GB2445277A - An animal carcass cutter with a pair of rotating circular knives - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal carcass cutter has first 102 and second 103 circular knives for cutting meat and soft tissue, when the knives and the carcass are brought into contact. The first knife is maintained proximate to the second knife defining a cutting region between the two knives for receiving the carcass. The first and second knives are preferably configured to rotate such that they move in a direction substantially opposite to the carcass feed direction in the cutting region. An animal carcass cutter assembly comprising the animal carcass cutter, holding means (29, Fig 9) to hold a carcass and drive means 17 to move the cutter through the carcass, is also disclosed. A method of cutting a carcass using the animal carcass cutter is also disclosed.

Description

ANIMAL CARCASS CUTTER

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an animal carcass cutter. In particular, the invention relates to an animal carcass cutter having circular knives. The invention also relates to an apparatus for cutting an animal carcass that uses the cutter of the invention. The invention further relates to a system for cutting an animal carcass that involves use of the cutter of the invention.

BACKGROUND

There are many known methods for processing animals after slaughter to obtain a saleable meat product. Traditionally, these methods have involved manually butchering a slaughtered animal using a variety of tools. Typically, non-serrated blades are used to cut flesh because they produce a clean cut through flesh resulting in a meat product having a cleanly cut appearance. However, non-serrated blades are not generally useful for cutting through bone and therefore serrated blades, such as saw blades, are typically used for this purpose.

The manual butchering of animal carcasses requires skill and judgement in the manipulation of both meat and tools. Generally, manual butchering methods are able to produce a precisely butchered meat product. However, these methods can be time consuming. Furthermore, the skill and judgement of the butcher can falter, resulting in an inaccurately butchered meat product or injury to the butcher. Human contact with the carcass also increases the risk of bacterial contamination of the meat product.

There has therefore been an effort to automate the butchering of animal carcasses, particularly in large-scale commercial slaughtering/butchering operations. Automated carcass cutting methós have reduced butchering time and butcher injury. However, such systems are typically only capable of making standardised cuts in or through an animal carcass and are often not adapted to take into account variations between different animal carcasses. The main challenge faced by automated carcass cutting technology has been to reproduce the precision of a skilled butcher.

A major disadvantage with automated cutting methods is that, when cutting into or through an animal carcass, there is no selective use of particular blades for cutting particular portions of the carcass. For example, it is preferable to use non-serrated blades for cutting flesh and serrated blades for cutting through bone. An automated cut into or through an animal carcass is typically made using a cutter having only a serrated saw-like blade, for example a band saw or circular saw. When cutting through both meat and bone, such blades tend to create bone powder that contaminates the cut meat product and spoils its appearance. The powder also increases the risk of bacterial contamination of the meat product by increasing the surface area on which the bacteria grows.

Furthermore, saw-cutting typically results in the loss of 1 to 2 mm of meat yield per cut.

The use of serrated circular knives is becoming more widespread. These bridge the gap between saw blades and non-serrated knife blades, in that they are able to cut through both flesh and bone, without the yield loss inherent in the use of a saw blade.

In order to address these problems, automated methods have been used in conjunction with manual methods to produce a satisfactorily butchered meat product. For example, an automated cutter can be used to make one or more standardised cuts in an animal carcass before a butcher subsequently makes one or more precision cuts, perhaps using several different tools, in order to complete the butchering. However, this mixed automated-manual butchering method addresses only in part the disadvantages associated with manual butchering methods.

One method for improving the precision of automated butchering is to automatically measure an individual animal carcass, for example by an optical sensing means, in order to precisely determine where an automated cut should be made on that carcass. Optical sensing of individual animal carcasses has gone some way to improving the precision of automated cutting methods WO 01/67873 describes a carcass cutting apparatus that includes a carrier system for continuously moving prepared meat carcasses from a loading position to an unloading position. An optical sensing means is used for detecting the size and position of the meat carcasses during movement along the carrier system. A cutter is carried and moved by a mechanical robotic arm under the control of a computer in response to information provided by the optical sensing means whereby the carcass is cut while in motion. The cutter preferably has a cutting edge which moves in a continuous path, for example a circular saw blade.

