Equipment for Processing Livestock Products: Classification and Types of Machinery

Equipment for processing animal husbandry products is classified by several technological criteria, the most important being the structure of the working cycle, the degree of mechanisation and automation, the principle by which machine elements are combined into a production flow, and the functional purpose of the machine. These criteria together determine how a given machine fits into a meat or dairy processing line.

How is processing equipment classified by criteria?

Processing equipment is grouped according to four main classification signs. By the structure of the working cycle, machines and apparatus are divided into those of periodic (batch) action and those of continuous action. A second sign is the degree of mechanisation and automation, which determines how much of the work a human performs versus the machine.

A semi-automatic machine is one in which the main technological operations are mechanised while the operator only feeds, positions and removes the object being processed. An automatic machine is one in which all working operations run according to a set program without any human involvement.

The third sign is the principle of combining machine elements within the production flow: equipment is divided into individual machines and apparatus, which are then assembled into automatic systems of machines. The fourth sign is the functional one.

The functional sign distinguishes three types of equipment: machines and apparatus in which the product subjected to an energy action does not change its properties, shape or dimensions; machines and apparatus whose working parts carry out physico-chemical and biological transformations in the product and create a new product; and machines and apparatus in which the product is prepared for sale.

How is meat-industry equipment grouped by its effect on the raw material?

Meat-industry equipment is divided into groups according to the principle of its effect on the processed raw material:

• lifting and conveying equipment;
• equipment for the slaughter and dressing of livestock and poultry;
• single-operation equipment for mechanical processing;
• equipment for separation, dosing, forming and packaging;
• equipment for the thermal and diffusion treatment of meat products;
• multi-operation equipment.

What does lifting and conveying equipment include?

Lifting and conveying equipment moves carcasses, raw material and finished product through the production line. It includes:

• overhead tracks and conveyors;
• equipment for servicing overhead tracks and conveyors;
• ground-based mobile and stationary lifting and conveying equipment;
• equipment for displacing and transferring meat products through pipes — pipeline transport, syringes (fillers), displacers, equipment for vacuum transport and processing of meat products, and pumps for moving fat, blood and broths.

What equipment is used for slaughter and dressing?

Equipment for the slaughter and dressing of livestock and poultry covers the first stages of processing the live animal:

• equipment for stunning and bleeding livestock and poultry;
• equipment for removing and primary treatment of hides — hide-pulling installations and equipment for the primary treatment of hides;
• equipment for removing bristle, hair cover and feathers — bristle-removing machines, equipment for removing hair cover, and equipment for removing feathers;
• equipment for processing intestines.

What single-operation mechanical processing equipment exists?

Single-operation equipment for mechanical processing carries out one defined task in the line:

• equipment for washing raw material, containers and auxiliary materials;
• mixers;
• meat-cutting machines — machines for cutting along one or several parallel planes; machines for medium, fine and very fine grinding; and cutting machines that give the product a defined shape.

What equipment handles separation, dosing, forming and packaging?

This group prepares the product for portioning and sale and includes:

• equipment for the mechanical separation of heterogeneous liquid, plastic and bulk masses;
• special presses;
• dosing-filling and packaging equipment.

What equipment performs thermal and diffusion treatment?

Equipment for the thermal and diffusion treatment of meat products applies heat, smoke and moisture changes to the product:

• apparatus for thermal treatment at atmospheric pressure;
• smoke generators;
• evaporating and water-distillation installations;
• drying equipment;
• equipment for the diffusion treatment of meat products;
• equipment for the thermal and pulse treatment of fat-containing meat products.

What is multi-operation equipment?

Multi-operation equipment combines several technological tasks in a single unit and is divided into two types:

• two-operation;
• multi-operation.

How is dairy processing equipment classified?

Technological equipment for the dairy industry is divided into four groups according to its role in the production chain:

• equipment for storage and transport;
• equipment for the mechanical and thermal treatment of milk;
• equipment for making dairy products;
• equipment for preparing products for sale and equipment of general factory purpose.

What equipment is used for storing and transporting milk?

Equipment for storage and transport keeps milk safe and moves it between stages:

• transport tanks and storage vessels for milk;
• vessels for technological and inter-operation purposes;
• pipelines, pumps and pneumatic transport systems.

What equipment performs mechanical and thermal treatment of milk?

Equipment for the mechanical and thermal treatment of milk refines its composition and temperature:

• filters, filter-presses and membranes, filtration apparatus;
• homogenisers and homogeniser-plasticisers;
• separators and centrifuges;
• installations for thermo-vacuum treatment, heaters and coolers.

What equipment produces dairy products?

Equipment for the production of dairy products turns processed milk into finished goods:

• pasteurisation and sterilisation-cooling installations;
• freezers and freezing installations;
• butter-making machines;
• machines for making cheese;
• machines for making condensed milk products;
• machines for drying dairy products.

What equipment prepares dairy products for sale?

Equipment for preparing products for sale handles the final packaging and quality control stages:

• machines for portioning and packaging dairy products;
• instruments for accounting for the quantity and quality of product in technological lines;
• equipment for preparing containers for filling.