Butchering – Carcass subdivision
Patent
1996-01-16
1997-02-04
Little, Willis
Butchering
Carcass subdivision
452187, A22C 1702
Patent
active
055992269
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and a plant for separating a part from a carcass, i.e. the cutting-up of slaughtered animals, especially cattle. The invention may be applied in cutting plants already equipped with an existing line for transport of hanging carcasses, with automatization, but may also be applied in the construction of new plants in order to accomplish an especially advantageous exploitation of the available space.
STATE OF THE ART
It is previously known to perform cutting-up of meat being transported suspended from a conveyor. See for instance Applicant's Swedish Patent No. 8701726-5. According to the prior art separating forces are applied on different parts of the carcass by various supports or by direct actuation of meat-hooks attached to the carcass. A problem in the prior art is that the forces can only be governed in one direction, i.e. in parallel with the conveyor and any reciprocating movement was not possible. Substantial advantages would be obtained if the relative movement between the meat-hooks could be controlled vertically and horizontally back and forth as well.
The present invention solves the problem by providing a separate work station enabling arbitrary movement of a meat-hook or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a plant for separating a part from a carcass comprising a main conveyor for transporting the carcass hanging in a first meat-hook or the like on the main conveyor. According to the invention a separate work station is arranged near the main conveyor for separating and forwarding the separated part. The work station comprises a second meat-hook or the like for attachment to the part to be separated and means for moving the second meat-hook. This movement may be determined arbitrarily either through a predetermined timing program controlling the moving means or directly by an operator.
Preferably the work station comprises a separate conveyor portion for separating a part and transporting this to another line, conveyor or work station. Preferably a carrier is suspended in the conveyor portion for movement along this. The carrier comprises a support rail for supporting the second meat-hook and hook stops provided on the support rail for holding the second meat-hook and releasing it when linking to a subsequent conveyor or the like. The carrier may be raised and lowered relative to the main conveyor and/or may be turned in a vertical plane.
According to the invention a plurality of separate work stations may be arranged at the main conveyor, each in an individual angle to the main conveyor and having an individually controlled mode of operation.
The invention also comprises a method for separating a part from a carcass.
The invention is set forth in further detail in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to appended drawings, in which
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a work station of the present invention arranged near a main conveyor,
FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation of a carrier of the invention, and
FIGS. 3A and B are schematic diagrams of various forms of plants according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention is primarily intended to be applied in a conventional conveyor for carcasses. FIG. 1 shows schematically such a main conveyor 1 transporting carcasses 2 to be cut-up. Near the main conveyor 1 a work station 3 according to the present invention is located. The work station serves to separate the parts from the carcasses 2. These may be skeleton parts, meat parts, connective tissue, fatty tissue or combinations thereof, according to the actual application. The different parts are conveniently transported by meat-hooks, being the most hygienic tool for transporting meat. The meat-hooks on the main conveyor are designated by 4, while the meat-hook of the work station is designated by 5.
What is primarily distinguishing the present invention from he
REFERENCES:
patent: 3940830 (1976-03-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 4985963 (1991-01-01), Norling
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