AU2015200389B2 - Improvements in the removal of animal pelts - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a gripping member for a clamping mechanism which is used to grip the pelt of a carcass being processed for its meat. With a firm grip on the pelt, the clamping mechanism can then be used to pull and separate the pelt from the carcass. The gripping member includes a pair of jaws disposed within an open recess in a roller. In some embodiments, the jaws are configured to be pivoted relative to the roller. This allows the gripping member to adapt its orientation with respect to the carcass to maximise the surface area of the pelt that is gripped by the jaws. A method of using the clamping mechanism is also claimed. A ~12a 1b0> 7a 111 -- - -- - log 9b 7a / _ ___ ___ _la Figure 2/4- -l~

Description

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE REMOVAL OF ANIMAL PELTS TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to improvements in the processing of slaughtered animals. The invention has particular application for an apparatus for removing the pelt from an animal carcass.

BACKGROUND ART

The slaughtering of animals such as sheep, cows and deer, and the subsequent processing of the resulting carcass is a significant primary industry in New Zealand, which employs thousands of workers.

Prior to the separation of the carcass into various cuts of meat, it is necessary to remove the pelt of the carcass. The pelt can have considerable commercial value, depending on the animal being processed. For example, the pelt of a sheep can be processed to produce a sheep skin rug. Likewise, the hide of a cow may be used for leather goods.

Therefore, it is important that the pelt be removed without damaging the pelt itself or the carcass.

There are a number of existing apparatuses that can assist the processor in removing the pelt from the animal.

For example, one such apparatus is disclosed in New Zealand Patent No. 581870. This describes a clamping mechanism which includes cylindrical clamping members that are slidably movable towards each other along a common longitudinal axis.

When offered up to a carcass, these clamping members move together in order to clamp the pelt between the contact ends of the cylinders that face each other. The clamping 1

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015 mechanism can then be rotated while being moved down the carcass and, in the course of doing so, the pelt is wound about the outer surface of the clamping members.

This method is effective for initiating clamping and rolling where the width of the pelt being clamped is relatively narrow. For example, this might be the case when removing the pelt from the hock of a carcass or at the tip of an angular cut.

The circular configuration of the cylinders means the actual clamping contact with the pelt can be minimal. While this is acceptable when the width of the pelt being rolled is narrow, the limited clamping surface of the clamping members is not suited to rolling across a wide area of the pelt.

This may be an issue when removing the pelt following the formation of a linear cut across the carcass, such as may occur when attempting removal of a pelt from the neck or shoulder.

The use of the prior art device in this instance is less effective, as the area of pelt that can be clamped between the contact ends of the cylinders is limited. Consequently, it can be difficult to wind the pelt about the clamping mechanism. This is due to the resilience of the underlying connective tissue between the surrounding pelt, which is not being actively gripped by the clamping members.

More energy may be required to remove the pelt. Additionally, there is a greater risk of the pelt itself tearing or otherwise becoming damaged. As noted above, pelts of many animal species are commercially valuable and thus any damage can reduce its value.

More labour intensive equipment, such as knives and dehiders, can also be used to remove the pelt from a carcass. However, as well as the higher labour input, these manually operated devices can cause damage to the flesh of the carcass and the pelt if improperly 2

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015 wielded. This subsequently impacts on the retail value of the carcass and pelt.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

Throughout this specification, the word "comprise", or variations thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a gripping member for a clamping mechanism for removing the pelt from a carcass, wherein the gripping member includes: a roller, 3

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015 a pair of jaws, and characterised in that the jaws are disposed within a recess in the roller.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a clamping mechanism for processing a carcass, wherein the clamping mechanism includes a gripping member, the gripping member including: a roller, a pair of jaws, characterised in that the jaws are disposed within a recess in the roller.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a method of using a clamping mechanism for processing a carcass, wherein the clamping mechanism includes a gripping member, the gripping member including a roller and a pair of jaws, wherein the jaws are disposed within a recess in the roller, the method including the steps of: a) presenting the jaws of the roller to a pelt to be removed from a carcass; b) closing the jaws about a section of the pelt; and c) rotating the roller to remove the pelt from the carcass.

