Abstract: A pneumatic animal stunner for stunning an animal for later processing uses sensor technology to measure the speed of a stunning rod disposed in the stunner housing as it is driven forward via pneumatic forces. At least one sensor may be disposed in a nose connected to a front end of the housing, in the housing, or in a tail end of the housing. The at least one sensor communicates with a receiver that can process and display the speed data collected from the at least one sensor as the stunning rod drives forward. The receiver can be disposed on the housing of the stunner, or may be a separate component from the stunner. The data may be sent from the at least one sensor to the receiver via a wireless or wired connection. Multiple methods of measuring the stunning rod speed may be employed.

Abstract: A guide assembly for supporting a tool employs an arcuate guide configured to have a tether coupled thereto. The arcuate guide is configured to apply a reaction force to the tether to oppose gravitational force applied to the tool. The assembly further includes a mount assembly is configured to couple the arcuate guide to the tool. At least one support bar is coupled to the arcuate guide and the mount assembly. The arcuate guide, the mount assembly, and the at least one support bar are configured to maintain the reaction force in alignment with a center of gravity of the tool as the tool is rotated with respect to the center of gravity.

Abstract: A portable pneumatic stunner for stunning or euthanizing an animal has a piston slideable within an inner chamber, a housing with a front portion being moveable toward and away from its rear portion, a stunning rod driven by the piston forward towards the front end of the housing, a catch system for alternately holding and releasing the stunning rod, and a regulator for regulating the pressure received from a fluid container for operating the stunner. The stunning rod is driven along a longitudinal axis upon exposure of a pressurized fluid to the piston, and the stunning rod is retracted back into the stunner after firing by exerting a manual inward force on the stunning rod and housing. The catch system comprises a plurality of arcuate sections substantially forming a cylinder. The regulator determines the allowable pressure levels of the fluid the stunner is subjected to.

Abstract: A portable pneumatic stunner for stunning or euthanizing an animal has a piston slideable within an inner chamber, a housing with a front portion being moveable toward and away from its rear portion, a stunning rod driven by the piston forward towards the front end of the housing, a catch system for alternately holding and releasing the stunning rod, and a regulator for regulating the pressure received from a fluid container for operating the stunner. The stunning rod is driven along a longitudinal axis upon exposure of a pressurized fluid to the piston, and the stunning rod is retracted back into the stunner after firing by exerting a manual inward force on the stunning rod and housing. The catch system comprises a plurality of arcuate sections substantially forming a cylinder. The regulator determines the allowable pressure levels of the fluid the stunner is subjected to.

Abstract: A pneumatic stunner for stunning an animal has a piston slideable within an inner chamber, and a stunning rod driven by the piston forward and rearward towards and away from the front end of the housing. The stunning rod has an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and a detachable hardened tip. The density of the material comprising the elongated body is less than the density of the material comprising the detachable hardened tip.

Abstract: Animal processing devices and methods for processing animals with such devices are described. An animal processing device comprises a housing having a power source for driving a bolt for impacting a predetermined portion of the head of an animal, a trigger for activating the bolt, and a nosepiece. The nosepiece comprises a first portion that is non-moveably positioned relative to the housing. The first portion comprises an opening positioned along the driving direction so the end of the holt can move through the opening, and a contacting surface at an end of the first portion. The contacting surface may include a cutout region having a shape related to the shape of the predetermined portion of the head of the animal to be processed and can accommodate the predetermined portion of the head of the animal to be processed.

Abstract: Animal processing devices and methods for processing animals with such devices are described. An animal processing device comprises a housing having a power source for driving a bolt for impacting a predetermined portion of the head of an animal, a trigger for activating the bolt, and a nosepiece. The nosepiece comprises a first portion that is non-moveably positioned relative to the housing. The first portion comprises an opening positioned along the driving direction so the end of the holt can move through the opening, and a contacting surface at an end of the first portion. The contacting surface may include a cutout region having a shape related to the shape of the predetermined portion of the head of the animal to be processed and can accommodate the predetermined portion of the head of the animal to be processed.

Abstract: A fish stunning apparatus comprising a fish stunning device (100) including a striker (400); said striker (400) including a cylinder and a piston (443), said piston (443) movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a fish guide (200) having an entrance (230) and an exit (240); said fish guide (200) guiding a fish below said striker (400) so that said piston (443) contacts said fish when said piston (443) is in the extended position; trigger (300) to cause said piston (443) to be moved from the retracted position to the extended position when said fish is passed through said fish guide (200); wherein said fish is moved unidirectionally from said entrance (230) through said guide (200) to the exit (240). A fish guide (200) comprising an entrance (230), an exit (240) and a pivotally movable floor (220) and a table for distributing fish for stunning are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated animal stunner achieves a high stunning energy to produce concussion and stun an animal without penetration by accelerating a lightweight stunning rod to high speed. The stunning rod is preferably hollow and made of a lightweight material. A piston sliding within a cylinder with an anti-friction coating drives the stunning rod. To increase stunning rod speed, air is vented ahead of the stunning rod. One end of the stunning rod is provided with a large diameter impact head of a material that resists deformation. The opposite end is made of a wear resistant material and is engaged by the catch. The extension distance of the impact head beyond the front end of the tool is limited and can preferably be adjusted. A specially shaped air-cooled internal bumper is provided to absorb the very high stunning energy of the stunning rod without damage.

