GB2055548A

GB2055548A - Means of splitting carcasses

Info

Publication number: GB2055548A
Application number: GB8025895A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Elkem Spigerverket AS
Current assignee: Elkem ASA
Priority date: 1979-08-10
Filing date: 1980-08-08
Publication date: 1981-03-11
Also published as: ATA406980A; IT1209252B; BR8004911A; BE884704A; AT378670B; FR2462870A1; IT8024029A0; FI66520B; NO156191B; JPS585649B2; NZ194605A; AU6118880A; FI802448A; AU525274B2; SU1145908A3; NO156191C; FR2462870B1; DE3030013A1; JPS5626137A; FI66520C

Abstract

The invention provides a cutting device for use on animal carcasses, comprising a handled frame (7), a knife (1) carried in the frame and provided with a fluid pressure operated means (2) for oscillating the knife in the frame, the oscillating means being arranged at one end of the knife which end is remote from the handle (13) on the other side of the carcass when the device is in use. The guide means (19) should be on the ventral side of the carcass. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Means for splitting carcasses The invention relates to means for longitudinally cutting carcasses of animals for food. In particular the invention relates to an apparatus for splitting pigs.

When splitting carcasses during butchering, the carcasses are vertically suspended, commonly hooked by their rear feet. In this position the carcasses are split along the entire length of the vertebral column, starting the upper end and cutting downwardly. A cutting axe or a saw may be used for the splitting operation. Manually performed splitting using an axe is both time consuming and laborious while the application of a saw such as a circular saw or a band saw, makes the splitting operation less time consuming and laborious. However, the application of a cutting saw or an axe produces detrimental splinters of bone and the like, which are dispersed into the meat, contaminating it.

It has been proposed to use a hammer actuated knife or axe. However, such cutting means does not produce a clean cut and is not suitable for splitting the skull. In addition, the carcass has to be split past the pelvis so as to enable this type of cutting means to function.

Most commonly the carcasses are split immediately after the slaughtering to make it possible to inspect the vertebral column, the spinal marrow and the brain in order to observe the presence of any abscesses etc. In order to facilitate a proper and thorough inspection the cut should be as clean and even as possible. It is essential to avoid fouling of the adjoining parts by bone splinters, spinal marrow, etc.

A major object of the present invention is therefore to provide a cutting device which may split the entire carcass including the skull, the cut going through the middle of the vertebral column. A second, major object of the present invention is to produce an even, clean cut which is free of splinters and other type of contamination. A further object is to provide a cutting device which eliminates the laborious work involved in manually splitting the carcasses.

Accordingly the present invention provides a cutting device for use on animal carcasses, comprising a handled frame, a knife carried in the frame and provided with a fluid pressure operated means for oscillating the knife in the frame, the oscillating means being arranged at one end of the knife which end is remote from the handle on the other side of the carcass when the device is in use.

In use of the present invention the carcass is longitudinally cut in two parts along the vertebral column by means of the impact of the oscillated knife which is introduced From the ventral side. The knife is preferably guided A: by means of the guide means acting on the dorsal side of the carcass which follows the vertebral column and a guide means of the ventral side, supporting the carcass on either side of the vertebral column, and/or B: by means of needle shaped guide which is to be introduced into the spinal core of the carcass.

In the initial phase of the splitting operation, method A is applied till the splitting is just past the pelvis arch, whereafter method B is used splitting the carcass down to the shoulder part. From the shoulder part and down through the skull method A is applied.

In cases where natural deformations in the vertebral column prevents method B from being used, method A may be used for splitting the entire carcass.

The guide means intended to be on the ventral side of the carcass is moveably arranged on the cutting device so as to be movable in the lateral direction relative to the vertebral column, by means of a pneumatic cylinder. The air pressure in the cylinder may be regulated whereby the cylinder functions as a spring device. The ventral guide means may comprise at least one slide rail or one more rollers which may be spring loaded ensuring accurate guidance along the entire vertebral column. The needle shaped guide means may comprise a two-tines fork and is preferably arranged with a tine on each side of the actuated knife. Hence, the knife may operate between the two tines. When the carcass is split past the pelvis arch the needle shaped guide means is preferably forced into the spinal marrow by means of a pneumatic cylinder.In the region between the pelvis arch and the shoulder part the vertebral column has no abrupt bend whereby the needle shaped guide means may easily follow the vertebral column.

At the shoulder part the vertebral column has a bend which obstruct a further motion of the needle shaped guide means. This guide means is therefore retracted and the guide means in accordance with method A is applied.

The knife is actuated by means of an oscillating device arranged to lie on the dorsal side of the carcass when the cutting means is in operation. Due to the specific location of the oscillating device a very short distance between the oscillating device and the striking point on the knife is achieved. The frequency of the oscillating device and the actuation of the various guide means are controlled by means of valves arranged on the handle. The carcass is cut by a downwards movement relative to the carcass, the cutting device being moveably suspended on a suitable support means to take the major portion of its weight from the user. By using a stroke length of 10 mm and approx. 3,500 stroke per min., for the oscillating device a cutting rate of approx. 200-225 hog carcasses pr. hour may be achieved.

