Method and device for processing a slaughtered animal or part thereof in a slaughterhouse

Abstract: In a method and device for processing a slaughtered animal or part thereof, which, in a conveyer, is passed along a slaughter line, the following steps are carried out: an identification is assigned to the slaughtered animal or part thereof; one or more observations are performed on the slaughtered animal or part thereof; a test result is determined for the slaughtered animal or part thereof, which test result comprises an approval or rejection, on the basis of the observation data; the test result is stored in conjunction with the corresponding identification. On the basis of the stored test result, the identified slaughtered animal or part thereof can be removed from the slaughter line by an automatic discharging device (6a; 13a, 18a, 22; 26a) or a separating device (10d; 16a; 28a; 32a), which each have a first and a second discharge for removing a slaughtered animal or part thereof which has been approved or rejected, respectively.

Description: The invention relates to a method and a device for processing a slaughtered animal or part thereof in a slaughter line of a slaughterhouse. In the following text, a slaughter line is understood to mean an assembly of one or more conveyors and processing stations, in which an animal for slaughtering, such as cattle, small livestock and poultry can be slaughtered. For the sake of simplicity, in the following text a slaughtered animal or part thereof will be referred to by the words "slaughtering object". GB-A 1 578 524 D1 discloses a grading system in which poultry carcasses being conveyed in an overhead conveyor system are graded. The system comprises a weighing station associated with means for feeding into a control unit information regarding the weight of the carcasses as they pass the weighing station. A plurality of drop-off mechanisms placed apart along the overhead conveyor system is operated by the control unit to remove each carcass from the conveyor using a selected drop-off mechanism, in dependance upon the weight and/or grade of the carcass. The control unit may comprise a grading console, having buttons for initiating grading signals to be associated with a particular group of carcasses. The grading console is operated by an operator, the system comprising indicating means to indicate to the operator which of a group of carcasses at the grading station is associated with which button(s). US-A-4 627 007 discloses a system in which poultry carcasses are being conveyed on a conveyor. The weight of the carcasses is determined in a first weighing station. The relative position of a preselected portion of the anatomy of the carcass is determined by a photosensor as the carcasses are being conveyed. A data processing computer receives the weight and position data for each carcass, and causes a needle to automatically inject a measured amount of a basting additive depending upon the weight of each of the carcasses at a preselected position on the carcass. After the injection the carcasses are weighed in a second weighing station. The data processing computer receives the second weight for each carcass to determine whether the injection was performed correctly. The carcasses are removed from the conveyor at discharge points depending on the weight and rated quality of the carcass as determined by the data processing computer. In the context of advancing mechanization and automation of the activities within a slaughterhouse, in the past systems equipped with cameras were introduced to perform a visual inspection of an slaughtering object, in particular in the region of the start of the slaughter line at the time when the hair or feathers are removed from the slaughtering object. In this manner, it was already possible to approve or reject slaughtering objects in the slaughter line on the basis of specific external characteristics without human intervention by automatically analysing the pictures taken using the camera systems and, on the basis of this analysis, taking a decision on approval/rejection. An approval is normally made in various classes. Owing to statutory regulations, an inspection is still always carried out by a veterinary inspector in an inspection station in the region of the start of the slaughter line. Hitherto, slaughtering objects have been rejected only by humans. Personal inspection forms a major barrier to the further mechanization and automation of slaughtering activities and to increasing the throughput capacity of the slaughter line: humans have a limited observation rate and further their observation capacity is limited. Therefore, if it is desired to increase the speed of the slaughter line while retaining or increasing the inspection quality, it will be necessary as far as possible to replace the human inspector by automatic inspection devices. As matters stand, a further disadvantage is that the inspector is used to removing from the slaughter line, the slaughtering objects which he has rejected, or separating parts of rejected slaughtering objects, himself. The inspection station forms, as it were, a partial slaughterhouse within the overall slaughterhouse. It will be clear that these ancillary duties of the veterinary inspector also have an undesired negative effect on the throughput capacity of the slaughter line. The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device in which the inspection tasks are carried out completely, or almost completely, automatically, and in which in particular the current limitations caused by the inspector are substantially eliminated. Another