FR2611115A1 - Improvement to devices for stunning animals to be slaughtered in a slaughterhouse - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for stunning animals to be slaughtered. Conveyor means 1, 1' successively convey the animals 3, 3', which are held immobilised, to a slaughtering station, consisting of two lateral electrodes 8, integral with an upper support 9 which is mounted so as to move on rails 15, and can be moved in a to-and-fro movement along a path parallel to the path of the animals, the said support 9 of the electrodes 8 is mounted, securely attached by means of mechanical linkage means 18, to a return member 17, which is tensioned by the movement of the said support 9 in its course moving away from its starting position, and in the direction of the exit from the animal conveyor, the said support then being driven only by the thrust exerted by the head of the animal in contact with the electrodes, and against the antagonistic force generated by the said return member.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for enabling the operation of stunning an animal in a slaughter line.

It is known that animals for slaughter treated in a slaughterhouse are initially subjected to a stunning operation by electrocution.

In the devices currently known and aiming to carry out this operation by mechanical means, the animals for slaughter are introduced into a conveyor formed by two belts inclined in V and defining between them a central passage in which the animals are driven towards the post of knocking by electrocution.

The stunning station, located at the end of this conveyor, and at least partly in the interior space defined by the area between the two side mats, has two electrodes between which the head of the animal engages ; when the contact between head and electrodes is well established the current is sent so as to cross the head of the animal from one electrode to the other, causing the effect of electrocution and tetanization desired.

During this operation the electrodes accompany the head of the animal; indeed the latter continues on its way being entrained by the two side belts.

So that in known devices the electrodes must follow a back and forth movement; during their outward journey the two electrodes accompany the head of the animal, for the time necessary for the effect of electrocution; and the positioning of the electrodes is calculated so that at the end of electrocution, the animal, then interested, falls from the end of the conveyor and it is then driven to the successive treatment stations; immediately after the fall of the animal the electrodes follow a return journey to meet the head of the subsequent animal and proceed with the electrocution operation of the latter.

The problem encountered in the construction of such devices consists in rigorously regulating the synchronism between the respective movements of the electrode (which must be held against and therefore secured to the head of the animal) and the conveyor which conveys the latter.

 It is indeed necessary to avoid any distortion between the advancement of the body of the animal (prisoner of the two side mats) and the electrodes; any distortion resulting in poor contact or risk of injury.

French Patent No. 84 12 699 in the name of the applicant achieves a first solution which consists in mounting the electrodes on a carriage free to move on guide rails parallel to the movement of the animals on their conveyor; and the assembly is mounted inclined from the entry of the conveyor towards its exit end, so that the carriage is driven against its own weight and under the sole push of the animal, this which allows the carriage to be recalled at the end of the operation when the animal is automatically released from the electrodes.

The present invention relates to an embodiment in which the desired result of synchronization is obtained between the advancement of the animal (prisoner of the conveyor) and the electrodes, with an automatic return of the electrode, without entailing the implementation of autonomous motor means at the electrodes and without requiring an inclined construction of the assembly.

To this end, the invention relates to a device for knocking down slaughter animals, of the type comprising conveyor means suitable for conveying successively the animals being kept immobilized, to a slaughter station, said slaughter station being constituted by two electrodes lateral, arranged on either side of the passage necessarily followed by the animals, so as to come into contact with the head of the animal at the temples, said lateral electrodes being integral with a support in the upper position, this support being mounted mobile on guide means and movable in a back and forth movement along a path parallel to the path of the means of conveying the animals, the electrodes and their support thus being able to accompany the movement of the animal driven by its conveying means by allowing the electrodes to remain in contact with the head of the animal for the time necessary for electrocution, and the device is characterized ized in that said electrode support is mounted integral, by mechanical connecting means, with a return member energized by the movement of said support in its path away from its starting position, and in the direction of the exit from the animal conveyor, said support then being driven by the single thrust exerted by the head of the animal in contact with the electrodes, and against the opposing force developed by said return member.

According to a more particular embodiment, the return member is constituted by a spring working in traction such as a helical spring disposed upstream of the electrocution station, an upstream end of said spring being integral with a fixed point, the opposite end of said spring being made integral, by a mechanical connection means, with said electrode support.

According to another embodiment, the return member is constituted by a spring working under compression and arranged downstream of the electrocution station, said spring being secured by one end of a fixed point forming a support, and receiving by its end. opposite the thrust of said movable support itself driven by the thrust exerted on the electrodes by the head of the animal.

According to a more particular embodiment the support for the electrodes is mounted on lateral guide means such as two rails or slides arranged substantially in line with each of the lateral conveyor belts, and the support is connected by two lateral connection means, such as flexible rods, chains or links, arranged on either side of the passage of the animals, each of its connecting means leading to a return member, the two return members being calibrated so as to exert on said support a return force equal from one reminder to another.

According to yet another more particular characteristic, the spring member is chosen so that the opposing force applied to said support is constant or slightly progressive along the stroke of said support.

According to a more particular embodiment, the support consists of a carriage mounted, by rollers or rolling means, on two side rails, and it is secured by means of at least one, and preferably two links flexible, of a drum located upstream of the electrocution station, the drum being itself mounted on springs, and exerting an angular restoring force, the movement of the support causing the rotation of the drum against said restoring force.

According to yet another characteristic, the support of the electrodes comprises damping means arranged at its starting point of the outward journey (for the electrocution phase) and thus capable of damping the return of the support to its initial position, the support being recalled by energizing the return members.

According to yet another characteristic corresponding to a more particular embodiment, the return means consist of at least one, and preferably two counterweights, connected by a flexible link and a set of pulleys to said support.

More particularly, the pulleys on which the flexible links transmit the return force to the carriage, include adjustable braking means making it possible to adjust the running speed of said links or belts.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows and which is given in connection with various embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a front elevational view of an electrocution device according to the invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B represent a form of this embodiment of the invention in which the support for the electrodes is associated with a return member formed by a drum, the two figures representing a general diagram of the installation in lateral elevation.

3 shows a sectional view of the detail of the embodiment of the drum of Figure 2A and 2E.

Figures A and 4B show an embodiment in which the carriage is associated with a helical return spring.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B represent a new embodiment in which the spring member consists of a counterweight.

According to all of the figures, it can be seen that the installation comprises two inclined lateral conveyors and defining between them a V-shaped passage. This passage 2 successively receives the animals here the pigs 3, 3 ′, 3 "which are conveyed between the two input 4 and output 5 drums respectively. The path of the side belts 1 and 1 ′, defining together a so-called "restrainer" conveyor consequently brings the animals successively from the entry (drum 4), towards the exit (drum 5).

At the end corresponding to the drum 5 the pigs are released, but then being knocked out.

Throughout their stay in passage 2, between the two belts 1 and 1 ', the pigs are held by their own weight, thus being trapped; at the exit (drum 5) they are released but having then undergone the electrocution operation they are knocked out and consequently fall inanimate and in this position (reference 6), the pig can be conveyed for example by a new conveyor 7 to the downstream stations.

The electrocution operation is undergone by the animal, ic the pig 3, by the set of two side electrodes 8 and 8 '(Figure 1).

Preferably, the two electrodes are mounted articulated on an upper support shown diagrammatically by the frame 9 and they are pivotally mounted along the articulation axes - gold C and 10 ′, being capable of being operated by the upper bolt 11.

Under these conditions, the electrodes 8 and 8 ′ are able to move angularly between an active position in which they are applied against the head 12 of the animal and in particular against the temples and a separated position.

The active position is shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 while the discarded position, as a result of the operation of the upper cylinder 11, is shown in dotted lines.

The frame 9 constituting the movable support of the electrodes is mounted on two undercarriages 13 and 14 engaged on guide means here the side rails 15,15 'arranged substantially in line with the side conveyor belts 1 and 1'.

Thus the mobile support 9, supporting the electrodes can be moved linearly along the rails 15 and 15 'which are arranged parallel to the path of the conveyor belts of animals 1 and 1' and the rails 15 and 15 'follow, and slightly protrude beyond the outlet end of the conveyors 1 and 1 '.

Thus considering all of Figures 2A, 2B and following have seen that the movable support of the electrodes formed here of a carriage is movable between a position engaged inside the passage (Figure 2A) and a position slightly to the outside and beyond the passage formed by the animal conveyor, position shown in FIG. 2B.

In the position shown in FIG. 2A, which corresponds to the rest position or starting position of the cycle, the electrodes by the actuation of the jack 11 are moved from their separated position (in dotted lines in FIG. 1) to their active position in contact with the head of the animal (solid lines in Figure 1).

