NZ575793A - Hock spreader for slaughter chain - Google Patents

Abstract

A hock spreading apparatus for a carcass chain includes a conveyor 1 supporting a fixed hock holding attachment 2 for holding one hock of the carcass and a rotatable hock holding attachment 11 for holding the other hock 15 and moving so as to alter the position of the second hock with respect to the position of the first hock in a horizontal plane to spread the hocks apart.

Description

James & Wells Ref: 45362 /14 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Fee No. 4: $250.00 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional No: 575793 Dated: 25 March 2009 MEAT PROCESSING APPARATUS We Realcold Milmech Limited, a New Zealand company of Portsmouth Drive/Strathallan Street, Dunedin, New Zealand 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 and by the following statement: 1 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 MEAT PROCESSING APPARATUS STATEMENT OF CORRESPONDING APPLICATIONS This application is based on the Provisional Specification filed in relation to New Zealand Patent Application Number 575793, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a meat processing apparatus. More specifically, the 10 invention relates to an apparatus to automate transfer of carcass legs from a wide to a narrow position or the opposite or to positions intermediate without manual handling.

BACKGROUND ART Meat processing typically utilises overhead conveyance systems which hold the 15 animal carcass via the hocks. This allows the carcass to be processed easily.

Many aspects of meat processing such as pelt removal and various cutting operations are being automated in order to avoid worker injury from repetitive tasks and also to speed up processing thereby increasing the efficiency of meat processing. A further reason for automation is to increase product quality by 20 avoiding contamination.

One part of carcass processing is the need to split the carcass legs into a wide position in order to allow other processing steps to occur or instead to position the legs in a narrow position, again to achieve other processing steps. Moving the carcass legs from an open or wide to a closed or narrow position or vice versa is 25 therefore an important step in meat processing. 2 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 Manual methods of altering leg orientation involve an operator physically altering the spread of the hocks by moving the hocks onto fresh conveying hooks with a narrower (or wider) separation. This manual processing step may be physically challenging, requires a skilled operator and despite all due care being taken, 5 presents a potential contamination risk. This risk results because leg transfer typically occurs when the pelt has been at least partially removed from the carcass yet the hock is still a potentially contaminating area which is located above the clean carcass. There is a high degree of risk that in moving the hock, the hock or debris on the hock may be dislodged and come into contact with the clean carcass. 10 Contamination at this stage can result in considerable processing losses with the carcass either having to be discarded or instead, extra processing being required such as special cutting steps taken to avoid the contaminated site.

Automation of this step to alter the carcass leg orientation from a wide to a narrow position or vice versa is therefore preferable in order to avoid contamination risk 15 and to allow skilled workers to be utilised in other parts of the processing operation. Despite the advantages offered from automation, automation must be extremely reliable as any breakdown potentially slows an entire processing run.

Consequently, reliability, simplicity and robust designs are critical.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least 20 to provide the public with a useful choice.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and 25 pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not 3 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this 5 specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION For the purposes of this specification, the term 'wide' refers to a position where two carcass hocks are at their widest spacing when viewed in a vertical plane relative 15 to a conveyor from which the carcass is hung.

The term 'narrow' refers to a position where two carcass hocks are at their narrowest spacing when viewed in a vertical plane relative to a conveyor from which the carcass is hung.

The term 'intermediate' refers to positions where two carcass hocks are spaced 20 between the widest and narrowest positions when viewed in a vertical plane relative to a conveyor from which the carcass is hung.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for moving one hock of a carcass in an approximately horizontal plane relative to a second carcass hock wherein the apparatus includes: 4 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 (a) a conveyor; (b) a fixed attachment connected to the conveyor which releasably retains a first carcass hock in a fixed position; (c) a rotating attachment which is connected to the conveyor and which 5 releasably holds a second carcass hock; and wherein the rotating attachment on actuation moves altering the position of the second carcass hock relative to the first carcass hock in a horizontal plane.

Preferably, the conveyor is an overhead type conveyor onto which the attachments are mounted.