US 6,623,348 describes a method for processing the carcass of an animal comprising sensing at least a portion of an animal carcass using a sensing assembly to determine the orientation of the animal carcass portion. A point on the animal carcass portion is identified before performing at least one processing step based on the determined orientation of the animal carcass portion. The processing step can be stunning the animal, slaughtering the animal, bleeding the animal, removal of the hide from the animal carcass, decapitation of the animal carcass, evisceration, removing bones from the animal carcass portion, or trimming of the animal carcass portion. The processing step can be performed by a robotic processing device which may include a knife or a saw.

US 5,019,013 describes an apparatus for cutting poultry carcasses where the carcasses are passed along a processing line through a V-shaped separator blade which separates the saddle portion from the breast and back of each carcass. The V-shaped separator blade has a saw portion located mid-way along the length of the cutting edges. However, this saw portion is designed to cut through the skin on the sides of the carcass or between the breast and thighs. It is not designed to cut bone. The backbone is cut using a non-serrated blade, which is possible in soft poultry bones, but not in those of most larger animals.

It is therefore an object of this invention to overcome at least some of the disadvantages associated with known animal carcass cutters, or to at least provide a useful choice.

STATEMENTS OF INVENTION

In a first aspect the invention provides an animal carcass cutter comprising first and second rotating circular knives for cutting meat and soft tissue when the knives and the carcass are brought into contact, wherein the first knife is maintained proximate to the second knife defining a cutting region therebetween for receiving the carcass.

The first and second knives are preferably configured to rotate in a direction opposing the direction of feed of a carcass into the cutting region.

The movement in the first direction may be effected by movement of the carcass towards the cutter and/or movement of the cutter towards the carcass.

Preferably, the first and second knives are substantially planar.

Preferably, the first knife is configured to be substantially parallel to the second knife.

Preferably, the first and second knives are arranged in substantially the same plane.

Alternatively, the plane of the first knife may be offset from the plane of the second knife.

The first knife may overlap the second knife in the cutting region but be spaced apart from the second knife by the offset.

The outer or cutting edge of the first and second knives may be bevelled. According to such embodiments, the first and second knives may overlap such that the overlap is confined to the bevelled portions of the knives. Furthermore, the bevels are preferably complementary in that the bevelled portion of the first knife is substantially parallel to the bevelled portion of the second knife.

The first and second knives may be staggered, whereby the first knife receives the carcass prior to the second knife.

Preferably, the first knife and/or the second knife is/are configured to be pivotable about an axis extending through the cutting region.

The first and/or second knives may be non-serrated. However, according to preferred embodiments, the first and/or second knives are serrated.

Preferably, the cutter comprises a body adapted to cut an animal carcass, the body being coupled to the first and second knives and comprising an aperture extending from an outer edge of the body proximate to the first and second knives into the interior of the body so that the aperture forms two substantially opposed internal edges, wherein the body is adapted to receive the carcass following cutting by the first and second knives.

Preferably, each internal edge has at least one section that is a serrated blade for cutting bone. The serrated blade may be a knife blade or a saw blade.

Preferably, the aperture is wider at the end proximal at the outer edge than at the end distal to the outer edge. In a preferred embodiment, the aperture is V-shaped.

According to a preferred embodiment, the serrated blade of one internal edge is at substantially the same location along that internal edge as the location of the serrated blade along the other internal edge The serrated blades may comprise essentially the full length of each internal edge.

Preferably, the aperture extends at least halfway through the body.

Preferably, the width of the aperture proximal to the outer edge is sufficient to accommodate a vertebrae or aitch bone of the animal carcass.

In a preferred embodiment, the body comprises two sections that are able to pivot about an axis extending through the middle of the body along the length of the aperture.

Preferably, the first and second knives are coupled to and arranged to pivot with respective ones of the two sections.

The animal carcass cutter may be used for a wide variety of types of cuts, but preferred cuts include, separation of forequarter from middle, separation of rack from loin, and separation of middle from hindquarter. The separation of middle from hindquarter may include chump-on middle, chump-off middle, and scallop cut.

The animal carcass cutter may be used to cut the carcass of a range of animals, but preferably quadruped animals such as bovine cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer.

In a second aspect the invention relates to an apparatus for driving an animal carcass cutter into and through an animal carcass, the apparatus comprising an animal carcass cutter of the first aspect of the invention, means to drive the cutter into or through an animal carcass, the means having at least one drive actuator, and means for holding the carcass.

