AU694162B2 - A method and means for removal of meat from bones - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 Regulation 3.2 o ft o aft ot ft ft f 4 588 ft ft. NAME OF APPLICANT:- ACTUAL INVENTOR:- ADDRESS FOR SERVICE:- INVENTION TITLE:- COLIN ANDREW ROBERTS COLIN ANDREW ROBERTS PIZZEY COMPANY Patent Attorneys, GPO Box 1374, BRISBANE QLD 4001 "A METHOD AND MEANS FOR THE REMOVAL OF MEAT FROM BONES" DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO:- PM 4949 filed 28 March, 1994 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-

I

A METHOD AND MEANS FOR THE REMOVAL OF MEAT FROM

BONES

f TECHNICAL FIELD It is envisaged that th, main use of the present invention will be in the meat and food processing industries, though it is possible that the invention may find application in other fields. The invention is directed to the removal of meats, fat and other matter from bones though could conceivably be used in many applications where it is desirable to remove a softer material from a more rigid skeleton.

BACKGROUND ART z As far as the applicant is aware, there are no equipment or apparatus which operates in S the manner of the present invention. The present invention is suitable for the removal of Ii meat and other material from the ribs of carcasses or part carcasses of mutton, lamb, Kt i pork, beef, venison as well as the carcasses of other animals. While the present invention has been developed and improved for the removal of meat from ribs, many 15 embodiments are also suitable for the removal of meat from other bone portions of a I carcass. However, for simplicity of description of the principles of the invention, the O majority of the description will refer to the problems associated with the removal of meat .I and other material from the ribs. However this is not meant to preclude its use in other areas.

Traditionally the removal of meat from a bone was performed by the hand of a skilled Sbutcher. However this is a fairly time intensive task and hand removal of flesh with a knife is relatively inefficient with regards to the complete removal of flesh and other i materials. For decorative meat cuts such as the so called "French-Rack" (typically of lamb), what can be achieved by hand may leave something to be desired. There is also a danger, regardless of the skill of the operator, that the use of a sharp steel blade or knife can create bone splinters and chips. Obviously this is not desirable in a consumable product.

The art has attempted to use a water jet to remove tissue though this has several drawbacks. for instance the tissue which is removed is degraded and of limited use.

2 i 3 Secondly it creates a waste disposal problem due to the amount of fat and tissue in the waste water.

A second method is to pull a wire over the bones. However this is a primarily hand technique and mechanised embodiments complex. It is more suited for the removal of bones from pork bellies, for which it has been developed.

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

S: 10 Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will 0i now be discussed by way of example only.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a bone scraping apparatus including: at least one scraping assembly including a substantially linear flexible blade supported by a rigid portion or body; S" means for bringing the flexible blade of said scraping assembly to bear against said bone; V. means for providing relative movement between said bone 0 20 and scrapina assembly to allow for scraping action; and °0 means for supporting said bone.

The bone scraping apparatus may also include disseverance means positionable to interact with material for removal from the bones, prior to its scraping.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for the removal of meat and other material from a bone by drawing a semi-rigid flexible blade along said bone, said blade being able to substantially conform with the changing contours of said bone yet being sufficiently rigid to separate said meat and other material from said bone.

I MMMMM-- I iNOW r~ -rr~l I b Most embodiments of the present invention will involve the use of at least one scraping assembly. The scraping assembly at the very least will typically comprise a flexible blade though it is usual for there to be a rigid body (or integral portion) for supporting the flexible blade. Provision may be made for replacement of the blade as required.

A scraping assembly may comprise a plurality of blades and this may be advantageous in increasing the effectiveness of any scraping operation. If multiple blades are used, then it is also possible that they may be of a less rigid and more flexible material. While a single blade of a softer material may not remove all flesh and other material from the bone, the use of two softer blades may be as effective at removing material in its path as a single S 10 more rigid blade. However the increased flexibility of the softer material may enable 0 such blades to more readily follow the contours of the bone and provide a 'cleaner' bone.

.It is also possible that where multiple blades are employed the characteristics, be it flexibility, rigidity, deformation or other variables, may alter between the different blades. As can be appreciated this can increase the effectiveness of the scraping S 15 assembly as well as improve its ability to adapt to different applications and situations.

