NL2003967C2 - System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof. - Google Patents

System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof. Download PDF

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Publication number
NL2003967C2
NL2003967C2 NL2003967A NL2003967A NL2003967C2 NL 2003967 C2 NL2003967 C2 NL 2003967C2 NL 2003967 A NL2003967 A NL 2003967A NL 2003967 A NL2003967 A NL 2003967A NL 2003967 C2 NL2003967 C2 NL 2003967C2
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NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
conveyor
pig
slot
carrier
carcass
Prior art date
Application number
NL2003967A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Adrianus Josephes Nieuwelaar
Jan Johannes Meerdink
Cornelis Joannes Janssen
Franciscus Theodorus Henricus Johannes Steen
Original Assignee
Stork Townsend Bv
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to NL2003967A priority Critical patent/NL2003967C2/en
Application filed by Stork Townsend Bv filed Critical Stork Townsend Bv
Priority to ES10803166T priority patent/ES2719762T3/en
Priority to CN201610135904.4A priority patent/CN105941572B/en
Priority to BR112012014725-0A priority patent/BR112012014725B1/en
Priority to CN201610132956.6A priority patent/CN106386990B/en
Priority to EP10803170.9A priority patent/EP2512255B8/en
Priority to BR122015030054-1A priority patent/BR122015030054B1/en
Priority to CN201910312947.9A priority patent/CN110178879B/en
Priority to BR122015030056A priority patent/BR122015030056A2/en
Priority to EP19186080.8A priority patent/EP3586637A1/en
Priority to BR112012014788-9A priority patent/BR112012014788B1/en
Priority to US13/516,353 priority patent/US9192172B2/en
Priority to PL19157407T priority patent/PL3508064T3/en
Priority to EP19186076.6A priority patent/EP3586636A1/en
Priority to BR122015030049A priority patent/BR122015030049A2/en
Priority to CN201610127258.7A priority patent/CN106063501B/en
Priority to CN201610124650.6A priority patent/CN106063500B/en
Priority to CN201610139797.2A priority patent/CN105941573A/en
Priority to EP19157407.8A priority patent/EP3508064B1/en
Priority to US13/516,275 priority patent/US9004988B2/en
Priority to PCT/NL2010/050865 priority patent/WO2011074966A1/en
Priority to DK10803166.7T priority patent/DK2512254T3/en
Priority to CN201080064015.4A priority patent/CN102858181B/en
Priority to PCT/NL2010/050870 priority patent/WO2011074969A2/en
Priority to ES19157407T priority patent/ES2841925T3/en
Priority to CA2782790A priority patent/CA2782790C/en
Priority to DK19157407.8T priority patent/DK3508064T3/en
Priority to BR122015030044A priority patent/BR122015030044A2/en
Priority to PL10803166T priority patent/PL2512254T3/en
Priority to JP2012544422A priority patent/JP5923448B2/en
Priority to PCT/NL2010/050868 priority patent/WO2011074967A2/en
Priority to EP10803166.7A priority patent/EP2512254B1/en
Priority to BR122015030061A priority patent/BR122015030061A2/en
Priority to JP2012544421A priority patent/JP5854437B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of NL2003967C2 publication Critical patent/NL2003967C2/en
Priority to US14/885,660 priority patent/US9717257B2/en
Priority to JP2015234818A priority patent/JP2016054740A/en
Priority to JP2016077104A priority patent/JP6271630B2/en
Priority to JP2017092314A priority patent/JP6777585B2/en
Priority to JP2019039943A priority patent/JP6903085B2/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22B—SLAUGHTERING
    • A22B7/00—Slaughterhouse arrangements
    • A22B7/001—Conveying arrangements
    • A22B7/005—Means for transferring carcasses from a conveying unit to a different one, e.g. hooking, unhooking
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22B—SLAUGHTERING
    • A22B7/00—Slaughterhouse arrangements
    • A22B7/001—Conveying arrangements
    • A22B7/002—Devices for hanging animal carcasses while being conveyed or stored, e.g. gambrels, hooks

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Processing Of Meat And Fish (AREA)

Description

P29778NL01/NBL
System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
The invention relates to a system and a method for processing a carcass part of a porcine, bovine, ovine, or caprine animal.
5
The slaughtering of red meat slaughter animals and the subsequent cutting up of the carcasses takes place in slaughterhouses and/or meat processing plants. Even in relatively modern slaughterhouses and red meat processing plants, many of the processes are carried out partly or entirely by hand. This is at least partly due to the variation in shapes, sizes and 10 weights of the carcasses and carcass parts to be processed and to the harsh environmental conditions that are present in the processing areas of slaughterhouses and red meat processing plants. This manual or semi-automated processing results in harsh labouring conditions for the workers and in high labour costs.
15 In this document the term porcine animal or pig also includes sows, gilts, barrows, boars and feeder pigs.
In this document the term bovine animal covers cattle, steers, heifers, cows, bulls and also buffalo.
In this document the term ovine animals covers sheep and lamb.
20 In this document the term caprine animals covers goats.
The present invention relates most prominently to the processing and/or conveying of individual parts of slaughtered pigs, notably leg parts, hams, and shoulder parts of pigs. As explained aspects of the invention are also applicable to other mentioned animals.
25
In general, when a red meat slaughter animal such as a pig is slaughtered, first it is killed, and then the internal organs are removed. Then the carcass is cut in half lengthwise, along the spine. The halves that are thus created are generally each cut into three pieces: a fore-end, a middle part and a ham part. The fore-end can then be cut up into a picnic 30 shoulder and Boston butt, but that is not necessary for this invention. For other slaughter animals, such as bovine animals, sheep or goats, the names given to the different parts may be different (for example fore/hind foot, fore/hind quarter, fore/hind leg), but the parts themselves are similar. The invention pertains to the processing of red meat slaughter animals, in particular pigs, but also to bovines, ovine animals, and caprine animals.
35 -2-
The carcass parts that are formed by dividing the intact carcass then are subjected to one or more additional processes. This further processing can involve many kinds op operations, like de-rinding, de-skinning, deboning, removing fat, membranes or other tissues, and/or cutting up into smaller parts or units. Also processes like smoking, curing, drying, 5 marinating, salting, coating, boiling and/or grilling are possible. Before, after or during one or more of the operations, cooling of the carcass parts can take place.
A slaughter animal can be cut up and processed further in many ways. A sheer infinite number of combinations of end products can be made from a single slaughter animal. It has to be determined for each individual slaughter animal which end products will be made from 10 it. Therewith, the processing operations and the order in which they have to take place are determined.
One of the parameters that influences how an individual carcass is to be cut up is the desired output of the slaughterhouse or meat processing plant. This desired output is formulated in terms of how much of which end product has to be made available at a certain 15 point in time. This is determined by the demands of the clients of the slaughterhouse or meat processing plant. Based on the desired output of the slaughterhouse or meat processing plant and the number of available carcasses, it can be determined for each individual carcass how it is to be cut up.
Once it has been determined for each individual carcass how it has to be cut up and 20 how the parts are to be processed further, a routing for the carcass and the carcass parts obtained from it can be determined. The routing takes the carcass and/or carcass parts along one or more processing stations. In each processing station, one or more operations or one or more parts thereof are carried out.
Carcasses and carcass parts have to be transported from one processing station to the 25 next. This can take place in many ways: by means of hooks suspended from a rail, on a conveyor belt, in a container, on a moveable platform or the like. The transport can be powered by machinery or by means of human muscle power.
It is known to cluster together processing stations to perform subsequent operations on a particular type or carcass part. An example of such a known cluster is a group of processing 30 stations in which a ham of a pig is deboned. In such a known system, a ham is delivered to the first processing station in the cluster, where it is de-skinned. It is then transported, e.g. by a conveyor belt to a next processing station. In this next processing station, an operator takes the ham from the conveyor belt and removes the excess fat. Then the ham is put back on the conveyor belt, where it is transported to the next processing station. In this next processing 35 station, the ham is picked up from the conveyor belt by an other operator, who makes the preliminary cuts that make the bone accessible. Then again the ham is put back on the conveyor belt again, which transports it to the next processing station. Here, the next operator -3- removes the ham from the conveyor belt and removes the bone from the ham. He then puts the deboned ham and the bone on the conveyor belt again. The bone and the deboned ham are thus transported to the last processing station of the cluster, where the next operator make a distinction between the deboned ham and the bone, and puts each of them in a 5 dedicated container or on a dedicated conveyor belt.
At that last processing station, for example a wheeled container is available in which the removed bones are collected, and an other wheeled container is provided in which the deboned hams are collected. When the container with the bones is full, it is removed from the last processing station of the cluster to the waste department or to storage for transport to 10 e.g. a gelatine or glue making plant. When the container with the deboned hams is full, it is e.g. transported to a processing station or a cluster of processing stations for further processing of the ham meat, such as boiling, grilling, smoking, drying or seasoning.
During the course of the slaughtering process and the further processing, the carcass or 15 carcass part is supported and/or transported by a variety of carriers. Examples of such carriers are an overhead conveyor with stationary of moveable carriers (the moveable carriers being either driven by machinery or by hand), conveyor belts, stationary tables, hooks that penetrate into the carcass or carcass part, wheeled or non-wheeled containers. Carriers can hold or support a single carcass or carcass part, a plurality of the same type of carcass parts 20 or a plurality of different types of carcass parts.
For different steps in the slaughtering process, usually different types of carriers are used. Transfer from one carrier to the other usually takes place manually.
The known systems and methods for slaughtering and further processing of the 25 mentioned red meat slaughter animals are not very efficient from a logistic point of view. Also, often the carcasses are not cut up in the way in which they can provide the highest added value. Also, the known carriers and conveyor devices generally do not allow accurate processing of the carcasses and carcass parts.
30 In known carriers, the carcass part is usually engaged by one of its ends and the carcass part can move freely in one or more degrees of freedom relative to the carrier. Also, in known systems, the location at which the carrier engages the carcass part is not accurately defined or reproducible. The carriers engage the carcass part in a certain area rather than at an anatomically defined position.
35 -4- A goal of the invention is to provide improvements or at least an alternative for known equipment and methods used in the processing of red meat slaughter animals and/or parts thereof.
5 According to a first aspect of the invention, a system according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 15 is provided.
According to said first aspect of the invention a system for processing a carcass part of a slaughtered porcine, bovine, ovine, or caprine animal is provided. A prominent envisaged application lies in the processing of a carcass part of a porcine animal, e.g. a leg or shoulder 10 part of a porcine animal.
The carcass part comprises a holding zone, which holding zone comprises bone with soft tissue thereon. The system comprises at least one carrier for carrying said carcass part, and the carrier comprises a retaining assembly for retaining the carcass part by the holding zone, the retaining assembly being adapted to engage on the exterior of the soft tissue.
15 Preferably the retaining assembly according to the first aspect of the invention does not penetrate into the soft tissue.
When the carcass part is a leg carcass part the holding zone can for example be a foot, knee, or the region near the olecranon of the leg carcass part (when such anatomical portion is present).
20 Preferably the holding zone is chosen close to the center of gravity of the carcass part.
A second aspect of the invention relates to a system according to claim 22. This is a system for processing a carcass part of a slaughtered porcine, bovine, ovine, or caprine animal, which carcass part comprises a first end, a second end and a reference portion, 25 which is present between the first end and the second end, which system comprises at least one carrier for carrying said carcass part of a slaughtered animal, and wherein the carrier comprises a retaining assembly for holding the carcass part by the reference portion, which retaining assembly preferably has a shape that is adapted to the shape and size of said reference portion.
30 Preferably the reference portion lies between the ends of the carcass part, spaced from both ends.
Preferably the reference portion is chosen close to the center of gravity of the carcass part.
For example in a leg carcass part, e.g. of a pig, the reference portion can be chosen 35 from anatomical portions like; the foot (e.g. a region with the metatarsal bones), the knee, the olecranon (when such anatomical portion is present).
The second aspect of the invention also relates to a method according to claim 43.
-5-
The second aspect of the invention also relates to a slaughtered pig shoulder parts conveyor device for conveying individual pig shoulder parts according to claim 53.
5
The second aspect of the invention also relates to a slaughtered pig ham parts conveyor device according to claim 59.
A third aspect of the invention relates slaughtered pig leg parts conveyor device, for 10 conveying individual pig leg parts, according to claim 63.
As will follow from the claims, the description, and the drawings, combinations between the first, second, and third aspect of the invention are well possible, e.g. with respect to features, including any optional features, such as relating to the retaining assembly, the 15 carrier, the one or more trolleys supporting the carrier, and track and with respect to any processing station.
The invention is in particular applicable for fresh red meat processing. Fresh red meat processing in this context refers to processing of meat that has not been subjected to a 20 conservation process that irreversibly reduces the natural flexibility of the soft tissues of the carcass part due to a substantial change in protein structure. Such a substantial change in protein structure occurs e.g. during curing or aging, as for example used in the production of Parma ham or Serrano ham.
25 The carrier is preferably adapted to carry an individual carcass part, so one carcass part per carrier.
A carrier is possible adapted to carry an individual leg carcass part, e.g. of a pig, so a single leg (or at least a portion thereof) and possible a carcass portion attached to the top end 30 of the leg, e.g. a shoulder portion.
As is preferred a carrier is adapted to act as a sole means for carrying the carcass part, which implies that a single carrier has to be able to bear the weight of the carcass part. In the case of a shoulder part or a ham of a pig, this weight is typically about 15 kilos.
35 -6-
In the first aspect of the invention the carcass part is engaged by the carrier at a predetermined holding zone, wherein a bone is present with soft tissue thereon.
Soft tissue can for example be skin, rind, tendons, ligaments, meat, fat, etc.. The soft tissue is flexible and has certain elasticity. “Flexible” means that it can be deformed without 5 the use of excessive force, and the elasticity makes that it at least substantially returns to its initial shape when a deforming force is taken away.
The retaining assembly of the carrier according to the first aspect of the invention engages the outside of the soft tissue during processing of the carcass part, preferably during all process steps to which the carcass part is subjected. When the retaining assembly 10 engages on the soft tissue the flexibility of the soft tissue makes that by applying a guiding or orienting force on the carcass part, the carcass part can be somewhat moved, e.g. rotated, relative to the retaining assembly and thus with respect to the carrier. This allows for some flexibility in positioning the carcass part without having to provide the carrier and/or the retaining assembly with additional degrees of freedom, or when the retaining assembly is 15 locked in a certain predetermined position, e.g. due to an indexing mechanism.
The outside surface of the holding zone where the retaining assembly engages the soft tissue preferably does not move relative to the retaining assembly when the guiding or orienting force is applied. In this case, when the guiding or orienting force is taken away from 20 the carcass part, the carcass part returns to the spatial orientation it had relative to the retaining assembly when the carcass part was arranged in the carrier. This return to its initial orientation is at least partly due to the elasticity of the soft tissue.
A further advantage of a retaining assembly of a carrier engaging the carcass part by 25 the soft tissue is that a significant variety of anatomical sizes and shapes of a designated holding zone of the carcass part can be engaged by the retaining assembly. Soft tissue can be deformed, e.g. compressed, to an extent, allowing the retaining assembly to engage varying holding zones, even when the retaining assembly has an aperture into which the holding zone is received of rigid design, i.e. with constant dimensions.
30
In a combination of the first and second aspect of the invention the carrier is adapted to engage the exterior of the soft tissue of the carcass part on a reference portion of the carcass part.
If the holding zone is a reference portion of the carcass part, and the outside surface of 35 the holding zone where the retaining assembly engages the soft tissue preferably does not move relative to the retaining assembly when a guiding or orienting force is applied, the -7- holding zone can still function as a reference portion after the guiding or orienting force has released the carcass part.
The cross section of the soft tissue holding zone may be deformed by the retaining 5 assembly when it holds the carcass part. The flexibility of the soft tissue in the holding zone allows this deformation, but the force required for this deformation (and the reaction force due to the elasticity of the soft tissue) provides a substantial friction between the holding zone of the carcass part and the retaining assembly. Therefore, due to this deformation, the carcass part is held firmly by the retaining assembly. The soft tissue however still allows movement of 10 the carcass part relative to the retaining assembly.
In an advantageous embodiment, the retaining assembly is adapted to engage the carcass part in the region of the foot. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when hams or fore-ends of pigs are carried and/or processed.
15
In an advantageous embodiment, the retaining assembly is adapted to engage the foot of a pig in the region of the metatarsal bones. The soft tissue of the carcass part in this region allows the lateral metatarsal bones to move relative to the central metatarsal bones. In the natural position, the lateral metatarsal bones are arranged at least partly behind the central 20 metatarsal bones. It has turned out that it is particularly advantageous if the retaining assembly of the carrier deforms the cross section of this foot region in such a way that the lateral metatarsal bones are forced into a position more or less next to the central metatarsal bones. This deformation requires a relatively small force to obtain a significant flattening of the cross section in the foot region. This is advantageous because this way, the retaining 25 assembly can accommodate pig leg carcass parts having a large variation in natural diameter of the foot region, even when no moveable parts are used to compensate for this natural variation, i.e., even when the retaining assembly has an aperture for receiving said foot region of constant dimensions, e.g. formed as a slot in a rigid member, e.g. formed in a metal plate.
30 In an advantageous embodiment, the retaining assembly comprises a slotted plate that has been provided with a slot for accommodating the holding zone of the carcass part. Preferably, this slot has a width that is smaller than the smallest diameter of the designated holding zone of the carcass parts that are projected to be held by the carrier. This way, the slot imposes a deformation of the soft tissue in the holding zone, e.g. the foot region, 35 therewith providing a firm grip. The soft tissue still allows for some movement of the carcass part relative to the retaining assembly of the carrier.
-8-
The slot can be provided with a projection between a retaining portion of the slot and an entrance portion of the slot, that locally narrows the slot yet does not penetrate into the soft tissue, e.g. embodied as a rounded bump. This reduces the chance of an undesired release of the carcass part. An elastic member, e.g. a leaf spring, may also act to provide a local 5 narrowing of the slot between a retaining portion of the slot and an entrance portion of the slot.
In a possible embodiment, the retaining assembly comprises two jaws that clamp the carcass part, i.e. the holding zone thereof, between them. The jaws can e.g. be pivotally 10 mounted, spring mounted, or e.g. they can be made of leaf springs.
In an embodiment a retaining assembly comprises a forked part adapted to form a receiving space between its forks or teeth for the holding zone of the carcass part without penetrating into the holding zone. When this carrier is mounted in a conveyor having a track, 15 a guide rail that is not connected to the carrier, but is arranged alongside the track, is provided, which guide rail prevents the carcass or carcass part from falling out of the forked part, e.g. at the location of a processing station where the carcass part is subjected to a processing.
20 In an advantageous embodiment one or more pivot structures are provided to obtain mobility about one or more pivot axis that allow the carcass part together with the retaining assembly to move relative to for example a track of a conveyor device or a stationary support for the carrier.
The pivoting can be such as to allow for a full rotational motion or for a pivoting through 25 a predetermined angular range.
An indexing mechanism can be associated with one or more of the pivot structures, which determines at least one, preferably multiple, predetermined angular positions.
However, it is also possible that the flexibility of the soft tissue provides enough freedom of movement to the carcass part. Also, it is possible that for some directions of movement 30 pivot axis or translation guide arrangements are provided in the carrier, while for other directions of movement the flexibility of the soft tissue provides enough freedom of movement.
It is also possible that for one or more directions of mobility of the retaining assembly 35 with respect to the carrier, the retaining assembly can assume multiple, discrete and predefined positions, while the flexibility of the soft tissue allows movement of the carcass part relative to these predefined positions. The same goes for any mobility of the carrier with -9- respect to one or more trolleys supporting the carrier on a track (when present) or with respect to a stationary support structure.
The retaining assembly, when designed to engage on the exterior of a designated 5 holding zone of the carcass part, preferably takes the anatomy of the holding zone and/or the reference portion of the carcass part into account. This means that the part or parts of the retaining assembly that engage the carcass part have a shape that is adapted to the geometry of the portion of the carcass part that they come into engagement with.
10 In a possible embodiment, the precise position where a processing operation has to be carried out on the carcass part held by a carrier is determined by means of a camera vision system, by scanning (e.g. using X-rays or CT-scanning), by measuring a distance or direction from a reference point (such as the holding zone of the carcass or carcass part or the retaining assembly or other part of the carrier), or anatomically, e.g. by feeling (possibly by a 15 feel sensor).
As mentioned above, in a possible embodiment, constructional features may be provided that allow the carcass part and the retaining assembly together to move relative to for example the carrier, a stationary support structure, or a track of a conveyor device. This 20 movement can be translational, rotational and/or a combination thereof, and can take place in one or more planes. Movement in different planes can take place simultaneously or sequentially. The possibility of one or more of these movements allows manipulation of the position and/or orientation of the carcass part relative to, for example, the carrier, a stationary support structure, and/or the track of a conveyor device, also possibly with respect to a 25 processing equipment, e.g. one or more knifes or one or more pulling rolls in such equipment.
It is possible that these movements can be controlled and/or suppressed, so that a carcass part can be brought into a desired position and/or orientation prior to or during carrying out a processing step. Preferably, the carcass part is brought into the desired position and/or orientation automatically before the processing step is carried out, and held in 30 that desired position and/or orientation during the processing step. This saves time for the operator as he does not have to bring the carcass part into the desired position and/or orientation for processing any more before he can start working on the carcass part. This reduces the physical stress on the operator, as it generally takes quite an effort to manipulate the carcass part. Also, the operator does not have to make any effort to keep the carcass or 35 carcass part in the desired position during processing. In some situations this means that the operator even can use both hands for the processing, instead of one for holding the carcass part in position and the other one for carrying out the processing.
-10- A system according to the invention can be provided with means that manipulate the position and/or orientation of the carrier and/or the retaining assembly during the processing step. This allows for example the carcass part to change position and/or orientation relative to 5 the processing equipment such as knives, scrapers or rolls. This makes it for example possible to carry out the processing step on two opposed sides of the carcass part, e.g. whilst the relevant equipment and/or operator remains in a stationary position. It also makes it possible to carry out more complex processes automatically or to e.g. to make for example curved incisions as the carcass part is moved by the carrier.
10
In a possible embodiment, the carrier is support by one or more trolleys of a conveyor device, which trolleys are movable along an associated track, e.g. along a rails, e.g. an overhead rails.
Preferably the carrier is mobile relative to the one or more supporting trolleys of a 15 conveyor device, and means are provided to control the movements of the carrier relative to the one or more supporting trolleys.
For example, the carrier could be connected to the one or more supporting trolleys by means of a pivot structure with a vertical axis of rotation. This way, different sides of the carcass part can be presented to an operator or to an automated device for carrying out an 20 operation. For example, the carrier can be provided with an indexing mechanism providing multiple, e.g. four preferred orientations about the vertical axis relative to the trolley, each orientation e.g. being at 90° from its adjacent preferred positions. The carrier can then be moved from one preferred orientation to the next e.g. by means of a cam track/cam follower mechanism.
25 The mobile supported carrier could be provided with a cam follower that is mounted on an arm of the carrier. In the processing station where an operation is carried out that requires a repositioning of the carcass part, a cam track is then provided. Upon approach of this processing station, the cam follower is brought into the cam track. The cam track then guides the cam follower and therewith effects the desired motion of the carrier.
30 For example, when a horizontal pivot axis structure is provided, the carrier with the carcass part may be tilted, preferably sideways with respect to the track, e.g. upwardly towards an operator positioned along the track, thereby presenting the carcass part to the operator in an ergonomically better way. For example the carrier could then have a cam follower cooperating with a cam track that moves the cam follower generally in a downward or 35 upward direction to effect such a tilting.
-11 -
The mentioned features for manipulating the orientation and/or position of the carcass or carcass part relative to the track and/or relative to the processing station can also be used for bypassing a certain processing station.
5 If the holding zone is a reference portion of the carcass part to be processed it is at least roughly known where the different elements of the carcass part are relative to the retaining assembly, so not the whole carcass part has to be scanned or analysed in order to find the right place for the operation to be carried out. In some situations it may not even be required to perform the analysis or measurements any more, because the location where the 10 operation has to be carried out can be deducted accurately enough by just knowing where the reference part is.
It is possible that a retaining assembly engages the carcass part to be processed at a reference portion that is in the middle rather than at one of the ends of the carcass part. The 15 retaining assembly engages the reference portion of the carcass part. The retaining assembly has a firm grip on it that the reference portion of the carcass part that is engaged by it. However, it is possible that some movement of the carcass part relative to the retaining assembly is still possible when it engages the carcass part.
20 In a possible embodiment, the retaining assembly comprises two jaws that clamp the reference portion of the carcass part between them.
A retaining assembly may comprises a pin that is forced into or through the carcass part. A retaining assembly with a projecting pin can further comprise an abutment, which 25 cooperates with the projecting pin to hold the reference portion of the carcass part in place.
Engagement of the retaining assembly on a predetermined reference portion of the carcass part not only has the advantage of being able to obtain a good hold of on the carcass part, but also that the position of different portions of the carcass part relative to the retaining 30 assembly are known. This can be helpful when one or more process steps are to be carried out in an automated manner. For example, the deboning process often requires that a specific tendon is cut through. The anatomy of the carcass part to be processed determines the position of such a tendon relative to the reference portion of the carcass part that is held in the retaining assembly of the carrier. Of course, there are some natural variations in shape 35 and size between individual carcass parts, but still when the retaining assembly holds the carcass part its the reference portion, the position of the tendon to be cut is known quite accurately.
- 12-
Processing steps, such as scraping meat from bones, pulling on a part of the carcass part to be processed, sawing, cutting, derinding and deskinning, may be carried out on a specific part of the carcass part to be processed whilst held by a carrier.
5 By holding the reference portion of the carcass part in the retaining assembly, and knowing where the retaining assembly is relative to the processing device, and possible carrying out additional measurements or analysis, the position of the part that is to be processed is known as well. This makes it easier to carry out the manual operations because the operator knows where the part that he has to work on is relative to the retaining assembly. 10 Also, it could allow automation of at least some of the processes to be carried out.
In a possible embodiment, the carrier is adapted for holding a carcass part that comprises a shoulder part of a slaughtered animal, e.g. of a pig. This shoulder part comprises at least a part of the humerus bone, at least a part of the radius, at least part of the ulna, and 15 the olecranon, and at least a part of the meat that is naturally present on the humerus bone, radius, ulna, and possibly on the olecranon. When such a carcass part is processed, it is advantageous to use the olecranon as the reference part.
It is advantageous to hold a carcass part by the olecranon, and not by or close to one of 20 the free ends as is known from the prior art, e.g. as the olecranon is commonly located in or near the centre of gravity of the carcass part to be processed. By holding the carcass part by the olecranon, the relatively heavy carcass part can be manipulated easier, as the carcass part does not extend so far from the holding point as compared to the situation when the carcass part would be held by one of its free ends. As the mass of the carcass part is more or 25 less concentrated close to the olecranon, holding the carcass part by the olecranon means that turning the carcass part over requires a smaller turning moment, which leads to smaller mechanical load on the system.
Moreover, holding the carcass part by the olecranon in the olecranon retaining assembly means that the position of the olecranon relative to the carrier is unambiguously 30 known. From the known position of the olecranon, positions of other parts can be deducted. The accuracy of this deduction generally decreases with increasing distance from the fixing point. So, when holding the carcass part by the olecranon, the positions of other parts of the carcass part to be processed can be derived more accurately than in a situation where the carcass part is held by one of its free ends such as the foot portion or the shoulder blade.
35 Moreover, the olecranon retaining assembly will more or less hinder the movement of the humerus bone relative to the radius, ulna and olecranon. This is due to that the olecranon retaining assembly engages the carcass part close to the joint between the humerus bone on -13- the one side and the radius, ulna and olecranon on the other. This further increases the reliability with which the positions of other parts of the carcass part can be derived based on the known position of the olecranon.
5 In a possible embodiment, at least a part of the meat that is naturally present on the olecranon is detached from the olecranon. It can be that the meat is actually removed from the carcass part, but it is also possible that one or more cuts are made in the carcass part that sever one or more natural connections between the olecranon and the meat that is naturally present thereon such that a part of surface of the bone is exposed or at least 10 reachable.
In an other possible embodiment, there still is meat or other soft tissue (skin, rind, tendons, ligaments, meat, fat, etc.) on the olecranon when the lock engages the olecranon. The soft tissue has a certain elasticity. When the lock holds the carcass part this elasticity makes that by applying a force on the carcass part, the carcass part can be moved, e.g.
15 rotated, relative to the lock. When this force is taken away from the carcass part, the carcass part returns to the position it had when the lock was applied to it. This allows some flexibility in handling the carcass parts on the one hand and the possibility of using the reference part to determine where other elements of the carcass part are on the other.
20 The olecranon retaining assembly preferably comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, that engage the olecranon on different, preferably opposite, sides. This way, the olecranon can be clamped between the first jaw and the second jaw of the olecranon retaining assembly of the carrier.
In a possible embodiment, the jaws of the olecranon retaining assembly engage directly 25 on the olecranon bone, in such a way that there is no meat present between the jaws and the olecranon bone. This way, no meat loss occurs due to the fixation of the carcass part on the carrier during deboning, because the operator or the device that debones the carcass part is not hindered by the jaws in reaching the meat.
In an other possible embodiment, there is still some soft tissue on the olecranon when 30 the jaws of the olecranon retaining assembly engage the olecranon. Then, use can be made of the elasticity of this soft tissue for temporarily changing the position of the carcass part relative to the lock by applying a force, as described above.
The olecranon retaining assembly preferably further comprises an actuator for moving 35 the first jaw and the second jaw relative to each other such that the olecranon retaining assembly can be opened and closed.
- 14-
In a different, less preferred, embodiment, the olecranon retaining assembly comprises a pin which can be forced into or through the carcass part in the vicinity of the olecranon. The pin can force the olecranon against a jaw of the olecranon retaining assembly to hold the olecranon in place. Alternatively, the pin can force the olecranon against a guide rail or guide 5 surface arranged along a track of a conveyor device wherealong a carrier is movable.
In an embodiment, the carcass part can be brought in a position wherein it hangs down from the olecranon retaining assembly of the carrier. This means that the shape of the jaws and/or the clamping force that the jaws exert on the olecranon must be such that the carcass 10 part does not drop from the olecranon retaining assembly when the carcass part is not or no longer supported apart from just by the olecranon retaining assembly. Apart from the gravity, there are also other forces that act on the carcass part, in particular during processing. The olecranon retaining assembly has to be able to hold the carcass part against the action of those forces as well. In the case that the olecranon retaining assembly has a first jaw and a 15 second jaw, the carrier preferably has an actuator that is provided with an actuator force supply for providing enough clamping force to the jaws of the olecranon retaining assembly in order to supply the clamping force that is needed.
The carrier may comprises an olecranon retaining assembly connection portion that 20 connects the retaining assembly to the carrier. This carrier may connect the olecranon retaining assembly to a stationary support or to one or more trolleys of a conveyor device.
The olecranon retaining assembly connection portion preferably comprises at least one pivot structure that allows rotation (either a full rotation or within a limited angular range) of 25 the carcass part relative to the stationary support or the trolley. The skilled person will understand that this pivot structure can take many forms, shapes and sizes. It could be for example a pin-and-bushing construction that allows rotation in a single plane, but it could for example also be a ball joint that allows rotations in multiple planes, although les preferred.
30 When the olecranon retaining assembly has a first jaw and a second jaw, advantageously the first jaw part is forked: it comprises two teeth with a slot there between. The olecranon can be accommodated in the slot, with the teeth on either side. The olecranon has a relatively wide part at its free end, and a relatively narrow part at the other end. Preferably, the width of the slot is such that it can accommodate the narrow part of the 35 olecranon, but that the wide part of the olecranon cannot pass through. This helps to lock the olecranon in place. The slot can have a V-shape, or it can have parallel sides. The teeth can have straight edges or curved ones, with sharp or dull points at their free end.
-15-
The second jaw part is advantageously formed as an anvil, which is pressed against the olecranon. The side that engages the olecranon can be a flat or curved surface. The anvil-like second jaw can be advantageously combined with the forked first jaw.
Advantageously, the open side of the slot is wide enough to accommodate the second 5 jaw. That way, the olecranon is enclosed by the two jaws of the olecranon retaining assembly.
The carrier may be adapted for supporting a ham of a slaughtered porcine, bovine, ovine, or caprine animal. A prominent application envisaged here is for a pig ham part.
This ham comprises a knee, at least a part of the femur bone, adjacent to the knee, at 10 least a part of the tibia bone and fibula bone, adjacent to the knee, and at least a part of the meat that is naturally present on the femur bone, the tibia bone and the fibula bone.
It is advantageous to hold such a carcass part by the knee, and not by or close to one of the free ends as is known from the prior art, as the knee is located in or near the centre of gravity of the carcass part to be processed. By holding the carcass part by the knee, the 15 relatively heavy carcass part can be manipulated easier, as the carcass part does not extend so far from the fixing point as compared to the situation when the carcass part would be held by one of its free ends. As the mass of the carcass part is more or less concentrated close to the knee, holding the carcass part by the knee means that turning the carcass part over requires a smaller turning moment, which leads to smaller mechanical load on the system..
20 Moreover, engaging the carcass part by the knee with the knee retaining assembly means that the position of the knee relative to the carrier is unambiguously known. From the know position of the knee, positions of other parts can be deducted. The accuracy of this deduction generally decreases with increasing distance from the holding point. So, when holding the carcass part by the knee, the positions of other parts of the carcass part to be 25 processed can be derived more accurately than in a situation where the carcass part is held by one of its free ends such as the foot portion or the pelvis.
Moreover, the knee retaining assembly will more or less hinder the movement of the femur bone relative to the tibia bone and fibula bone. This is due to that the knee retaining assembly engages the carcass part close to the knee joint between the femur bone on the 30 one side and the tibia bone and fibula bone on the other. This further increases the reliability with which the positions of other parts of the carcass part can be derived based on the known position of the knee.
In a possible embodiment, at least a part of the meat that is naturally present on the bones at or adjacent to the knee is detached from those bones. It can be that the meat is 35 actually removed from the carcass part, but it is also possible that one or more cuts are made in the carcass part that sever the natural connection or connections between these bones and -16- the meat that is naturally present thereon such that a part of surface of the bone or bones is exposed or at least reachable.
In an other possible embodiment, there still is meat or other soft tissue (skin, rind, tendons, ligaments, meat, fat, etc.) on the knee when the retaining assembly engages the 5 knee. The soft tissue has a certain elasticity. When the retaining assembly holds the carcass part this elasticity makes that by applying a force on the carcass part, the carcass part can be somewhat moved, e.g. rotated with respect to the retaining assembly . When this force is taken away from the carcass part, the carcass part returns to the position it had when the retaining assembly was engaged to it. This allows some flexibility in handling the carcass 10 parts on the one hand and the possibility of using the reference part to determine where other elements of the carcass part are on the other.
A carrier with a knee retaining assembly can comprise a first jaw and a second jaw, that engage the knee on different, preferably opposite, sides. This way, the knee is clamped 15 between the first jaw and the second jaw of the knee retaining assembly.
In a possible embodiment, the jaws of the knee retaining assembly engage directly on the knee, in such a way that there is no meat present between the jaws and the knee. This way, no meat loss occurs due to the fixation of the carcass part on the carrier during deboning, because the operator or the device that debones the carcass part is not hindered 20 by the jaws in reaching the meat.
The knee retaining assembly further comprises an actuator for moving the first jaw and the second jaw or the second jaw and the hook relative to each other such that the knee retaining assembly can be opened and closed.
25
In a preferred embodiment, the carcass part, e.g. weighing up to 15 kilos, can be oriented hanging down from the knee retaining assembly of the carrier. This means that the shape of the knee retaining assembly and/or the holding force that the jaws exert on the knee must be such that the carcass part does not drop from the knee retaining assembly when the 30 carcass part is not or no longer supported, apart from just by the knee lock. Apart from the gravity, there are also other forces that act on the carcass part, in particular during processing. The knee retaining assembly has to be able to hold the carcass part against the action of those forces as well. In the case that the knee retaining assembly has a first jaw and a second jaw, the carrier preferably has an actuator that is provided with an actuator force 35 supply for providing enough clamping force to the jaws of the knee retaining assembly in order to supply the clamping force that is needed.
- 17-
In an embodiment, the knee retaining assembly comprises a second jaw for engaging the knee and a first jaw with a pin, e.g. curved, e.g. shaped like a hook. This pin or hook is arranged such that it is forced though the carcass part in the vicinity of the knee. Preferably, the pin is arranged such that it passes between the tibia bone and the fibula bone.
5 When the embodiment with the second jaw and the first jaw with pin or hook is used, the actuator force supply supplies enough force to force the pin or hook through the carcass part, between the tibia bone and the fibula bone, adjacent to the knee.
The second jaw is advantageously formed as an anvil, against which the knee can be 10 pressed. The side of the anvil that engages the knee can be a flat or curved surface. The anvil-like second jaw can be advantageously combined with the first jaw having the pin or hook.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the anvil-like second jaw engages the carcass part at the back of the knee. The first jaw is then e.g. arranged such that the pin can 15 be forced through the meat from the back of the knee to the front of the knee, between the tibia bone and the fibula bone. Preferably, the pin is curved, such that once the tip of the pin has passed through the meat of the carcass part, this tip curves back towards the front of the knee and pushes the knee backwards towards the anvil face of the second jaw.
20 In an advantageous embodiment of any of the carriers described above, the carrier mobile, and further provision is made for locking means, for example a catch, that lock the orientation of the carrier relative to the stationary support structure or the one or more trolleys that the carrier is attached to. This makes that the carcass part can be held in position during processing, or that at least one degree of freedom is then locked. In known systems for 25 processing carcass parts of slaughter red meat animals it is often the operator that has to hold the carcass part in position during processing. This is heavy and unhealthy work, and moreover it makes it impossible to use both hands for the processing.
In an advantageous embodiment of any of the carriers described above, the carrier is 30 further provided with control means that control the orientation of the retaining assembly relative to the stationary support structure or the trolley that the carrier is attached to. These control means can actively adapt or change the orientation of the carcass part relative to the stationary support structure of the trolley that the carrier is attached to, for example when a cut has to be made on the other side of the carcass part. In known systems, it is often the 35 operator that has to bring the carcass part into a different orientation, which is heavy and unhealthy work.
-18-
In an advantageous embodiment of any of the carriers described above, the retaining assembly is pivotable or fully rotatable in a plurality of planes. Preferably, at least two of these planes are perpendicular to each other. This allows the carcass part to be manipulated over more degrees of freedom.
5
In a system according to the invention, preferably a plurality of carriers is provided. These can e.g. be carriers that are each adapted for carrying a single shoulder part or carriers for carrying a single ham of a slaughtered pig.
10 A system is in an advantageous embodiment further provided with a conveyor for transporting multiple carriers along a track. In general, a single conveyor will only be equipped with one type of carriers. However, in certain circumstances or in certain lay-outs of slaughter animal processing plants, different types of carriers can be used on the same conveyor.
15 A conveyor preferably comprises a plurality of trolleys, wherein a carrier is supported by one or more, e.g. two, trolleys.
Alongside the track, preferably one or more processing stations are arranged. These 20 processing stations can provide a place for an operator to stand or sit while the operator carries out a process on the carcass part, for example making a cut or carrying out a part of the deboning process.
A processing station can be provided with tools for the operator, like knives or other 25 types of cutters or additional supports for the carcass part (for example to hold it in a certain position or orientation during the processing). Those tools can be connected to the processing station, for example hanging down from flexible cables.
It is also possible that in the processing stations one or more processes are carried out automatically or semi-automatically. In that case, the processing stations may be provided 30 with rotating circular knives, waterjet cutters, sensors, guide rails or other components that make sure automatic processing or semi-automatic processing can take place.
It is possible that in all processing stations different process steps are carried out. It is however also possible that in several processing stations the same process step is carried 35 out, so that several carcass parts undergo the same processing step at the same time.
-19-
The conveyor can subject the trolleys (and therewith the carriers) to either a continuous or a step-wise motion.
In an advantageous embodiment, the conveyor with multiple carriers is an overhead 5 conveyor, wherein the retaining assembly of a carrier is arranged below the trolley to which said carrier is connected, in such a way that the carcass part hangs down from the carrier. Preferably, the carrier and the conveyor allow the part of the carcass part that is to be processed to hang down below the carrier, so that the performing of a process step is not hindered by parts of the carrier or the conveyor.
10
In an advantageous embodiment, a conveyor further comprises means for controlling the orientation of the carrier and/or retaining assembly relative to the carrier or to the trolley to which said carrier is connected, which means are arranged alongside the track. These means for controlling can be for example a cam track rail, that operates a lever or the like on the 15 carrier.
In an advantageous embodiment, a conveyor comprises means for locking the orientation of the carrier and/or retaining assembly of a carrier relative to the trolley to which said carrier is connected, which means are arranged alongside the track. These means for 20 locking the orientation can be for example a guide rail, that holds a lever or the like on the carrier in a fixed position, e.g. a pneumatic, electronic or hydraulic actuated rail, or a pin that is actuated by for example a pneumatic cylinder, which pin prevents movement of a certain part of the carrier.
25 In a possible embodiment, the retaining assembly of a carrier is arranged above the trolley to which said carrier is connected in a conveyor device. In this system, the trolleys may be arranged at a relatively low level above the floor, preferably such that the carcass parts are presented to the operators at an ergonomic working height.
30 It is possible a system according to the invention is used in just a part of a slaughterhouse or meat processing factory, while in other parts known systems are used. For example, a known system with carriers can be used during the cutting up of the carcass part into smaller parts, while a system according to the invention with carriers of the type described above is used in the deboning process.
In an advantageous embodiment, a classification station is present, that is for example arranged upstream of a deboning line, which deboning line preferably is equipped with 35 -20- carriers of the invention. In the classification station, it is determined for each individual carcass part that passes through the classification station to what following process the carcass part will be subjected. So, for example, if the system according to the invention is used in combination with a deboning process, it is decided by the classification station which 5 of the individual carcass parts will be deboned or and which ones not. In a sophisticated embodiment, it will even be decided in the classification station which process steps will be taken in the deboning and which ones not. The classification station makes its decisions for example on the basis of parameters of the individual carcass part, like weight, bone-to-meat ratio, fat percentage or the like, which are measured at one or more measuring locations 10 upstream of the classification device. Usually, the decision will be made on the basis of a combination of such parameters.
In a sophisticated embodiment, also information not pertaining to the individuals carcass per se is taken into consideration when making the decision for the next process or 15 processing steps. Such information can be for example the demand for certain types of products for that particular day (or other relevant time period), the amount of a particular type of products already produced that day in relation to the demand for those products for that day, but also for example information on the availability of one ore more processing lines or processing stations downstream of the classification system.
20
The carcass parts can be supplied to the classification station in many ways: for example manually, by means of an overhead conveyor system, by means of a belt conveyor, by means of a system according to the invention, or by a combination or any of those.
25 In an advantageous embodiment, a transfer station is provided for transferring a carcass part from the classification station to a carrier. The transfer station can be provided with an automatic transfer device, that takes or receives carcass parts from the classification station and arranges them in carriers of the system according to the invention. In a sophisticated embodiment, the transfer station distributes the carcass parts from the 30 classification station to different systems that each perform a different process on the carcass parts.
In a sophisticated embodiment, the measurements that are taken for the purpose of the decisions to be made in the classification station are used as well to control the processing 35 stations upstream and/or downstream of the location where the measurements were taken. If for example it turns out that measurements show an unexpected high number of relatively light products, this can trigger an adjustment of the position of a cutter upstream of the -21 - measurement location so that more meat or bone is left on the carcass parts upstream. On the other hand, it can also trigger an adjustment of the position of one or more cutters downstream of the measuring location, so that the cutters can make more accurate cuts.
It is possible that multiple classification systems and/or more measuring locations are 5 present in a slaughterhouse or meat processing factory.
In an embodiment, a carrier is arranged on a stationary support structure. The stationary support structure is arranged so as to have a fixed position in the slaughterhouse or factory. Usually, the carrier will have a fixed position relative to the stationary support 10 structure, but preferably the carrier will be arranged in such a way that the carrier’s orientation relative to the stationary support structure can change or can be changed. This can for example be achieved by hingedly mounting the carrier on the stationary support structure.
The hinge can allow rotation of the carrier in one or more planes.
Alternatively or in addition, it is possible that the carrier is mounted moveably on the 15 stationary support structure, so that the position of the carrier relative to the stationary support structure can change. In this embodiment, the carrier can move back and forth for example, such that the carcass part to be processed can be manipulated in even more degrees of freedom.
20 Preferably near the stationary support structure, one or more processing stations are arranged. Such a processing station can provide a place for an operator to stand or sit while the operator carries out a process on the carcass part, for example making a cut or carrying out a part of the deboning process. The processing station can also be provided with tools for the operator, like knives or other types of cutters or additional supports for the carcass part 25 (for example to hold it in a certain position or orientation during the processing). Those tools can be connected to the processing station, for example hanging down from flexible cables.
It is also possible that in the processing stations one or more processes are carried out automatically or semi-automatically. In that case, the processing stations may be provided with rotating circular knives, waterjet cutters, sensors, guide rails or other components that 30 make sure automatic processing or semi-automatic processing can take place.
It is possible that a red meat processing plant has a plurality of stationary support structures, each having one or more carriers arranged on them.
In a fourth aspect, the invention pertains to the logistics of the process.
35 -22-
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the logistics of the processing of porcine, bovine, ovine, or caprine slaughter animals and parts thereof can be improved in various ways. The application for pigs is most prominently envisaged.
5 The fourth aspect relates to a system according to claim 94, and to a method for processing wherein use is made of said system.
The fourth aspect also relates to a method according to claim 104, and to a system used in said method.
10 In all systems according to the fourth aspect of the invention, an overhead conveyor is used to transport the carcasses or carcass parts to be processed along the processing stations that carry out the processing steps. An overhead conveyor is most suitable for use in a system according to the fourth aspect of the invention because an overhead conveyor allows the control and manipulate the carcass or carcass part to be processed relative to the 15 conveyor.
The first way in which the logistics can be improved is by optimising the decision in which way to cut up each individual carcass or carcass part. In known systems, this decision is made primarily based on the required output of the processing system. The demand from 20 the clients for a certain day or week is added up in order to establish how many items or how much weight of which end product has to made. Sometimes, additionally a measurement is taken of each carcass or carcass part, in order to determine the weight or the fat percentage at a certain part of the carcass or carcass part. Based on this additional information, it is determined how the carcass or carcass part is to be cut up.
25
In known systems, there is not so much variation or flexibility in the process steps that a carcass or carcass part is subjected to. The carcasses or carcass parts follow a more or less fixed routing along the processing stations, and in all processing stations a predetermined operation is carried out on all carcasses or carcass parts that pass through. In known 30 systems, there usually are just two or three different routings or combinations of processing steps are available.
The system according to the fourth aspect of the invention aims to optimise the combination of process steps that is carried out on each carcass or carcass part, so that the 35 yield per carcass or carcass part can be optimised and/or the optimal combination of end products can be produced from each carcass or carcass part, so that the amount of money earned per carcass or carcass part can be optimised.
-23-
There are several aspects to this optimisation. One aspect is related to providing more flexibility with respect to the number, type and combination of processing steps that are carried out on the individual carcasses or carcass parts gives more options on how to process 5 a specific carcass or carcass part. Providing more flexibility with respect to the number, type and combination of processing steps that are carried out on the individual carcasses or carcass parts can be done by providing a plurality of production lines that each provide a fixed combination of processing steps, as is known from the prior art.
10 More advantageously, as an alternative or additionally, the flexibility in the processing is achieved by providing the possibility that individual carcasses or carcass parts bypass processing stations. This way, a plurality of processing stations are arranged along a track, each adapted to carry out one or more processing steps. The processing stations that are adapted to carry out process steps that do not have to carried out on a particular carcass or 15 carcass part are bypassed by this carcass or carcass part. The bypassing can be achieved by moving the carcass or carcass part out of reach of the processing station (in particular of the tools of the processing station that carry out the processing step), or by moving the tools of the processing station or the entire processing station out of the way, so that the tools of the processing station do not come into contact with the carcass or carcass part. Of course, a 20 combination of these is possible as well.
An other aspect in optimising the combination of processing steps that are carried out on each individual carcass or carcass part is realised by providing at at least one point in the slaughterhouse or meat processing factory a selection device such as a classification station 25 is present that decides the optimal combination of processing steps for each carcass or carcass part based on available data. This data preferably comprises data obtained from measurements on the specific individual carcass or carcass part for which a decision has to be made, and/or data from measurements on a plurality of carcasses or carcass parts that were processed before the specific carcass or carcass part, and/or data from measurements 30 on a plurality of carcasses or carcass parts that were processed after the specific carcass or carcass part, data on the required demand and/or data pertaining to to what extent the demand is already met by the processing of previous carcasses and/or carcass parts.
Preferably, a plurality of selection devices is available along the routing that each 35 carcass or carcass parts takes along the processing stations. This allows fine-tuning of the routing for each individual carcass part during its processing.
-24-
The decision on which process steps are to be carried out on a specific carcass or carcass part is improved if more information is obtained about each individual carcass or carcass part. This way, better use can be made of the improved flexibility in the available combinations of processing steps. In order to obtain more information, a plurality of 5 measurements is carried out on each individual carcass or carcass part. These measurements can for example be measurements of fat percentage at various locations, measurements of size and shape, for example by means of a camera or other optical sensors, and/or CT scans or X-ray measurements for determining the location of bones or other parts.
10
Advantageously, additional measurements are carried out in the course of the process. These additional measurements can be used for obtaining information that could not be obtained earlier in the process (for example because the measuring location could not be reached before), but also for control of the process or of one or more of the individual process 15 steps.
The measurements of course can take place on the carcass or carcass part as it moves along a processing line. However, it is also possible to perform measurements on parts that are removed form the carcass or carcass part, such as piece of meat that have been 20 removed from the carcass or carcass part.
The obtained measurement data can be used in the selection of the optimal combination of processing steps for a specific carcass or carcass part, but either additionally or alternatively, it can be used for other purposes. For example, it can be used to control one 25 or more processing stations. For example, if measurement data shows that at some point upstream of a certain processing station a relatively high number of small carcass parts are present, the position of a cutting tool is that processing station can be adapted so that said position is better suited for processing small carcass parts. In an other example, if measurement data shows that at some point downstream of a certain processing station a 30 relatively high number of small carcass parts are present, the position of a cutting tool is that processing station can be adapted so that it cuts off less from the passing carcass parts.
An other way of using the information obtained from the measurements and/or from the selection device is to provide information to one or more operators in the processing stations. 35 For example, an image displayed on a screen in front of the operator can be used to indicate to the operator which part of the meat has to be cut loose from the specific carcass or carcass part in front of him.
5 -25-
The system and the method according to the fourth aspect of the invention can be combined with any of the features, including optional features, discussed with reference to any of the first, second and third aspect of the invention.
The fifth aspect of the invention is also directed to improving the logistics of the processing of porcine, bovine, ovine, or caprine slaughter animals or parts thereof.
The fifth aspect of the invention relates to a system according to claim 110, and the use 10 of such a system in processing.
The fifth aspect also relates to a method according to claim 120.
In a system according to the fifth aspect of the invention, in at least one of the processing stations, a part of the carcass or carcass part is separated from the rest of the 15 carcass or carcass part, respectively. The carcasses or carcass parts pass through the processing station by means of an overhead conveyor.
In accordance with the fifth aspect of invention, a secondary conveyor is arranged adjacent to said processing station. This secondary conveyor is adapted to receive the part 20 that is separated. The rest of the carcass or carcass part is transported further by the overhead conveyor.
In known systems, the separated part and the rest of the carcass or carcass part are transported together towards the end of a series of processing stations. There, an operator is 25 confronted with a mixture of different products and/or intermediate products. The different types of products have to be sorted out before they can be transported further. Usually, the products are presented in an arbitrary orientation or even on a heap to the operator that has to do the sorting. This makes the task of the sorter to be physically demanding and time consuming.
30
In a system according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the separated parts are taken away form the rest of the carcass or carcass part in an orderly way. This improvement to the logistics results in that the sorting at the end of a series of processing stations is no longer necessary.
It is possible that multiple processing stations are provided with a secondary conveyor. Preferably, each processing station in which a part is separated from the rest of the carcass 35 -26- or carcass part is provided with its own secondary conveyor. It is also possible that a processing station removes two or more parts subsequently. In that case, advantageously for each location within the processing station in which a part is removed, a dedicated secondary conveyor is provided.
5 It is possible that a processing station is operated by a human operator, who for example makes the desired cuts with an ordinary knife or with a wizard knife. In that case, the operator e.g. makes a cut to separate a part from the carcass or carcass part and then puts the separated part on or in the secondary conveyor.
It is also possible that the separated part is not held or supported while it is cut loose 10 from the rest of the carcass or carcass part. In that case, it falls off the rest of the carcass or carcass part when the separation is complete. The second conveyor is then preferably arranged such that the separated part falls directly onto or into the secondary conveyor. Alternatively, a chute or the like can be arranged that catches the separated part and takes it to the secondary conveyor.
15
In a preferred embodiment, all separated parts are arranged in the same orientation on or in the secondary conveyor. This makes subsequent processing easier, because an operator or machine that takes the separated parts off the secondary conveyor has all separated parts presented to it in the same orientation. Usually, this can be achieved in a 20 relatively simply way, especially when the processing station operates automatically. An automatically operating processing station will separate the part always in the same way from the rest of the carcass or carcass part. By catching the separated parts directly when they are separated by the automatic processing station, their orientation will be consistent.
25 Preferably, the secondary conveyor transports receives the separated part on a moving surface or in a moving holder or carrier. Preferably, the speed of the receiving surface, holder or carrier is such that the separated parts do not fall on top of each other. This way, the separated products are presented individually. This facilitates picking them up from the secondary conveyor, even to the extent that it could be automated.
30
The separated parts can be end products, intermediate products or waste.
In the system according to the fifth aspect of the invention, one or more selection devices can be provided that determine which processing steps have to be performed on the 35 individual carcasses and/or carcass parts. These selection stations preferably select the appropriate subsequent processing steps for the individual carcass or carcass part on the basis of data measured on the specific carcass or carcass part, data measured on other -27- carcasses or carcass parts upstream or downstream of the specific carcass or carcass parts, and/or general data, such as the demand for certain end products on a specific day or other time slot.
Measurements can be performed on carcasses or carcass parts that are arranged in 5 carriers connected to the overhead conveyor, but measurements can also be performed on carcasses or carcass parts that are already on a secondary conveyor.
The obtained measurement data can be used in the selection of the optimal combination of processing steps for a specific carcass or carcass part, but either additionally 10 or alternatively, it can be used for other purposes. For example, it can be used to control one or more processing stations. For example, if measurement data shows that at some point upstream of a certain processing station a relatively high number of small carcass parts are present, the position of a cutting tool is that processing station can be adapted so that said position is better suited for processing small carcass parts. In an other example, if 15 measurement data shows that at some point downstream of a certain processing station a relatively high number of small carcass parts are present, the position of a cutting tool is that processing station can be adapted so that it cuts off less from the passing carcass parts.
An other way of using the information obtained from the measurements and/or from the 20 selection device is to provide information to one or more operators in the processing stations.
For example, an image displayed on a screen in front of the operator can be used to indicate to the operator which part of the meat has to be cut loose from the specific carcass or carcass part in front of him.
25 The system and the method according to the fifth aspect of the invention can be combined with any feature, including optional features, discussed with reference to any of the first, second, or third aspect of the invention.
The invention will be explained in more detail under referral to the drawing, in which 30 non-limiting embodiments of the invention are shown. The drawing shows in:
Fig. 1: a skeleton of a pig,
Fig. 2: a side view of a first embodiment of a carrier according to the invention,
Fig. 2B : the embodiment of fig. 2A in perspective,
Fig. 2C: a rear view of the embodiment of fig. 2, in perspective, 35 Fig. 3A: the olecranon retaining assembly 30 of fig. 2A in the open position,
Fig. 3B: the olecranon retaining assembly 30 of fig. 2A in the closed position,
Fig. 4: an alternative embodiment of the actuator of the olecranon retaining assembly, -28-
Fig. 5: a carrier according to the invention, connected to a trolley of a conveyor device, Fig. 6 : a schematic representation of how automatic manipulation can be achieved,
Fig. 7: a carrier being arranged on a stationary support structure,
Fig. 8: an example of a carcass part comprising a ham, 5 Fig. 9: an example of a knee retaining assembly,
Fig. 10: the knee retaining assembly of fig. 9 in its locked position,
Fig. 11: a carcass part comprising a ham being arranged in a carrier according to the invention that is provided with a knee retaining assembly, partly in cross section,
Fig. 12: the embodiment of fig. 11, but now with the knee retaining assembly in its 10 locked position,
Fig. 13A and B: a further embodiment of a retaining assembly according to the invention,
Fig. 14: a further embodiment of a system according to the invention,
Fig. 15: an example of a carrier according to the invention, 15 Fig. 16A and B: schematically a cross section according to line A-A of fig. 15,
Fig. 17: a preferred embodiment of a slotted retaining assembly of a carrier in accordance with the invention,
Figs. 18a,b: the bone structure of a front leg and of a hind leg of a pig,
Fig. 18c the bone structure of a pig foot, 20 Fig. 19: a cross section through a pig’s foot in the area of the metatarsal bones,
Fig. 20: the pig foot of figure 19 arranged in the retaining assembly of fig. 17,
Fig. 21: a retaining assembly in accordance with fig. 17 and fig. 20 and an associated carrier,
Fig. 22A, B and C: two possible embodiments of an indexing or rotation member, 25 Fig. 22D a carrier with the rotation member of figures 22B and C;
Fig. 23: a loading or transfer station for arranging a carcass part into a carrier according to the invention,
Fig. 24A and B: transfer from one carrier of a first conveyor to a carrier of a second conveyor, 30 Fig. 25: a side view of a further embodiment of the carrier of fig. 21,
Fig. 26: the carrier of fig. 21 being applied in a system for processing carcass parts, such as hams or fore-ends,
Fig. 27: a carrier according to the invention, indicating possible degrees of freedom for the retaining assembly, 35 Fig. 28: a conveyor with carriers according to the invention in use in a system for processing carcass parts, -29-
Fig. 29: a further use of carriers according to the invention in a system for processing carcass parts,
Fig. 30: a further use of carriers according to the invention in a system for processing carcass parts, 5 Fig. 31: a further use of carriers according to the invention in a system for processing carcass parts,
Fig. 32: a further use of carriers according to the invention in a system for processing carcass parts,
Fig. 33: an embodiment of a system for processing carcass parts of red meat slaughter 10 animals in accordance the invention,
Fig. 34: a further embodiment of a system according to the invention,
Fig. 35: a further embodiment of a system according to the invention,
Fig. 36: a further embodiment of a system according to the invention,
Fig. 37: a further embodiment of a system according to the invention.
15
Fig. 1 shows a skeleton of a pig. In the front part, the scapula (shoulder blade) 11, humerus 12, radius 13, ulna 14 and olecranon 15 are indicated. In the ham area, indicated are the pelvis 16, the femur 17, the knee 18, the tibia 19 and the fibula 20.
20 Fig. 2A shows a side view of a first embodiment of a carrier 50 according to the invention.
In the embodiment of fig. 2, the carrier 50 is adapted for carrying a shoulder part of a slaughtered pig. The shoulder part comprises at least a part of the humerus bone 12, at least 25 a part of the radius 13, of the ulna 14, and the olecranon 15. It further comprises at least a part of the meat 21 that is naturally present on the humerus bone 12, the radius 13, and the ulna 14.
In this example, as is preferred in combination with carrier 50, the olecranon 15 is at 30 least partly, preferably completely, free from meat 21 so that the bone structure thereof is exposed, as is indicated in fig. 2.
The carrier 50 comprises an olecranon retaining assembly 30 which is adapted to engage on the olecranon.
35 Preferably, as in this example, the assembly 30 is such that it supports one its own the entire pig shoulder part, without the need for any additional support for the shoulder part.
-30-
In the example shown here the olecranon retaining assembly has a first jaw 31 and a second jaw 32, which are movable relative to one another. In the opened position of the jaws 31, 32 the olecranon 15 can be placed between the jaws 31,32. In the closed position of the jaws 31,32 the olecranon 15 is clampingly held between the jaws 31,32.
5
The olecranon retaining assembly 30 comprises an actuator 33 for causing the relative motion of the first and second jaws 31,32 with respect to each other.
In this embodiment, the first jaw 31 is integral with a connector portion 40 of the 10 retaining assembly 30, which connector portion serves to connect the retaining assembly to the carrier 50.
The second jaw is pivotable about axis 34 with respect to the first jaw 31 and the connector portion 40.
15
In this example the first jaw 31 engages the olecranon 5 at the side of the humerus 12, while the second jaw 32 engages the olecranon 5 at the side of the radius 13 and ulna 14.
In this example the first jaw 31 has two teeth 39a,b and between them an olecranon slot 38, here - as is preferred - a V-shaped slot 38. The slot 38 has such a shape that the 20 olecranon 5 can be fitted in, with a teeth of the first jaw 31 on either side of the olecranon 5.
In the example of fig. 2, the second jaw 32 is adapted to push the olecranon 15 in the slot of the first jaw 31 and to hold the olecranon 15 in said slot 38. In this example the second jaw 32 fits between the teeth of the first jaw 31 as the olecranon 15 is within the slot 38.
25
Fig. 2B shows the embodiment of fig. 2A in perspective. In fig. 2B, it is clearly visible that the olecranon 15 is arranged in the slot 38 of the first jaw 31, between the teeth 39a,b.
The second jaw 32, which is designed here as an anvil, has a surface 32* that engages the olecranon 15 and pushes it into the slot 38.
30 The actuator 33 provides a closing force to the second jaw 32, in order to keep the olecranon 15 reliably in the slot 38.
Fig. 2C shows the olecranon retaining assembly 30 of the embodiment of fig. 2Afrom the rear, this time without a carcass part. The slot 38 and the teeth 39a,b of the first jaw 31 35 are clearly visible, as is the second jaw 32.
-31 -
In general it is preferred that a locking mechanism is associated with the jaws 31,32 to keep the jaws 31, 32 locked in the closed position, so that the hold of the retaining assembly onto the shoulder part is highly reliable, even when additional forces are exerted onto the jaws by the shoulder part, e.g. due to motions during transportation, changes in orientation of 5 the shoulder part, and/or forces exerted during a processing, e.g. cutting, onto the shoulder part.
In the example of fig. 2, the actuator 33 comprises a toggle lever mechanism, which allows to lock the retaining assembly, here the jaws 31,32, in its closed position when the 10 toggle lever mechanism is in its over-center position. The locking effect can only be undone by operation of the actuator, not by forces exerted on the retaining assembly by the shoulder part.
In this example the toggle lever mechanism includes a first arm 35 and a second arm 36. The first arm is connected pivotally at one end to the connector portion 40 via pivot axis 15 37a and at the other end to the second arm via pivot axis 37b. The other end of the second arm is connected to the second jaw via pivot axis 37c, which is remote from the axis 34. All axis 37a,37b,37c and 34 are parallel.
20 Fig. 3A shows the olecranon retaining assembly 30 of fig. 2A in the opened position. In this position, it is ready to receive the olecranon 15. In his example the arms 35, 36 of the toggle lever mechanism of actuator 33 are at a relative angle a that is less than 180°.
Fig. 3B shows the olecranon retaining assembly 30 of fig. 2A in the closed or locked 25 position. In this position, the second jaw 32 pushes the olecranon 15 (not shown) into the slot of the first jaw 31, such that the olecranon 5 is clamped between the jaws 31,32.
In fig. 3B, the angle a between the arms 35 and 36 is more than 180°. This provides an over-center position of the arms 35, 36. This means that opening the jaws 31,32 is only 30 possible through actuation of the actuator 33, so as to move the arms into a less than 180° position.
In a possible embodiment, the toggle lever mechanism is manually operated by a handle that is attached to one of the arms 35, 36. An operator operates the handle manually 35 to open or close the olecranon retaining assembly 30. It is however also possible that the carrier is part of system that is automated to a higher extent, and that the handle is operated by a control system, without direct interference of an operator.
-32-
It is also possible that the toggle lever mechanism is operated by moving the carrier relative to an external operating element, such as a guide bar arranged along a track where the carrier passes along. The guide bar then engages the toggle lever mechanism (either directly or for example through a handle), and changes the relative position of the arms of the 5 toggle lever mechanism.
As is preferred the connector portion 40 of the retaining assembly 30 is rotational with respect to the carrier 50.
In the examples of figures 3, 4, 5, and 7 the connector portion 40 is rotatable about a 10 horizontal axis 41, preferably through 360°, with respect to the carrier body.
As is preferred the horizontal axis 41 extends through the space between the jaws 31, 32 where the olecranon 15 is received.
Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the actuator of the olecranon retaining 15 assembly 30. Reference 46 indicates a portion of the body of the carrier 50.
Fig. 4A shows the olecranon retaining assembly 30 with the jaws 31, 32 in the opened position. In fig. 4B, the olecranon retaining assembly 30 is closed.
As is preferred, the connector portion 40 of the retaining assembly is rotatable about 20 horizontal axis 41 with respect to the body of the carrier 50, here shown as body portion 46.
In the embodiment of fig. 4, the actuator comprises an actuating rod 135. The actuating rod 135 is connected to one of the jaws 31,32 by means of a mechanism that comprises the arm 136. In the example of fig. 4, the actuating rod 135 is connected to the pivotal second jaw 25 32 via said arm 136.
The first jaw 31 is fixedly connected to the olecranon retaining assembly connector portion 40. The skilled person will understand that it is also possible that the actuating rod 135 is connected to the first jaw 31 while the second jaw 32 is fixedly connected to the olecranon 30 retaining assembly connector portion 40, or that both the first jaw and the second jaw are moveable relative to the olecranon retaining assembly connector portion 40, either sharing a single actuating rod 135 or each having an actuating rod or other type of actuator of their own.
35 The embodiment of fig. 4 operates as follows: in the open position of the olecranon retaining assembly 30, the actuating rod 135 is in a retracted position. This situation is shown in fig. 4A. The arm 136 is pivotably connected to actuating rod 135 by means of pin 137. Pin -33- 138 connects arm 136 to the second jaw 32, which is in turn pivotably connected to body 139 of connector portion 40 by a pin 134 that allows the second jaw 32 to rotate relative to body 139.
Fig. 4B shows the actuating rod 135 in a forward position. With the actuating rod 135 in 5 this forward position, the jaws 31,32 of the olecranon retaining assembly 30 are in their closed position. The positions and dimensions of the link 135, the pins 137, 138 and 134 are such that when the actuating rod 135 moved from its retracted position to its forward position, the jaws 31,32 of the olecranon retaining assembly move from their open position to their closed position. Likewise, when the actuating rod 135 is moved from its forward position to its 10 retracted position, the jaws 31,32 move from their closed position to their open position.
The actuating rod 135 itself can be actuated by any suitable driver, such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, an electric motor, or manually. The driver can be designed to supply the actuator force that is necessary to keep the carcass part in the olecranon retaining assembly while the olecranon retaining assembly bears the weight of the carcass part and while 15 operations are carried out on that carcass part.
In the embodiment of fig. 4, in addition or as an alternative to any continuous actuator force supplied by the driver of the actuator rod 135, a ratchet 130 is provided. The ratchet 130 has teeth 131. The actuating rod 135 is also provided with teeth 132, preferably locally. The 20 teeth 131 of the ratchet 130 and the teeth 132 of the actuating rod 135 are such that the ratchet allows movement of the actuating rod 135 from its retracted position to its forward position, but that it blocks movement of the actuating rod 135 from its forward position to its retracted position. Therewith, the ratchet 130 blocks opening of the olecranon retaining assembly 30.
25 When the olecranon retaining assembly 30 has to open again, for example in order to release the olecranon of the carcass part that it is holding, the ratchet is pivoted back around axis 133, so the actuating rod 135 is released and the olecranon retaining assembly 30 can be opened.
In an advantageous embodiment of the example of fig. 4, the actuating rod 135 has a 30 band of teeth 132 that extend around its circumference. The width of that band is adapted to the size of the ratchet, and will generally be smaller than the length of the actuating rod. The advantage of that is that the smooth, non-teethed part of the actuating rod can then be used as part of the hinge that allows rotation of the carcass part relative to the stationary structure or the trolley of the transport system to which the olecranon retaining assembly is connected. 35
Fig. 5 shows a portion of an example of a conveyor device for individual pig shoulder parts according to the invention. The conveyor device includes a track 62, here formed as an -34- overhead rail (which is preferred). One or more trolleys 61 are movable along the rail 62, possibly interconnected, e.g. by a cable or chain, possible a drive arrangement being provided to propel the trolleys along the track.
A carrier assembly 50 is connected to one or more trolleys 61, here to a single trolley 5 61, of the conveyor device 60. It is also envisaged that a carrier 50 is connected to two trolleys.
The carrier in the example of fig. 5 is a carrier according to fig. 2. However, also other designs of carriers, e.g. as explained in more detail in this application, can be used.
10 The conveyor device 60 is used to transport the carcass part held by the carrier 50 along the track, which track runs along one or more processing stations. In the processing stations, a process is carried out on carcass part that passes by, e.g. a manual process or an automated process. The carcass part can be transported continuously or in a step-wise manner in direction of transport T.
15
The carrier 50 comprises an olecranon retaining assembly support 40. The olecranon retaining assembly support comprises a hinge 41. In this example, hinge 41 has an axis of rotation that is directed horizontally, parallel to the direction of transport T.
As an optional feature, the carrier 50 also includes a second horizontal pivot axis 42 for 20 the retaining assembly, that is non-parallel to the first horizontal pivot axis 41, here perpendicular. So the retaining assembly can be rotated about two non-parallel axis 41,42 with respect to the carrier body 46.
In this example the connector portion 40 is rotatable mounted about axis 41 on an intermediate member 45 that is rotatable mounted about axis 42 to the carrier body, here 25 carrier arm 46.
In this example the intermediate member includes a guiding plate 45 that is provided in order to limit the freedom of movement of the olecranon retaining assembly 30 about the second axis 42. The guiding plate 45 has a slot 44, through which pin 43 fitted on the arm 46 projects.
30
As a preferred optional feature, the carrier 50 is rotationally mounted to the one or more trolleys 61 about a vertical axis 47.
In an embodiment wherein the retaining assembly is connected to the carrier via two 35 non-parallel horizontal pivot axis and the carrier is connected to the one or more trolleys via a third vertical axis, the carcass part can basically be manoeuvred with three rotational degrees of freedom.
-35-
This manipulation can be effected by an operator while he is carrying out the process, for example a deboning operation, on the carcass part. However, it is also possible that the manipulation is effected automatically, for example during the transfer from one processing station to the next.
5
In the embodiment of fig. 5, a guide disk or other follower 48, e.g. a cam follower cooperating with a cam track, has been provided to allow automatic rotation of the carrier about axis 47.
10 In a variant to the embodiment of fig. 5, the guiding plate 45 is not provided with a continuous slot, 44, but with a plurality of discrete hole, into which pin 43 fits. When the olecranon retaining assembly has to assume a different orientation, the pin 43 is withdrawn from the hole in which is was present, and arranged in one of the other holes in the guiding plate 45.
15
Fig. 6 shows schematically an example of how automatic manipulation can be achieved.
Dash-dot line 65 indicates the track that the trolleys follow. When a trolley is in position A, its associated support arm 46 extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of 20 transport T. When the trolley has arrived at position B, guide disk 48 has come into contact with guide 70, e.g. a guide rail. As the trolley progresses towards position F, guide 70 forces support arm 46 towards the dash-dot line 65, making the support arm 46 coming to extend substantially parallel to the track (dash-dot line 65). When the trolley has arrived at position F, a second guide 71 is present, on the opposite side of guide disk 48. Together, guides 70 and 25 71 hold the support arm 46 in an orientation parallel to the track.
In the example of fig. 6, the means for controlling the orientation of the olecranon retaining assembly (guide 70) and the means for fixing the orientation of the olecranon retaining assembly in at least one degree of freedom (last part of the guide 70 together with 30 the guide 71) are arranged alongside the track of the transport system. It is however also possible to integrate such means into the carrier assembly. For example, servo motors can be used for this purpose.
Integrating the means for manipulating and/or fixing the orientation into the carrier 35 assembly is in particular useful when the carrier assembly is arranged on a stationary support structure 80, such as is shown in fig. 7. In such a case, no use can be made of relative -36- movement of the carrier assembly and its surroundings, as the stationary support structure 80 will generally have a fixed position in the slaughterhouse or factory.
Fig. 7 schematically shows three servo motors 90 being integrated into the carrier 5 assembly, one for each rotational degree of freedom. Of course, it is also possible to use less or more motors, and/or to use them for actuating a translation.
With reference to figure 8 a device and system according to the invention will be disclosed wherein the carcass part is a ham of a slaughtered pig, which ham comprises a 10 knee, at least a part of the femur bone, adjacent to the knee, at least a part of the tibia bone and fibula bone, adjacent to the knee and at least a part of the meat that is naturally present on the femur bone, tibia bone and fibula bone.
An example of a pig ham part 200 is shown in fig. 8. The ham comprises a knee 201, 15 the femur bone 202, the ischium 203, the pubis 204, the illium 205, the tibia 206 and the fibula 207. The ham also comprises at least part of the meat 208 that is naturally present on those bones. At least some of the meat in the knee area has been removed or loosened from the bones. The bones in the knee area are preferably fully or partly exposed, or these bones can be at least partly reached by pushing aside the loosened meat. However, the invention 20 can also be applied when the knee is still covered by meat.
In figure 9 a preferred embodiment of a knee retaining assembly 210 is shown.
The knee retaining assembly for holding a pig ham part is preferably mounted in a 25 carrier, e.g. a carrier having one or more of the features discussed with reference to one or more of figures 2-7, e.g. a carrier that is part of a conveyor device.
The knee retaining assembly comprises a first jaw 212 and a second jaw 211 that are movable with respect to each other between an opened position, wherein the knee can be 30 placed between the jaws 212,211, and a closed position, wherein the knee is clamped between the jaws 212, 211.
In this preferred embodiment the knee retaining assembly 210 comprises a first jaw with a projecting meat penetrating pin, here in the form of a hook 212, and a second jaw 211, here 35 formed as an abutment member or block.
-37-
The knee retaining assembly further comprises an actuator that causes the relative motion of the first and second jaws 212, 211. In this example, the actuator comprises a linkage mechanism 214, most preferably a toggle lever mechanism as explained with reference to figure 3 with arms 214a and 214b.
5
In use, the abutment block 211 is arranged so as to engage the bones at or adjacent to the knee joint from the side that faces forward in a live pig. The abutment block 211 preferably has a front face 215 of which the shape is adapted to the shape of the bones that are engaged by the front surface 215.
10
In the example of fig. 9, the front face of the second jaw 215 comprises one or more, preferably - as in this example - two recesses 216 and 217. These recesses 216 and 217 are each adapted to accommodate a portion of the tibia 19. Only one recess 216,217 is in use at a time. By providing two recesses 216, 217, the retaining assembly including the 15 second jaw 211 can be used for processing both the left leg and the right leg.
In an advantageous embodiment, the second jaw 211 can adopt two positions: one it which one of the recesses 216,217 can receive the tibia 19 of a left leg, and one in which the other recess 217,216 can receive the tibia 19 of a right leg. Preferably, the second jaw 211 20 can be clicked into the right position.
The first jaw or hook 212 is moveable, here pivotable, relative to the second jaw or abutment block 211. The movement of the hook 212 relative to the second jaw is controlled by the linkage mechanism 214, which in turn can be driven by any suitable means.
25
The hook 212 is preferably shaped in such that it can pass between the tibia and the fibula, through the carcass part. The linkage mechanism 214 is preferably such that it makes the hook 212 move in such a way that the tip 218 of the hook moves towards the second jaw after it has passes between the fibula and the tibia, so that the tip 218 of the hook 212 30 engages the knee from behind and pushes it against the abutment block of the second jaw 211.
The driver can be adapted to provide the actuator force that is necessary to hold the carcass part in the knee retaining assembly while the carcass part is carried by the carrier and/or while the carcass part is processed. Instead or additionally, it is possible to have the 35 linkage mechanism generate the actuator force itself. In the example of fig. 9, the linkage mechanism 214 can for example be forced past its over-center point by its driver. This is shown in fig. 10, where the knee retaining assembly of fig. 9 is shown in the locking position -38- in which it locks the knee of a carcass part. To move the hook 212 back up again so that the carcass part can be released from the knee lock, the link mechanism 214 has to be forced back through its dead point, which requires additional force.
5 Like in the olecranon retaining assembly, the actuator in the knee retaining assembly can be realised in many ways. It is for example possible to apply the actuating rod of fig. 4 in the knee retaining assembly. Other embodiments of actuators for both retaining assemblies are possible as well, for example spring loaded actuators.
10 The knee retaining assembly itself can also take different forms. Instead of using a first jaw with a projecting pin as described above, it is also possible to clamp the knee between a first jaw and a second jaw, and hold the knee by friction. In another embodiment, one of the jaws can have a V-shaped slot like the olecranon retaining assembly.
15 Fig. 11 shows a ham part of a pig being arranged in a carrier according to the invention that is provided with a knee retaining assembly, partly in cross section.
In fig. 11, the knee retaining assembly 210 is arranged in a carrier of the type shown in fig. 5 and 7. Likewise, the carrier assembly of fig. 11 can be connected to a trolley of a 20 conveyor device or to a stationary support structure. The reference numerals of the carrier assembly that are used in fig. 11 indicate the same components as in fig. 5 and fig. 7.
In fig. 11 it is shown that the knee of a carcass part comprising a ham is forced against the front face 215 of the abutment block 211. By doing so, hook 212 is forced through the 25 carcass part, between the tibia and the fibula. The carcass part can be put in the position of fig. 11 by manual force of an operator, or in an automated way.
Fig. 12 shows the embodiment of fig. 11, but now with the knee retaining assembly in its locked position. The link mechanism 214 has been moved such that the tip 218 of the hook 30 212 now is in engagement with the hollow of the knee 201*. The hook 212 therewith pushes the front of the knee against the front face of the abutment block 211 of the knee lock. This way, the carcass part is locked in the knee lock.
Fig. 13 shows a further possible embodiment of a retaining assembly according to the 35 invention. In this embodiment, the retaining assembly is assumed to be part of a carrier of a conveyor device, wherein the carrier is movable along a track of the conveyor device, e.g. in transport direction T indicated in figure 13B.
-39-
Fig. 13A shows this embodiment in side view. Fig. 13B shows this embodiment in a partial cross section, in top view. In the example, a pig shoulder part is arranged in the carrier, but this embodiment of the system can also be used in combination with hams or other carcass parts.
5
The pig shoulder part as shown in fig. 13 comprises at least a part of the humerus bone 12, at least a part of the radius 13, ulna 14 and olecranon 15. Also at least a part of the shoulder blade 11 is present. It further comprises at least a part of the meat 21 that is naturally present on the humerus bone 12, radius 13, ulna 14 and olecranon 15. In this 10 embodiment, the olecranon is still covered with meat.
In the embodiment of fig. 13, the retaining assembly is provided with one or more, here two meat penetrating teeth 432,433. The teeth 432, 433 are mounted on a block 431, which is in turn connected to a connector portion 440 of the retainer assembly.
15
The portion 440 bearing the block with one or more meat penetrating teeth is connected to a carrier, which is not shown in the drawing, e.g. as explained with reference to any of the preceding figures.
20 The teeth 432, 433 are forced into the meat of the carcass part, in the vicinity of or directly at a reference portion of the carcass part. In this case, the reference portion is the olecranon 15, and the teeth 432,433 are brought into the meat of the carcass part on either side of the olecranon 15. The two teeth together suppress movement of the carcass part relative to the base block 431 in all but one degrees of freedom. Only the translation in the 25 longitudinal direction of the teeth 432,433 is not suppressed.
The teeth 432, 433 carry the weight of the carcass part.
One or more guide rail 420 arranged along at least a section of the track of the conveyor device suppress movement of the carcass part relative to the block 431 in the 30 longitudinal direction of the one or more teeth 432, 433, in the direction away from the base block, and pushes the carcass part towards this base block 431. This way, the carcass part becomes locked between the base block 431 and the one or more guide rails 420.
In an advantageous embodiment of a system according to the invention in which a 35 retaining assembly of the type according to fig. 13 is applied, the teeth 432, 433, the base block 431 and the base portion 440 are arranged on a carrier of a transport system. The carrier transports the carcass parts along a path. In such a system, the guide rail can be -40- arranged stationary along the path, at that position or those positions where the locking of the carcass part in the carrier is required, for example at position where process steps are carried out on the carcass parts. So, guide rail 420 could very well be incorporated in a processing station. Instead of or in addition to a guide rail, for example a guide plate or guide block can 5 be applied.
In a system according to the invention where a stationary support structure is provided with one or more carriers having a lock according to fig. 13, the guide rail can be made moveable towards the base block 431. Instead of or in addition to a guide rail, for example a 10 guide plate or guide block can be applied.
The teeth 432, 433 can take a different shape than the one shown in fig. 13. For example, pins with a constant cross sectional area over at least part of their length can be used.
15 In the embodiment shown in fig. 13, the teeth 432, 433 are introduced in the carcass part on either side (left and right) of the olecranon 15. It is also possible to introduce them for example in front of the olecranon and behind the olecranon 15. That way, more advantage can be taken of the stability that the bone structure gives the carcass part. The weight of the carcass part is then not only exerted on meat parts of the carcass part, but also on bone 20 parts.
Fig. 14 shows, in top view, in partial cross section, a further embodiment of a system according to the invention.
25 Fig. 14 shows carriers 550 of a conveyor device that are movable in a transport direction T along path 565. To each of the carriers, a base block 531 is connected that bears at least one protruding and meat penetrating pin 532. This pin 532 can have a sharp, rounded or blunt tip.
The pin 532 is introduced into the meat of carcass part 1, which in the example of fig.
30 14 is a ham. However, the embodiment of fig. 14 can also be used for other types of carcass parts.
In the example of fig. 14, the pin 532 is introduced into meat 508, next to the tibia 506 and the fibula 507. It is however also possible that the pin 532 is introduced between the tibia and the fibula.
35 Alongside at least a part of the path 565 runs a second conveyor, here having a belt 521. Preferably belt 521 is an endless belt. Instead of or in addition to the belt 521, one or more cords, cables, chains or the like may be applied. The belt 521 moves along with the -41 - carriers, in the same direction (see arrow B) and with the same speed, at least for the part of belt 521 that runs alongside the path 565. On the belt 521, at regular intervals counter blocks 520 are provided. The pitch between subsequent counter blocks 520 is the same as the pitch between subsequent carriers 550. The counter blocks 520 are each provided with a recess 5 523 for receiving the carcass part. The carriers push the carcass parts into these recesses 523, such that the carcass part is locked in the carrier.
Behind the belt 521, a guide plate 522 may be provided, to support the belt 521 against the force of the carcass parts being pushed in the recesses 523 of the counter blocks 520. Likewise, such a guide plate (not shown in the drawing) may be present to support the 10 carriers to withstand this force.
Fig. 15 shows an example of a carrier 750 according to the invention. In this example, the carrier 750 is connected to a trolley 61, that runs along an overhead track 62 of an overhead conveyor device 60.
15 The carrier 750 comprises a retaining assembly 730 with a connector portion 740.
In this example, the retaining assembly 730 engages a carcass part 1, which in this example is a ham, somewhere in a holding zone 701 of the carcass part (indicated by the hatching in fig. 15).
The carrier shown in fig. 15 can further have one or more features that are shown and 20 discussed herein in relation to carriers and conveyor devices.
Fig. 16 shows schematically a cross section according to line A-A of fig. 15. In this cross section, jaws 731 and 732 of the retaining assembly 730 can be seen. Between the jaws the carcass part 701 is clamped.
At the holding zone of the carcass part where the retaining assembly 730 engages, the 25 carcass part 701 has both bone 703 and soft tissue 702 in its cross section. The jaws 731,732 engage the soft tissue.
Fig. 16A shows the spatial orientation of the bone 703 relative to the retaining assembly 730 as of the moment the retaining assembly was brought into engagement with the carcass 30 part.
Fig. 16B shows the situation in which the bone 703 when a guiding or orienting force is exerted on the carcass part. The circumference of the soft tissue still has the same position relative to the jaws 731,732. The bone 703 is however rotated relative to its initial orientation 35 of fig. 16A. The flexibility of the soft tissue 702 allows this. The series of stripes 704 visualise the deformation of the soft tissue 702 due to this rotation of the bone 703.
-42-
The rotation of the bone relative to the circumference of the soft tissue results in mechanical stresses in the soft tissue. When the guiding or orienting force is no longer applied, the bone returns to its initial spatial orientation of fig. 16A due to the elasticity of the soft tissue, and the mechanical stresses that were caused by the rotation disappear.
5
With reference to figures 17-26 now several exemplary embodiments of a slaughtered pig leg parts conveyor device and system according to the invention, preferably in accordance with the first, second and third aspect of the invention, will be discussed.
10 The conveyor device and system are in particular envisaged for the conveyance, and possible processing during conveyance, of a fore leg part or hind leg part of a slaughtered pig. In these examples it is assumed that the fore leg part or hind leg part includes at least the foot (at least the relevant region thereof as discussed below) and an adjoining portion of the leg of the pig. For example the fore leg part is a fore end as is known in the art. For example 15 the hind leg part includes the ham.
The conveyor device can advantageously be used in combination with one or more processing stations, wherein the conveyed pig leg part is subjected to a process.
For example the process may involve the making of one or more cuts in the leg part, e.g. to cut off a portion of the leg part and/or as a preparatory action for a further process, e.g.
20 for a deboning process.
It is envisaged that one or more processes are performed with automated devices.
It is also envisaged that one or more processes are performed manually, e.g. using had tool(s), e.g. a knife, and/or a hand-held power tool.
25 In such a conveyor device conveyor device a track is provided, preferably a rail, most preferably an overhead rail.
As is preferred the track is endless.
The track may have a significant length, e.g. extending between and/or along multiple processing stations in a pig slaughtering facility.
30 The track may be dedicated to a single processing station and/or processing machine in such a facility, e.g. as an endless circular track.
One or more, preferably a multitude, e.g. more than 50, pig leg part carriers are movable along the track, each carrier being adapted to carry an individual pig leg part.
Each carrier has one pig foot retaining assembly adapted to engage on a single pig 35 foot so as to retain the pig leg part in a position suspended from the carrier.
The retaining assembly includes a pig foot aperture adapted to receive the one pig foot.
-43-
Figure 21 shows a portion of an example of such a conveyor device. The carrier 750 has a retaining assembly with a pig foot slot 762, here formed in a rigid slot plate 761, which slot 762 is dimensioned to receive the pig foot in a clamping manner so as to support the pig leg 5 part suspended from the retaining assembly.
The slot 762 is open at one end thereof to introduced the pig foot sideways into the slot and remove the pig foot sideways from the slot 762.
Before discussing the carrier 750 in more detail, first a preferred embodiment of the slot plate 761 will be discussed 10
In general the slot 762 in the plate 761 is adapted to receive the region of the pig foot where the metatarsal bones are present.
Fig. 18A shows the bone structure of a front leg of a pig, while fig. 18B shows the bone 15 structure of a hind leg of a pig. Figure 18A shows the scapula (shoulder blade) 11, humerus 12, radius 13, ulna 14 and olecranon 15. Figure 18B shows the femur 17, the tibia 19 and the fibula 20.
Figure 18c shows the bone structure of the foot of a pig. The structure is basically the same for the front and hind leg. As is known a pigs foot contains four digits. The central digits, 20 indicated with MC3 and MC4 are functional and basically bear the load of the pig, whereas the lateral digits MC2 and MC5 are basically non-functional. In pigs the latter are referred to as dewclaws. The references MC2,MC3, MC4 and MC5 refer to metacarpal or metatarsal bones of the pig foot.
In figure 18C the references P1, P2, P3 refer to phalanges of the pigs foot.
25
Figures 18A and Fig. 18B show the central metatarsal bones 22 and the lateral metatarsal bones 23. The same bones are also shown in figures 19 and 20.
In figure 18c the reference H indicates a region of the foot of the pig that is advantageous for use as a holding zone. This region includes metatarsal bones 22 and 23 of 30 the foot.
There are several advantages to using this region of the pigs foot as a holding zone. A first advantage is that the diameter of this region is about the same for a front leg and for a hind leg. This allows to use the same locking plate 761 for engaging an individual front leg part as well as an individual hind leg part of a pig. This means that hams and fore-ends can 35 be held by the same locking plate 761, so the same carrier can be used for both.
A second advantage of using this region of the foot as a holding zone is illustrated in fig. 19 and fig. 20.
-44-
Fig. 19 shows a cross section through a pig’s foot in the area of the metatarsal bones 22 and 23, so in the region H as indicated in fig. 18c. The cross section as shown in fig. 19 is generally the same for a front leg or a hind leg.
Fig. 19 shows the pigs foot in natural state, before engagement with the slot plate 761.
5 As can be seen the lateral metatarsal bones 22 are situated adjacent to the main phalanges 23 in the natural position as shown in fig. 19. A relatively large tendon 24 runs through the cross section. The outside layer 25 of the cross section comprises skin, rind and a bit of fat. Around the tendon 24 and the metatarsal bones 22,23, mainly meat 26 is present.
So, in the cross section of the holding zone as shown in fig. 19, the metatarsal bones 10 22,23; the soft tissue surrounding the bone comprises skin, rind and fat 25, tendon 24 and meat 26 are present.
Tests have shown that deforming the foot in the region of the metatarsal bones by applying pressure in the direction of arrows A requires quite a lot of force. This is basically when the pressure is applied in lateral direction on the foot. On the other hand, when 15 pressure is applied in the direction of arrows B, that is generally pressing the front side and the rear side of the foot towards one another, this region of the foot is much easier to deform; it requires less force to obtain a certain deformation and the ultimate deformation that can be achieved is larger.
Use of this knowledge can be made when suspending the pig leg part from a retaining 20 assembly having a pig foot aperture or slot, e.g. with a slot plate 761 as shown in fig. 17. This is shown in fig. 20.
The slot plate 761 has an aperture embodied as a pig foot slot 762 which is open at one end thereof to introduce the pig foot sideways into the slot and remove the pig foot 25 sideways from the slot.
The slot has an entrance portion 763, here as is preferred a narrowing entrance portion, at a side of the slot plate. The entrance portion may include one or more entry faces arranged at an angle with respect to the main axis of the slot.
30
The entrance portion 763 leads to a retaining portion 762 of the slot with includes a blind end. It is intended that a properly introduced pig foot is received in the retaining portion.
As is preferred the slot 762 has a rigid reference face 762a in the retaining portion of 35 the slot. As shown in figure 20 the pig foot is preferably introduced such into the slot that the central metatarsal bones 22 are generally adjacent said rigid reference face 762a, so with the front side of the pig foot facing said rigid reference face 762a.
-45-
The introduction of the pig foot into the entrance portion 763 causes a gradual compression of the pig foot region. Due to the retaining portion of the slot 762 being narrower than the undisturbed cross-section of the pig foot region received therein, the lateral 5 metatarsal bones have been pressed towards the central metatarsal bones and also towards the reference face 762a. This clamping of the pig foot provides a reliable suspension of a leg part of the pig, e.g. up to a weight of 15 kg.
As explained the sideways introduction of the pig foot into the slot in this orientation will require a limited force as compression of the pig foot in the direction perpendicular to the 10 introduction direction is relatively easy. This e.g. allows for manual introduction of the pig foot into the slot 762.
As is preferred the slot plate 762 also includes a protrusion 765 between the entrance portion and the retaining portion of the pig foot slot. This protrusion generally defines a 15 narrowest passage of the slot so as to keep the pig foot in the retaining portion once it has been properly inserted.
As an alternative, or in combination with a protrusion 765, the retaining assembly may include (in a non-shown embodiment) a blocking member that is movable between a blocking 20 position, wherein the blocking member extends across at least part of the width of the slot 762 so as to block the pig foot from leaving the pig foot slot, and a retracted position wherein the pig foot can be removed from the slot. For example the blocking member is a pivotal lever. For example the blocking member is adapted to be operated manually or equipped with a cam follower that can cooperate with a dedicated cam track arranged along the track where 25 operation of blocking member is desired.
The width of the slot will in practice preferably been chosen such that a pig foot with the smallest cross-sectional dimensions (indicated with diameter D in figure 19) of the pig leg parts to be conveyed and/or processed, will still be compressed upon introduction into the slot 30 (having width W smaller than diameter D). The compression and/or other deformation of the soft tissue of the pig foot attributes to a tight fit and solid grip of the slot plate onto the pig foot.
The slot 762 is adapted to accommodate a holding zone of a carcass part. However, holding zones of carcass parts come in a range of diameters due to the natural variation in 35 shapes and sizes of carcass parts. The width W has to be chosen such that also carcass parts that have a holding zone of a relatively small diameter are retained in the slot 762.
-46-
Preferably, the width W of the locking part 764 of the slot 762 is smaller than the smallest diameter in the range of expected diameters of the holding zone, so smaller than the smallest diameter than the lock is expected to retain. The holding zone comprises bone surrounded by soft tissue. The soft tissue can be compressed or otherwise deformed to some 5 extent, so the holding zone of the carcass or carcass part can be arranged in the relatively narrow slot 762. The protrusion 765 reduces the risk of undesired release of the holding zone out of the locking part 764 of the slot 762.
In a possible embodiment of the conveyor device, stationary guides are arranged 10 alongside the track that is followed by the carriers, and these guides can be set up to bring and support the leg part in an such orientation that it is presented to an operator in an ergonomically advantageous way. For example, the guides can pivot the leg part towards the operator and hold it in that position during processing. The flexibility of the soft tissue allows this to take place without the carcass part slipping relative to the locking plate 761.
15
When the guides release the carcass part again, the carcass part will return to its initial orientation relative to the carrier. This return can be caused or assisted by the elasticity of the soft tissue and/or by external influences, such as gravity or an other set of guides.
20 Fig. 21 shows a locking plate 761 in accordance with fig. 17 and fig. 20 being used in a carrier 750.
The carrier 750 is connected to two trolleys 772 via a connection plate 775. The trolleys 772 are connected to a drive chain 774. The drive chain 774 moves the trolleys over a track 773, that follows a path along a series of processing stations. In fig. 21, the direction of 25 transport of the trolleys 772, and therewith the direction of transport of the carrier 750 is indicated by arrow T.
In the carrier according to fig. 21, the locking plate 761 as shown in fig. 17 and 20 is shown. The slot 762 of the locking plate 761 is arranged at an angle relative to the direction of transport T. Preferably, a carcass part is arranged in the slot 762 of the locking plate 761 in 30 the way shown in fig. 20. In that case, with the slot 762 arranged at an angle as shown in fig. 17 and 20, the carcass part has an initial spatial orientation that allows it to be presented to an operator in and ergonomically sensible way. If the processing is carried out automatically or semi-automatically, the initial orientation allows the carcass part to be orientated in a way that makes it easily accessible for the processing tools.
35
The carrier 750 in this example comprises two flanges 751, a hinge pin 753 and a bracket 754. The flanges 751 are connect to each other by strip 752 for additional stability.
-47-
The bracket is connected to guide block 770, on top of which a rotation element 771 is arranged. The rotation element is rotatable around a vertical axis relative to the connection plate 775. When the rotation element 771 rotates relative to the connection plate 775, the elements of the carrier that are arranged beneath it (the guide block 770, the bracket 754, the 5 hinge pin 753, the flanges 751, the strip 752 between the flanges and the locking plate 761) rotate with the rotation element 771.
In the embodiment of fig. 21, the hinge pin 753 provides the possibility to rotate the locking plate 761 around an axis parallel to the part of the track 773 that the trolleys 772 are 10 on. So, if the track 773 runs horizontally, hinge pin 753 allows rotation of the locking plate 761, and therewith of the carcass or carcass part that is held by the locking plate, around a horizontal axis.
The rotation or indexing element 771 provides the locking plate 761 with the possibility 15 to rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to the part of the track 773 that the trolleys 772 are on. So, if the track 773 runs horizontally, hinge pin 753 allows rotation of the locking plate 761, and therewith of the carcass or carcass part that is held by the locking plate, around a vertical axis.
20 The rotation element 771 is used to control the orientation of the locking plate 761 of the carrier 750 with respect to rotation about the vertical axis (or an axis in the vertical plane and perpendicular to the part of the track 773 that the trolleys 772 run on if the track 773 does not run horizontally at that specific part). This can for example be achieved by giving the rotation element 771 a shape of the type shown in fig. 22A. Fig. 22 A shows the top view.
25
The rotation or indexing element has a rotation centre C, four sides 776 and slots 777 extending inward from the corners between the sides in the direction of the rotation centre C. The four sides are arranged at different distances from the rotation centre C, as is indicated by the arrows a,b,c, and d in fig. 22A.
30
Alongside the track, at fixed positions, one or more pins 778 are arranged. These fixed positions correspond to the positions along the track where the carrier has to be rotated by the rotation element 771. The distance of the pins relative to the track is such that upon passing of a carrier that moves in direction of transport T, a pin 778 becomes accommodated 35 in one of the slots 777. Because this pin is stationary and the rotation element 771 is rotatable, the relative movement of the rotation element 771 in the direction of transport T and the pin 778 causes the rotation element 771 to turn over 90° in the direction of arrow R.
-48-
By using combinations of pins that are arranged at different distances from the track, either alone or in series, the rotation element 771 (and therewith the elements of the carrier that are arranged beneath it) can be rotated in steps of 90°. This makes that the locking plate has four rotational positions (in relation to rotation about an axis in an vertical plan 5 perpendicular to the track) in which it can hold the carcass or carcass part. The flexibility of the soft tissue allows the carcass or carcass part to rotate around any of these four positions of the locking plate.
Fig. 22B shows another embodiment of the rotation element 771. In this embodiment, 10 the rotation element 771 comprises two eccentric disks 779a,b that have a fixed position stacked onto each other. Together, the eccentric disks 779a,b are rotatable relative to base 779c about axis 779d. The axis is offset from the center of either disk. The relative position of the two eccentric disks 779a,b is shown in fig. 22C, which shows a bottom view of the rotation element of fig. 22B.
15 The base 779c is connected to two trolleys 772, that are in this example connected to drive chain 774 of an overhead conveyor, as is shown in fig. 22D.
The position of the eccentric disks 779a,b relative to the base 779c is controlled by guides that are arranged alongside the path that is imposed upon the carriers by the 20 overhead conveyor. The advantage of using the rotation element of fig. 22B is that this rotation element allows a smooth rotational movement.
The rotation element 771 of fig. 22B further comprises a locking element 779e. that cooperates with block 779f to temporarily lock the position of the eccentric disks 779a,b 25 relative to the base 779c. Locking element 779e is actuated by guides or other elements arranged alongside the path that is imposed upon the carriers by the overhead conveyor to lock or unlock the position of the eccentric disks 779a,b relative to the base 779c.
Fig. 22D shows the rotation element of fig. 22B used in a carrier of the type shown in 30 fig. 21. Although not shown in fig. 22D, a guide block 770 as shown in fig. 21 can be used in the carrier of fig. 22D as well.
The skilled person will understand that fig. 22 shows only two of the many possible ways to control the orientation of the carrier about an axis in a vertical plane perpendicular to 35 the track.
-49-
At the level of the guide block 770, support guides can be provided against or between which the guide block 770 of the carrier can be led when the carrier moves along the track. The support guides support the carrier via the guide block 770 so that it does not rotate around the vertical axis (or the axis in a vertical plane perpendicular to the track if the track 5 does not run horizontally at that specific location) under the influence of the forces that occur during processing.
Fig. 23 shows a loading station for arranging a carcass part into a carrier. In the example, the carrier as shown in fig. 21 is used. In the loading station of fig. 23, use is made 10 of the ability of the carrier to rotate the locking plate 761 about hinge pin 753. The skilled person will understand that this loading station can also be used in combination with different carriers, as long as the carrier allows rotation about an axis parallel to the track and the lock is suitable for sliding in the carcass part from the side of the lock.
15 The loading station is adapted for use together with a plurality of carriers 750 that move along a track. For reasons of clarity, in fig. 23 only one carrier is shown.
The loading station comprises a conveyor belt 780 and a guide 781. The top of the moving surface of the conveyor belt is adapted to move in the same direction as the direction of transport T of the carriers.
20 Initially, just before reaching the loading station, the carrier hangs down from the track under the influence of gravity or because it is actively positioned. When the carrier reaches the conveyor belt 780, the conveyor belt picks up the lower side of the carrier so that it comes to lie on the moving top surface of the conveyor belt.
In this position, the retaining assembly is turned upward, such that the open end of the 25 slot 762 in the locking plate is upward. An operator then puts a carcass part on the conveyor belt 780. The holding zone of the carcass part is arranged lightly in the entrance part of the slot 762.
The conveyor belt moves the carcass part towards guide 781. The carrier moves along with it, having substantially the same speed. The carcass part comes into engagement with 30 the guide 781, which forces the holding zone into the retaining portion of the slot 762 of the locking plate 761. This way, the operator does not have to apply force to move the holding zone of the carcass part 1 from the entrance portion into the retaining portion of the slot 762 in the locking plate 761.
35 The same concept of moving the carcass part in or out of the locking plate 761 by means of guides can also be applied for transferring the carcass part form a carrier of a first -50- conveyor device to a carrier of a second conveyor device, or in general from a first carrier to a second carrier.
The invention envisages a transfer station where pig leg parts or other carcass parts are 5 transferred directly from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.
The conveyor devices are embodied such that at the transfer station the motion of the carriers of the first and second conveyors is synchronized so that a carcass part that is initially suspended from the retaining assembly of a carrier of the first conveyor device is transferred into the slot of the retaining assembly of a carrier of the second conveyor device, 10 the carcass part remaining suspended in the transfer process by at least one of the retaining members.
As is preferred the transfer station comprises one or more ejection guides are arranged along the track of the first conveyor device, the ejection guide being arranged so as 15 to contact the carcass part, preferably under the slot member, e.g. within 5 centimeters, the ejection guide forcing the carcass part out of said slot and into the slot of the carrier of the second conveyor device during passage of the part along the ejection guide.
As is preferred in the transfer station the paths of the retaining assemblies of the first 20 and second conveyor are at different heights, and the retaining assemblies are brought during the transfer process in an overlapping position - when seen from above.
To do this, the locking plates of the two carriers are arranged such that the slots of the locking plates are more or less in line with each other. However, in general the locking plates 25 will be arranged at a different height.
Fig. 24 shows this in side view (fig. 24A) and in top view (fig. 24B).
Fig. 24A shows a carcass part 1 that is transferred from a first carrier 750 to a second carrier 750*. Transfer guide 795 (shown only in cross section) moves the holding zone of the 30 carcass part 1 out of the slot of the plate of the first carrier 750 into the slot of the plate of the second carrier 750*.
Fig. 24B shows this process in top view. For reasons of clarity, only the locking plates of the carriers are shown.
35 -51 -
At the start of the transfer process, the plate 761 of the first carrier holds a carcass part 1 by the holding zone. The plate 761 of the first carrier and the locking plate 761* of the second carrier move towards each other.
The plates 761 and 761* are brought into a position in which they partly overlap and in 5 which the slots of both plates 761, 761* are generally in line which each other.
Transfer guide 795 comes into contact with the carcass or carcass part 1. The shape of the transfer guide 795 is such that it moves the carcass part 1 from the plate 761 of the first carrier into the plate 761* of the second carrier as the carriers move on in their direction of transport T, T*, as is illustrated in fig. 24B.
10 When the carcass part 1 is arranged in the plate 761* of the second carrier, the carriers move away from each other again.
Fig. 25 shows a side view of a special embodiment of the carrier of fig. 21. The reference numerals used for the difference parts in fig. 25 correspond to those of fig. 21.
15 In the embodiment of fig. 25, the carrier is provided with a cam follower 787, that runs into a cam track 786 that is arranged along at least a part of the path that is followed by the carrier 750. The cam track 786 prescribes the position of the cam follower 787 when the carrier 750 is moved along the track 773. Therewith, the rotation of the plate 761 about hinge pin 753 can be controlled.
20
In the embodiment of fig. 25, the cam follower 787 is arranged on the strip 752 that connects the flanges 751. The skilled person will understand that the cam follower could alternatively be arranged at a different location.
25 Fig. 25 also shows one or more optional support guides 785, that are arranged alongside the guide block 770. Support guides 785 prevent unwanted rotation of the carrier around a vertical axis, as well as unwanted sideways movement of the part of the carrier above the guide block 770.
30 Fig. 26 shows the carrier of fig. 21 being applied in a system for processing carcass parts, such as hams or fore-ends. The skilled person will understand that the system of fig. 26 can be used for other carcass parts as well.
In the system of fig. 26, a track 773 is provided, over which trolleys 772 run. The trolleys 35 772 are driven by a drive chain 774.
The system further comprises a plurality of carriers 750. Each of the carriers 750 is connected to one or more trolleys 772. Each of the carcass parts 1 to be processed is -52- arranged in a carrier 750, which transports the carcass parts 1 to and along processing stations. In fig. 26, T indicates the direction of transport.
In fig. 26, such a processing station is shown. In this processing station, three operators 5 700 perform manual operations on the passing carcass parts 1. For example, they cut loose a piece of meat or they sever a bone or a part thereof from the surrounding tissue.
Before entering the processing station, the rotational element 771 of the carriers (see e.g. fig. 21) brings the carcass parts 1 in a suitable orientation with respect to rotation about 10 the vertical axis.
Between the track 772 and the operators 700, product support guides 790 are arranged. The product support guides 790 are positioned and shaped such that they engage the carcass parts 1 upon entrance in the processing station, and that they subsequently bring 15 the carcass parts 1 into an orientation with respect to rotation about the hinge pin 753 that is suitable for the operation that the operators are to carry out.
In known systems, the operator had to pick up a carcass part and position it himself. This of course takes time. Also, the handling of the usually relatively heavy carcass parts puts 20 physical strain on the operators. By offering the carcass parts 1 to the operators already in a position that is suitable for the processing that they have to perform, time is saved and the work of the operators 700 is improved from an ergonomic point of view.
In addition, in the system of fig. 26, the operators can use both hands for carrying out 25 the operation on the carcass parts. For example, they can grab the carcass part and tension it with one hand and make the cut with a knife they hold in their other hand. This is a natural way of performing such an operation, which has shown to lead to shorter learning periods for the operators 700.
30 In fig. 26 is shown that between the operators 700 and the carcass parts 1, a fence 791 is arranged. The height of this fence is such that the operators can lean against this fence when working. This helps the operator 700 to focus on the cutting action, which makes the work easier to learn and easier to do.