Preferably, the carcass is held in the apparatus by the hind hocks with the fore hocks orientated by gravity directly below the hind hocks. In an alternative embodiment, the carcass is held by the fore hocks with the hind hocks orientated by gravity directly below the fore hocks. In further embodiments, the hocks (fore or hind) that are free in the above embodiments are instead held by further hock plate 15 or plates orientated to one side of the conveyor direction of travel.

Preferably, the fixed attachment includes a fixed orientation arm with a first hock plate or hook at the terminal end of the arm. The first hock plate may be shaped in a 'V configuration with the fingers of the V-section either flat or slanted in an upwards direction relative to the carcass so as to be adapted to receive and hold 20 the first hock. In one embodiment, the first hock plate on the fixed attachment is orientated so as to oppose the direction of a second hock plate or hook attached to the rotating attachment. This configuration is preferred as it may provide more stability although alternative orientations may also be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 In a preferred embodiment, the rotating attachment includes a swinging arm that rotates about an axis positioned around the attachment point of the rotating attachment to the conveyor. Preferably, rotation is effected by use of an actuation mechanism. In one embodiment, the actuation mechanism may be a rack and 5 pinion mechanism although it should be appreciated that other actuation mechanisms such as cams and pneumatic mechanisms may also be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

As noted above, the actuation mechanism may be a rack and pinion mechanism. This mechanism takes advantage of the conveyor movement. As the rotation 10 attachment is moved along the conveyor the pinion meshes with a rack or racks located in a fixed position relative to the conveyor movement. As the conveyor moves forwards the rack and pinion are forced together causing movement of the swinging arm. In one embodiment, the pinion may be adjusted by removing teeth from the pinion or blanking sections of the rack so as to effect a 180° rotation of 15 the swinging arm or to effect rotation at less than 180° or more than 180°.

In preferred embodiments, the actuation mechanism may cause a 180° rotation so as to move the hock of the animal from a wide position to a narrow position. In an alternative embodiment, the 180° rotation may result in transfer of the hock of the animal from a narrow position to a wide position. In a further embodiment, the 20 actuation mechanism may effect changes in position intermediate to a wide or narrow position.

In preferred embodiments the distal end of the swinging arm includes a rotating stem onto which the second hock plate is attached. The second hock plate may be attached at the terminal end of the rotating stem. Like the first hock plate, the 25 second hock plate may be shaped in a 'V' configuration with the fingers of the V-section either flat or slanted in an upwards direction relative to the carcass so as to be adapted to receive and hold the second hock. In one embodiment, the second 6 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 hock plate may also be orientated so as to oppose the direction of the hock plate attached to the fixed attachment. This configuration is preferred as it may provide more stability although alternative orientations may also be used without departing from the scope of the invention. In an alternative embodiment, the hock plates 5 face outwards (either to the left or right) from the conveyer.

In preferred embodiments, the axis of rotation includes a stationary sprocket which transfers rotational energy to the terminal end of the swinging arm thereby controlling the degree of rotation. Transfer may be via a timing chain or belt or instead using link arms or other transfer devices. A sprocket may be included at 10 the terminal end of the swinging arm which receives the timing chain or belt and by use of a 1:1 ratio the timing chain or belt rotates the rotating stem so as to keep the second hock plate in the same orientation during rotation.

In one preferred embodiment the carcass hocks are orientated in a wide position with the hocks spaced apart from one another. As the conveyor moves forwards, 15 the actuator mechanism moves the swinging arm in a horizontal plane relative to the conveyor which shifts the carcass hock attached to the rotating attachment to a narrow position after 180° of rotation by the swinging arm. Rotation may be stopped via adjustment of the actuator mechanism at intermediate positions as well if required.

As may be appreciated, the gap between the hocks in the narrow position is defined by the degree of separation between the hock in the first fixed attachment and the hock in the rotating attachment. In one embodiment the two hock plates may abut one another. In alternative embodiments, the gap may be predetermined as required.

Also, as may be appreciated, the gap between the hocks in the wide position is also defined by the degree of separation between the hock in the first fixed 7 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 attachment and the hock in the rotating attachment. In one embodiment the degree of separation may be sufficient to spread the carcass legs substantially 10° to 60° from the carcass centreline where the carcass hangs vertically down through gravity.