The invention relates to a gripping member for a clamping mechanism which is used to grip the pelt of a carcass being processed for its meat. With a firm grip on the pelt, the clamping mechanism can then be used to pull and separate the pelt from the carcass. The gripping member includes a pair of jaws disposed within an open recess in a roller. In some 4

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015 embodiments, the jaws are configured to be pivoted relative to the roller. This allows the gripping member to adapt its orientation with respect to the carcass to maximise the surface area of the pelt that is gripped by the jaws. A clamping mechanism should be understood to mean a mechanism which clamps an object between at least a pair of clamping members.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the object being clamped is the pelt of an animal carcass.

The pelt should be understood to mean the skin or hide of the animal carcass. The pelt may include wool, fur or hair. The pelt may have commercial value to the processor of the carcass.

It should be understood that the removal of the pelt from the animal carcass is one of the initial stages in the processing of the carcass, which is usually preformed prior to a separation of carcass into specific cuts of meat.

The animal carcass being dressed may be a caprine (goat) or bovine (cow) carcass, but preferably is an ovine (sheep) carcass.

However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to these examples, and may be used with any type of carcass which is processed for its meat and/or by products, and which requires the removal of the pelt or hide as an initial processing stage. For example, the present invention may be used with deer (venison).

The invention is a gripping member which is used in the clamping mechanism.

The gripping member should be understood to include a roller. A roller should be understood to be a cylindrical member that is suitable for winding the pelt of the carcass 5

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015 about its outer surface.

The roller may take a number of forms, but preferably is an elongate, substantially cylindrical, structure. It should be understood that the roller has an elongate dimension and a width dimension, the width dimension being perpendicular to the elongate dimension of the roller.

Actual dimensions of the roller may depend on the requirements of the user and the species of animal with which it is to be used. A further factor is the particular stage of pelt removal that the roller is being used for.

It will be appreciated the present invention is conducive for easy integration in a semi- or fully automated carcass processing line, which have stages associated with the removal of the pelt from specific areas of the carcass. These usually involve an initial step of cutting the pelt, and thus another factor that may have a bearing on the dimension of the roller is the length of the cut that the roller is working.

The roller may have a substantially circular cross-section, but in preferred embodiments has a substantially oblong cross-section such that it has no edges or corners. This is preferred so that the roller has no sharp edges or corners along its elongate dimension which may inadvertently damage the pelt as it is removed.

The roller may be formed from any suitable material, but preferably is made from stainless steel or anodised aluminium.

Stainless steel is relatively easy to clean, which is important for hygiene reasons, and is also a robust material. However, this is not meant to be limiting and other materials, such as toughened plastics material, may also be used. 6

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015

The roller may include an axle extending from one end to allow it to be connected to the arm of an industrial robot.

Preferably, the axle is a unitary structure with the body of the roller such that rotation of the roller is achieved by rotating the axle. However, in some embodiments of the invention, the end of the roller body may include a recess or the like into which the driveshaft of a motor may be inserted to achieve rotation of the roller.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the roller is configured such that it may be mounted, end on end, to another roller. In this way a series of rollers may be formed, which may significantly increase the potential gripping ability of the clamping mechanism.

Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate ways in which this may be achieved, including configuring the non-axle end of the roller with a suitably configured aperture into which the axle of the neighbouring roller may be inserted and secured. Alternatively, adjacent rollers may be bolted together and rotated using the axles of the end rollers. Another possibility is for a roller to be provided with two apertures at either end to mate with the axles of neighbouring rollers.

In another embodiment, two rollers may be provided and mounted to axles extending from either side of the gripping member. This spatially separates the rollers so that the rollers may be operative on different sections of the carcass. For example, one roller is for removing the pelt from around the neck of the carcass while the other may be for along the shoulder of the carcass.