0 Where multiple blades are provided in a scraping assembly, it is typical though not SI necessary that they are substantially parallel or at least tlheir scraping edges are aligned.

i Various blades could be pitched at different angles.

f l A flexible blade for use in a scraping assembly may be manufactured from a variety of 20 materials. It is desirable that the material chosen is sufficiently hard or rigid so as to not i: i excessively wear or abrade during use. As many embodiments will have a tapered scraping edge on the flexible blade, it is also desirable that the material chosen is sufficiently tough to maintain this edge. As a general guide-line, a material which is able to substantially retain its tapered scraping edge for at least two hours of continuous bone scraping use, is desirable. Obviously materials which exceed this period would be even more preferred.

In addition to the requirements of toughness and rigidity, the material chosen must also be flexible enough to deform around the ever changing contours of a bone as it is passed thereover. The combination of flexibility in addition to toughness and hardness may be difficult to achieve in a single material. However several materials come close and the deformation characteristics of a blade may be changed by several means to be discussed below. These materials include urethane plastics materials, polyester plastics materials, some nylons and synthetic rubbers. This list is not meant to be exhaustive but rather indicate suitable categories of materials known to the inventor at this time.

The flexibility and deformation characteristics of the flexible blade may be improved by altering its physical composition throughout. For instance the characteristics of the material chosen may differ nearer the scraping edge than for its main body. It should be appreciated that many variations are possible.

As another alternative, a separate capping edge or piece may be provided for the scraping edge. This may be of a substantially harder material than the remainder of the flexible :blade though should still be sufficiently flexible to conform to any deformation of the main body of the blade. The capping piece may also be of a synthetic material such as described above though as it is merely acting as a cap, it may be of a wider range of *materials. For instance, a very thin layer of a ductile metal could conceivably be used. If 15 the capping piece is thin enough, or of the appropriate dimensions, then quite hard materials could be used, which can help preserve the integrity of the scraping edge. The capping piece may be replaceable or otherwise bonded to the flexible blade.

As another alternative for altering the flexibility and other characteristics of the blade, portions of its body may be removed to aid flexing. A wide variety of possibilities are 20 open here though to illustrate the principle, the reader will appreciated that a hollow body is more likely to flex than a solid body.

As can be appreciated, there is considerable room for variation of the construction of a scraping assembly. In practice the main role of the scraping assembly is to move relative to the bone and separate the flesh or other material therefrom. The use of multiple blades have been discussed though another option is the use of multiple scraping assemblies positioned behind each other. These scraping assemblies may be substantially identical though in at least one embodiment envisaged by the inventor a trailing secondary scraping assembly has a blade or blades of a softer more flexible material. The main purpose of such a secondary assembly is to clean and remove any material left by the leading scraping assembly. The increased flexibility of the secondary assembly may be useful for cleaning any crevices passed over by the leading scraping assembly.

The force by which a scraping assembly bears, via its blades, on a bone will to some degree effect the effectiveness of scraping. Consequently in many embodiments there will be provision to alter the adjustment of this force. This may be provided directly at the scraping assembly, or mny be an adjustment allowing the force by which a bone is brought and held against the scraping assembly to be altered. Supporting means for the bones is generally desirable though in some cases a scraping assembly may also act as a support.

There may also be provision to allow the force exerted via the scraping assembly to he altered during a scraping operation. For instance, the force may decrease as the cartilage portion, generally near the end of a bone, is encountered. The alteration of this force may be built into the operating cycle of scraping operation. Alternatively, sensing means could be used to determine when a situation likely to indicate a situation when pressure should be reduced, could then control the force acting on the scraping assemblies. For instance, in a ribcage, the area where bone becomes cartilage is often of decreased thickness. Thus, for instance, if the apparatus senses that the thickness of the bone :decreases below a certain threshold, then the -force may be altered. The difference in force applied may be stepped or gradual.

It is noted that a scraping assembly must also take into account any major changes in the direction of the bone to help avoid jamming of the apparatus. Consequently provision may be made to allow the scraping assembly and/or the bone to deflect if a particular load has been exceeded. There are many ways, which would be known to a skilled addressee of the art, to put this feature into practice.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, to be described later, a matched pair of scraping assemblies are provided. These are positioned with their blades towards each other and at rest the blades will usually touch. However, there is provision to allow a bone to be forced between the two and the corresponding force between each other may provide sufficient support for the bone, at least in the region of scraping. It is noted for a pair like this, the blades and scraping assemblies need not be identical nor mirrored. In addition, the scraping edge of a flexible blade need not be linear (this also applies to nonpaired embodiments) but could in some cases be curved to follow a more general curving contour of the bone structure. In such a pair, one scraping assembly in its blades may be substantially complementary to its matched pair though this need not be the case.