object of the invention is to optimize the processing of a slaughtered animal, even if a part thereof is rejected. In the latter case often the remaining part of the slaughtered animal can still be processed. A further object of the invention is to increase the efficiency and the flexibility of the processing of animals for slaughtering. To attain the above objects, the method according to the invention comprises the features according to claim 1. Instead of an automatic discharging device, or in addition thereto, the slaughter line may comprise one or more separating devices, in which a portion of the slaughtering object is separated off. The separating device has at least a first discharge for removing the separated portion, if the said portion has been approved, and a second discharge for removing the separated portion, if the said portion has been rejected. A rejection may be temporary or permanent. A temporary rejection of a slaughtered animal or part thereof may be eliminated by repeating the treatment which is at the root of this rejection, optionally in a modified form (examples: eviscerating, cooling), while the permanent rejection of a slaughtered animal or part thereof is, obviously, final (examples: infectious disease, broken wing). The observation of one or more characteristics of each slaughtering object can be carried out by a human observer, such as a slaughterhouse employee or a veterinary inspector, but can also be carried out by an observation device, which is designed, for example, to carry out a visual observation (colour, shape, surface condition, etc.), or detecting a temperature of the slaughtered animal or part thereof, a stiffness of the slaughtered animal, the bacteriological condition of, for example, the skin, etc. In any case, the three latter observations cannot be performed by a human observer. If the observation can be carried out by a human observer, the latter preferably uses an input station for inputting data to a data-processing system relating to at least one observation on the slaughtering object. The use of such an input station, which may comprise, for example, a touch screen or a keyboard or button panel, for indicating a specific deviation, already represents a considerable advance in the throughput capacity of the slaughter line. An automatic discharging device or a separating device can then be controlled by the data-processing system on the basis of the data input by the input station. Deviations which can be determined on a carcass of poultry by a veterinary inspector, by an automatic image-processing device or using a blood or tissue sample comprise: blueness/redness of the carcass owing to an infection or poor transport conditions, redness of the carcass owing to insufficient exsanguination thereof, yellow adipose tissue owing to jaundice or because it is a corn-fed chicken, gangrene on the back or breast of the carcass, an excessive scalding treatment, considerable emaciation in relation to the average of the flock, fractures, hydropsis cloaca, contamination with faeces or gall or the stomach contents, synovitis or arthritis, pneumoderma, a breast blister, a fatting spot, insufficient plucking of the carcass, etc. Deviations to the viscera of poultry which can be observed by a veterinary inspector, by means of an automatic image-processing device or using a blood or tissue sample comprise: pericarditis, pericardium, polyserositis, Marek's disease, leucosis, aspergillosis, etc. In the method according to the invention, at least one observation on a slaughtering object preferably takes place in an inspection station which is disposed in the slaughter line upstream of a discharging device or a separating device. In this way, it is possible, in the discharging device or separating device, for the slaughtering object to be removed, as necessary on the basis of the observation, via the first or the second discharge from the discharging device, or for the portion of the slaughtering object to be removed, as necessary, via the first or second discharge from the separating device. In principle, an observation on a slaughtering object can take place anywhere in the slaughter line. Both in the observation of the characteristics of each slaughtering animal or part thereof and in the processing of the slaughtered animal or part thereof in a processing station, the identification belonging to the animal for slaughtering or part thereof, or the associated carrier, acts as a key to data which are to be registered or have been registered relating to the slaughtered animal or part thereof. In general, an identification reading system will be used to ascertain the identification at a certain point in the slaughter line for the purpose of the action to be carried out at this point. In the context of the identification, it is possible to assign a unique code to each carrier, such as a hook, but it is also possible, starting from a reference position, simply to count the carriers and thus to establish a one-to-one relationship between carriers (and the associated slaughtered animal or part thereof) and data. It is also possible to assign an identification to the slaughtering object by attaching a suitable mark, such as an incision at a specific location, a metal pin, a coloured flag or marking, or the like, to the said object or to its carrier. A mark of this kind can be applied manually or automatically on the basis of an observation. The method and device according to the invention in principle make it possible to use the existing separating device(s) already present in the slaughterhouse, after a second discharge has been