DK201700063U3 - APPARATUS FOR CUTTING THE REAR BODY OF THE BODY OF EATED FUR ANIMALS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for cutting the rear end of the body of sacrificed fur animals such as mink, the apparatus comprising holding means which are adapted to engage and hold the hind legs of the body and are mutually displaced to extend the hind legs apart. The apparatus further comprises a cutting arrangement which comprises a knife with a cutting edge, the knife being arranged to be rotated about a axis of rotation by means of rotation means to perform a cutting operation. The cutting arrangement further comprises shear means for displacing the knife to perform a cutting operation from the leg of one hind leg to the leg of the other hind leg of the body, while the hind legs are held and stretched apart by said holding means. The apparatus is arranged so that the rotational plane of the knife during the cutting operation is inclined to the longitudinal direction of the extension of the rear end of the body, with an angle of engagement of between 3 ° and 70 °, preferably between 5 ° and 30 °.

Description

( ¹⁹ ) DENMARK (10)

(12)

UTILITY MODEL WRITING

Registered utility model without testing

Patent and Trademark Office (51) Int.CI: A22B 5/16 (2006.01) (21) Application number: BA 2017 00063 (22) Filing date: 2017-06-15 (24) Running day: 2017-06-15 (41) Aim. available: 2018-09-15 (44) The registration bkg. and Published on: 2018-11-02 (73) Model Owner:

Eikon Technologies Holding S.å.r.L, 6, rue Bech 1222 Luxembourg, Luxembourg (72) Produces:

Kurt Pedersen, Bøgevej 3, 7830 Vinderup, Denmark (74) Plenipotentiary:

Zacco Denmark A / S, Arne Jacobsens Allé 15, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark (54) Title: APPLICATION FOR CUTTING THE BACK OF THE BODY OF DEATH FUR ANIMALS (57) Summary:

The invention relates to an apparatus for cutting the rear end of the body of sacrificed fur animals such as mink, the apparatus comprising holding means which are adapted to engage and hold the hind legs of the body and are mutually displaced to extend the hind legs apart. The apparatus further comprises a cutting arrangement comprising a knife with a cutting edge, the knife being arranged to be rotated about a axis of rotation by means of rotation means to perform a cutting operation. The cutting arrangement further comprises shear means for displacing the knife to perform a cutting operation from the leg of one hind leg to the leg of the other hind leg of the body, while the hind legs are held and stretched apart by said holding means. The apparatus is arranged so that the plane of rotation of the knife during the cutting operation is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the extension of the rear end of the body, with an angle of engagement of between 3 ° and 70 °, preferably between 5 ° and 30 °.

To be continued...

in

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING THE REAR BODY OF THE BODY OF DEATHED ANIMALS

The present invention relates to an apparatus for cutting the rear end of the body of killed fur animals such as mink.

Background

When a mink is killed and the fur is to be removed from the dead body, this is done by placing the body in a machine which is designed to provide a cut in the rear of the animal from one hind leg to the other, after which a loosening arrangement is inserted through the opening that arises from this incision on the belly side of the mink to loosen the skin on the belly side of the body at the back of the body. An example of such a solution is given in DK 168555 Bl.

There are several devices for performing this operation alone, and these devices may also be adapted to provide several of the subsequent processes which may, for example, involve an incision around the anus of the body, loosening the skin on the back of the skin, so that it is possible to peel the skin of the body by pulling the skin, and even so that the skin can be peeled from the body.

However, the process of detaching and removing the coat from the body has an impact on the quality of the fur to be sold, and if there are inconveniences during the process of removing the coat from the body, this will reduce the coat price.

It is an object of the invention to provide a solution that can help provide a better yield of unskinned skins and thus has lost value during the process of removing the fur from the body.

