APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RELEASING THE SKIN FROM AN ANIMAL BODY OF A FURRED ANIMAL

摘要

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for releasing the skin (3) of a body (2) of a dead, furred animal, such as a mink, from the carcass (4) of the animal body (2) at the rear end of the animal body (2). The apparatus comprises a control arrangement (10) for controlling the apparatus (1), a holding arrangement (7a, 7b, 70) for holding the dead animal body in said apparatus, a releasing device (5), and drive means (6) configured to be controlled by the control arrangement (10). The drive means (6) are configured for providing a first releasing operation by a relative movement (M1) between the animal body and the releasing device (5) in the longitudinal direction (LD) of the animal body to move the releasing device (5) from a first position (POS1) outside said animal body, into an opening at the rear end (2b) of the animal body to a second position (POS2) so as to release the skin (3) from the carcass (4) at the belly side of the animal body. The apparatus (1) moreover comprises or or more releasing units (8a, 8b) to be displaced in between the animal skin (3) and the carcass (4) ahead of the hind legs (9a, 9b) from the belly side of the animal body (2). At least one of said releasing units (8a, 8b) may be configured to be operated to a releasing position (RP) so that it at least partly extend at the back side of said animal body (2), and drive means (6) are operated to provide a second releasing operation by a relative movement (M3) between the animal body (2) and the releasing units (8a, 8b). The invention moreover relates to a method of releasing the skin (3) of a body (2) of a dead, furred animal, such as a mink, from the carcass (4) of the animal body (2).