CA2179721A1 - Method and apparatus for removing meat - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus and a method of removing whole tissue meat from a part of a carcass (L) of a slaughtered animal. The apparatus comprises a support (19) for supporting the carcass part. The support (19) is moveable relative to a clearing plough (18) and knives (35 and 40). During such relative movement the knives (35 and 40) form cuts in the meat along the line of the spinal process of the carcass part and at least over the transverse process. The knives (35 and 40) cut the meat in advance of the clearing means (18). A first set of actuators (54 and 51) and a second set of linear actuators (54 and 55) respectively apply and maintain pressure on the knives (35 and 40) and the plough (18) in two different directions relative to the support during their cutting and clearing action.

Description

W095/17825 2 ~ 7 9 7 2 I rcT~zg~1ool~9 ME:THOD aND APPaRaTUS FOR ~ _ MEaT
This invention relates to a method and apparatus f or the 5 removal of meat in a substantially intact form (ie. whole-tissue meat) from a part of the carcass of a slaughtered animal .
The manual boning of meat from carcasses of slaughtered lo animals is a labour-intensive operation and as such the processing costs involved in producing boneless whole-tissue meat are high.
In our New Zealand patent spec;f;~A~inn 228761/229449 we have l5 disclosed a method and apparatus for whole-tissue meat removal from a part of a carcass. The apparatus dlsclo6ed in our aforementioned patent specification has provided a mechanical means of achieving clean and high meat yield removal in the area of the vertical and lateral protrusions 20 of the vertebrae. The method performed by the apparatus of patent specification 228761/229449 includes the forming of a cut along the side of the vertical protrusions of the vertebrae followed by forcing the whole-tissue meat from the bone by relative movement between the carcass part and a 25 plough or clearing means.
This apparatus and the method of meat removal perf ormed thereby has been particularly successful when processing a carcass part from a small animal such as a sheep or pig.
30 ~owever, while the method is able to be successfully performed on larger carca6s parts æuch as from a beef animal the apparatus disclosed in our af orementioned patent ~penifirAtinn is not suited for removal of whole-tisæue beef ,, meat from a carcass part. This is in part due to the wide 35 variations in shape and ~limF-n~inn1:: of beef carcasses. These variations present cnn~ rable difficulties in being able to provide a mechanical means of consistently and cleanly achieving a high yield of meat removal.