The creation

The invention relates to an apparatus for cutting the rear end of the body of sacrificed fur animals such as mink, wherein the apparatus comprises holding means which are adapted to engage and hold the hind legs of the body and are mutually displaced to extend the hind legs apart, the apparatus further comprising a cutting arrangement comprising a knife with a cutting edge, wherein the knife is arranged to be rotated about a axis of rotation by means of rotation to perform a cutting operation, the cutting arrangement further comprising shear means for displacing the knife to perform a cutting operation on one of the paws. hind legs for the leg of the other hind leg of the body, while the hind legs are held and stretched apart by said holding means, which is new in that the apparatus is arranged so that the rotational plane of the knife during the cutting operation is inclined with respect to the longitudinal extension of the rear part of the body, with one engagement angle of between 3 ° and 70 °, preferably between 5 ° and 30 °.

It has been found that the existing solutions for cutting the body on a fur animal plug such as a mink body, at the rear of the body from one hind leg to the other hind leg, after the hind legs have been stretched / spread away from each other, can provide an inappropriate cutting. With these existing solutions, there is a risk that the skin may, so to speak, slip, or slip, uncontrolled to one side or the other in relation to the hind leg during the cutting, thus partially rotating around the leg. This can result in a skewed cut of the fur which, in the worst case scenario, will be considered a loss-making error that reduces the final coat's value / selling price.

The present creator has realized that the present solution can reduce or even completely eliminate this problem. One reason for this may be that the rotary cutting means is, with it, arranged at said angle, so to speak, providing a force on the skin, away from the rotational plane of the knife. Thus, a stretch or forced rotation of the skin / coat on the hind leg / body is performed, which prevents the skin from slipping / sliding unintentionally during the cutting operation.

Another or further reason for this may be that the skinned skin, with the present solution, will partially support the cutting member, thus helping to keep the skin in place.

Thus, with the present invention, a simple solution can be provided which can provide better control of the skin during cutting. The present solution may also have the advantage of being easy to implement in existing systems / apparatus adapted to provide a cutting of the rear end of the body of killed fur animals such as mink,

This solution may also be advantageous for use in cutting bodies from various types of mink such as male mink, bitch mink body, and / or various species such as brown mink, silver blue mink or other other species. In addition, the different bodies used on the same cutting machine as stated above may have different characteristics in relation to how the skin / coat sits on the body, depending on the body temperature, as the bodies are often cooled prior to cutting or peeling. Thus, the present invention can help to provide a solution which provides a more uniform and / or better return on skins that can be sold at a higher price.

In embodiments of the generation, the angle is between 5 ° and 15 °, such as 7 ° and 15 °.

In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is arranged to allow the body to hang freely from the engagement of the retaining means with the rear legs of the body, so that the longitudinal direction of the rear of the body will extend substantially substantially.

This provides a simple solution that provides sufficient control of the fur animal body. The device holding means may comprise two jaw kits in embodiments of the manufacture, viz. a jaw set for holding and holding one hind leg / paw, and a jaw set for holding and holding the other hind leg / paw.

It is thus preferred here that the body hangs vertically and that a significant curvature of the spine is not created in the body at the rear

In a further embodiment of the apparatus, the apparatus comprises support means for displacing the longitudinal direction of the extension of the rear portion of a body having said angle of engagement relative to the vertical.

This may, for example, result in an inexpensive and simple solution to provide said angle of engagement (A) relative to the vertical. Likewise, it can result in a solution that can be implemented simply and inexpensively on existing solutions / appliances to provide the angle.

These support means can be arranged in embodiments of the production so that when the fur animal body is placed in the apparatus and preferably hangs from the holding means, it is located between the front leg and the hind leg on the stomach / abdomen respectively, and is displaced such that the support means cause a minor rotation / displacement of the fur. the body of the fur animal, thereby obtaining that the longitudinal direction of the extension of the rear portion of a body is arranged at said angle with respect to the vertical.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the support means comprise a support plate (8a), such as a metal plate, arranged to be arranged along one side of the extension of at least the rear end of the animal's body.

In other embodiments, the support means may be provided by one or more bars arranged to extend across the longitudinal direction of the body.

In one embodiment of the provision, holding means 3 are arranged to hold the hind legs so that they are substantially extended in a horizontal plane.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the retaining means are arranged to rotate the rear portion of the body about a longitudinal axis parallel to the extension of the hind legs to displace the longitudinal direction of the extension of the rear portion of a body with said angle of engagement relative to the vertical.

In one embodiment of the invention, the shear means comprise a motor and a rail in which the cutting arrangement can be moved along the rail by the motor.

