IE84476B1 - An animal quarter deboner assembly - Google Patents

Description

An animal guarter deboner assembly introduction The present invention relates to a method of handling meat carcasses and in particular to an animal quarter deboner assembly.

It is known to provide animal quarter deboners and, in particular, animal quarter deboner assemblies which are essentially machines to assist operator deboning of carcass quarters. They are arranged to align the meat and bones with the operator in an optimum relationship to each other and then to pull the meat or bones apart from each other. The advantage of such deboners is that they reduce repetitive strain on operator muscles and reduce the forces required by the operator to clear meat from the bones. Such deboners increase the operator efficiency. However, they are not, by any means, efficient in practice and indeed many of the deboners, presently in use, cause more damage to the meat than othewvise. A further problem in relation to deboners is the necessity to improve the yield of fore quarter shoulder muscles and heretofore, there has been no satisfactory mechanical deboner that will achieve this aim.

GB Patent Specification No. 2277245 (Eez-Away Limited) is a typical example of a carcass deboner assembly of the general type in which carcasses are deboned using an overhead rail canying carcass transport hooks. In this particular specification, there is described a drop amt which is pivotally mounted to a bracket and a pneumatic arm is used to push the am downwardly to separate the carcass to allow an operative to cut away part of the carcass.

PCT Patent Specification No. W000/48468 (Kildegaard) describes another such deboner assembly. Unfortunately, the constmctions of both of these deboning assemblies is relatively crude and the deboning is not particularly accurately controlled and while more than adequate in skilled hands, are not easily used by the less skilled.

The present invention is directed towards providing an improved animal quarter deboner assembly which will improve the yield of meat from the animal carcass, will "' 84476 specifically improve the yield of fore quarter shoulder muscles, reduce repetitive strain and improve operator productivity.

Statements of Invention According to the present invention, there is provided an animal quarter deboner assembly comprising:- a rodless pneumatic cylinder mounted parallel to an actuator rail, for mounting parallel to a meat transfer rail; a carriage mounted on the actuator rail; a magnetic shuttle block embracing the cylinder and slidable thereon and connected to the carriage; a vertically adjustable support bar depending from the carriage; a substantially horizontal meat pusher arm pivotally mounted on the support bar beneath the carriage; locking means for securing the pusher arm in a position orthogonal to the meat transfer rail; means for holding a quarter in a fixed position on the transfer rail; pressure sensing means for measuring the pressure exerted by the pusher arm; motion sensing means for determining the travel of the pusher arm; and a controller connected to the cylinder, the pressure sensing means and the motion sensing means, the controller having means to control the operation of the cylinder in response to data received from the pressure sensing means and the motion sensing means.

The use of the controller according to the present invention ensures that the optimum pressure is, at all times, exerted on the meat and that the meat is pulled apart at the correct rate, not causing the meat to tear, or, even more importantly, to ensure that the operator can cleanly remove the meat from the exposed bones.

In one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of limit switches are mounted on the meat transfer rail forming the motion sensing means.

In a still further errrbodiment of the invention, the controller comprises:- input means for reception of carcass characteristics as a carcass type; a database of suitable pressure, speed and acceleration requirements for each carcass type: and output means to control the operation of the cylinder having regard to the carcass type.

In one embodiment of the invention, the carriage is mounted on the actuator rail by horizontally and vertically arranged guide rollers.

In another embodiment of the invention, the controller comprises displacement decoders, access controllers and a PLC for continuous monitoring of the rodless pneumatic cylinder.

Ideally, the controller is a programmable computer.

