Device for cutting loose the rectum of a slaughtered animal carcass

Abstract: Device for cutting loose the rectum of the carcass of a slaughtered animal, having a shut-off and positioning element (2) fitted at the end of an elongated carrier (4) with concentrically around it a rotary cutting element (10), and with means (18) for creating a vacuum around said carrier, said positioning element (2) being provided with a bore (20) open at its fornt side, into which opens a flushing liquid supply channal (24).

Description: The invention relates to a "device for cutting loose the rectum of the carcass of a slaughtered animal", comprising a shut-off and positioning element for introduction into the anus, which element is fitted at the end of an elongated carrier and has concentrically around it a rotary cutting element, and comprising a vacuum circuit for creating a vacuum around said carrier. Such a device is known from NL-A-8602219 (corresponding to EP-A-0 258 939). In this known device a vacuum is created around the carrier to stretch the rectum so that a precise cut can be made. However, the presence of vacuum around the carrier has as a result that fat, faeces, and other impurities are sucked into the vacuum system causing it to become blocked after some time and constituting very undesirable source of cross-contamination. The invention is based on the insight that the vacuum can be used with advantage to remove faeces and impurities, present in the rectum, by providing the positioning element with a bore open at the front side of the positioning element and in connection with the vacuum circuit, and with a flushing liquid supply channel opening out into this bore, the vacuum circuit being provided with means to remove contaminations in the flushing liquid which are sucked into the vacuum circuit during operation. It is observed that the US patent specification 3 137 031 describes a method and device for cleaning a poultry cloaca during the evisceration procedure by injecting through a hollow pipe a mixture of water and pressurised air into the cloaca and thereafter cutting-of the supply of water and creating a vacuum to withdraw the mixture of water and faeces. This known device, however, is not provided with a positioning element in combination with a rotary cutting element. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the sub-claims. The invention is explained with reference to the drawing. Herein: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an embodiment of the device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the way in which the flushing liquid and vacuum pipe are connected. The device shown in Figure 1 for cutting loose the rectum of a slaughtered animal by and large corresponds to that which is used in a plant such as that described in NL-A-8602219 (corresponding to EP-A-0,258,939). This device comprises a flattened circular positioning ball 2 which is fitted on the end of a carrier 4 which is accommodated in suitable guides 6 so that it is movable in the lengthwise direction and can be moved by a drive element (not shown) in the direction of the arrows 8. According to the invention, this carrier is designed as a hollow pipe. Around the front end of the pipe 4 is a cylindrical cutter 10 which is fitted at the end of an also tubular carrier 12, which is coaxial with the pipe 4 and is driven so that it rotates about the central axis; said carrier is supported by means of the bearing 14 in an outer protecting sleeve 16. During use, the positioning ball 2 is first inserted up to a suitable depth through the anus into the rectum; the rotary cutter 10 is then moved forward and the cutting edge thereof cuts away the rectum. During the operation of this device a vacuum is maintained around the pipe 4 and behind the positioning ball 2; in the embodiment shown this is achieved through the widened continuation 4a of the pipe 4 being connected to a vacuum source and having air suction openings 18 on its cylindrical surface. The known device of this type has the disadvantage that dirt (faeces and fat) is sucked in through the vacuum pipe, after some time blocking the vacuum system and also being the cause of cross-contamination. In order to eliminate this disadvantage, according to the invention, the positioning ball 2 is provided with a bore 20 situated in line with the pipe 4, and the outflow opening 22 of a flushing liquid supply pipe 24 opens in this bore. As the figure shows, this flushing liquid supply pipe 24 is positioned in the interior of the pipe 4. As the figure shows, the outflow opening 22 is bevelled along a plane 22a which intersects the central axis of the pipe 4 at an acute angle. As Figure 2 shows, the pipe 24 is connected by means of a pump 28 to a tank 30 for the flushing liquid, which can be, for example, hot water to which a disinfectant is added if desired. The pipe 4 is connected by means of a pipe 32 to a pipe branch 34 which opens out at the top side of a settling tank 36; at this top side a second pipe branch 38 opens out and is connected by means of the pipe 40 to the suction side 42 of a vacuum pump 44 with inlet 46. The mixture of faeces and liquid supplied through the pipe 32 settles as indicated by 48 in the tank 36. It has been found in practice that with the measures according to the invention the vacuum system remains free of impurities, while cross-contamination is effectively prevented.

Claims: Device for cutting loose the rectum of the carcass of a slaughtered animal, comprising a shut-off and positioning element (2) for introduction into the anus, which element (2) is fitted at the end of an elongated carrier (4) and has concentrically around it a rotary cutting element (10), and comprising a vacuum circuit (18) for creating a vacuum around said carrier, characterised in that the positioning element (2) is provided with a bore (20) open at the front side of the positioning element (2) and in connection with the vacuum circuit (18) and with a flushing liquid supply channel (24) opening out into this bore, the vacuum circuit (18) being provided with means to remove contaminations in the flushing liquid which are sucked into the vacuum circuit (18) during operation. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the carrier (4) comprises a hollow pipe which is to be connected to a vacuum source (44), and of which the interior extends to the bore in the positioning element. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the flushing liquid channel (24) is accommodated in the interior of the pipe. Device according to claims 1 - 3, characterised in that the flushing liquid channel (24) is provided with an outlet opening (22) which is bevelled along a plane (22a) which intersects the central axis of the hole at an acute angle. Device according to claims 1 - 4, characterised by air admission apertures (18) provided in the surface of the pipe. Device according to claims 1 - 5, characterised in that the flushing liquid is hot water. Device according to claims 1 - 5, characterised in that a disinfectant is added to the flushing liquid.

Inventors: BEKKERS MARINUS FRANCISCUS LEO, BEKKERS, MARINUS FRANCISCUS LEONARDUS
Applicants: CCM BEHEER BV, CCM BEHEER B.V.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A22B5
IPC codes: A22B5, A22C21