Abstract: A hide-on washer module includes striker assemblies mounted for vertical displacement from hydraulic cylinders. When each hydraulic piston reciprocates vertically, the striker assemblies and T-shaped tracking plates are displaced concomitantly. Roller assemblies are mounted to floor-mounted vertical columns that are interconnected to one another by stabilizer plates. A first set of roller assemblies engages a first tracking plate, a second set of roller assemblies engages a second reciprocating tracking plate, a third set of roller assemblies are mounted to the rear side of a front column, a fourth set of roller assemblies are mounted to the front side of a rear column, a fifth set of roller assemblies is mounted to the rear side of a front column, and a sixth set of roller assemblies is mounted to the front side of a rear column. Each roller assembly is biased to bear against its associated tracking plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a carcass includes an elongate housing having a forward and a rearward frame disposed in parallel, transversely opposed relation to one another. The elongate housing includes a plurality of stations. At least one rotating device at each station is disposed on the forward or rearward frame. A first station may include a pair of transversely opposed counter-rotating devices disposed at a common downward angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate housing. A second station includes a plurality of rotating devices positioned near the top of the apparatus to clean the hoof and ankle area. A third station includes a plurality of vertically stacked rotating devices. A fourth, fifth, and sixth station include plural rotating devices in axial alignment with one another that are collectively oriented in a predetermined downward slope relative to the longitudinal axis to clean a carcass from top to bottom.

Abstract: An apparatus for washing a split animal carcass includes upper and lower pairs of upwardly inclined brushes, leading and trailing vertical brushes, and upper and lower pairs of downwardly inclined brushes. The upwardly inclined brushes are transversely spaced apart from one another to accommodate an animal carcass between them, as are the downwardly inclined brushes. First and second fluid headers are positioned in parallel relation to each inclined brush and three fluid headers are associated with the vertical brushes. The first inclined fluid headers have nozzles aimed at the carcass and the second inclined fluid headers have nozzles aimed at the brushes. Two of the vertical brush fluid headers are aimed at the vertical brushes and the third fluid header is aimed at the carcass.

Abstract: A washer cabinet has a bottom floor, a top wall, and a pair of upstanding sidewalls to define a channel that extends the length of the cabinet. The channel has an entry end and an exit end. An overhead track suspends animal carcasses in alignment with the channel. A plurality of rotating appendages and a plurality of fluid nozzles are positioned within the cabinet. An animal carcass suspended from the overhead track is moved into the cabinet through the entry end. The carcass comes into contact with the rotating appendages and is washed by fluid emitted from the fluid nozzles as it traverses the length of the cabinet before exiting at the exit end.

Abstract: An apparatus for washing the neck area of an animal carcass includes a pair of upwardly inclined brushes sharing a common angle of inclination, followed by a first pair of vertically disposed brushes, a second pair of vertically disposed brushes, and by a pair of downwardly inclined brushes sharing a common angle of inclination. The brushes of each pair of brushes are transversely spaced apart from one another to accommodate an animal carcass between them. First and second fluid headers are positioned in parallel relation to each inclined brush. A neck area of a carcass is initially cleaned by the pair of upwardly inclined brushes and associated fluid headers. The neck area then passes between the first and second pair of vertical brushes and associated fluid headers. The final cleaning is administered by the pair of downwardly inclined brushes and their associated fluid headers.

Abstract: A striker assembly includes a striker having a main body, a head, and teeth formed in the main body. A “U”-shaped channel is formed in a top wall of the head to accommodate a movable first elongate metal bar and in a bottom wall of the head to accommodate a stationary second elongate metal bar. An undercut is formed in open communication with the channel that accommodates the second elongate metal bar. A plurality of longitudinally spaced apart circular discs is positioned in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis. Each disc has slots formed in it to accommodate opposite ends of the first and second elongate metal bars. The slot that accommodates the first elongate metal bar enables it to be displaced circumferentially and radially so that a striker can be replaced and it is moved back into its operative position after the striker has been replaced.

Abstract: A washer cabinet has a bottom floor, a top wall, and a pair of upstanding sidewalls to define a channel that extends the length of the cabinet. The channel has an entry end and an exit end. An overhead track suspends animal carcasses in alignment with the channel. A plurality of rotating appendages and a plurality of fluid nozzles are positioned within the cabinet. An animal carcass suspended from the overhead track is moved into the cabinet through the entry end. The carcass comes into contact with the rotating appendages and is washed by fluid emitted from the fluid nozzles as it traverses the length of the cabinet before exiting at the exit end.

Abstract: A modular conveyor belt passes over and around at least one sprocket carried on a non-rotating hollow shaft and causes rotation of the sprocket. The sprocket includes a first pair of diametrically opposed sectors and a second pair of diametrically opposed sectors that are laterally staggered in relation to the first pair of sectors. Each sprocket is flanked by a pair of nozzles, each of which produces a fan-shaped spray. The fan-shaped sprays overlap one another across the lateral extent of the belt so that the entire breadth of the belt is cleaned. Adjacent fan-shaped sprays are angled relative to one another so that their respective sprays do not interfere with one another. The staggered sector design ensures that all sections of the belt are exposed to the spray. The nozzles are positioned to clean hinges of the belt when the hinges are open.