Intestines

Field of invention

The subject of the present invention is an apparatus for the automated measuring, sorting and selection of casings.

Prior art

In slaughterhouses, carcasses are examined and processed based on measurement of individual carcasses. To determine the quality and/or to cut the carcass into valuable parts, the examination and processing devices are controlled relative to the location of anatomical parts of the carcass.

It is known from prior art to use photographic surface measurement of visible anatomical parts where scaled standard images of known anatomical external parts are compared to an image of a carcass in order to recognize and localize an external anatomical part of the carcass. In relation to intestines, which can be used for sausage production, a manual sorting is presently carried out.

Cleaning of intestines is normally performed immediately after the slaughtering of the animal. Afterwards the inner wall of the intestine is scraped and subsequently a calibration of the intestine as a function of its diameter is carried out.

Importantly, an intestine varies in diameter and quality over its entire length. The calibration operation is carried out, in a known way, by inflating the intestine with water or air in order to measure its diameter. When water is used, this is displaced 50 cm each time in order to measure the diameter of the various successive portions. When air is used, the intestine is inflated over its entire length, its natural convolutions makes it possible to keep it within the operator's field of vision. It is the operator's job to detect the diameter of the intestines and the changes in diameter visually. Finally, the intestine is sorted and packaged based on size and quality.

Since these phases in the processing of the intestine are generally carried out independently of one another and empirically, the quality of the end result is governed essentially by the experience of the particular operator. It is therefore very difficult to obtain a product of constant quality.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages by providing an apparatus for automated measurement and sorting of intestines based on the diameter thereof.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention can be achieved by an apparatus as defined in claim 1 and by a method as defined in claim 10 Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent subclaims, explained in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

By measuring the diameter of the portions of intestine the present invention ensures that an absolutely constant length of portions of intestine is sorted (and packaged) correctly.

The present invention therefore provides an apparatus for automatically measuring the diameter of intestines. The apparatus comprises:

a perforated tube for holding an intestine suspended along the tube thereby exposing an inner face of the intestine against the outer surface of the tube;

two sets of actuatable rollers (mounted on and movable along a track), said rollers configured to hold a portion of the intestine by pressing the rollers against the outer face of a part of the suspended intestine held between the two sets of rollers;

a water supply connected to the inner lumen of the perforated tube for supplying water through the perforations of the tube and thereby expanding the intestine between the set of rollers; a valve placed between the water supply and the perforated tube for opening and closing supply of water to the perforated tube;

means for determining the diameter of the expanded intestine; a controller programmed to activate the actuatable rollers to roll and thereby sequentially move the intestine along the perforated tube, and record and store information about the diameter of the expanded intestine received from the means for determining the diameter thereof, said controller further programmed to open and close the valve placed between the water supply and the perforated tube.

The term "track" includes any structure that may constitute a suitable transport structure along which the sets of actuatable rollers can be moved. In one embodiment, the track comprises two parallel elongated structures configured to engage with one or more corresponding engagement structures of a support onto which the sets of actuatable rollers is mounted.

In one embodiment, the "track" is an element comprising a plate- shaped portion. It may be an advantage that the corresponding engagement structures of a support onto which the sets of actuatable rollers are mounted are configured to be displaced along the length of the plate-shaped portion. The engagement structures of the support may comprise rotatably mounted wheels. These wheels may be restricted to be moved along a groove provided in the plate- shaped portion.

The term "tube" includes any structure that may constitute a suspension structure suitable for holding an intestine that has been received by the suspension structure in a manner in which the intestine is suspended along suspension structure, thereby exposing an inner face of the intestine against the outer surface of the suspension structure.

In one embodiment, the tube is a rigid structure such as a pipe.

In one embodiment, the tube is a hose. The hose may comprise a reinforcement structure (e.g. a rod) supportingly attached to the hose.

In one embodiment, the tube is shaped as a rigid rod and a tubular structure attached thereto.

Preferably, the means for determining the diameter of the expanded intestine is a camera capable of determining the diameter of the expanded intestine, said camera focusing on an outer face of a part of the expanded intestine.

It is preferred that each set of rollers is shaped to engage with and press the intestine towards the perforated tube so as to close the portion of the intestine being filled with water entering the lumen of said portion via the perforated tube.

Each set of rollers is preferably made by rollers that are concave and fit the diameter of the perforated tube so as to establish a tight seal in the ends of the portion of the intestine suspended between the two sets of rollers.

The controller may be programmed to record the diameter of each portion of a measured intestine as a function of the length of the intestine. Also, the controller may be programmed to categorize measured diameters of the intestines so as to sort the measured intestines according to size.

At all events, the invention will be understood clearly from the following description with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing illustrating an embodiment of this apparatus by way of non-limiting example.

