METHOD, APPARATUS AND EVISCERATION SPOON FOR EVISCERATING INTESTINE PACKS OF SLAUGHTERED POULTRY

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and an evisceration spoon (2) for eviscerating intestine packs of slaughtered broilers is described, whre the broilers suspended in legs or joints are passing an evisceration apparatus provided in connection with a turning wheel between two hanging conveyor sections and comprising a number of evisceration devices with an evisceration spoon (2) combined with a grabber (4), where the back of the broilers by passage through the evisceration apparatus is turned towards the center axis of the apparatus, where the movement of the evisceration spoon (2) and grabber (4) in relation to the broiler is controlled in such a manner, that a foremost curved part (6) of the grabber (4) is placed in an arched recess (8) in a closed back of the evisceration spoon (2), where evisceration spoon (2) and grabber (4) immediately after the insertion from above in the body of the broiler are swung outwardly/downwardly close along the breast bone of the broiler before the evisceration spoon (2) and the grabber (4) again are moved inwardly/downwardly and encircle the intestine pack, and where the evisceration spoon (2) thereafter is moved upwardly along the back of the broiler at the same time that a foremost end (7) of the grabber (4) in a known manner is opened, that the back of the broiler is pressed outwardly, so that the open grabber (4) is grabbing around the gullet between prestomach and crop, when it thereafter is closed again, thereafter the evisceration spoon (2) is moved out of the broiler and further upwards along a back plate (10) serving that the intestine pack remains encircled in the evisceration spoon (2), until the grabber (4), which also is moved out of the broiler, and which still is grabbing around the gullet between prestomach and crop, is able to take over the intestine pack.

Description: Method, apparatus and evisceration spoon for eviscerating intestine packs of slaughtered poultry The present invention relates to a method for eviscerating intestine packs of slaughtered poultry, and of the type described in the introductory part of claim 1. By known methods for eviscerating intestine packs of slaughtered poultry, in particular broilers for instance a ring-shaped evisceration device is used for loosen the intestine pack first before it partly is taken out, that is that most of the intestine pack, which still is connected inside the broiler, is hanging down along the outside of the broiler, until it has passed the veterinary control. It is furthermore known to use a plate-shaped evisceration device to loosen the intestine pack combined with a socalled grabber for evisce- rating the total intestine pack consisting of organs and intestine, which after evisceration hang down from the grabber. However, there is still a risk that the intestine pack may touch the outside of the broiler, before the intestine pack is hung over to a separate conveyor, which in relation to veterinary inspection is moved synchron parallel with the conveyor, in which the broiler still is suspended, so that the belonging intestine pack and broiler pass simultaneously the veterinary control. It is obvious, that such evisceration methods consist an obvious possibility for cross-contamination during the slaughtering process, as the individual broilers further can touch each other. However, this known problem with bacteria-infected broilers does not only occur at the poultry slaughterhouses. Nevertheless it is not possible to avoid to worsen the problem during the known handling of slaughtered poultry during the slaughtering process, as very few bacteria infected broilers almost inevitably cause that a large number of slaughtering broilers are cross-contaminated with bacteria. The invention has for its purpose to provide an improved method for handling of slaughtered poultry, in particular broilers, during the slaugtering process, so that the said possibility for cross-contamination may be avoided or reduced - and where a more safe evisceration of the intestine packs of slaughtered poultry may be obtained. The method according to the invention is distinctive in that the movement of the evisceration spoon and grabber in relation to the broiler is controlled in such a manner, that a foremost curved part of the grabber is placed in an arched recess in a closed back of the evisceration spoon, that the evisceration spoon and the grabber immediately after the insertion from above in the body of the broiler are swung outwardly /downwardly close along the breast bone of the broiler before the evisceration spoon and the grabber again are moved inwardly/downwardly and encircle the intestine pack, that the evisceration spoon thereafter alone is moved upwardly along the back of the broiler at the same time that a foremost end of the grabber is opened, that the back of the broiler is pressed outwardly, so that the open grabber is grabbing around the gullet between prestomach (proventriculus) and crop, when it thereafter is closed again, thereafter the evisceration spoon is moved out of the broiler and further upwards along a back plate serving that the intestine pack remains encircled in the evisceration spoon, until the grabber, which also is moved out of the broiler, and which still is grabbing around the gullet between pre-stomach and crop, is able to take over the intestine pack. By means of simple provisions it is hereby obtained, that the use of the combined evisceration spoon and grabber may result in a more precise loosening and fixing of the intestine pack in the grabber and at the same time an encircling of the intestine pack in the belonging backwardly closed evisceration spoon, so that the intestine pack is kept away from the outside of the broiler. Furthermore a more careful loosening of the intestine pack is obtained with reduced risk for tearing open the intestines, so that the said possibility for cross-contamination furthermore may be reduced or avoided. Appropriately according to the invention the intestine pack by means of said back plate is kept encircled in the evisceration spoon until this is swung free from the broiler, whereafter the intestine pack, which still is fixed by the grabber, either is hung over to a separate hanging conveyor or is released over another conveying means, such as a belt conveyor provided with partitions. Furthermore the invention relates to an apparatus for eviscerating intestine packs from slaughtered poultry, in particular broilers, cf. the described method and comprising a number of evisceration devices each consisting of an evisceration spoon combined with a grabber, which evisceration apparatus is distinctive in that the evisceration spoon is provided with an arched, closed back, that the grabber has an arched foremost end part, which is adapted to engage with similar arched recess in the back