attached thereto, for separating operations which were previously carried out by the veterinary inspector. The latter's task is thus simplified and, if a sufficient number of sufficiently refined observation devices are provided, can be dispensed with. Depending on the nature of the deviation found on the slaughtered animal, this deviation is therefore corrected under the control of a data-processing system in the machine which is in any case necessarily present in the slaughter line for treating an approved slaughtering object and which is most suitable for carrying out the necessary corrective treatment. In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the observation consists in taking one or more blood or tissue samples from the slaughtering object and examining the samples with regard to, for example, pH or the number of specific bacteria present. In a following preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the observation consists in determining, at the start of the slaughter line, the temperature and/or the stiffness of the animal for slaughtering and/or corneal reflex and/or a scan of the brain activity, so that it can be established whether the animal for slaughtering was still alive or was already dead on arrival at the slaughterhouse. If the latter is the case, the relevant animal for slaughtering is removed from the slaughter line via the second discharge from a discharging station. In another preferred embodiment, after dehairing or defeathering the slaughtered animal, at least a portion of the body of the slaughtered animal is inspected in the slaughter line to establish the presence of, inter alia, inflammations, blisters, bleeding and/or ruptures. The presence of one or more of the said deviations may be a reason to remove the slaughtered animal from the slaughter line in the next discharging station or, if the deviation is limited to a specific part of the body, such as a wing, a breast fillet or a leg, may lead to removal of the relevant part of the body via the second discharge from a separating station for the relevant part of the body. In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, after the viscera have been removed from the body of the slaughtered animal, at least a portion of the viscera is visually inspected in the slaughter line, in particular by at least one video camera, to determine deviations. The deviations detected may form a basis for removing the viscera from the slaughter line via a second discharge of a downstream discharging station or may lead to the removal of an organ identified on the basis of the inspection via a second discharge of a downstream separating station. In the following preferred embodiment, at least one observation is performed on the slaughtering object before it undergoes a processing in a processing device and after it has undergone the processing in the processing device. An example of this observation is the determination of the weight of the slaughtered animal before and after it has been eviscerated, it being possible to establish, on the basis of the (excessive) weight of the slaughtered animal after evisceration, that not all the organs have been removed. The slaughtered animal can then be taken out of the slaughter line via the second discharge of a downstream discharging device and can be returned to the slaughter line at a point situated upstream of the evisceration device and the weight determinations, in order to repeat the evisceration. In a further preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention, which comprises at least one observation device and at least one automatic discharging device, the second discharge of the discharging device is connected to a conveyor for passing a slaughtering object past an observer. This embodiment provides for the circumstance where it is not possible to establish with sufficient accuracy and/or reliability by means of the observation device whether a deviation is present, while the risk of the deviation not being present is insufficiently low. The slaughtering object can then still be guided past a human observer who can make a definitive judgement on the slaughtering object. After passing the human observer, and depending on the test result determined by the said observer, the slaughtering object can be returned to the slaughter line or removed therefrom. The data-processing system of the device according to the invention preferably comprises a neural network which can ensure a reliable determination of a test result under the changing conditions in the slaughter line. The invention is explained in greater detail by reference to the annexed drawings, in which: Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a first part of the processing of a slaughtered animal in the form of poultry according to the invention, in the form of a flow diagram; Fig. 1a diagrammatically shows the devices associated with the processing steps depicted in Fig. 1; Fig. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a second part of the processing of poultry according to the invention, in the form of a flow diagram; Fig. 2a diagrammatically shows the devices associated with the processing steps depicted in Fig. 2; Fig. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a third part of the processing of poultry according to the invention, in the form of a flow diagram; Fig. 3a diagrammatically shows the devices associated with the processing steps depicted in Fig. 3; Fig. 4 diagrammatically illustrates a fourth part of the processing of poultry according to the invention, in the form of a flow diagram; and Fig. 4a diagrammatically shows the device associated with the processing steps depicted in Fig. 4. In the different Figures, identical reference symbols relate to identical parts of the processing or to identical devices. In the Figures, arrows which consist of dashed lines relate to the supply of observation data to a data-processing system or the supply of control data from the data-processing system to a discharging device or a separating device, depending on the direction of the arrow. In accordance with Figs. 1 and 1a, the processing of poultry in a slaughterhouse begins with the arrival of the animals for slaughtering, as indicated in step 1. In a following step 2, at the start of a slaughter line, the poultry is stunned electrically or stunned by means of a specific gas or gas mixture in a stunning station 2a. Then, in step 3, the animals for slaughtering are suspended in a suspending station 3a in a conveyor (not shown in more detail), such as a known endless conveyor using hooks for suspending the animals for slaughtering by their legs, after which, during transportation, in a step 4 the temperature (by means of an infrased sensor) and/or stiffness (by mechanical means) of each stunned animal for slaughtering is measured in an inspection station 4a. Data relating to the measurement in step 4 and the identification of each fowl are sent to a data-processing system 5, which carries out the evaluation shown in diamond 6 "is the animal for slaughtering too cold and/or too stiff to have been alive at the start of step 2?", on the basis of which it establishes the following test result: animals which are deemed to have already been dead prior to step 2 are removed via a second discharge of a discharging device 6a under the control of the data-processing system 5, on the basis of the corresponding identification, as indicated in step 7, while the remaining animals remain in the slaughter line and are removed via a first discharge of the discharging device 6a, as shown in step 8. The discharging device may comprise a known transferring device for transferring slaughtering objects from one conveyor to another. It is to be noted that the evaluation shown in diamond 6 may alternatively be carried out before the step 2 of stunning the birds, placing the inspection station 4a and the discharging device 6a upstream of the stunning station 2a. Then, in step 9, the carotid artery of the animals for slaughtering is severed in an exsanguination station 9a, so that they bleed to death. In a following step 10, the dead animals are scalded in a scalding station 10a and are plucked in a plucking station 10b known per se. As illustrated in Fig. 1a, after the defeathering operation in the defeathering station 10b, in an inspection station 10c the residual amount of feathers on the body of the birds is determined by visual inspection, e.g. with a video camera and appropriate processing of the visual information in the data-processing system 5. Further, it is to be noted that the animals which are deemed to have been dead already prior to step 2 are removed from the slaughter line directly after passing the inspection station 4a. Said animals may also, like the rest of the animals, be defeathered first before being removed from the slaughter line, since defeathered birds can be destroyed easier than birds still having their feathers. In a following step 10f, the heads of the slaughtered animals are separated from their bodies in a head separating station 10d. The processing after the encircled letter A in Figs. 2 and 2a follows the processing prior to the encircled letter A in Figs. 1 and 1a. In Figs. 2 and 2a, in a step 11, the outside of the slaughtered animal is inspected in an inspection station 11a, for example by an inspector, or by an observation device which comprises one or more video cameras. In the case of an inspector, data relating to the inspection are supplied to the data-processing system 5 via an input station 11b, in conjunction with the identification, read by an identification reading system 12a, of the relevant slaughtered animal, which system evaluates the data in order to reach a reply to the question indicated in diamond 12: "are any inflammations, blisters, bleeding or ruptures to be observed on the outside of the slaughtered animal?". If the answer to the question is "yes", the more detailed evaluation indicated in diamond 13 is carried out: "are the blisters, bleeding or ruptures detected reason to reject the slaughtered animal all together?". If the answer to this question is "yes", the slaughtered animal is removed from the slaughter line via a second discharge from a discharging device 13a under the control of the data-processing system 5, on the basis of the corresponding identification, as indicated by step 14. If, on the basis of the visual inspection, the rejection applies only to a specific part of the animal for slaughtering, the relevant part is later separated off in the slaughter line by a suitable separating device known per se and removed via a second discharge of the said separating device. For the purpose of the description given here, it is assumed that the rejected part is a wing, this deviation being stored in the data-processing system 5 in conjunction with the identification of the slaughtered animal. This matter will be returned to in the context of the description of Fig. 3. The slaughtered animals on which no inflammations, blisters, bleeding or ruptures have been detected are weighed in a step 15 in a weighing station 15a known per se, the weighing data being supplied to the data-processing system 5 with the identification of the slaughtered