In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first set of rollers arranged on a support member, wherein each roller of the first set of rollers is rotatably mounted to the first support member, wherein the first support member is slidably mounted with respect to the track, wherein the apparatus comprises second set of rollers arranged on a second support member, wherein each roller of the second set of roller is rotatably mounted to the second support member, wherein the support member is fixed relative to the track.

Hereby, it is possible to keep a constant pressure inside the intestine. Accordingly, it is possible to provide valid and reliable diameter measurements by using the apparatus.

It may be an advantage that one of the rollers of the first set of rollers is a "breaking roller" that is mechanically connected to a breaking device or comprising an integrated breaking device, wherein the breaking device is configured to provide a predefined rotational friction of the breaking roller. Hereby, it is possible to control the pressure inside the intestine in an easy, practical and reliable manner. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a setting unit, by which setting unit it is possible to set and/or change the predefined rotational friction of the breaking roller.

Hereby, the setting unit can be used to set and/or change the predefined rotational friction of the breaking roller. This is of vital importance because different costumers may require operating the apparatus with different pressures inside the intestine.

It may be an advantage that the longitudinal axis of the tube extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the track.

Hereby, the rollers will be moved along the longitudinal axis of the track and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube. In one embodiment, the process involves the steps of:

- controlling the rational resistance of a first roller of the two sets of actuatable rollers;

- letting the first roller slide along the track;

- arranging the second set of rollers on a second support member that is restricted from moving relative to the track;

Hereby, it is possible to keep a constant pressure inside the intestine. Accordingly, it is possible to provide valid and reliable diameter measurements by using the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the process involves the step of setting and/or changing the rational resistance of a first roller of the two sets of actuatable rollers.

Hereby, it is possible to change the pressure inside the intestine and met various pressure requirements.

Description of the Drawings

The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below. The accompanying drawings are given by way of illustration only, and thus, they are not limitative of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of an apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 4A shows a schematic view of an apparatus of the present invention and

Fig. 4B shows a schematic view of the apparatus shown in Fig.

4A in another configuration.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus 10 of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1.

With reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 there is shown the apparatus 10 of the present invention, which functions as follows: the operator first starts by loading a portion of an intestine onto the tube having a perforated portion 1. The operator then commands the automatic start-up of the apparatus 10. The length of the intestine running through is measured continuously by the rollers 2 or 3.

If the size measured by the system is perfectly uniform, the run continues until a predetermined length has been measured. Conversely, if the apparatus 10 detects a change of diameter, the controller 12 commands the stopping of the rollers 2, 3 and the measured portion of intestine is cut before the apparatus 10 continues to measure the diameter of the remaining intestine. All though it is not shown, the controller 12 may be connected wirelessly or by a wired connection to actuators arranged to rotate the rollers 2, 3. Likewise, the controller 12 may be connected wirelessly or by a wired connection to a cutting device configured to cut the intestine.

The apparatus 10 of the present invention performs a process for automatically measuring the diameter of portions of an intestine and sorting thereof based on the measured diameter. In such a process an intestine is placed on the tube having a perforated portion 1 for holding the intestine suspended along the tube 1 thereby exposing an inner or outer face of the intestine against the outer surface of the tube 1. Then a piece of the intestine is aligned between two sets of actuatable rollers 2, 3 mounted on and movable along a track 9, while the rollers 2, 3 are configured to hold a portion of the intestine by pressing the rollers 2, 3 against the outer face of a part of the suspended intestine held between the two sets of rollers 2, 3.

Opening of the valve 5 will activate a liquid or gas supply 6 connected to the inner lumen of the perforated tube 1 for supplying liquid or gas, preferably water, through the perforations 7 of the tube 1 and thereby expanding the intestine between the set of rollers 2, 3.

The diameter of the expanded intestine is then measured, e.g. with a camera 4. Then the rollers 2, 3 are activated to roll and thereby sequentially move the intestine along the perforated tube 1 and record information about the diameter of the expanded intestine, and opening and/or closing the valve 5 to maintain a predetermined pressure of the liquid or gas so as to expand the intestine evenly throughout the process. The intestine is normally cut according to a predetermined protocol based on the measured diameter.

As emerges from the foregoing, the invention affords a great improvement to the existing technique by providing an apparatus 10 of simple design and structure, making it possible simultaneously to carry out the size measurement, length measurement and sorting/packaging of portions of intestine.

Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus 10 of the present invention. The apparatus 10 comprises a base portion 22 supporting a track 9 that constitutes a transport structure. The apparatus 10 comprises two sets of actuatable rollers 2', 2", 3', 3" that are arranged and configured to be moved along the track 9. The track comprises two parallel elongated track structures configured to engage with corresponding engagement structures of a first support member 20 onto which the rollers 2', 2" are rotatably mounted. The apparatus 10 comprises a second support member 20' onto which the rollers 3', 3" are rotatably mounted.