Preferably, an adjustment means for adjusting the height and angle of the cutter is provided and the adjustment means is configured to automatically adjust the height and angle of the cutter.

Preferably, the means to drive the cutter has two drive actuators maintained in a spaced apart arrangement, substantially parallel to each other. Each drive actuator is preferably a pneumatic or hydraulic ram.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a frame adapted to hold the body of the cutter.

The apparatus preferably has means for rotating the cutter about an axis extending through the middle of the body along the length of the aperture.

The apparatus preferably also has means for altering the trajectory of the body so that the cutter cuts through the animal carcass at a predetermined angle.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a method for cutting an animal carcass including the steps of moving an animal carcass on a carrier system from a loading position to an unloading position past one or more animal carcass cutters of the first aspect of the invention, and cutting the carcass using the one or more animal carcass cutters.

Preferably, the method involves carrying an animal carcass past more than one of the animal carcass cutters so that the carcass is cut more than once.

Preferably, the method includes the steps of moving an animal carcass on a carrier system from a loading position to an unloading position past one or more animal carcass cutters of the first aspect of the invention, determining the position at which the one or more cutters should cut the animal carcass, positioning the one or more cutters in order to cut the animal carcass at the predetermined position, and cutting the carcass.

The position at which the one or more cutters should cut the animal carcass is preferably determined using sensing means.

Preferably, the method further includes sending information from the sensing means to a computer system which processes the information and causes the one or more cutters to be positioned in order to cut the animal carcass at a position determined by the sensing means.

Preferably, the sensing means is an optical sensing means or an X-ray sensing means.

Further aspects of the invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description which provides at least one example of a practical application of the invention.

According to a further aspect there is provided a method of cutting a carcass comprising the steps of: i. providing a pair of rotating circular knives maintained proximate each other and defining a cutting region therebetween; ii. holding a carcass in a desired position; and iii. driving the knives through the carcass to cut the carcass.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

One or more embodiments of the invention will be described below by way of example only and without intending to be limiting with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a cutter according to an embodiment of the invention; Figures 2A and 2B, show plan and front schematic views of a configuration of circular knives according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows a plan schematic view of an alternative arrangement of circular knives according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is front schematic view of a further alternative arrangement of circular knives according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a body for use in conjunction with embodiments of the invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of an apparatus, in an extended position, including the body of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a perspective view of an apparatus, in an extended position, including the body of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a perspective view of an apparatus, in a retracted position, including the body of Figure 5; Figure 9 is a perspective view of an apparatus, including the body of Figure 5, showing an animal carcass in position; Figure 10 is a perspective view of an apparatus, including the body of Figure 5, shown in relation to a carrier system; and Figure 11 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention wherein features of the circular knives of Figures 1 to 4 are combined with features of the body and/or apparatus of Figures 5 to 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of cutter 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. Cutter 100 includes frame 101 and circular knives 102, 103 rotatably coupled thereto. The invention is not limited to the particular frame shown. Any means may be used for supporting circular knives 102, 103 in the desired position and with the desired orientation, including independent mounting of each of circular knives 102, 103.

Cutter 100 is adapted to cut carcass 104 by moving cutter 1 in the direction marked UA towards carcass 104. Alternatively or additionally, carcass 104 may be moved towards cutter 100 in the direction marked "B". According to preferred embodiments, circular knives 102, 103 rotate such that adjacent portions thereof move in the direction marked uaP and oppose the motion of carcass 104 towards cutter 100, rather than drawing carcass 104 into circular knives 102, 103. Such an arrangement serves to effectively increase the cutting speed because the relative motion of circular knives 102, 103 in the cutting region approximately equates to the sum of the feed speed of carcass 104 towards cutter 100 (whether that is effected by movement of carcass 104 and/or cutter 100) and the speed of blades 102, 103 in the cutting region (as opposed to the speed of blades 102, 103 minus the feed speed, which is the case where circular knives 102, 103 serve to draw carcass 104 into cutter 100). Thus, it is possible to reduce the rotation speed of circular knives 102, 103 and effect the same cut. Since circular knives 102, 103 oppose the feed motion of carcass 104, such embodiments are better suited for automated implementations due to the forces required to hold carcass 104 in place and urge it towards circular knives 102, 103 whilst resisting the opposing forces generated thereby. However, embodiments of the invention are not limited to automated implementations and may be used in manual and/or partly automated applications. Furthermore, whilst preferred, the invention is not limited to embodiments in which circular knives 102, 103 oppose the feed motion of carcass 104 in the cutting region.