The roller includes a recess which is configured to accommodate the jaws of the present invention. 7

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the recess is orientated along the elongate dimension of the roller. It should be appreciated that this may mean that the housing is substantially hollow although this may ultimately depend on the size of the roller and recess.

However, in some embodiments of the present invention, the recess may be orientated at a slight angle relative to the elongate dimension of the roller. Not all cuts to the pelt are made perfectly vertical or horizontal; some are angled. Consequently, a configuration in which the recess, and therefore the jaws disposed within the recess, is at an angle relative to the roller means the present invention does not need to be presented in a perfect alignment with the cut in order to be operative.

The dimensions of the recess may also vary according to the requirements of the user. For example, certain animal species have a thicker pelt than others, and thus the width of the jaws, and the extent to which they are opened, needs to be sufficient to allow for this. This can subsequently impact the dimensions of the recess.

Also and as will be apparent from the ensuing discussion, the jaws are able to pivot or tilt, in an orientation perpendicular to the axis of operation of the jaws, within the recess and thus its depth needs to allow for this functionality.

The gripping member includes a jaw assembly which includes a cage into which a pair of jaws may be situated. The use of a separate assembly for the jaws, separate from the roller, allows for the easy replacement and cleaning of the jaw assembly as required. It also allows for movement of the jaws relative to the roller for better alignment with the pelt.

The cage should be understood to mean a substantially open structure that is configured to retain the pair of jaws and their associated actuating mechanism. However, this is not meant to be limiting and in some embodiments of the invention, the roller itself may contain 8

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015 the actuating mechanism for the jaws. However, it is possible that in this latter arrangement, functionality of the invention may be compromised.

Like the recess of the roller, the cage has an elongate dimension and a width dimension. It will be appreciated that the cage approximates the dimensions of the recess in the roller, and therefore in preferred embodiments is relatively elongate.

In preferred embodiments, the cage includes a rear (or bottom), which is the portion of the jaw assembly that sits at the bottom of the recess of the roller in use.

The jaw assembly includes a pair of jaws, which in preferred embodiments are elongate along a longitudinal axis and substantially complementary to the dimensions of the recess of the roller.

As noted above, the jaws, in preferred embodiments of the invention, are mounted within the cage such that their elongate dimension is in the same orientation as that of the cage and recess.

It is not beyond the scope of the present invention that the jaw assembly includes several pairs of jaws, which collectively are substantially complementary to the dimensions of the recess of the roller.

The pair of jaws should be understood to be two members, which are linked or otherwise connected at a first end and which are configured to open and close. The free end of each member defines the mouth of the jaws.

It will be understood that the clamping of the pelt occurs between the jaws when they are in a closed position. 9

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015

The first end of the pair of jaws are arranged such that they are proximate the rear or bottom of the cage. The free end of the jaws, which should be understood to define the clamping portion of the gripping member, protrudes from the opening of the recess of the roller.

The pair of jaws is held relative to the cage through the use of fasteners such as screws or the like. A portion of each jaw, proximate the first end of the pair of jaws, may include an aperture or cut out or the like which is dimensioned to approximate the shaft of the fastener.

The head of the fastener may be configured substantially as a ball-like structure to assist with allowing pivotal movement of the jaws as they open and close. Alternatively, the balllike structure may be a separate component through which the fastener may pass into the cage.

It should be appreciated that there may need to be a little movement lateral movement allowed by the fastener to compensate for the jaws as they open and close.

In preferred embodiments, the jaw assembly is mounted within the recess of the roller such that it is able to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the elongate dimension of the roller. This allows the jaws to conform to the position of the carcass as it is being clamped, effectively self-aligning.

Preferably, this is achieved through the use of pins or the like passing through the roller and into the sides of the cage of the jaw assembly.

For the jaw assembly to have equal range of movement, it is preferable to mount the assembly along the midpoint of its elongate dimension.

