METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING THE BODY OF SLAUGHTERED POULTRY

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dividing up the carcass of a slaughtered bird (5), the carcass being suspended by its feet (6) from a transport means (2), being transported with the breast to the front in the transport direction and, during transport thereof, being cut through by means of a cut­ ting operation, the carcass being brought, before and during the cutting operation, into an oblique position relative to the transport direction such that the feet are placed in front of the remainder of the carcass, while an edge section, forming a boundary with the breast, of the rear opening, present between the feet of the carcass, is lowered from between the feet, and the cutting opera­ tion is carried out in a transverse direction in a plane extending between the lowered edge section and the thighs, so that the carcass is divided up into a rear half (23) com­ prising the feet, thigh portions corresponding to the feet and a back portion, and a front half (24) comprising a breast portion and a main portion of the back portion of the carcass, the front half being supported from the area in which the cutting operation is carried out and trans­ ported along a specified path to a subsequent processing station for the front half.

Description: The invention relates to a method for dividing up the carcass of a slaughtered bird, the carcass being suspended by its feet from a transport means, being transported with the breast to the front in the transport direction and, during transport thereof, being cut through by means of a cutting operation, the carcass being brought, before and during the cutting operation, into an oblique position relative to the transport direction such that the feet are place in front of the remainder of the carcass, while an edge portion, forming a boundary with the breast, of the rear opening, present between the feet of the carcass, is lowered from between the feet, and the cutting operation is carried out in a transverse direction in a plane extending between the lowered edge section and the thighs, so that the carcass is divided up into a rear half comprising the feet, thigh portions corresponding to the feet and a back portion, and a front half comprising a breast portion and a main portion of the back portion of the carcass. A method of this type is known from European Patent EP 0,109,708 in the name of the Applicant. In a version of the known method the carcass of the slaughtered bird is divided up into the rear half and the front half. The rear half suspended by the feet can then additionally be cut through the middle between the feet by an additional cutting operation in a vertical plane. After cutting the front half from the rear half it always falls down with random orientation and is received in a collection trough. The known method accordingly also has the drawback that, for further processing of the front half, the latter has to be taken out of the collection trough and again has to be brought to a particular orientation in order to carry out any subsequent cutting operation thereon. This method comprises a number of complicated and time-consuming manipulations so that the further processing of the front half is relatively time-consuming and the supply of front halves is quicker than the further processing of the halves. As a result the collection trough will have to be replaced by an empty trough after a certain period of time, the supply of new slaughtered birds to be cut through having to be stopped. The supply and dividing up of slaughtered birds into rear and front halves can therefore not take place in an optimally efficient manner. Another drawback of receiving the cut-up front halves in a collection trough is that the halves present in the trough can easily become contaminated and can no longer be package hygienically after a relatively long time. Moreover, the above complicated manipulations for removing the front halves from the trough and orientating them again are not suitable for being carried out by means of a relatively simple device. The invention aims to eliminate the drawbacks of the known method. This aim is achieved, according to the invention, by means of the method steps described in claim 1. As a result of this, the step of receiving a cut-up front half in a collection trough and the subsequent step of orientating the front half again are dispensed with. As a result of the fact that all the front halves are supported in the same way and are guided along the same specified path, the further processing of the front halves can easily be carried out exactly and uniformly. The further processing of the front halves takes place at the same speed as that at which the slaughtered birds are supplied. As a result, the method can always be carried out at an expedient speed while the front halves which have been cut off and further processed can quickly be packaged hygienically. Although a cut-off front half can be guided to the subsequent processing station under the influence of gravity it is preferable for the front half to be gripped before being displaced so that uniform speed of displacement and orientation of the front halves to the processing station are ensured. For applying the method according to the invention the invention also provides a device, such as that based on the construction described in the preamble of claim 8 and known from EP 0,109,708, with the measures as described in the characterizing clause of claim 8. The device preferably comprises displacement means which grip the front half for displacing the latter to the following processing station. The invention is illustrated with reference to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive showing a device according to the invention. The figures show, respectively, five successive stages of the transport and the dividing-up of a slaughtered bird for a method according to the invention. The figures in each case show a side view of the same section of a device having a frame 1 and a diagrammatically shown section of a transport system having a number of push elements 2 which are arranged at a distance from each other and are displaced in the direction of the arrow 3 along a horizontal path indicated by the dash/dot line 4. The transport system is suitable for suspending thereon a slaughtered bird 5, the feet 6 being able to slide between and on two parallel sliding rods (not shown) so