Circular knives 102, 103 may be positioned in the same plane but spaced apart (as shown in Figure 1) so as to avoid contact therebetween and also to prevent cuts being made to portions of carcass 104 in the gap. The particular spacing may be selected based on the desired cut. For example, according to particular embodiments, circular knives 102, 103 may be configured to remove the forequarter of a quadruped such as a cow, pig, sheep or the like, when the shoulder blade or scapula is present in the cut line, or for cut specifications where it is required to cut across ribs. The cutter of the present invention is adapted to make such cuts through bone and flesh to a high level of quality. To this end, circular knives 102, 103 are preferably serrated circular knives.

Alternatively, circular knives 102, 103 may be positioned in planes that are substantially parallel but offset from one another. According to such embodiments, circular knives 102, 103 may overlap each other in the cutting region. Figures 2A and 2B, show plan and front views of such a configuration of circular knives 102, 103. Lower circular knife 102 is shown in dashed line for ease of interpretation. Such embodiments may be used where it is desired to cut vertebrae. According to one embodiment, circular knives 102, 103 are bevelled at the outer or cutting edges thereof. Any overlap may be confined to the bevelled portions of circular knives 102, 103 whereby the bevelled edge of one knife 102, 103 is substantially parallel to the bevelled edge of the other knife 102, 103. Such an arrangement is advantageous because the cut line from one knife 102, 103 can be almost in line with the cut line of the other knife 102, 103 which can help to balance forces exerted on carcass 104.

According to a further alternative embodiment as shown in schematic plan view in Figure 3, circular knives 102, 103 may be staggered such that carcass 104 comes into contact with circular knife 102 prior to circular knife 103. Circular knives 102, 103 may be positioned parallel to each other in the same plane or may be offset from one another, again, possibly with circular knives 102, 103 overlapping in the cutting region.

According to preferred embodiments, circular knives 102, 103 are independently pivotable about an axis running generally centrally therebetween. Such embodiments enable the cutter to perform V-cuts. One or both of circular knives 102, 103 may be pivotable so as to create a desired configuration. A schematic front elevation of one configuration of circular knives 102, 103 is shown in Figure 4. Note that circular knives 102, 103 may not be pivotabiy mounted but may be set in position in the desired configuration.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the invention relates to an animal carcass cutter adapted to cut an animal carcass. The cutter has first and second circular knives 102, 103 for cutting meat and soft tissue when the knives and carcass are brought into contact. The first and second knives 102, 103 are arranged generally proximate to one another and configured to receive the carcass therebetween such that both circular knives cut the carcass at substantially the same time. This serves to balance forces in the directions perpendicular to knives 102, 103 (i.e., perpendicular to arrows "A" and "B" in Figure 1). The particular configuration may be varied depending on the desired cut. For example, the spacing between knives 102, 103 may be adjusted, knives 102, 103 may be offset and/or overlap in the cutting region and/or one or both knives 102, 103 may be pivotably mounted.

Additionally, means may be provided to vary the orientation of knives 102, 103, preferably by pivoting knives 102, 103 as a unit about a point positioned generally centrally therebetween, although other pivot points may also be used. Thus, according to a preferred embodiment, downwards vertical cuts may be effected. Again, circular knives 102, 103 may be set in a particular desired configuration and not adapted to pivot. For example, one cutter could be configured with knives 102, 103 substantially horizontal and a second cutter configured with knives 102, 103 substantially vertical. Any other configurations could also be set.

Thus, the circular knives of the invention may be configured to cut only selected portions of the carcass. This is particularly important where serrated knives are used as cuts to flesh can be limited using the knives and then subsequently performed using a non-serrated blade (see below). Also, cuts to bone can be limited so that only those cuts necessary are made. This helps to limit the generation of bone powder during the cuts.

