NZ609437B2 - A carcass processing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

carcass processing machine suitable for processing a rack of a carcass and removing the ribs from the vertebrae (15) is disclosed. The machine has a pair of meat cutting blades (9, 10), above, and a pair of bone cutting blades (11, 12), below. In one embodiment the rack is biased towards the meat cutting blades by a support (14, 16, 17) causing the meat cutting blades to cut through the meat and then ride on the vertebrae between the spinous process and the transverse processes. This sets the height of the bone cutting blades with respect to the rack so that the transverse processes may be cut off at an appropriate position as the rack moves through the machine. Other methods of relative height adjustment are also disclosed. The machine is suitable for ovine (Sheep), bovine (Beef) or porcine (Pork) meat products. cutting blades by a support (14, 16, 17) causing the meat cutting blades to cut through the meat and then ride on the vertebrae between the spinous process and the transverse processes. This sets the height of the bone cutting blades with respect to the rack so that the transverse processes may be cut off at an appropriate position as the rack moves through the machine. Other methods of relative height adjustment are also disclosed. The machine is suitable for ovine (Sheep), bovine (Beef) or porcine (Pork) meat products.

Description

Our Ref: ROBO5ONZ Patents Form No. 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 Complete After Provisional No. 599721 filed 2 May 2012 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A CARCASS PROCESSING MACHINE We, Robotic Technologies Limited, a New Zealand company of 630 ai Valley Road, Dunedin, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be d to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: A s Processing Machine Field of Invention The present ion s to a carcass processing machine suitable for processing meat products including ovine, bovine or porcine meat products. Chine boning machines are used for cutting meat from the vertebra in the region of the rib cage. The carcass processing machine of the t invention is ularly suited to the processing of lamb carcases to separate the vertebra from the ribs and meat on a 'rack saddle’ but may also find application in the processing of mutton, goat, pork and bovine animals.

Background to the Invention ln “chine boning” meat is removed from the spinous process and the transverse processes and ribs are cut from the vertebrae. It is ant to minimise yield loss by leaving as little meat as possible on each vertebra as the vertebra is a low value waste product and the rack meat is a high value premium product. This is difficult as every rack has a unique geometry requiring adjustment of the blades to optimise the cut for each carcass.

Racks of meat may be processed manually using knives and/or saws. Such processing may be slow, inaccurate and dangerous.

NZ Patent 235820 discloses an automated chine boning machine having vertical meat removing blades and angled bone cutting blades. This machine requires the operator to adjust it for varying sizes of animal and to locate pins through the spine to locate carcass on a guide - which is time consuming and laborious and requires diligence of operators to make the required ents. The machine only allows a limited number of adjustment steps and requires the machine to be set for some e setting for a number of carcasses rather than an m setting for each. This results in reduced yield. This machine uses chisel blades which create sawdust which degrade the meat due to the degraded visual appearance and potential for contamination. This machine also has a heavy construction making it expensive as well as being difficult to maintain.

It is an object of the invention to provide a carcass processing machine overcoming these disadvantages or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Summary of the invention According to the invention there is ed a carcass processing machine including: one or more bone cutting blades for cutting portions of bone from vertebra of a rack of a s, wherein the one or more bone cutting blades are configured to remove the transverse processes and ribs from the vertebrae; one or more meat cutting blades for removing meat from a rack of a carcass, wherein the one or more meat g blades are arranged to remove meat from the feather bones of the vertebrae; and a guide for supporting a rack of meat and guiding it along a feed path into the blades wherein the guide is moveable relative to the blades during cutting in a direction transverse to the feed path to position the carcass ve to the blades, the arrangement being such that as the guide advances a rack of a carcass into the one or more meat cutting blades the guide moves with respect to the one or more meat cutting blades such that each meat cutting blade follows a natural er of each vertebrae and positions the transverse processes for cutting by the one or more bone g blades, n while the one or more meat cutting blades contact the shoulders of the vertebrae the guide rail moves with respect to the one or more meat g blades in order to position the vertebrae in a desired position with respect to the shoulders of each vertebrae.

Brief Description of the Drawings The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the ed description of embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a vertebra of an animal; Figure 2 shows an end view of a carcass processing machine according to one embodiment as viewed from the outlet end of the feed path; Figure 3 shows a side view of the carcass processing machine as shown in figure Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a carcass processing machine according to another embodiment; Figure 5 shows a side view of the machine shown in figure 4; Figure 6 shows an end view of the machine shown in figure 4; and Figure 7 shows a detailed view of the blades and guide of the e shown in figure 4.

Detailed Description Referring to figure 1 a vertebra 1 of an animal is shown. Projecting upwardly is the spinous process 2 or “feather bone" and projecting laterally are the transverse processes 3 and 4. Between the spinous process and transverse processes are shoulders 5 and 6. The or surface 7 of the vertebra provides a useful reference point. In conventional machines a rack of a carcass may be placed on a guide and advanced into g blades to remove the transverse ses. Due to variation between carcasses, and along the length of a rack, the cutting position is not optimized in all cases.

