NL1039317C2

NL1039317C2 - Bone holder for meat processing equipment.

Info

Publication number: NL1039317C2
Application number: NL1039317A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Jacobus Eliza Hazenbroek; Gerrit Hendrik Woltman; Dirk Cornelis Stooker
Original assignee: Foodmate B V
Priority date: 2012-01-23
Filing date: 2012-01-23
Publication date: 2013-07-25

Description

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Title: BONE HOLDER FOR MEAT PROCESSING EQUIPMENT

The invention relates to a bone holder for use in meat processing equipment.

A bone holder of this kind is disclosed in European patent publication EP 0439784, which describes a poultry thigh deboner. Deboning of 5 animal parts, such as thighs, legs or wings, is usually performed either scraping the meat from the bone, or by pulling or pushing the bone through the surrounding meat. In mechanised meat processing equipment, such as disclosed in EP 0439784, it has been accepted practise to hold a knuckled bone end by a generally U-shaped or C-shaped bifurcated yoke. Conventionally the 10 U or C-shaped slot defined by the yoke is dimensioned large enough for an average range of bone shafts and small enough to retain a knuckle associated with the same average range of bone shafts. This arrangement has been reasonably successful, while bone sizes outside of the range of poultry - i.e. goose and turkey bones - have been accommodated for by exchanging the 15 yokes for differently sized examples. Problems have nonetheless presented themselves in that accurately holding bones that were close to the boundaries of the predetermined size range, were not always reliably held. Also exchanging the yokes for differently sized examples has required the interruption of meat processing for quite long intervals.

20 Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to propose an improved bone holder for use in meat processing, which handles a larger range of animal bones, and reduces meat processing downtime. In a more general sense it is an object of the present invention to at least overcome or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art. It is also an object of the 25 present invention to at least provide alternative structures which are less cumbersome in manufacture and use and which can be made and used relatively inexpensively. At any rate the present invention is at the very least aimed at offering a useful choice and contribution to the existing art.

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To this end the present invention provides a bone holder for use in meat processing equipment including a bifurcated bone receiving yoke having a substantially U-shaped receiving slot, wherein the bone receiving yoke comprises a first yoke part and a second yoke part, movable relative to one 5 another, so as to accommodate differently sized animal bones. In this manner the U-shaped receiving slot can be sized to accept knuckled bone shafts of a variety of sizes, without a need to interrupt the meat processing process to exchange bone receiving yokes for a different size of bones. In this regard it is advantageous when the substantially U-shaped receiving slot of the bone 10 receiving yoke has opposite first and second parallel edges with the first parallel edge formed on the first yoke part and the second parallel edge formed on the second yoke part. The parallel edges make positioning of a bone in the U-shaped slot less critical, as to the depth of insertion. Thereby it is further advantageous when relative movement of the first and second yoke parts is 15 guided with the second parallel edge remaining parallel to the first parallel edge. This measure ensures that the same benefit of reliable accommodation of the bone is maintained of the entire range of adjustment.

Preferably the bone holder of the invention has at least one of the first and second yoke parts guided in respect of the other in a manner that 20 ensures that it remains in a common plane irrespective of its position of relative movement. Thereby accuracy is further enhanced.

Also preferably the first yoke part may be a stationary yoke part and the second yoke part may be a movable yoke part that is relatively movable with respect to the first stationary yoke part. It is generally convenient to have 25 only a single yoke part movable to simplify the constructional effort and to reduce costs. However a particularly large movement capacity may only be achieved when both yoke parts are arranged to be movable.

It is further advantageous for the bone holder according to the invention to further include a holder body for mounting the first and second 30 yoke parts, wherein the second yoke part has a guiding shaft, slidably engaged 3 in the holder body. Such a holder body, when formed as a separate component, may receive the yoke parts in a demountable fashion, to allow easy exchange of yoke parts that have become damaged. The holder body may be made from a different material for reduced friction with the slidably engaged guiding shaft.