animal. In a following step 16, the viscera are removed from the slaughtered animal in an evisceration station 16a, after which, in a step 17, the eviscerated slaughtered animal is again weighed in a weighing station 17a, the weighing data again being supplied to the data-processing system 5 with the identification of the slaughtered animal. As indicated in diamond 18, the data-processing system 5 then evaluates the question: "is the difference between the weight determined in step 15 and the weight determined in step 17 too small (in other words: have the viscera been incompletely removed)?". If the answer to this question is "yes", the data-processing system controls a discharging device 18a such that the partially eviscerated slaughtered animal is removed from the slaughter line via a second discharge of the discharging device, on the basis of the corresponding identification, and is returned by a conveyor 19a to a point prior to step 15, as illustrated by step 19. If the result of the evaluation under 18 indicates that all the viscera have been removed, in a step 20 a veterinary inspection of a carcass and the associated viscera takes place in an inspection station 20a. The inspection can be carried out by a human observer or by an observation device, which comprises, for example, one or more video cameras. Data relating to the observation are supplied to the data-processing system 5 in conjunction with the identification of the relevant slaughtering object. The data-processing system 5 then evaluates the question indicated in diamond 21: "does the carcass and/or the viscera contain a deviation?". If the answer to this question is "yes", it is investigated in a subsequent evaluation, indicated at diamond 22, whether the rejection is absolute. If this is the case, the data-processing system 5 controls a discharging device 22a incorporated in the slaughter line such that a rejected carcass and/or rejected viscera are removed from the slaughter line via the second discharge of the discharging device, on the basis of the corresponding identification, as indicated in step 23. If only a specific portion of the carcass and/or the viscera is rejected, data relating to the deviation and the identification belonging to the relevant slaughtering object are stored in the data-processing system and the rejected portion is separated in a separating device situated downstream in the slaughter line and removed from the slaughter line via a second discharge of the separating device. For the purpose of this description, it is assumed that, of the viscera, the liver has been rejected. This matter will be returned to in the context of the discussion of Figs. 4 and 4a. In the processings described in Figs. 3 and 3a, the encircled letter B follows that part of the processing discussed in Figs. 2 and 2a. In Figs. 3 and 3a, in a step 24, the poultry carcass from which the viscera have been removed is cooled for a predetermined time and under predetermined conditions in a known partial cooling station 24a and a known partial cooling station 24b. After the cooling process, in a step 25, the temperature of the carcass is measured in an inspection station 25a, e.g. by an infrared sensor, the temperature measurement data in conjunction with the identification of the relevant slaughtering object being supplied to the data-processing system 5. As indicated in diamond 26, the data-processing system 5 then evaluates whether the temperature of the carcass is above a specific limit value. If this is the case, the data-processing system 5 controls a discharging device 26a incorporated in the slaughter line such that the carcass is returned, on the basis of the corresponding identification, via a second discharge of the discharging device 26a to a point in the cooling process and arrives at a point in the slaughter line upstream of the step 24. This is indicated on the basis of step 27. Obviously, it is also possible to have the carcass repeat only part of the cooling process, as indicated in Fig. 3a by a dot-dashed line. If the carcass has been sufficiently cooled in step 24, in a step 28 a wing-cutting operation is carried out in a wing-cutting station 28a known per se. In this operation, as indicated by the encircled designation Q1, use is made of a test result which is determined in the evaluation in accordance with diamond 13. As indicated in diamond 29, the data-processing system 5 investigates, on the basis of the corresponding identification, whether a carcass has a previously detected wing defect. If so, the defective wing is removed via a second discharge of the wing-cutting device, as indicated at step 30. Normal wings are removed via the first discharge of the wing-cutting device, as indicated by step 31. Fig. 4 shows a further part of the treatments carried out in a slaughter line, where livers are separated from the viscera connected thereto in a liver-separating station 32a known per se in accordance with step 32. In this case, the removal of the livers from the liver-separating station 32a is controlled by the data-processing system 5 on the basis of data stored in the system after carrying out the evaluation indicated in diamond 22 of Fig. 2. As indicated by the encircled designation Q2, it is determined in the data-processing system 5, in accordance with diamond 33, whether specific viscera, on the basis of the corresponding identification, have a rejected liver. If so, the liver is removed via the second discharge of the liver-separating station 32a, as indicated in step 34. Normal livers are removed via a first discharge of the liver-separating station 32a, in a step 35.

