Abstract:
The apparatus comprises: a running conveyor ( 1 ) with hooks ( 2 ) for suspending a set ( 5 ) of organs by the diaphragm ( 6 ) and conveying it in a conveying direction of the conveyor ( 1 ); a slit device ( 10; 11 ) arranged below the conveyor ( 1 ) with a slit ( 13; 44 ) for guiding horizontally in the slit a connective tissue part ( 9; 6 ) of the set ( 5 ) of organs during the conveyance of the set of organs on the conveyor with an organ ( 8; 7 ) located below the slit ( 13; 44 ), a retaining device ( 14-16; 40 ) arranged in a conveying path which the organ ( 8; 7 ) follows with the connective tissue part ( 9; 6 ) guided by the slit ( 13; 44 ), the retaining device ( 14-16; 40 ) being adapted to retain the organ ( 8; 7 ) on the retaining device by the conveyor&#39;s ( 1 ) pull in the set ( 5 ) of organs; and ( 22, 23; 49-51, 54 ) for causing separation between the organ ( 8; 7 ) and the connective tissue part ( 9; 6 ) when such retention has been provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of priority from Danish patent application No. PA 2000 01373 filed on Sep. 15, 2000. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION. 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of automatically separating at least one organ from a set of organs eviscerated from a carcass, which set of organs comprises a diaphragm and one or more organs. 
     EP-A-0 587 253 describes a method of separating one or more organs from a cluster of organs from a slaughtered animal, particularly a bird. According to this publication connective tissue can be broken by suspending a strong organ, such as a gullet, from a fixing device and influencing an organ in the cluster by a force in a direction away from the point of suspension. In one embodiment, two bend rods are closed around the gullet, and the fixing device is lifted, whereby the organs connected with the gullet are stripped off. In another embodiment, the suspended cluster is conveyed by a conveyor, parts of the cluster are passed between some rods and plates, and as these rods and plates diverge from the conveyor path, organs in the cluster are pulled away from other parts of the cluster during the conveyance. 
     It should be noted that the present invention relates to separation of organs in a set of organs comprising a diaphragm, and that birds, to which the above publication EP-A-0 587 253 relates, have no diaphragm. The invention is thus aimed particularly at sets of organs from carcasses of mammals, such as pigs, sheep, goats and cattle. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a method of the type mentioned in the introduction, which render it possible to provide separated organs of good quality, that is, where the organs are whole and substantially free of other parts of the set of organs. 
     It is a particular object to provide separation of liver and/or kidneys from a set of organs containing these organs, whereby organs are obtained that require substantially no post-treatment, but can be used as they are. 
     It is a further object to provide an apparatus and a method that can utilize the conveyance of a set of organs of a pluck conveyor system in the slaughterhouse. 
     This is obtained by an apparatus which is characterized in comprising a running conveyor with hooks for suspending the set of organs by the diaphragm and conveying it in a conveying direction of the conveyor, a slit device arranged below the conveyor with a slit for guiding horizontally in the slit a connective tissue part of the set of organs during the conveyance of the set of organs on the conveyor with the said at least one organ located below the slit, a retaining device arranged in a conveying path which the said at least one organ follows with the connective tissue part guided by the slit, the retaining device being adapted to retain said at least one organ on the retaining device by means of the conveyor&#39;s pull in the set of organs, and means for causing separation of the said at least one organ and the connective tissue part when such retention has been provided. 
     The invention applies the fact that the organ is guided towards the retaining device and is here made to be retained by the conveyor&#39;s conveyance of the set of organs, whereupon a suitable separation of the organ can be made which keeps the organ intact while taking place in an area close to the organ. This more surely provides separation at the desired place in the set of organs. 
     In one embodiment, the slit device and the retaining device together comprise two portions which, between adjacent edges, define the slit for the connective tissue part with an inlet at an upstream end of the slit in relation to the conveying direction of the conveyor, this slit having a first section extending along the conveyor and a second section with retention surfaces on either side of the slit, which retention surfaces extend downwards in relation to the conveying direction of the conveyor so that the said at least one organ is retained on the retention surfaces by means of the conveyor&#39;s pull in the set of organs. This embodiment is suitable for pulling a liver off the diaphragm. Owing to the inclination of the retention surfaces in relation to the conveying direction of the conveyor, the liver will not, when it reaches the retention surfaces, let itself be pulled further in the longitudinal direction of the slit by the conveyor&#39;s pull in the diaphragm, so the diaphragm is gradually pulled free of the liver which remains at rest in relation to the retention surfaces until the diaphragm has been pulled free, whereupon the liver can fall down into a collection place. 
