NZ221946A - Machine for breaking neck of carcass at atlas joint - Google Patents

Description

221346 N.Z. No. 221946 Date: 25 September 1987 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "NECK BREAKER MACHINE" We, THE HEAT INDUSTRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF NEW ZEALAND (INCORPORATED) an incorporated body organised and existing under the laws of New Zealand, of East Street, Hamilton, New Zealand do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in the following statement:- 2 221 9 This invention relates to a neck breaker machine and to a method of severing the atlas joint in the neck of an animal carcass.

During the dressing of an animal carcass it is necessary to sever the atlas joint in the neck of the carcass so as to facilitate removal of the head from the body. This is a difficult manual task and calls for a lot of skill on the part of the worker. It can thus be a hazardous task when carried out by a worker who has not had suitable training and/or experience.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a method and means of mechanically severing the atlas joint of an animal carcass.

Broadly in one aspect there is provided a method of mechanically severing the atlas joint of an animal carcass comprising the steps of suitably supporting the carcass, locating mechanical engaging members each side of the carcass in the region of substantially the throat and back of neck, mechanically causing relative movement between the engaging members to take place so as to retain the neck of the animal there between and causing said engaging members to move such as to force the head to move toward the spine and thereby break the atlas joint.

According to a second broad aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for the severing of the atlas joint of an animal carcass which is suitably supported said apparatus comprising a pair of neck engagement members mounted for relative movement there between such that the neck of an animal carcass can be located and retained between the engagement members following relative movement of the engagement members into an engagement position and moving means whereby said engagement members can be moved relative 3 0 0 10 <- <1 1 7 * to the supported carcass to force the head to move toward the spine and break the atlas joint.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the moving means is also operative to cause said relative movement between the engagement members.

In the following more detailed description of the invention according to one preferred form reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus with the main support shown in the mid position of its extent of travel, Figure 2 is an elevation view of the apparatus shown in Figure l but in the rest position, and Figures 3 to 7 are elevation views similar to Figure 2 but with the apparatus shown in different stages of its operating cycle.

In the drawings there is shown apparatus according to the invention in a preferred form. According to this form of the invention the neck breaker apparatus 10 has a main support 11 which is coupled to a support frame 12 via a pivot 13. The support frame 12 extends upwardly from a mounting base 14 which is provided with suitable openings by which the base plate can be mounted to a floor surface.

The support frame 12 includes a cross member 15 from which is mounted a fluid operated linear actuator 16 which has an hydraulic ram. The body 17 of ram 16 is pivotally mounted to a mounting 18 carried by cross member 15. The piston rod 19 of the ram 16 is likewise pivotally mounted by a mounting 18a attached to the underside of main support 11. 10AUG1990 c\ rn, 221346 At the free end of the main support 11 is a support arm 20 which is pivotable about a pivot axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the main support 11. In the preferred form of the invention the first engagement member 21 (hereinafter anvil arm) provides a pivot shaft about which the support arm 20 can rotate. A suitable bearing arranged (not shown) is provided to facilitate the pivotal movement of the support arm 20, however, as will become apparent from the following this arrangement is such that arm 20 does not pivot freely.

Keyed or otherwise fastened to anvil arm 21 is a puller 22. A tie rod 23 is pivotally coupled to the distal end of the puller 22. The second engagement member 24 (hereinafter neck break arm) extends outwardly from the distal end of a lever 25 which is pivotally coupled at 26 to the bifurcated support arm 20. The other end of the tie rod 23 is pivotally attached to the lever 25 at a point in its length, i.e. between neck break arm 24 and pivot 26.

Mounted by main support 11 is a reversable hydraulic motor 27. The output of motor 27 is in driving engagement with a drive wheel, pulley or gear (not shown) attached to the anvil arm 21. The operative mechanism is encased within a guard 28 carried by the main support 11. The hydraulic motor 27 is thus able to rotate the anvil arm 21 this arm being suitably journalled in bearings carried by the main support 11.

The apparatus according to the present invention is adapted to automatically carry out a cycle of operations which result in the atlas joint of a suspended carcass being broken. Accordingly the apparatus is located below a suitable support conveyor and the rest position of the apparatus can be seen in Figure 2 of the drawings. 221916 With the animal carcass C in position and hanging on all four legs from the conveyor the main support 11 is raised by elevating ram 16 until a sensor (not shown) touches the shoulder area of the carcass. This stops the rising motion of the apparatus so that the apparatus is in the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings with the head of the carcass C located as shown. Upon the upward motion of the support 11 ceasing the hydraulic motor 27 is activated so as to cause the puller 22 to rotate. The connection between the puller 22 and lever 25 by tie rod 23 causes the neck break arm 24 to be drawn in toward the anvil arm 21 until a minimum spacing is achieved as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The pivot arrangement of arm 20 is such that there is a resistance to movement which prevents arm 20 from moving until the minimum spacing has been achieved. Accordingly, as shown, arms 24 and 21 engage respectively with the throat and back of the neck of the carcass.

