AU593089B2

AU593089B2 - Improvements in or relating to methods of washing carcasses and/or apparatus used therefor

Info

Publication number: AU593089B2
Application number: AU71412/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Albert Edward Edwards; Patrick Joseph Mulqueen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-04-10
Filing date: 1987-04-10
Publication date: 1990-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2007-04-10
Also published as: AU7141287A

Description

4868-P1 PRT:JM 0358T.4 AUSTRALIA ,593089 PATENTS ACT 1952.

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Application Number: Lodged: 77 7 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: S Related Art: itat 1ecttion 49. fOST 1 tdct fo TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: r PATRICK JOSEPH MULQUEEN and ALBERT EDWARD EDWARDS.

91 Broughton Street, Gore, New Zealand, 69 Hamilton Street, New Zealand PATRICK JOSEPH MULQUEEN and ALBERT EDWARD EDWARDS ARTHUR S. CAVE CO.

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Goldfields House 1 Alfred Street SYDNEY N.S.W. 2000

AUSTRALIA

Address for Service: Complete Specification for the invention entitled "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO METHODS OF WASHING CARCASSES AND/OR APPARATUS USED THEREFOR.".

The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:- 1 ASC 49 This invention relates to methods of washing animal carcasses and/or apparatus employed therein.

In the freezing or abattoir industry dressed carcasses are individually washed. It is important to ensure a high standard of cleansing is achieved and at the same time to avoid or minimise any cross contamination which may be caused if the washing liquid from ne carcass can contact another carcass.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of washing carcasses and/or apparatus employed therein which will produce a means of satisfactorily washing carcasses while reducing the possibility of any cross contamination from S the washing liquid.

n one broad form the invention comprises: SA method of washing animal carcasses said method V C comprising the steps of forming a mobile wash cubicle about a S dressed carcass as it is transported along a conveying rail creating a wash spray environment within the cubicle to wash the carcass therein and removing the cubicle from said carcass r after washing as the carcass continues along the conveying rail.

i In a further form the invention comprises: ,Apparatus for washing animal carcasses said apparatus tVttC comprising means for forming a wash cubicle about and to remain 4 4 with a dressed carcass as the carcass is advanced along a i conveying rail, wash means to form a wash spray environment a within the formed cubicle to wash the carcass therein during movement along the rail and means to automatically remove the i cubicle forming means from about the carcass after washing as the carcass continues along the conveying rail.

S-2 1728E -ut~1 I 3 *1:r -3- One preferred form of the invention and modifications will now be described with reference to the drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan schematic view of one form of apparatus according to the present invention Figure 2 is a detail of a section used to form a wash cubicle Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through Figure 2 and Figure 4 is a end view of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1 Where animals are processed on a conveyor line the apparatus 0 U according to the present invention Is constructed about a main conveyor rail 1 along which carcasses to be washed are conveyed. The carcasses 2 are supported on skid supports 3 in the conventional manner. The skids are moved along the rail 1 by a conveyor 4 of conventional design having a skid attachment 5 designed to engage the skid and draw the skid and attached carcass along the rail I. This general arrangement is best illustrated in Figure 4.

t Endless conveyors 6 and 7 are positioned on each side of the rail 1.

Each of the conveyors 6 and 7 has end sprockets 8 with one of the end sprockets being driven by a suitable drive means (not shown in the accompanying drawings). Each conveyor can have a top set of sprockets 8 and a lower set of sprockets 8A with the drives appropriately synchronlsed. i Attached at spaced intervals along each of the conveyors 6 and 7 are sections 9 which are arranged to be brought together to complete a wash 1 -4cubicle or spray shield 10 about a carcass. These sections are desirably formed from a suitable corrosion resistant material such as stainless s+eel.

The shape of section 9 can be varied but It is generally U-shaped or semi-circular so that when the two sections are brought together with the outer ends slightly overlapped a completed cubicle Is formed about a moving carcass. There Is considerable design choice In the sectional shape of this shield member but it Is desirable to have the section constructed In a manner which will enable the carcass on the main conveyor 1 be moved through the shielded space or cubicles when formed so that If there is any malfunction of the apparatus it will minimise the likelihood of the equipment Jamming.

*4« To this end each section 9 may have a back 11 with arms returned in an angle away from the back. One side wall 12 Is hinged to an arm at I* tt position 13 and the other side wall 14 is hinged to the wall at point Ip 13A. The arrangement is designed with appropriate biasing means so that the sides will move to a configuration as shown in Figures 2 and 3 but if a force Is exerted In the line of movement of the carcass the side 12 will l* V pivot to a position to allow the carcass to pass and the side 14 will similarly pivot to a position to allow the carcass to pass. Other configurations of the wall shapes and hinging means can be provided to i achieve this end.

The shield section 9 can have a top 15 will be attached to the back member 11 and the top will Include a semi-circular recess 16 to Si r f 1 accommodate the attachment and have the outer edge stopped to allow for the movement of the skid through the assembled cubicle in the event of a malfunction.

Fixed to the Inside of the sections 9 are appropriate spray devices which will create a spray wash to ensure that a carcass contained within the cubicle or shield Is adequately and properly washed. The manner in which this spray wash is achieved can be varied and for instance a spray system 16 can be fitted to the inside of the back panel 11 and spray systems 17 and 18 fixed to the side walls. The pattern of the spray system can be varied. At 17 and 18 the systems are shown as spray nozzles 1: or jets and at 16 spray bars are shown. These are Intended to be Illustrative only and any acceptable pattern of spray devices can be fitted.

