CARCASS WEIGHT CONTROL

• US 20130255282A1
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LP Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: LP Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Heston, Rodney W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,339,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/63
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 5/00 Accessories for use during or after slaughtering
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 5/0076 Chilling or lowering the temperature of carcasses
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 7/002 Devices for hanging animal carcasses while being conveyed or stored, e.g. gambrels, hooks
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 7/006 Trolleys or special vehicles for carcass transportation
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 7/007 Means containing information relative to the carcass that can be attached to or are embedded in the conveying means
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/06 Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Provided, is a fully integrated system to monitor and control carcass weight to minimize weight loss in carcasses during the chilling cycle. This will be accomplished by incorporating a load cell and a radio frequency identification device on the trolley operating on the elevated track system extending through the packing plant, including the carcass chilling rooms. This method and apparatus will provide the needed location and weight data to control a water spray system to maintain a constant carcass weight during the entire chilling cycle.

Claims

1. A method of minimizing weight loss in a carcass during a cooling process, the method comprising:

(a) measuring an initial weight of the carcass;

(b) predetermining an incremental weight, Δ

W;

(c) reducing a temperature of the carcass;

(d) repeatedly measuring an instantaneous carcass weight of the carcass during the cooling process;

(e) spraying the carcass with water if the instantaneous carcass weight is less than the initial carcass weight minus the predetermined incremental weight; and

(f) ceasing to spray the carcass with water if the instantaneous carcass weight is not less than the initial weight of the carcass and if the carcass had been being sprayed with water.

2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising:

(a) installing a load cell on a selected trolley, said load cell provided for measuring carcass weight; and

(b) hanging the carcass on the selected trolley.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the load cell sends a wireless signal, said wireless signal representing the instantaneous carcass weight.

4. The method of claim 3 additionally comprising identification equipment, said identification equipment providing a wireless identification signal to a local receiver, said wireless signal providing unique identification of the selected trolley.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the wireless identification signal received by the local receiver provides carcass location information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein spraying the carcass with water comprises actuating a solenoid-actuated water valve.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein hanging the carcass on the selected trolley comprises:

(a) hanging the carcass on a gambrel; and

(b) hanging the gambrel on the selected trolley.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein predetermining the incremental weight, Δ

W, comprises choosing a value for Δ

W to avoid rapid cycling of the water spray.

9. A method of minimizing carcass weight loss during a cooling process, said method comprising:

(a) operatively hanging a plurality of carcasses on a plurality of selected trolleys;

(b) hanging the plurality of selected trolleys on a track;

(c) obtaining an initial carcass weight for each carcass;

(d) obtaining a unique identification for each selected trolley;

(e) moving the plurality of carcasses and selected trolleys into at least one spray zone in a chill cooler;

(f) locating each of the plurality of selected trolleys by receiving a signal representing the identification for each selected trolley by a local receiver;

(g) repeatedly receiving instantaneous carcass weights for each of the plurality of carcasses with each respective selected trolley'"'"'s identification;

(h) spraying all carcasses in one of the at least one spray zone with water if all the instantaneous carcass weights of the carcasses on the selected trolleys are less than the respective carcass'"'"'s initial weights minus a predetermined incremental weight; and

(i) ceasing to spray all the carcasses with water if all the instantaneous weights of the carcasses on the selected trolleys are not less than the respective carcass'"'"'s initial weights minus a predetermined incremental weight and if the carcass had been being sprayed with water.

10. An apparatus for minimizing carcass weight loss during carcass cooling, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a trolley;

(b) a load cell affixed to the trolley and disposed to measure a carcass weight, said load cell able to send a wireless weight signal representing the carcass weight;

(c) a receiver for said wireless weight signal;

(d) a computer to receive the carcass weight from the receiver; and

(e) software with logic to compare an initial carcass weight to an instantaneous carcass weight and determine if water spray should be applied to a carcass.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 additionally comprising:

(a) a wireless identification module affixed to the trolley, said wireless identification module to send a wireless identification signal; and

(b) a local receiver to receive the wireless identification signal such that the wireless identification module is in a proximity of the local receiver, hence a location of the wireless identification module may be implied.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 additionally comprising:

(a) at least one water spray zone;

(b) at least one water spray nozzle; and

(c) at least one water valve, operatively actuatable by the computer when the software logic determines water spray should be applied to a carcass.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the software additionally comprises logic to compare the initial carcass weight to the instantaneous carcass weight and determine if water spray should cease to be applied to a carcass.