Abstract: Steam is discharged onto a carcass surface from a plurality of steam discharge jets, and impurities, steam and condensate are drawn in from the surface through a plurality of suction nozzles adapted to following an uneven surface of the carcass. A cleaning device for cleaning the surface comprises steam discharge jets and suction nozzles adapted to following an uneven surface of the carcass. Jets and nozzles may be combined into nozzle arrangements adapted to deflect resiliently. Nozzle arrangements may be made from a hose having a central lumen and a number of narrow channels embedded into the hose wall. A cleaning machine may incorporate the cleaning device as well as automated machinery for sweeping it across the carcass surface.

Abstract: A method for automatically determining quality characteristics of a carcass on a slaughterline. The method comprises conveying the carcass in a direction of transport, preliminary examination to determine the location of one or more anatomical reference parts of the carcass in the direction of transport, calculating the location in the direction of transport of at least one cross-section in the carcass using the location of the anatomical reference part(s) and possibly other data on the carcass, and CT measuring the nature of internal anatomical parts of the carcass in at least one of these cross-sections in the carcass, controlled by the calculated location.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cutting free of at least a part of a tenderloin in a suspended half-carcass. The apparatus comprises a fixture (1) having a pubic bone catch (2) for positioning and support of the half-carcass by the pubic bone thereof. Further the apparatus comprises a cutting device (7) having a sharp edge (9) curving transversely to the edge (9), and a moving device for the cutting device (7) for moving the cutting device (7) with the sharp edge (9) foremost during cutting free of at least a part of the tenderloin in a half-carcass positioned in the pubic bone catch. Moreover, the invention relates to a fixture for a half-carcass or a hindquarters thereof, a pubic bone catch (2) for use in the above apparatus, a cutting device, and a method for cutting free of at least a part of a tenderloin in a suspended half-carcass.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fixation device (1) and a method for fixating a carcass, e.g. during processing the carcass at a slaughterhouse, such as a carcass hanging head-down from a gambrel, wherein the device (1) comprises mouth-engaging fixation means.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and aspects of an apparatus for loosening a plucks set (3) including tongue (28), heart and lungs from a suspended carcass (1). The carcass (1) may be fixed by means of mouth-engaging fixing means (10). The plucks set of the carcass (1) is cut loose by cutting means (15) that are introduced through the mouth (2) of the carcass (1), mouth-engaging fixing means (10) possibly cooperating with the cutting means (15) to ensure that e.g. the tonsils (27) or tongue (28) are not damaged. Subsequently, the tongue (28) may be loosened from the mandible (14) by scraping.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fixation device (1) and a method for fixating a carcass, e.g. during processing the carcass at a slaughterhouse, such as a carcass hanging head-down from a gambrel, wherein the device (1) comprises mouth-engaging fixation means.

Abstract: A method for automatically determining quality characteristics of a carcass on a slaughterline. The method comprises conveying the carcass in a direction of transport, preliminary examination to determine the location of one or more anatomical reference arts of the carcass in the direction of transport, calculating the location in the direction of transport of at least one cross-section in the carcass using the location of the anatomical reference part(s) and possibly other data on the carcass, and CT measuring the nature of internal anatomical parts of the carcass in at least one of these cross-sections in the carcass, controlled by the calculated location.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling carcass parts (1) comprises at least one cooling element (8, 9) with a flexible cooling surface (14) for abutment with a carcass part (1); a form-stable shell (15); and a cavity (17) behind the flexible cooling surface (14), through which cavity refrigerant can flow from an inlet to an outlet. The apparatus also comprises a moving device (13) for moving the cooling element (9) for abutment of the cooling surface (14) with the carcass part (1).

Abstract: In the removal of internal bones in a fore-end of a split carcass the shank bone, the humerus bone and the shoulder blade are cut free by machine, so that subsequently they can easily be removed from the rest of the fore-end. A transport tool (27a) is brought to grip around the free end of the shank bone. The fore-end is then pulled past cutting tools (1, 9, 15) by means of the transport tool, and the cutting tools (1, 9, 15) hereby perform cutting operations along the shank bone, the humerus bone and the shoulder blade guided by these bones, so that the bones are at least partially cut free from the rest of the fore-end. The articulations between the shank bone and the humerus bone, and the connections of the humerus bone to the shoulder blade are maintained at least partially unbroken during the cutting operations, so that the tractive force from the transport tool (27a) by the grip of the tool round the free end of the shank bone is transferred to the bones via their unbroken connections.

Abstract: A suction head for cleaning of the surface of carcass parts consists of an oblong handle (1) and a nozzle (3) mounted at one end of the handle. An air duct (6) passes through the handle and the nozzle, and it can be connected with a suction device via a coupling (5) in the other end of the handle. Steam ducts (10) are designed in the nozzle (3) to lead hot steam to the surface parts (11) of the nozzle, which are intended to get into contact with the surface of the carcass parts. These steam ducts (10) are connected with a supply duct (7), which is connected with a steam source via a coupling (8) on the suction head. The supply duct (7) for steam passes through the handle (1) from its coupling end to the suction device and to its nozzle end. In the nozzle the duct passes into the steam ducts (10). It is less fatiguing for an operator to use this suction head than a conventional head with disinfection facility.