35 In a particular embodiment of the system of fig. 26, the processing system is used for deboning. In that case, it is advantageous if at least one of the product support guides 790 is arranged at the level of a joint of a bone to be removed. That way, the operator can bend the -53- joint open over the product support guide 790. As the product support guide 790 is relatively small in diameter, the operator can bend open the joint over a significant angle, which allows him to reach the tissue behind the joint better then when he would for instance bend the joint over the edge of a table. Cutting through the tissue behind the joint facilitates the deboning 5 process.
Fig. 27 shows a carrier 50 according to the first aspect of the invention, indicating possible degrees of freedom R1, R2, R3 for the lock 30. As fig. 27 shows, these degrees of freedom R1, R2, R3 can all be realised in a single embodiment of the carrier 50. It is on the 10 other hand also possible that only one or two of these degrees of freedom are provided.
Fig. 27A shows that rotation in the direction R1 can be realised by providing a vertical rotation axis 47.
15 Fig. 27B shows that rotation in the direction R2 can be realised by providing a horizontal rotation axis 41, directed substantially in the direction of track 62 of the transport system 60.
Fig. 27C shows that rotation in the direction R3 can be realised by providing a horizontal rotation axis 43, directed substantially perpendicular to the direction of track 62 of 20 the transport system 60.
In the embodiment of fig. 27, each carrier 50 is carried by two trolleys 61 of the conveyor device or transport system 60, so that the weight of the carcass or carcass part is carried by two trolleys instead of one. This reduces the mechanical requirements for the 25 trolleys.
In the embodiment of fig. 27, the retaining assembly is arranged such that the carcass or carcass part comes to hang substantially in a center pane between the two trolleys 61.
This way, the mechanical load is divided evenly between the two trolleys and no additional 30 moment is exerted on the carrier and the transport system. In general, it is advantageous if the centre of gravity of the carcass or carcass part is arranged in line with the centre line of the trolley or set of trolleys that carry the weight of the carcass or carcass part.
The skilled person will understand that the features of the degrees of freedom, each 35 carrier being carried by a plurality of trolleys and the aligning of the centre of gravity or the carcass or carcass part with the centre line of the (set of) trolley(s) do not have to be combined in a single embodiment. They can be used independently from each other.
-54-
The skilled person will also understand that the embodiment of fig. 27 or some of its features can be used in combination with a carrier according to other aspects of the invention as well.
5 Fig. 28 shows carriers according to the invention in use in a system for processing carcass parts 1 of slaughtered porcine, bovine, ovine, or caprine animals. The skilled person will understand that in the embodiment of fig. 28, instead of or in addition aspects of other carriers according the invention can be used as well.
10 In this embodiment, each of the carriers 50 is connected to two trolleys 61 of transport system 60. Between the carriers 50 some empty trolleys 61 are present, in order to obtain the desired pitch between subsequent carriers 50. It is however not necessary that these empty trolleys are there. The transport system 60 moves the trolleys and the attached carriers along the track 62 in the transport direction T.
15
An operator 800 is present in a processing station 810 along the track 62. In this particular processing station, two parts of the carcass part are cut off manually, using knife 804. One part that is cut off is waste, the other part is a meat cut for human consumption.
20 In front of the operator, a funnel 811 is arranged, which is connected to a vacuum transport system. The vacuum system comprises discharge tube 812. When the operator 800 has cut off the waste piece, he drops it into the funnel 811. A valve 813 opens, e.g. after actuation by the operator by means of switch 814 in front of him, which causes a vacuum to be applied. By this vacuum, the waste piece is drawn into discharge tube 812 and transported 25 to waste.
Arranging the funnel 811 right in front of the operator is in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention. Here, the funnel 811 together with the vacuum system forms a secondary conveyor for transporting the waste piece away from the processing station 810.
30
Arranged next to the operator 800 is a second secondary conveyor 820. When the operator has cut off the meat cut for human consumption he puts it onto the second secondary conveyor 820. This conveyor 820 takes the meat cut away from the processing station and brings it to storage, to a packaging department or to an area where subsequent 35 processing is performed.
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In this set up, the removed meat pieces are removed from the transport system right at the processing station where they were cut loose from the rest of the carcass part. This is advantageous compared to known systems wherein pieces that are cut loose are transported along with the rest of the carcass part to an end station, where the different types of products 5 and/or rest material is sorted and distributed further. The logistics of the system according to fig. 28 are far more efficient, because the sorting action does not have to take place any more.
Below the track 62 of the main transport system 60, an auxiliary conveyor 801 has been 10 arranged. The auxiliary conveyor 801 comprises support blocks 803, that are connected by a chain 803. Instead of a chain, a cable could be used. Arrow Taux indicates the direction of transport of the support blocks 803.
Some distance upstream of the processing station 810, the auxiliary conveyor 801 is 15 arranged so far below the track 62 of the main transport system 60 that the carcass parts 1 in the carriers 50 do not come into contact with the auxiliary conveyor 801. This can be seen in fig. 28, where the carcass part 1 on the right hangs free from the auxiliary conveyor 801.
Closer to the processing station 810, the auxiliary conveyor 801 slopes upwardly, such 20 that the support blocks 803 come into contact with the carcass part above them. The upward movement is continued. This causes the support blocks 803 of the auxiliary conveyor 801 to tilt the carcass part 1 and lock 30 of the carrier 50 to tilt around rotation axis 41. This is shown in fig. 28, with respect to the carcass part 1 in the middle.
25 The carcass part 1 is presented to the operator 800 at the processing station 810 at an ergonomically sensible height and with the face of the carcass part into which he has to make the cuts directed towards him, and positioned and oriented such that the operator 800 can make cuts without having to make unnatural, complicated or otherwise strain causing movements of his body.
30
Not shown in fig. 28, downstream of the processing station 810, the auxiliary conveyor releases 801 the carcass parts again, so that they return to their initial position as shown by the right carcass part 1 in fig. 28.
35 If necessary, after that the carcass parts are turned around the vertical axis 47 in order to make a different face of the carcass part face the next processing station.
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Fig. 29 shows a further use of carriers according to invention in a system for processing carcass parts 1. The skilled person will understand that in the embodiment of fig. 29, instead of or in addition thereto features of carrier of other aspects of the invention can be used as well.
5
Fig. 29 shows an operator 800 being present in a processing station 810, along the track 62 of transport system 60. Trolleys 61 run over the track 62 with a carrier 50 attached to it. The carrier 50 carries a carcass part 1. The operator 800 has a knife 804 for manually making a cut in the carcass part 1. After he has cut loose a part from the carcass part 1, he 10 can put this removed part onto discharge conveyor 850, which is arranged in front of him, as a secondary conveyor in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention.
In the embodiment of fig. 29, the carrier 50 is provided with an arm 830 to which a cam follower 831 is connected. The carrier 50 is pivotable around axis 833 relative to the trolley 15 61. At the processing station 810, a guide 832 with a cam track 834 is arranged. The guide 832 and cam track 834 are such that they catch the cam follower 831 of a carrier 50 approaching the processing station 810.
The carcass part 1 is transported to the processing station 810 with its longitudinal axis 20 substantially vertical. This is indicated in fig. 29 in phantom. When the carcass part 1 approaches the operator 800, the cam track 834 changes direction such that it prescribes a downward movement of the cam follower 831. With in this case the lock being fixed relative to the rest of the carrier, this downward movement of the cam follower 831 results in the carcass part 1 being tilted towards the operator 800. The thus obtained tilted position of the carcass 25 part 1 is shown in solid lines in fig. 29.
The tilted position is preferably such that the carcass part 1 is presented to the operator 800 at the processing station 810 at an ergonomically sensible height and with the face of the carcass part into which he has to make the cuts directed towards him, and positioned and 30 oriented such that the operator 800 can make cuts without having to make unnatural, complicated or otherwise strain causing movements of his body.
After the operator 800 has made his cuts or performed his other operations on the carcass part 1, the cam tack 834 slopes upward again, bringing the carcass part 1 back into 35 its initial orientation.
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Fig. 30 shows a further use of carriers according to the first aspect of the invention in a system for processing carcass parts 1. The skilled person will understand that in the embodiment of fig. 30, instead of or in addition thereto features of the carriers according to other aspects of the invention can be used as well.
5
In fig. 30, the transport system 60 with track 62 and trolleys 61 is not shown for reasons of clarity. However, the same system as shown in fig. 28 and fig. 29 can be used. T indicates again the direction of transport of the carriers 50, as imposed by the transport system 60.
10 In fig. 30, two subsequent processing stations 840, 810 are shown. In the first processing station 840, an automatic operation is carried out by device 841 on a first face of the carcass part 1. The carrier 50 is oriented in such a way that the face that is to be processed is turned towards the processing device 841.
15 In the second processing station 810, a subsequent operation is carried out on a different face of the carcass part 1. In this example, the second operation involves making a cut in the carcass part 1.
Between the first processing station 840 and the second processing station 810, the 20 carrier is pivoted about its vertical rotation axis 47. This way, the carcass part 1 is present to the operator in a relatively favourable way. The pivoting can be effected by pivoting means that are arranged next to the track of the transport system that cooperates with a part of the carrier or trolley. For example, the carrier is provided with a projecting part 846, such as a cam or arm, that engages a stationary object 845 such as a pin or a block that is arranged 25 adjacent to the track upon passing this object 845. As the transport system continues its forward movement, the stationary object 845 makes the projecting part 846 pivot so that it can pass the stationary object 845. With the pivoting of the projecting part 846, the carrier is pivoted too.
30 In the example of fig. 30, positioning the carcass part to make the cut requires a tilting of the carcass part 1 about axis 41 as well. In this example, there are no provisions made to carry out this tilting automatically. So, in this example, the operator grips the carcass part 1 and tilts is manually about axis 41.
35 Despite this tilting being a manual action, the physical strain it puts on the operator 800 is far less than in known methods, because the carrier bears the weight of the carcass part and because the operator only has to impose one movement, that is the same for all carcass -58- parts. This means that he does not have to reach or to manipulate the carcass part in a complicated way.
Fig. 31 shows a further use of carriers according to the invention in a system for 5 processing carcass parts 1. The skilled person will understand that in the embodiment of fig.
31, instead of or in addition thereto features of carriers according to other aspects of the invention can be used as well.
In fig. 31, the carcass part 1 is transported by the carrier 50 to the processing station 10 810. In the processing station 810, part 1* has to be cut off from the rest of the carcass part.
The part 1* is then processed further in the processing station 810, while the rest of the carcass part leaves the processing station while still being retained by the carrier 50.
Like in fig. 30, the transport system 60 with rail 62 and trolleys 61 has not been shown 15 for reasons of clarity. However, the same system as shown in fig. 28 and fig. 29 can be used.
T indicates again the direction of transport of the carriers 50, as imposed by the transport system 60.
In processing station 810, by way of example, a first conveyor belt 850 is present. This 20 first conveyor belt 850 is arranged such that it engages the carcass part 1 and tilts the carcass part so that it comes to lie on its side on the conveyor belt 850. The position and orientation of the carrier 50 is such that the right side of the carcass part is turned upward, and that the part 1* that has to be cut off is over the side of the first conveyor belt 850.
25 In this example the first conveyor belt is provided with optional guides 851.
The processing station 810 further comprises - as example - a rotary cutter 852. This rotary cutter 852 is arranged next to the conveyor belt 850, here in the area of one of the guides 851.
30 Upon the passing of a carcass part 1, the guide 851 lifts the part 1 * up and brings it into engagement with the rotary cutter 852, that cuts the part 1 * off the rest of the carcass part.
The rest of the carcass part moves on and drops off the end of the first conveyor belt 850. The carrier 50 then supports the weight of the carcass part again and transports it further.
35 The cut off part 1* drops onto a secondary conveyor 853, which is arranged just below the cutter 852, in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention. The secondary conveyor -59- transports the separated part 1* to a cutting device 854. The cutting device 854 makes cuts into the skin the is present on the part 1*.
Then, the secondary conveyor 853 transports part 1* to deskinner 855. Deskinner 855 removes the skin from part 1*. The removed skin drops from the deskinner 855 onto third 5 conveyor 857. Chute 856 takes the deskinned part 1* away from this processing station 810.
Fig. 32 shows a further use of carriers according to the invention in a system for processing carcass parts 1. The skilled person will understand that in the embodiment of fig. 32, instead of or in addition thereto features of carriers according to other aspects of the 10 invention can be used as well.
In fig. 32, the processing station comprises a plurality of processing devices 860, that are arranged in a carrousel 861. In this example, the processing devices 860 are deboning devices, but the skilled person will understand that also other types of processing devices can 15 be arranged in a carrousel or turret machine.
Like in fig. 30 and fig. 31, the transport system 60 with rail 62 and trolleys 61 is not shown for reasons of clarity. However, the same system as shown in fig. 28 and fig. 29 can be used. T indicates again the direction of transport of the carriers 50, as imposed by the transport system 60. Rc indicates the direction of rotation of the carrousel.
20
Transport system 60 takes carriers 50 with carcass parts 1 to be processed to the processing station 810. The carcass parts 1 have already been prepared for the deboning process.
While the chain or cable of the transport system 60 comes into engagement with the 25 carrousel, the carcass part 1 positions relative to one of the deboning devices 860. For a part of the rotation of the carrousel, the carrier 50 with the carcass part 1 moves together with one of the deboning devices 860. During the time of this movement together, the deboning device removes the soft tissue 1 * from the bone 1 ** of the carcass part 1.
The removed soft tissue , which is mainly meat in this example, drops onto secondary 30 conveyor 865, which brings it to its next destination, e.g. storage or further processing. This is an implementation of the fourth aspect of the invention.
The rest of the carcass part 1, including the bone 1** is still held by the carrier 50, which brings it to the next processing step.
35 Fig. 32 shows a frame with a single carrousel in it. It is however also possible that two or more carrousels are arranged in a single frame, or that a plurality of processing steps is carried out in a single carrousel. It is possible to have one or more carrousels in a system -60- and/or in a slaughterhouse or meat processing factory. It is possible that along the track of a single overhead conveyor, one or more carrousels are arranged.
Fig. 33 shows an embodiment of a system for processing carcass parts of red meat 5 slaughter animals in accordance with the invention. In particular, the system of fig. 33 is used for deboning of fore-ends, e.g. of pigs.
Conveyor belt 901 brings the fore-ends that are to be deboned to the system. Already right at the conveyor 901, first processing station 902 is arranged. At this first processing stations, two operators carry out some pre-processing of the fore-ends. In particular, they 10 make a cut to expose the bone. Right downstream of this first processing station 902, a second processing station 903 is arranged. The second processing station 903 receives the fore-ends with the exposed bone from the first processing station 902. In the second processing station 903, the fore-ends are arranged in a loading apparatus 904 by a single operator.
15 In a third processing station 905, the fore-ends are received from the loading apparatus 904 and automatically arranged in carriers 950 of overhead conveyor 951. The overhead conveyor 951 then brings the fore-ends to fourth processing station 906, where the leg is cut off the fore-end by means of an automatically operated knife. The leg that is cut off falls into wheeled container 907, that is arranged below the knife of the fourth processing station 906. 20 When the wheeled container 907 is full, it is removed and replaced by an empty one.
From the fourth processing station 906, the overhead conveyor transports the fore-end to the fifth processing station 908. Here, the lip part of the chin is removed by an automatically operated knife. The removed lip parts fall into wheeled container 908, that is arranged below the knife of the fifth processing station 907. When the wheeled container 908 25 is full, it is removed and replaced by an empty one.
The overhead conveyor 951 then takes the fore-ends to the sixth processing station 909. Here, the chin is cut off automatically. The chins 910 fall from the sixth processing station onto the secondary conveyor 911, which transports them to further processing stations 912,913, 914, 916. In the first further processing station 912, pre-cuts are made into the 30 chins 910. Then, in the second further processing station 913, an operator checks for any anomalies, such as abscesses. Chins that contain such anomalies, he puts into container 918 and therewith removes them from the further process.
In the third further processing station 914, rind is removed form the chins. The removed rind is transferred to wheeled container 915, which is arranged at the discharge of the third 35 further processing station 914.
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At the fourth further processing station 916 a final check is performed, and then the chins are discharged into wheeled container 917. When container 917 it full, it is moved to a storage facility and replace with an empty one.
Meanwhile, the overhead conveyor 951 moves the fore-ends further to the sixth 5 processing station 919. At the sixth processing station 919, two operators open the neck strip. An auxiliary conveyor 920 that is arranged below the overhead conveyor 951 engages the fore-ends and lifts the lower part of the fore-ends up. This way, the fore-ends are presented to the operators of the sixth processing station 919 in such a way that they can easily make the cut, in an ergonomically advantageous way.
10 The fore-ends then move on to the seventh processing station 921. This is a large processing station, in which six operators together move the neck bones of the fore-ends. For the waste that is produced in the process of removing the neck bone, a funnel 922 that is connected to a vacuum system is arranged at the location where the waste is produced. The last 924 of the six operators actually removes the neck bone from the fore-end. He puts the 15 neck bone on secondary conveyor 923 that takes the neck bones away.
The overhead conveyor 951 moves the fore-ends then along the eighth processing station 925. Here, an operator checks whether the neck bone has been removed correctly and entirely. If not, he corrects this. Any waste that he separates from the fore-end he can put in funnel 926, that is again connected to a vacuum system. The funnel 926 is arranged 20 directly adjacent to the operator of the eighth processing station 925.
The overhead conveyor 951 then moves the fore-ends to the tenth processing station 927. There, the but is cut off by means of an automatic cutter. The buts fall off the fore-end onto secondary conveyor 928. In this example, secondary conveyor 928 is a belt conveyor, that transports the buts along a number of further processing stations.
25 At the first further processing station 929 for the buts, an operator brings the buts into the desired position and orientation for this further processing.
At the second further processing station 930 for the buts, the rind is removed by means of an automatic derinder. The removed rind is discharged into a wheeled container 931 that is arranged at the discharge end of the automatic derinder.
30 At the third further processing station 932 for the buts, four operators trim the buts to prepare them for packaging. The waste material they cut off can be put into funnel 933, which is arranged right in front of the operators of the third further processing station 932 for the buts. The funnel 933 is connected to a vacuum system.
At the fourth further processing station 934 for the buts, the buts are automatically 35 packaged. From the fourth further processing station 934 for the buts, the packaged buts are transported to storage.
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Meanwhile, the overhead conveyor 951 moves the fore-ends further to the eleventh processing station 935. At the eleventh processing station 935, skin massage is performed on the fore-ends.
From there, the fore-ends are transported to the twelfth processing device 936, by 5 means of the overhead conveyor 951. At the twelfth processing station 936, a pre-cut for the derinding is made (automatically).
The overhead conveyor 951 transports the fore-ends further to the thirteenth processing station 937, where a single operator finalises the derinding.
The overhead conveyor 951 then transports the fore-ends further to the fourteenth 10 processing station 938, where five operators work to expose the humerus bone.
The overhead conveyor 951 then transports the fore-ends further to the fifteenth processing station 939, where a single operator works to remove the exposed humerus bone. The operator puts the removed humerus bones onto secondary conveyor 940, which discharges the removed humerus bones into wheeled container 941.
15 The overhead conveyor 951 then transports the fore-ends further to the sixteenth processing station 942, where three operators work to roll out the cushion. The waste they trim off in this process can be put on the secondary conveyor 943, which is arranged right in front of the operators. The secondary conveyor 943 discharges the waste into wheeled container 944.
20 The overhead conveyor 951 then transports the fore-ends further to the seventeenth processing station 945, where two operators work to remove the cushion. They put the separated cushions on the secondary conveyor 946, which is arranged right in front of them. The secondary conveyor 946 discharges the cushions into wheeled container 947.
The overhead conveyor 951 then transports the fore-ends further to the eighteenth 25 processing station 948, where the meat is removed automatically from the radius bone. The removed meat falls onto secondary conveyor 949.
The secondary conveyor 949 takes the meat to an automatic derinder 952. The automatic derinder discharges the removed rind into wheeled container 953, that is arranged at the discharge end of the derinder 952.
30 The derinded meat is then presented to two operators at further processing station 954.
The operators perform a final inspection, and if necessary, some trimming.
After the removal of the meat at the eighteenth processing station 948, only the radius bone is still carried by the carrier 950 of the overhead conveyor 951. At the final processing station 955, the bone is removed from the carrier 950. It is discharged directly into wheeled 35 container 956.
The now empty carrier 950 is returned to the third processing station 905 by the overhead conveyor 951, where a fore-end is arranged in it again.
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In a process of the type described above, the carcass part looses much of its rigidity when the majority of the bones have been removed. However, the applicant has found that if the rind is not removed before the majority of the bones is, the rind provides enough stability to the carcass part to process it further.
5 Therefore, preferably the derinding of the part of the carcass part that is arranged in (in particular: suspended from) the carrier takes place after the removal of the majority of the bones.
It is possible that this derinding is carried out while the carcass part is still suspended from the carrier. A further advantage of this is that the carcass part is still held by the holding 10 zone or reference portion that is was held by all along the process. This means that the location and orientation of the elements of the carcass part remains known for the derinding process.
Fig. 34 shows a further embodiment of a system according to the invention.
15
In the example of fig. 34, a first overhead conveyor 350 brings red meat carcass halves 301 into the system.
At a first processing station 310, the carcass halves 301 are cut into three parts: a fore-20 end 302, a middle part 303 and a ham 304. Fig. 34A shows this in more detail.
Before they are separated from the rest of the carcass half, the fore-ends are already engaged by first fore-end conveyor 360. Once the separation of the fore-end from the rest of the carcass half is complete, the first fore-end conveyor 360 carries the weight of the 25 separated fore-ends and transports them to a fore-end processing system.
The fore-end processing system comprises a selection station 321. In this selection station some measurements are performed on the fore-end (such as measurement of weight and fat percentage at various locations), and an automated visual inspection takes place 30 using an image analysis-system. On the basis of the measurement results and the results of the visual inspection, it is decided which processing steps will be carried out on each individual fore-end.
Downstream of the selection station 321, the fore-ends are distributed over two 35 processing lines. Some of the fore-ends are removed from the first fore-end conveyor 360 by discharge station 322. Those fore-ends fall onto secondary conveyor 323, which transports them to a first fore-end processing line (not shown).
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The fore-ends that remain in first fore-end conveyor are subjected to a final check by a human inspector before they are transferred to a second fore-end processing line 320 by means of transfer station 325. The second fore-end processing line 320 comprises second fore-end conveyor 361, which is an overhead conveyor, and a plurality of processing stations 5 326 that are arranged along the track of the second fore-end conveyor 361. At the processing stations, process steps are carried out on the passing fore-ends, either manually, automatically or semi-automatically.
For aiding the processing of the fore-ends, an auxiliary conveyor 326 is provided below 10 the second fore-end conveyor 361. The auxiliary conveyor 362 engages the fore-ends and lifts the lower part of the fore-ends up. This results in that the fore-ends are tilted toward the operator or towards the tools of the processing stations. It also provides additional support, so that the processing forces do not move the fore-ends too much relative to the tools used in the processing stations.
15
Further, a discharge conveyor 363 is provided for receiving any waste that is produced in the processing station and for removing it from the fore-end processing system.
Preferably, at least the second fore-end processing line 320 is flexible with respect to 20 the process steps that are carried out. For example, the operators that work in the processing stations 326 in which one or more processing steps are carried out manually, are instructed (for example by means of a screen in front of them or otherwise adjacent to them) separately for each individual fore-end that is transported through their processing station whether to perform their process step or not, or e.g. to make a cut at an indicated location. The 25 instructions come from the selection station 321. The information from the selection station 321 is preferably also used to control the automated processing stations 326 of the second fore-end processing line 320. Based on this information, processing stations can be controlled to stay idle or to carry our one or more processing steps when a particular fore-end passes through, or to make a cut at a certain location.
30
Before they are separated from the rest of the carcass half, the middle parts are already engaged by middle part conveyor 370. Once the separation of the middle part from the rest of the carcass half is complete, the middle part conveyor 370 carries the weight of the separated middle parts. The separated middle parts are then arranged on a conveyor 371 and 35 transported further to a middle parts processing system (not shown in further detail).
-65-
When the fore-end and middle part are removed, only the ham still is arranged in the carrier of the first overhead conveyor 350. This first overhead conveyor takes the hams to a transfer station 381, where the hams are taken out of the carriers of the first overhead conveyor 350 and arranged in carriers of a ham conveyor 380. The ham conveyor 380 is also 5 an overhead conveyor.
The ham conveyor 380 takes the hams to either a first ham processing line (not shown) or a second ham processing line 340..
10 The ham processing system comprises a selection station 341. In this selection station some measurements are performed on the ham (such as measurement of weight and fat percentage at various locations), and an automated visual inspection takes place using an image analysis-system. On the basis of the measurement results and the results of the visual inspection, it is decided which processing steps will be carried out on each individual ham.
15
Downstream of the selection station 341, the hams are distributed over two processing lines. Some of the hams are removed from the first ham conveyor 380 by discharge station 342. Those hams fall onto secondary conveyor 343, which transports them to a first ham processing line (not shown).
20
The hams that remain in first ham conveyor are subjected to a final check by a human inspector before they are transferred to a second ham processing line 340 by means of transfer station 345. The second ham processing line 340 comprises second ham conveyor 381, which is an overhead conveyor, and a plurality of processing stations 346 that are 25 arranged along the track of the second ham conveyor 381. At the processing stations, process steps are carried out on the passing hams, either manually, automatically or semi-automatically.
For aiding the processing of the hams, an auxiliary conveyor 346 is provided below the 30 second ham conveyor 381. The auxiliary conveyor 382 engages the hams and lifts the lower part of the hams up. This results in that the hams are tilted toward the operator or towards the tools of the processing stations. It also provides additional support, so that the processing forces do not move the hams too much relative to the tools used in the processing stations.
35 Further, a discharge conveyor 383 is provided for receiving any waste that is produced in the processing station and for removing it from the ham processing system.
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Preferably, at least the second ham processing line 340 is flexible with respect to the process steps that are carried out. For example, the operators that work in the processing stations 346 in which one or more processing steps are carried out manually, are instructed (for example by means of a screen in front of them or otherwise adjacent to them) separately 5 for each individual ham that is transported through their processing station whether to perform their process step or not, or e.g. to make a cut at an indicated location. The instructions come from the selection station 341. The information from the selection station 341 is preferably also used to control the automated processing stations 326 of the second ham processing line 340. Based on this information, processing stations can be controlled to stay idle or to 10 carry our one or more processing steps when a particular ham passes through, or to make a cut at a certain location.
Fig. 35 shows a further embodiment of a system according to the invention.
In this embodiment, an overhead conveyor is provided (not shown for reasons of 15 clarity), which comprises a track 1051. Carriers 1050 are lead by trolleys (not shown for reasons of clarity) along the track 1051 in direction of transport T. The trolleys are preferably connected to adjacent trolleys by means of a chain or cable.
Each of the carriers carries a red meat carcass or carcass part to be processed. The 20 processing is carried out by processing stations 1020,1030,1040. First processing station 1020 is adapted to make a first cut using circular knife 1021. Second processing station 1030 is adapted to make a second cut using circular knife 1031. Third processing unit 1040 performs two derinding steps, that are carried out by rollers 1041 and 1042, respectively.
25 The system of fig. 35 further comprises a selection device 1010. The selection device 1010 comprises a measurement unit with a plurality of sensors 1011,1012,1013. The sensors 1011,1012,1013 determine different properties of the carcass or carcass part to be processed by the system. The measurement data is collected by data collection unit 1014, and then processed by processor 1015. The processor also receives data from data input 1016 about 30 the required output of the system, in term of which end products should be produced and how much of each type of end product is to be produced. The processor 1015 determines which process steps are to be carried out on each individual carcass or carcass part to be processed based on the combined information from the data collection unit 1014 and the data input 1016.
This information is then transferred to a system control device 1067, that comprises an allocation control device 1060. The allocation control device 1060 receives the instructions 35 -67- with respect to the processing of each individual carcass or carcass part in its input unit 1065. Output unit 1066 of the allocation control device 1060 is in the example of fig. 35 connected to cams 1061, 1062 that are arranged at various locations along the track 1051 of the overhead conveyor.
5
In the embodiment of fig. 35, the carriers are all provided with orientation control arms 1052 and 1053. Furthermore, all carriers are rotatable about a vertical axis 1054 relative to the trolley to which they are connected.
10 The cams 1061,1062 are all moveable between a position close to the track and a position further away from the track. The positions are shown in solid and dashed lines respectively in fig. 35. When they are in a position close to the track, they are engaged by one of the arms 1052,1053 of the carriers that pass by. When this happens, the cam stops the arm, while the trolley moves the carrier on. This causes the carrier to rotate about axis 1054.
15 By means of this rotation, the carrier can bring the carcass or carcass part it hold either within reach or out of reach of the tools of a processing station.
In the example of fig. 35, carcass part 1002 has to be processed by the first processing station 1020. The carrier is in such a position that the circular knife 1021 can engage the 20 carcass part 1002.
In contrast, the carcass part 1003 should not be processed by second processing station 1030. Therefore, cam 1062 just upstream of the second processing station 1030 assumed its position close to the track just before the carrier holding carcass part 1003 was 25 about to pass. As a result, this cam 1062 engaged arm 1053 of the carrier holding carcass part 1003, which resulted in that the carcass part 1003 was pivoted away form the circular knife 1031.
If carcass part 1003 is to be processed by the next processing station, the cam 1061 30 just downstream of processing station 1030 will be arranged in its position close to the track 1051, thereby engaging arm 1052 and pivoting the carrier back about axis 1054.
The same way, in the example of fig. 35, carcass part 1004 has been pivoted away because it should not be processed by roller 1041.
35 In the embodiment of fig. 35, furthermore a measuring device 1068 has been provided.
It takes measurements of the carcass parts passing by at a location downstream of the second processing station 1030. The measurement data is transmitted to the system control -68- device 1067, that uses the information from the measuring device 1068 as input for the control of the processing stations 1020 and 1030. Measuring device 1068 can for example comprise a camera, that checks whether the first and second cuts are made at the right positions. If not, the position of the knife 1021,1031 can be adapted based on the information 5 provided by the measuring device 1068.
Fig. 36 shows a further embodiment of a system according to the invention.
In this embodiment, an overhead conveyor is provided (not shown for reasons of clarity), which comprises a track 1051. Carriers 1050 are lead by trolleys (not shown for 10 reasons of clarity) along the track 1051 in direction of transport T. The trolleys are preferably connected to adjacent trolleys by means of a chain or cable.
Each of the carriers carries a red meat carcass or carcass part to be processed. The processing is carried out by processing stations 1020,1030,1040. First processing station 15 1020 is adapted to make a first cut using circular knife 1021. Second processing station 1030 is adapted to make a second cut using circular knife 1031. Third processing unit 1040 performs two derinding steps, that are carried out by rollers 1041 and 1042, respectively.
The system of fig. 36 further comprises a selection device 1010. The selection device 20 1010 comprises a measurement unit with a plurality of sensors 1011,1012,1013. The sensors 1011,1012,1013 determine different properties of the carcass or carcass part to be processed by the system. The measurement data is collected by data collection unit 1014, and then processed by processor 1015. The processor also receives data from data input 1016 about the required output of the system, in term of which end products should be produced and how 25 much of each type of end product is to be produced. The processor 1015 determines which process steps are to be carried out on each individual carcass or carcass part to be processed based on the combined information from the data collection unit 1014 and the data input 1016.
30 This information is then transferred to a system control device 1067, that comprises an allocation control device 1060. The allocation control device 1060 receives the instructions with respect to the processing of each individual carcass or carcass part in its input unit 1065. Output unit 1066 of the allocation control device 1060 is in the example of fig. 36 connected to cams 1061, 1062 that are arranged at various locations along the track 1051 of the 35 overhead conveyor.
In the embodiment of fig. 36, the tools of the processing stations the entire processing stations are moveable to and away from the track 1051. If a carcass part passes by that has -69- to be processed, the tool or processing station assumes its position close to the track, so that the tool or tools of the processing station can engage the carcass or carcass part to be processed. If a carcass or carcass part passes by that should not be processed by the processing station, the processing station or the respective tool assumes its position away 5 from the track, so the tool of the processing station does not come into engagement with that particular carcass part.
In the example of fig. 36, carcass part 1002 has to be processed by the first processing station 1020. Processing station 1020 is therefore positioned close to the track 1051 so that 10 the circular knife 1021 can engage the carcass part 1002 in order to make the first cut.
In contrast, the carcass part 1003 should not be processed by second processing station 1030. Therefore, the entire processing station 1030, and with it circular knife 1031, has been retracted to its position away from the track 1051. Carcass part 1003 can now pass 15 processing station 1030 without being cut into by the circular knife 1031.
Likewise, the carcass part 1004 should not be processed by the first roller 1041 of third processing station 1040. Third processing station 1040 has a fixed position relative to the track 1051, but its rollers 1041,1042 are moveable to and away from the track. Because 20 carcass part 1004 should not be processed by the first roller 1041 of the third processing station 1040, first roller 1041 has been retracted to its position away from the track 1051. Carcass part 1004 can now pass the first roller 1041 of the third processing station 1040 without being treated by the roller 1041.
25 Carcass part 1005 should be processed by the second roller 1042 of the third processing station 1040. Therefore, roller 1042 has assumed its position close to the track so it can engage and process carcass part 1005.
Although not shown, the embodiment of fig. 36 can be provided with a measuring 30 device for control of the processing stations just like the embodiment of fig. 35.
Fig. 37 shows an embodiment of a system according to the invention.
In this embodiment, an overhead conveyor is provided (not shown for reasons of clarity), which comprises a track 1051. Carriers 1050 are lead by trolleys (not shown for 35 reasons of clarity) along the track 1051 in direction of transport T. The trolleys are preferably connected to adjacent trolleys by means of a chain or cable.
-70-
Each of the carriers carries a red meat carcass or carcass part to be processed. The processing is carried out by processing stations 1020,1030,1040. First processing station 1020 is adapted to make a first cut using circular knife 1021. Second processing station 1030 is adapted to make a second cut using circular knife 1031. Third processing unit 1040 5 performs two derinding steps, that are carried out by rollers 1041 and 1042, respectively.
The system of fig. 37 further comprises a selection device 1010. The selection device 1010 comprises a measurement unit with a plurality of sensors 1011,1012,1013. The sensors 1011,1012,1013 determine different properties of the carcass or carcass part to be processed 10 by the system. The measurement data is collected by data collection unit 1014, and then processed by processor 1015. The processor also receives data from data input 1016 about the required output of the system, in term of which end products should be produced and how much of each type of end product is to be produced. The processor 1015 determines which process steps are to be carried out on each individual carcass or carcass part to be 15 processed based on the combined information from the data collection unit 1014 and the data input 1016.
This information is then transferred to a system control device 1067, that comprises an allocation control device 1060. The allocation control device 1060 receives the instructions 20 with respect to the processing of each individual carcass or carcass part in its input unit 1065. Output unit 1066 of the allocation control device 1060 is in the example of fig. 37 connected to cams 1061, 1062 that are arranged at various locations along the track 1051 of the overhead conveyor.
25 In the embodiment of fig. 37, moveable guides 1070 are provided that can engage a passing carcass or carcass part. The guides 1070 are moveable between a position close to the track 1051 and a position away from the track 1051. When a guide 1070 is in its position close to the track, it engages a passing carcass or carcass part and pushes the carcass or carcass part out of reach of the tools of the processing station the guide is arranged close to. 30
In the example of fig. 37, carcass part 1002 has to be processed by the first processing station 1020. Guide 1070 is therefore positioned away from the track 1051 so that the circular knife 1021 can engage the carcass part 1002 in order to make the first cut.
35 In contrast, the carcass part 1003 should not be processed by second processing station 1030. Therefore, the guide 1071 is positioned close to the track 1051. Carcass part -71 - 1003 is pushed out of reach of the circular knife 1031 so that carcass part 1003 can now pass processing station 1030 without being cut into by the circular knife 1031.
Likewise, the carcass part 1004 should not be processed by the first roller 1041 of third 5 processing station 1040. Therefore, the guide 1072 is positioned close to the track 1051.
Carcass part 1004 is pushed out of reach of the first roller 1041 so that carcass part 1004 can now pass first roller 1041 without being processed by it.
Carcass part 1005 should be processed by the second roller 1042 of the third 10 processing station 1040. Therefore, guide 1073 has assumed its position away from the track so that second roller 1042 can engage and process carcass part 1005.
Although not shown, the embodiment of fig. 37 can be provided with a measuring device for control of the processing stations just like the embodiment of fig. 35.
15

Claims (31)

1. Slachtvarkenspootdelentransporteur voor het transporteren van individuele varkenspootdelen, waarin ten minste een deel van een varkenspoot en de varkensvoet omvat, waarbij de transporteur omvat: - een baan, 5 - één of meer varkenspootdeeldragers die beweegbaar zijn langs de baan, waarbij elke drager is ingericht om een individueel varkenspootdeel te dragen, waarbij elke drager een varkensvoetvasthoudsamenstel heeft dat ingericht is om aan te grijpen op een enkele varkensvoet om het varkenspootdeel vast te houden in een positie omlaag hangend vanuit de drager, waarbij het vasthoudsamenstel een varkensvoetopening omvat die is ingericht 10 voor het ontvangen van de varkensvoet.CLAIMS 1. Slaughtered pork leg parts conveyor for transporting individual pig leg parts, wherein at least a part of a pig leg and the pig foot comprises, wherein the conveyor comprises: - a path, - one or more pig leg part carriers that are movable along the path, each carrier being arranged to support an individual pig leg part, wherein each carrier has a pig foot holding assembly adapted to engage a single pig foot to hold the pig leg part in a position hanging down from the carrier, the holding assembly comprising a pig foot opening arranged for receiving the pig's foot. 2. Transporteur volgens conclusie 1, waarin het vasthoudsamenstel roteerbaar is om een verticale as, en waarbij de drager is voorzien van een rotatie- of stapmechanisme dat meerdere vooraf bepaalde hoekposities van het vasthoudsamenstel om de verticale as 15 verschaft.2. Conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining assembly is rotatable about a vertical axis, and wherein the carrier is provided with a rotation or step mechanism which provides a plurality of predetermined angular positions of the retaining assembly about the vertical axis. 3. Transporteur volgens conclusie 1 of 2, waarin het vasthoudsamenstel een varkensvoetsleuf heeft die ingericht is om de varkensvoet te ontvangen, welke sleuf open is aan één uiteinde daarvan om de varkensvoet zijwaarts in de sleuf aan te brengen en de 20 varkensvoet zijwaarts uit de sleuf te verwijderen.3. Conveyor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the retaining assembly has a pig foot slot which is adapted to receive the pig foot, which slot is open at one end thereof for placing the pig foot sideways in the slot and the pig foot sideways out of the slot to delete. 4. Transporteur volgens een of meer van de voorgaande conclusies, waarin het vasthoudsamenstel een varkensvoetopening omvat die ingericht is om de varkensvoet te ontvangen, waarbij de opening een star referentievlak heeft, en waarbij het 25 vasthoudsamenstel ingericht is om de varkensvoet te ontvangen met zijn centrale metatarsale botten naast het starre referentievlak, en waarbij het vasthoudsamenstel is ingericht om de laterale metatarsale botten naar het referentievlak toe te drukken.4. Conveyor as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the retaining assembly comprises a pig foot opening adapted to receive the pig foot, the opening having a rigid reference surface, and wherein the retaining assembly is adapted to receive the pig foot with its central metatarsal bones in addition to the rigid reference plane, and wherein the retaining assembly is adapted to press the lateral metatarsal bones toward the reference plane. 5. Transporteur volgens conclusie 4, waarin de opening een varkensvoetsleuf is die 30 open is aan één uiteinde daarvan om de varkensvoet zijwaarts in de sleuf aan te brengen en om de varkensvoet zijwaarts uit de sleuf te verwijderen, waarbij de sleuf een versmallend ingangsdeel heeft aan zijn open uiteinde dat leidt naar een vasthouddeel van de sleuf, -73- waarbij het vasthouddeel het referentievlak omvat, zodat bij zijwaartse introductie van de varkensvoet in de sleuf, het versmallende ingangsdeel de laterale metatarsale botten vanuit natuurlijke positie in een positie dichter bij het referentievlak drukt.5. Conveyor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the opening is a pig foot slot which is open at one end thereof for arranging the pig foot sideways in the slot and for removing the pig foot sideways from the slot, the slot having a narrowing input part on its open end leading to a holding part of the slot, the holding part comprising the reference plane, so that upon lateral introduction of the pig's foot into the slot, the narrowing entry part the lateral metatarsal bones from a natural position into a position closer to the reference plane press. 6. Transporteur volgens conclusie 5, waarbij het vasthoudsamenstel een uitsteeksel omvat tussen het ingangsdeel en het vasthouddeel van de varkensvoetsleuf dat de smalste passage van de sleuf definieert voor het in het vasthouddeel houden van de varkensvoet.The conveyor of claim 5, wherein the retaining assembly comprises a protrusion between the entry portion and the retaining portion of the pig foot slot defining the narrowest passage of the slot for retaining the pig foot in the retaining portion. 7. Transporteur volgens conclusie 4, 5, of 6, waarbij het vasthoudsamenstel een star 10 sleufelement omvat waarin de varkensvoetsleuf is gevormd, bijvoorbeeld een metalen plaat.7. Conveyor according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the retaining assembly comprises a rigid slot element in which the pig foot slot is formed, for example a metal plate. 8. Transporteur volgens een of meer van de conclusies 3, 5-7, waarbij het vasthoudsamenstel een blokkeerelement omvat dat beweegbaar is tussen een blokkeerpositie, waarin het blokkeerelement zich uitstrekt over ten minste een deel van de 15 breedte van de sleuf om de varkensvoet te verhinderen de varkensvoetsleuf te verlaten, en een teruggetrokken positie waarin de varkensvoet uit de sleuf verwijderd kan worden.8. Conveyor as claimed in one or more of the claims 3, 5-7, wherein the retaining assembly comprises a blocking element that is movable between a blocking position, in which the blocking element extends over at least a part of the width of the slot to remove the pig's foot prevent the pig's foot slot from leaving, and a retracted position in which the pig's foot can be removed from the slot. 9. Transporteur volgens een of meer van de voorgaande conclusies, waarin het vasthoudelement verzwenkbaar is om een horizontale as, bij voorkeur vrij verzwenkbaar. 