Abstract: The invention provides a method for opening a slaughtered animal comprising the following steps of:(1) providing a slaughtered animal;(2) suspending the animal from the hind legs;(3) arranging a cut in the belly wall close to the hind legs substantially in the plane of symmetry of the animal;(4) continuing this cut in substantially vertical downward direction; and(5) holding the intestines clear of the belly wall during step (4).

Abstract: A device for removing the anus of slaughtered animals. The device includes a cutting device for cutting out the anus of a slaughtered animal, which cutting device comprises a substantially cylindrical blade drivable for rotation and translation and having a leading cutting edge. The device further includes positioning elements for initially positioning the blade such that the center line thereof extends substantially through the anus of the slaughtered animal and a blunt locating pin for causing the blade to follow a curved path such that the cutting edge follows substantially the form of the rectum of the slaughtered animal while avoiding contact with bone.

Abstract: A tooth wheel intended to co-act with a transmission member with transmission elements, which tooth wheel bears a number of protrusions arranged on the periphery which are each provided with at least one contact surface for co-action with the transmission elements, including self-adjusting protrusions for adjusting the pitch of the contact surfaces, wherein each protrusion can swivel substantially in the main plane of the tooth wheel round at least one centre outside the connecting line between the centre line of the tooth wheel and the zone of engagement between the contact surface and a transmission element.It is an object of the invention to embody a tooth wheel such that the distribution of the forces over the protrusions is better in the case of individual variations of the relevant pitch distances.