Abstract: In the removal of internal bones in a fore-end of a split carcass the shank bone, the humerus bone and the shoulder blade are cut free by machine, so that subsequently they can easily be removed from the rest of the fore-end. A transport tool (27a) is brought to grip around the free end of the shank bone. The fore-end is then pulled past cutting tools (1, 9, 15) by means of the transport tool, and the cutting tools (1, 9, 15) hereby perform cutting operations along the shank bone, the humerus bone and the shoulder blade guided by these bones, so that the bones are at least partially cut free from the rest of the fore-end. The articulations between the shank bone and the humerus bone, and the connections of the humerus bone to the shoulder blade are maintained at least partially unbroken during the cutting operations, so that the tractive force from the transport tool (27a) by the grip of the tool round the free end of the shank bone is transferred to the bones via their unbroken connections.

Abstract: A suction head for cleaning of the surface of carcass parts consists of an oblong handle (1) and a nozzle (3) mounted at one end of the handle. An air duct (6) passes through the handle and the nozzle, and it can be connected with a suction device via a coupling (5) in the other end of the handle. Steam ducts (10) are designed in the nozzle (3) to lead hot steam to the surface parts (11) of the nozzle, which are intended to get into contact with the surface of the carcass parts. These steam ducts (10) are connected with a supply duct (7), which is connected with a steam source via a coupling (8) on the suction head. The supply duct (7) for steam passes through the handle (1) from its coupling end to the suction device and to its nozzle end. In the nozzle the duct passes into the steam ducts (10). It is less fatiguing for an operator to use this suction head than a conventional head with disinfection facility.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic cutting of organs from a plucks set from a carcass by a cutting device, the plucks set comprising larynx, gullet and windpipe, lungs and heart. The apparatus comprises a suspension device for holding the pipes, moving device for moving the plucks set relative to the cutting device, while the pipes are held in the suspension device, and a guiding device adapted to guide the plucks set to the cutting deice and keep the lungs and the heart separated from each other.

Abstract: Arrangement for division of animals into groups and transfer of groups of animals to a stunning apparatus. An oblong corridor section in which animals can be driven from an entrance end to an exit end. A division gate is provided in the corridor section between the entrance end and the exit end, in such a way that the corridor area between the division gate and the exit end has room for a number of animals corresponding to a group size. A transfer section is placed at the exit of the corridor section, having room for a number of animals corresponding to the group size.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic cutting of organs (15,16) from a plucks set (6) from a carcass by means of cutting means (410,411,413), said plucks set comprising larynx (7), gullet and windpipe (11), lungs (16) and heart (15). The apparatus comprises a suspension means (5) for holding the pipes (11), moving means (8) for moving the plucks set relative to the cutting means, while the pipes are held in the suspension means, and a guiding means (400) adapted to guide the plucks set to the cutting means and to keep lungs and heart separated from each other. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for automatic separation of organs from a plucks set from a carcass.

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 means of the conveyor's (1) pull in the set (5) of organs; and means (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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the evisceration of carcasses conveyed on a slaughter line suspended in gambrels or hooks, where the abdomen and breast have been cut open, the hams divided and the fat end loosened, and wherein the carcass intestines are loosened, removed and placed on a gut pan or conveyor, the diaphragm is loosened and the plucks are removed and placed on a plucks conveyor. In loosening of the intestines, the connections of the intestines with the spinal column are broken, so that the intestines are made to hang out of the abdominal cavity. The diaphragm and leaf fat are loosened mechanically while the intestines are hanging out of the carcass and are connected to the plucks. The latter loosening is effected by a pressing device (5) and a hoop device (6) which can be moved independent of each other in the lengthways direction of the carcass.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the gripping and retention of part of a split carcass by the spinal column (17), and the conveyance of that part essentially in the lengthwise direction of the spinal column, while retaining it by the spinal column during processing of the carcass part by means of cutting tools. The device comprises a mainly rectilinear conveyor (10) with retention elements (11) connected as links in an endless chain, with each element having a first section (21) with a contact surface (22) for a first side of the spinal column and a second section (25) with a pressure surface (26) for a second side of the spinal column. The two sections of each element are designed to allow the contact surface (22) and the pressure surface (26) to be relatively moved towards and away from each other in a direction across the conveyor's direction of conveyance.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a knife (21) with a substantially rectilinear cutting edge (27) and mounted in a knife holder (23, 24), a device with a holder for suspending the part carcass by the spine, and means (1, 4, 5) for establishing a relative movement between the part carcass (2) and the knife (21) in a direction in parallel with the spine (9), the knife holder (23, 24) being adapted to displace the knife (21) in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the spine and preferably to turn the knife about an axis in parallel with the cutting edge (27).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the evisceration of carcasses conveyed on a slaughter line suspended in gambrels or hooks, where the abdomen and breast have been cut open, the hams divided and the fat end loosened, and wherein the carcass intestines are loosened, removed and placed on a gut pan or conveyor, the diaphragm is loosened and the plucks are removed and placed on a plucks conveyor. In loosening of the intestines, the connections of the intestines with the spinal column are broken, so that the intestines are made to hang out of the abdominal cavity. The diaphragm and leaf fat are loosened mechanically while the intestines are hanging out of the carcass and are connected to the plucks. The latter loosening is effected by a pressing device (5) and a hoop device (6) which can be moved independent of each other in the lengthways direction of the carcass.