Method and device for releasing intestines

Abstract: The invention relates to 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 (9) in an operative position between the peritoneum and the abdominal wall, moving the bracket member (9) 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 (9) from the operative position out of the carcass. The invention also relates to a device for performing this method.

Description: 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 usually taken place manually. Particularly in an automatic slaughtering line this is a labour-intensive process wherein the working conditions are heavy. Document WO-A-92 22 210 discloses a method and means for releasing intestines in a carcass opened on the abdominal side. The process includes pushing the intestines in a direction from the cranial end of the carcass towards to caudal end so as to pass between the hind legs and fall from the carcass. Connecting tissues are partially severed prior to pushing the intestines from the carcass so that the intestines detentions completely from the carcass after being pushed between the hind legs. The prior art device is situated in a slaughtering line. The object of the present invention is to provide a more effective and efficient method and device for automatically releasing intestines from a carcass. The invention provides for this purpose a method in accordance with claim 1. The invention also provides a device in accordance with claim 5. Successful 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 performevd 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. Also the European patent application EP-0 601 812 disclosed an automated evisceration process in which a connective tissue cutting tool is guided along the spine of a carcass from the caudal end towards the diaphragm to sever the connected tissue holding internal organs to the spine. The cutting tool is guided along a predetermined path which is scaled according to at least one external dimension of the carcass. As the guidance of the cutting tool in this process is the used from indirective dimensions the separation of intestines and carcass will be less optimal than in the release method according to the invention where the bracket member is directly guided by the peritoneum and the abdominal wall. The bracket member is preferably introduced close to the midriff of the carcass. 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 practically 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 practically 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 practically 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. Herein: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a device according to the invention, and Fig. 2 shows a top view of a bracket member in operative position. 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 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.

Claims: Method for releasing intestines in a carcass (2) opened on the abdominal side, in particular a sheep, pig or cattle carcass, characterized in that the method comprises the successive steps of: placing at least one bracket member (9) in an operative position between the peritoneum and the abdominal wall (12), moving the bracket member (9) substantially parallel to the spinal column (14) whereby the peritoneum with organs arranged therein is at least partially released from the abdominal wall (12), and carrying the bracket member (9) from the operative position out of the carcass (2). Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket member (9) is introduced close to the midriff of the carcass (2). Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the carcass (2) is suspended at least on the hind legs (3) and in the operative position the bracket member (9) is moved substantially in the direction toward the hind legs (3). Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein prior to insertion of the bracket member (9) the attachment of the intestinal system to the wall (12) of the carcass (2) is broken at the position of the anus. Device (1) for releasing intestines in a carcass (2) opened on the abdominal side, comprising a feed device for opened carcasses (2) and a discharge device for processed opened carcasses (2), characterized in that a manipulator (4) is provided with at least one bracket member (9) for placing the bracket member (9) in an operative position between the peritoneum and the abdominal wall (12) of the carcass (2) for causing the bracket member (9) to move substantial parallel to the spinal column (14) of the carcass (2), and for carrying the bracket member (9) from the operative position to a position outside the carcass (2). Device (1) as claimed in claim 5, wherein during the releasing movement substantially parallel to the spinal column (14) the bracket member (9) is displaceable in a direction practically perpendicular to the releasing movement. Device (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movement of the bracket member (9) practically perpendicular to the releasing movement can be controlled by the manipulator (4). Device (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movement of the bracket member (9) practically perpendicularly of the releasing movement is determined by forces exerted by the carcass (2) on the bracket member (9). Device (1) as claimed in any of the claims 5-8, wherein the bracket member (9) is provided with at least two bracket segments (10,11), 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 (10,11) practically connect to each other. Device (1) as claimed in any of the claims 5-9, wherein the bracket member (9) is formed such that it practically corresponds with at least a part of the inside of the abdominal wall (12) of the carcass (2). Device (1) as claimed in any of the claims 5-10, wherein the bracket member (9) is provided with cutting or sawing means.

Inventors: JACOBS THOMAS GERARDUS MARIA, TE MAARSSEN JOHANNES WILHELMUS, VAN OCHTEN SANDER ANTONIE, JACOBS, THOMAS GERARDUS MARIA, TE MAARSSEN, JOHANNES WILHELMUS PAULUS, VAN OCHTEN, SANDER ANTONIE
Applicants: STORK MPS BV, STORK MPS B.V.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A22B5
IPC codes: A22B5, A22C17