IE84808B1

IE84808B1 - A process for handling meat carcasses

Info

Publication number: IE84808B1
Application number: IE2004/0223A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Arthur Mcdonnell Declan
Original assignee: Devrone Limited
Filing date: 2004-03-30
Publication date: 2008-02-06

Abstract

ABSTRACT A process for removing meat from a beef carcass portion comprising the steps of providing a mechanical actuator which is driven by an electrical motor, setting a force to be applied by the actuator and the speed of the actuator, presenting a hung carcass portion of beef to the actuator, holding one of a bone to be removed or meat substantially stationary with an anchor and operating the actuator to move the meat away from the bone with the preset speed and force, cutting the meat away from the bone as the actuator pushes the meat away from the bone; and stopping the actuator if a set force threshold is exceeded. The process involves setting the direction of travel of the actuator and the distance to be traversed by the actuator. Either the bone is anchored and meat moved away form the bone by the actuator, or the meat is anchored and the bone is moved away from the meat by the actuator.

Description

A Process for Handling Meat Carcasses Introduction This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for handling meat carcasses using machines to assist operator deboning.

There are several types of boning machines that can be used to assist an operator in removing meat from a bone in an in-line carcass processing system Such known systems however are generally pneumatic or hydraulic which facilitate only a limited range of movements. Such known systems are therefore generally inflexible. They are also in some cases unreliable and require regular maintenance with consequent down time and loss of production.

There is therefore a need for an improved method and apparatus which will address at least some of these issues.

Sgatements of Invention According to the invention there is provided a process for removing meat trom a beef carcass portion comprising the steps 01‘:- providing a mechanical actuator which is driven by an electrical motor; setting a force to be applied by the actuator and the speed of the actuator: presenting a hung carcass portion of beef to the actuator: holding one of a bone to be removed or meat substantially stationary with an anchor: operating the actuator to move the meat away from the bone with the preset speed and force; cutting the meat away from the bone as the actuator pushes the meat away from the bone; and stopping the actuator if a set force threshold is exceeded.

In one embodiment the process comprises the step of: setting the direction of travel of the actuator and the distance to be traversed by the actuator.

In another embodiment a bone is anchored and meat is moved away from the bone by the actuator. in a further embodiment meat is anchored and the bone is moved away from the meat by the actuator. in one embodiment the process is carried out at a first deboning station, and after removal of the bone at the first deboning station, the carcass portion is delivered to a second deboning station at which the process is repeated to remove a further bone from the carcass portion.

In another embodiment at the first deboning station, a bone is anchored and meat is moved away from the bone by the actuator.

In a timber embodiment at the second deboning station, meat is anchored and a bone is moved away from the meat by the actuator.

Claims

1. CLAIMS A process for removing meat from a beef carcass portion comprising the steps of:- providing a mechanical actuator which is driven by an electrical setting a force to be applied by the actuator and the speed of the actuator; presenting a hung carcass portion of beef to the actuator; holding one of a bone to be removed or meat substantially stationary with an anchor; operating the actuator to move the meat away from the bone with the preset speed and force; cutting the meat away from the bone as the actuator pushes the meat away from the bone; and stopping the actuator if a set force threshold is exceeded. A process as claimed in claim 1 including the step of setting the direction of travel of the actuator and the distance to be traversed by the actuator. A process as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein a bone is anchored and meat is moved away from the bone by the actuator. A process as claimed in claim I or 2 wherein meat is anchored and the bone is moved away from the meat by the actuator. A process as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the process is carried out at a ﬁrst deboning station, and after removal of the bone at the first deboning station, the carcass portion is delivered to a second deboning station at which the process is repeated to remove a further bone from the carcass portion. A process as claimed in claim 5 wherein, at the first deboning station, a bone is anchored and meat is moved away from the bone by the actuator. A process as claimed in claim 5 wherein, at the second deboning station, meat is anchored and a bone is moved away from the meat by the actuator. A process as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7 wherein at the second deboning station the process includes the steps of: mounting the carcass portion on a drop rail; lowering the drop rail; engaging the actuator against the bone at a preset speed and force to separate the meat from the bone; cutting the meat away from the bone as the actuator moves the bone away from the meat; at a predetcmiined position along the stroke of the actuator. raising the drop rail to present the bone meat interface to an operator to continue cutting: and stopping the actuator if a set force threshold is exceeded. A process as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the carcass portion is a carcass side. A process as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the carcass portion is a quarter. A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein the carcass portion is a forequarter. A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein the carcass portion is a hindquarter. A process substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing. Meat when deboned by a process as claimed in any preceding claim.