4 4 It Is necessary for there to be an appropriate water supply and S connection means between the water supply and the spray means. To this Send a suitable rotary valve 19 Is located in the conveyor systems with connecting conducts not showing to ensure that water is delivered to the 4Vtt spray nozzles when the shields are completed about the carcasses.

It is desirable that there should be a cleansing station so that each section 9 is washed after it has passed through the operating path In i association with a carcass. A suitable washing station 20 can be provided on each conveyor 6 and 7 on the return path with a series of spray nozzles 21 designed to wash the section 9. If it is necessary to wash the exterior spray nozzles may be attached to a member 22.

ii :r i 1 -6- It Is necessary to incorporate control means with the present apparatus. The control means will be used to operate an indexing means to ensure that the carcasses on the skids are appropriately spaced. After appropriate indexing the driving attachment will be prevented from disengaging the skid to ensure that it is retained at the correct spacing. The control means will also need to synchronise and control the drives for the conveyors 6 and 7 so that the sections 9 will be brought into engagement about the carcass and to form the cubicles 10 as illustrated in Figure 1. The control means will also need to regulate the oo a wash cycle so that the wash water is supplied to the nozzles when the cubicle 10 is completed. The distance and speed of the conveyor will be S S variables which can be controlled to ensure that the time required for adequate washing Is available. A suitable micro-processor may be used to achieve the desired control.

e. °In an alternative configuration the present invention can be adapted for an operation where the animal being processed is treated in a dressing o.c area or at a dressing station. A number of processes will be performed in e*.S this area or at the station until a dressed carcass is produced.

55*5 The present invention in such an application would provide means to produce a shield or cubicle about the dressed carcass as it is moved from the dressing station. A wash sequence would then operate and when complete the shield or cubicle would be removed to allow the carcass to be further advanced.

>i1 -7- The present Invention has application for all types of animals usually processed in the abattoir or freezing industry. The animals would Include lambs, sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and deer.

The present Invention is described with reference to schematic general drawings and variations within the ambit of the invention as set out in the claims are intended to be Included. As an example it may be possible to establish a sufficiently stable support for the sectlor's 9 making up the cubicles without having both the top and bottom connections to the synchronised conveyor drives on each side of the main conveyor path of the carcass.

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Claims

8- The Claims defining the invention are as follows:- 1. A method of washing animal carcasses said method comprising the steps of forming a mobile wash cubicle about a dressed carcass as It is transported along a conveying rail creating a wash spray environment within the cubicle to wash the carcass therein and removing the cubicle from said carcass after washing as the carcass continues along the conveying rail. 2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 Including the step of regulating the *wash spray so that it commences when the cubicle Is in place about the carcasses. i r l i t 3. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including cleaning to an acceptable hygiene standard, the cubicle after each- association with a carcass. r* tt S* 4. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the carcasses being washed are lamb or sheep, beef, goats, pigs, deer or any other animals slaughtered for human consumption. 5. A method of washing carcasses when performed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. j 6. Apparatus for washing animal carcasses said apparatus comprising Ii means for forming a wash cubicle about and to remain with a dressed carcass as the carcass is advanced along a conveying rail, wash means r to form a wash spray A I environment within the formed cubicle to wash the carcass therein during movement along the rail and means to automatically remove the cubicle forming means from about the carcass after washing as the carcass continues along the conveying rail. 7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 comprising endless conveyor means operating on each side of a conveyor path along which carcasses to be washed are moved, each said conveying means carrying a plurality of sections of wash cubicle or shield means with the sections spaced and the drives of the two conveying means synchronised so that the sections on I each conveyor engage one with the other along the common conveying tt it distance to complete a cubicle or shield means about a carcass on the conveyor with the cubicle or shield means being maintained for a distance sufficient to complete the wash cycle before the sections separate from S; about the carcass. 8. Apparatus as claimed in Claims 6 or Claim 7 wherein each cubicle Sft section has a cross sectional shape which will form essentially half of a I r wash cubicle. S9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the cross section of each cubicle section is between a substantially U-shaped section and a semi-circular section with the outer extremities of the sections arranged to overlap when two opposed cubicle sections are brought into engagement. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 9 wherein the wash cubicles are formed from a corrosion resistant material such as stainless steel.
10.. 10 1 *e 4 44r V 4 '*44.4 4,4* 4 .4 i
11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 10 wherein the wash cubicles are constructed so that carcasses can In the event of malfunction be moved through the cubicles.
12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the cubicles include hinged panels supported so that a carcass can be moved therethrough in the normal conveying direction along which the carcasses are being moved.
13. Apparatus as claimed In any one of Claims 6 to 12 wherein the interior of each cubicle supports a battery of spray outlets connected to a suitable supply source to deliver a wash spray of water and create a satisfactory cleansing environment within the cubicle in use to thoroughly wash the carcass,
14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 13 wherein control means are included to control the operation of tha wash spray so that it will commence when the cubicle is formed about the carcass. Apparatus as claimed In any one of Claims 7 to 14 wherein the conveying means has synchronised drives to support both the top and bottom of the sections which when brought together form the cubicle.
16. Apparatus as claimed In any one of Claims 7 to 15 incorporating control means to regulate the indexing of the carcasses and control the synchronism of the conveyors carrying the sections of moving cubicles and the operation of the spray wash means. 49 .4 I Ir 9 Irr £11 V, iC 1 4 d D a carcass on the next cycle of operation.
18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 17 wherein the carcass being washed are lamb or sheep, beef, goats, pigs, deor or any other animals slaughtered for human consumption.
19. Apparatus for washing animal carcasses when constructed arranged I and operable substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this. 20th day of October, 1988. MULQUEENr P,J. and EDWARDS, A.E. By Their Patent Attorneys, ARTHUR S. CAVE CO. rf T f I