Apparatus for conveying entrails packages wich have been removed from birds.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying entrails packages which have been removed from birds, comprising a conveyor for the entrails packages having a number of conveying means (4). Each conveying means is provided with a carrier (5) which is pivotable between a lower position and an upper position. In the upper position the entrails packages can be applied to the carrier for the supply thereof to a separating device.

Description: The invention relates to an apparatus for conveying entrails packages which have been removed from birds, comprising a conveyor for conveying the entrails packages over some distance synchronously with the birds that are suspended from a suspension conveyor. Dutch patent application 91.01768 in the name of applicant already describes a conveyor of the above mentioned type shaped as a belt conveyor. Using this belt conveyor it is possible to convey the entrails over some distance entirely severed from the poultry but still synchronously therewith, as a result of which it is completely clear during a veterinary inspection to which bird each entrails package belongs. During such an inspection a veterinary inspector is located on the side of the conveyor facing away from the suspension conveyor, such that the entrails packages and corresponding birds are visible at one glance. Then it is required however that the distance between the entrails packages and corresponding birds is minimal. After the entrails packages and the birds have passed the veterinary inspection the entrails packages have to be separated in separate parts, such as intestines, liver and heart with lungs. This can be carried out using an apparatus as described in Dutch patent application 91.01856 in the name of applicant. Herein the entrails packages, positioned on carriers having receiving slots, pass a separating device. Basically it is conceivable that the carriers according to Dutch patent application 91.01856 act as conveyor for the entrails packages while passing the veterinary inspection. However such carriers exhibit the disadvantage of hiding a part of the entrails packages at the side of the carriers facing away from the veterinary inspector. Thus it is preferred to support the entrails packages in a lying condition, in correspondence with Dutch patent application 91.01484. However, a disadvantage is then that in such a situation the entrails packages cannot, without additional measures, be supplied to a previously mentioned separating device. It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the type referred to above providing at one hand a support of the entrails packages which is optimised in view of carrying out a veterinary inspection, and at the other hand enables the supply of the entrails packages to a separating device known per se. Thus the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the conveyor comprises a number of conveying means each receiving one single entrails package, which at their sides facing the birds are provided with carriers for receiving the entrails packages and for in a defined position supplying these to an entrails processing apparatus, said carriers being movable between a lower position in which they extend mainly below the level of support of the conveying means and an upper position in which they extend mainly above said level of support of the conveying means. In an appropriate way the conveying means may be carried out such that the entrails packages lying thereupon are optimally visible during a veterinary inspection. The carriers, which in a way known per se may comprise slots (as illustrated in Dutch patent application 91.0856), in their lowermost position do not at all obstruct a veterinary inspection, that is that they do not obstruct the view of birds behind the conveyor which are suspended from the suspension conveyor. Further they do not limit the accessibility to the birds, for example if a veterinary inspector does want to remove some kind of irregularities, such as feathers, from a bird. In this position of the carriers the conveying means are able of a synchronous movement with the birds at a minimal distance therefrom without obstructing the view of said birds, such that it is completely clear to which bird each entrails package belongs. After passing the veterinary inspection the carriers are in the upper position and the entrails packages can be positioned in the carriers in an appropriate way and in this position be supplied to the separating device. The positioning into the carriers can occur manually, but also automatedly. In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention each carrier is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation extending transversally to the direction of conveyance. For assuming the lower position or upper position, respectively, the carriers can be pivoted about the respective axis of rotation in an appropriate way. For pivoting the carriers several constructive solutions are possible. One handy embodiment of the apparatus is characterized in that a stationary guide is provided underneath the conveyor engaging the carriers and causing the rotation thereof. Initially the carriers assume the lower position under influence of the force of gravity. After reaching the stationary guide the carriers are automatically pivoted towards their upper position and maintained therein, for example until after passing the separating device. In correspondence with another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention it is preferred that the conveying means exists of trays, which for defining the conveyor are articulated about horizontal transverse axes. In such a case the conveyor as it were consists of an endless series of trays inter-connected through horizontal transverse axes. Of course the trays should have such a shape that they can follow the track run through by the conveyor, for example around two distanced reversal wheels. When the conveyor, in the way described above, comprises trays interconnected through transverse axes it is, in correspondence with another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, handy that the transverse axes coincide with the axes of rotation of the carriers. Like this the axes have a double function. Hereinafter the invention will be elucidated further while referring to the drawing, in which an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention is illustrated. Fig. 1 shows schematically a side elevational