Use of high pressure processing to aid in the hair or feather removal from animal carcasses/hides
AssigneeHormel Foods Corporation
InventorsJohn William Summerfield, Nathan Ryan Smit, Jerry Earl Cannon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
High pressure processing is utilized to remove the external carcass portions from an animal carcass. The animal carcass is subjected to pressures of 50 MPa or greater to loosen the external carcass portions. In addition, high pressure processing is utilized to strengthen the hides of animal carcasses by subjecting them to pressures of from 10 to 50 MPa.
Claims30
A method of removing external carcass portions from an animal carcass, the method comprising:
- (a) placing an animal carcass in a high pressure processing vessel;
- (b) subjecting the animal carcass to a pressure of greater than 50 MPa, wherein the external carcass portions are loosened from the carcass;
- (c) removing the animal carcass from the high pressure processing vessel;
- and
- (d) applying a force to the external carcass portions to remove the external carcass portions from the animal carcass.
A method of removing feathers from a poultry carcass, the method comprising:
- a) placing the poultry carcass in a high pressure processing vessel;
- b) subjecting the poultry carcass to a pressure of greater than 50 MPa, wherein feathers are loosened from the carcass;
- c) removing the poultry carcass from the high pressure processing vessel;
- and
- d) applying a force to the feathers to remove the feathers from the carcass.
A method of removing hairs from a beef carcass, the method comprising:
- a) placing the beef carcass in a high pressure processing vessel;
- b) subjecting the beef carcass to a pressure of greater than 50 MPa, wherein hairs are loosened from the carcass;
- c) removing the beef carcass from the high pressure processing vessel;
- and
- d) applying a force to the hairs to remove the hairs from the carcass.
A method of removing hairs from a pig carcass, the method comprising:
- a) placing the pig carcass in a high pressure processing vessel;
- b) subjecting the pig carcass to a pressure of greater than 50 MPa, wherein hairs are loosened from the carcass;
- c) removing the pig carcass from the high pressure processing vessel;
- and
- d) applying a force to the hairs to remove the hairs from the carcass.
A method of removing toenails from a pig carcass, the method comprising:
- a) placing the pig carcass in a high pressure processing vessel;
- b) subjecting the pig carcass to a pressure of greater than 150 MPa, wherein toenails are loosened from the carcass;
- c) removing the pig carcass from the high pressure processing vessel;
- and
- d) applying a force to the toenails to remove the toenails from the carcass.
A method of strengthening a hide of an animal carcass, the method comprising:
- a) placing an animal carcass in a high pressure processing vessel;
- b) subjecting the animal carcass to a pressure of from 10 MPa to 50 MPa;
- and
- c) removing the animal carcass from the high pressure processing vessel, wherein the animal carcass's hide is strengthened.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.