IP Library Granted Patent US 11,061,008
Granted Patent B2
US 11,061,008 · App. 16/436,607 · Granted Jul 13, 2021

Artificial animal protein cleaning diagnostic system

Inventors: Drew Mohnen (Henderson, CO); Tom Espy (Henderson, CO); Mike Gangel (Henderson, CO)
Assignee: BIRKO Corporation
G01N33/12G01N35/00871G08B21/182A22B5/0082G01N2035/009G01N2035/0091
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,061,008
App. No.
16/436,607
Granted
Jul 13, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A diagnostic system for processing animal carcass, wherein the system comprises an artificial animal carcass that includes a bladder inside; a sensory module under the exterior surface of artificial animal carcass; and a display module operably coupled with the sensory module. The bladder inside the artificial animal carcass is configured to be filled with water at the slaughter facility, so that the weight of artificial carcass is approximately the same as the weight of real carcass to be processed. The sensory module is configured to measure a selected parameter on the surface of artificial animal carcass to be displayed on the display module.

Claims (32)

1. A diagnostic system for animal carcass processing, comprising:

an artificial animal carcass;

at least one sensor located under an exterior surface and within the artificial animal carcass or located on and in contact with and on an exterior surface of the artificial animal carcass;

a display operably coupled with the at least one sensor;

wherein the at least one sensor is configured to measure one or more selected parameter(s) to be displayed on the display; and

a bladder inside the artificial animal carcass configured to be filled with a fluid so that the weight of artificial carcass is approximately the same as the weight of a real carcass to be processed.

2. The diagnostic system of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic system is used during a pre-evisceration carcass wash.

3. The diagnostic system of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic system is used during an antimicrobial intervention of the carcass.

4. The diagnostic system of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic system is used during a heat water rinse or pasteurization of the carcass.

5. The diagnostic system of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic system is used during a steam pasteurization of the carcass.

6. The diagnostic system of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic system is used during a chemical wash of the carcass.

7. The diagnostic system of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic system is used during a final trim rinse of the carcass, prior to chilling the carcass.

8. The diagnostic system of claim 1 , wherein the selected parameter to be measured by the sensory include a physical property selected from the group consisting of: surface pH of the carcass, surface temperature of the carcass, surface pressure of the carcass, bacterial load, contaminant load, or quantity of specific chemical.

9. The diagnostic system of claim 1 , further comprising an alarm operably coupled with the display, wherein the alarm is configured to generate an alert signal when the selected parameter on the display is outside the specific range.

10. The diagnostic system of claim 9 , wherein the alarm is configured to generate an alert signal when the surface temperature of the artificial carcass displayed on the display is lower than 145° F.

11. The diagnostic system of claim 1 , wherein the sensory module and the display are operably linked via wireless communication.

12. A method of analyzing the effectiveness of a food processing system comprising:

providing a diagnostic system, comprising:

an artificial animal carcass;

a bladder inside the artificial animal carcass configured to be filled with a fluid so that the weight of artificial carcass is approximately the same as the weight of a real carcass to be processed;

at least one sensor located under an exterior surface and within the artificial animal carcass or located in contact with and on an exterior surface of the artificial animal carcass; and

a display operably coupled with the sensor;

wherein the sensor is configured to measure one or more selected parameter(s) on the surface of the artificial animal carcass to be displayed on the display;

advancing the diagnostic system through a processing station; and

measuring a selected parameter on the exterior surface of the artificial animal carcass.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the processing station is a pre-evisceration carcass wash.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the processing station is an antimicrobial intervention system.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the processing station comprises a hot water rinse or pasteurization system.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the processing station is a steam pasteurization system.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the processing station is a chemical wash system.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the processing station is a final trim rinse system.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the selected parameter to be measured by the sensor include a physical property selected from the group consisting of: surface pH of the diagnostic system, surface temperature of the diagnostic system, surface pressure of the diagnostic system, bacterial load, contaminant load, or quantity of specific chemical.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BIRKO CORPORATION; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
Reel/Frame 073564/0864 →
RELEASE OF 2023 NOTES PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: BIRKO CORPORATION; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
Reel/Frame 073074/0198 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (2024 NOTES) Recorded Jun 24, 2024
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067824/0278 →
2021 NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064225/0576 →
NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064348/0235 →
2023 NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE GLOBAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064225/0170 →
TERM LOAN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 6, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 064223/0526 →
ABL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 6, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064222/0751 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: MOHNEN, DREW; ESPY, TOM; GANGEL, MIKE
To: BIRKO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056446/0322 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62682744 · Jun 8, 2018
Related Publication 20190376943A1 · Dec 12, 2019