However, if pivotal movement favouring one direction is preferred, the mounting point for the jaws assembly could be shifted along its elongate dimension as required. In some embodiments of the invention, the roller and cage may include a plurality of apertures along 10

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015 their respective elongate dimensions to allow the pivot point to be adjusted.

However, persons skilled in the art will readily envisage other ways in which the jaw assembly could be mounted within the recess to allow a degree of pivotal movement relative to the roller.

The jaw assembly includes an actuating mechanism for the pair of jaws. This should be understood to mean a mechanism which acts upon the jaws to close them. Reference shall now be made to the actuating mechanism being an actuator.

Preferably, each jaw has its own actuator. However, some embodiments may only have one actuator, and thus one jaw of the pair is fixed relative to the other; the actuator biases against the moveable jaw in order to close them. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that this may mean the range of movement of the moveable jaw is greater than would be the case if both jaws were moveable.

The actuators may also assist in locating and supporting the pair of jaws, which as previously noted, are loosely connected to the cage via fastening mechanisms such as screws or bolts. However any connection between the jaws and actuators should be understood to be configured to avoid hindering of the closing of the jaws. Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate how this may be achieved.

The actuators may take a variety of forms but in preferred embodiments are pneumatic cylinders or the like. This is preferred due to the relatively simplicity of operation of such an arrangement. The pistons of the cylinders act upon the outer side (the inner sides facing each other) of each jaw in order to bring them together to close the jaws.

However, the use of pneumatic cylinders to close the jaws is not meant to be limiting and other means of operating the jaws may be readily envisaged and implemented by a person 11

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015 skilled in the art. For example, the actuators could be electro-servos or the like. Hydraulic or solenoid actuators may also be employed.

Preferably, the actuators are configured to be only operative in order to close the jaws.

Preferred embodiments of the invention use a biasing means such as a spring positioned between the jaws which resist their closing and urge them back to an open position. It will be appreciated that the actuators must be able to apply sufficient force to the jaws in order to overcome the resistance of the spring.

However, in some embodiments of the present invention, the actuators may act to both close and open the jaws.

In preferred embodiments, the actuators have a load or bearing surface against which the jaws bear when they are open and in some embodiments a second load or bearing surface against which they bear when closed.

These effectively act as stops to control the range of movement of the jaws. It will be appreciated that the range of movement of the jaws may also depend on the extent to which the piston of the cylinders of the preferred embodiment of the actuators may be displaced.

Preferably, the pneumatic cylinders are mounted such they operate across the width of the cage or recess. It will be understood that this means the axis of movement of the jaws is across the width of the recess.

Preferably, the cylinders are operable via a gas such as compressed air or the like. Therefore, the cage and/or roller of the preferred embodiments of the invention includes ducting or a supply for the gas. 12

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the ducting for the gas enters via the mounting point of the cage to the roller. It will be appreciated, that in this embodiment, the mounting point is substantially the only contact point between the jaws assembly and the roller.

However, it is possible that the jaws assembly may include a supply of gas in the form of piping fabricated from flexible material and entering via one end of the assembly and roller.

In use, the pistons of the cylinders move forward, across the width dimension of the cage and bear against the outer side of each of the jaws. This movement closes them, clamping the pelt therebetween.

In preferred embodiments, as noted above the jaws are biased by a spring such that their default position is in an open position. Thus, when the supply of gas to the pneumatic cylinders ceases, the jaws are biased open by the spring, thereby releasing the jaws’ grip on the pelt.

At least a portion of the free end of the pair of jaws should be understood to have a contact surface. It is the contact surface which engages with the pelt of the animal being clamped.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the contact surface is serrated to form a discontinuous surface. This increases the clamping efficiency of the invention by increasing the available contact surface.