5 Advantageously the shaft part is thereto non-rotatably engaged in the holder body.

As a further matter of preference the bone holder according to the invention may have the second yoke part resiliently biased towards the first yoke part, to urge the second parallel edge in a position nearest to the first 10 parallel edge. This resilient bias eliminates any need for additional adjustment means for adjusting the position of the movable yoke part. Adaptation of the U-shaped receiving slot to the circumferential size of a bone shaft is thereby automatically obtained by forcing the bone shaft into the receiving slot. A further advantage thereby obtained is that the bone shaft can be held without 15 any play, or without any excessive play. The necessary resilient bias may favourably be provided by a spring acting on the second yoke part, and more preferably in that the second yoke part is resiliently biased towards the first yoke part by a spring acting on the guiding shaft. A particularly suitable spring in this regard may be a compression spring, more preferably a helically 20 wound compression spring.

It is also advantageous, when the guiding shaft has a portion thereof protruding from a side of the holder body opposite to the second yoke part. Then the portion of the guiding shaft protruding from the opposite side may conveniently extend through a centre of a helically wound compression spring, 25 so that the helically wound compression spring can act on the end of the guiding shaft that protrudes from the opposite side of the holder body. Thereby spring biasing of the second yoke part towards the first yoke part can be obtained in a compact arrangement. This arrangement also offers the option to act on the protruding portion of the guiding shaft to move the yoke parts apart 30 to assist in releasing a bone from the bone holder.

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Generally it can also be advantageous for the bone holder to further include a locking arm that is mounted on the holder body to swivel from a first position, in which the U-shape receiving slot is accessible, to a second position, in which the locking arm extends into the U-shaped receiving slot. Such a 5 locking arm may further secure a bone to the holder during the steps of collecting meat there from in meat processing equipment. In combination therewith it is advantageous when the second position is defined by an abutment member that limits the extension of the locking arm into the U-shaped receiving slot. In particular when the abutment member is adjustable, 10 this may further extend the range of bones that can be held by the bone holder of the invention.

Further advantageous aspects of the invention will become clear from the appended description and in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 15 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bone holder according to the invention in an open position for receiving or releasing a bone of an animal part;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bone holder of Figure 1 from an opposite direction and in closed position; 20 Figure 3 is an exploded view of the holder body and its yoke parts;

Figure 4 is an exploded view from an opposite direction to that of Figure 3 showing additional components of the bone holder; and

Figure 5 is an exploded front elevation of the holder body and yoke parts of Figures 3 and 4.

25 An embodiment of a bone holder 1 according to the invention is shown in Figure 1. The bone holder 1 includes a holder body 3 with a central mounting bore 5 for attachment to a carrying structure such as a stem or a conveyor carriage (not shown, but conventional). Conveniently the holder body 3 is rotatably mounted with respect to the carrying structure. Mounted at a 30 lower end of the holder body 3, when used vertically as shown in Figure 1, is a 5 first stationary fixed receiving yoke part 7 and a second movable receiving yoke part 9. The stationary yoke part 7 and the movable yoke part 9 together form a bifurcated bone receiving yoke that defines a U-shaped receiving slot 11. In this example only one of the first and second yoke parts (7, 9) is 5 arranged to be movable relative to the other, but it is also possible to arrange this the other way around, or to arrange for each of the yoke parts (7, 9) to be movable. It is however not deemed necessary to illustrate such variations in detail, as these will be within the capability of the skilled person based on the present disclosure. The U-shaped receiving slot is formed by a pair of opposite 10 first and second parallel edges 11A, 11B. The first parallel edge 11A is part of the stationary yoke part 7 and the second parallel edge 11B is part of the movable yoke part 9. The bifurcated bone receiving yoke further has a pair of converging first and second entrance edges 11C, 11D for guiding an animal bone into the U-shaped receiving slot 11. The first entrance edge 11C is part of 15 the stationary yoke part 7 and the second entrance edge 11D is part of the movable yoke part 9. Also mounted to the holder body 3 is a swivable locking arm 13. The swivable locking arm 13 is mounted from a pivot shaft 15 to be swivable between an open position shown in Figure 1 and a closed position shown in Figure 2. The pivot shaft 15 is further provided with an operating 20 arm 17 for actuating the locking arm 13. The operating arm 17, during use of the bone holder in meat processing equipment, may be engaged by an operating cam or like structure for automatic actuation. To define and adjust the closed position of the locking arm 13, and adjustable abutment member 19 is mounted to the holder body 3, by fastening means 21. Indexing means, such 25 as a magnet 23 may be used to latch the swivable locking arm in each of the open and closed positions. The moveable yoke part 9 is carried by an outrigger 25, which will be described in more detail in reference to Figures 3 and 5.

First reference will now be made to Figure 2, which shows the bone holder 3 from an opposite side to that of Figure 1. In its closed position the 30 locking arm 13 is positioned into the U-shaped receiving slot 11 to an extent 6 that it defines an approximately circular aperture HE. Also visible in the view of Figure 2 is a helically wound compression spring 27 acting on the movable yoke part 9 to resiliency bias this towards the stationary yoke part 7.

It will now further be described in reference to Figures 3 to 5 how 5 various parts act together in resiliently biasing the movable yoke part 9 towards the stationary yoke part 7. The spring 27, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5, bears against an outer spring washer 29 and an inner spring washer 31. The assembly of spring 27 and outer and inner springs washers 29, 31 is retained between the holder body 3 and a nut 33 on an end of a shaft 35 that 10 has screw threaded ends and that extends through a bore 36 in the holder body 3. The shaft 35 with its portion protruding from the side of the holder body 3 opposite to the movable yoke part 9 extends through the centre of the helically wound spring 27. It is generally also possible to replace the helically wound spring 27 by a stacked array of Belleville spring washers or cup springs. The 15 other threaded end of shaft 35 is connected to a guiding shaft part 37, which extends from the outrigger 25 for slidably engaging the holder body 3. Alternatively the shaft 35 can also be formed integrally with the guiding shaft part 37 to form a unitary guiding shaft, if so desired. The guiding shaft part 37 has a non-circular cross section to engage the holder body 3 in a non-rotatable, 20 but slidable relationship. This relationship between the guiding shaft part 37 and the holder body 3 guides and retains the movable yoke part 9 to remain in a common plane with the stationary yoke part 7 during its relative movement. At the same time the non-rotatable, but slidable relationship of the guiding shaft part 37 with respect to the holder body 3 also ensures that the second 25 parallel edge 11B remains parallel to the first parallel edge 11A during movement of the movable yoke part 9. The nut 33 is preferably a self-locking nut and the length of the shaft 35 and/or its screw threaded ends are preferably so dimensioned that even with the movable yoke part 9 in its position closest to the stationary yoke part 7, the spring 27 is at least slightly 30 compressed to provide some pretensioning to the movable yoke part 9.

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It is further possible and advantageous for the nut 33 or the outer spring washer 29 to be also used as a pusher that may open the receiving yoke to release a bone therefrom. To this end the nut 33 and/or outer spring washer 29 may be adapted to be engaged by an operating cam, or like structure in a 5 meat processing machine to assist in releasing of bones. If so desired the outer spring washer 29 and/or nut 33 may also be associated with an operating arm extending therefrom for the same purpose.

Further it is seen in Figures 3 and 4 that the holder body 3 has aligned openings 39, 41 for journalling the pivot shaft 15 (not included in 10 Figures 3-5). Additional aligned openings 43, 45 are provided for mounting the abutment member 19 by the fastening means 21 (again not included in Figures 3-5).

Although one embodiment of the invention is described hereinabove in substantial detail, it should be clear to the skilled person that other 15 variations not described will nonetheless be within the scope of the appended claims.

Accordingly a bone holder 1 is disclosed that is suitable for use in meat processing equipment. As described hereinabove the bone holder 1 includes a bifurcated bone receiving yoke 7, 9 that has a substantially U-20 shaped receiving slot 11. The bone receiving yoke comprises a first yoke part 7 and a second yoke part 9, which first and second yoke parts 7, 9 are relatively movable with respect to one another, for accommodating differently sized animal bones. A holder body 3 is provided for carrying the first and second yoke parts 7, 9 forming the bone receiving yoke. The bone holder 1 may further 25 include a swivable locking arm 13 mounted on the holder body 3 to swivel from a first position, in which the U-shape receiving slot 11 is accessible, to a second position, in which the locking arm 13 extends into the U-shaped receiving slot 11.

