NZ757048B2 - A carcass processing assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

carcass processing assembly for efficiently removing meat from vertebra of an animal. In one embodiment a plurality of rotating blades may be provided for at least partly separating meat from the dorsal side of one or more vertebrae of a section of carcass and one or more plough blades may be provided for at least partly separating meat from the dorsal side of one or more transverse processes of the section of carcass. The plurality of rotating blades and the one or more plough blades comprise two rotating blades and a plough blade arranged to process each of one or both of the left and right sides of each vertebra. The two rotating blades arranged to process each side include a first rotating blade arranged to at least partly separate meat from the spinous process of each vertebra and a second rotating blade arranged to at least partly separate meat from the mamillary processes of the vertebrae. The rotating blades assist in obtaining maximum yield by removing as much meat from the spinous process as is practical, and then extending the separation over the mamillary process. The above carcass processing machines may include a second carcass processing station having one or more blades arranged to separate meat from the ventral side of the one or more vertebrae. vided for at least partly separating meat from the dorsal side of one or more transverse processes of the section of carcass. The plurality of rotating blades and the one or more plough blades comprise two rotating blades and a plough blade arranged to process each of one or both of the left and right sides of each vertebra. The two rotating blades arranged to process each side include a first rotating blade arranged to at least partly separate meat from the spinous process of each vertebra and a second rotating blade arranged to at least partly separate meat from the mamillary processes of the vertebrae. The rotating blades assist in obtaining maximum yield by removing as much meat from the spinous process as is practical, and then extending the separation over the mamillary process. The above carcass processing machines may include a second carcass processing station having one or more blades arranged to separate meat from the ventral side of the one or more vertebrae.

Description

A Carcass Processing Assembly FIELD OF THE INVENTION The t invention relates to assemblies and machines suitable for processing meat products including ovine, caprine, porcine or bovine meat products or other meat products. s processing machines are used for cutting meat from the bones of a carcass, which can include cutting meat from vertebrae in the region of the abdomen.

The assemblies and machines of the present invention are particularly suited to the processing of lamb carcasses to separate the vertebra from the meat on a shortloin saddle but may also find application in the processing of other meat products including , hogget, goat, pork and beef.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In “loin boning” meat is d from the lower section of the vertebra of an animal, typically from a shortloin saddle section of the carcass. This can involve removing tenderloins from the ventral side of the vertebrae and removing eye muscles, to obtain boneless loin meat, from the dorsal side of the vertebrae. The eye muscle is removed from the spinous processes, mamillary processes and the transverse processes of the vertebrae. It is important to maximise yield by leaving as little meat as possible on each ra as the vertebra is a waste product and the tenderloin loin and ss loin meat is premium. This is difficult as every loin section of s has a unique geometry requiring adjustment of the blades to optimise the cut for each carcass.

Sections of carcass may be sed manually using knives and/or saws. Such processing may be slow, inaccurate and dangerous.

Tenderloin and boneless loin removal may be performed by pushing the section of carcass through a set of plough blades to separate meat from bones. This can require large forces to be d to the carcass and/or to the blades, can damage the meat, and can result in low yield by leaving a lot of meat on the vertebrae.

Some rotating or ed saws may produce significant amounts of paste, saw dust or bone chips. This may reduce yield and/or degrade the quality of the processed product.

Some fixed blades, such as plough blades, may tear the meat in certain applications.

They may also be prone to going “off ” as they tend to follow the path of least resistance h the meat. This may reduce yield and degrade the quality of the 40 processed product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one exemplary embodiment there is provided a carcass processing assembly including: a plurality of rotating blades for at least partly separating meat from the dorsal side of one or more vertebrae of a section of carcass; and one or more plough blades for at least partly separating meat from the dorsal side of one or more transverse processes of the section of s; wherein the plurality of rotating blades and the one or more plough blades comprise two rotating blades and a plough blade arranged to process each of one or both of the left and right sides of each vertebra; and wherein the two rotating blades arranged to process each side include: a first rotating blade arranged to at least partly separate meat from the s process of each vertebra; and a second rotating blade arranged to at least partly te meat from the mamillary processes of the vertebrae..

According to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a carcass sing assembly including: one or more first rotating blades for at least partially separating meat from the spinous processes of one or more vertebrae of a section of carcass; one or more second rotating blades for at least partially separating meat from the mamillary processes of one or more vertebrae of a n of carcass.

According to a further exemplary embodiment there is provided a carcass processing e including: a first carcass processing station sing the carcass processing assembly of any one of the above exemplary embodiments; and a second carcass processing station comprising a second carcass processing assembly including: one or more blades arranged to separate meat from the l side of the one or more vertebrae.

According to a further ary ment there is provided a carcass processing assembly including: one or more ng blades configured to separate meat from the ventral side of one or more vertebrae of a section of carcass.

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 ption of the ion given above, and the ed description of embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 shows an animal ra.

Figure 2 shows an end view of a carcass processing assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a carcass processing assembly ing mounting assemblies in accordance with an exemplary ment.

Figure 4 shows an end view of a carcass processing assembly including mounting assemblies in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

Figure 5 shows a top view of a carcass processing assembly in accordance with an exemplary ment.

Figure 6 shows an end view of carcass processing assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

Figure 7 shows a side view of a carcass processing machine in cross-section in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION ing to Figure 1, a vertebra 1 of an animal is shown. The vertebra 1 generally has a ventral side, which is towards the underside of the animal in the case of a quadrupedal animal, and a dorsal side, which is towards the back of the animal – away from the underside of a quadrupedal animal. Projecting from the dorsal side of the vertebra 1 towards the top of the page is the spinous process 2, sometimes known as the “featherbone”. ting laterally from the vertebra 1 are the transverse processes 3.

Between the spinous process 2 and the erse processes 3 are the mamillary processes 4. The region between each mamillary process 4 and the spinous process 2 is referred to as the “shoulder” 5. The vertebra 1 has an axis 7-7, referred to herein as the ight axis, that traverses the left and right sides of the vertebra 1. The vertebra 40 also has an axis 8-8, referred to herein as the dorso-lateral axis, that traverses the dorsal and ventral sides of the vertebra 1. The vertebra also has another axis 9-9, referred to herein as the antero-posterior axis, that traverses the anterior and posterior ends of the vertebra 1. In the case of a quadruped animal, the left-right axis 7-7 and the dorso-ventral axis 8-8 may lie substantially in what is known as the transverse plane, the left-right axis 7-7 and the antero-posterior axis 9-9 may lie substantially in what is known as the coronal plane, and the dorso-ventral axis 8-8 and the antero-posterior axis 9-9 may lie ntially in what is known as the sagittal plane.

Referring now to s 2 and 3, a carcass sing ly 10 according to one embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the carcass processing machine includes two pairs of ng blades 11, 12 and one pair of plough blades 13, all mounted to a support frame. The assembly 10 is arranged to facilitate the removal of meat from the n of carcass. In some examples, the assembly 10 facilitates the production of boneless loin cuts of meat.

The carcass processing assembly 10 may s any of a range of sections of carcass that include one or more vertebrae 1 or partial vertebrae 1. In the case that a shortloin saddle, for example, is being processed, there are several vertebrae 1 in the section of carcass. However, some sections of carcass may e only one vertebra 1. In some cases, only one side (i.e. the left or right side) of a section of carcass may be processed.

For example, the n of carcass may be a “half n” (as opposed to a “full section”) taken from only the left or right side of a carcass. It will be understood that in these cases, the one or more vertebrae 1 of the section of carcass will be one or more partial vertebrae 1. In the case where only one side of a section of s is processed at a time, the blades may not need to be in symmetrical pairs. Instead, there may be provided blades for removing, at least partially, meat from only one side of one or more vertebrae 1. In one example, the assembly 10 is configured to process both sides of a section of carcass. In one example, the assembly 10 is configured to process a “full n” of carcass taken from both the left and right sides of a carcass. In one example, the section of carcass includes 4-6 lumbar rae. In one example, the section of carcass includes 1-3 thoracic vertebrae (or part thereof) and ribs associated with the thoracic vertebrae. In one example, the section of carcass is a shortloin section of carcass. In one e, the section of carcass is a oin saddle. In one example, the section of carcass is the shortloin saddle of a lamb.

Each of the rotating blades 11, 12 is configured to separate, at least partly, meat from the dorsal side of one or more vertebrae 1 of a section of carcass. In one example there is only one rotating blade ed to process each side of the vertebrae 1. In some examples there is more than one rotating blade arranged to process each side of the 40 vertebrae 1. In some examples the one or more of either of the rotating blades 11, 12 could be replaced by a fixed blade, such as a plough blade. In one example, there are two rotating blades arranged to s each side of the vertebrae 1. In the example shown in Figure 2, there are two pairs of rotating blades – the first rotating blades 11 and the second rotating blades 12. Each of the first blades 11 is configured to separate meat from the spinous processes 2 of the vertebrae 1. Each of the second blades 12 is configured to separate meat from the mamillary processes 4 of the rae 1.

The first and/or second blades 11, 12 are arranged at an angle to the spinous processes 2. This may assist adequately separating meat from the vertebrae 1 and conforming to the geometry of the vertebrae 1. The first and/or second blades 11, 12 may be arranged at an angle to one or more t planes of the vertebrae 1. The angle may be ed to substantially conform to the profile of the vertebrae 1. In one example, the first and/or second blades are at an angle of less than about 20°, between about 10° and about 18°, or about 14°, to the dorso-ventral axis 8-8 of each vertebra 1 during processing. The blades can be at this angle as measured in the plane formed by the left-right and dorso-ventral axes 7-7, 8-8 of the vertebra 1. This angle is best shown in Figure 4. In one example the blades are arranged at an angle to the path of ve movement of the section of carcass with respect to the blades. This may assist in separating the meat from the rae 1. This may assist in orienting the vertebrae 1 during processing. The path of relative movement of the section of carcass may be approximately el to the antero-posterior axis 9-9 of the vertebrae 1. In one example the blades are arranged to diverge along the path of relative movement of the section of carcass with respect to the blades (i.e. along axis 9-9) by between about 7° and about 20°, or between about 10° and about 15°, or about 12.4° during processing.

The blades can be at this angle as measured in a plane formed by the left-right and antero-posterior axes 7-7, 9-9 of each vertebra 1. This angle is best shown in Figure 5.

In one example the angle of the rotating blades can be ed. This may enable the rotating blades to be configured or optimised for different vertebrae geometries, such as for processing different sections of s of a species, for processing sections of carcass from ent species, or for processing sections of carcass with differently sized and shaped vertebrae 1. See in Figure 2 how the blades 11, 12, 13 conform to the geometry of the vertebrae.

As can be seen in s 2-5, each first rotating blades 11 is arranged with its leading edge upstream of the leading edge of the corresponding second rotating blade 12 with respect to the path of the section of carcass relative to the blades. This means that, during processing, the first rotating blade 11 meets the section of carcass first. The first and second rotating blades 12 partially overlap along the path of the section of carcass.

The first rotating blade 11 is located further out laterally than the second ng blade 40 12 in the overlapping . This places the first rotating blade 11 further from the spinous processes 2 than the second ng blade 12 in the overlapping region. This arrangement may allow meat cut by the first rotating blade 11 to be ly transferred to the second rotating blade 12. The first and second blades are arranged close to each other in the overlapping region. In one example, the first and second blades are less than about 10 mm, or less than about 5 mm, from each other in the overlapping region.

The one or more first rotating blades 11 are arranged to cut closer to the spinous process 2 than the second rotating blade(s) 12. As best shown in Figures 2 and 5, each first rotating blade 11 is arranged such that its leading edge will be closer to the spinous process(es) 2 of vertebrae 1 during processing than the leading edge of the corresponding second rotating blade 12 is. The first rotating blade 11 may be arranged to be proximate or adjacent the spinous process 2 during processing. This may assist in obtaining maximum yield by ng as much meat from these bones as is practical.

The specific spacing of the first rotating blade 11 from the expected on of the plane formed by the antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes 9-9, 8-8 of the vertebrae 1 will depend on the size and shape of the vertebrae 1 being processed and may be adjusted for optimal cutting and yield. In one example, each first rotating blade 11 is between about 2 mm and about 6 mm, or about 4 mm, from the plane at its t point. In one example, the first rotating blade 11 is arranged to be between the spinous process 2 and mamillary process 4 during processing. In one example, the first rotating blade 11 is arranged to rest or ride on the shoulder(s) 5 of the one or more vertebrae 1 during processing.

The one or more second rotating blades 12 are arranged to cut wider out laterally than the first rotating blades 11. As best shown in Figure 5, each second rotating blade 12 is arranged such that its leading edge will be further from the plane formed by the anteroposterior and dorso-ventral axes 9-9, 8-8 of the rae 1 than the leading edge of the corresponding first ng blade 11 is. As best shown in Figure 2, each second rotating blade 12 can be arranged to be, in part, proximate the lateral end of the mamillary process 4 during processing. This may assist in extending the separation over the mamillary process 4. The specific spacing of the second rotating blade 12 from the expected location of the plane formed by the antero-posterior and ventral axes 9-9, 8-8 of the vertebrae, and hence the g from the expected location of the mamillary process 4, will depend on the size and shape of the vertebrae being processed and may be adjusted for optimal cutting and yield. In one example, the one or more second rotating blades 12 are arranged to cut or separate meat alongside the mamillary process(s) of the one or more vertebrae 1. In one example, the one or more second rotating blades 12 are arranged to cut or separate meat in the region n the mamillary process(s) and the transverse process(es) of the vertebrae 1. In one example, the one or more second blades are arranged to cut or separate meat at or near the transverse process(es) of the rae 1.

Each second rotating blade 12 is arranged such that its trailing edge will be further from the plane formed by the antero-posterior and ventral axes 9-9, 8-8 of the vertebrae 1 than the trailing edge of the first rotating blade 11 is. This may assist in extending the separation of meat from the vertebrae 1. Each second blade can be larger in diameter than each first rotating blade 11. The second blade 12 can be between about 1.5 and about 3 times the diameter of the first blade 11, or about 2 times the diameter of the first blade 11. In one example, the first blade 11 is about 135 mm in diameter and the second blade is about 270 mm in diameter. Each first rotating blade can be offset from a corresponding second rotating blade in a direction parallel to the antero-posterior axis 9-9 and/or offset in a direction parallel to the dorso-ventral axis 8-8 of the vertebrae during processing. The rotational axis of the first rotating blade 11 can be offset from the rotational axis of the second rotating blade 12 by between about 60 mm and about 100 mm, about 70 and about 90 mm, or about 80 mm in a direction parallel to the -posterior axis 9-9. The onal axis of the first rotating blade 11 can be offset from the rotational axis of the second rotating blade 12 by between about mm and about 70 mm, about 40 and about 60 mm, or about 50 mm in a direction parallel to the antero-posterior axis 9-9.