view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, and fig. 2 shows on a larger scale and perspectively a part of the conveyor illustrated in fig. 1. In fig. 1 two reversal wheels 1, 2 are visable which are positioned in a vertical plane and around which an endless conveyor extends comprising trays 4 interconnected through horizontal transverse axes 3. The transverse axes 3 interconnecting the trays 4 further act as axes of rotation for carrying plates 5 connected with the trays 4. Generally the carrying plates 5 will assume a lower position (as indicated in the left of fig. 1) under influence of the force of gravity, in which they extend mainly below the level of the conveyor, especially of the corresponding tray 4. Underneath a part of the conveyor a stationary guide 6 is provided, which, in the illustrated embodiment, cooperates with extensions 7 provided on the carrying plates 5. When an extension 7 contacts the guide 6 the respective carrying plate is pivoted upwards to the position shown on the right top of fig. 1 relative to the respective tray 4 and opposite to the force of gravity. Further it is indicated in fig. 1 that in the vicinity of the conveyor a suspension conveyor 8, only indicated schematically, is provided from which birds 9 are suspended. The position of the suspension conveyor is chosen such that the birds 9, as seen perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing, are positioned closely behind the conveyor comprising the trays 4. The apparatus represented in fig. 1 operates as follows. In a previous stage the entrails packages have been removed from the birds 9 in a way not illustrated further. By means of an appropriate apparatus, for example the apparatus described in Dutch patent application 91.01768, the entrails packages are positioned into the trays 4 of the conveyor. Next the trays 4 comprising the entrails packages lying therein together with the birds 9 move over some distance synchronously from left to right in fig. 1. During said synchronous movement the entrails packages are close to the respective birds from which they have been removed. Further the carrying plates 5 are in their lower position such as not to obstruct the view of the birds 9. In this way a veterinary inspector at one hand may inspect the entrails packages lying in the trays 4 and at the other hand may check the birds 9 for irregularities. Further the birds 9 are easily accessible for the veterinary inspector, such that possible irregularities can be removed or, if an entrails package gives cause to it, a bird 9 is taken away from the suspension conveyor 8. Therefore it is important that in the left section of the upper part of the conveyor represented in fig. 1 the distance between the trays 4 and the birds 9 suspended from the suspension conveyor 8 is as small as possible. Notwithstanding the small distance between the trays 4 and the birds 9 the carrying plates 5 do not constitute an obstruction for they are in their lower position at the moment of passing a veterinary inspector. During the ongoing movement of the trays 4, in fig. 1 from left to right, the extensions 7 of the carrying plates 5 contact the rising guide 6 and the carrying plates 5 are rotated from their lower position towards their upper position in which they, as it were, extend above the trays 4. At this moment the entrails packages are manually or automatically positioned in appropriate receiving slots 10 of the carrying plates 5. Postioned thus the carrying plates 5 together with the entrails packages received therein finally pass a device for separating the separate parts of the entrails package, for example a device as illustrated in Dutch patent application 91.01856, comprising parts 11-13 indicated only schematically. After passing the separating device 11, 12, 13 the guide 6 releases the carrying plates 5 and these pivot towards their lower position and, together with the corresponding trays 4, move back to the starting position after passing the reversal wheel 2, in which starting position the trays 4 may again receive entrails packages. In fig. 2 three trays 4 are indicated which, through transversally extending horizontal axes 3, are articulated. These transverse axes 3 further act as mounting and rotational axes for the carrying plates 5. The carrying plates 5 are provided with the extensions 7 mentioned before which, for rotating the carrying plates 5, engage the stationary guide 6. The shape of the trays 4 is such, more specifically trapezial, that they can pass the reversal wheels 2 while acting as conveying means. It is conceivable that instead of a stationary guide 6 for moving the carrying plates 5 from the lower towards the upper position selectively activatable actuator means are applied. Further it is possible that the carrying plates comprise follower rolls cooperating with a stationary curved track.

Claims: Apparatus for conveying entrails packages which have been removed from birds, comprising a conveyor (1,2,4) for conveying the entrails packages over some distance synchronously with the birds (9) that are suspended from a suspension conveyor (8), wherein the conveyor comprises a number of conveying means (4) each receiving one single entrails package, which at their sides facing the birds are provided with carriers (5) for receiving the entrails packages and for in a defined position supplying these to an entrails processing apparatus (11,12,13), said carriers (5) being movable between a lower position in which they extend mainly below the level of support of the conveying means (4) and an upper position in which they extend mainly above said level of support of the conveying means (4). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that each carrier (5) is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation (3) extending transversally to the direction of conveyance. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that a stationary guide (6) is provided underneath the conveyor engaging the carriers (5) and causing the rotation thereof. Apparatus according to one of the claims 1-3, characterized in that the conveying means exist of trays (4), which for defining the conveyor are articulated about horizontal transverse axes (3). Apparatus according to claim 4 and 2, characterized in that the transverse axes (3) coincide with the axes of rotation of the carriers.

Inventors: MEYN CORNELIS, MEYN, CORNELIS
Applicants: MEYN MASCHF, MACHINEFABRIEK MEYN B.V.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A22C21
IPC codes: A22C21