     In a second embodiment, the retaining device comprises a pair of curved surface parts which between them form a slit for the connective tissue part and are arranged in the conveying path of the said one organ, which surface parts form a cavity facing the said organ. In that connection a cutting device may also be provided behind the retaining device for cutting a connection between the connective tissue part and the said at least one organ. This embodiment is suitable for separating one kidney or two kidneys from the set of organs, the kidney or kidneys being retained securely while the connection to the connective tissue part, the so-called renal fat, is cut. 
     Other advantageous embodiments appear from the dependent apparatus claims. 
     The object is further obtained by a method which is characterized by the steps: the set of organs is suspended by the diaphragm in a running conveyor with hooks and conveyed in a conveying direction of the conveyor, a connective tissue part of the set of organs is guided horizontally in a slit in a slit device arranged below the conveyor during the conveyance of the set of organs on the conveyor with the said at least one organ located below the slit, the said at least one organ is retained on a retaining device arranged in a conveying path which the at least one organ follows with the connective tissue part being guided by the slit, the organ being retained on the retaining device by means of the conveyor&#39;s pull in the set of organs, and a separation is caused between the said at least one organ and the connective tissue part when the said retention has been provided. Advantageous embodiments appear from the dependent method claims. 
     In one embodiment, which is suitable for separation of a liver from the diaphragm, the connective tissue part is guided into an inlet of the slit which is located upstream in relation to the conveying direction of the conveyor and is found between adjacent edges of two portions comprised by the slit device and the holding device together, this slit having a first section extending along the conveyor and a second section with retention surfaces on either side of the slit, and the said at least one organ is retained on the retention surfaces by means of the conveyor&#39;s pull in the set of organs, these surfaces extending downwards in relation to the conveying direction of the conveyor. 
     In an embodiment suitable for separating one kidney or two kidneys from the set of organs, the at least one organ is guided into a cavity formed by a pair of curved surface parts comprised by the retaining device, the surface parts between them forming a slit for the connective tissue part and being arranged in the conveying path for the said one organ. The separation is then preferably provided by means of a cutting device behind the retaining device, the cutting device cutting a connection between the connective tissue part and the said at least one organ. 
     Other advantageous embodiments appear from the dependent method claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     Further advantages of the invention will appear from the following, in which preferred embodiments will be described in further detail as non-limiting examples with reference to the very scematical drawing. 
     In the drawing: 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an installation with two different apparatus according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows a side view of the first apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of the second apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 shows a detail of the apparatus of FIG. 3 seen in the direction of the arrow IV, 
     FIG. 5 shows a detail of the apparatus of FIG. 3 seen in the direction of the arrow V, and 
     FIG. 6 shows a detail of a hook suspension. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a hollow rail  1  receiving a running chain of a conveyor system with a conveying direction  2 . A hook  4  is suspended from a bracket plate  3 , which extends from a chain link and out through a slot in the rail, and a set of organs  5  eviscerated from a carcass is suspended from the hook  4 . The set of organs  5  comprises a diaphragm  6 , through which the hook  4  has been thrust, a liver  7  and two kidneys  8 . The kidneys  8  are connected with the diaphragm  6  by a connective tissue part called renal fat  9 . This includes blood vessels and the ureter enclosed by a layer of fat. 
     The installation of FIG. 1 comprises a first apparatus  10  for separating the kidneys  8  from the set of organs  5  and a second apparatus  11  for separating the liver  7  from the diaphragm  6 . 
     The apparatus  10  comprises a set of inclined plates  12  defining a slit  13  between them by adjacent edges for receiving the renal fat  9  for guiding the latter horizontally, as will be explained in further detail below. 
     Furthermore, the apparatus  10  comprises a retaining device with a pair of curved plate parts constituted by a plate  14  formed in one piece and having a slit  15 . The plate  14  has a substantially cylindrical portion which forms a cavity  16  facing against the conveying direction  2 . The plate  14  is mounted on arms  18  pivotable about a horizontal axis  17 . 
     In a starting position shown in FIG. 2 by solid lines, the arms  18  of the retaining device are in frictional engagement with a resilient bracket plate  19  extending some distance in the downstream direction. There is a sensor  20  adapted to record when the arms  18  leave the starting position. Furthermore a pneumatic cylinder  21  is provided for returning the arms  18  to their starting position. 
     An oscillating knife  22  is mounted pivotably at the cylindrical portion of the plate  14 . The knife  22  is driven by a motor  23  and by pivoting can be passed closely along the external side of the cylindrical portion of the plate  14  while oscillating in a direction parallel with the axis of rotation. 
     Downstream of the cylindrical portion of the plate  14  there is a gripping member in the form of two jaws  24 , only one of which is visible in FIG. 2, the other being hidden behind the first one. The two jaws  24  can be moved towards and away from each other by the aid of means, not shown, such as a pneumatic cylinder. 
     At the inlet to the slit  13 , the plates  12  are cut off obliquely so as to form a funnel-shaped inlet. The inlet is partially filled out by a pointed end of a guide rail  25  in the form of an angularly bent strip of steel plate with an upward longitudinal ridge  26 . 
     Upstream of the guide rail  25  there is an oscillating rail  27  performing a wriggling motion  28  by means of a motor  29  in its assembly. 
     Downstream of the plates  12  there is another pair of plates  30  forming an extension of the slit  13 . Below this extension there is a second oscillating knife  31 , driven by means of a motor  32  in an oscillating motion transversely to the slit  13  and its extension. 
     The first apparatus  10  functions as follows: 
     The set of organs  5  is conveyed in the conveying direction  2  and reaches the oscillating rail  27 , which imparts a sideways motion to the set of organs  5 . The set of organs  5  is conveyed onwards along the guide rail  25 . At the end thereof, the renal fat  9  slides into the inlet of the slit  13 , while the liver  7  slides up along the inclined plates  12 . The sideways motion facilitates the entry into the slit  13  of the renal fat  9 , as the motion facilitates a positioning of the renal fat  9  relative to the liver  7  ensuring that the liver  7  is not between the renal fat  9  and the inlet. 
     The distance between the hook  4  and the apparatus  10  is adapted so that the kidneys  8  pass below the plates  12  and into the cavity  16  in the retaining device, the renal fat  9  sliding into the slit  15  located below the slit  13 . Since the kidneys  8  cannot pass the slit  15 , they are caught in the cavity  16 . 
     The further conveyance of the hook  4  causes the renal fat  9  to be stretched out and to pull the retaining device forwards, the arms  18  pivoting about the axis  17 . The first part of this pivotal motion occurs at a substantially constant tractive force in the renal fat  9  owing to the friction between the arm  18  and the resilient bracket plate  19 . 
     The motion of the arm  18  is recorded by the sensor  20 , which transmits a signal to control means, not shown, which again actuate the jaws  24 , which clamp around the renal fat  9  and retain it, and the oscillating knife  22  which oscillates while being pivoted along the cylindrical portion of the plate  14  thereby cuts the renal fat near the kidneys  8 , which then lie free in the cavity  16 . 
     While the kidneys  8  are being cut free, the arms  18  and together with them the retaining device tilt forwards due to gravity after the arm  18  is released from the frictional engagement with the resilient bracket plate  19 , The retaining device reaches the position shown in dashed lines, and the upper end of the renal fat  9  is swung towards the second oscillating knife  31 , which cuts the renal fat  9  near its connection to the diaphragm  6 . 
     The jaws  24  now separate and let the renal fat  9  cut free drop down on a renal fat conveyor or into a renal fat collection box  33 . The cylinder  21 , so far non-pressurized, is now actuated to bring the arms  18  and the retaining device back to the starting position. This alters the inclination of the plate  14 , and the kidneys  8  fall out of the cavity  16  and down on a kidney conveyor or into a kidney collection box  34 . 
     The set of organs  5 , now only comprising the diaphragm  6  and the liver  7 , continues to the second apparatus  11 . 
     The second apparatus comprises two bend rods  40  extending in parallel and between them defining a slit  41 . The bend rods  40  and thus the slit  41  have a first portion  42  extending horizontally and a second portion  43  extending obliquely downwards. Furthest upstream the bend rods  40  diverge in the direction opposite to the conveying direction  2  to provide an inlet  44 . One bend rod is fixed while the other can be moved away from and towards the first bend rod by means of a pneumatic cylinder  45 . 
     Under the bend rods  40  is a tray  46  that can be tilted by the aid of means, not shown, as will be explained below. 