As may be appreciated, one advantage of the apparatus of the present invention is that the gap between the wide and narrow positions may be adjusted by altering the length of the swinging arm. This presents a very quick and easy way of adjusting the gap width with the arm being interchanged depending on the requirements or instead being adjustable in situ via an adjustment mechanism 10 such as a telescoping mechanism. One advantage of this ability to adjust the gap is in processing chains that process different animals e.g. cattle, sheep, calves, lambs, deer, pigs and goats all have differing carcass size and physical leg spread may vary considerably.

In one embodiment, the rotating attachment leads the fixed attachment as the 15 apparatus is conveyed. In an alternative embodiment, the fixed attachment leads the rotating attachment.

In a further embodiment, the rotating attachment may be locked into a fixed position. The fixed position may be a wide position, a narrow position or intermediate locations. Locking may occur post movement through the rack.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of automatically adjusting the width of separation between the hocks of a carcass by use of the apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described.

In preferred embodiments, the apparatus may be manufactured from mild steel and hot dip galvanized. In alterative arrangements, the apparatus may be 25 manufactured from other rigid materials including but not limited to stainless steel, aluminium and plastic. 8 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 It should be appreciated from the above description that there is described an apparatus to automate transfer of carcass leg position from a wide to a narrow position or the opposite or to positions intermediate.

The advantages which should be apparent to those skilled in the art include simple 5 design and therefore less expensive construction and a higher degree of robustness as required in such industry applications. In particular, in preferred embodiments the apparatus requires no electronic controls or logic controls and is operated by mechanical methods alone. It should be appreciated that electronic controls could be used depending on the desired outcome.

A further key advantage is that the apparatus also reduces the risk of carcass contamination. This is because the hoof and wool on a hock can carry foreign material such as sand, soil, minute vegetation partials, contaminated water in the wool, as well as faecal material. Any movement of the leg into or out of the hock plate can cause this material to be dislodged and fall free. Since transfer from a 15 wide to narrow position is typically undertaken when the pelt removal process has started through the Y-cut area and directly below the fore hocks, foreign material noted above can fall onto the naked carcass causing hygiene problems.

In addition, the apparatus of the present invention can complete the processing requirement while retaining the hock in the original hock plate.

A further advantage is that the apparatus can be retrofitted into existing meat processing plants or incorporated into new plants.

A yet further advantage is that the wide and narrow positions as well as any intermediate positions may be locked in place to a predetermined position by simple realignment of the actuation mechanism. This makes the apparatus of the 25 present invention able to be configured with other slaughter floor processing 9 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 equipment principles although the automated machine may in some cases require minor adjustments and alterations to accommodate the attachments geometry.

Further, as noted above, the actuation of the pivoting attachment can be in either direction.

Further, the orientation of the hock plate can be set using the timing chain or belt to remain unchanged during actuation. Avoiding unnecessary movement helps to prevent contamination of the carcass by dislodging contaminating materials from the hock.

Further, the width of the spread can be easily adjusted by alteration of the spread 10 of the two hock plates and/or the length of the swinging arm. As a result, the apparatus can be tailored to specific end requirements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the 15 accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows perspective views from above of three different positions for the apparatus where: Figure 1a illustrates a wide position; Figure 1b illustrates a mid-span position; Figure 1c illustrates a narrow position; Figure 2 shows front elevations of two different positions for the apparatus relative to an animal carcass where: Figure 2a illustrates a wide position; Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 Figure 2b illustrates a narrow position; Figure 3 shows a detail perspective view of the apparatus in a mid-span position orientated from below the conveyor; Figure 4 shows detail views of the apparatus in a wide position where: Figure 4a illustrates a detail plan view of the apparatus with the conveyor removed to more clearly show the components; Figure 4b illustrates a detail front elevation of the apparatus in the same position as in Figure 4a; Figure 5 shows detail views of the apparatus in a mid-span position where: Figure 5a illustrates a detail plan view of the apparatus with the conveyor removed to more clearly show the components; Figure 5b illustrates a detail front elevation of the apparatus in the same position as in Figure 5a; and, Figure 6 shows detail views of the apparatus in a wide position where: Figure 6a illustrates a detail plan view of the apparatus with the conveyor removed to more clearly show the components; Figure 6b illustrates a detail front elevation of the apparatus in the same position as in Figure 6a.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention is now described with reference to Figures 1 to 6.