6

ABSTRACT

I 4'-,Pd tri annaratus for the removal of meat, fat and other 11~- In order to effect scraping, the scraping assemblies must be moved relative to the bone.

This can be achieved by providing for movement of the bone and/or movement of the scraping assemblies. Many travelling head, roller and other mechanisms are well known and can be employed to bring into effect the present invention.

Provision may be made to alter the orientation of the blades and scraping assemblies.

For the purposes of the description, the term 'pitch' and 'yaw' will be used in the same sense in which they apply to an aeroplane in flight. For instance the term 'pitch' is used when the nose of a plane deviates up or down. The term 'yaw' is used when the nose of a plane deviates to the left or right. As a reference point in the present invention, the direction of the scraping will be taken as being normal to the plane of the blade in a :0000scraping assembly. If the blade is yawed with respect to the direction of scraping, then 0 looking downward within the plane of the blade, the direction of scraping will no longer appear perpendicular.to the plane of the blade but rather at an angle thereto. If the blade .00: is pitched, then looking from the side within the plane of the' blade, the plane will not appear perpendicular to the direction of scraping but at an angle thereto.

In the present invention the yaw or pitch of a scraping assembly may be altered from the normal perpendicular. Typically if the pitch is altered then the preferred angle is likely to j be a backward rake so that the leading scraping edge is forward of the remainder of the i body of the blade. Typically an angle of pitch will be within. -45' a forward angle of S 20 450) through 750, inclusive, of the perpendicular. However, this does not preclude alteration of the pitch forwardly or by other angles. In some cases it may be desirable to have a forward pitch an angle forward of the perpendicular) and this may be more desirable for trailing or secondary scraping assemblies which clean rather than provide initial scraping. However the configuration of the scraping edge of the blade may also influence the desirable angle of pitch.

The yaw may also be altered though in most cases it is considered that the yaw of the blade will be within 450 (inclusive) perpendicular to the direction of scraping. Other angles may also be employed in some instances.

Provision may also be made for altering the orientation of the blade other than described herein though this will not normally be necessary for most applications of the present invention.

L I e p--4e -A Such adjustments allow the operator to improve the operation of the invention in use.

Different applications will visually respond most favourably to different settings. In some cases it may be desirable to remove meat and tissue substantially intact (for sale or use) though in other cases the paramount objective may be to remove as much tissue as is possible from the bone. Different settings may give better results in some instances.

In simple embodiments the orientation of the blades may be fixed, typically in a compromise position giving the best all-round results. Replaceable scraping assemblies, for different applications, may alter blade orientation as well as their number, composition and characteristics.

10 In order to improve the effectiveness of the scraping assemblies, it is often desirable to perform steps which will improve the separation of flesh and other material from the bones. This may include prior removal of the bulk of the flesh by other means before .04 scraping. However in some embodiments of the present invention a disseverance means S' may be included. Disseverance means however is generally only used where some S, 15 degradation to the tissue is acceptable.

K Typically the disseverance means is any means capable of affecting the integrity of the So. ,flesh or its grains. Providing a plurality of cuts, typically transverse, is one means which has been considered by the inventor. A variety of various cutting means, including the blades and cutting wheels, may be provided. These may create transverse incisions, or a 20 network of intersecting cuts, in the flesh or other material on the bone. As for the scraping assemblies, the orientation of these cuts or tears may be varied considerably.

In a preferred embodiment to be discussed later, a circular wheel is provided. The periphery of this wheel may comprise a cutting edge, or a plurality of cutting portions.

Such a wheel may be driven and cut into the flesh as it travels across the article.

However in a preferred embodiment there are a plurality of protrusions which approximately correspond with the gaps between ribs for in a typical case. As the wheel is moved transversely across the ribcage the protrusions will mesh in the gaps between the ribs resulting in rotation of the wheel as it travels. it is considered that such an embodiment is likely to be free-wheeling allowing for some slippage during transverse travel if the protrusions are not exactly distanced according to the width of each rib.

3, As can be appreciated a plurality of such discs, or any other cutting or disseverance means, may be provided. These may or may not be aligned. In fact yawing the cutting !means from its direction of travel could provide a greater tearing effect on the flesh.