The configuration of the first and second rotating blades 12 detailed above allows cooperation of the rotating blades of each side (left and right) of the carcass processing ly 10. In ular, the first ng blade 11 is configured to at least partly separate meat from the section of carcass in the region of the spinous process(es) 2 and the second rotating blade 12 extends the separation into the region of the mamillary processes 4. The second rotating blade 12 may extend the separation over the mamillary processes 4 into the region adjacent the dorsal surface of the transverse processes 3.

The first and second rotating blades are arranged such that the part of each blade that is in t with the section of carcass moves in the same general direction as the path of travel of the section of carcass. This is known as “climb cutting”. Due to the similar direction of motion of the blade and the carcass, the relative speeds between the two may be kept low. Climb cutting may allow for gentler cutting of the carcass and a better ed product. Climb cutting may result in the meat being inantly sliced or peeled from the bones, rather than roughly sawn or torn. The first and second blades may rotate at a vely low speed. For example, the blades may rotate at less than 2000 revolutions per minute, less than 1000 revolutions per minute, or approximately 40 500 revolutions per minute.

The second rotating blade 12 can be serrated. This may allow it to cut bone to some extent. This may allow it to trim long or wide mamillary processes 4 and cut into transverse processes 3 that sit high. Alternatively, the second rotating blade 12 can be non-serrated. The first rotating blade 11 is ably not serrated.

Also provided is a plough blade 13, as shown in Figure 3. The plough blade 13 is arranged to separate meat from the dorsal side of the erse process(es) 3 of the one or more vertebrae 1 of the section of carcass. The plough blade 13 is arranged at a similar angle to the dorsal side of the transverse processes 3. This may assist in maximising yield by removing as much meat as practical. The specific angle used will depend on the geometry of the section of carcass to be processed. In one e, the plough blade 13 is at an angle of between about 70° and about 120°, or between about 90° and 100°, or approximately 94°, to the dorso-ventral axis 8-8. This angle can be as measured in a plane formed by the dorso-ventral axis 8-8 and the left-right axis 7-7 of the vertebrae 1.

As best seen in Figure 2, the ed profile of the first rotating blade 11, second rotating blade 12 and plough blade 13 ntially conforms to the profile of the dorsal side of the rae 1. In this case there is a pair of each of the blades and the blades of each side conform to the profile of their respective sides. In the case where only one side of the section of carcass is to be sed at a time, the blades will conform to the vertebrae 1 of that side of the section of carcass.

Figures 3-5 show mounting assemblies 14 for the first ng blades 11, second rotating blades 12 and mounting assembly 17 for the plough blades 13. The mounting assemblies 14, 17 allow some pivoting and/or linear movement of the blades during processing of the section of carcass. This may provide some ance of the blades to the vertebrae 1. This may allow the blades to adapt to variations in the size and shape of vertebrae 1. This may assist in maximising yield and reducing undesired cutting of bone. In this example, the mounting assembly 14 of the rotating blades 11, 12 includes cylinders 15 and 16 that allow pivoting and linear movement of the rotating blades. The amount of movement is limited by a dead stop of cylinder 16. This may prevent the rotating blades of one side from coming too close to blades of the other side, rotating into an unsuitable cutting angle or translating too high or low for actory operation. The cylinder 15 is in the form of an air spring. The cylinder 15 biases the blades “downwards”, i.e. towards the dorsal surface of the vertebrae 1. In on to the vertebrae 1, for this example the blades are biased along the dorsoventral axis 8-8. The bias may also have components in the antero-posterior and left- right axes 9-9, 7-7. The cylinders 15 and 16 allow some movement of the blades against this bias and in response provide a ative force.

The first and second rotating blades 11, 12 of each side share common mounting assemblies 14. These blades are held in a fixed position and orientation with respect to each other. This enables the blades to move together, which may assist adaptation to variable vertebrae 1. This may also prevent ng or other contact between the first blade 11 and second blade 12 of the same side. The first rotating blade 11 may move when a large, high or misshapen ra 1 is tered. Due to the connection to the second ng blade 12, this may cause the second rotating blade 12 to also move.

This may better position the second rotating blade 12 for removing meat from the large, high or misshapen ra 1. The first rotating blade 11 may be configured to ride along the vertebrae 1 to set a datum or reference point for the second rotating blade 12.

This may enable to the first and second rotating blades 11, 12 to follow the geometry of the vertebrae 1 during processing for optimal yield.

As shown in Figure 4, the processing assembly 10 can be provided with a wiper 19 for each second rotating blade 12. This may help prevent material such as tendons and fascia from building up on the blade(s) and negatively affecting their performance.