Claims: Method for processing a slaughtering object, such as a slaughtered animal or part thereof, which, in a conveyor with a carrier for the slaughtering object, is passed along a slaughter line of a slaughterhouse, the method comprising the following steps: assigning an identification to the carrier or the associated slaughtering object; performing at least one processing step on the slaughtering object. performing one or more observations on the slaughtering object; determining a test result for the slaughtering object, which test result comprises an approval or rejection, based on the observation data; storing the test result in conjunction with the corresponding identification; providing an automatic discharging device (6a; 13a, 18a, 22; 26a), which is disposed in the slaughter line and has at least a first discharge for removing the slaughtering object, if the said object has been approved, and a second discharge for removing the slaughtering object, if the said object has been rejected; and controlling the choice of the first or the second discharge of the discharging device on the basis of the stored test result, characterized in that the slaughtering object removed via the second discharge is returned to an upstream point in the slaughter process, where at least part of the processing step on the slaughtering object is repeated. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least one observation takes place in an inspection station (4a, 10c; 11a, 20; 25a) which is disposed in the slaughter line upstream of the discharging device (6a; 13a; 26a). Method for processing a slaughtering object, such as a slaughtered animal or part thereof, which, in a conveyor with a carrier for the slaughtering object, is passed along a slaughter line of a slaughterhouse, the method comprising the following steps: assigning an identification to the carrier or the associated slaughtering object; performing one or more observations on the slaughtering object; determining a test result for the slaughtering object, which test result comprises an approval or rejection, based on the observation data; storing the test result in conjunction with the corresponding identification, characterized by : on the basis of the stored test result, removing the identified slaughtering object from a separating device (28a; 32a), which is disposed in the slaughter line and has at least a first discharge for removing a portion of the slaughtering object which is to be separated off in the separating device, if the said portion has been approved, and a second discharge for removing the portion of the slaughtering object which is to be separated off in the separating device, if the said portion has been rejected. Method according to claim 3, wherein one observation takes place in an inspection station which is disposed in the slaughter line upstream of the separating device (32a). Method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein one or more observations are performed at the start of the slaughter line to determine the occurrence of animals being dead-on-arrival. Method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the observation consists in taking one or more blood or tissue samples from the slaughtering object and examining the samples. Method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein after the slaughtered animal has been dehaired or defeathered, at least a portion of the body of the slaughtered animal is visually inspected in the slaughter line to determine the presence of, inter alia, inflammations, blisters, bleeding and/or ruptures. Method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein after the viscera have been removed from the body of the slaughtered animal, at least a portion of the viscera is visually inspected in the slaughter line to determine any deviations. Method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the visual inspection is carried out by at least one video camera. Method according to claim 3, wherein at least one observation is performed on the slaughtering object before it undergoes a processing in a processing device and after it has undergone the processing in the processing device, on the basis of which observations the test result is determined. Method according to claim 10, wherein the observation consists in determining the weight of the slaughtering object. Method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the slaughtering object removed via the second discharge is returned to an upstream point in the slaughter line, where it is reintroduced into the slaughter line. Device for processing a slaughtering object, such as a slaughtered animal or part thereof, in a slaughter line of a slaughterhouse, the device comprising: at least one conveyor with carriers, each for the purpose of carrying the slaughtering object, an identification being assigned to each carrier or associated slaughtering object; means for performing at least