Method and apparatus for processing carcasses

Abstract

A method for processing meat along a meat processing line. The method includes removing viscera from a carcass, accumulating the carcass along a dead rail stack of the meat processing line, washing the carcass, and inspecting the carcass at an inspection station following the act of washing the carcass.

1 . A method for processing a plurality of carcasses along a meat processing line including a first rail, a second rail, and a third rail, the method comprising:
 coupling the plurality of carcasses to a plurality of conveyors and translating the conveyors along the first rail;
 selecting at least one carcass from the plurality of carcasses; 
 translating the selected carcass to the second rail for processing; 
 translating at least one non-selected carcass to the third rail; 
 returning the selected carcass to the third rail following the processing; 
 and 
 inspecting at least one carcass translating along the third rail. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second rail is configured for accumulating the selected carcass for further processing such as trimming or preinspection. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the selected carcass accumulated on the at least one rail is deferred from immediate processing. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyors are trolleys. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyors are propelled along the first rail. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-selected carcass comprises the remainder of the plurality of carcasses. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein translating the selected carcass to the second rail comprises diverting the selected carcass to the second rail. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third rail includes a first power chain and a second power chain and further comprising, prior to the inspecting step, accumulating the plurality of carcasses in an accumulation area, the accumulation area located between the first power chain and the second power chain. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rate at which the plurality of carcasses translate along the third rail is greater than the rate at which the plurality of carcasses translate along the first rail. 
     
     
         10 - 49 . (canceled)