Said motor may be a pneumatically driven motor, it may be an electric motor or the like. In other embodiments, for example, an electric or pneumatic actuator may be used to make the displacement along said rail.

In one embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a detaching arrangement, such as a shovel, for detaching the animal's body from the animal's fur, such as detaching the bow side of the animal's body from the bow side of the animal's fur.

The loosening arrangement could in other embodiments be a loosening arrangement comprising a transverse bar / element at the end of a shaft, for example with a curvature substantially similar to the body's carcasses, as for example stated in DK 2007 00064 U4.

In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a release arrangement which comprises one or more hooks for detaching the animal's body from the animal's fur.

the release arrangement and / or the holding means may in one embodiment be arranged to provide movement along the longitudinal direction of the body so that the fur is detached from the animal's body.

The rotary means for rotating the knife is in one embodiment an electric motor with permanent magnets on the rotor part, such as a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) or a Brushless DC Motor (BLDC).

In one embodiment, said knife comprises a sharpened knife egg which is substantially unbroken.

This egg may in embodiments form a substantially circular knife egg, or it may form a polygon shaped knife egg such as a triangular, square, pentagonal or hexagonal knife egg, or even a multi-edge knife egg.

Said knife may in one embodiment comprise cutting means in the form of saw blades.

In one embodiment of the apparatus, the apparatus comprises a control system adapted to control the displacement of said retaining means, to extend the hind legs apart, and further moving said retaining means against one another after stretching and cutting, and wherein the control system is further adapted to control a displacement of said knife, and preferably also said rotary means, to perform said cutting operation.

In one embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, said plane of rotation during the cutting operation is inclined with respect to the vertical to provide said angle of engagement with respect to the longitudinal extension of the rear end of the body.

This can, for example, lead to a simple and affordable solution. Also, this solution can lead to a simple solution that is easy to implement in existing appliances.

Figurines

Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the figures, wherein

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the production where the cutting edge rotation plane is angled with respect to the extension of the rear end of the animal body, Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the production where the extension of the rear end of the animal body is angled with respect to the rotation plane of the cutting edge, Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the production Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the production of an apparatus with a detaching arrangement arranged in a first position over the cut opening as seen in perspective; Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the production with a detaching arrangement. arranged in a different position, between the skins and the carcasses of the animal seen in perspective, Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the production with holding means and a control system for displacement of the holding means, Figure 7 shows several different embodiments of a rotary knife according to embodiments of production and Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of the production but where the cutting edge rotation plane is angled in a different direction with respect to the vertical than shown for example in Figs. 1-3.

Detailed description

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of an apparatus 1 according to the invention for making a cut at the rear of the body 2 of a dead fur animal, such as a mink. The body 2 has a rear end 2a near the tail of the body, and a main end 2b near the snout of the body 2.

The apparatus 1 comprises holding means 3, in this embodiment, in the form of two jaw sets 3, where each hind leg 4 is held by a jaw set (not shown in Fig. 1, see Figures 4-6) and the jaws are arranged to be able to move away. apart, to a position where the end of the animal between the hind legs 4 is extended. Reference 40 indicates the front legs of the body.

The apparatus 1 comprises a cutting arrangement 5 which comprises a knife 6 with a cutting edge 6a, where the cutting edge 6a is arranged to be rotated about a axis of rotation RA by means of rotation means 7 to perform a cutting operation in the fur 13 near the end of the body 2. The rotation means 7, in this embodiment, comprises an electric motor, preferably an electric motor with permanent magnets on the rotor part, such as a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) or a Brushless DC Motor (BLDC). In other embodiments, the rotary means may be pneumatically driven.

The rotary means are preferably connected to the knife via a rotary shaft 7a.

In the example shown, the knife 6 is a knife 6 with a knife blade, with cutting edge / egg 6a along the outer circumference of the knife 6.

This knife 6 is arranged to rotate about the axis of rotation RA, which is perpendicular to the center of the extension of the blade, such that the cutting edge 6a points in a direction away from the axis of rotation RA in a direction perpendicular to the extent of the rotation axis 6a. rotation plane RP which is perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation RA. The knife blade 6 is adapted to provide the cutting operation from one hind leg 4a to the other hind leg 4b of the body 2 while the hind legs 4 are held by said holding means 3.

