bracket member is moved substantially in the 
direction of the hind legs. The insertion can thereby take place on the 
side of the midriff remote from the peritoneum into a cavity created 
between the midriff and the lungs. From the side of the midriff remote 
from the peritoneum the bracket member will be moved in the direction of 
the hind legs, whereby the midriff is at least partially separated from 
the carcass. The bracket member is then situated in the operative position 
between the peritoneum and the abdominal wall. Use can effectively also be 
made of the weight of the organs for removal. This enhances a uniform 
releasing movement. Prior to penetration of the bracket member the 
attachment of the intestinal system to the wall of the carcass is 
preferably broken at the position of the anus. It thereby becomes possible 
to also release the connection between the peritoneum and the wall of the 
carcass in the vicinity of this broken connection. 
The device according to the invention, as already described above, is 
provided with a bracket member which can have any desired form, wherein 
spoon-shaped, curved rod-shaped, spatula-shaped and other bracket members 
can be envisaged. Use can be made of a robot arm as manipulator. In 
practice however, such a solution is rather expensive and use will 
therefore be made of a drive unit with for instance two or more degrees of 
freedom. 
During the releasing movement substantially parallel to the spinal column 
the bracket member is preferably displaceable in a direction practically 
perpendicular to the releasing movement. In a preferred embodiment this 
movement practically perpendicular to the releasing movement can be 
controlled by a manipulator. In another preferred embodiment the movement 
of the bracket member practically perpendicularly of the releasing 
movement is preferably determined by forces exerted by the carcass on the 
bracket member. Depending on the shape of the abdominal wall it must also 
be possible during the releasing movement to move the bracket member in a 
direction practically perpendicularly of the releasing movement. If the 
abdominal wall were for instance cylindrical, such a movement would be 
unnecessary, although in practice the abdominal wall will have a more 
complex form. The movement substantially perpendicularly of the releasing 
movement prevents the bracket member being pressed into the abdominal wall 
or through the peritoneum. This movement of the bracket member 
substantially perpendicularly of the releasing movement can either be 
preprogrammed or be controlled by the shape of the carcass. This latter is 
the case for instance when the bracket member is self-guiding and chooses 
the path of least resistance between peritoneum and abdominal wall. This 
can be realized for instance by urging the bracket member under bias 
toward the abdominal wall. 
In a preferred embodiment the bracket member is provided with at least two 
bracket segments, the outer ends of which are moved toward each other 
during placing in the operative position such that in the operative 
position the bracket segments substantially connect to each other. This 
construction makes it possible to release the peritoneum almost completely 
from the abdominal wall with a single releasing movement. In this 
preferred embodiment the peritoneum is anyway almost wholly enclosed by 
the bracket segments. It is recommended herein that the bracket segments 
be movable independently of each other during the releasing movement. 
In another preferred embodiment the form of the bracket member is adapted 
to at least a part of the inside of the abdominal wall of the carcass. 
Herein can be envisaged for instance a curved bracket member whereof the 
curvature substantially corresponds with the curvature of the inside of 
the abdominal wall of the carcass. 
In yet another preferred embodiment the bracket member is preferably 
provided with cutting or sawing means. Since the connection between 
peritoneum and abdominal wall is not everywhere equally strong, it is 
possible to break strong attachments using cutting or sawing means. Herein 
can be envisaged for instance the attachment of the lungs to the thoracic 
membrane. This attachment is so strong that when it is pulled loose a 
frayed structure results wherein meat can also be pulled from the carcass. 
Another example are the attachments on the abdominal wall close to the 
midriff. Use can be made of cutting or sawing means to break these 
comparatively strong connections. 
The present invention will be further elucidated with reference to the 
non-limitative embodiment shown in the following figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 shows a device 1 in which a carcass 2 is suspended from the hind 
legs 3 thereof. The device 1 comprises a manipulator 4 consisting of a 
horizontal guide 5 along which a horizontal carriage 6 is displaceable. 
Fixed to the horizontal carriage 6 is a vertical guide 7 along which a 
vertical carriage 8 is movable. A pivotable bracket member 9 is fixed to 
the vertical carriage 8. Also shown in this figure in broken lines is a 
second position of the vertical carriage 8' with bracket member 9'. Also 
shown here are a number of possible positions of bracket member 9'. 
The vertical carriage 8 shown in full lines is carried into an operative 
position in a direction designated with arrow P1. The bracket member 9 is 
now situated partly inside the carcass 2. The bracket member 9 can then be 
moved upward as according to an arrow P2 whereby the releasing process is 
carried out. 
A bracket member 9 consisting of two parts 10,11 is shown in top view in 
FIG. 2 in operative position. The bracket member parts 10,11 are connected 
to the vertical carriage 8 with interposing of a cylinder 13. The two 
parts 10,11 of bracket member 9 are formed such that their shape 
practically corresponds with the inside of the abdominal wall 12 of 
carcass 2. The two parts 10,11 of the bracket member almost completely 
enclose a peritoneum (not shown in this figure). The outer end of the two 
parts 10,11 almost make contact close to the spinal column 14 of carcass 
2. In this figure no means are shown for the displacement of the bracket 
member parts 10,11 practically perpendicularly of the releasing movement. 
Numerous constructions are however conceivable for this purpose. This 
movement practically perpendicularly of the releasing movement can also be 
applied advantageously during placing of the bracket member 9 in operative 
position.