The plough blade mounting assembly 17 allows pivoting of the plough blades 13. The plough blade mounting assemblies 17 allow linear movement of the plough blades 13.

This may provide some compliance of the plough blades 13 to the vertebrae 1. The plough blade ng assembly 17 also includes cylinders 18, which can be air s. The cylinders 18 bias the plough blades 13 “downwards”, i.e. towards the dorsal surface of the vertebrae 1. In relation to the vertebrae 1, the blades are biased along the dorso-ventral axis 8-8. The bias may also have components in the anteroposterior and left-right axes 9-9, 7-7. The cylinders 18 allow some movement of the blades against this bias and in response provide a restorative force.

The operation of the carcass processing assembly according to one example will now be described.

To process the section of s, in this e a shortloin saddle, the saddle is moved with respect to the blades of the processing assembly 10. This may involve movement of either or both of the section of carcass and the . In one example, the processing assembly 10 is substantially fixed in place (but may allow some pivoting and/or linear movement) while the section of s is pushed through the processing assembly 10. The first blade 11, being located furthest upstream, initiates a cut on each 40 side of the saddle. The cut is made between the spinous process 2 and the eye muscle.

As the saddle is moved past the first blade 11, the cut is transferred to the second rotating blade 12, with the second rotating blade 12 now being d between the vertebrae 1 and the eye muscle. The second rotating blade 12 peels the muscle laterally outwards and downwards over the mamillary processes 4 to the dorsal side of the transverse processes 3. Once the saddle passes the second rotating blades 12, it encounters the plough blades 13 which scrape along the dorsal side of the transverse processes 3 and complete the separation of the muscle from the bones of the saddle.

The meat thus processed is known as boneless loin.

Figure 6 shows r carcass processing assembly 20 that may be used in combination with the above-described assembly 10, as a standalone s processing assembly, or in combination with other assemblies or machines. For convenience, the assembly 10 of Figures 2-5 will be referred to as the first assembly 10 and the assembly 20 of Figure 6 will be referred to as the second assembly 20, although it should be noted that these are merely labels and should not be taken to imply any order of importance or operation.

The second assembly 20 is arranged to process the ventral side of the section of carcass. The second assembly 20 includes one or more blades arranged to separate meat from the ventral side of one or more vertebrae 1. The one or more blades can be one or more rotating blades.

As with the first assembly 10, it will be appreciated that the second assembly 20 may only process one side of a section of carcass at once or may process a ection. In these cases, the second ly 20 may only need one blade.

In the example of Figure 6, the second assembly 20 is arranged for sing both of the left and right sides of a section of carcass. In this example, the second assembly 20 includes three pairs of blades. One or more of the blades of the second assembly 20 may be rotating blades. One or more of the blades of the second assembly 20 may be fixed blades. In this example, the second assembly 20 includes two pairs of rotating blades. In this example, the second assembly 20 includes one pair of fixed .

The second assembly 20 includes one or more first blades 21 arranged at an angle of between about 70° and about 120°, or n about 90° and about 100° to the entral axis 8-8 of the one or more vertebrae 1 during sing. This angle may be as measured in a plane defined by the dorso-ventral and left-right axes 9-9, 7-7 of the rae 1. Each of these blades 21 may be arranged to cut at the ventral side of the transverse process(es) 3 of the one or more vertebrae 1. Each of the blades may assist in separating a tenderloin from a shortloin saddle. One or more of the first blades 21 can be a rotating blade. One or more of the first blades 21 can be a plough blade.

The second ly 20 es one or more second blades 22 arranged at an angle of less than about 20° or less than about 10° to the dorso-ventral axis 8-8 of the one or more vertebrae 1 during processing. This angle may be as measured in a plane defined by the dorso-ventral and ight axes 8-8, 7-7 of the vertebrae 1. Each of these blades 22 may be arranged to cut at the ventral side of the main body 6 of the vertebra 1. Each of these blades 22 may assist in separating a tenderloin from shortloin . One or more of the second blades 22 can be a rotating blade. One or more of the second blades 22 can be a plough blade.

The first and second blades 21, 22 can cooperate to remove a tenderloin from the rae 1 of a section of carcass.

The second assembly 20 es one or more third blades 23 arranged at an angle of less than about 30°, less than about 15°, or about 7° to the dorso-ventral axis 8-8 of the one or more vertebrae 1 during processing. This angle may be as measured in a plane defined by the dorso-ventral and left-right axes 8-8, 7-7 of the vertebrae 1. Each of these blades 23 may be arranged to cut at the lateral sides of the section of carcass, such as beyond the extent of the erse processes 3 in the left-right axis 7-7. Each of these blades 23 may cut a flap portion from a shortloin saddle.

In the example of Figure 6, the first and second blades 21 and 22 of the second assembly 20 are rotating blades and the third blades 23 are fixed blades. The first blades 21 are configured for up cutting. The second blades 22 are configured for climb cutting in this embodiment.