The cutter of the invention may be used in combination with a body having an aperture extending from an outer edge thereof, proximate to the first and second circular knives 102, 103, into the interior of the body so that the aperture forms two substantially opposed internal edges, where each internal edge has a serrated blade. Preferably, each internal edge has at least one section that is a serrated blade for cutting bone. Each blade may be integrally formed with the body or may be attached to the body.

As used in this specification, the term "serrated blade" means any blade having an edge -11 -that is indented in any way to aid cutting, and includes without limitation a jagged edge, a saw edge, or an edge with teeth, and includes a serrated knife blade or a serrated saw blade.

As used in this specification, the term "non-serrated blade" means any blade having a generally smooth edge absent any indentations or teeth.

The cutter is adapted to cut any type of animal carcass including bovine cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer carcasses. The cutter is primarily useful in automated or semi-automated cattle and sheep butchering operations. In most operations, a carcass will have been split open longitudinally and eviscerated prior to being cut by the cutter of the invention.

The body is typically made of metal, for example stainless steel, and is preferably rigid and flat. The cutter and/or the body is also preferably able to be attached to an apparatus for propelling the cutter into or through an animal carcass. Such adaptations can be bolt holes that are formed in the body, or they can be protrusions that extend from the sides of the body which can be clamped by the apparatus for propelling the cutter into or through an animal carcass.

The aperture preferably extends from the middle or thereabouts of the outer edge of one side of the body into the interior of the body. Preferably the aperture extends in a substantially straight line into the interior of the body at least halfway through the body.

More preferably, the aperture extends into the interior of the body along more than three quarters of the length of the body.

The aperture gradually narrows from the outer edge of the body into the interior of the body. Preferably the aperture narrows to a point, i.e. is V-shaped. The width of the aperture at the outer edge of the body should, in most applications, not be narrower than the width of the vertebrae or aitch bone of the animal carcass (depending on which cut the cutter is configured to perform).

The blades and circular knives are typically made of a suitable metal, for example stainless steel. In order to effectively cut through both flesh and bone, the arrangement of circular knives and the serrated blades can be altered according to the location and type of cut to be made in or through the animal carcass.

-12 -The method of the invention includes the steps of moving an animal carcass on a carrier system from a loading position to an unloading position past one or more apparatus of the invention and cutting the carcass using the cutter of the invention.

The method will typically involve at least some of the steps of moving an animal carcass on a carrier system from a loading position to an unloading position past one or more apparatus of the invention, determining the position at which the cutter of the first aspect of the invention should cut the animal carcass, communicating a cut position to the apparatus of the invention via a computer controller, raising or lowering the apparatus to the correct height to perform the cut, holding carcass with a holding member which grips the carcass below the cut position, tilting the cutter forwards or backwards (if necessary, for example to allow the cutter to be driven between the ribs of an animal carcass), rolling the cutter on a roll axis to one side or the other (if necessary, for example to allow cutter to be driven between the ribs of an animal carcass), independently pivoting sections of the cutter on a pivot axis to allow the cutter to produce a V-shaped or inverted V-shaped cut (if desired), and driving the cutter into or through an animal carcass.

According to a particular embodiment, when the cutter is driven into the carcass, circular knives 102, 103 come into contact with the carcass. Circular knives 102, 103 cut through both flesh and bone in their path. Circular knives 102, 103 may be spaced apart such that they do not cut the vertebrae of the carcass. Instead, the vertebrae (or aitchbone) may pass into the aperture of the body and, as the aperture narrows, the serrated blades cut the bone of the vertebrae (or aitchbone).

After cutting, the apparatus may be lowered slightly to create a gap between the two portions of the carcass so that any portions of flesh still attached become separated. The cut portion of the carcass is released from the holding member, allowing it to drop out of the mechanism and be transported away from the apparatus, for example by dropping it onto a belt conveyor. The cutter is retracted either immediately before or immediately after the cut portion has been released.

The portion of carcass remaining on the carrier system is carried away from the culling apparatus, and the next carcass is moved into position. The method is repeated with the next carcass. In some cases it is desirable to be able to make two or more cuts in one carcass. In this case, the cutting positions for all cuts are determined initially by the -13-sensing means. The carrier system then carries the carcass past one or more apparatus in order to make the desired cuts.

