CARCASS CARGO HANDLING

Abstract: The present invention relates to a carcass carrying cargo unit and a method of transporting carcasses using said unit, comprising a bag (13) open at one end, a frame structure (16) comprising a base frame (18) and two upright (19) end frames and strapping means (9) whereby in use said frame structure (16) is placed within said bag (13) with its opening between the end frames facing to one side of the frame structure (16), and where the carcasses are loaded into said bag (13) onto said base frame (18) to the approximate height of the side frames (19), the opening (15) of the bag is drawn tight and the strapping (9) means engaged around the thus loaded bag to secure the carcasses in the bag.

Description: Carcass cargo handlin The present invention relates to a carcass carrying cargo unit and a method of transporting carcasses using said unit. Australia exports a large volume of carcasses, mutton, lamb and beef, and beef fore and hind quarters. The existing methods of storage and handling have involved a high degree of "manhandling" of the carcasses. After the animal is processed at the meat works, the soft carcasses are hung in frames and transported to the coldstor blastfreezers where they are deep frozen. After blastfreez- ing, the deepfrozen carcasses are removed by hand and stacke in open ended frames, in which the carcasses are stored unti loading on the ships for export. The carcasses are then transported in the said frames by refrigerated truck to the ship for loading where the carcass loaded frames are loaded aboard the ship where the carcasses are removed from the frames and hand stowed and the frames dismantled and returned ashore for return to the coldstore. When the ship reaches its destination the carcasses have to be loaded by hand into a sling or a similar frame unit for transportation ashore. The present invention seeks to lessen the manhandling of the carcasses by providing an improved carcass cargo unit. In one broad form the invention comprises a carcass carrying cargo unit comprising: a bag open at one end; a frame structure comprising a base frame and two upright end frames; and strapping means; whereby in use said frame structure is placed within said bag with its opening between the end frames facing to one side of the frame structure, and where the carcasses are loaded into said bag onto said base frame to the approximate height of " the side frames, the opening of the bag is drawn tight and the strapping means engaged around the thus loaded bag to secure the carcasses in the bag. Preferably the bag unit has lifting sling means fixed thereto, and is of total dimensions so as to be held in a standard loading frame unit. Tn another form the invention comprises a method of handling carcasses, comprising the steps of: a) blastfreezing the carcasses; b) placing within a jig, comprising a base and two end uprights one of which is demountable or pivotally connected to the base frame, a bag having its open mouth facing to the side of the jig with the top edges of the bag supported from the jig; c) placing within the thus held open bag a stiffening frame structure comprising a base member and two uporight en members; d) loading the carcasses into the bag onto the stiffening base frame to the approximate height of the upright end members; e) drawing tight the open mouth of the bag; and f) strapping around the thus loaded bag to secure the loaded carcasses therein, wherein the bag can be lifted by crane or forklift. In a further form the invention comprises a jig for holding a carcass cargo unit which comprises an open bag with a stiffening frame comprising a base and two upright members. Preferably the bag is of dimensions to be held by a standard loading frame unit. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a jig for holding the bag and frame structure of the cargo unit in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates one embodiment of the frame structure of the carcass cargo carrying unit of the present invention with the bag unit shown in broken lines; Figure 3 shows the position of one embodiment of the carcass cargo unit positioned lin the jig illustraged in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows the fully loaded carcass cargo unit in the holding jig with the envelopping bands secured in position around the bag and its contents; Figure 5 illustrates schematically six loaded bags being lifted from a common lifting bar arrangement after having been tilted. A jig 1 for loading of carcasses is shown in Figure 1. This comprises a lower frame 2 consisting of two elongated members 3 connected to each other by transverse profiles 4 and having elongated members 5 telescopically movable in the ends thereof. The elongated members 5 may be hingedly connected to a pair of uprights 6 at one end but such uprights may also be rigidly connected to both ends of such members. Connectable to the jig 1 is a planar end members door like member 7 arranged as a rear abutment surface at the jig 1. The transverse support profiles 4 connected to the elongated members 3 form openings allowing the insertion of a fork of a forklift above the lower frame members to engage and lift a loaded carcass cargo units from the jig. Further the jig 1 has forklift loops located below the elongated members 3 to assist in moving the jig by forklift. One set of straps (not shown) is arranged to be laid along guides 10 on the lower frame 2 transverse profiles 4 and on transverse profiles of uprights 6 and a further set of transverse straps (not shown) laid in continuous strap guides 11 in parallel with profiles 4. A stiffening frame 16 shown in Figure 3 is to be placed within a bag 13 which can be of any suitable material such as plastics. The frame 16 is preferably made from wood, and comprises two longitudinal members 18 affixed to two side frames 19 comprising two wooden uprights and appropriate crossmembers. Figure 3 shows how the bag 13 is inserted into and connected onto the jig of Figure 1 by securing the upper bag portion by clamps and braces 14 to the jig uprights, with the open mouth 15 of the bag facing the free side of the jig, and with the stiffening frame 16 inside the bag resting on top o • raised projections 17 secured top the transverse profiles 8. With the unit as set up, as shown in Figure -. , the carcasses are stacked lengthwise across the elongated frame nembers 3 of the stiffening frame to abut against the rear door like support member 7. The jig itself can be tilted by any means such as electric or hydraulic lifting devices to ensure tight stacking. The bag is then filled to the height of or above the stiffening frame side frames 19 and the open mouth 15 of the bag is then drawn tight and secured. The set of straps resting in the guides 10 and the set of straps 9 resting in the guides 11 are then tightened one in each direction around the bag as shown in Figure 4 to securely hold the carcasses in position. The fork of a forklift- can easily engage under the carcass cargo unit so enclosed and strapped for lifting and for transporting of the carcass cargo unit from the jig _. to other handling means. The bag may include lifting straps 20 sewn cr otherwise secured to the bag material - such that the carcass carrying unit can after being removed from the jig 1 and tilted 90 may be lifted by any crane or the like. Figure 5 shows how a number of bags are arranged and hooked onto a lifting bar. The six bags are thus arranged to be lifted in a single lift. Ventilation holes are provided on two sides of the bag tc assist in the flow of air through the stacked carcasses. Thus, once the carcasses have been loaded into and secured in the cargo units bags, there is no more "manhandling" of the individual carcasses, during transportation or storage. In transportation the carcass cargo units are positioned with the ventilation holes on the top and bottom to provide an efficient flow of cold air to keen the carcasses frozen. The carcass cargo units can be of any suitable size, but preferably have the width of the length of the carcass to be handled. A typical size is 2 metres long by 1.5 metres high by 1.10 to 1.40 in depth. Further the units can be stored and transported on either their bases or sides and self-contained bases could be attached through the bag to the stiffening frame to avoid the use of separate pallets. An added feature of the present invention is that the bag is additional protection against staining and pollution during transportation and storage. It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that modifications and alterations can be made to the cargo unit and packaging method described above without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

