NZ195457A - Wrapping animal carcasses by passing singly through curtain of plastics film and sealing - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number 1 95457 195457 fl&W2 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 THE PATENTS ACT 19 53 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional No. 195457 Dated: 5th. November 1980 TITLE; Improvements in or relating to wrapping carcasses •>F/WE Trigon Plastics Limited, a New Zealand company, of Cnr Avalon Drive and Forman Road, Hamilton, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which xi/We pray that a patent may be granted to i^/us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement; 1 95457 This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for wrapping animal carcasses.

For many years animal carcasses have been bagged either before or after freezing and prior to transportaion in knit textile (stockinette) bags. However in more recent times due to the advent of stricter hygiene ; requirements (and for other reasons), plastic bags have been used for wrapping animal carcasses in conjunction with textile knit bags. A further development of the packaging methods, has been to enclose the carcass in a multi-layer plastic wrap or bag which has a roughened outer surface and which is shrunk around the carcass during packaging. Significant advantages are obtained from this method of packaging in that dehydration of the carcass is virtually eliminated thus minimising weight loss during shipping and presenting the carcass in very much better condition - in terms of meat appearance, quality, etc, at the time the carcasses are unwrapped. The roughened outer surface makes handling and storage of the frozen carcasses from freezers, containers, conveyors, and the like a much safer and convenient operation than would be the case if the outer surface of the plastic bag or wrap were smooth. It is considered that the wrapping of animal carcasses in such plastic materials is a viable alternative to bagging carcasses, especially since the speed of modern day freezing company production lines makes the textile bagging of carcasses undesirable.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of providing a protective cover for wrapping the carcasses in a flexible material such as plastics, which will improve the speed and efficiency of this operation. 195457 It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for performing a method as aforesaid which may be placed in line with the killing chain at meatworks prior to the carcasses being frozen, thus contributing further to hygiene standards and reducing further the weight loss due to dehydration.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

The present invention may be broadly said to exist in a method of wrapping animal carcasses (as opposed to bagging) in a flexible material such as plastics, there being an apparatus provided to perform the method.

According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of wrapping animal carcasses in a flexible material comprising the steps of: (a) forwarding a suspended animal carcass to a curtain of flexible wrapping material where the curtain of flexible wrapping material us supplied from supply means positioned at opposite sides to a point of introduction of the carcass to the curtain, (b) further moving the animal carcass and/or the curtain of flexible wrapping material such that the flexible wrapping material begins to surround the carcass and wrapping material trailing the carcass is disposed to both sides thereof, (c) clamping said flexible material so as to enclose the carcass within the wrapping material, and (d) sealing said trailing flexible wrapping material. 13 Um 1984 | RECBVEQ 19.i457 According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for wrapping animal carcasses comprising supply means arranged to supply a curtain of flexible wrapping material from mutually opposite stations, carcass suspending and conveying means arranged to forward animal carcasses to a point beyond said supply means, clamping means arranged to clamp the flexible material such that the carcasses are enclosed by the wrapping material and sealing means arranged to seal the flexible wrapping material.

According to yet a further possible aspect of the present invention the sealing and/or cutting means is arranged to rejoin the flexible wrapping material at a point trailing the released carcass prior to a further carcass being introduced to the wrapping material.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there may be provided a wrapping for an animal carcass, including gripping and/or suspension means by which the wrapped carcass may be conveniently handled.

Aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings, accompanying the provisional specifications in which: Figures 1, la, lb and lc: are diagrammatic sketches illustrating one possible method and apparatus for wrapping carcasses in accordance with the present invention, and 1'95457 Figure 2 is a diagrammatic top view of an animal carcass illustrating in sequence the method of wrapping an animal carcass in accordance with one possible embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the carcasses of figure 2, and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic and partial side view of a wrapped animal carcass just after the carcass has been wrapped in a flexible material, where the wrapping has gripping and/or suspension means formed in accordance with one possible embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4a is a diagrammatic and partial side view of a wrapped animal carcass after shrink wrapping has taken place.

With reference firstly to figures 1, la, lb and lc of the drawings, animal carcasses 1 continuously conveyed at spaced intervals along a path indicated by dotted lines 2 are introduced to a continuous flexible wrapping material 3 in sheet form (such as a plastics material) which is. released from supply means generally indicated by arrow 4. The supply means 4 comprises a pair of rollers 4a positioned at opposite sides of the line 2, a common tangent between the rollers 4a defining a point of introduction of carcasses to the wrapping material.

The line 2 along which the carcasses are conveyed is arranged to pass between a pair of guide rollers 5 for the wrapping material 3 which are positioned between the rollers 4a.

A method of wrapping animal carcasses in accordance with one possible embodiment of the present invention commences when an animal carcass 1 is conveyed along line 2 ! 95457 towards the wrapping material 3 (see figure 1), the arrangement being such that as the animal carcass is conveyed past the point of its introduction to the wrapping material 3 and inside the guide rollers 5, such that the flexible wrapping material will begin to surround the- carcass (see figure la) and wrapping material trailing the carcass will then be disposed at either side thereof.

Upon further progress of carcasses along line 2 (see figure lb) claimping means generally indicated by arrow 6 can be activated to clamp the wrapping material trailing and immediately behind the leading animal carcass 1 to clamp the carcass so as to enclose it within the wrapping material 3. • Finally, sealing and cutting means associated with the clamping means 6 can be activated to seal and then release the wrapping material surrounding the leading animal and subsequently and as is indicated by figure lc, the clamping means 6 may be withdrawn whereupon the flexible wrapping material will return to its original position just as a further carcass 1 is to be introduced to the wrapping material 3.

