Patent
1986-06-19
1987-05-26
Abercrombie, Willie G.
17 23, 83370, A22B 520
Patent
active
046673717
ABSTRACT:
A mechanical method for splitting the breastbone of hog carcasses comprises the steps of determining, by means of a sensor device, the length of the carcass by determining the distance between a datum plane and the snout of the carcass. The cutting of the carcass is then initiated, by means of a remote controlled cutting hit point on the carcass that is located at a distance from the datum plane that is a function of the length of the carcass. The length of the cut from the hit point to a cut termination point on the carcass is controlled as a function of the length of the carcass as determined by the position of its snout. The breast splitter comprises a snout height sensor for determining the length of the suspended carcass by determining the distance between the datum plane and its snout. A detector is provided for detecting the positioning of the selected suspended carcass at a control point along the path of the overhead conveyor. A robotic cutter is provided. The robotic cutter has a cutter blade and a manipulator mounting the cutter blade for movement along a controlled path which initially extends from an initiation point toward the carcass to contact the carcass at a hit point and then extends downwardly along a cutting stroke. A programmable controller communicates with the snout height sensor and the position detector to receive and is programmed to process the signals it receives to generate command signals which are indicative of the height of the hit point and the length of the cutting stroke required to split the breastbone without damaging the vital organs of the carcass. The controller communicates with said robotic cutter means to transmit the command signals to the manipulator.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3916484 (1975-11-01), Kennedy
patent: 4118777 (1978-10-01), Wallace
patent: 4246837 (1981-01-01), Chenery
patent: 4601083 (1986-07-01), Shoji et al.
Abercrombie Willie G.
C. A. Pemberton & Co. Limited
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