The opposing contact surfaces of the jaws are preferably configured to interlock, along both a longitudinal axis and radially. The connection between the jaws and the actuators allows some degree of movement perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The actuators may be configured with a third load surface to limit the range of travel in this respect. The ability to interlock in more than one dimension allows for some misalignment of the jaws when presented to the pelt while still permitting good clamping force. 13

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015

In some embodiments, the contact surfaces of the jaws are removable. For example, the contact surfaces may be plates or the like secured to the inner or outer sides of the jaws. Thus, this allows the operator of the invention to alter the configuration of the contact surfaces depending on the animal species being processed.

In use, the carcass is prepared for the removal of the pelt by a human operator or industrial robot by making a substantially elongate and linear cut in the pelt; for example, across the shoulders of the carcass.

The gripping member is then presented to the carcass such that its jaws face the pelt. The elongate dimension of the jaws should be orientated in substantially the same direction as the cut in the pelt. With the device located against the pelt, on or near the cut, the actuating mechanism of the jaws is then activated to clamp the pelt between the jaws.

When this has been done, the roller can then be rotated to pull the pelt away from the carcass.

In some embodiments of the present invention the apparatus removing the pelt from the carcass may include a plurality of rollers. This may improve the clamping efficiency of the invention and allow a larger area of the pelt to be removed.

The present invention has a number of advantages over the prior art including: • an improved pelt gripping mechanism which is effective for clamping large portions of the pelt; • an improved pelt gripping mechanism which may remove the pelt from the carcass with minimal or no damage to either pelt or carcass; • able to be implemented with an industrial robot, minimising the need for human 14

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015 intervention in order to operate the pelt removing apparatus; • at the very least, the present invention offers the public a useful choice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the jaws of the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the jaws of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 shows a side view of the embodiment of the invention of Figure 1.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention in the form of a gripping member (generally indicated by arrow 1) is illustrated in Figure 1.

The invention (1) includes a roller body (2), which at one end has an axle (3) which, in use, would be mounted to the end of a robotic arm (not shown) or the like. The axle includes a conduit (3a) to allow entry of compressed air to the interior of the roller body. The roller itself is relatively elongate and has a rounded rectangular shape.

The roller body (2) includes a recess (4) into which a jaw assembly (5) including a pair of jaws (5a, 5b) is disposed. The recess is not deep enough to fully contain the jaws; the contact surfaces (6a, 6b) are allowed to protrude from the roller.

The opposing contact surfaces (6a, 6b) of the jaws (5a, 5b) are serrated to form teeth, which 15

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015 improve the gripping force of the gripping member (1) when it is in use.

The jaws (5a, 5b) are held within the recess (4) by a cage (8) mounted on swivel pins (7a, 7b), and thus the jaws of the gripping member (1) are able to pivot slightly relative to the housing (2).

Turning now to Figures 2 and 3, the jaw assembly (5) of the gripping member are shown removed from the roller body (not shown).

In this view, the swivel pins (7a, 7b) that hold the jaw assembly (5) within the roller body (not shown) are clearly apparent. These pins allow the jaw assembly to pivot within the roller body (not shown in this view).

As previously noted, the jaw assembly (5) includes a cage (8), into which the jaws (5a, 5b) are disposed and protrude.

The cage (8) includes actuators in the form of pneumatic cylinders (9a, 9b) configured with load or bearing points (10a, 10b) for the jaws (5a, 5b). These help limit motion of the jaws during their operation. The actuators are tilted slightly upwards within the cage. This is to keep the jaw assembly (5) as small as practical while maximising the effect of the displacement of the actuators on the jaws.

The jaws (5a, 5b) themselves meet at their lower end (5c), towards the rear of the cage (8), and are biased against the load points (10a, 10b) by a torsion spring (11).

The ends (5c) are effectively a floating hinge, and allows for some misalignment of the respective jaws (5a, 5b). The lower ends of the jaws are angled to maximise their opening for minimum displacement of the cylinders (9a, 9b). Retaining screws (heads 12a and 12b visible in this view) hold the jaws in place relative to the cylinders and cage although does not inhibit their ability to open and close. 16

James & Wells Ref: 134498AU/47 2015200389 28 Jan 2015

To close the jaws (5a, 5b) the cylinders (9a, 9b) bear against each jaw. The pistons of the cylinders move toward each other following the introduction of compressed air (through the swivel pins 7a, 7b via the small apertures 7c). This closes the jaws, which pivot about the head of the retaining screws (12a, 12b) that retain the jaws relative to the cage (8). The jaws are displaced away from the load points (10a, 10b) and the torsion spring (11) and end up contacting at the teeth (6a, 6b). The jaws may contact load points (10c, 10d), depending on how much articulation is afforded by the retaining screws.

The depth and width of the jaws (5a, 5b) can be fully appreciated in Figure 3. By allowing the jaws to open as wide as possible, this allows for a greater amount of pelt (not shown) to be inserted between the teeth (6a, 6b) of the jaws.

The curvature of the outer face of the jaws (5a, 5b) will also be apparent in this view.

One of the advantages of the present invention (1) lies in the curved configuration of the roller body (not shown in Figures 2 and 3) and jaws (5a, 5b) which means that there are no sharp edges which may damage the pelt (not shown) as it is removed from the carcass.

Finally, Figure 4 shows the degree to which the jaw assembly (5) of the gripping member (1) can rotate with respect to the roller body (2). This rotational movement is perpendicular to the length of the roller body. The swivel pins (only 7a visible in this view) provide the axis about which the jaw assembly rotates.

This arrangement allows the jaws (only 5a visible in this view) to self-adjust relative to the carcass (not shown) for maximum clamping efficiency.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only. It should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof of the appended claims. 17

Claims (14)

1. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

   1. A gripping member for a clamping mechanism for removing the pelt from a carcass, wherein the gripping member includes: a roller having an elongate dimension, and a jaw assembly that includes a pair of jaws disposed within a cage structure, wherein each jaw is pivotally linked to the other jaw at a first end of the jaw, characterised in that the jaw assembly is disposed within a recess along the elongate dimension of the roller.
2. 2. The gripping member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jaw assembly is mounted within the recess of the roller such that it is able to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the elongate dimension of the roller.
3. 3. The gripping member as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the jaw assembly is mounted within the recess, with a pin.
4. 4. The gripping member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the jaw assembly includes an actuating mechanism for the pair of jaws.
5. 5. The gripping member as claimed in claim 4, wherein the actuating mechanism includes an actuator for each jaw.
6. 6. The gripping member as claimed in claim 5, wherein the actuators have a load surface against which the jaws bear when they are open and a second load surface against which they bear when closed.
7. 7. The gripping member as claimed in either claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the actuator is a pneumatic cylinder configured to act upon an outer side of each jaw.
8. 8. The gripping member as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pneumatic cylinders are mounted such they operate substantially perpendicular to the width of the recess of the roller.
9. 9. The gripping member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the jaw assembly includes a biasing means positioned between the jaws.
10. 10. The gripping member as claimed in claim 9, wherein the biasing means is a spring.
11. 11. The gripping member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the jaws include a serrated contact surface.
12. 12. The gripping member as claimed in claim 11, wherein the opposing contact surfaces of the jaws are configured to interlock.
13. 13. A clamping mechanism for processing a carcass, wherein the clamping mechanism includes a gripping member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12.
14. 14. A method of using a clamping mechanism for processing a carcass, wherein the clamping mechanism includes a gripping member, the gripping member including a roller having an elongate dimension; a jaw assembly that includes a pair of jaws disposed within a cage structure, wherein each jaw is pivotally linked to the other jaw at a first end of the jaw, wherein the jaw assembly is disposed within a recess along the elongate dimension of the roller, the method including the steps of: a) presenting the jaws of the roller to a pelt to be removed from a carcass; b) closing the jaws about a section of the pelt; and c) rotating the roller to remove the pelt from the carcass.