| 摘要 |
The degree of rigor in a bird or animal carcass (10) is measured. The carcass is carried on a carrier (31) which runs along a rail (30) and over a slight step or drop (15), which subjects the carcass to a mechanical shock. A sensor (37) monitors the variation with time of the force exerted by the carcass on the support means which arrest its fall. Circuitry (54) 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 (60) in the rail (30) (between sections 30' and 30'') to route the carcass along a short path (61) or a long path (62). The particular feature of the response which is monitored by the circuitry (54) 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. Specific step and sensing means are described. |