The invention therefore provides a cutter that is able to efficiently and effectively cut both flesh and bone. The arrangement minimises bone powder contamination and loss of meat yield. The cutter is adjustable, by altering the arrangement of the circular knives and the serrated blades on the body, and by adjusting the angle of the knives/blades. This increases cutting precision. The apparatus of the invention is further able to increase cutting precision by adjusting the height of the cutter and the trajectory of the cutter to suit a particular cut and/or a particular animal carcass. Holding the carcass stable whilst a cutter cuts the carcass also allows precise cuts to be made. The increased precision ofcutting achieved by the invention minimises bone powder contamination and loss of meat yield. The apparatus of the invention can be employed in an automated method, thereby avoiding the disadvantages of manual butchering methods.

Thus, circular knives 102, 103 may be used in conjunction with cutting blades which serve to make additional cuts, preferably following processing by circular knives 102, 103.

Figure 5 shows body 1 having an aperture 2. Serrated blade 3 is preferably located on each internal edge 4 of aperture 2. Serrated blades 3 run along approximately three quarters of the length of internal edges 4.

Body 1 has protrusions 9 that extend from two sides of body 1. Protrusions 9 have fastening holes 10. Other fastening holes, for example holes 11, allow body 1 to be attached to the mounting apparatus (described below). Any suitable means for fastening may be used, for example rivets.

In a preferred embodiment, body 1 comprises two sections 12 that are able to pivot about an axis that extends through the middle or thereabouts of body I along the length of aperture 2, i.e. where the two sections 12 meet. Pivoting these sections 12 independently allows body 1 to form a V-shape, or an inverted V-shape. Body 1 is then able to produce a V-shaped cut, or an inverted V-shaped cut, in the animal carcass (known as a scallop cut). This feature makes a wider range of cuts possible and improves the precision of the cut.

Figure 6 shows part of apparatus 13 for propelling body I into or through an animal carcass. Apparatus 13 has frame 14 adapted to hold body 1. Frame 14 has struts 15 adapted to fixably engage the sides of body 1. For example, each strut 15 has at least one bolt bracket 16 that is attached to the strut 15. Alternatively, body 1 can be attached to struts 15 by clamps or screws. Optionally, body 1 can be welded to struts 15.

Apparatus 13 has two pneumatic rams 17 and cross bars 18. Pneumatic rams 17 are attached to the ends of two struts 15 of frame 14. Cross bars 18 maintain pneumatic rams 17 in a spaced apart arrangement, substantially parallel to each other.

Pneumatic rams 17 propel body 1 into or through an animal carcass when in use.

However, the means to propel body 1 may also be a hydraulic ram or an electric motor and ball screw propulsion arrangement. The means to propel body 1 can be attached directly thereto. However, it is preferably attached to frame 14.

In Figure 6, both pneumatic rams 17 are in an extended position. Pneumatic rams 17 define a space that is large enough to receive frame 14 and body 1 when pneumatic rams 17 are in a retracted position (as shown in Figure 8). Cross bar 18 has aperture 19 that allows frame 14 and body I to pass through cross bar 18 when pneumatic rams 17 are actuated. Thus, when pneumatic rams 17 are actuated, frame 14 and body 1 are propelled through cross bar 18 until pneumatic rams 17 are fully extended. In this way, body I can be driven into or through an animal carcass.

Figure 7 shows body 1 where the two sections 12 have been pivoted about an axis running along the length of aperture 2. Sections 12 are shown forming an inverted V-shape enabling body 1 to produce a scallop cut in an animal carcass.

Apparatus 13, as shown in Figure 8, is able to support body 1 and frame 14 at a suitable height. Apparatus 13 has actuators 20 for adjusting the angle of body 1 relative to horizontal. Actuators 20 are shown as pneumatic rams.

Figure 9 shows two upright columns 21 supported by base 22. Columns 21 are connected to tubular steel frame 23 on which frame 14 is mounted. Tubular steel frame 23 has front plate 25 having an aperture adapted to allow frame 14 and body 1 to pass through front plate 25. Pneumatic ram 17 and cross bar 18 arrangement is pivotally connected to a point on face plate 25 and to a point substantially opposite on frame 14.

Each column 21 has first arm 26 and second arm 27. First arm 26 is pivotally connected to both column 21 and the upper edge of front plate 25, relative to the ground. Second arm 27 is pivotally connected to both column 21 and the lower edge of front plate 25, relative to the ground. Columns 21 may be extended or retracted by any suitable means, such as an electric motor and ball screw arrangement. Extension of columns 21 increases the height of body 1 relative to the ground.