one processing step on the slaughtered object; at least one observer positioned along the slaughter line for the purpose of performing one or more observations on the slaughtering object; an input station (11b) for the observer to input data relating to at least one observation on the slaughtering object; a data-processing system (5) for processing the data input by means of the input station (11b), in order to determine a test result for the slaughtering object, which test result comprises an approval or rejection, and for storing the test result in conjunction with the corresponding identification; at least one automatic discharging device (6a; 13a; 18a, 22; 26a), which is disposed downstream of the observer along the slaughter line and has at least a first discharge for removing the slaughtering object, if the said object has been approved, and has a second discharge for removing the slaughtering object, if the said object has been rejected; an identification reading system (12a), which interacts with the discharging device (6a; 13a, 18a, 22; 26a), for reading out the identification belonging to the slaughtering object supplied to the discharging device or the associated carrier; the choice of the first or the second discharge of the discharging device by the data-processing system (5) being controlled on the basis of the test result stored therein and belonging to the identification read out by the identification reading system (12a), characterized by means for returning the slaughtering object removed via the second discharge to an upstream point in the slaughter process for repeating at least part of the processing step on the slaughtering object. Device for processing a slaughtering object, such as a slaughtered animal or part thereof, in a slaughter line of a slaughterhouse, the device comprising: at least one conveyor with carriers, each for the purpose of carrying the slaughtering object, an identification being assigned to each carrier or associated slaughtering object; at least one observer positioned along the slaughter line for the purpose of performing one or more observations on the slaughtering object; an input station (11b) for the observer to input data relating to at least one observation on the slaughtering object; a data-processing system (5) for processing the data input by means of the input station (11b), in order to determine a test result for the slaughtering object, which test result comprises an approval or rejection, and for storing the test result in conjunction with the corresponding identification, characterized by : at least one separating device (10d; 16a; 28a; 32a), which is disposed downstream of the observer along the slaughter line and has at least a first discharge for removing a portion, which is to be separated off in the separating device (10d; 16a; 28a; 32a), of the slaughtering object, if the said portion has been approved, and a second discharge for removing a portion, which is to be separated off in the separating device (10d; 16a; 28a; 32a), of the slaughtering object, if the said portion has been rejected; an identification reading system (12a), which interacts with the separating device (10d, 16a; 28a; 32a), for reading out the identification belonging to the slaughtering object supplied to the separating device (10d, 16a; 28a; 32a) or the associated carrier; the choice of the first or the second discharge of the separating device (10d, 16a; 28a; 32a) by the data-processing system (5) being controlled on the basis of the test result stored therein and belonging to the identification read out by the identification reading system (12a). Device for processing a slaughtering object, such as a slaughtered animal or part thereof, in a slaughter line of a slaughterhouse, the device comprising: at least one conveyor with carriers, each for the purpose of carrying the slaughtering object, an identification being assigned to each carrier or associated slaughtering object; means for performing at least one processing step on the slaughtered object; at least one observation device (4a, 10c; 11a; 15a, 17a, 20; 25a) disposed along the slaughter line for the purpose of performing one or more observations on the slaughtering object; a data-processing system (5) for processing data obtained by means of the observation device (4a, 10c; 11a; 15a, 17a, 20; 25a) and relating to at least one observation on the slaughtering object, in order to determine a test result for the slaughtering object, which test result comprises an approval or rejection, and for storing the test result in conjunction with the identification read out by means of the identification reading system (12a); at least one automatic discharging device (6a; 13a, 18a, 22; 26a), which is disposed downstream of the observation device (4a, 10c; 11a; 15a, 17a, 20; 25a) along the slaughter line and has at least a first discharge for removing the slaughtering object, if the said object has