Claims: C L A I M S 1. A carcass carrying cargo unit comprising: a bag open at one end; a frame comprising a base frame and two end frames: and strapping means; whereby in use said frame is placed within said bag with its opening facing to one side of the frame, and where the carcasses are loaded onto said base frame inside such bag to the approximate height of the side frames, the opening of the bag is drawn tight and the strapping means engaged around the thus loaded bag to secure the carcasses in the bag. 2. A carcass carrying unit according to Claim 1 v/herein said bag includes lifting slings. 3. A carcass carrying unit according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the unit is of total dimensions such that it can be held in a load handling frame. 4. A method of handling carcasses, comprising the steps of: a) blastfreezing the carcasses; b) placing within a jig, comprising a base and two end uprights at least one of which is movably connected to the base frame, a bag having its open mouth facing a free side of the jig with the top edge portions of the bag supported from the jig; c) placing within the thus held open bag a stiffening frame comprising a base member and two upright end members; d) loading the carcasses into the bag onto the stiffening frame to the approximate height of the upright end members; e) drawing tight the open mouth of the bag; and f) strapping around the thus loaded bag to secure the loaded carcasses therein, to form a stable unit which can be lifted by crane or forklift. 5. A method according to Claim 4 wherein the loaded bag is of dimensions such that it can be held within the dimensions of a standard cargo pallet or frame unit. 6. A method according to Claim 4 or 5 including the step of laying straps in arranged guides or holders on said jig, bot laterally and transversely, before removing said bag from said jig. 7. A method according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein a movable planar door like support member connected to said jig remote from and opposite to the open mouth of the bag, is arranged to form an abutment means for the carcasses on loading and stacking same inside said bag. 8. A jig for holding a carcass cargo unit which comprises an open bag with a stiffening frame comprising a base and two upright end members; said jig comprising a base having two elongated mutually connected members; first and second end uprights movably affixed to each ends of said two elongated members; transverse elongated profiles mutually connecting said two base elongated members forming supports for said stiffening frame; means located on said jig to temporarily position straps which are to be tightened around the bag to secure the loade carcasses in the bag; and clamps and braces means located on said first and second end uprights to hold the opened bag in the jig with its open load receiving mouth facing the side of the jig. 9. A jig according to Claim 8 wherein at least one of the end uprights is telescopically connected to the base elongated members to allow adjustment of the distance betwee the two uprights to the first end upright.

Inventors: FRIMAN ERIK AAKE, FRIMAN, ERIK, AAKE
Applicants: COOL CARRIERS SVENSKA AB
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B65B25
IPC codes: B66C1