Figure 9 also shows a means for holding animal carcass 28 during propulsion of body I into or through animal carcass 28. The means for holding animal carcass 28 is holding member 29 which cooperates with another member (shown only in part) to clamp animal carcass 28. Holding member 29 applies a force to animal carcass 28 that substantially opposes the force applied to carcass 28 by body 1 as body 1 is driven into or through carcass 28. In this way, holding member 29 allows body I to effect a clean cut of animal carcass 28 at the desired location.

An example of an apparatus that includes a carrier system and an optical sensing means is illustrated in Figure 10. Carrier system 30 carries animal carcasses 31 through optical sensing station 32 that has an optical sensing means. The optical sensing means determines the position and angle at which body I should cut each animal carcass 31. A computer system receives and processes information from the optical sensing means.

Carrier system 30 then carries each carcass 31 to a position adjacent to apparatus 13.

The holding member of the apparatus (not shown) engages animal carcass 31. The computer system then positions apparatus 13 in order to cut animal carcass 31 at a position determined by the optical sensing means. The computer system then actuates the hydraulic rams in order to drive body 1 into or through animal carcass 31. Animal carcass 31 is then carried along carrier system 30 to a position adjacent to another apparatus 13 to undergo a further cutting operation or until it reaches the unloading position on carrier system 30.

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of an embodiment in which the circular knives of Figures 1 to 4 are combined with the body and apparatus of Figures 5 to 10. As shown in Figure 11, circular knives 102, 103 are coupled to struts 15, which are shown in the retracted position. Circular knives 102, 103 may used in conjunction with the features of any of Figures 5 to 10. Also, circular knives 102, 103 may be mounted on an apparatus similar to that of apparatus 13 but omitting body 1 such that the only cuts effected by the apparatus are made using circular knives 102, 103. Thus, pneumatic rams 17 may be used to force circular knives 102, 103 into and through a carcass to effect cuts, with actuators 20 and columns 21 used to alter the orientation of the cuts.

According to embodiments in which circular knives 102, 103 are used in combination with body 1, circular knives 102, 103 may rotate continuously or alternatively, they may be deactivated after the carcass has passed therethrough and whilst subsequent cuts are made, such as those by body 1.

Although the invention is described with reference to the Figures, it should be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the claims. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist to specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred in this specification.

The animal carcass cutter of the invention has wide applicability to the butchering of animals, particularly in automated or partly automated butchering operations. The invention relates to an improved device for cutting an animal carcass ri a way that minimises unnecessary wastage of meat, avoids contamination of meat with bone powder, and is able to be automated including in combination with a sensing means such as an optical or X-ray sensing means.

Claims (48)

1. An animal carcass cutter comprising first and second rotating circular knives for cutting meat and soft tissue when the knives and the carcass are brought into contact, wherein the first knife is maintained proximate to the second knife defining a cutting region therebetween for receiving the carcass.

2. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in claim I wherein the first and second knives are configured to rotate in a direction opposing the direction of feed of a carcass into the cutting region.

3. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first and second knives are substantially planar.

4. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the first knife is configured to be substantially parallel to the second knife.

5. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the plane of the first knife is offset from the plane of the second knife.

6. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first knife overlaps the second knife in the cutting region but is spaced apart from the second knife by the offset.

7. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second knives are staggered, whereby the first knife receives the carcass prior to the second knife.

8. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first knife is configured to be pivotable about an axis extending through the cutting region.

9. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second knife is configured to be pivotable about an axis extending through the cutting region. -18-

10. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first knife and/or the second knife is serrated.

11. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a body adapted to cut an animal carcass, the body being coupled to the first and second knives and comprising an aperture extending from an outer edge of the body proximate to the first and second knives into the interior of the body so that the aperture forms two substantially opposed internal edges for cutting the carcass, wherein the body is adapted to receive the carcass following cutting by the first and second knives.

12. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in claim 11 wherein each internal edge has at least one section that is a serrated blade for cutting bone.

13. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in claim 12 wherein the serrated blade is a knife blade.

14. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in claim 12 wherein the serrated blade is a saw blade.

15. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14 wherein the aperture is wider at the end proximal to the outer edge than at the end distal to the outer edge.

16. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in claim 15 wherein the aperture is V-shaped.

17. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein the serrated blade of one internal edge is at substantially the same location along that internal edge as the location of the serrated blade along the other internal edge.

18. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17 wherein the serrated blades comprise essentially the full length of each internal edge.

19. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 18 wherein the aperture extends at least halfway through the body.

20. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 19 wherein the width of the aperture proximal to the outer edge is sufficient to accommodate a vertebrae or aitch bone of the animal carcass.

21. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 20 wherein the body comprises two sections that are able to pivot about an axis extending through the middle of the body along the length of the aperture.

22. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in claim 21 wherein the first knife is coupled to a first of the two sections and the second knife is coupled to the second of the two sections, whereby the first and second knives are configured to pivot with their respective sections.

23. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims adapted to make any of the following cuts to an animal carcass: separation of forequarter from middle, separation of rack from loin, and separation of middle from hindquarter.

24. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in claim 23 wherein the separation of middle from hindquarter cut is a chump-on middle cut, a chump-off middle cut, or a scallop cut.

25. An animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims adapted to cut the carcass of any animal of the group comprising bovine cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer.

26. An animal carcass cutter assembly comprising: a) an animal carcass cutter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; b) a carcass holding arrangement for holding a carcass steady whilst it is cut; and C) drive means for moving the animal carcass cutter through the carcass.

27. An animal carcass cutter assembly as claimed in claim 26 including adjustment means for adjusting the height and/or angle of the cutter.

28. An animal carcass cutter assembly as claimed in claim 26 wherein the drive means includes a pneumatic ram or a hydraulic ram. -20-

29. An animal carcass cutter assembly as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 28 wherein the assembly further comprises a frame adapted to hold the cutter.

30. An animal carcass cutter assembly as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 29 comprising means for rotating the cutter about an axis extending through the middle of the body along the length of the aperture.

31. An animal carcass cutter assembly as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 30 comprising means for altering the trajectory of the body so that the cutter cuts through the animal carcass at a predetermined angle.

32. A method of cutting an animal carcass including the steps of: a) moving an animal carcass on a carrier system from a loading position to an unloading position past one or more animal carcass cutters of any one of claims 1 to 25; and b) cutting the carcass using the one or more animal carcass cutters.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the animal carcass is carried past more than one of the animal carcass cutters so that the carcass is cut more than once.

34. A method as claimed in claim 32 or claim 33 comprising the additional steps of: C) determining the position at which the one or more cutters should cut the animal carcass: and d) positioning the one or more cutters in order to cut the animal carcass at the predetermined position.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34 wherein sensing means is used to determine the position at which the one or more cutters should cut the animal carcass.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35 further comprising sending information from the sensing means to a computer system which processes the information and causes the one or more cutters to be positioned in order to cut the animal carcass at a position determined by the sensing means.

37. A method as claimed in claim 35 or claim 36 wherein the sensing means is an -21 -optical sensing means.

38. A method as claimed in claim 35 or claim 36 wherein the sensing means is an X-ray sensing means.

39. An animal carcass cutter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

40. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

41. A method of cutting a carcass comprising the steps of: i. providing a pair of rotating circular knives maintained proximate each other and defining a cuthng region therebetween; ii. holding a carcass in a desired position; and iii. driving the knives through the carcass to cut the carcass.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41 wherein the knives rotate in a direction opposing the direction of feed of the carcass into the cutting region.

43. A method as claimed in claim 41 or claim 42 wherein the carcass is imaged and analysed to determine a desired cutting path and the knives are driven through the desired cutting path to cut the carcass.

44 A method as claimed in claim 43 wherein the carcass is imaged by optical sensing means.

45. A method as claimed in claim 43 wherein the carcass is imaged by X-ray sensing means.

46. A method as claimed in any one of claims 43 to 45 wherein image information is supplied to a computer system which calculates a desired cutting path and controls actuators to drive the knives along the desired cutting path through the carcass.

47. A method as claimed in any one of claims 41 to 46 wherein after completing a cut with the circular knives the carcass is cut by advancing a pair of opposed -22 -converging cutting edges through the carcass.

48. A method as claimed in claim 41 substantially as herein described.