The apparatus 1 is arranged to bring the cutting edge 6a into an inclined position at the rear end of the body 2a, so that the cutting operation is provided with an angle of engagement A of at least 3 °, such as 5 ° between the blade plane rotation plane RP and the longitudinal direction BLR of the extension of the rear end portion 2a of the body L towards the head end 2b of the body.

For example, the body 2 has a longitudinal extension from the main end portion 2b to the rear end portion 2a and the angle of engagement A can be provided, for example, as shown schematically in Figure 1, in that this extension may be preferably parallel to the vertical and the position of the body 2 may be controlled by gravity applied to the body 2. whereby the plane of rotation RP is angled with respect to the vertical.

In another embodiment of the production, as shown schematically in Figure 2, the longitudinal extension of the animal's body 2 is forced into a curved position by means of support 8 near the rear end 2a of the body. This twist in the body 2 provides an angular extension of the length extension of the rear end portion 2a of the animal relative to the TR / vertical direction of the acceleration of gravity. In this embodiment, the plane of rotation RP is parallel to the direction of gravity acceleration TR. The support means 8 may consist of a rod 8a as schematically shown in Figure 2 or a longitudinal plate, such as a metal plate, on which the body 2, preferably the stomach / abdomen 41 of the body, can support.

As shown schematically in Figure 3, in embodiments of the production, the cutting edge 6a can be brought into contact with the body 2 to be cut by moving the axis of rotation RA and the cutting blade 6a towards the rear end 2a of the body 2 until the cutting edge 6a is in the correct position for the cutting operation to be performed. .

This movement of the axis of rotation RA and the cutting edge 6a can be performed along a linear (as shown) or circular path.

As schematically shown in Figure 3, the axis of rotation RA and rotation means 7 are arranged on a bracket 10 with an inclined surface 10a which provides an angular position of the axis of rotation RA relative to the horizontal plane and an angular position between the rotation plane RP and the longitudinal extension of the rear end portion. BLR as described, for example, in connection with Figure 1.

This bracket 10 can be displaced up and down as indicated in the figure by means of displacement means (not shown), for example a linear displacement, so that the cutting edge 6a can be brought into contact with the animal's fur 13.

The bracket can also preferably be moved sideways in connection with the cutting operation, so that a cutting operation is performed from the leg on one rear leg 4a to the leg on the other hind leg 4b on the body 2.

The bracket 10 can be slidably arranged in embodiments of the production on a rail 21 on which it can be slidged by means of shear means 9 such as a motor or an actuator.

Furthermore, in further embodiments of the embodiment not shown, the bracket 10, and thereby the cutting edge 6a, can be rotated about a horizontal or vertical axis to bring the cutting edge 6a to the correct position at the extended end of the body 2.

The jaw sets 3 which keep the hind legs 4 spaced may also be arranged in additional or alternative embodiments to be able to move against the knife 6 to contact the extended end of the body 2 with the cutting edge 6a.

The jaw sets 3 are arranged to be moved away from each other by means of movement (not shown) such as a linear actuator, an electric motor or the like.

In the cutting operation, an opening 20 is provided through the animal's fur to the animal's internal body / cadaver. In order to detach a portion of the fur 13 from the inner body, the apparatus 4 may comprise a release arrangement 12 with a spade 12a as schematically shown in Figure 4 and

5. Two jaw sets 3 hold the respective hind legs 4a, 4b on or near the paws of the hind legs, such that the hind legs are spread in the extended position when the fur 13 is to be released.

The shovel 12a is moved from the first position POS1 over the cutting opening 20, as schematically shown in Figure 4 and forced via propellants (not shown) such as a linear actuator, telescopic solution or the like, between fur 13 and body 2 along the longitudinal direction LR of the body 2 on the bow side the animal's body, to a different position POS2 as shown schematically in Figure 5.

By displacing the shovel 12a down the inside of the fur, the fur is released from the rest of the body / cadaver on the abdomen.