The second assembly 20 can include blade mounting assemblies for the first, second and third blades. The mounting assemblies for the blades 21, 22, 23 can allow some pivoting and/or linear movement of the blades 21, 22, 23. This may provide some compliance of the blades 21, 22, 23 to the rae 1. In this example, the mounting assemblies 24 for the first blades 21 allow pivoting and/or linear movement of the first blades 21 during sing. This may assist adaptation to variable vertebrae 1. The mounting assembly may bias the first blades 21 laterally inwards towards main bodies 6 of the vertebrae 1. In this example, the second and third blades 22, 23 do not substantially pivot or move linearly during processing.

Figure 6 also shows a bar 25 and cylinder 26 for biasing the n of carcass towards a carriage during processing. This will be described in greater detail in relation to Figure When the section of carcass enters the second processing assembly 20, it contacts the second blades 22 and climbs up them as it moves through the assembly 20. The section of carcass comes into contact with the bar 25 or another biasing or clamping device to control the height of the n of carcass. The section of carcass is thus at an appropriate height for the first blades 21 engage the section of carcass adjacent the ventral surface of the transverse processes 3.

Figure 7 shows a carcass processing machine 30 including a first carcass processing station 31 comprising the first carcass sing assembly 10 and a second carcass processing station 32 comprising the second carcass processing assembly 20. In this example, the second carcass processing station 32 is arranged upstream of the first s processing station 31. The carcass processing machine 30 also includes one or more guides 35, 42 for supporting the section of carcass 34 during processing. The guides 35, 42 are movable relative to the blades of the processing assemblies. One or more of the guides 35, 42 can move the n of carcass 34 between the first station 31 and the second station 32. One or more of the guides 35, 42 can move the section of carcass 34 from the second processing station 32 to the first processing n 31.

The guides 35, 42 can move the section of carcass 34 through each station during processing. In this example, guide 35 is associated with the second processing station 32 and guide 42 is associated with the first processing station 31. Guide 35 can move the section of s 34 through the second processing assembly 20 during sing and guide 42 can move the section of carcass 34 through the first processing ly 31 during processing. Between the processing assemblies 10 and 20, the section of carcass 34 can be tically transferred from one of the guides 35, 42 to the other.

This may remove the need for manual intervention, loading and/or unloading between the first and second ns 31, 32. During transfer, an upstream guide can carry the section of carcass 34 up to a downstream guide. A stopper can rest against the upstream end of the section of carcass and hold it in place while the downstream guide pushes the upstream guide back upstream and moves into position under the section of carcass 34. In the example of Figure 7, the guide 35 is the upstream guide and the guide 42 is the downstream guide.

The guides 35, 42 can include ements for retaining the n of carcass 34 substantially in place during processing. In one example, the guide 42 includes a gripper table on which the section of carcass 34 can be placed and gripped. The gripper table can grip at the left and right sides of the spine or main body/bodies 6 of the vertebrae to retain it during processing.

The sing machine 30 includes arrangements for g the section of carcass 34 towards one or more of the guides 35, 42 during processing. The biasing ements can include bars 25 for pressing the section of carcass 34 at the dorsal side. The biasing arrangements can include cylinders 26 for at least partly providing the bias via the bars 25. In one example, the section of carcass rests on guide 35 and is retained on the guide 35 by downward pressure from the bars 25. One or more of the bars 25 may also apply downward pressure (i.e. push on the dorsal side of the section of carcass 34) during transfer of the section of carcass 34 from one guide 35 to another guide 42.

In this example, the guides 35, 42 are carriages that move along a rail or track 41. The rail or track 41 may be common to the first processing station 31 and the second processing station 32. The guides 35, 42 may also be arranged to receive the section of carcass 34 from another processing station. This may remove the need for a human operator to manually load the section of carcass 34 into the machine 30. The guides 35, 42 may also be ed to provide the section of carcass 34 to r processing station. This may remove the need for a human or to load the section of carcass 34 into that other processing station.

The automated transfer of the section of carcass 34 between processing ns and the retention of the section of carcass 34 on carriage-type guides 35, 42 may improve throughput of the processing machine 30. For example, the machine 30 may be capable of processing 10 sections of carcass per minute.

The processing machine 30 includes a conveyor 40 for receiving and conveying meat cut from the section of carcass 34 during processing. The conveyor 40 may be in the form of a belt. The conveyor 40 may be located below one or both of the processing assemblies. In this case, meat cut from the section of carcass 34 can fall under gravity onto the conveyor 40.

The sing e 30 can also include an ejector for ng meat and/or bones from the guide 35. The ejector may be an arm assembly configured to contact the meat and/or bones during relative nt between the arm assembly and the guide. The arm assembly may include an arm 38 for contacting the meat and/or bones and a cylinder 39 for applying a bias to the arm 38 or actuating the arm 38.

The operation of the carcass sing machine 30 according to one example will now 40 be described with reference to Figure 7.