In another assembly according to the invention, there is provided an additional deboning device compn'sing:- a rigid support for mounting below the meat transfer rail and rotatable about a substantially vertical axis; ‘ a flexible connector mounted adjacent one end on the support, spaced- apart from the vertical axis; a meat engaging hook adjacent the other free end of the connector", a stationary bone engaging clamp above the support; and means for rotating the support to exert a rotational and downward pulling force on the hook.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a front view of a deboner according to the invention, Fig. 2 is an end view of the deboner, Fig. 3 is an underneath plan view of the deboner mounted adjacent a transfer rail, Fig. 4 is a plan, partially diagrammatic view of the pneumatics of the deboner of Figs. 1 to 3, Fig. 5 is a schematic side view showing the deboner in action, Fig. 6 is an elevational view of another deboner forming part of the assembly, Fig. 7 is an underneath plan view of the deboner of Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a top plan view of portion of the deboner of Fig‘. 6.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof, there is provided a horizontal deboner, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, comprising a stainless steel housing 2 mounting a rodless pneumatic cylinder 3 connected by a magnetic shuttle block 4 to a carriage 5, mounted on an actuator rail 6. The carriage 5 incorporates four horizontal guide rollers 7 and four vertical guide rollers 8.

A vertically adjustable support bar 10, mounted in an adjustable brace 11, is connected by a cantilevered bar 15 to the carriage 5. On its lower extremity, the support bar 10 carries a substantially horizontal meat pusher arm 16 which is rotatable at 17. A locking cam 18 is provided. Limit switches 20 are also provided. The deboner 1 is illustrated in Fig. 3 mounted parallel to a meat transfer rail 25.

The transfer rail 25 carries hooks 26 and is pivotally mounted at 29 so that portion of it forms a drop rail 28 raised and lowered about the pivot 29 by a pneumatic ram 33.

Various pressure sensing switches and a controller are provided but are not shown, as the controller can be provided by any suitable computerised device. There is also provided motion sensing means for determining the travel of the pusher arm, in this particular embodiment, provided by the limit switches 20. The controller will have means to control the operation of the rodless pneumatic cylinder 3 in response to data received from the pressure sensing means and the motion sensing means. Further, the controller can comprise any programmable device having input means for reception of carcass characteristics as a carcass type. It is envisaged that a database of suitable pressure speed and acceleration requirements for each carcass type can be programmed into the computer or controller, probably by means of a suitable database.

Then, output means will also be provided to control the operation of the cylinder having regard to the carcass type.

The controller may be arranged to change the pressure exerted by the pusher ann on the meat, for example, a high pressure setting is used to remove meat that is more tinnly attached to the bone and this normally occurs during the initial phase of a stroke, for example, at the ileum bone. When part of the quarter with less firmly attached bone is reached, for example, deboning the vertebral column, the air pressure in the cylinder is reduced to a lower level. The pulling or pushing force can be regulated by differential pressure along the cylinder block with a back pressure of 3.5 bar being usual. Under those conditions, the rodless pneumatic cylinder can exert loads of between 25 and 80 Kgs at linear speeds in the range of 15 to 40 m/min.

It is also envisaged that the degree of control can be enhanced by utilising servo- pneumatic technology in which displacement decoders and access controllers are installed between a PLC and the rodless pneumatic cylinder to continuously monitor member position, speed, acceleration and force, so that a pre-sequence of events can be programmed and controlled. This technology, when used, would eliminate the need for ancillary limit switches and valves which are often maintenance intensive.

Referring now to Fig. 5, in operation, a carcass quarter, whether a fore quarter or a hind quarter, identified by the reference numeral 30, is carried along the transfer rait 25 in conventional manner and then a hook on the drop arm 28 and identified by the reference numeral 31, is connected to portion of the carcass 30 and the pusher ann 16 is pivoted into position and the rodless pneumatic cylinder 3 operated to push the quarter 30 away from the hook 31. The bone to be removed is held static and the meat is pushed away from the bone with a predetermined force and speed. As the pusher arm 16 moves forward, the operator will clear the meat from the bone in an ergonomic fashion. If a given force threshold is exceeded, for example, due to the meat not being cleared from the bones. the puller arm 16 stops so as not to tearthe meat. The speed, threshold force and direction of travel can be set for one or more points along the entire length of the stroke. These settings can be adjusted for different categories of raw material, for example, hind quarters, fore quarters and then for different types of animals such as steers, heifers,'cows and so on. On completion of a stroke, the puller arm 16 returns to the start position at a higher speed so as to minimise cycle time. It will also be appreciated that the stroke length is adjustable. in not all situations, will the drop rail which is operated by the pneumatic ram 33 be used.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, there is illustrated an alternative construction of deboner which can be used in conjunction with the assembly for the detachment of muscles from round bones and in particular, for the detachment of shoulder muscles.