Abstract: Stunning device (1) for small animals or fish of 2 kg to 7 kg weight comprises pneumatically powered piston assembly (2) which includes an extendible piston. Support (3) for piston assembly (2) includes base member (4) and multi-component trigger (22, 23, 24, 26). Piston assembly (2) is positioned to define a space between base member (4) and head plate (21) for receiving the head (27) of the animal. When the piston is activated by head (27) contacting plate (22), it extends and strikes head (27) just behind and/or between the eyes with sufficient force to kill the animal with a shock to the brain, but without affecting the external appearance of the animal or fish. The piston extends only once and then retracts, and trigger (22, 23, 24, 26) is reset by removing head (27) from device (1).

Abstract: Stunning device (1) for small animals or fish of 2kg to 7kg weight comprises pneumatically powered piston assembly (2) which includes an extendible piston. Support (3) for piston assembly (2) includes base member (4) and multi-component trigger (22, 23, 24, 26). Piston assembly (2) is positioned to define a space between base member (4) and head plate (21) for receiving the head (27) of the animal. When the piston is activated by head (27) contacting plate (22), it extends and strikes head (27) just behind and/or between the eyes with sufficient force to kill the animal with a shock to the brain, but without affecting the external appearance of the animal or fish. The piston extends only once and then retracts, and trigger (22, 23, 24, 26) is reset by removing head (27) from device (1).

Abstract: Fish, such as salmon, are caused to move along a predetermined path until the leading part of the fish hits a lever to initiate a cycle of operations comprising: a) holding the fish by releasable holding means, b) stunning the fish, c) killing the fish in such manner as to effect exsanguination thereof, and d) releasing the killed fish.

Abstract: Providing a method of injection into meat in which brine for curing or seasoning liquid is uniformly dispersed in a green meat efficiently and continuously without deteriorating a meat property; curing and seasoning can be accomplished without using a tumbling machine, a massage machine or the like for a long time; and the brine for curing and the seasoning liquid can be uniformly dispersed even if there is a difference of injection resistance in meat property. This can be achieved by using a pickle injector which is provided with a high-pressure liquid generator constituted of a plunger pump or the like, a coherent stream injection nozzle for injecting the brine for curing and a pressure control mechanism which can raise an injection pressure gradually from zero or a low pressure while injecting the liquid substance when the brine for curing is injected from the nozzle to the green meat.

Abstract: Described is a pneumatic animal stunner that includes a physical catch for the piston that drives the stunning element. This allows pressure to build up behind the stunning element immediately prior to firing rather than requiring the introduction of pressurized air or fluid at the time of actuation, as is common in the prior art. The result is a faster, more effective stroke. The animal stunner also includes a dual trigger mechanism for safety. The animal stunner has a conventional trigger that is activated to pressurize the stunner and an activation means located in its front end. The activation means releases a physical catch that retains the piston in place. Preferably, the activation means is operated when depressed against the animal. The animal stunner is designed so that the stunning element may not be fired more than once for each time the trigger is pulled. In addition, the animal stunner includes exhaust vents that are directed toward the front of the device.

Abstract: A suspension device for providing a universally movable support of a pneumatic power tool of the type having a housing (10) with a pistol grip handle (11), and comprises an arc-shaped yoke (31) with a slip member (38) movably guided thereon and connectable to an overhead balancing device. A first end (32) of the yoke (31) is connected to the tool housing (10) by a swivel connection (33, 35) at a location opposite the tool handle (11), and a second end (34) of the yoke (31) is rigidly secured to the rotatable inlet part (20) of a right angle air supply conduit swivel connection (17) to be mounted at the outer end of the tool handle (11), wherein the inlet part (20) of the swivel connection (17) is rotatable in a plane transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tool handle (11).

Abstract: A carousel arrangement for the automatic reloading of captive bolt stunners. The carousel includes stations for cartridge removal, bolt resetting and cartridge insertion. Further stations may incorporate safety checks or cooling devices.

Abstract: A hydraulic stunner apparatus for use in slaughtering animals includes a housing that defines a cylinder within which a rear seat is disposed. An elongated stunner element is received in and closes off the front end of the cylinder. The stunner element is movable between a cocked position in which the first end of the element is sealed against the seat, and a fired position in which the first end of the element is unseated and the stunner element is extended relative to the cylinder. Hydraulic fluid under pressure is directed into the cylinder to pressurize the cylinder, and an actuator is provided for unseating the stunner element from the cocked position to initiate movement of the element to the fired position. Preferably, the apparatus also includes a compressible biasing assembly for maintaining the hydraulic pressure within the cylinder upon separation of the stunner element from the seat and movement of the stunner element toward the extended position.

Abstract: Animals for slaughter are effectively stunned by injecting or a liquid or gaseous medium in the vicinity of the neurocranium within fractions of a second. Injection takes place under high pressure and for a short time. Undesired metabolic reactions are suppressed. Injection takes place by means of one or more injection nozzles (2). The injection medium preferably contains additives with a disinfecting, cooling or thixotropic, viscous characteristic.