ANIMAL HIDE REMOVAL

摘要

A process and apparatus for removing a hide (20) from an animal carcass (10). The animal carcass is initially opened to provide an edge (21) of the hide and the edge is pulled in a direction (PP) tranverse to the longitudinal direction (LL) so as to separate the hide progressively from the carcass until a strip of hide (25) remains attached along the spine. The strip of hide (25) is then cleared by moving a clearing means (40) along between the carcass and the strip of hide. During both hide pulling and clearing, the carcass (10) is supported in the supine position with the anterior end (16) of the carcass lower than the posterior end (15). During pulling, the line of dislocation (16) of the hide from the carcass is maintained substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (LL). The direction (PP) of application of the pulling force is maintained so that the hide (20) is essentially peeling back upon itself away from the subcutaneous tissues of the carcass. Tension is applied to the hide in the longitudinal direction (LL) after the step of hide pulling and before commencement of the longitudinal clearing step. The hide (20) is pulled from the head (14) at the end of the step of clearing the strip of hide (25).