Combinations of different cutting or tearing means may be provided for the disseverance means. A disseverance means may be provided on either side of an article to be scraped (typically for a matched pair (of scraping assembly) type embodiments). Typically the disseverance means is placed forwardly of a leading or single scraping assembly though may be positioned in other places. A plurality of disseverance means may also be provided.

,4 04 10 Where excessive tissue damage is unacceptable the disseverance means may act to 000 o perform a single incision (usually transverse to the ribs) as a starting point for the i i .scraping blade assemblies. This can help initiate peeling of tissue from the bones, the i .3° scraper blades perpetuating this peeling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 15 Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which: Fiue I is a side cross-sectional diagrammatic view of one embodiment of the 0i present invention employing a matched pair of scraping assemblies; 1 Figure 2 is a front diagrammatic view of a particular embodiment of disseverance V 20 means, and Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the present invention employing a single scraping assembly.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With reference to the drawings and by way of example only there is provided bone scraping apparatus comprising: at least one scraping assembly (generally indicated by arrows 1 and 2) comprising a rigid body 3 supporting a flexible blade 4, means for bringing a flexible blade 4, 5 of a said scraping assembly 1, 2 to bear against said bones 6; means for providing relative movement 7 between said bone 6 and scraping assembly 2) to allow for scraping action; 10 means for supporting said bone.

9 The scraping assemblies 1, 2 comprise a rigid body 3 which is typically constructed of a food grade material such as a stainless steel. A slot 8 houses the body portion of the °9*9 blade 4, 5. A retaining means (not shown) such as a clip or screw are some examples are means which may be used to maintain the blade 4, 5 in position. Other alternatives 15 include adhesive bonding or a friction fit.

The blade 4, 5 is made of a rigid yet flexible material such as a synthetic urethane plastics material. A solid embodiment 5 is illustrated and this may be suitable for the generally flatter back portions of a bone such as a rib. In the alternative embodiment of the blade 4, an internal channel 9 serves to make the blade more flexible and compliant with the 0 20 changing curves of the bone 6. This channel 9 will typically extend the substantial proportion of the length of the blade 4 and need not be continuous along its length.

Channel segments may coincide with the position of rib bones, not gaps. In another preferred embodiment, the removed portions comprise a series of apertures into the body of the blade 4.

The outermost portion of the blade 4, 5 comprises the scraping edge 10. As can be seen in the illustrations a taper is provided for the scraping edge. This taper also improves the flexibility and deformability of the blade 4, 5 near the scraping edge Figure 1 illustrates use of a matched pair 1, 2 of scraping assemblies. As can be seen they are brought to bear against either side of a bone 6. Means for bringing the assemblies 1, 2 together are not illustrated though in practice they may be mounted on an arm able to be altered in distance from each other or the bone. Either one or both could be mounted in such a manner. As an alternative, they 1, 2 could be mounted to a more substantial support while a bone is forced therebetween.

The support (this may also be provided on other embodiments) may allow some movement of the scraping assemblies 1, 2 to increase or decrease their distance of separation according to the thickness of the bone. Some form of biasing means is likely to be provided so as to maintain a sufficient force of the blades 4, 5 against the bone 6 to remove meat or other material 11 yet still accommodate the changes in the contours or thickness of the bone. Failure to do so could result in premature damage or, wear of the blades 4, 4* 0O 4 Many different means may be provided to allow for the relative movement of bone 6 and it ooo scraping assemblies 1, 2. While the scraping assemblies 1, 2 may travel along a bone 6, the associated machinery, especially for a matched pair of embodiments such as illustrated in Figure 1, tend to be more complicated than if the scraping assemblies 1, 2 were held stationary and a clamping support for the bone moved the bones relative to i same. As can be appreciated there are a wide number of ways of implementing relative movement between bone and scraping assemblies, and it is considered that various options would be apparent to a skilled engineer in light of the description given herein.

Consequently a detailed description of the many ways in which a scraping assembly according to the present invention may be brought to bear and travel with respect to a bone will not be described in detail.

Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which only a single scraping assembly 1 is provided. Typically the support (not shown) for the bone 6 will help maintain good contact between the scraping assembly 1 and bone 6. However to resist fracture or damage to the bones 6, it may be desirable to place some form of support, such as a roller, inmmediately behind the bones 6 opposite the scraping assembly 1.