     Downstream of the bend rods  40  there is a device for gripping the diaphragm  6  and pulling it forwards in cooperation with the hook  4 . This device comprises a carriage  47  with guide fins  48  which slide in guideways in guide rails  49 . The carriage comprises a U-shaped frame part  50  at its front end and a second, inclined, U-shaped frame part  51  at its back end. The latter frame part  51  carries two jaws  52 ,  53 , the first jaw  52  of which is fixed, while the other jaw  53  can be moved towards the first jaw  52  by means of a pneumatic cylinder  54  to grip the diaphragm  6 , as will be explained below. 
     FIG. 4 shows how the bracket plate  3  is fastened to a chain link  55  of the chain running in the rail  1 . The bracket plate  3  has a keyhole-shaped hole  56  in which a pin  57  of the hook  4  provided with a recess  58  has been received in order to connect the hook  4  pivotably with the bracket plate  3 . Opposite the pin  57 , the hook  4  has a longer pin  59  acting as a guide and indicator, as will be explained below. On an upright pin, the pin  59  carries an indicator disc  60  shaped like a quarter of a circle and being pivotable about a vertical axis  61  between two positions, one of which is shown in FIG. 6 while in its other position the disc  60  is pivoted by 90° counterclockwise in relation to the Figure. 
     Along the rail  1  there are two further rails  62  and  63 . The top one thereof, the rail  62 , carries two inductive sensors  64  and  65 , whose function will be described below. The lower rail of the two, the rail  63 , is adapted to engage with the long pin  59  of the hook  4  to ensure that this pin  59  passes close by the sensors  64  and  65 . 
     The carriage  47  carries a pawl  66  which is pivotable about a vertical axis  67  to get into or out of engagement with the bracket plate  3 , as will be explained below. 
     The second apparatus  11  functions as follows: 
     After the set of organs  5  has passed the first apparatus  10 , the diaphragm  6  is passed into the inlet  44  of the slit  41  between the two bend rods  40  and onwards into the actual slit  41 , the liver  7  being passed underneath the first portion  42  of the bend rods  40 . As the liver  7  reaches the second portion  43 , it will be retained, and owing to the inclination of the second portion  43  of the bend rods  40 , the liver  7  will be retained and not slide along the second portion  43 , while the diaphragm  6  is stretched owing to the pull from the hook  4 . 
     At this time the long pin  59  has slid in over the rail  63  and has reached the sensor  64 , which detects the arrival of the pin  59 . This makes the sensor  64  transmit a signal which actuates the cylinder  54  and makes the jaws  52  and  53  grip and retain the diaphragm  6 , as well as makes a power means, not shown, swing the pawl  66  into engagement with the bracket plate  3  as shown in FIG.  4 . The latter causes the carriage  47  to follow the motion of the conveyor and, by means of the grip on the diaphragm  6  by the jaws  52  and  53 , to contribute to pulling the diaphragm  6  free of the liver  7 . The liver  7  then falls down on the tray  46 . 
     When the carriage  47  has moved a specified distance together with the conveyor, the pawl  66  is swung out of engagement with the bracket plate  3 , and the carriage reaches a stop, not shown. The further conveyance of the hook  4  causes it to be torn out of the diaphragm  6 . When the hook  4  is free of the diaphragm  6 , the jaws  52  and  53  open, and the diaphragm falls down into a diaphragm collection box  68  or on to a diaphragm conveyor. Then a power means, not shown, returns the carriage  47  to its starting position. 
     Before the set of organs  5  reaches the apparatus  10 , an operator has examined the quality of the liver  7  and set the indicator disc  60  in one of its two positions mentioned, one position indicating that the liver is flawless, the other position indicating that it is not flawless, but has spots, for example. The sensor  65  senses whether the indicator disc  60  is in one position shown in FIG. 6 or is not, as is the case in FIG. 4, and accordingly transmits a signal causing the tray  46  to tilt to one or the other side after having received the liver  7 , for example when the carriage  47  is returned to its starting position. Thus, a flawless liver  7  will fall into a liver collection box  69  or on to a liver conveyor, and a flawed liver  7  will drop down into another liver collection box  70  or on to another liver conveyor. 
     Finally, the bend rods  40  are moved away from each other and back again to release parts of the set of organs  5  that may have remained hanging there owing to faulty function. The tray is tilted to let such parts fall down into the second liver collection box  70 . 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.