wall of the evisceration spoon, said apparatus comprising moving means adapted for movement of the evisceration spoon and the grabber in such a manner that the evisceration spoon with arched front part of grabber placed in said back recess from above may be inserted in the broiler and moved forwardly/downwardly along the breast bone of the carcass of the broiler before the evisceration spoon and the grabber are moved forwardly/downwardly to encircle the intestine pack and carry this upwardly along the back of the broiler, control means for opening the crabber, moving means adapted to press the back of the broiler forwardly, so that the open crabber is able to grab around the gullet between prestomach and crop, when the crabber is closed again, guiding plate means placed close to the back of the broiler and adapted to encircle the intestine pack in the hollow evisceration spoon, when this is moved further upwardly out of the broiler, until the grabber, which also is moved out of the broiler, and still is grabbing around the gullet between prestomach and crop, is able to take over the intestine pack. Appropriately said guiding plate means of the evisceration apparatus according to the invention are such provided, that the intestine pack may be kept encircled in the evisce- ration spoon until it is swung free of the broiler. Furthermore the invention relates to an evisceration spoon for use by the method respectively the apparatus, which evisceration spoon is destinctive in that it is provided with closed, arched back having an external arched recess adapted to receive a corre- sponding arched front part of a grabber. The invention is explained in more detail in the following with reference to the drawing, in which: - Fig. 1 shows schematic views A-N illustrating the movement of the evisceration spoon and grabber by the method according to the invention, Figs. 2A-2C show mutual position of evisceration spoon and grabber, the arched front part of which is closed by the movement pattern cf. Fig. 1 A-H, Figs. 3A-3C show mutual position of evisceration spoon and grabber, the arched front part of which is open by the movement pattern cf. Fig. 1 I and M, Figs. 4A-4C show mutual position of evisceration spoon and grabber, the arched front part of which is closed by the movement pattern cf. Fig. 1 J-L and N, while Figs. 5A-5D show a preferred embodiment for an evisceration spoon with arched, closed back according to the invention, The defined evisceration apparatus is in a known manner constructed in connection with a turning wheel of a hanging conveyor, via which broilers successively are supplied in such a manner, that the broilers, which during the passage through the evisceration apparatus still are suspended in legs or knees, have the back turned inwardly against the axis of the turning wheel. The evisceration apparatus comprises a number of uniform tools, which in known manner each are arranged on not shown vertical sliding rods, and which each comprising an evisceration spoon 2 with belonging grabber 4, whereof only a foremost arched part 6 is shown in the drawing. The back of the evisceration spoon 2 is arched and provided with a recess 8 (Figs. 5C and 5D), which is adapted for receiving the foremost arched part 6 of the grabber 4. In known manner the outmost end part 7 of the grabber 4 is - as shown in Figs. 2B - 2C, 3B - 3C and 4B - 4C - adapted to be opened and closed, so that the grabber - as below-mentioned - may grab around the gullet. As illustrated in Figs. 1A - 1G the evisceration spoon 2 is inserted with the foremost arched part 6 of the grabber 4 placed in said arched recess 6 in the back of the spoon from above in the cavity of the broiler, whereafter the evisceration spoon is swung outwardly /downwardly close along the breast bone of the broiler before the evisceration spoon 2 again is moved inwardly /downwardly (Fig. 1H) and encircles the intestine pack, which now is placed in the hollowness of evisceration spoon against the back of the cavity of the broiler. In Fig. II the back of the broiler is pressed outwardly, so that the gullet between prestomach (proventriculus) and crop is moved into the open front part of the grabber 4. In Figs. IJ - IL this is closed, that is while the broiler again is moved backwardly and the evisceration spoon 2 cf. Figs. IJ - IK is moved upwardly along the back of the broiler and further upwardly entirely out of the broiler along a back plate 10, so that the intestine pack remains encircled in the hollow evisceration spoon 2, while front part of the grabber 4 still is grabbing around the gullet between prestomach and crop. In Fig IL the evisceration spoon 2 is moved upwardly again, so that the intestine pack - after the broiler has left the apparatus - is allowed to fall out of the evisceration spoon, that is that the intestine pack now hangs down from the still closed front part of the grabber 4. In Fig. 1M the intestine pack is released again from the grabber 4 either for hung over (transfer) to a separate hanging conveyor ensuring that the intestine pack follows its belonging broiler during passage of the veterinary control, or for releasing down in another conveying means, such as a belt conveyor provided with partitions. In Fig. IN the evisceration spoon 2 - possibly after cleaning and/or disinfection - again is ready to be inserted into a new broiler etc. Figs. 2A, 3A and 4A show the mutual displacable position of the evisceration spoon 2 and grabber 4, of which the closing/opening status of its front part 6 - as above- mentioned - furthermore appear from Figs. 2B - 2C, 3B - 3C and 4B - 4C; while the shape of the evisceration spoon 2 itself more detailed appears from Figs. 5 A - 5E. It should be understood, that the intestine pack during the evisceration operation itself in relation to the method according to the invention is threated so carefully, that the intestines are not torn open, just as the intestine pack at no time is allowed to touch the outside of the broiler, because the intestine pack is encircled by the evisceration spoon 2, until the broiler has left the apparatus. In other words the invention relates to a very considerable improvement in relation to earlier common method, where there just was maximum risk for cross-contamination at the secondary slaugthering line, where cutting open and eviscerating etc. is carried out, as the bacteria first of all are to be find in the intestine pack. During evisceration of the entrails the broiler is as mentioned suspended in legs or knees, that is that entrails in form of organs and intestine pack immediately after the evisceration earlier was allowed to hang down along the outside of the broiler among others for veterinary inspection. And it is obvious, that exactly this old known method of evisceration creates an open possibility for cross-contamination during the slaughtering process, as the individual broilers further can touch each other.