An operator 33 loads a section of carcass 34, in this case a shortloin saddle, onto the guide carriage 35. The saddle 34 is then moved on the guide carriage 35 through the processing stations. In this example, the second processing station 32 is located upstream of the first processing station 31. At the second processing station 32, the flaps are cut from the left and right sides of the saddle 34 by the third blades 23 of the second processing assembly 20. The tenderloins are removed from the saddle 34 by the first and second blades 21 and 22 of the second processing assembly 20. The tenderloins drop to the conveyor 40 for collection. The saddle 34 continues moving to the first processing station 31, all the while being retained on the guide carriage 35 by the r table of the guide 35 and the bars 25. At the first sing station 31, the eye muscle is removed from the saddle 34 by the rotating 11, 12 and plough blades 13 of the first processing ly 10, obtaining boneless loin meat. The boneless loin meat drops to the conveyor 40 for collection. The ejector arm 38 then ejects the remains of the saddle 34 from the guide carriage 35.

There are thus provided carcass processing assemblies and machines that are efficient and effective and that are able to adapt to variable carcass structures. The assemblies and machines allow for automation of processing while maintaining high yield and high cut quality. Improved cut quality es the visual finish of the meat product. The assemblies and machines do not require operator adjustment or locator pins to precisely locate a carcass on a guide. The assemblies and machines may be ated into a fully or partially automated s processing system. The assemblies and machine allow for high throughput of carcass sections. The assemblies and machine provide a vely simple and inexpensive solution to the complex problem of efficiently removing meat from different carcass geometries.

While the present ion has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the ments have been described in , it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional ages 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 method, and illustrative examples shown and described. ingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of the Applicant’s general inventive concept.

Claims (43)

Claims

1. A carcass processing assembly ing: a plurality of rotating blades for at least partly separating meat from the dorsal 5 side of one or more vertebrae of a section of carcass; and one or more plough blades for at least partly separating meat from the dorsal side of one or more transverse processes of the section of carcass; wherein the ity of rotating blades and the one or more plough blades comprise two rotating blades and a plough blade arranged to process each of one or both of 10 the left and right sides of each vertebra; and wherein the two rotating blades arranged to process each side include: a first rotating blade arranged to at least partly separate meat from the spinous process of each vertebra; and a second rotating blade arranged to at least partly separate meat from the 15 mamillary ses of the vertebrae.

2. The carcass processing ly of claim 1, wherein the one or more rotating blades includes one or more blades arranged to be at an angle less than about 20° to the dorso-ventral axis of each vertebra during processing.

3. The carcass processing assembly of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the leading edge of the first rotating blade is arranged upstream of the leading edge of the second rotating blade with respect to the path of the section of s relative to the blades during processing. 25

4. The carcass processing assembly of claim 3, wherein the first rotating blade and second rotating blade partially p along an axis parallel to the path of the section of carcass relative to the blades during processing.

5. The carcass processing assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the leading 30 edge of the first ng blade is arranged to be closer to the s process(es) of the one or more vertebrae during processing than the leading edge of the second rotating blade is.

6. The carcass sing assembly of claim 4 or claim 5 when dependent on claim 4, wherein the first rotating blade is configured to be, in the region in which the blades partially 35 overlap, further from the s process(es) of the one or more vertebrae during processing than the second rotating blade is.

7. The carcass sing assembly of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first rotating blade(s) and second rotating blade(s) arranged to process each side are arranged 40 to cooperate to at least partly separate meat from the section of carcass such that one of the first rotating blades creates a separation between the meat and the vertebrae in the region of one or more spinous processes and one of the second rotating blades extends the separation in the region of one or more mamillary processes. 5

8. The carcass processing assembly of any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the rotating blades is configured for climb cutting of the section of s.

9. The carcass sing assembly of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second rotating blade is serrated.

10. The carcass processing assembly of any one of claims 1-9, wherein at least one of the rotating blades is arranged to diverge along the path of relative movement of the n of carcass with respect to the blades by between about 7° and about 20°. 15

11. The carcass processing assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more plough blades includes one or more blades arranged to be at an angle of n about 90° and about 100° to the dorso-ventral axis of the one or more rae during processing.

12. The carcass processing assembly of any preceding claim, further including one or 20 more blade mounting assemblies configured to allow pivoting and/or linear movement of one or more of the blades during processing of the section of s.

13. The carcass processing assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the combined profile of the first rotating blade(s), the second rotating blade(s) and the plough blade(s) 25 substantially conforms to the profile of one or both of the left and right dorsal sides of the one or more vertebrae during processing.

14. The carcass processing assembly of any one of claims 1-13, wherein one or more of the blades are biased towards the one or more vertebrae along the dorso-ventral axis.

15. The carcass processing assembly of claim 3, wherein the plough blade is located downstream of the g edges of the first and second rotating blades.

16. The carcass processing assembly of any one of claims 1 to 15 , wherein the first 35 rotating blade and the second rotating blade are each arranged to be at an angle less than about 20° to the dorso-ventral axis of the one or more rae during sing.