~hO 95/178~5 PCT~r~91/Onl~" ~

2~79721 2 The object of the present invention is thus to provide ~ ~hAn; ~ Al apparatus suitable for removal of whole--tissue meat from an animal carcass part from a large animal such as 5 a beef animal.
Broadly in one aspect tha present invention consists of apparatus for the removal of whole-tissue meat from a part of a carcass of a slaughtered animal the apparatus comprising o support means for supporting a part of the carcass, cutting means, clearing means and movLng means ~or causing relative v~ L between said support means and said cutting means and clearing means, said cutting means including first and second cutting elements which upon such relative r v.
15 occurring form cuts in the meat along the line of the spinal process of the carcass part and at least over the transverse process, said cuts being at least partially formed in advance of a clearing action by the clearing means during sa~d relative movement.
~o Preferably the apparatus also includes pressure applying means for causing a pressure directed toward said support means to be applied to said clearing means such that contact occurs between the bones supported by the support means and 2~ said clearing means . Pref erably the clearing means comprises a plough element being of rigid and fi~ed shape.
Preferably the pressure applying means causes pressure to be applied in two different directions.
Also according to a preferred form of the invention pressure applying means cause pressure to be applied to the cutting means in at least one diraction relative to the support means, but pref erably two dif f erent direct~ons .
According to a further broad aspect of the invention there is provided a method of removing whole-tissue meat from a part Wo 95/178~5 2 ~ 7 9 7 2 1 PCTIN~9~/001~9 of a carcass of a slaughtered animal the method comprising the steps of fixedly locating said carcass part thereof on a support, making longitudinal cuts in the meat along the line of the spinal process of the carcass and at least the transverse procesæ of the carcass and causing clearing means to move longitudinally along said carcass part to force tissue theref rom .
In the following more detailed description of the invention ]0 according to its preferred from reference will be made to the Afn ,-nying drawings in which:-Figure l is a side elevation view of the apparatus, Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a partial plan view showing the inter-relation of the support carriage, cutting knives and ploughs, Figure 4 is an end elevation of the support carriage showing support tables engaged and disengaged with the carcass parts carried by the carriage, Figure 5 is a similar view but showing rib supports engaged and disengaged with the carcass parts carried by the carriage, Figure 6 is an enlarged elevation view of the knives and plough, Figure 7 is a partial end elevation illustrating the knives in conjunction with a carcass part held on the carriage and showing the operating r~~hAnir~ for the knives, Figure 8 is a similar view to Figure 7 but showing the inter-relationship of the plough, carcass part and the operating mechanism of the plough, Figure 9 is a perspective f ace view of a plough, and Figure lO is a underside view of a plough.
Referring fir6tly to Figure l of the drawings the apparatus comprises a chassis or body lO having feet ll and a vertically orientated column 12 at one end thereof. The WO9~11782~ ~ l 7972 1 PCT/NZ9~/0()l~9 upper end of column 12 carries a ~upport arrangement generally shown at 13.
Located either side of column 12 are a pair of arms 14 and 5 15 . These arms are independently pivotable about ( a ) a substantially horizontal pivot axis of a shaft 16 projecting laterally from column 12 and (b) the axis of stub shafts 16a this axis being normal to the pivot axis af shaft 16. At the outer or free end of arm 14 a cutting arrangement 17 is carried while at the free or outer end af arm 15 a plough 18 is mounted.
Located on chassis 10 for sliding movement toward and away from column 12 i8 a carriage 19. An operating m~rhAniFm l5 (not shown) is located within chassis 10 so as to effect movement of the carriage 19 toward and away from column 12.
This operating r~--hAn; Fm and the guide means for effecting such movement of carriage 19 can take various forms which are well within the scope of the skilled person and therefore 20 will not be described in any detail in the specif ication .
In the illustrated form of the inventiQn the apparatus is configured to remove meat from a loin or loin/rack taken from a beef carcass. The loin is a section of the spine which 25 includes all the lumber vertebrae. This includes the chine, the spinal process (the vertical dorsal projections or commonly feath~rhnn~), the ~-nn;llAry process (knuckle), the transverse process ( the lateral protrusions ) and the meat thereon. ~owever, the loin can include part of the rack 30 (being part of the thoracic vertebrae) and therefore include ribs, more gener~lly 1 or 3 ribs. Thus in the following the term loin will indicate that part of the carcass which includes some but more particularly all the lum~ber vertebrae and one or more thoracic vertebrae.
Carriage 19 incorporates ~-l Amri n~ means whereby the loin L
can be clamped in position. In the illustrated form of the 2 ~ 7972 1 Wo 95/1782S PCTlr3~9~/0~ 9 invention and during one operating cycle thereof loin L will be clamped either side of the carriage. In the following description, however, reference will generally be made to a single loin L clamped to one side or clamping surface 25 of 5 the carriage and operated on by the knife arrangement 17 and plough 18 associated with that side of the carriage.
E~tending longit-lcl;n~l ly along the side of the carriage is a ridge 20 Nhich engages within the generally semi circular 10 groove of the loin L which results from the carcass, from which the loin has been taken, having been split substantially diametrically through the passage for the spinal column. This inter-engagement of ridge 20 in the recess of the loin L forms an initial location of the loin on 15 the carriage.
The carriage also incorporates a table 21 which has a small lateral ridge 22 at its forward end. To further position the loin in place this ridge 22 is positioned by the person 20 loading the loin so that it is between the first transverse process and the adjacent rib if such is present.
With the loin so positioned ( see right hand side of Figures 2 and 4) operation of the machine -nr~r~r~ whereupon the clamp 25 ~ ^hAn; r~ operates to clamp the loin in place and the table 21 becomes elevated as shown at the left hand side of Figure 4.
The clamp ~-hAn; r-n includes a plurality of clamp plates 23 30 having saw teeth 24 projecting thererom and located opposite the clamping surface 25 of the carriage l9 which incorporates ridge 20. These clamp plates Z3 are controlled in movement by pneumatic ram6 located within carriage l9 with the piston rods 25 or connections coupled with the piston rods thereof '5 being bolted to plate 23 ( see more particularly Figures 7 and 8 ) . Thus when the clamp plates are drawn toward the clamping surface 25 the saw teeth 24 bite into the chine bone.

wo g~ 82s 2 1 7 9 7 2 ~ PCT,'N~91/i)01~9 ~
Table 21 is mounted by flanges 26 to a pivot axle 27 pivotally carried by connecting elements 28 mounted with the piston rods 29 of pneumatic rams. Accordingly the table 21 can be elevated to engage with the underside of the 5 tran3verse proces3 and in doing so the table 21 pivots about the a~i6 of pivot shaft 27. In addition table 21 is preferably formed of a resilient material so that it can fle and at least in part conf orm with the contour of the underside of the transverse process due to the interaction of ]0 the table and the transverse process under the influence of the pneumatic ram. As illustrated in Figure 2 this upward force applied to the transverse process also causes the transverse process to tend to straighten.
15 When the table 21 is lowered it assumes a more or less horizontal rest position due to a iinger 30 carried by a collar 31 connected to table ~1 ~n~A~i n~ with a stop 32.
In the preferred form of table 21 a longitudinal 20 strengthening flange or ridge 33 ei~tends along the edge of the table but terminates short of the ridge 22.
Located adjacent the forward end of table 21 are a pair of rib supports 34 which are of general elongate form and are 25 located once again on the end of a piston rod 35 of a pneumatic ram. As shown in Figure 5 the rib supports 34 can elevate f rom a rest position l right hand side of ~igure 5 ) to a raised position (left hand side of Figure 5) where they engage with the tissue between the ribs located forward of 30 ridge 22. This action ensures correct presentation of not only the ribs but also the tissue therebetween 80 as to achieve cleaner and higher yield removal of meat in this somewhat f lexible region o the loin .
35 Therefore initial operation of the machine involves the operator placing the loin in position relative to ridge 20 and 22 whereupon the clamp plates 23 clamp the chine bone to ~ Wo 951178~ PCT/NZs~/001~

the clamping surface 25 and the table 21 and rib supports 34 elevate so as to present the rib portions of the loin in the optimum position for high yield and clean whole-tissue meat removal .

The carriage 19 then ~ -n~ its travel toward column 12.
As a consequence of this the loin comes into engagement with knife arrangement 17. After the leading knife 35 has cut part way into the tissue arm 14 is moved laterally about pivot axis 16a (as will hereinafter be described) such as to draw the leading knife 35 into close engagement with the featherbone. This ensures that the initial cut of the leading knife 35 is into the meat and not with the bone.
This is the preferred form of operation as it allows for variations in the thickness of the leading end of the featherbone from one loin to the ne~t.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7 the lead knife 35 is mounted on a collar 36 carried by arm 14. Knife 35 angles rearwardly toward column 12 and includes a lateral foot 37 formed with a cutting edge 38. The trailing edge of knife 35 includes a lug or flange 39 which engages with the inboard surface of second or trailing knife 40. The swept back leading edge of knife 40 is formed as a cutting edge 41 while the lower end of the knife 40 also includes a foot 42 with a rearwardly disposed and downwardly projecting wing 43. The leading edges of foot 42 and wing 43 are formed as cutting edges 44 and 45 respectively.
In Figure 2 the right hand side shows the knif e arrangement 17 (and plough 18) in the waiting position which is lower than the level of the leading rib or transverse process. As can be seen in Figure 6 the cutting edge 38 of knife 35 is rounded so that the edge can come into contact with the 35 leading rib or transverse process and ride up in the required cutting position which is as close as possible to the transverse process.

Wo9~/17825 PCr/NZ tl~ ~
2 ~ 7972 1 Trailing knife 40 is also mounted to arm 14 by a collar 46.
Unlike collar 36 the collar 46 iR able to rotate on arm 44 but it is inf luenced by biasing means such as a spring bias .
Thus knife 40 cari move away from stop 39 agalnst the biasing effect. There is an overlap between cutting edges 38 and 44 of feet 37 and 42 so that a continuous cutting edge ( see Figure 7 ) is provided. The amount of overlap is such that in the event that knife 40 moves relative to knife 35 the continuous cutting edge is maintained. The trailing edge of o knife 35 includes a deflector 47 which deflects meat away from the following or second knife 40.
As shown in Figure 7 knife 35 forms a vertical cut in the meat adjacent the f~Athf~rhnne, Cutting edges 38 and 44 form a cut adjace~t the transverse process. Wing 43 with its cutting edge 45 engages over and cuts along the line of the knuckle .
As shown in Figure 7 arm 14 includes in its length a projection 48 which is connected at 49 to ram 50. This ram 50 controls the raising and lowering of arm 14 80 that if a sensor associated with carriage 19 detects that no loin has been clamped on the particular cide of the carriage l9 on which arm 14 is located the ram 50 does not actuate. As a result arm 14 is not lowered and the knives 35 and 40 do not assume their cutting position if no loin is clamped to the carriage on the side where the knives are located.
Also coupled with projection 48 is a pneumatic ram 51 which 3u applies a lateral force to arm 14 80 as to move the arm laterally about pivot axis 16a after a pro~imity sensor has det~rmi ned that leading knife 35 ha6 engaged with the tissue as previously described. Ram 51 then continues to apply a lateral inward force so that the cutting blade 17 follows as 3s closely as possible the featherbone. As a consequence variations in the thickness (usually gradually increasing) of the vertical protrusions is automatically -l ,^n~Ated for.

~ WO9S/17825 21 79721 PCT/NZ9~/001~9 Plough 18 is of fixed shape and in the preferred form of the invention i5 of steel construction. As with arm 14 the plough arm 15 haæ a projection 52 which is coupled with a 5 pneumatic ram 54 which raises and lowers arm 15 in a manner corresponding to the raising and lowering of arm 14. Also connected to projection 53 is a }am 55 which applies lateral movement to arm 15 about pivot axis 16a and a continual lateral biasing force in the same manner as ram 51 coupled lo with arm 14.
Plough 18 has a profiled leading edge 56 which engages with the rib ( s ) and transverse procesæ in such a manner that the tissue is forced therefrom but no damage thereto is caused.
15 To this end ram 54 is a double section ram having a first section which moves arm 15 downwardly until a leading projecting knife 57 engages on the knuckle. (This knife forms a further cut along the knuckle but deeper than the wing 43 of trailing knife 40 so that the tissue is cut down 20 to the junction of the knuckle with the transverse process. ) The second section of ram 54 then applies a continual downward force so that there is an interaction between the profiled edge 56 and the transverse process. This downward pressure is such that the contact between the plough 18 and 25 the transverse process is sufficient that contact is made with the transverse process so that meat is f orced away f rom the transverse process. The pressure iB, however, not such that the plough digs into the transverse process or causes damage thereto which may lead to bone splinters etc.
Accordingly in operation of the machine a loin L is clamped either side of the carriage whereupon the carriage moves toward column 12 and knives 35 and 40 form cuts along the f eatherbone, the transverse process and over the knuckle .

3~ The following plough completes a cut around the knuckle (via knife 57 ) down to the transition with the transverse procesæ
while the profiled leading edge 56 of the plough 18 forces the meat f rom the transverse process . Once the knif e Wo 9~/1782~ PCT~'~9~ 9 arrangement 17 and plough 18 have cLeared the loin and carriage 19 is at the end of its travel the clamp plates 23 are actuated to release the bone from which the meat has been removed whereupon the bone can be removed manually or 5 preferably by suitable mechanical means such as a robotic arm, pick and place clamp etc. Adjacent the end of the travel of the carriage 19 conveyors, trays or other means can be provided to catch and convey away the ~ meat removed f rom the bones.
As a consequence the present invention provides an apparatus for removal of whole-tissue meat from a carcass part of a beef animal. The variations in size of one carcass part to the ne~t are I ~^n~Ated for by the continually adjustable l5 nature of the knives and plough as the carcas~ part moves relative thereto . Further compensation f or the dif f ering sizes and configuration of carcass parts are achieved by the ability of the table and rib supports to conf orm with the shape and configuration of the carcass part.
~o