The aforegoing description given in relation to figures 1 to lc of the drawings, illustrates the general principles of a method in accordance with the present invention and as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, animal carcasses may be conveyed to the wrapping "station" by means such as overhead conveyors from which the carcasses are suspended or alternatively and in accordance with one possible,embodiment of the present invention, the carcasses may be gripped from below and held upright as they pass through the wrapping station by support and gripping means 7 (see figure 3) and released to an overhead conveying and suspension system after the wrapping operation.

It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the wrapping of animal carcasses by a method as aforesaid will present special problems due to the shape of animal carcasses, such problems not being applicable in the wrapping of other more regularly shaped articles. It is desirable that the wrapping material snugly surrounds the animal carcasses so that air cavities are reduced to the absolute minimum and figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings illustrate how this may be achieved by the method of the present invention. As the carcasses move through the wrapping station (from right to left in the drawings) the wrapping material is partially stretched and the clamping means 6 are preferably arranged to clamp the wrapping material so that this state is maintained.

Combined with or separately, a further clamping means 6a, with a similar facility to seal the opposed layers of the wrapping material may be arranged to seal the wrapping material between the hind legs of the animal carcass prior to shrink wrapping of the carcass which is the state illustrated at the left of figures 2 and 3.

Wrapped or bagged animal carcasses are difficult to handle and this is particularly so after freezing and accordingly it is desirable that a wrapped carcass be provided with means by which it can be gripped and/or suspended at any time, and in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a wrapped animal carcass may be provided with gripping;and/or suspension means indicated generally by arrow 8 of figures 4 and 4a herewith. Preferably the gripping and/or suspension means 8 may be provided when the carcass is wrapped by methods as aforedescribed, and may be integrally formed with the wrapping material 3.

I 9 5 4 b 7 Figure 4 of the drawings indicates one possible method of forming gripping and/or suspension means 8 whilst the carcass 1 is at the wrapping station (although the same operation may be carried out subsequently) where for example a T-shaped cut or weakened area 8a is formed in the wrapping material 3 between the hind legs la of the carcass, which effectively leaves an. intergrally formed cross-piece or brace 9 at the upper end of the wrapped carcass, which may be reinforced by a cord reinforcing 9a set between or at one side of the wrapping material. As is indicated further by way of example in figure 4, the cut or weakened area may be formed as a 'V' or 'U' shaped formation. After shrink wrapping (the situation illustrated by figure 4a) the suspension and/or gripping means 8 may be defined by cross-piece or brace 9 and the inner regions of the hind legs la of the carcass 1. Thus in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there may be formed gripping and/or suspension means with a wrapped animal carcass.

As will be apparent from the aforegoing, the process and apparatus of the present invention has a general application to the wrapping of animal carcasses of any kind including poultry, rabbit, deer as well as the carcasses of animals such as sheep, cattle and the like.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto may be provided without departing from scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 19.->457

Claims (15)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS;

1. A method of wrapping animal carcasses in a flexible material comprising the steps of: (a) forwarding a suspended animal carcass to a curtain of flexible wrapping material where the curtain of flexible wrapping material is supplied from supply means positioned at opposite sides to a point of introduction of the carcass to the curtain, (b) further moving the animal carcass and/or the curtain of flexible wrapping material such that the flexible wrapping material begins to surround the carcass and wrapping material trailing the carcass is disposed to both sides thereof, (c) clamping said flexible material so as to enclose the carcass within the wrapping material, and (d) sealing said trailing flexible wrapping material.

2. A method of wrapping animal carcasses as claimed in claim 1 including the further step of partially stretching said flexible wrapping material prior to sealing the material.

3. A method of wrapping animal carcasses as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the further step of shrink wrapping the carcass, such that the flexible wrapping material closely follows the contour of the wrapped carcasses.

A. A method of wrapping animal carcasses as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 including the further step of forming means which allow gripping or suspension integrally with said flexible wrapping material. -9-

A method of wrapping animal carcasses as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the wrapping material is cut at the seal.

A method of wrapping animal carcasses substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Apparatus for wrapping animal carcasses in accordance with the method of claim 1, said apparatus comprising supply means arranged to supply a curtain of flexible wrapping material from mutually opposite stations, carcass suspending and conveying means arranged to forward animal carcasses to a point beyond said supply means, clamping means arranged to clamp the flexible material such that the carcasses are enclosed by the wrapping material and sealing means arranged to seal the flexible wrapping material.

Apparatus for wrapping animal carcasses as claimed in claim 7 wherein the supply means includes a pair of oppositely spaced rollers supporting a continuous sheet of flexible wrapping material in front of a pair of guide rollers between which the carcasses to be wrapped are conveyed.

Apparatus for wrapping animal carcasses as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein the clamping means are positioned downstream from the supply means. -10- 19^457

10. Apparatus for wrapping animal carcasses as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein cutting means are arranged to sever the seal.

11. Apparatus for wrapping animal carcasses as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the sealing means is arranged to rejoin the flexible wrapping material at a zone trailing the released carcass prior to a further carcass being introduced to the wrapping material.

12. Apparatus for wrapping animal carcasses substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1, la, lb, lc, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A wrapping for an animal carcass formed in accordance with the method of claim 4, said wrapping including means to allow gripping or suspension which has a cross-piece or brace at the upper end of the wrapped carcass between the hind legs of the carcass.

14. A wrapping for an animal carcass as claimed in claim 13 wherein the cross-piece or brace includes a reinforcing cord set between or at one side of the wrapping material.

15. A wrapping for an animal carcass substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 and 4a of the accompanying drawings. TRIGON PLASTICS LIMITED by their Attorneys 1 9 APR 1985 ftECfilVED BARRY V. JAMES & ASSOCIATES -11-