17. The carcass processing assembly of claim 16, wherein the first rotating blade and the second rotating blade are each arranged to be at an angle of about 14° to the dorso- 40 ventral axis of the one or more vertebrae during processing.

18. The carcass processing assembly of any one of claims 1-17, wherein the point of each first rotating blade closest to the one or more vertebrae is configured to be between the spinous process and the mamillary process of one or more vertebrae during processing.

19. The carcass processing assembly of any one of claims 1-18, wherein each second rotating blade is configured to be proximate the lateral end of the mamillary process of one or more vertebrae during processing. 10

20. The carcass sing assembly of any one of claims 1-19, wherein the first and second rotating blades are arranged to diverge along the path of relative movement of the section of carcass with respect to the blades by between about 7° and about 20°.

21. The carcass sing assembly of any one of claims 1-20, wherein each second 15 rotating blade is larger than the corresponding first rotating blade.

22. The carcass processing assembly of claim 21, wherein each second rotating blade is about 2 times the diameter of the corresponding first rotating blade.

23. The carcass processing assembly of any one of claims 1-22, wherein one or more of the first rotating blade(s) and one or more of the second rotating blade(s) are mounted to the machine via a common mounting ly. 25

24. The carcass sing assembly of claim 23, wherein the mounting assembly is configured to allow pivoting and/or linear movement of the first and second rotating blades during processing of the n of carcass.

25. The carcass sing ly of any one of claims 1-24, wherein the relative 30 positions and orientations of the first rotating blade and one the second rotating blade with respect to each other are fixed during processing of the section of carcass.

26. A s processing machine including: a first carcass sing station comprising the carcass processing assembly 35 of any one of claims 1-25; and a second carcass processing station comprising a second carcass processing ly including: one or more blades arranged to te meat from the ventral side of the one or more vertebrae.

27. The carcass processing machine of claim 26, wherein the one or more blades of the second carcass processing assembly includes a rotating blade.

28. The carcass processing machine of claim 26 or claim 27, wherein the one or more 5 blades of the second carcass processing ly includes one or more blades arranged to be at an angle of between about 90° and about 100° to the dorso-ventral axis of the one or more vertebrae during processing.

29. The carcass processing machine of claims 28, wherein the one or more blades of 10 the second carcass processing assembly includes one or more blades arranged to be at an angle of less than about 10° to the dorso-ventral axis of the one or more rae during processing.

30. The s processing machine of either claim 28 or claim 29, wherein at least one 15 of the one or more blades arranged to be at an angle of between about 90° and about 100° to the dorso-ventral axis is biased towards the one or more vertebrae along the left-right axis.

31. The carcass processing e of either of claims 28 or 29, wherein the one or 20 more blades arranged to be at an angle of between about 90° and about 100° to the dorsoventral axis is configured for up g of the section of carcass.

32. The carcass processing machine of any of claims 29 or claims 30 or 31 when dependent on claim 29, wherein the one or more blades arranged to be at an angle of less 25 than about 10° to the dorso-ventral axis is arranged for climb cutting of the section of

33. The carcass processing machine of any one of claims 26-32, further including a guide for supporting the n of carcass during processing, wherein the guide is 30 moveable relative to the blades.

34. The carcass processing machine of claim 33, wherein the guide is configured to move the section of carcass between the first processing station and the second carcass processing station during processing.

35. The carcass processing machine of claim 34, r ing a rail or track common to the first and second processing ns, wherein the guide is configured to move on the rail or track.

36. The carcass processing machine of any one of claims 26-35, n the second carcass processing station is located upstream of the first carcass processing station.

37. The carcass processing machine of any one of claims 26-36, further including a 5 conveyor for receiving and conveying meat cut from the section of carcass during processing.

38. A carcass processing machine including: the carcass processing assembly of any one of claims 1 to 25; and 10 one or more rotating blades configured to separate meat from the l side of one or more vertebrae of a section of carcass.

39. The carcass processing assembly of claim 38, wherein one of the rotating blades ured to te meat from the ventral side is arranged at an angle of between about 15 90° and about 100° to the dorso-ventral axis of the one or more vertebrae during sing.

40. The carcass processing assembly of claim 38 or 39, wherein one of the rotating blades configured to separate meat from the ventral side is arranged at an angle of less 20 than about 10° to the dorso-ventral axis of the one or more vertebrae during processing.

41. The carcass processing ly of any one of claims 38-40, further including one or more plough blades configured to separate meat from the ventral side of the one or more vertebrae.

42. The carcass sing assembly of claim 41, wherein one of the plough blades ured to te meat from the ventral side is arranged at an angle of between about 90° and about 100° to the dorso-ventral axis of the one or more vertebrae during processing.

43. The carcass processing assembly of claim 41 or claim 42, wherein one of the plough blades is arranged at an angle of less than about 10° to the dorso-ventral axis of the one or more vertebrae during processing.