As a variation, a stationary support which clamps or otherwise holds the bone stationary to itself, can be provided. In this case the blade assembly moves relative to the stationamy bone clamped by the stationary support.

Disseverance means may be provided in various embodiments. Figure 2 illustrates a circular disc 12 which has a plurality of protrusions 13 about its periphery. The s- ~sp.l~ V: dimensions of the disc and protrusions are such that said protrusions 13 will typically mesh with the gaps between ribs for a typical ribcage. Transverse movement of the disc 12 will generally result in rotation of the disc 12 as the teeth or protrusions 13 mesh with the gaps between the ri' s.

The peripheral edges of thc disc U' generally sharpened so as to cut through the flesh or meat during the substantially transverse travel of the disc. Various configurations of a disc, other than what is shown, may be employed and the discs may be substituted for i different applications. In each case a primary purpose of the disc is to incise flesh or i other material 11 to aid its removal by scraping. A plurality of circular discs, aligned substantially coaxially may be provided.

i Means for effecting the transverse travel of the disc or discs 12 is also provided and it is ti crnsidered that its implementation would be well known to a skilled engineer or addressee of the art. The direction of travel of the discs 12 disseverance means is i 4 substantially transverse though the path may be altered on different strokes so as to result j 15 in a cross-hatching type pattern. The orientation of the disc may also be slightly altered so that the direction of travel of the disc or discs 12 does not fall within their plane. This could increase the .earing effect of these discs on the tissue.

Provision may be made to allow disseverance means to be used or not according to i whether damage to attached tissue is acceptable or not. Where excessive damage is 20 unacceptable the disseverance means can be used to provide a single incision through I tissue to the bone. The blades can then be inserted, with the incision acting as a starting point. This will facilitate 'peeling' of tissue from the bone by the scraper blade l assemblies.

For instance, the embodiment of the device described here, the meat is first cut along the line which marks where the meat is to be cleared from the bones. This cut is performed by the substantially circular blade 12. In operation, the blade is traversed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ribs with the plane of the disc substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ribcage. The blade may be rotated by independent means or by means of the interference of the ribs in the recesses on its edge. The ribs are alternately guided into the recesses in the edge and the protrusions sever the tissue between adjacent ribs, on the line of traverse of the blade. Thus, most of the tissue along r C I I. ~L g ypl~l rthe line of tra,, rse is severed; from the outside meat surface to the ribs (where the ribs are located); and right through, between the ribs.

Other methods, such as employing any number of shapes of blade, may be used to prepare the cut for clearing the meat. Once the meat tissue has been severed, the scraping edges are then closed along the line of the cut so that th edges nre substantially in contact i with the bone and opposing edges of a pair are oriented such that, were the bone not present, the edge inserts would contact one with the other. The edges are then forced together with sufficient force to partially deform the edges around the shape of the bones.

When a relative motion between the scraping blades and the bones then occurs the meat is scraped from the bones, leaving the meat substantially inta, t and the bones substantially free of meat.

4 4r As can b. appreciated there is a variety of means available for implementing the principles of the present invention. Various options and improvements have been discussed and it is envisaged that these may also be incorporated into different embodiments of the 15 present invention. It is considered that a skilled engineer or addressee of the art will have .4 sufficient knowledge to put into practice the principles described herein. The design of the machinery able to provide the described movements of the scraping blades required for use in the present invention, and for effecting the desired movement of the disseverance means, (whether the cutting means therein is separately powered or not), 20 are well known within the art. Not known are the principles described herein for effecting the removal of meat from the bone.

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

Claims (28)

1. Bone scraping apparatus including: at least one scraping assembly including a substantially linear flexible blade supported by a rigid portion or body; means for bringing the flexible blade of said scraping assembly to bear against said bone; means for providing relative movement between said bone and scraping assembly to allow for scraping action; and ,o o'o means for supporting said bone. 6 0

2. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is a pair of opposed scraping assemblies, said flexible blades thereof being directed towards each other afd with provision for a bone to pass therebetween.

3. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 in which a said scraping assembly acts or Scontributes as a means of supporting said bone.

4. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of the 20 precading claims in which a said scraping assembly includes a plurality of substantially aligned blades. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the characteristics or flexibility of the blades within a scraping assembly vary.

6. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the force by which a scraping assembly bears against a bone, via its blades, may be altered.

7. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the pitch of a blade with L T respect to the direction of scraping is non-perpendicular.

8. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the pitch of the blade is inclined, with respect to the direction of scraping, within a range of -45* forward through 750 backward inclusive, of the perpendicular.

9. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the yaw of a blade with respect to the direction of scraping, is within 450 (inclusive) of the perpendicular. 00 a a 0 00 a, 10 10. 'one scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of the 0o preceding claims in which a flexible blade has a bevelled 044 scraping edge. S Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a flexible blade is of a S 15 material which, in a bulk form, is sufficiently stiff and rigid to hold a tapered edge for at least two hours of Si continuous rib scraping operation. i 12. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of the 0 2 preceding claims in which the deformation characteristics S 20 of a flexible blade have been modified through the removal of portions of its body.

13. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the deformation characteristics of a flexible blade are modified by altering its composition in different portions of its body.

14. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a flexible blade has a capping piece for its scraping edge. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which T OIA- 16 said capping piece is able to conform to flexing of the blade's main body yet is of a harder material than that which the body of the blade is comprised.

16. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in either claim 14 or claim 15 in which said capping piece is replaceable.

17. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the flexible blades, or the capping pieces when dependent upon any one of claims 14 through 16, are of a urethane plastics material, a I 10 polyester plastics material, a nylon or a synthetic |i rubber. i 0 0° Si Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of the S 0 preceding claims which includes a secondary trailing S" scraping assembly for cleaning and removing material left 15 by a leading assembly or assemblies.

19. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in claim 18 in which i the flexible blade(s) of the secondary assembly are of ;different flexibility than those of a leading assembly or assemblies. 20 20. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in either claim 18 or claim 19 in which the flexible blade(s) of the secondary assembly are more flexible than the flexible blades of a leading assembly or assemblies. 1 21. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which includes disseverance means positionable to interact with material for removal from the bones, prior to its scraping.

22. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in claim 21 in which said disseverance means creates a plurality of cuts into said material on the bone. 17

23. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in claim 22 in which the yaw of said cuts are aligned within 450 inclusive of perpendicular to the direction of scraping.

24. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 through 23 in which said disseverance means includes at least one circular disc with cutting edges on its periphery. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in claim 24 in which the periphery of said disc includes a series of protrusions.

26. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which the dimension and spacing of said protrusions approximate the dimensions of a typical rib or bone structure to which it is applied.

27. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in claim 26 in which SI said circular disc travels substantially transversely across a rib or bone structure and wherein interference of protrusions with gaps between adjacent bones causes rotation, where appropriate, of the disc to facilitate 20 severing of said material present on the bone. tO

28. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 24 through 27 in which said disseverance means includes a plurality of aligned circular discs.

29. Bone scraping apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 through 28 which includes means for the powered rotation of a said circular disc or discs. Bone scraping apparatus, substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings. RA/ 0; C'U)r 4 18

31. A method for the removal of meat and other material from a bone by drawing the flexible blade of apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 through 29 along said bone, said blade being able to substantially conform with the changing contours of said bone yet being sufficiently rigid to separate said meat and other material from said bone.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31 in which the flexibiltiy of the blade portion has been improved by the removal of portions from the body of sald blade.

33. A method as claimed in either claim 31 or claim 32 in 1 which the scraping edge of the blade has been bevelled. 8

34. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 through 33 in which a plurality of blades are drawn over the surface of the bone in succession. A method as claimed in claim 34 in which the flexibility Sof said blades are not all the same.

36. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 through 35 in which the drawing of a scraping assembly over the bone is preceded by the application of disseverance means for .cutting or tearing said meat or other material present on S' the bone prior to scraping.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36 in which a scraping assembly is positioned in an incision by the disseverance means prior to scraping.

38. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 through 37 in which there is a pair of opposing scraping assemblies which act on alternate sides of the bone.

39. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 through 38 in I- I I I .II. I which flesh or other material is peeled from a rib bone. A method, substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 4 tO d O^ a LU IS, 6 ABSTRACT The present invention is directed to apparatus for the removal of meat, fat and other matter from bones, typical bone scraping apparatus comprising: at least one scraping assembly comprising a flexible blade supported by a rigid portion or body; means for holding a flexible blade of a said scraping assembly to bear against said bone; means for providing relative movement between said bone and scraping assembly to allow for scraping action; means for supporting said bone. 0 0 0 0