Apparatus for processing an entrails package removed from slaughtered poultry

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for processing an entrails package removed from slaughtered poultry, comprising two parallel and adjacently positioned shafts (3,4) drivable for an opposite rotation, with a helically extending surface profile (6), said shafts defining a slot (5) between themselves. At least one of said shafts is provided with at least one ring-shaped circumferential section (11) at which the helically extending surface profile is missing and of which the surface is positioned at least at the level of the crest of the adjacent helically extending surface profile. Most times both shafts are provided with a number of such circumferential sections.

Description: The invention relates to an apparatus for processing an entrails package removed from slaughtered poultry, comprising two parallel and adjacently positioned shafts drivable for an opposite rotation, with a helically extending surface profile, said shafts defining a slot between themselves. Apparatus of said type are already known in a number of embodiments. From US-A-3,480,991 a so-called gizzard peeler is known in which gizzards removed from a slaughtered bird are freed of the surrounding tissue. In such a case the helically extending surface profile generates the movement of the gizzards and the engagement of the tissue for tearing it loose. Further apparatus are known in which a complete entrails package is positioned onto the shafts positioned alongside each other and wherein next, during a conveyance of said package by the shafts, part of the package is pulled downwards into the slot. Generally, again the gizzard remains on top of the shafts because said gizzard is the most inflexible substance of the entrails package. It is an object of the invention to improve an apparatus of the type mentioned. Thus the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that at least one of said shafts is provided with at least one ring-shaped circumferential section at which the helically extending surface profile is missing and of which the surface is positioned at least at the level of the crest of the adjacent helically extending surface profile in order to stop conveyance of said package. As has been referred to briefly before, the helically extending surface profile among others generates a conveyance of an entrails package positioned on top of the shafts. Moreover the helically extending surface profile further should provide a processing function. Examples of such a function are the peeling of gizzards mentioned before or moving downwards part of the entrails package into the slot. Because now in correspondence with the invention a ring-shaped circumferential section is provided, at which the helically extending surface profile is missing, the result can be obtained that the entrails package is stopped for a while by said ring-shaped circumferential section. During the stop the helically extending surface profile may carry out its additional processing function in an improved manner, such that the efficiency of the apparatus can be improved. Among others the stop induced by the ring-shaped circumferential section may be ended when a conveyor, which generally is positioned above the shafts, engages the respective entrails package and moves it past said ring-shaped circumferential section. In a known manner such a conveyor may comprise an endless chain provided with catching fingers. In this aspect it is to be noted that it can be advantageous to choose the pitch of the helically extending surface profile in such a way that the entrails packages are conveyed faster by the shafts than the velocity of said conveyor; like this it can be guaranteed that at arrival at the ring-shaped circumferential section the packages are somewhat ahead of the conveyor and thus may be stopped for a while. By the way it is not necessary that an additional conveyor is positioned above the shafts; it is possible too that the temporarily stopping by means of the circumferential section is ended when a desired processing is completed or when a next entrails package pushes the preceding entrails package past the ring-shaped circumferential section. In correspondence with a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention both shafts are provided with such a circumferential section. Generally said circumferential sections of both shafts then are positioned at the same longitudinal position. Further it is advantageous when the (each) shaft is provided with a number of such circumferential sections, each separated through an intermediate surface profile. As a result the advantageous effect caused by a circumferential section may be repeated several times. For improving the stopping efficiency it may be advantageous when the surface of each circumferential section projects above the crest of the adjacent helically extending surface profile. Especially when the apparatus is combined with a conveyor for the entrails packages positioned thereabove, it is possible that the surface of each circumferential section projects above the crest of the adjacent helically extending surface profile, without incurring the risk that an entrails package will not pass the respective circumferential section. A special embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that each shaft is divided into two sections with a different helically extending surface profile, of which the first section has a smaller pitch and the second section has a greater pitch. Using the second section with greater pitch the operation to be carried out with the shafts can be carried out again with more intensity, that means more agressively. Finally, it is advantageous in this aspect when the first and second section are separated through a said ring-shaped circumferential section. Hereinafter the invention will be elucidated referring to the drawing, in which an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention is represented. Fig. 1 shows, schematically, an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention in a side elevational view; fig. 2 shows a section according to II-II in fig. 1, and fig. 3 shows part of the apparatus on a larger scale. The apparatus illustrated in the figures is meant for processing entrails packages 1 removed from slaughtered poultry which are supplied, for example, by means of a slide chute 2 indicated only schematically. The apparatus includes (as shows fig. 2) two parallel and adjacently positioned shafts 3 and 4. For a better representation shaft 4 is not shown in fig. 1. Between themselves the shafts 3 and 4 define a slot 5 and the shafts are driven for an opposite rotation, in correspondence with the arrows in fig. 2, by means of a drive mechanism not shown further. As is known per se, the shafts are journalled at their ends in a manner not shown in detail. At their circumference the shafts are provided with a helically extending surface profile 6 with a double function: firstly, the entrails packages 1 positioned on top of the shafts 3 and 4 by means of the slide chute 2 are conveyed from right to left as seen in fig. 1. Moreover the surface profile 6 takes care of carrying out an operation, such as, in the embodiment shown, pulling a part 7 of the entrails package downward into the slot 5. The remaining part (for example gizzard 8) remains on top of the shafts 3 and 4. Further a conveyor is positioned above the shafts 3 and 4, comprising an endless chain 9 with catching fingers 10. The shafts are provided with a number of ring-shaped circumferential sections 11, at which the helically extending surface profile 6 is missing. As has been indicated on a larger scale in fig. 3, the surface of a circumferential section 11 may be positioned at the same level as the crest of the adjacent helically extending surface profile 6 (full line) or may be positioned at a higher level (dotted line). An entrails package 1 arriving down the slide chute 2 will be positioned on top of the shafts 3 and 4 and will be conveyed to the left. Generally the pitch of the surface profile 6 will be chosen such, that the velocity with which an entrails package 1 moves to the left is larger than the conveying velocity of the chain 9. At the arrival at the most right circumferential section 11 in the figure, the entrails package 1 is stopped thereby that long until a catching finger 10 of the chain 9 engages the entrails package 1 and moves it past the circumferential section 11. The same occurs at following circumferential sections 11. During the time that an entrails package 1 is stopped at a circumferential section 11 the processing function of the shafts 3 and 4 may occur in an increased manner. Further it is for example possible that a gizzard positioned on top of the shafts 3 and 4 is rid of surrounding fat and alike. Further it appears from fig. 1 that the ultimate part of the shafts 3 and 4, following the ultimate circumferential section 11, is provided with a surface profile 12 having a greater pitch. As a result said ultimate part of the shafts 3 and 4 operates more agressively, such that the operation to be carried out occurs again in an increased manner. The invention is not limited to the embodiment described before, which may be varied widely within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Such it is possible that the surface profile differs from which has been shown, or that additional surface profiles are provided shaped as ribs or other projections. Moreover the conveyor may have a shape differing from the shape 9 or may be dispensed with entirely. Finally it is to be noted, that the apparatus according to the invention is preferably used in an apparatus for splitting up entrails packages removed from slaughtered poultry. Then, using the apparatus according to the invention, especially the part of the entrails package comprising the guts is pulled down into the slot 5, such that thereafter said part can be supplied to a special processing device loosening said specific part of the entrails package from the remainder of the package.

