US5104352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monitoring meat quality
Assignee: BTG International Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-04-18
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Granted: 1992-04-14
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Expires: 2010-04-18
Abstract
Abstract The degree of rigor in a bird or animal carcass is measured. The carcass is carried on a carrier which runs along a rail and over a slight step or drop, which subjects the carcass to a mechanical shock. A sensor monitors the variation with time of the force exerted by the carcass on the support means which arrests its fall. Circuitry analyzes the response to determine the degree of rigor. The carcass is then subjected to appropriate treatment, e.g., by its further processing being delayed to allow rigor to develop further. This can be done by providing a switch in the rail to route the carcass along a short path or a long path. The particular feature of the response which is monitored by the circuitry may, for example, be the time of fall, the amplitude of oscillation after the carcass has been arrested by the support means, the frequency of that oscillation, the rate at which that oscillation is damped, or some combination of those features.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Dransfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:28
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22B; A22B5/00; A22B5/0064; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/02; G01N33/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
27 words
A method of measuring the degree of rigor in a carcass, characterized by subjecting the carcass to a mechanical shock and measuring the response of the carcass.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
27 words
A method of measuring the degree of rigor in a carcass, characterized by subjecting the carcass to a mechanical shock and measuring the response of the carcass.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the shock consists of allowing the carcass to fall through a short distance.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
35 words
A method according to either previous claim, characterized in that the response is measured by monitoring the variation with time of the force exerted by the carcass on the support means which arrest its fall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the degree of rigor is determined as a function of the time of fall, the amplitude of oscillation after the fall of the carcass has been arrested, the frequency of that oscillation, and/or the rate at which that oscillation is damped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the function by which the degree of rigor is determined includes the mass of the carcass.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
36 words
A method of preparing a carcass characterized in that its degree of rigor is measured as described in any either of claims 1 or 2 and its subsequent treatment is dependent on its degree of rigor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 6 characterized in that the passage of the carcass to subsequent processing is delayed in dependence on its rigor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the carcass is electrically stimulated in dependence on its rigor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus for determining the condition of a carcass, characterized in that it comprises a carrier on which the carcass is carried, a rail along which the carrier is moved, means for providing a step in the rail over which the carrier is dropped, and means for measuring the force exerted by the carrier on the rail following the drop.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus for determining the condition of a carcass, characterized in that it comprises a carrier on which the carcass is carried, a rail along which the carrier is moved, means for providing a step in the rail over which the carrier is dropped, and means for measuring the force exerted by the carrier on the rail following the drop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the step is formed by two fixed portions of rail at different heights.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the step is formed by a tiltable element in the rail which is held against rotation under the weight of the carriage as the carriage passes along it from one end, and is then released as the carrier nears the other end to allow the carriage to drop.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the tiltable element is controlled by a pneumatic actuator which is in turn controlled by sensors which sense the passage of the carrier past the one end and nearing the other end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that it includes means for determining the degree of rigor from the measured force on the rail as a function of the time of fall, the amplitude of oscillation after the carcass has been arrested by the support means, the frequency of that oscillation, and/or the rate at which that oscillation is damped.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the degree of rigor is determined by said means as a function also of the mass of the carcass.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus for processing a carcass, characterized by apparatus according to any one of claims 9-12 for determining the degree of rigor of the carcass, and means for controlling the subsequent processing of the carcass in dependence on its degree of rigor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized by means for controllably delaying the passage of the carcass to subsequent processing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized by means for controllably applying electrical stimulation to the carcass.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-14 | 1995-10-14 | 1996-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-14 | 1999-10-14 | 2000-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-14 | 2003-10-14 | 2004-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |