Apparatus and method for cleaning poultry

Abstract

An apparatus ( 10 ) for washing eviscerated poultry carcasses ( 12 ) has a housing ( 11 ), a conveyor ( 15 a ) for moving the shackled poultry carcasses through the housing. A guide bar ( 24 ) tilts the poultry carcasses ( 12 ) from a vertical position for spraying by a first set of nozzles ( 23 ). The first set of nozzles ( 23 ) delivers a cleaning solution ( 100 ) at a sufficient flow rate and line pressure, whereby a portion of the cleaning solution ( 100 ) is deflected back out the rear opening ( 12 d ) of the poultry carcass ( 12 ).

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . A method of washing eviscerated poultry carcasses, the poultry carcasses having legs, an exterior surface, a cavity having a rear end opening, and a neck end, the method comprising: 
 a) conveying the carcasses, hung by the legs, through a housing;    b) spraying the cavity with a peroxyacid solution that enters the rear end opening from a direction and at a sufficient volume over time, whereby a portion of the peroxyacid solution is deflected out the rear end opening; and    c) spraying the exterior surface with the peroxyacid solution.    
   
   
       27 . The method of washing of  claim 26 , wherein the carcasses have abdominal fat flaps proximate the rear end opening, and the deflected peroxyacid solution results in movement of an unattached end of the abdominal fat flaps outward and away from the rear end opening by the deflected peroxyacid solution.  
   
   
       28 . The method of washing of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 tilting the carcasses to an angle from vertical by raising the neck end.    
   
   
       29 . The method of washing of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 spraying the cavity with a first set of a plurality of substantially linearly spaced spray nozzles; and    spraying the exterior surface with a second set of a plurality of substantially linear spaced spray nozzles.    
   
   
       30 . The method of washing of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 spraying the cavity with a first set of a plurality of non-linearly spaced spray nozzles; and    spraying the exterior surface with a second set of a plurality of non-linear spaced spray nozzles.    
   
   
       31 . The method of washing of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 spraying the cavity with peroxyacid solution at a flow rate of at least three gallons per minute from each nozzle and at a line pressure of at least 10 psi; and    spraying the cavity diffused at a 10 degree spray angle or greater and at a distance of six to ten inches.    
   
   
       32 . The method of washing of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 spraying the exterior surface by the second set of spray nozzles at a flow rate of at least 0.2 gallons per minute and 20 psi line pressure or greater.    
   
   
       33 . The method of washing of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 capturing the peroxyacid solution after being sprayed toward the carcass;    removing solids from the peroxyacid solution;    adding a portion of fresh peroxyacid solution;    creating a recycled solution of peroxyacid solution; and    applying the recycled solution to the carcass.    
   
   
       34 . The method of washing of  claim 27 , wherein the peroxyacid solution includes at least one of peroxyacetic acid and peroxyoctanoic acid.  
   
   
       35 . A method of washing eviscerated poultry carcasses, the poultry carcasses having legs, an exterior surface, a cavity having a rear end opening, and a neck end, the method comprising: 
 a) conveying the carcasses, hung by the legs, through a housing;    b) spraying the cavity with a cleaning solution that enters the rear end opening from a direction and at a sufficient volume over time, whereby a portion of the cleaning solution is deflected out the rear end opening; and    c) spraying the exterior surface with the cleaning solution, wherein the cleaning solution is selected from a group consisting of peroxyacids, cetylpyridinium chloride, acidified sodium chlorite, trisodium phosphate, sodium metasilicate, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, chlorine, chlorinated compounds, 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, brominated compounds, lactic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, organic acids, mineral acids, lactoferrin, nisin, bacteriocins, ozone, chlorine dioxide, and mixtures thereof.    
   
   
       36 . The method of washing of  claim 35 , wherein the carcasses have abdominal fat flaps proximate the rear end opening, and the deflected cleaning solution results in movement of an unattached end of the abdominal fat flaps outward and away from the rear end opening by the deflected cleaning solution.  
   
   
       37 . The method of washing of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 tilting the carcasses to an angle from vertical by raising the neck end.    
   
   
       38 . The method of washing of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 spraying the cavity with a first set of a plurality of substantially linearly spaced spray nozzles; and    spraying the exterior surface with a second set of a plurality of substantially linear spaced spray nozzles.    
   
   
       39 . The method of washing of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 spraying the cavity with a first set of a plurality of non-linearly spaced spray nozzles; and    spraying the exterior surface with a second set of a plurality of non-linear spaced spray nozzles.    
   
   
       40 . The method of washing of  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 spraying the cavity with cleaning solution at a flow rate of at least three gallons per minute from each nozzle and at a line pressure of at least 10 psi; and    spraying the cavity diffused at a 10 degree spray angle or greater and at a distance of six to ten inches.    
   
   
       41 . The method of washing of  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 spraying the exterior surface by the second set of spray nozzles at a flow rate of at least 0.2 gallons per minute and 20 psi line pressure or greater.    
   
   
       42 . A method of washing eviscerated poultry carcasses, the poultry carcasses having legs, an exterior surface, a cavity having a rear end opening, and a neck end, the method comprising: 
 a) conveying the carcasses, hung by the legs, through a housing;    b) spraying the cavity with a first cleaning solution that enters the rear end opening from a direction and at a sufficient volume over time, whereby a portion of the first cleaning solution is deflected out the rear end opening; and    c) spraying the exterior surface with a second cleaning solution, wherein the first and second cleaning solutions are selected from a group consisting of peroxyacids, cetylpyridinium chloride, acidified sodium chlorite, trisodium phosphate, sodium metasilicate, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, chlorine, chlorinated compounds, 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, brominated compounds, lactic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, organic acids, mineral acids, lactoferrin, nisin, bacteriocins, ozone, chlorine dioxide, and mixtures thereof.    
   
   
       43 . The method of washing of  claim 42 , wherein the carcasses have abdominal fat flaps proximate the rear end opening, and the deflected first cleaning solution results in movement of an unattached end of the abdominal fat flaps outward and away from the rear end opening by the deflected first cleaning solution.  
   
   
       44 . The method of washing of  claim 43 , further comprising: 
 tilting the carcasses to an angle from vertical by raising the neck end.    
   
   
       45 . The method of washing of  claim 43 , further comprising: 
 spraying the cavity with a first set of a plurality of substantially linearly spaced spray nozzles; and    spraying the exterior surface with a second set of a plurality of substantially linear spaced spray nozzles.    
   
   
       46 . The method of washing of  claim 43 , further comprising: 
 spraying the cavity with a first set of a plurality of non-linearly spaced spray nozzles; and    spraying the exterior surface with a second set of a plurality of non-linear spaced spray nozzles.    
   
   
       47 . The method of washing of  claim 45 , further comprising: 
 spraying the cavity with the first cleaning solution at a flow rate of at least three gallons per minute from each nozzle and at a line pressure of at least 10 psi; and    spraying the cavity diffused at a 10 degree spray angle or greater and at a distance of six to ten inches.    
   
   
       48 . The method of washing of  claim 42 , wherein at least one of the first and second cleaning solutions is a peroxyacid including at least one of peroxyacetic acid and peroxyoctanoic acid.