The triggering of the electrodes is controlled by any appropriate means but can be easily controlled by a detector or contactor having identified the correct positioning of the animal's head.

From the moment the electrodes come to trap the head of the animal, the thrust exerted by the whole body of the animal (trapped in the side mats 1 and 1 '), is transferred to the electrodes.

And as the mobile support 9 is mounted free to roll on the rails 15, the support and the electrodes will therefore travel freely while accompanying the movement of the animal, from the position of FIG. 2A to the position of FIG. 2B.

This path allows contact between the electrodes and the head of the animal for a sufficient time to send an electric shock current.

Arrived at the position of FIG. 2B, the electrodes can be separated automatically; the animal which is then inert, is released from the grip of the side belts 1 and 1 ′ and falls (reference 6 in FIG. 2A) onto a new conveyor 7.

According to the invention, the carriage 9 is mounted with free rolling on the rails 15 and 15 ′ but it nevertheless remains integral by a mechanical connection with a return member.

According to FIG. 2A, 2B and 3, the return member consists of one, and here preferably two drums 16 and 1 on each of which a flexible link 18 is wound, such as a strap or a strap or a rope and aboutssar.t to the carriage 9.

We understand that under these conditions the thrust exerted by the animal 3 on the electrodes and transferred to the carriage 9 causes the latter but at the same time a traction is exerted on the flexible link 18 which drives the drums 16 and 17, which are rotated by energizing the springs 20 and 20 '.

Under these conditions, when the electrodes are released and the animal falls, at the end of the belts 1 and 1 ', the thrust of the animal's body ceases to be exerted on the electrodes and on the carriage or support 9 and immediately the return force accumulated in the springs 20 and 20 'which are then tensioned, causes the rotation of the drums 16 and 17 and the return, via the links 18, of the support 9 to its starting position.

The latter can be marked by a stop stop =, preferably associated with damping means, as seen in the examples of Figures MA, 4B and 5A, 5B.

However, in this example, stabilization at the starting position of the mobile support 9 is obtained by the play of an immobilization means consisting of a second drum 22, this time disposed downstream of the support 9 and connected by the link 23 to the mobile support or trolley 9.

The drum 22 is also mounted on springs so that when the mobile support or carriage 9 moves towards it, it causes the automatic winding of the link 23 however this spring is very weak and the traction exerted on the link 23 is that just necessary to allow the correct winding of the link, without causing traction on the support 9.

The advantage of the link 23 and of the drum 22 is that it makes it possible to stop the carriage or mobile support 9 under the return action of the main drum 17; arrived at its rest position, corresponding to the starting point of a new cycle, the link 23 is then immobilized by a stop for example a stop blocking the subsequent rotation of the drum 22 so that the link automatically stops at a correct position , corresponding to its starting position, the mobile support 9; and to avoid a brutal shock which could affect the support, it can be provided that (either on the drum 22 or on the link 23), damping means are mounted so that the return of the support 9 under force of traction of the drum 17, is done gently and without brutal shock corresponding to the end-of-travel stop.

According to FIGS. MA and 4B, it can be seen that the return member can also be constituted by a simple helical spring 24 starting from a fixed point 24 ′ situated far behind the electrocution station and connected by mechanical means such as a link or a rod 25 to the support carriage 9.

The thrust exerted by the head of the animal on the electrodes causes the support carriage 9 to move towards the exit of the conveyor; and after release of the animal, the spring 24 therefore recalls the support carriage to its starting position; damping means of the spring buffer type 26, 27 can be provided to dampen the stopping of the support carriage 9 returning to its starting point.

According to the example of FIGS. 5A and 5B, the spring member may consist of a counterweight 28 connected by the link 20, passing over the pulleys 30 and 31 to the support carriage 9.

The counterweight 28 exerts a restoring force via the links and pulleys on the carriage 9 and therefore tends, when the electrodes are released relative to the head of the animal (at the end of travel according to FIG. 5B ), to bring the carriage back. support 9 to its starting position.

In this case the counterweight 28 may consist of a superposition of stacked discs thus allowing the desirable return force to be tared.

Preferably, there will be two counterweights and two sets of links and pulleys laterally, on each side of the conveying path.

Damping devices for the counterweight 32, and for the carriage 33,3lui, make it possible to damp the return limit switch when the carriage returns to its starting position. The advantage of the counterweight is to exert a constant restoring force throughout the race.