Claims: Apparatus for processing an entrails package(1) removed from slaughtered poultry, comprising two parallel and adjacently positioned shafts(3,4) drivable for an opposite rotation, with a helically extending surface profile(6) so as to effect conveyance of said package(1), said shafts(3,4) defining a slot(5) between themselves, characterised in that at least one of said shafts(3,4) is provided with at least one ring-shaped circumferential section(11) at which the helically extending surface profile(6) is missing and of which the surface is positioned at least at the level of the crest of the adjacent helically extending surface profile(6) in order to stop conveyance of said package(1). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that both shafts (3, 4) are provided with such a circumferential section (11). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the (each) shaft (3, 4) is provided with a number of such circumferential sections (11) each separated through an intermediate surface profile (6). Apparatus according to one of the claims 1-3, characterised in that the surface of each circumferential section (11) projects above the crest of the adjacent helically extending surface profile (6). Apparatus according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that each shaft (3, 4) is divided into at least two sections with a different helically extending surface profile, of which the first section has a smaller pitch (6) and the second section has a greater pitch (12). Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the first and second section are separated through a said ring-shaped circumferential section (11).

Inventors: BRUIJN FREDERIK SIMON, DE HEER CORNELIS, BRUIJN, FREDERIK SIMON, DE HEER, CORNELIS
Applicants: MACHF MEYN B V, MACHINEFABRIEK MEYN B.V.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A22C17
IPC codes: A22C17