Claims (21)

1. Apparatus for the removal of whole tissue meat from a part of a carcass of a slaughtered animal, the apparatus comprising support means (19) for supporting a part of the carcass, cutting means, clearing means (18) and moving means for causing relative movement between said support means and said cutting means and clearing means, said cutting means (17) including first (35) and second (40) cutting elements which upon such relative movement occurring forms cuts in the meat along the line of the spinal process of the carcass part (L) and at least over the transverse process, said cuts being at least partially formed in advance of a clearing action by the clearing means during said relative movement.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is further included pressure applying means ( 54 and 55 ) for causing a pressure directed towards said support means to be applied to said clearing means ( 18 ) such that contact occurs between the bones of the carcass part ( L ) supported by the support means and said clearing means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the clearing means comprises a plough element ( 18 ) being of rigid and fixed shape .

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the pressure applying means ( 54 and 55 ) causes pressure to be applied in two different directions.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein further pressure applying means (50 and 51) are provided to apply pressure to the cutting means ( 17 ) in at least one direction relative to the support means ( 19 ), but preferably two different directions .

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the support means (19) includes a first support surface (25), clamping means (23) for clamping said carcass part (L) to said first support surface (25) such that the spinal process is supported by said first support surface and a second support surface (21) which is moveably mounted to be engageable with and apply a pressure to the transverse process of the carcass part.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the clamping means (23) includes a plurality of clamp plates at least one of which incorporates teeth (24) on its clamping surface.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the second support surface (21) includes a pivotally mounted table.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein the second support surface (21) includes locating means (22) for locating the position of the transverse process of the carcass part (L) on the second support surface (21).

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9 further including at least one third support (34) surface which is moveably mounted and engageable with a rib or ribs of the carcass part (L).

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said cutting means (17) are carried by an elongate arm (14) said first and second cutting elements being formed by first and second knives (35 and 40) being carried by a mount (46) able to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the arm (14) against biasing means.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first and second knives (35 and 40) are inclined away from the direction of said relative movement, each said knife including a transverse foot (37 and 42) which includes a cutting leading edge (38 and 44).

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or 12 wherein the trailing edge of said first knife (35) includes a deflector (37) to defect tissue away from the following second knife (40).

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the transverse foot (42) of the second knife (40) includes a wing (43) which is disposed substantially parallel to but extending away from said second knife.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14 wherein said arm (14) is mounted for movement about two substantially orthogonal pivot axes (16 and 16a), movement of said arm about the pivot axes being controlled by two linear actuators (50 and 51).

16. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the clearing means (18) is mounted to the end of a second elongate arm (15), said second arm (15) being mounted for movement about two substantially orthogonal pivot axes (16 and 16a), the movement of said second arm (15) about the pivot axes being controlled by two linear actuators (54 and 55) coupled with said second arm.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the leading part of the clearing means (18) includes a projecting knife (57) which is engageable with the knuckle of the carcass part (L) upon coming into contact with the carcass part and during said relative movement forms a cut in the meat along the knuckle.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the linear actuator (54) coupled to the second arm (15) is a double section ram the first section operative to lower the projecting knife (57) into engagement with the knuckle of the carcass part (L) whereupon the second section of the actuator (54) is operative to apply a continual contact force between a profiled leading edge (56) and the transverse process of the carcass part (L).

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the table (21) is of a resilient form such that it can at least in part conform with the contour of the underside of the transverse process of the carcass part (L).

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or 14 wherein the transverse foot (42) of the second knife (4) overlaps with the foot (37) of the first knife (35) such that as the second knife moves relative to the first knife about the longitudinal axis of the arm (14) a continuous cutting edge formed by the cutting leading edges (38 and 44) is maintained.

21. A method of removing whole-tissue meat from a part of a carcass of a slaughtered animal the method comprising the steps of fixedly locating said carcass part (L) thereof on a support (19), making longitudinal cuts in the meat along the line of the spinal process of the carcass part and at least the transverse process of the carcass and causing clearing means (18) to move longitudinally along said carcass part to force tissue therefrom.