Claims: C L A I M S 1. A method for eviscerating intestine packs of slaughtered poultry, in particular broilers, and by which method broilers suspended in legs or joints are passing an evisceration apparatus provided in connection with a turning wheel between two hanging conveyor sections and comprising a number of evisceration devices each comprising a evisceration spoon (2) combined with a grabber (4), and where the back of the broilers by passage through the evisceration apparatus is turned towards the center axis of the apparatus, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said evisceration spoon (2) is combined with the grabber (4), and that the movement of the evisceration spoon (2) and grabber (4) in relation to the broiler is controlled in such a manner, that a foremost curved part (6) of the grabber (4) is placed in an arched recess (8) in a closed back of the evisceration spoon (2), that the evisceration spoon (2) and the grabber (4) immediately after the insertion from above in the body of the broiler are swung outwardly/downwardly close along the breast bone of the broiler before the evisceration spoon (2) and the grabber (4) again are moved inwardly /downwardly and encircle the intestine pack, that the evis- ceration spoon (2) thereafter alone is moved upwardly along the back of the broiler at the same time that a foremost end (7) of the grabber (4) is opened, that the back of the broiler is pressed outwardly, so that the open grabber (4) is grabbing around the gullet between prestomach and crop, when it thereafter is closed again, thereafter the evisceration spoon (2) is moved out of the broiler and further upwards along a back plate (10) serving that the intestine pack remains encircled in the evisceration spoon (2), until the grabber (4), which also is moved out of the broiler, and which still is grabbing around the gullet between prestomach and crop, is able to take over the intestine pack. 2. A method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the intestine pack by means of said back plate (10) is kept encircled in the evisceration spoon (2) until it is swung free from the broiler, whereafter the intestine pack, which still is fixed by the grabber, either is hung over to a separate hanging conveyor or is released over another conveying means, such as a belt conveyor provided with partitions. 3. An apparatus for eviscerating intestine packs of slaughtered poultry, in particular broiler cf. the method according to claim 1 and comprising a number of evisceration devices each consisting of an evisceration spoon (2) combined with a grabber (4), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the evisceration spoon (2) is provided with an arched, closed back, that the grabber (4) has an arched foremost end part (6), which is adapted to engage with similar arched recess (8) in the back wall of the evisceration spoon (2), said apparatus comprising moving means adapted for movement of the evisceration spoon (2) and the grabber (4) in such a manner that the evisceration spoon (2) with arched front part (6) of grabber (4) placed in said back recess (8) from above may be inserted in the broiler and moved forwardly/downwardly along the breast bone of the carcass of the broiler before the evisceration spoon (2) and the grabber (4) are moved forwardly/downwardly to encircle the intestine pack and carry this upwardly along the back of the broiler, control means for opening the crabber (4), moving means adapted to press the back of the broiler forwardly, so that the open crabber (4) is able to grab around the gullet between prestomach and crop, when the crabber (4) is closed again, guiding plate means (10) placed close to the back of the broiler and adapted to encircle the intestine pack in the hollow evisceration spoon (2), when this is moved further upwardly out of the broiler, until the grabber (4), which also is moved out of the broiler, and still is grabbing around the gullet between prestomach and crop, is able to take over the intestine pack. 4. An evisceration apparatus according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said guiding plate means (10) are such provided, that the intestine pack may be kept encircled in the evisceration spoon (2) until it is swung free of the broiler. 5. An evisceration apparatus (2) for use by the method according to claim 1 and in the evisceration apparatus according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it is provided with closed, arched back having an external arched recess (8) adapted to receive a corresponding arched front part (6) of a grabber (4).

Inventors: LINDHOLST SVEND, LINDHOLST, SVEND
Applicants: LINDHOLST & CO AS, LINDHOLST SVEND, LINDHOLST & CO. A/S, LINDHOLST, SVEND
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A22C21
IPC codes: A22C21