Of course, it should be understood that in embodiments of the invention, the apparatus may comprise additional devices for releasing portions of the skin from the body. These include one or more of the following:

• A cutting device adapted to make a cut around the body's anus, for example by a V-section or a circular section. This cutting device can be moved against and away from the rear end 2a of the body together with the release arrangement 12.

A cutting device for cutting the skin covering the tail of the body 2, which can also be moved together with the detacher 12 and a human operator, when the detacher 12 is in the second position POS2, can secure the tail to a device which cuts along the tail when the release arrangement 12 is moved back to the first position POS2.

• A device for peeling the skin of the body 2 against the main end portion 2b while the skin is located in the apparatus 1; • a device with movable hooks which can be arranged between the skin and the body parts constituting the legs of the body, which are then displaced away from the body 2 to loosen the skin around the body's hind legs 4, and / or a hook device which grips the body's tail part between the skins and body part covering the body's tail, and then displaced to release the fur / skin from the tail.

Figure 6 schematically shows an apparatus 1 according to embodiments of the invention, wherein the apparatus 1 comprises a control system KS arranged to control the displacement of said holding means 3, for example as described above, to extend the hind legs 4a, 4b apart and further move them holding means 3 against each other again after stretching / spreading and cutting, and wherein the control system KS is further arranged to control a displacement of the knife 6 and preferably also rotating means 7 (not shown in Fig. 6) to perform said cutting operation. The control system KS may comprise a PLC (Programmable Logical controller) unit with data inputs for receiving signals from sensors in the apparatus, for example position sensors. The PLC unit (or another computer processor unit) may also comprise data outputs for sending control signals to the holding means 3, rotating means 7, displacement arrangement for displacing the knife 6 along, for example, a rail 21, means for lowering the knife to the back of the body at the start of cutting operation etc. . The control system KS may comprise a combination of pneumatic solutions and electrical solutions which together provide an apparatus 1 according to the present invention as described in this document.

The control system KS comprises a computer processes CP arranged to execute instructions according to a program, such as a PLC program stored in a data storage DL in the control system KS.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment in which the jaw sets 3 are arranged to be moved away from each other via means of movement 11 such as a linear actuator, an electric motor or the like.

Figures 7a-7e show examples of various embodiments of the rotary knife 6 which can be used according to embodiments of the invention, wherein the knife is preferably a flat, rotating knife.

Figures 7a-7d show various embodiments in which the knife comprises a sharpened knife egg which is substantially unbroken. This egg may in embodiments form a substantially circular knife egg 6a (Fig. 7a), or it may form a polygon-shaped knife egg such as a triangular, square (Fig. 7b), pentagonal, hexagonal, seven-sided, octagonal (Fig. 7d). , or even a knife edge with multiple edges.

FIG. 7e shows a further embodiment in which the cutting means of the knife comprises saw blades. It should, of course, be understood that the number and design of saw blades can be adjusted as desired.

Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of the production, substantially similar to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the angle A is obtained by tilting the knife 6 backwards so that the portion of the axis of rotation extending towards the propellants is located in a downward direction. The embodiment as shown in FIG. 8 relative to angle A may be a preferred embodiment of the production.

Thus, the cutting edge 6a facing down the body 2 is arranged to point out towards the back side of the body 2.

In FIG. 1-3, the knife 6 is said to be tipped forward with respect to the longitudinal direction BLR of the extension of the rear end of the body 2.

The same solution can be obtained in embodiments of the production by means of support means 8 (see Fig. 2 and the description thereof), which are placed on the opposite side of the fur animal body, ie. in practice on the back of the body 2.

Also, it should be understood that the angle A, in embodiments of the embodiment, can be arranged as shown in FIG. 8, by providing a bracket 10 as shown in FIG. FIG. 3, but with a surface 10a which tips the opposite way to that of FIG. 3.

It is to be understood, of course, that the above embodiments as described in connection with the figures may be variously combined into further embodiments of the invention.