been approved, and a second discharge for removing the slaughtering object, if the said object has been rejected; an identification reading system (12a), which interacts with the observation device (4a, 10c; 11a; 15a, 17a, 20; 25a), for reading out the identification belonging to the observed slaughtering object or the associated carrier, and which interacts with the discharging device, for reading out the identification belonging to the slaughtering object supplied to the discharging device or the associated carrier; the choice of the first or the second discharge from the discharging device (6a; 13a, 18a, 22; 26a) by the data-processing system (5) being controlled on the basis of the test result stored therein and belonging to the identification read out by the identification reading system (12a), characterized by means for returning the slaughtering object removed via the second discharge to an upstream point in the slaughter process for repeating at least part of the processing step on the slaughtering object. Device for processing a slaughtering object, such as a slaughtered animal or part thereof, in a slaughter line of a slaughterhouse, the device comprising: at least one conveyor with carriers, each for the purpose of carrying the slaughtering object, an identification being assigned to each carrier or associated slaughtering object; at least one observation device (4a, 10c; 11a, 15a, 17a, 20; 25a) disposed along the slaughter line for the purpose of performing one or more observations on the slaughtering object; a data-processing system (5) for processing data obtained by means of the observation device (4a, 10c; 11a, 15a, 17a, 20; 25a) and relating to at least one observation on the slaughtering object, in order to determine a test result for the slaughtering object, which test result comprises an approval or rejection, and for storing the test result in conjunction with the identification read out by means of the identification reading system (12a); characterized by : at least one separating device (10d; 16a; 28a; 32a), which is disposed downstream of the observation device along the slaughter line and has at least a first discharge for removing a portion, which is to be separated off in the separating device (10d; 16a; 28a; 32a), of the slaughtering object, if the said portion has been approved, and a second discharge for removing a portion, which is to be separated off in the separating device (10d; 16a; 28a; 32a), of the slaughtering object, if the said portion has been rejected; an identification reading system (12a), which interacts with the observation device (4a, 10c; 11a, 15a, 17a, 20; 25a), for reading out the identification belonging to the observed slaughtering object or the associated carrier, and which interacts with the separating device (10d; 16a; 28a; 32a), for reading out the identification belonging to the slaughtering object supplied to the separating device (10d; 16a; 28a; 32a) or the associated carrier; the choice of the first or the second discharge of the separating device (10d; 16a; 28a; 32a) by the data-processing system (5) being controlled on the basis of the test result stored therein and belonging to the identification read out by the identification reading system (12a). Device according to any of claims 13-16, wherein at least one observation device (10c) is provided for carrying out a visual inspection of at least a portion of the slaughtering object after it has been dehaired or defeathered. Device according to any of claims 13-17, wherein at least one observation device (20) is provided for carrying out a visual inspection of the viscera of the slaughtered animal after they have been removed from the body of the slaughtered animal. Device according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the observation device comprises a video camera. Device according to claim 14 or 16, wherein an observation device (15a, 17a) is disposed both upstream and downstream of a processing device (16a). Device according to claim 20, wherein the observation to be performed in the observation devices (15a, 17a) consists in determining the weight of the slaughtering object. Device according to any of claims 13-16, wherein the second discharge is connected to a conveyor (19a) for returning a temporarily rejected slaughtering object to an upstream point in the slaughter line, where the slaughtering object is reintroduced into the slaughter line. Device according to claim 15, wherein the second discharge is connected to a conveyor for passing a slaughtering object past an observer. Device according to any of claims 13-23, wherein the data-processing system (5) comprises a neural network.

Inventors: VAN DEN NIEUWELAAR ADRIANUS JO, ZWANIKKEN RADBOUD HUBERT GERAR, VAN DEN NIEUWELAAR, ADRIANUS JOSEPHES, ZWANIKKEN, RADBOUD HUBERT GERARD
Applicants: STORK PMT, STORK PMT B.V.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A22B5
IPC codes: A22B7, A22C21, A22B5