20Conveyor according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining element is pivotable about a horizontal axis, preferably freely pivotable. 20 10. Transporteur volgens een of meer van de voorgaande conclusies, waarin het vasthoudsamenstel een beugel heeft met een sleufelement waarin de varkensvoetontvangende sleuf is gevormd, een bovenelement op een grotere hoogte dan het sleufelement, en één of meer flenzen tussen het bovenelement en het sleufelement, 25 waarbij bij voorkeur de beugel ten minste twee op afstand van elkaar geplaatste flenzen omvat die het sleufelement ondersteunen.10. Conveyor as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the retaining assembly has a bracket with a slot element in which the pig foot receiving slot is formed, an upper element at a greater height than the slot element, and one or more flanges between the upper element and the slot element, Wherein the bracket preferably comprises at least two spaced apart flanges supporting the slot element. 11. Transporteur volgens conclusie 10, waarin de sleuf in het sleufelement zijwaarts op afstand is geplaatst van één of meer van de poten van de beugel. 3011. Conveyor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the slot in the slot element is placed laterally at a distance from one or more of the legs of the bracket. 30 12. Transporteur volgens conclusies 9 en 10, waarin het bovenelement een horizontaal zwenkelement heeft dat het zwenken van de beugel om een horizontale as toestaat.12. Conveyor as claimed in claims 9 and 10, wherein the upper element has a horizontal pivoting element that allows pivoting of the bracket about a horizontal axis. 13. Transporteur volgens conclusie 9, waarbij de transporteur een nokbaan omvat die is 35 aangebracht op een plaats langs de baan waar een kanteling van het vasthoudsamenstel om de horizontale as is gewenst, en waarin het vasthoudsamenstel een corresponderende -74- nokvolger heeft, bijvoorbeeld een rol die is aangebracht op één of meer poten van de beugel.13. Conveyor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the conveyor comprises a cam track arranged at a location along the track where a tilt of the retaining assembly about the horizontal axis is desired, and wherein the retaining assembly has a corresponding cam follower, e.g. roll mounted on one or more legs of the bracket. 14. Transporteur volgens een van de conclusies 3, 4-8 en conclusie 9, waarin de sleuf een hoofdas heeft en waarin de hoofdas tussen 5 en 20 graden ten opzichte van een vlak 5 loodrecht op de horizontale zwenkas staat.A conveyor according to any of claims 3, 4-8 and claim 9, wherein the slot has a major axis and wherein the major axis is between 5 and 20 degrees with respect to a plane 5 perpendicular to the horizontal pivot axis. 15. Transporteur volgens de conclusies 2 en 9, waarin het stapmechanisme een vooraf bepaalde positie heeft waarin de horizontale zwenkas parallel is aan de baan.A conveyor according to claims 2 and 9, wherein the step mechanism has a predetermined position in which the horizontal pivot axis is parallel to the track. 16. Transporteur volgens conclusie 2, waarin de drager een vergrendelingsopstelling bevat die hoort bij het stapmechanisme, waarbij de vergrendelingsopstelling een vergrendelingselement omvat dat het vasthoudsamenstel in een vooraf bepaalde positie vergrendelt, waarbij mogelijk de vergrendelingsopstelling een mobiel vergrendelingselement omvat dat te bedienen is door een externe bediener. 15The conveyor of claim 2, wherein the carrier includes a locking arrangement associated with the step mechanism, wherein the locking arrangement comprises a locking element that locks the retaining assembly in a predetermined position, possibly the locking arrangement comprising a mobile locking element operable by an external operator. 15 17. Transporteur volgens conclusie 2, waarin het stapmechanisme een maltezer kruislichaam bevat dat een verticale rotatieas heeft en sleuven op meerdere hoekposities in het lichaam, waarbij elke sleuf ingericht is om daarin een pen te ontvangen die is opgesteld langs de baan om zo een intermitterende rotatiebeweging van het vasthoudsamenstel om 20 de verticale as te verkrijgen.The conveyor of claim 2, wherein the step mechanism includes a Maltese cross body having a vertical axis of rotation and slots at a plurality of angular positions in the body, each slot being adapted to receive a pin therein disposed along the path so as to provide an intermittent rotation movement of the retaining assembly to obtain the vertical axis. 18. Transporteur volgens conclusie 17, waarin het lichaam een rechthoekige contour heeft waarbij de verticale as op afstand ligt van het middelpunt van het lichaam, en waarbij elke sleuf een hoofdas heeft die radiaal is ten opzichte van de uit het centrum gelegen 25 verticale rotatieas, waarbij bij voorkeur elke sleuf zijn opening heeft in een hoekgebied van het lichaam.18. Conveyor as claimed in claim 17, wherein the body has a rectangular contour wherein the vertical axis is spaced from the center of the body, and wherein each slot has a major axis that is radial with respect to the center of rotation vertical axis, each slot preferably having its opening in a corner region of the body. 19. Transporteur volgens conclusie 2, waarin het rotatiemechanisme twee excentrisch gestapelde cirkelvormige schijflichaamdelen omvat, waarin het lichaam een verticale 30 rotatieas heeft die op afstand staat van het middelpunt van elk van de schijflichaamdelen, en waarin de transporteur één of meer geleidingselementen omvat die opgesteld zijn langs de baan op plaatsen waar rotatie van het vasthoudsamenstel om de verticale as is gewenst, waarbij de één of meer geleidingselementen ingericht zijn om samen te werken met het cirkelvormige omtreksvlak van een schijflichaamsdeel om de rotatie te effectueren. 35 -75-19. Conveyor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotation mechanism comprises two eccentrically stacked circular disc body parts, wherein the body has a vertical axis of rotation that is spaced apart from the center of each of the disc body parts, and wherein the conveyor comprises one or more guide elements which are arranged along the path at locations where rotation of the retaining assembly about the vertical axis is desired, the one or more guide elements being adapted to cooperate with the circular peripheral surface of a disc body member to effect the rotation. 35 -75- 20. Transporteur volgens een of meer van de voorgaande conclusies, waarin elke baan een rail omvat, bij voorkeur een hangbaanrail, en waarin elke drager verbonden is met de rail door één of meer trollies.A conveyor as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein each track comprises a rail, preferably a hanging track rail, and wherein each carrier is connected to the rail by one or more trolls. 21. Transporteur volgens conclusie 20, waarin de drager is verbonden met de rail door twee trollies die op afstand van elkaar geplaatst zijn in de richting van de baan, waarbij bij voorkeur elke trolley verzwenkbaar is bevestigd om een verticale as aan een gezamenlijk verbindingselement van de drager.A conveyor as claimed in claim 20, wherein the carrier is connected to the rail by two trolls spaced apart in the direction of the path, wherein preferably each trolley is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis on a joint connecting element of the carrier. 22. Transporteur volgens een of meer van de voorgaande conclusies, waarin het vasthoudsamenstel een varkensvoetsleuf heeft die is ingericht om een varkensvoet te ontvangen, welke sleuf aan één uiteinde open is om de varkensvoet zijwaarts in de sleuf aan te brengen en de varkensvoet zijwaarts uit de sleuf te verwijderen en waarin de transporteur één of meer uitwerpgeleidingen omvat die zijn opgesteld langs de baan op een 15 plaats waar het verwijderen van de varkensvoet uit de sleuf is gewenst, waarbij de uitwerpgeleiding is opgesteld om in contact te komen met het varkenspootdeel, bij voorkeur onder het sleufelement, bijvoorbeeld binnen 5 cm, waarbij de uitwerpgeleiding de varkensvoet uit de sleuf forceert tijdens de passage van het varkenspootdeel langs de uitwerpgeleiding. 20A conveyor as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the holding assembly has a pig foot slot adapted to receive a pig foot, which slot is open at one end to place the pig foot sideways in the slot and the pig foot sideways out of the remove the slot and wherein the conveyor comprises one or more ejection guides arranged along the track at a location where removal of the pig foot from the slot is desired, the ejection guide being arranged to come into contact with the pig leg part, preferably below the slot element, for example within 5 cm, wherein the ejection guide forces the pig's foot out of the slot during the passage of the pig leg part along the ejection guide. 20 23. Transporteur volgens een of meer van de voorgaande conclusies, waarin het vasthoudmiddel verzwenkbaar is om een horizontale as, bij voorkeur vrij verzwenkbaar, en waarbij - bij een bewerkingsstation waarin een varkenspootdeel is onderworpen aan een proces, bijvoorbeeld een handmatig snijproces waarin één of meer snedes handmatig in het 25 pootdeel worden gemaakt - één of meer productondersteuningsgeleidingen zijn opgesteld langs de baan, waarin de transporteur bij voorkeur is ingericht om bij het bewerkingsstation te arriveren met de horizontale zwenkas evenwijdig aan de baan, en waarin de product ondersteuningsgeleidingen aangrijpen op het pootdeel en voor een kanteling van het pootdeel en het vasthoudsamenstel om de horizontale zwenkas na een zijdelings schuine 30 positie ten opzichte van de baan veroorzaken, bijvoorbeeld waarbij het station één of meer staanplaatsen heeft, bijvoorbeeld platforms, voor bedieners die een handmatige bewerking op het pootdeel uitvoeren.A conveyor as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the holding means is pivotable about a horizontal axis, preferably freely pivotable, and wherein - at a processing station in which a pig leg part is subjected to a process, for example a manual cutting process in which one or more cuts are made manually in the leg part - one or more product support guides are arranged along the track, wherein the conveyor is preferably arranged to arrive at the processing station with the horizontal pivot axis parallel to the track, and in which the product support guides engage on the leg part and for tilting the leg part and the retaining assembly about the horizontal pivot axis after a laterally oblique position with respect to the track, for example wherein the station has one or more standing places, for example platforms, for operators who perform a manual operation on the leg part . 24. Transporteur volgens een of meer van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het 35 vasthoudelement verzwenkbaar is om een horizontale as, bij voorkeur vrij verzwenkbaar, en waarin - bij een bewerkingsstation waarin een varkenspootdeel is onderworpen aan een proces, bijvoorbeeld een handmatig bewerkingsproces waarin één of meer snedes -76- handmatig worden gemaakt in het pootdeel - één of meer productondersteuningselementen beweegbaar zijn opgesteld langs de baan in het bewerkingsstation, waarbij elk product-ondersteuningselement wordt bewogen in synchronisatie met het varkenspootdeel, waarin de transporteur bij voorkeur is ingericht om te arriveren bij het bewerkingsstation met de 5 horizontale zwenkas evenwijdig aan de baan, en waarin het productondersteuningselement is ingericht om aan te grijpen op het pootdeel en om een kanteling van het pootdeel en het vasthoudsamenstel om de horizontale zwenkas naar een zijdelings schuine positie ten opzichte van de baan te veroorzaken, waarbij bijvoorbeeld het station één of meer staanplaatsen heeft, bijvoorbeeld platforms, voor bedieners die een handmatige bewerking 10 op het pootdeel uitvoeren.24. Conveyor as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the retaining element is pivotable about a horizontal axis, preferably freely pivotable, and wherein - at a processing station in which a pig leg part is subjected to a process, for example a manual processing process in which one or more cuts are made manually in the leg part - one or more product support elements are arranged movably along the path in the processing station, each product support element being moved in synchronization with the pig leg part, in which the conveyor is preferably arranged to arrive at the processing station with the horizontal pivot axis parallel to the path, and wherein the product support element is adapted to engage on the leg part and to tilt the leg part and the retaining assembly to move the horizontal pivot axis to a laterally oblique position relative to the path cause where for example at the station has one or more standing places, for example platforms, for operators who perform a manual operation on the leg part. 25. Transporteur volgens één of meer van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij bij een bewerkingsstation waarin een varkenspootdeel wordt onderworpen aan een bewerking, bijvoorbeeld een handmatig snijproces waarin één of meer snedes handmatig worden 15 gemaakt in het pootdeel - één of meer steungeleidingen opgesteld zijn langs de baan, waarbij een steungeleiding samenwerkt met een geleidingsvlak van een drager, bijvoorbeeld van een geleidingsblok van de drager, en ongewenste rotatie van de drager om een verticale as of ongewenste zijdelingse beweging van de drager voorkomt.25. Conveyor as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein at a processing station in which a pig leg part is subjected to a processing, for instance a manual cutting process in which one or more cuts are made manually in the leg part - one or more support guides are arranged along the track, wherein a support guide cooperates with a guide surface of a carrier, for example of a guide block of the carrier, and prevents undesired rotation of the carrier about a vertical axis or undesired lateral movement of the carrier. 26. Slachtvarkenspootdelentransportsysteem omvattende een eerste en een tweede slachtvarkenspootdelentransporteur voor het transporteren van individuele varkenspootdelen, waarbij een individueel varkenspootdeel ten minste een deel van een varkenspoot en de varkensvoet omvat, waarbij elke van de eerste en de tweede transporteur, bij voorkeur volgens een of meer van de voorgaande conclusies, omvatten: 25. een baan, één of meer varkenspootdragers die beweegbaar zijn langs de baan, waarbij elke drager is ingericht om een individueel varkenspootdeel te dragen, waarbij elke drager een varkensvoetvasthoudsamenstel heeft dat is ingericht om aan te grijpen op een enkele varkensvoet om het varkenspootdeel in een positie omlaag hangend van de drager vast te 30 houden, waarin het vasthoudsamenstel een varkensvoetopening omvat die is ingericht om de varkensvoet te ontvangen, 35 waarin het vasthoudsamenstel een sleuf heeft die ingericht is om de varkensvoet te ontvangen, welke sleuf open is aan één uiteinde daarvan om de varkensvoet zijwaarts in de sleuf aan te brengen en de varkensvoet zijwaarts uit de sleuf te verwijderen, -77- waarin het systeem een overhangstation omvat waar varkenspootdelen direct van de eerste transporteur naar de tweede transporteur worden overgebracht, 5 waarin de transporteurs zodanig zijn uitgevoerd dat bij het overhangstation de beweging van de dragers van de eerste en de tweede transporteurs gesynchroniseerd is zodat een pootdeel dat oorspronkelijk naar beneden hangt van het pootvasthoudsamenstel van een drager van de eerste transporteur wordt overgebracht in de sleuf van een pootvasthoudsamenstel van een drager van de tweede transporteur, waarbij het pootdeel 10 naar beneden blijft hangen tijdens het overdrachtsproces vanaf ten minste één van de pootvasthoudelementen.A slaughtered pawfoot transport system comprising a first and a second slaughtered pawfoot conveyor for transporting individual pig leg parts, wherein an individual pig foot part comprises at least a part of a pig leg and the pig foot, each of the first and the second conveyor, preferably according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprise: 25. a web, one or more pig leg carriers movable along the web, wherein each carrier is adapted to support an individual pig leg part, each carrier having a pig foot retaining assembly adapted to engage a single pig foot for holding the pig leg part in a position hanging down from the carrier, wherein the holding assembly comprises a pig foot opening adapted to receive the pig foot, wherein the holding assembly has a slot adapted to receive the pig foot, which slot open is aa n one end thereof for arranging the pig foot sideways in the slot and removing the pig foot sideways from the slot, wherein the system comprises a transfer station where pig leg parts are transferred directly from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, wherein the conveyors are embodied such that at the overhang station the movement of the carriers of the first and the second conveyors is synchronized so that a leg part originally hanging down from the leg holding assembly of a carrier of the first conveyor is transferred into the slot of a leg holding assembly of a carrier of the second conveyor, wherein the leg part 10 remains suspended during the transfer process from at least one of the leg holding elements. 27. Systeem volgens conclusie 26, waarbij het overhangstation één of meer uitwerpgeleidingen omvat die opgesteld zijn langs de baan van de eerste transporteur, 15 waarbij de uitwerpgeleiding is opgesteld om contact te maken met het varkenspootdeel, bij voorkeur onder het sleufelement, bijvoorbeeld binnen 5 cm, waarbij de uitwerpgeleiding de varkensvoet uit de sleuf forceert en in de sleuf van de drager van de tweede transporteur tijdens de passage van het varkenspootdeel langs de uitwerpgeleiding.27. System as claimed in claim 26, wherein the overhang station comprises one or more ejection guides arranged along the path of the first conveyor, wherein the ejection guide is arranged to make contact with the pig leg part, preferably under the slot element, for example within 5 cm wherein the ejection guide forces the pig's foot out of the slot and into the slot of the carrier of the second conveyor during the passage of the pig leg part along the ejection guide. 28. Systeem volgens conclusie 26 of 27, waarin het overhangstation de paden van de pootvasthoudsamenstellen van de eerste en de tweede transporteur op verschillende hoogtes zijn aangebracht, en de pootvasthoudsamenstellen in een overlappende positie -van boven af gezien - worden gebracht.A system according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the overhang station the paths of the leg holding assemblies of the first and the second conveyor are arranged at different heights, and the leg holding assemblies are brought into an overlapping position viewed from above. 29. Systeem volgens conclusie 28, waarin de pootvasthoudsamenstellen van de dragers van de eerste en de tweede transporteur elk een beugel hebben met een sleufelement waarin de varkensvoetontvangende sleuf is gevormd, een bovenelement op een grotere hoogte dan het sleufelement, en één of meer flenzen tussen het bovenelement en het sleufelement, en waarin de sleuf in het sleufelement lateraal op afstand is geplaatst van één 30 of meer poten van de beugel.29. System as claimed in claim 28, wherein the leg retaining assemblies of the carriers of the first and the second conveyor each have a bracket with a slot element in which the pig foot receiving slot is formed, an upper element at a greater height than the slot element, and one or more flanges between the upper element and the slot element, and wherein the slot in the slot element is laterally spaced from one or more legs of the bracket. 30. Werkwijze voor het transporteren van individuele varkenspootdelen, waarbij elk varkenspootdeel ten minste een deel van een varkenspoot en de varkensvoet omvat, waarin gebruik wordt gemaakt van een transporteur of transportsysteem volgens een of meer van 35 de voorgaande conclusies. 5 -78-30. Method for transporting individual pig leg parts, wherein each pig leg part comprises at least a part of a pig leg and the pig foot, wherein use is made of a conveyor or transport system according to one or more of the preceding claims. 5 -78- 31. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 30, waarin varkensvoorpootdelen en varkensachterpootdelen worden getransporteerd met dezelfde transporteur.The method of claim 30, wherein pig front leg parts and pig back leg parts are transported with the same conveyor.
NL2003967A 2009-12-17 2009-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof. NL2003967C2 (en)

Priority Applications (39)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2003967A NL2003967C2 (en) 2009-12-17 2009-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof.
JP2012544422A JP5923448B2 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and / or parts thereof
BR112012014725-0A BR112012014725B1 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 CARRIER TO CARRY AN INDIVIDUAL PIG LEG PIECE, DEVICE PORTED BODY LEG PARTS CARRIER, HUCKED PORK LEG PARTS CARRYING METHOD, METHOD TO TRANSPORT INDIVIDUAL PIG LEG PIECES, AND A PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR PIG, BEEF, GOAT OR GOAT.
CN201610132956.6A CN106386990B (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 Logistics with bracket
EP10803170.9A EP2512255B8 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
BR122015030054-1A BR122015030054B1 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A HOUSING OR HOUSING PART OF A PIG, BEEF, SHEEP OR CAPRINE ANIMAL
US13/516,275 US9004988B2 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
BR122015030056A BR122015030056A2 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 slaughtered pork leg carrier, method for transporting individual pork leg portions, and system for processing a carcass or carcase part of a pig, bovine, sheep or goat
EP19186080.8A EP3586637A1 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 Processing method and retaining assembly for a system for processing a carcass part
BR112012014788-9A BR112012014788B1 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A CARCTION OR PART OF A PIG, SALE, GOAT OR GOAT SLAUGHTER
US13/516,353 US9192172B2 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
PL19157407T PL3508064T3 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
EP19186076.6A EP3586636A1 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing a carcass part
BR122015030049A BR122015030049A2 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 conveyor device for transporting an individual part of pork leg, system for transporting slaughtered pork leg parts, method for transporting individual parts of pork leg, and system for processing a carcass or carcass part of a pig, bovine, sheep, or goat
CN201610127258.7A CN106063501B (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 Rotatable bracket with indexing mechanism
CN201610124650.6A CN106063500B (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 Bracket with cam follower
CN201610139797.2A CN105941573A (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 Material flow-slave conveyer
DK10803166.7T DK2512254T3 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughter animals and / or parts thereof.
ES10803166T ES2719762T3 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and procedure for processing slaughtered animals and / or parts thereof
CN201910312947.9A CN110178879B (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
EP19157407.8A EP3508064B1 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
CN201080064015.4A CN102858181B (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 For processing the system and method by the animal butchered and/or its part
PCT/NL2010/050870 WO2011074969A2 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
ES19157407T ES2841925T3 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and procedure for processing slaughtered animals and / or parts thereof
CA2782790A CA2782790C (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
DK19157407.8T DK3508064T3 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING SLAUGHTERED ANIMALS AND / OR PARTS THEREOF
BR122015030044A BR122015030044A2 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 slaughtered pork leg carrier, and method for transporting individual pork leg carrier
PL10803166T PL2512254T3 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
CN201610135904.4A CN105941572B (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 Logistics-passes through gravity for transport
PCT/NL2010/050868 WO2011074967A2 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
EP10803166.7A EP2512254B1 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
BR122015030061A BR122015030061A2 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 system and method for processing a carcase or part of a carcase of a slaughter pig, bovine, ovine or caprine animal
JP2012544421A JP5854437B2 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and / or parts thereof
PCT/NL2010/050865 WO2011074966A1 (en) 2009-12-17 2010-12-17 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
US14/885,660 US9717257B2 (en) 2009-12-17 2015-10-16 System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
JP2015234818A JP2016054740A (en) 2009-12-17 2015-12-01 Rotatable carrier
JP2016077104A JP6271630B2 (en) 2009-12-17 2016-04-07 Transport using carrier
JP2017092314A JP6777585B2 (en) 2009-12-17 2017-05-08 Systems and methods for processing slaughtered animals and / or parts thereof
JP2019039943A JP6903085B2 (en) 2009-12-17 2019-03-05 Systems and methods for processing parts of slaughtered animals such as pigs, cows, sheep and goats, as well as transport devices for transporting slaughtered pig legs.

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