Figure References

Apparatus

The body of dead fur animals such as mink

2a Rear part of the body

2b Main body part

Holders, e.g. die sets

4a, 4b Rear legs

Feet

The belly side of the body

cutting Event

Knife

6a Cutting edge

7.7a Rotary agents

subsidies

8a Support rod or support plate

shear means

Brackets

10a Flat

Løsnearrangement

12a Spade

The animal's fur

Opening

Shine

A Pressure angle B Pointed angle 5 BLR The longitudinal direction of the extension of the rear of the body along the longitudinal direction of the body LR Longitudinal direction of the body RAW rotation Axis RP rotation Plan 10 TR The direction of gravity acceleration KS control System POS1 First position of the spade POS2 Second position of the spade

Claims (16)

Requirements An apparatus (1) for cutting the rear portion (2a) of the body (2) of sacrificed fur animals such as mink, the apparatus (1) comprising retaining means (3) adapted to engage and retain the hind legs (4). , 4a, 4b) of the body (2) and displaced to extend the hind legs (4, 4a, 4b) from each other, the apparatus (1) further comprising a cutting arrangement (5) comprising a knife (6) with a cutting edge (6a), wherein the knife (6) is arranged to be rotated about a axis of rotation (RA) by means of rotation (7) to perform a cutting operation, the cutting arrangement (5) further comprising shear means (9) for displacing the knife ( 6) performing a cutting operation from the leg of one hind leg (4,4a) to the leg of the other hind leg (4,4b) of the body (2), while the hind legs (4) are held and stretched apart by said holding means (3) ), which is new in that the apparatus (1) is adapted to the rotational plane (RP) of the knife (6) during cutting The honing operation is inclined to the longitudinal direction (BLR) of the extension of the rear end of the body (2a), with an angle of engagement (A) of between 3 ° and 70 °, preferably between 5 ° and 30 °. An apparatus (1) according to claim 1, adapted to allow the body (2) to hang freely from the engagement of the holding means with the rear legs (4a, 4b) of the body (2), so that the longitudinal direction (BLR) of the rear end of the body will extend. essentially vertical. An apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the apparatus comprises support means (8) for displacing the longitudinal direction (BLR) of the extension of the rear portion of a body (2) with said angle of engagement (A) relative to the vertical. An apparatus (1) according to claim 3, wherein the support means (8) comprise a support plate (8a), such as a metal plate, arranged to be arranged along one side of the extension of at least the rear end (2a) of the animal's body (2). ). An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said holding means (3) are arranged to hold the hind legs (4a, 4b) so that they are substantially extended in a horizontal plane. An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding means (3) are arranged to rotate the rear end (2a) of the body (2) about a longitudinal axis parallel to the extension of the hind legs (4a, 4b) to displace the longitudinal direction. (BLR) of the extension of the rear portion of a body (2) with said angle of engagement (A) relative to the vertical. An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shear means (9) comprise a motor and a rail (21), wherein the cutting arrangement can be moved along the rail (21) by the motor. An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus (1) comprises a detaching arrangement (12), such as a spade (12a), for releasing the animal's body (2) from the animal's fur (13), such as detaching the belly side of the animal's body (2) from the belly side of the animal's fur (13). An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus (1) comprises a release arrangement (12) comprising one or more hooks for detaching the animal's body (2) from the animal's fur (13). An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the release arrangement (12) and / or the holding means (3) are arranged to provide movement along the longitudinal direction (LR) of the body so that the fur (13) is released from the animal's body. (2). An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotary means (7) for rotating the knife (6) is an electric motor with permanent magnets on the rotor part, such as a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) or a Brushless DC Motor (BLDC). An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said knife (6) comprises a sharpened knife egg which is substantially unbroken. An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said knife (6) comprises cutting means in the form of saw blades. An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus comprises a control system (KS) adapted to control the displacement of said holding means (3), to extend the hind legs (4a, 4b) apart, and further moving these retaining means (3) against each other again after stretching and cutting, and wherein the control system (KS) is further arranged to control a displacement of said knife (6) and preferably also said rotary means (7), to carry out said cutting operation. An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said rotational plane (RP) during the cutting operation is inclined with respect to the vertical to provide said angle of engagement (A) relative to the longitudinal direction (BLR) of the extension of the rear end of the body. An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the portion of the cutting edge (6a) pointing down towards the body (2) is arranged to point out towards the back of the body.