Apparatus and method for parallel processing of a plurality of cattle carcasses suspended from a conveyor
AssigneeStork MPS B.V.
InventorGerard Jan Post
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Abstract
The invention disclosed in this document relates to an apparatus and method for parallel processing of a plurality of cattle carcasses suspended from a conveyor. At least two processing stations are provided that displace, or move, in a direction parallel to the conveyor. Each of the two stations performs generally the same processing operation on a carcass and each station has an individual coupling means for releasably engaging on the conveyor, wherein the processing stations are displaceable along a common guide. The processing stations are preferably connected flexibly to each other such that the interval between the processing stations in a position coupled to the conveyor is greater than in a position disconnected from the conveyor.
Claims13
Apparatus for parallel processing of a plurality of cattle or other large animal carcasses suspended from a conveyor, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) at least two processing stations, each of which (i) performs substantially the same processing operation and (ii) is adapted to couple to the conveyor,
- (b) at least one guide by which the processing stations may be displaced generally parallel to the conveyor,
- (c) at least one means for coupling the processing stations so that the interval between the processing stations when the processing stations are coupled to the conveyor varies from the interval between the processing stations when the processing stations are not coupled to the conveyor.
A method for processing slaughtered animal carcasses carried on a conveyor where the intervals between the carcasses may vary, the method comprising:
- (a) coupling at least two processing stations to one another in a manner that allows the interval between the processing stations to vary;
- (b) releasably attaching the at least two processing stations to the conveyor so that each of the processing stations aligns and moves with a carcass to be processed;
- and
- (c) performing processing operations on the carcasses at each of the processing stations, whereby during the processing operations a first interval between the processing stations varies from an original interval existing between the processing stations when they are not coupled to the conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.