Figure 1 shows the apparatus of the invention in three different positions. Figure 1a shows the apparatus in a first wide position 100. The fixed first attachment 2 is 11 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 orientated so that the hook for the animal hock opposes the direction of the second hook 4. Note that the hooks could also be orientated in an outwards direction from the conveyor (right or left). The second hook 4 is approximately in-line vertically and horizontally with the fixed first hook 2. The second hook 4 moves to a third 5 narrow position 300 via an arm that swings in a horizontal plane relative to the conveyor 1 on which the attachments are attached. Figure 1b illustrates a mid-span second position 200 showing the outward horizontal movement of the second hook 4 relative to the conveyor 1 and first hook 2. The swinging arm moves in an arc to the third position as shown in Figure 1c. Once in the third position 300 both 10 hooks are again aligned with each other in a horizontal plane relative to the conveyor 1 and in a position with both hooks closer together than the first wide position 100. In the embodiment shown the two hooks approximately abut one another in the narrow position 300.

Figure 2 illustrates the two positions in more detail with reference to the carcass 15 and carcass legs. As shown in Figure 2a, the animal carcass 14 is in a wide position with the carcass hocks 15 spread apart. In the embodiment shown the legs 14 form an approximately 10° to 40° outward angle relative to an imaginary carcass centreline. Other angles may be chosen without departing from the scope of the invention. As shown in Figure 2a, the carcass 14 hangs from the conveyor 1 20 via the two attachments 2, 4 which hold the carcass hocks 15. Note that any point on the hock may be held using the hock plates depending on the design of plate chosen. The wide position has the hocks 15 orientated to be spaced apart and the rotating attachment 4 is orientated in a first wide position opposing the fixed attachment 2. Figure 2b illustrates the third narrow position with the carcass legs 25 14 orientated so that the legs 14 are approximately in the same vertical plane relative to an imaginary carcass centreline. 12 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 Figures 3 to 6 show the apparatus in more detail. The apparatus includes a standard conveyor 1. The conveyor includes a fixed attachment generally indicated by arrow 2. The fixed attachment includes a carrier and a hock plate or hook 3. The hock plate 3 is adapted to receive the hock of an animal carcass.

Figure 3 shows both hock plates 3, 9 of the fixed attachment 2 and rotating attachment 4 orientated to oppose one another but it should be appreciated that the plates 3 may be adjusted to be orientated in other directions without departing from the scope of the invention. The rotating attachment generally indicated by arrow 4 includes a hock plate 9 or hook attached to an arm 5 that rotates through 10 an arc (a swinging arm) in a horizontal plane relative to the conveyor 1. The hock plate or hook 9 is mounted onto a rotating stem 8. The rotating attachment 4 is mounted to the conveyor 1 by an attachment carrier 13. The arm 5 rotates about an axis in line with the conveyor 1. In the embodiment shown, rotation is actuated via a pinion 10 and rack 11 or 12 mechanism along with a timing belt 7. Note that 15 other rotation mechanisms may be used including chains, linkages and so on. Other actuation mechanisms may include cam arrangements or pneumatic arrangements (not shown). By adjusting the pinion relative to either rack 11,12 the axis of rotation may be adjusted to move the arm 5 from a wide to narrow position or alternatively from a narrow to wide position. In one embodiment, a first rack 11 20 moves the attachment to a narrow position and, as the conveyor 1 moves, the second rack 12 alters the rotating attachment 4 back to a wide position. As may be appreciated form the above, the racks 11,12 may remain in a fixed position relative to the direction of travel along the conveyor 1.

