Method and apparatus for separating meat from a bone of an anima

Details Method and apparatus for separating meat from a bone of an anima Method and apparatus for separating meat from a bone of an anima

1995-03-23

1996-08-06

Little, Willis

Butchering

Deboning

452160, 452171, A22C 1704

Patent

active

055428789

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for separating meat from a bone of an animal carcass, and in particular, though not limited to an apparatus and a method for separating meat from the ribs of a carcass side.
In the processing of animal carcasses in a meat factory, it is necessary to remove the meat from the bones of the animal carcass, this operation, in general, is referred to as de-boning the meat. In general, the animal carcass is normally presented to the operator, normally, referred to as a de-boner in the form of a half carcass which is commonly referred to as a carcass side. For convenience, the carcass side is further halved by cutting the carcass side transversely between a pair of ribs intermediate the front and rear legs. The two halves thus formed are referred to as quarters, namely, a front and hind quarter. To remove the meat from the front and hind quarters, the quarters are presented to the operator, generally, suspended from a hook carried on a carrier element which is rollable on an overhead conveyor track. The operator with a knife, manually cuts and separates the meat from the bones of the carcass, which include the spine bone and ribs. In general, it is relatively easy to cut and separate the meat from the spine bone. However, considerable difficulty is encountered in cutting and separating the meat from the ribs. A double membrane which comprises an inner and outer membrane securely attaches the meat to the ribs. The inner and outer membranes are secured along join lines which extend between and parallel to the ribs and define pockets for accommodating the ribs. The membranes as well as being secured to each other and to the meat, are also securely attached to the ribs. In order to remove the meat from a rib, the de-boner must first of all cut the membranes along each side of the rib, and then insert a knife between a pair of adjacent ribs and behind one of the ribs to cut the meat either from the inner membrane or to separate the inner membrane from the rib. This is a particularly difficult, tedious and time consuming, as well as a dangerous task, ant in many instances, can result in serious wounds being inflicted on the hands, fingers and other parts of the body of the operator. Additionally, meat is left behind on the bones which is wasted.
There is therefore a need for an apparatus and method for separating meat from a bone of an animal carcass, and in particular, for separating meat from the ribs of a carcass side.
The present invention is directed towards providing such an apparatus and method.
According to the invention there is provided apparatus for separating meat from a bone of an animal carcass, the apparatus comprising a main support means, a clamp means for holding and supporting at least a portion of an animal carcass, the clamp means being mounted on the main support means, a carcass engaging means for engaging the carcass portion for urging the meat from the bone, the carcass engaging means being mounted on the main support means, at least one of the carcass engaging means and the clamp means being movable relative to the other for urging the carcass engaging means into engagement with the carcass portion, and a first drive means for moving one of the carcass engaging means and the clamp means for engaging the carcass engaging means with the carcass portion for urging the meat from the bone.
The advantages of the invention are many. The most important advantage of the invention is that it enables meat to be readily easily separated from a bone, for example, the ribs of a carcass side with minimal manual intervention. Furthermore, the apparatus according to the invention avoids the need to divide the carcass side into quarters, which considerably improves the efficiency with which meat can be removed from the carcass side. It has also been found that use of the invention enables considerably more meat to be removed from the ribs of a carcass side than has been possible heretofore. The ribs are substantially striped clean of all meat by using th

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patent: 4134181 (1979-01-01), Schneider
patent: 4651384 (1987-03-01), Korhonen
patent: 5226850 (1993-07-01), Klaasen
patent: 5302149 (1994-04-01), Witham et al.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 14, No. 109 (C-695)(4052), Feb. 28, 1990 (JP,A,01 312,962 Dec. 18, 1989).

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