Eviscerating member, device and method for processing a cluster of viscera of a slaughtered animal

Abstract

An eviscerating member for processing a cluster of viscera of a slaughtered animal comprises two jaw parts to be moved at least partially into and out of the body cavity of the slaughtered animal. The jaw parts can move with respect to one another between an open position, in which a first jaw part is situated at a distance from the second jaw part, and a closed position, in which the first jaw part and the second jaw part substantially clamp onto part of the cluster of viscera. The eviscerating member also comprises support means for supporting the jaw parts, and actuating means for moving the jaw parts with respect to one another between the open position and the closed position.

1 - 24 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       25 . An eviscerating device for processing viscera of a slaughtered animal, comprising: 
 at least two gripping parts comprising a first gripping part and a second gripping part capable of moving between a first position in which the first gripping part is at a distance from the second gripping part and a second position in which the first gripping part is driven towards the second gripping part;    at least one arm for supporting the first and second gripping parts;    an actuating device coupled to the at least one arm for moving the at least one arm, the first gripping part and second gripping part at least partially into and out of a body cavity of the slaughtered animal; and    at least one control arm for placing the first and second gripping parts in the first position and the second position;    wherein the at least one control arm and the actuating device are capable of operating in steps comprising:    the actuating device moving the at least one control arm, the first gripping part, and the second gripping part into the body cavity while the viscera remains positioned in the body cavity to grasp the viscera between the first and second gripping parts, the actuating device having previously moved the first and second gripping parts into the first position;    the at least one control arm moving the first and second gripping parts to the second position to grasp the viscera; and    the actuating device moving the at least one control arm to remove the viscera from the body cavity of the slaughtered animal.    
   
   
       26 . The eviscerating device of  claim 25 , wherein the first gripping part further comprises a slot adapted to receive at least a portion of the second gripping part.  
   
   
       27 . The eviscerating device of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the first and second gripping parts further comprises at least one projection coupled to an edge of a side facing the other gripping part.  
   
   
       28 . The eviscerating device of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one arm comprises a first arm and a second arm.  
   
   
       29 . The eviscerating device of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second arms are rotatably coupled together.  
   
   
       30 . The eviscerating device of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second arms are rotatably coupled together with at least one bridge.  
   
   
       31 . The eviscerating device of  claim 28 , wherein the first gripping part is coupled to the first arm and the second jaw part is coupled to the control arm.  
   
   
       32 . The eviscerating device of  claim 28 , wherein the first gripping part is coupled to the first arm and the second gripping part is coupled to the second arm.  
   
   
       33 . The eviscerating device of  claim 25 , further comprising a covering member adapted to move between a first covering member position for covering at least a portion of one side of the first and second gripping parts and a second covering member position where the covering member is at a distance from the first and second gripping parts.  
   
   
       34 . The eviscerating device of  claim 33 , further comprising a device for preventing movement of the covering member while the first and second gripping parts are in the second position.  
   
   
       35 . The eviscerating device of  claim 25 , further comprising a tongue for preventing tissue from being grasped by the first and second gripping parts and positioned between the first and second arms.  
   
   
       36 . The eviscerating device of  claim 25 , wherein the first and second gripping parts are positioned in a first plane and the control arm is positioned in a second plane.  
   
   
       37 . The eviscerating device of  claim 25 , wherein the first and second gripping parts and the control arm are positioned in a single plane.  
   
   
       38 . The eviscerating device of  claim 25 , wherein the first and second gripping parts are capable of moving relative to each other by rotating around a pin positioned relative to the first and second gripping parts so that the pin does not contact the slaughtered animal while the eviscerating device is used to remove the viscera at least partially from the slaughtered animal.  
   
   
       39 . The eviscerating device of  claim 25 , further comprising a viscera carrier for engaging the viscera near a heart and lungs after the viscera has been removed at least partially from the slaughtered animal.  
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the viscera carrier comprises at least two viscera carrier jaw parts, the viscera carrier jaw parts capable of moving with respect to each other between a first viscera carrier position in which a first viscera carrier jaw part is at a distance from a second viscera carrier jaw part and a second viscera carrier position in which the first viscera carrier jaw part is driven towards the second viscera carrier jaw part.  
   
   
       41 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the viscera carrier further comprises a cutting device.