Referring now to s 2 and 3 a carcass processing machine according to one ment will be described. In this embodiment a pair of meat cutting blades 9 and 10 and a pair of bone cutting blades 11 and 12 are rotatably mounted to frame 8. Meat cutting blades 9 and 10 rotate with the direction of feed F so as to assist with advancing the rack 15. Bone g blades 11 and 12 rotate against the direction of feed F to facilitate cutting. Guide 13 includes a pair of spaced apart rails 16 and 17 and is mounted to frame 8 by way of a biased support 14 that biases the support towards meat cutting blades 9 and 10. The g may be by way of a spring, pneumatic cylinder or the like. Whilst in this embodiment the blades are fixed and the guide moves it will be appreciated that the guide could be fixed and the blades could move relative to the guide.

In use the anterior es of vertebrae of a rack of meat are located within the gap between rails 16 and 17 to locate the rack on the guide. As the rack 15 is pushed along the rails it first engages with meat cutting blades 9 and 10. Blades 9 and 10 remove meat from the feather bone and then ride along the shoulders of the vertebrae (as these are meat cutting blades rather than bone cutting blades they ride the vertebrae rather than cutting them). When the meat cutting blades 9 and 10 contact the shoulders of the vertebrae the guide rail 13 moves away from the meat g blades 9 and 10 against the bias of support 14. This serves to position the vertebrae in a known position with respect to the ers of each vertebra. Bone cutting blades 11 and 12 are positioned with respect to the meat cutting blades 9 and 10 so as to cut off the transverse processes and ribs at a desired position whilst the guide rail is positioned by the meat g blades riding the vertebrae shoulders.

Active systems may also be ed in which the guide is moved relative to the cutting blade by actuators in response to sensed information. In one embodiment a force sensor such as a load cell may measure the force imparted on the guide 13 by the meat cutting blades 9 and 10 acting on the ers of vertebrae and driving an actuator in response to the sensed load to raise and lower the guide 13 in response thereto. Alternatively a vision system may be employed to monitor the position of the vertebrae with respect to the cutting blades and raise and lower guide 13 in response to image nation. An X-ray imaging system could view the rack of meat from the side or end whereas an optical imaging system may best locate the position of the vertebrae from an end view. ing now to s 4 to 7 a machine 20 according to a second embodiment is shown. Meat cutting blades 21 and 22 are driven by geared motors 26 and 27 mounted to frame 25. Bone g blades 23 and 24 are driven by geared motors 28 and 29 mounted to frame 25. Meat cutting blades 21 and 22 are circular knives driven in the direction of feed into the machine. The meat cutting blades will typically be driven so as to have a surface speed of between 100 and 5000 mm per second. Bone cutting blades 23 and 24 are serrated knives that rotate in a ion opposite to the feed direction. The use of serrated knives provides a high cut quality without the production of sawdust. The bone cutting blades will typically be driven so as to have a surface speed of between 1000 and 30,000 mm per second.

The meat cutting blades 21 and 22 are disposed at an angle either side of a central axis x-x. Typically each blade will be angled between about 1 to 20 s to the central axis x-x. The meat cutting blades also diverge along the feed path from the inlet side to the outlet side, lly between about 1 to 15 degrees to the feed path.

This effectively separates the meat from the vertebrae. This arrangement allows the blades to efficiently remove meat from the vertebrae and assist in orienting the vertebrae during processing.

The bone cutting blades 23 and 24 are disposed at an angle either side of a central axis x-x. This is to remove the erse processes in the desired way. Typically each blade will be angled between about 10 to 40 to the central axis x-x. The bone cutting blades also diverge along the feed path from the inlet side to the outlet side, typically between about 1 to 15 degrees to the feed path. This effectively separates the transverse ses from the vertebrae.

In this embodiment the guide 30 includes a continuous belt 31 with a plurality of wedge shaped supports 32. Product is initially fed into the machine along rails 34 and 33 (as in the previous embodiment) and is advanced by supports 32. Just prior to being fed into the cutting blades a roller 35 above a rack of meat engages the top of the rack of meat so that the meat is held firmly between supports 32 and roller 35. Rails 34 and 33 diverge around the cutting blades (see figure 7) and once the meat cutting blades 21 and 22 engage the rack of meat they run along the shoulders of the vertebrae to provide downward force and the feather bones locate between the blades to provide lateral ity. A g device may be included that locks the blades in position part way through processing of a rack of meat so that as the meat cutting blades reach the end of the rack of meat (when the bone cutting blades haven’t) the height setting is maintained until the bone g blades have completed their cuts.

In this embodiment the entire guide 30 pivots about journal 36 and is biased on either side by pneumatic cylinders 37 and 38. As the meat cutting blades 21 and 22 provide rd force onto the shoulders of the vertebrae the entire guide pivots against the g force of pneumatic cylinders 37 and 38. This causes the vertebrae to be desirably positioned for the bone cutting blades 23 and 24 to remove the transverse processes (or ribs in an alternate configuration).

It will be appreciated that a rack of meat may be fed directly onto rails 33 and 24 from a pair of rails of another processing machine such as the carrousel shown in PCT/N22010/000062. This enables the machine of the present invention to be incorporated into a fully or partially automated processing system. The system may also include a bypass path by which a rack of meat may selectively be transferred from the input side to the output side without passing through the cutting blades.

