1985-05-08
1987-08-25
Abercrombie, Willie G.
17 52, 17 23, A22B 700, A22C 1700, A22C 1800
Patent
active
046882960
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to improved means for breaking down carcasses such of those of sheep and pigs.
In the past it has been the practice to split carcasses into two halves using a band saw or the like and then break each half down into primary pieces by manual butchering. The provision of automatic means to achieve this result has not been considered practical because of variation in the dimensions of the individual carcasses and the difficulties in accurately positioning the carcass and holding it while cutting takes place.
The object of the present invention is to provide means for automatically breaking down carcasses into primary pieces.
In one form the invention resides in means for breaking down carcasses comprising means for conveying a carcass past a viewing station to enable the operator to select the position of the cuts required to break the carcass into primary pieces, means for recording the selected positions and feeding them to a microprocessing unit, means for splitting the carcass in half along the back bone, means for cutting the carcass laterally with respect to the back bone and means activated and controlled by the microprocessor unit for moving the cutting means relative to the carcass to bring the carcass and/or the cutting means to the required position to the effect the transverse cuts.
The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 shows the overall layout of the plant the top half being in elevation and the lower half in plan;
FIG. 2 shows the sizing of the carcass and recording of the data on the computer which is remotely located;
FIG. 3 is an elevation of the carcass carrier and band saw for splitting the carcass into two havles;
FIG. 4 is an end elevation of stabilising means to keep the two halves of the carcass together after splitting;
FIG. 5 is a side elevation corresponding to FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a plan of an upper carriage supporting a series of supporting and holding devices positioned to allow lateral cuts of the carcass;
FIG. 7 is a plan of the lower portion of the unit on which the upper carriage of FIG. 6 (shown in light lines) is supported;
FIG. 8 is a sectional elevation of the lower portion of FIG. 7, the movable upper carriage of FIG. 6 and one supporting and holding device for gripping the carcass;
FIG. 9 is a rear elevation of a tiltable band saw positioned at one side of the unit;
FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the band saw;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevation of the band saw base; and
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the functional layout of the unit.
As shown in the drawings the carcasses to be treated or broken down are carried on a conventional conveyor 21 to the unit and as they do so they are viewed by means of a television camera 22 and the image shown in a video screen 23. The operator activates a pointer 24 to indicate the positions where the lateral cuts are to be made to break the carcass down into its primary pieces the image of the pointer appearing on the screen 23.
The pointer 24 is coupled to a length transducer such as a potentiometer 24a which acts to measure the distance travelled by the pointer and this information is fed to the microprocessor on request. The information as to the positions is stored by the microprocessor MP which activates and controls the operation of the various components as hereinafter described.
In an alternative arrangement not shown in the drawings the image of a carcass of the species of animal being processed recorded in a vision system such as a video camera is interpreted by an algorithm stored in the memory of the microprocessor. The position of lateral cuts to be made in the carcass is decided by the algorithm rather than by a human operator thus further reducing the labour required.
The carcass is removed either manually or through a dismount system from the conveyor 21 and placed with legs projecting upwardly and the hindquarters leading between a pair of inclined endless belts 25 and 2
REFERENCES:
patent: 1015590 (1912-01-01), Saunders
patent: 3234591 (1966-02-01), Vogt et al.
patent: 3546737 (1968-04-01), Neebel et al.
patent: 3693216 (1972-09-01), Willems et al.
patent: 3886658 (1975-06-01), Wikoff
patent: 4118777 (1978-10-01), Wallace
patent: 4449271 (1984-05-01), Karubian
patent: 4557014 (1985-12-01), Vogt
patent: 4558487 (1985-12-01), Vogt
Clarke Peter T.
Valom Barteld
Abercrombie Willie G.
The State of Western Australia Department of Agriculture
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