Method and system for washing intestines

• US 7,828,636 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barclays Bank PLC (Barclays PLC)
• Original Assignee: Swift & Company (JBS USA Lux SA)
• Inventors: Larson, LaWayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Parsley; David J
• Application Number:
  US12/058,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20080242206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 452/123, 452/173
• US Class Current: 452/123
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 17/16 Cleaning of intestines; Machines for removing fat or slime from intestines cleaning the stomach of slaughtered animals A22B5/18

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems are provided for washing an animal intestine. The device may include one or more flushing arms connected to a rotating fluid tank. The rotating fluid tank provides the fluid to the flushing arms, which in turn provide the fluid to the animal intestine. The rotating fluid tank may be adapted to rotate about a substantially vertical axis and during such rotation moves the flushing arms through a number of working sections around the washing machine.

Claims

1. A method of washing animal intestines, comprising:

securing at least one intestine section to a spigot provided on a flushing arm, the flushing arm including a plurality of spigots, wherein the at least one intestine section is secured to the spigot such that substantially all of the at least one intestine section hangs freely from the spigot under the force of gravity, and wherein the at least one intestine section hangs freely from the spigot for one substantially complete rotation of the flushing arm;

rotating the flushing arm about a substantially vertical central axis of a rotating fluid tank as the at least one intestine section hangs freely from the spigot;

receiving fluid under pressurized conditions at the flushing arm from the rotating fluid tank; and

causing the fluid to issue under pressure from the flushing arm to wash the at least one intestine section secured thereto.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

continuing to rotate the flushing arm about the central axis of the fluid tank until the flushing arm enters an unloading section;

stopping the flow of fluid from the flushing arm; and

releasing the at least one intestine section from the flushing arm.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

continuing to rotate the flushing arm about the central axis of the fluid tank until the flushing arm enters a loading section; and

securing a new at least one intestine section to the flushing arm.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one intestine section comprises a length between about 1 ft and about 8 ft.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the flushing arm comprises a plurality of spigots spaced across the flushing arm, wherein the spigots are adapted to issue fluid in a generally downward direction during the entire rotation of the flushing arm and wherein a first of the at least one intestine section is in fluid communication with a first of the plurality of spigots and a second of the at least one intestine section is in fluid communication with a second of the plurality of spigots.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the rotation rate of the fluid tank.

7. A device for washing at least a portion of animal intestine using a cleaning fluid, comprising:

a fluid supply line;

a rotating fluid tank fluidically connected to the fluid supply line and adapted to rotate about the fluid supply line; and

two or more flushing arms fluidically connected to the rotating fluid tank and operable to rotate about a substantially vertical axis of the rotating fluid tank, wherein at least one of the two or more flushing arms comprises two or more spigots adapted to receive a section of animal intestine, wherein the section of animal intestine is secured to the at least one of the two or more spigots such that substantially all of the section of animal intestine hangs freely from the two or more spigots under the force of gravity while the rotating fluid tank is rotated, and wherein the section of animal intestine hangs freely from the two or more spigots for one substantially complete rotation of the flushing arm.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the rotating fluid tank is further adapted to store cleaning fluid at a predetermined pressure and selectively supply the cleaning fluid to a first of the two or more flushing arms while not supplying the cleaning fluid to a second of the two or more flushing arms.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

a flush valve between the first flushing arm and fluid tank; and

a valve controller adapted to change the flush valve from an open state to a closed state and vice versa.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the valve controller comprises at least one of a mechanical, electromechanical, and electrical controller.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the valve controller comprises a lever pivotally connected to the flush valve and operable to pivot between a first position and a second position, wherein when the lever is in a first position the flush valve is in a first state and when the lever is in a second position the flush valve is in a second state.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a platform adapted to allow the fluid supply line pass therethrough and about which the lever is able to rest on; and

a riser adjacent to the platform and adapted to cause the lever to change from the first position to the second position.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the riser substantially defines a washing section.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein a section of animal intestine is secured to a spigot of a first of the two or more flushing arms, and wherein the device further comprises a trip lever operable to cause the section of animal intestine to become unsecured from the first flushing arm.

15. The device of claim 7, wherein the two or more spigots are fluidically connected to the at least one flushing arm, and wherein the two or more spigots are adapted to provide cleaning fluid to at least one of the interior and exterior of a section of animal intestine.

16. The device of claim 7, wherein the fluid tank rotates about a substantially vertical axis.

17. The device of claim 7, wherein the two or more flushing arms are substantially horizontal, and wherein the two or more spigots are adapted to spray the cleaning fluid in a substantially vertically downward direction.

18. A device for cleaning a portion of an animal intestine, comprising:

means for holding the portion of animal intestine such that substantially all of the portion of animal intestine hangs freely from the means for holding;

means for rotating the animal intestine about a substantially vertical axis as the at least a portion of animal intestine hangs freely from the means for holding, wherein the portion of animal intestine hangs freely from the means for holding for one substantially complete rotation of the means for rotating, and wherein the means for rotating further comprises a means for storing cleaning fluid;

means for supplying cleaning fluid to the means for storing cleaning fluid; and

means for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to the means for holding, wherein the means for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid comprises a plurality of means for holding.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the means for rotating causes the means for holding to move though a loading section, a washing section, and an unloading section.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the means for controlling permits the cleaning fluid to flow from the means for storing to the means for holding while the means for holding is in the washing section and wherein the means for controlling restricts the cleaning fluid from flowing from the means for storing to the means for holding while the means for holding is in the loading section.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the portion of animal intestine comprises an intestine segment from at least one of a bovine, porcine, and ovine type of animal.

22. The device of claim 18, further comprising means for adjusting the speed of rotation of the means for rotating.