Radio frequency identification device and method of use

A method for the sanitary rinsing of an animal, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an assembly line with a support along which a plurality of shackles may be moved, each shackle including a RFID tag which includes a machine readable unique identification number;
• b) attaching an animal to one of the plurality of shackles;
• c) moving the shackled animal to a weighing station;
• d) reading the identification number with an RFID tag reader;
• e) weighing the animal;
• f) transmitting the weight and associated identification number to a computer and recording them in a database stored in the computer;
• g) bleeding the animal;
• h) moving the shackled animal to a rinsing station;
• i) reading the RFID tag associated with the animal at the rinsing station by an RFID tag reader;
• j) looking up the weight of the animal in the database based on the identification number and calculating a predetermined amount of solution to inject into the animal based on the weight of the animal;
• k) automatically ensuring sanitization of the end portion of a hose and nozzle assembly which is connected to a rinsing unit which meters a supply of rinsing and cooling solution;
• l) automatically ensuring sanitization of the operator's hands;
• m) inserting a distal portion of the nozzle into the carotid artery of the animal;
• n) enabling the flow of the predetermined amount of rinsing and cooling solution to the distal portion of the nozzle upon the computer receiving the signals ensuring sanitization of the nozzle and operator's hands;
• o) initiating the flow of rinsing and cooling solution within a predetermined amount of time from the enabling of the flow;
• p) injecting the predetermined amount of rinsing and cooling solution into the animal.

A meat processing system for rinsing and cooling an animal carcass comprising:

• a) an assembly line with a support along which a plurality of shackles may be moved, each shackle including a RFID tag which includes a machine readable unique identification number;
• b) a weighing station for weighing an animal suspended from one of the plurality of shackles and transmitting the weight to a database;
• c) a first RFID tag reader arranged for reading the unique identification number of the RFID tag of the animal being weighed and for transmitting the identification number to the database;
• d) a bleeding station for bleeding the animal;
• e) a rinsing station for injecting a predetermined amount of rinsing and cooling solution into the circulatory system of the animal after sanitization of a nozzle fluidly connected to a supply of rinsing and cooling solution and after sanitization of the operator's hands;
• f) a second RFID tag reader arranged for reading the unique identification number of the RFID tag of the animal being rinsed, and for transmitting the identification number to the database;
• g) a computer operatively connected to the first and second RFID tag readers and the database, which looks up the weight of the animal at the rinsing station based on the transmitted identification number and calculates the amount of rinsing and cooling solution to inject into the animal, the computer also being operatively connected to a third RFID tag reader which is arranged relative to a sanitization station so as to read an RFID tag connected to a hose which terminates in the nozzle, the hose and nozzle being sanitized by the sanitization station and the operator's hands being sanitized by the sanitization station, the computer enabling the flow of rinsing and cooling solution only after ensuring sanitization of the nozzle and operator's hands.