Alternatively all blades could be retractable so that supports 32 may guide the rack of meat along the guide with all cutting blades 21 to 24 ted.

There is thus provided a carcass processing machine that is simple, robust, inexpensive and does not e manual adjustment or ion. The machine may be integrated into a fully or partially automated system and provides high yield and high cut quality.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been bed in detail, it is not the intention of the ant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and cations will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and rative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of the Applicant’s general inventive concept.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS 1.: 1. A carcass processing machine including: i. one or more bone cutting blades for cutting portions of bone from 10 vertebra of a rack of a carcass, wherein the one or more bone cutting blades are configured to remove the transverse processes and ribs from the vertebrae; ii. one or more meat cutting blades for ng meat from a rack of a carcass, wherein the one or more meat cutting blades are arranged to 15 remove meat from the feather bones of the vertebrae; and iii. a guide for supporting a rack of meat and guiding it along a feed path into the blades wherein the guide is moveable relative to the blades during cutting in a direction transverse to the feed path to position the carcass relative to the , the arrangement being such that as the 20 guide es a rack of a carcass into the one or more meat cutting blades the guide moves with respect to the one or more meat cutting blades such that each meat cutting blade follows a natural shoulder of each vertebrae and positions the transverse processes for cutting by the one or more bone cutting blades, 25 wherein while the one or more meat cutting blades contact the ers of the vertebrae the guide rail moves with respect to the one or more meat cutting blades in order to position the vertebrae in a desired on with respect to the shoulders of each vertebrae. 3O A carcass processing machine as claimed in claim 1 n the blades are fixed and the guide moves relative to the blades. A carcass sing machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein the guide is biased towards the cutting path. A carcass processing machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein the guide is biased by a spring. A carcass processing machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein the guide is biased by a pneumatic cylinder. A carcass processing machine as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the guide pivots about one end of the guide. 15 A carcass processing machine as claimed in claim 2 n the guide is moved towards or away from the cutting path under the control of a vision system. A carcass processing machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein the vision system 20 is an X-ray vision system. A carcass processing machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein the vision system is an l vision system. 25 10. A carcass processing machine as claimed in claim 9 n the vision system views the rack of meat along the feed path. 11. A carcass sing e as claimed in claim 1 wherein the guide is fixed and the blades move relative to the guide. 12. A carcass processing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the guide includes a channel dimensioned to receive the rae of rack. 35 13. A carcass processing machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein the guide includes a pair of spaced apart rails. 14. A carcass processing machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein the guide is in the form of a continuous belt. 10 15. A carcass processing machine as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 14 ing a roller opposing and spaced from the guide to hold and position a rack of meat as it passes through the blades. 16. A carcass processing machine as d in any one of the preceding claims 15 having a pair of meat cutting blades arranged to remove meat from the feather bones of the vertebrae. 17. A carcass processing machine as claimed in claim 16 wherein the meat cutting blades are circular knives. 18. A carcass sing machine as claimed in claim 17 wherein the ar knives are rotated in the direction of feed of the carcass. 19. A carcass processing machine as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 18 25 wherein the circular knives e with respect to a vertical plane along the feed path. 20. A carcass processing machine as claimed in claim 19 wherein the knives diverge n an angle of 1 and 20 degrees to the vertical plane. 21. A carcass processing machine as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 20 wherein the circular knives diverge along the feed path. 22. A carcass processing machine as d in claim 21 wherein the knives 35 diverge between an angle of 1 and 15 degrees to the feed path. 23. A carcass processing machine as d in any one of claims 15 to 22 wherein the meat cutting blades are driven at a blade surface speed between 100 and 5000 mm per second. 24. A carcass processing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 10 having a pair of bone cutting blades ed to remove portions of bones from the vertebrae. 25. A carcass processing e as claimed in claim 24 wherein the bone cutting blades are rotary serrated knives. 26. A carcass processing machine as claimed in claim 25 wherein the rotary serrated knives are rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of feed of the carcass. 20 27. A carcass processing machine as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 26 wherein the rotary serrated knives diverge with respect to a vertical plane along the feed path. 28. A carcass processing machine as claimed in claim 27 wherein the knives 25 diverge between an angle of 10 and 40 degrees to a l plane bisecting the planes of the knives. 29. A carcass processing machine as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 28 wherein the rotary serrated knives diverge along the feed path. 30. A carcass processing machine as d in claim 29 wherein the rotary serrated knives diverge between an angle of 1 and 15 degrees to the feed path. 31. A s processing machine as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 30 35 n the rotary serrated knives are driven at a blade e speed between 1000 and 30,000 mm per second. 32. A carcass processing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a bypass path for conveying the carcass from an inlet to an outlet side of the machine without sing. 10 33. A carcass processing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 32 in which the cutting blades may be retracted from the cutting path so that a carcass be conveyed from an inlet to an outlet side of the machine without sing. 34. A carcass processing machine as d in any one of the preceding claims 15 including a locking device for locking the blades in position part way through processing of a rack of meat. ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED ELLSTheir Attorne 7