In the example of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, it is possible to provide calibrated springs of sufficient length to allow the return force to be substantially constant or slightly progressive between the starting position of the support carriage 9 and its extreme position (end of electrocution).

Braking means acting either on the carriage 9, or on the pulleys 30, or on the links 18, 29, will make it possible to adjust the speed of movement of the carriage in its return path, in particular to slow the carriage near to its starting point and allow a smooth return.

Preferably, in the context of the present invention, use will be made of side blanks forming shields and suspended from the upper carriage to receive the thrust of the animal at shoulder level.

Such a device is described in the French patent application in the name of the applicant number 84 12 699.

This device has the advantage of constituting a protective cover for the pivoting electrodes.

In the context of this embodiment, the animal's thrust is not exerted directly on the electrodes (trapping the head) but on the shield whose configuration (in general funnel shape) allows it to adapt to various animal shapes, types or sizes; in addition, the side blanks forming shields automatically guide the head of the animal in the median space, that is to say in the correct position to receive laterally the contact of the electrodes.

Claims (9)

1 - Device for knocking out slaughter animals, of the type comprising conveyor means (1,1 ') suitable for successively conveying the animals (3,3') being kept immobilized, towards a slaughter post, said post slaughter consisting of two lateral electrodes (8,8 '), arranged on either side of the passage (2) necessarily followed by the animals, so as to come into contact with the head (12) of the animal (3 ) at the temples, said lateral electrodes being integral with a support (9) in the upper position, this support being mounted mobile on guide means (15, 15 ′) and displaceable according to a back and forth movement according to a path parallel to the path of the conveyor means (1,1 ') of the animals, the electrodes and their support thus being able to accompany the movement of the animal driven by its conveyor means by allowing the electrodes to remain in contact with the head of the animal for the time necessary for electrocution, characteristic ized in that said support (9) for the electrodes (8,8 ') is mounted integral, by mechanical connection means, with a return member energized by the movement of said support (9) in its path l moving away from its starting position, and towards the exit of the animal conveyor, said support then being driven by the single thrust exerted by the animal's head in contact with the electrodes, and against the antagonistic force developed by said recall member. 2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the return member is constituted by a spring (24) working in tension such as a helical spring disposed upstream of the electrocution station, an upstream end of said spring being secured to a fixed point (24 '), the opposite end of said spring being made integral, by means of mechanical connection (25), cudit support (9) of the electrodes. 3 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the return member is constituted by a spring working under compression and disposed downstream of the electrocution station, said spring being secured by one end of a fixed point forming a support , and receiving by its opposite end the thrust of said mobile support itself driven by the thrust exerted on the electrodes by the head of the animal.  M - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support consists of a carriage mounted, by rollers or rolling means (13,14), on two side rails (15,15 '), and it is integral by means of at least one, and preferably two flexible links (18), of a drum (17) located upstream of the electrocution station, the drum being itself mounted on springs, and exerting a force angular return, the movement of the support (9) entralant the rotation of the drum against said return force (constituting said spring (20,20 '). 5 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the return means are constituted by at least one, and preferably two counterweights (28), connected by a flexible link (29) and a set of pulleys (30, 30 ') to said support (9). 6 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the support of the electrodes (9) is mounted on lateral guide means such as two rails or slides (15,15 ') arranged substantially in line with each conveyor belts (1,1 '), and the support (9) is connected by two lateral connection means, such as rods, chains or flexible links, arranged on either side of the passage of animals, each of its connecting means leading to a return member, the two return members being calibrated so as to exert on said support an equal return force from one return member to another. 7 - Device according to one of claims l to 6, characterized in that the spring member is chosen so that the restoring force applied to said support is constant or slightly progressive along the outward travel of said support. 8 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support (9) of the electrodes (8,8 ') comprises damping means (26,27) arranged at its starting point of the outward path (for the electrocution phase) and thus capable of damping the return of the support to its initial position, the support being recalled by energizing the return members. 9 - Device according to one of claims 1, 4 or 5, characterized in that the pulleys (30,30 ') over which pass the flexible links (29) transmitting the restoring force to the carriage, include adjustable braking means allowing to adjust the running speed of said links or belts. 10 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the wheels (13,14) of the carriage (9) comprise braking means capable of damping the return speed of the carriage near its starting point .