It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the present 30 invention will be apparent from the foregoing description and drawings

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8 appended thereto. It will be clear to the skilled person that the invention is not limited to any embodiment herein described and that modifications are possible which should be considered within the scope of the appended claims. Also kinematic inversions are considered inherently disclosed and to be within 5 the scope of the invention. In the claims, any reference signs shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The term 'comprising' and ‘including’ when used in this description or the appended claims should not be construed in an exclusive or exhaustive sense but rather in an inclusive sense. Thus the expression ‘comprising’ as used herein does not exclude the presence of other 10 elements or steps in addition to those listed in any claim. Furthermore, the words ‘a’ and ‘an’ shall not be construed as limited to ‘only one’, but instead are used to mean ‘at least one’, and do not exclude a plurality. Features that are not specifically or explicitly described or claimed may be additionally included in the structure of the invention without affecting its scope. Expressions such 15 as: "means for ...” should be read as: "component configured for ..." or "member constructed to ..." and should be construed to include equivalents for the structures disclosed. The use of expressions like: "critical", "preferred", "especially preferred" etc. is not intended to limit the invention. Additions, deletions, and modifications within the purview of the skilled person may 20 generally be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as is determined by the claims.

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Claims

1. Both holder for use in meat-processing devices provided with a fork-shaped bone receiving yoke with a substantially U-shaped receiving slot, the bone receiving yoke being provided with a first yoke part and a second yoke part wherein the first and second yoke parts 5 are movable relative to each other , to accommodate animal bones of various sizes.

2. Both holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substantially U-shaped receiving slot of the bone receiving yoke has opposite first and second parallel edges and the first parallel edge is formed on the first yoke part and the second parallel edge is formed on the second yoke part.

3. Both holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein relative movement of the first and second yoke parts is guided with the second parallel edge remaining parallel to the first parallel edge.

4. Both holder as claimed in any of the claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least one of the first and second yoke parts is guided in relation to the other to remain in the same common plane regardless of its relative position of movement.

5. Both holder as claimed in claims 1 to 4, wherein the first yoke part is an immovably fixed yoke part and the second yoke part is a movable yoke part, which is relatively movable in relation to the first yoke part.

6. Both holder as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 5, further provided with a holder body for fixing the first and second yoke parts, wherein the second yoke part has a guide rod which is slidably received in the holder body. 5

7. Both holder as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least a part of the guide rod is non-rotatably in engagement with the holder body.

8. Both holder as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the second yoke part is resiliently urged towards the first yoke part to force the second parallel edge into a position in direct proximity to the first parallel edge.

9. Both holder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the resilient force 15 is supplied by a spring acting on the second yoke part.

10. Both holder as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the second yoke part is resiliently urged towards the first yoke part by a spring acting on the guide rod. 20

11. Both holder as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the spring is a compression spring.

12. Both holder as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spring is a helically wound spring.

13. Both holder as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the guide rod has a part that protrudes outside a side of the holder body opposite the second yoke part. 30

14. Both holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein the part of the guide rod that protrudes outside the opposite side extends through a center of the helically wound compression spring. 5

The both holder of claim 14, wherein the helically wound compression spring acts on the end of the guide rod that projects beyond the opposite side of the container body to resiliently force the second yoke member toward the first yoke member. 10

16. Both holder as claimed in any of the claims 6, 7 or 13, further provided with a locking arm mounted on the holder body for pivoting from a first position in which the U-shaped receiving slot is accessible to a second position, in which the locking arm is located in the U-shaped receiving slot extends.

17. Both holder as claimed in claim 16, wherein the second position is determined by a stop element which limits the extension of the locking arm in the U-shaped receiving slot.