The apparatus is now described in operation. In this example a carcass is hung 25 from the fixed and rotating attachment with the carcass hocks held in the hock plates or hooks. The carcass is initially in a wide configuration with the carcass legs spread apart when viewed in the plane of the conveyor direction of travel. The conveyor moves the carcass towards a rack fixed in place on the conveyor rail. 13 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 The rack meshes with the rotating attachment pinion which causes the arm to rotate about a horizontal axis relative to the conveyor. Rotation force is transferred via a stationary sprocket. A timing chain or belt maintains the orientation of the hock plate during rotation. In the example shown, a 1:1 timing ratio is chosen to 5 ensure that the hock plates remain in a 180° opposed alignment to one another. The rotation causes the hock plate to describe a 180° arc when viewed in a horizontal plane shifting the hock plate initial out from the plane of the conveyor to a maximum off-set before returning to the plane of the conveyor. The change in position results in the hock plates moving to a closer position relative to one 10 another which, as shown in Figure 6, may result in the fixed and rotating hock plates approximately abutting one another. A second or further rack plates may also be included fixed to the conveyor. As the conveyor moves forward with the hock plates in a narrow configuration, the second or further racks may cause a further change to a wide position again and with further racks, multiple changes in 15 position may be configured. The above example is explained with respect to a change in position from a wide to narrow position but, as may be appreciated, could be reversed so as to effect a change from a narrow to wide position. It should further be appreciated that the rack and pinion may also be adjusted to cause the rotation movement to halt at one or more stages intermediate the full 20 180° rotation depending on the user requirements.

Optionally, the timing chain or belt may be excluded. In this embodiment, the hock plate may be adapted to allow the carcass hock to rotate within the hock plate.

It should be appreciated from the above description that there is provided an apparatus to automate transfer of carcass leg position from a wide to a narrow 25 position or the opposite or to positions intermediate. The apparatus is simple in design and therefore is inexpensive and robust as required in such industry applications. The apparatus also has the advantage that the risk of carcass 14 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 contamination is reduced as the carcass hocks are held in place and remaining in a substantially fixed position during rotation avoiding the need to remove and re-hook the hock.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and 5 it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011

Claims (20)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Ari apparatus for moving one hock of a carcass in an approximately horizontal plane relative to a second carcass hock wherein the apparatus includes: a. a conveyor; b. a fixed attachment connected to the conveyor which releasably retains a first carcass hock in a fixed position; c. a rotating attachment which is connected to the conveyor and which releasably holds a second carcass hock; and, wherein the rotating attachment on actuation moves altering the position of the second carcass hock relative to the first carcass hock in a horizontal plane.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conveyor is an overhead type conveyor onto which the attachments are mounted.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the fixed attachment includes a fixed orientation arm with a first hock plate or hook at the terminal end of the arm.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first hock plate on the fixed attachment is orientated so as to oppose the direction of a second hock plate or hook attached to the rotating attachment.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the rotating attachment includes a swinging arm that rotates about an axis 16 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 positioned around the attachment point of the rotating attachment to the conveyor.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein rotation is effected by use of an actuation mechanism.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the actuation mechanism causes a 180° rotation so as to move the hock of the animal from a wide position to a narrow position.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the 180° rotation results in transfer of the hock of the animal from a narrow position to a wide position.

9. An apparatus as claimed as claimed in claim 6 wherein the actuation mechanism effects changes in position intermediate to a wide or narrow position.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the distal end of the swinging arm includes a rotating stem onto which the second hock plate is attached.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the hock plates face outwards (either to the left or right) from the conveyer.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the axis of rotation includes a stationary sprocket which transfers rotational energy to the terminal end of the swinging arm thereby controlling the degree of rotation.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the gap between the hocks in the narrow position is defined by the degree of separation between the hock in the first fixed attachment and the hock in the rotating attachment. Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the gap between the hocks in the wide position is defined by the degree of separation between the hock in the first fixed attachment and the hock in the rotating attachment.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the degree of separation is sufficient to spread the carcass legs substantially 10° to 60° from the carcass centreline where the carcass hangs vertically down through gravity.

16. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 10-14 wherein the gap between the wide and narrow positions is adjusted by altering the length of the swinging arm.

17. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 10-15 wherein the rotating attachment is locked into a fixed position.

18. A method of automatically adjusting the width of separation between the hocks of a carcass by use of the apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

19. An apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to any example and/or drawing thereof.

20. A method substantially as described herein with reference to any example and/or drawing thereof. Realcold Milmech Limited 18 Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2011 by its Attorneys JAMES & WELLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 19