In one embodiment, the "track" is an element comprising a plate- shaped portion. It may be an advantage that the corresponding engagement structures of a support onto which the sets of actuatable rollers are mounted are configured to be displaced along the length of the plate-shaped portion. The engagement structures of the support may comprise rotatably mounted wheels. These wheels may be restricted to be moved along a groove provided in the plate- shaped portion. The apparatus 10 comprises a first actuator 14 arranged to rotate the roller 2" and a second actuator 16 arranged to rotate the roller 3". In one embodiment, the first actuator 14 is arranged to rotate the two rollers 2', 2". In another embodiment, the first actuator 14 is arranged to rotate only one of the rollers 2', 2".

In one embodiment, the second actuator 16 is arranged to rotate the two rollers 3', 3". In another embodiment, the second actuator 16 is arranged to rotate only one of the rollers 3', 3".

The apparatus 10 comprises a tube 1 provided with a perforated portion. The apparatus 10 comprises a tube 1 arranged to receive and hold an intestine (not shown) suspended along the tube 1 in order to expose an inner or outer face of the intestine against the outer surface of the tube 1. The apparatus 10 comprises a camera 4 configured to measure the diameter of intestine suspended along the tube 1.

The apparatus 10 comprises a controller 12 that is electrically connected to the first actuator 14, the second actuator 16 and the camera by means of electrical cables.

It can be seen that the longitudinal axis X of the tube 1 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis Y of the track 9. Hereby, the rollers 2', 2", 3', 3" can be moved along the longitudinal axis Y of the track 9 and parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the tube 1.

The tube 1 has a distal end positioned between the first support member 20 and the second support member 20'. The distal end of the tube 1 is configured to receive an intestine.

Fig. 4A illustrates a schematic view of an apparatus 10 of the present invention, wherein Fig. 4B illustrates a schematic view of the apparatus 10 shown in Fig. 4A in another configuration.

The apparatus 10 comprises a first set of rollers 2', 2" arranged on a support member 20. Each roller 2', 2" are rotatably mounted to the support member 20. The support member 20 is slidably mounted on a track 9.

The apparatus 10 comprises second set of rollers 3', 3" arranged on a support member 20', wherein each roller 3', 3" are rotatably mounted to the support member 20'. The support member 20' may be fixed. In one embodiment, the support member 20' is slidably mounted on a track.

The apparatus 10 comprises a tube comprising a perforated portion and a camera 4 arranged and configured to measure the diameter Di, D ₂ of an intestine 8 suspended suspended along the tube, whereby an inner or outer face of the intestine 8 is exposed against the outer surface of the tube.

A measurement roller 18 is arranged to detect the length of the intestine 8. The intestine 8 will rotate the measurement roller 18 when the intestine 8 is moved along the tube. The measurement roller 18 may be connected to a controller (not shown).

In Fig. 4A, the diameter D ₂ of an intestine 8 is larger than the diameter Di of an intestine 8 shown in Fig. 4B.

The first set of rollers 2', 2" is capable of moving along the track 9. Prior to operating the apparatus 10, an intestine pressure is selected (predefined). The intestine pressure determines the pressure with which liquid or gas (preferably water) is supplied through the perforations of the tube and thereby expanding the intestine 8. Once the intestine 8 is being filled with liquid or gas, the pressure inside the intestine 8 will increase until the pressure equals the predefined intestine pressure. The predefined intestine pressure can be set by setting the rotational resistance of the roller 2'. This may be done by using a hysteresis brake. In one embodiment, the hysteresis brake is a current controlled electric hysteresis brake. In another embodiment, the predefined intestine pressure can be set by setting the rotational resistance of the roller 2' by means of a controllable mechanical-friction device.

It is required that the pressure inside the intestine 8 is kept constant in order to measure the correct Di, D ₂ of an intestine 8. In order to (automatically) ensure that the pressure inside the intestine 8 is kept constant, the volume Vi, V ₂ of the intestine 8 filled with liquid or gas must be kept constant. In order to keep a constant volume Vi, V ₂ of the intestine 8 filled with liquid or gas, the first set of rollers 2', 2" can automatically move along the track 9. By keeping the second support member 20' fixed and letting the first support member 20 move freely along the track 9, it is possible to secure that the volume Vi, V ₂ of the intestine 8 filled with liquid or gas must be kept constant. Accordingly, the apparatus solves the problem of keeping a constant pressure inside the intestine 8.

List of reference numerals

1 Tube

2 Roller

3 Roller

4 Diameter detection means

5 Valve

6 Liquid or gas supply

7 Perforation

8 Intestine

9 Track

10 Apparatus

12 Controller

14, 16 Actuator

18 Measurement roller 20, 20' Support member

22 Base portion

X, Y Longitudinal axis

Vi, V ₂ Volume

Di, D ₂ Diameter