that the suspended bird 5 is displaced by a push element 2 in the direction of the arrow 3. Although in each of the figures only one push element 2 and one bird 5 (or portions thereof) are shown, the dimensions of the device shown in the drawing may be such that a number of birds 5 are displaced and cut through in the section shown. The device comprises two knives 7, 8 which are arranged next to each other and horizontally, have a circular circumference, are driven by a drive device (not shown) and the axes of rotation of which extend parallel to the plane of the drawing. The knives 7, 8 are arranged over a small distance so as to overlap each other. The area of overlapping of the knives 7, 8 is located between the feet 6 of a bird 5 transported between the knives 7, 8. The device likewise comprises an essentially rod-shaped support 9 which extends in the vertical plane through the overlapping section of the knives 7, 8. The support 9 bends completely downwards as seen in the transport direction 3 of the birds 5 and possesses an end 10 to which an arm 12 is fastened via a hinge at 11. The arm 12 is rotatable in a vertical plane between a low position shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 and a high position shown in Figure 2. The arm 12 is rotated by means of a rod 13 an end of which is connected, at 14, eccentrically to the hinge at 11, to the arm 12 by means of a rotating coupling. The rod 13 is slidable within the support 9 and is displaced to and fro in the longitudinal direction thereof by means of a coupling device 15 coupled to the transport system. The to and fro displacement of the rod 13 takes place synchronously with the passage of the push elements 2 past the arm 12. Two chain transporters 16 with projections directed towards the support 9 are arranged on either side of and at a distance from the support 9. Because chain transporters are known per se only a cover plate is shown of the chain transporter 16 shown in the figures. The transporters 16 are coupled to a coupling device 17 which is coupled with the transport system with the push elements 2 so that the speed of the transporters is matched with the speed of the push elements 2. A knife 18 having a circular cross-section is attached in a vertical plane under a section of the support 9 which is at a lower position. Two knives 19 having a circular cross-section are attached above a lower section of the support 9, parallel to each other and on either side of the vertical symmetrical plane passing through the knives 7, 8 and 18. The distance between the two knives 19 is somewhat larger than the width of the backbone of the bird 5. With the exception of a section between the knives 19 the support 9 has two arched recesses 20 in which the knives 19 can rotate. The knives 18, 19 are rotatably driven by means of a drive device, which is not shown. Two branched-off elements 21 are attached at either side of the support 9 at a lower section thereof than at the knives 18, 19. When the bird 5 approaches the position shown in Figure 2 the arm 12, which is driven in the direction of the arrow 3 synchronously with the transport of the bird 5, will hinge upwards and, during the further transport of the bird 5 in the direction of the arrow 3, the uppermost end of the arm 12 will project above the lowermost edge portion of the rear opening of the bird 5 present between the feet. During further transport of the bird 5 this edge boundary of the rear opening will bear against the underside of the arm 12 as a result of which the bird 5 is brought into an oblique position such as shown in Figure 2. During further transport of the bird 5 the latter will be cut through along a cutting line 22, by means of the knives 7, 8, to form a rear half 23 comprising the feet, the thigh portions corresponding to the feet and a back portion, and a front half 24 comprising a breast portion and a main portion of the back portion where the ribs emerge. The figures show that the supplied birds 5 have wing 26. The wings 26 can, however, be removed before reaching the device shown in the figures. The wings 26 can also be removed from the shown device by means of cutting members which are not shown. During the cutting-through of the bird 5 into the halves 23, 24 by means of the knives 7, 8, the arm 12 will increasingly stick further in the front half 24. When the bird 5 has been completely cut through to form the halves 23, 24 the arm 12 is again turned back into the low position shown in Figure 3 and the front half 24 rests against the upper side of the arm 12 by means of the backbone portion. During sliding of the front half 24 over the arm 12 and over the support 9 attached in the extension of the arm 12 the front half 24 is gripped on its sides by the chain transporters 16 at either side of the support 9. As shown in Figure 4, the front half 24 is thereby displaced along the vertical knives 18, 19. The knife 18 will thereby cut through the breast portion opposite the backbone and the knives 19 will cut through the backbone portion on either side of the backbone so that the front half 24 is divided up into two symmetrical half breast pieces 27, 28 (Figure 5). The breast pieces 27, 28 are moved away from the support 9 by means of branched-off elements 21 on either side of the support 9. The breast pieces 27, 28 may be received in a collection trough (not shown) or can be gripped firmly by a packaging device (not shown) from roughly the position shown in Figure 4, and thereafter transported and packed. Tests have shown that the front halves 24 can be guided to the subsequent processing station, in this case having knives 18 and 19, even without the presence of a transporter, such as 16. The transport of the front halves 24 then takes place essentially as a consequence of gravity. The transporter 16 may be flapped away so that the sliding of the front halves can take place at choice by means of the transporter or essentially by gravity. A roll having an outer surface which is not completely smooth may be arranged between the pair of knives 19, so as to be driven together with the knives 19, the roll having a diameter such that it can bear against the backbone of a front half 24 before transport of this half 24. As a result transport of the front half 24 takes place in the area of the knives 19 and the cut-out backbone is removed from between the knives 19. In a suitable arrangement and embodiment of the various knives these contribute to the transport of the front halves 24.