In order to promote a fuller understanding of the above and other aspects of the invention, an embodiment will now be described by way of example only with reference to accompanying drawings, in which, Figure I shows a diagrammatic elevation of a cutting device; Figure II shows a vertical section along line A-A on Figure l; Figure III shows a vertical section along line B-B on Figure I; Figure IV shows schematically how the cutting device is guided along the vertebral column by means of the guide means; and Figure V shows a vertical section along line C-C on Figure I.

In the Figures, 1 denotes the actuated knife, 2 is an oscillating means in the form of a pneumatic cylinder, which with a transmission means 2a, gives the knife a reciprocating motion in vertical direction. 3 is a guide means which is intended to engage the vertebrai column 4 (Figure IV) on the animals's back, providing a guide for the knife along the vertebral column 4, as shown in Figure IV. The spinal core is indicated at 5, while the musculature is indicated by 6. The guide means 3 is suspended on a frame 7 which carries and guides the knife 1. The oscillating means 2 with the transmission means 2a is supported by the frame 7.

The guide means intended to be on the ventral side of the carcass comprises, in the embodiment shown on the Figures, two wheels 8 rotating on a common shaft 8a. The wheels 8 are designed to engage the vertebral column as shown on Figure IV.

It should be appreciated that a pair of slide rails or skids may be used as an alternative. The wheels may be moved forward or backwards by means of a pneumatic cylinder 9 having a piston rod 10, which also functions as a spring device biassing the wheels 8 towards the guide 3. The knife is pivotally sup ported on a swivel joint 11 in the frame 7. The speed of operation of the ramming device may be control led by a valve 12 arranged on the handle 13, while the position of the guide wheels 8 is controlled by a valve 14 on a second handle 15. The pressure with which the guide wheels 8 engage against the ver tebral column may be regulated by pneumatic control means incorporating a manometer, and at least one of the guide means may have a dampening means incorporated. A pneumatic cylinder 18 is provided for moving a needle shaped guide means 19 up and down.The needle shaped guide means is preferably in the form of a two-tined forle the tines of which pass one on each side of the knife. The dotted lines on Figure V show the needle shaped guide means 19 in a lower position. The movement of the needle guide means 19 is actuated by a valve 20 on the additional handle 15.

As seen from Figure IV the needle guide means 19 will guide the knife along the vertebral column while other types of conventional support means support the carcasses.

The cutting device may be suspended by any type of conventional support means such as for instance a pneumatic cylinder or an electrically driven hoist pulley. The vertical motion of the cutting device on its support means may be controlled through a push button 16 on the frame 7. The cutting device is sus pended from a hoole so arranged on the cutting device that the cutting device is in balance.

The cutting device embodying the present inven tion is small and handy and may be used as a manually supported machine. Alternatively, the cutting device may be suspended on a support and may be made fully automatic for instant by means of photocells or valve systems.

In use of the cutting device the oscillating means 2 will be located on the dorsal side of the carcass when the cutting means is in operating position, while the operator will be on the ventral side of the carcass.

Due to the specific location of the oscillating means the power source is as close to the point of cutting, i.e. the vertebral column, as possible. Such a location makes the operation of the cutting device moree easy and procedures less wear and vibration in the cutting device. The cutting device is as discussed equipped with movable guide means which alterna.

tively may be retracted, thereby providing an apparatus which may be adapted to the shape of the carcasses, the pelvis arch and the skill of the user.

The number of oscillations per minute of the oscillating means should preferably be at least 600. By applying a higher number of oscillations, for example up to 3,500 or more, the knife will perform many chiselling movements, producing a very clean and even cut of the carcass.

Claims

1. A cutting device for use on animal carcasses, comprising a handled frame, a knife carried in the frame and provided with a fluid pressure operated means for oscillating the knife in the frame, the oscillating means being arranged at one end of the knife which end is remote from the handle on the other side of the carcass when the device is in use.

2. A cutting device as claimed in Claim 1, com prising guide means arranged on the frame to engage a carcass in use to guide the knife through the carcass.

3. A cutting device as claimed in Claim 2, in which the guide means includes a fixed guide device fixedly mounted on the frame and arranged to engage one side of the carcass and a second guide device movably mounted on the frame and arrange to engage an opposite side of the carcass.

4. A cutting device as claimed in Claim 3 in which said movable guide means is movable by means of a fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder device.

5. A cutting device as claimed in Claim 3 or4 in which said movable guide device comprises a pair of rollers arranged to engage the carcass one on each side of the spine thereof.

6. A cutting device as claimed in Claim 3 or 4 in which said movable guide device comprises a pair of skids or slide rails arranged to engage the carcass one on each side of the spine thereof.

7. A cutting device as claimed in Claim 2,3,4,5 or 6, in which said guide means includes a needle shaped guide member mounted on the frame and arranged to engage in the void of the spine for spinal marrow of a carcass to guide the knife through the carcass.

8. A cutting device as claimed in Claim 7, in which the needle shaped guide member is movable on the frame by means of fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder device.

9. A cutting device as claimed in Claim 6 or7 in which the needle shaped guide member is in the form of a two-tined fork.

10. A cutting device for use on an animal carcass substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of cutting an animal carcass substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.