This vertical deboner is indicated generally by the reference numeral 40 and comprises a rigid support arm 41 mounted on a support rail 42 carrying a clamp, indicated generally by the reference numeral 45, in Fig. 6. The clamp 45 comprises a pneumatic cylinder 46 for moving a hook 47 between a rest position, as identified by the reference numeral 47(a) to a clamping position, identified by the reference numeral 47(b), where a round bone can be clamped by it. Further, the vertical deboner comprises a support table 50 rotably mounted on a support shaft 51 driven by a motor 52. The support table 50 carries a pair of upright rods 53, on each of which is mounted connectors and hooks 54 and 55 respectively. in operation, shoulder muscle with round bones is introduced into the work station and the round bones are clamped rigid using the clamp 45. The stainless steel hooks 54 are then inserted into the shoulder muscles and as the table 50 is rotated, a downward and rotational force is exerted on the meat which pulls the meat away from the bones and the accompanying thick membrane which runs through the centre of the shoulder muscle. The rotary action ensures a smooth and complete removal of the membrane which is not possible to achieve using conventional butchery techniques. It has been found that as a result, the eating quality of the muscle is dramatically improved as well as the visual appearance being transformed into 100% lean meat tissue.

The speed of rotation of the table is controlled via a frequency inverter and is bi- directional for left-sided and right-sided beef quarters. in the specification the terms "comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising" or any variation thereof and the terms "include, includes, included and including" or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described, but may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. An animal quarter deboner assembly comprising:- a rodless pneumatic cylinder mounted parallel to an actuator rail, for mounting parallel to a meat transfer rail; a carriage mounted on the actuator rail; a magnetic shuttle block embracing the cylinder and slidable thereon and connected to the carriage; a vertically adjustable support bar depending from the carriage; a substantially horizontal meat pusher arm pivotally mounted on the support bar beneath the carriage; locking means for securing the pusher arm in a posifion orthogonal to the meat transfer rail; means for holding a quarter in a fixed position on the transfer rail; pressure sensing means for measuring the pressure exerted by the pusher arm; motion sensing means for determining the travel of the pusher arm; and a controller connected to the cylinder, the pressure sensing means and the motion sensing means, the controller having means to control the operation of the cylinder in response to data received from the pressure sensing means and the motion sensing means.

2. ~ A deboning assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which a plurality of limit switches are mounted on the meat transfer rail forming the motion sensing means.

3. A deboning assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the controller comprises:- input means for reception of carcass characteristics as a carcass type; a database of suitable pressure, speed and acceleration requirements for each carcass type; and output means to control the operation of the cylinder having regard to the carcass type.

4. A deboning assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the carriage is mounted on the actuator rail by horizontally and vertically arranged guide rollers.

5. A deboning assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the controller comprises displacement decoders, access controllers and a PLC for continuous monitoring of the rodless pneumatic cylinder.

6. A deboning assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the controller is a programmable computer.

7. A deboning assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which an additional deboning device is provided comprising :- a rigid support for mounting below the meat transfer rail and rotatable about a substantially vertical axis; a flexible connector mounted adjacent one end on the support, spaced- apart from the vertical axis; a meat engaging hook adjacent the otherfree end of the connector; a stationary bone engaging clamp above the support; and means for rotating the support to exert a rotational and downward pulling force on the hook. A deboning assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Meat prepared by the deboning assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.