The puller 22 continues to rotate and this continued movement causes the resistance to movement of support arm 20 to be overcome such that arm 20 starts to pivot about the axis of anvil arm 21. The limit of this movement is shown in Figure 5 of the drawings and it will be seen that the movement has resulted in the head being forced back toward the spine, i.e. the head of the carcass has been drawn away from its downward disposition, thus causing the atlas joint to be broken.

At this point in the cycle the hydraulic motor 27 is reversed thereby causing puller 22 to reverse. This initially pushes lever 25 away from support 20 thereby drawing the neck break arm 24 and anvil arm apart as can be seen in Figure 6 of the drawings. This movement of the arms 21 and 24 releases the head of the carcass so that the head reverts to its downardly disposed position.

Continued movement of the puller 22 results in the support 20 reverting to its rest position as can be seen in Fig^vu : o V 6 221946 of the drawings. The support 11 is then lowered by ram 16 to its rest position and sterilization of the portions of the apparatus which come in contact with the carcass preferably takes place at this point. The apparatus is thus ready for a new cycle to take place.

While in the preferred form of the invention the carcass is in a position where it is hanging on all four legs and thus the neck and head of the carcass are downwardly disposed the carcass can equally be suspended by hanging from its hind or forelegs provided a suitable location device is incorporated.

While a specific mechanism for closing of the spacing between arms 21 and 24 and rotation of the support arm 20 and arms 21 and 24 has been disclosed it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the closing and rotation operations can equally be performed by alternative engineering mechanisms.

The apparatus and method according to the invention provides an automatic mechanical means of engaging the neck area of a carcass so as to perform severing of the atlas joint. Following severing of the joint removal of the head of the carcass is an easy task. 7 221946

Claims (14)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A method of mechanically severing the atlas joint of an animal carcass comprising the steps of suitably supporting the carcass, locating mechanical engaging members each side of the carcass in the region of substantially the throat and back of the neck, mechanically causing relative movement between the engaging members to take place so as to retain the neck of the animal there between and causing said engaging members to move such as to force the head to move toward the spine and thereby break the atlas joint.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said forcing action is achieved by causing rotational movement of the mechanical engaging members to take place about an axis of rotation which passes through or adjacent one of said engaging members.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein upon completion of the rotational movement relative movement between the engagement members takes place to release the neck of the carcass.

4. A method of mechanically severing the atlas joint of an animal carcass substantially as herein described.

5. Apparatus for the severing of the atlas joint of an animal carcass which is suitably supported said apparatus comprising a pair of neck engagement members mounted for relative movement there between such that the neck of an animal carcass can be located and retained between the engagement members following relative movement of the engagement members into an engagement position and moving means whereby said engagement members can be moved relative to the supported carcass to force the head to move toward the spine and break the atlas joint. /;^1 c 8 221946

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein one of the neck engagement members is mounted by a mounting means which is rotatable about an axis passing through or adjacent the other neck engagement member.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the mounting means is an arm which is rotatably coupled to a support, the said one neck engagement member being mounted to extend transverse to said arm, the other neck engagement member extending from said support so as to extend parallel to said one neck engagement member.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said one neck engagement member is mounted to a lever which is pivotally coupled to the said mounting arm, said lever being coupled by a link member to a puller and movable to enable said neck engagement members to be relatively moved toward and away from each other.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein mover means are coupled to said other neck engagement member to cause rotational movement thereof to take place, said puller being drivably connected to said other neck engagement member.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the mounting arm is pivotally mounted such that a resistance to pivotal movement of the arm takes place until the relative movement of the neck engagement members toward each other is completed whereupon continued rotation of said other neck engagement member causes the arm to move with said puller.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the mover means is a reversible hydraulic motor the output of 10AUG1990 - 9 - 321346 which is in driving engagement with the said other neck engagement member.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein the support is movably mounted such that it can move said neck engagement members toward and away from a suspended carcass.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wehrein said neck engagement members are of elongate circular cross-section construction.

14. Apparatus for the severing of the atlas joint of an animal carcass substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. THE MEAT INDUSTRY RESEARCH • INSTITUTE OF NEW ZEALAND (INCORPORATED) By its Attorney DON HOPKINS Registered Patent Attorney