Claims: Method for dividing up the carcass of a slaughtered bird, the carcass being suspended by its feet from a transport means, being transported with the breast to the front in the transport direction and, during transport thereof, being cut through by means of a cutting operation, the carcass being brought, before and during the cutting operation, into an oblique position relative to the transport direction such that the feet are placed in front of the remainder of the carcass, while an edge section, forming a boundary with the breast, of the rear opening, present between the feet of the carcass, is lowered from between the feet, and the cutting operation is carried out in a transverse direction in a plane extending between the lowered edge section and the thighs, so that the carcass is divided up into a rear half comprising the feet, thigh portions corresponding to the feet and a back portion, and a front half comprising a breast portion and a main portion of the back portion of the carcass, characterized in that the front half is supported from the area in which the cutting operation is carried out and is transported along a specified path and in a specified position to a subsequent processing station for the front half. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the support of the front half takes place by supporting the inner side, which faces downwards, of the backbone portion of the front half. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the front half is guided obliquely downwards. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the transport takes place under the action of gravity on the front half. Method according to claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that the transport takes place under the action of mechanically exerted forces. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cutting operation is carried out in the subsequent processing station for the front half for cutting through the backbone portion along at least one side of the backbone. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cutting operation is carried out in the subsequent processing station for the front half for cutting through the breast portion in the longitudinal direction opposite the backbone. Apparatus for dividing up the carcass of a slaughtered bird, comprising a transport system, connected to a frame, suitable for suspending the carcass by the feet and transporting it with the breast at the front, a cutting device and an arm which is fastened so as to hinge relative to the frame, which is able to hinge in the vertical plane extending through the backbone of the carcass between two positions of the end of the arm, the end of the arm being suitable for sticking into the bird via the rear opening present between the feet in one of the two positions of the arm so that during further transport in which the arm is rotated to the other position, the breast of the bird is rotated forward as seen in the transport direction and the carcass is cut through in the transverse direction by means of at least one cutting member of the cutting device above the underside of the rear opening in a manner such that the carcass is divided up into a rear half comprising the feet, thigh portions corresponding to the feet and a portion of the back, and a front half comprising a breast portion and a main portion of the back portion of the carcass, characterized in that the arm is attached so as to hinge in the extension of and at the end of an essentially rod-shaped support which is attached and suitable for passing through the front half via the rear opening and for supporting the backbone portion of the front half, for thereby guiding the front half to a subsequent processing station. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the support, as seen in the transport direction, is attached so as to extend obliquely downwards from the arm. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by displacement means which grip the front half for displacing the latter to the subsequent processing station. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the displacement means are formed by an elongated transporter which is attached along at least one side of the support and grips the corresponding side of the front half. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the transporter comprises an endless transport element having projections gripping the side of the front half. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 to 12 inclusive, characterized by drive means connected to the arm which rotate the arm to and fro between the two positions, synchronously with the displacement of the carcass and, respectively, the rear portion thereof, through the transport system. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the drive means for the arm consist of a rod attached along the support, one end of which is fastened to the arm eccentrically relative to the hinge axis of the arm and in which the rod is displaced by means of a coupling means connected to the transport system to and fro in the longitudinal direction thereof. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the rod is attached within the boundaries of the support. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 to 15 inclusive, characterized in that the subsequent processing station comprises another cutting device for cutting through the backbone portion of the carcass along at least one side of the backbone. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 to 16 inclusive, characterized in that subsequent processing station comprises another cutting device for cutting through the breast portion in the longitudinal direction opposite the backbone. Apparatus according to claim 10, or claim 10 and claim 16 or claim 10 and claim 17, characterized in that the displacement means are formed by a suitable toothing of a cutting element of at least one cutting device.

Inventors: JANSSEN, PETRUS CHRISTIANUS HENDRIKUS, VAN DEN NIEUWELAAR, JOSEPHUS ADRIANUS
Applicants: STORK PMT B.V.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A22C21
IPC codes: A22C21