Device and method for cutting poultry middle wings

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for cutting meat pieces, preferably poultry pieces, in particular poultry middle wings, into individual parts. The invention also relates to a drive system for the device according to the invention or for use in the device according to the invention. The invention also relates to a method for cutting meat pieces, preferably poultry pieces, in particular poultry middle wings, into individual parts, preferably by using a device according to the invention.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for cutting meat pieces, preferably poultry pieces, in particular poultry mid-wings, into individual portions. The present invention also relates to a drive system for or used in the device according to the invention. The present invention also relates to a method for cutting meat pieces, preferably poultry pieces, in particular poultry mid-wings, into individual portions, preferably by using the device according to the invention. Background Art

[0002] Over the past few decades, numerous machines have been developed to meet the global demand for large-scale poultry consumption. These machines are designed to enhance various aspects of poultry processing, with a particular focus on increasing the efficiency of producing different poultry cuts. While these machines have proven highly effective for a variety of cuts, certain poultry parts, particularly those with small, closely spaced bones, still require complex manual manipulation to separate into smaller cuts. One such example is the mid-wing section of a poultry wing, which lies between the larger, more muscular root section and the smaller, less muscular wingtip section. This mid-wing section contains two parallel bones, the radius and ulna, which are connected at their ends by a ligament.

[0003] Although the (poultry) mid-wing portion can be consumed as a whole piece, it is preferable to separate the radius and surrounding portions (referred to as the "radial portion") from the ulna and surrounding elements (referred to as the "ulnar portion"). This separation results in two distinct, smaller portions of meat that are more easily consumed, eliminating the need for the consumer to manually separate the radius and ulna. Although this meat cutting process can be accomplished manually, manual cutting is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and poses certain safety and health risks. Therefore, a device that overcomes these drawbacks is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A first object of the present invention is to provide a device for efficiently cutting a piece of meat, such as a poultry mid-wing portion, to separate the radial and ulnar portions.

[0005] A second object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple device for effectively cutting a piece of meat, such as a poultry mid-wing portion, to separate the radial and ulnar portions.

[0006] A third object of the present invention is to provide a device for efficiently cutting pieces of meat, such as poultry mid-wing parts, to separate the radial and ulnar parts, wherein the device allows easy loading of the piece of meat to be cut.

[0007] At least one of these objects can be achieved by providing an apparatus according to the preamble, the apparatus comprising:

[0008] at least one endless conveyor for conveying meat pieces, preferably poultry pieces, in particular poultry mid-wings, along a conveying path,

[0009] at least one cutting section arranged along the conveying path of the endless conveyor, the cutting section comprising at least one movable cutting element for cutting the meat pieces conveyed along the conveying path into individual portions, wherein the at least one cutting element is preferably movable at least in a direction having at least a directional component perpendicular to the conveying path,

[0010] At least one first intermittent motion driving system is provided, and the at least one first intermittent motion driving system is used to intermittently drive the endless conveyor.

[0011] The device according to the present invention is configured to mechanically cut the meat pieces, which eliminates the need for manual cutting of the meat pieces. In addition, the device is configured to intermittently drive the endless conveyor, which means that the endless conveyor will operate in a start-stop manner rather than continuously, wherein the (to be) cut meat pieces move along a predetermined conveying path, but the movement is intermittent, wherein the movement period is followed by a period of rest or stop.

[0012] In the context of the present application, an intermittently driven conveyor is a conveyor that advances in a series of intermittent steps. The conveyor moves the pieces of meat or poultry (especially mid-wing) in a stop-and-go manner, preferably synchronized with the movement of the cutting part, in particular with the movement of at least one cutting element, to ensure accurate and controlled separation of one or more pieces of meat into different parts. The intermittent movement allows for accurate positioning of the meat on the conveyor and for cutting the meat, thereby contributing to the overall efficiency of the meat processing system. The first drive system is preferably configured to move the conveyor stepwise over a predetermined distance and / or during predetermined time intervals. This allows the meat to be cut to be aligned with the cutting part to allow the meat to be cut correctly.

[0013] Although the meat cutting device according to the present invention can be used to cut various types of meat, the meat cutting device is particularly designed to cut poultry meat, and is particularly designed to cut the mid-wing portion of poultry to separate the radial portion and the ulnar portion.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one movable cutting element is displaceable between an operative state and a non-operative state, in which operative state the cutting element is configured to intersect the conveying path and / or a part of the conveyor to cut the meat into separate portions, and in which non-operative state the cutting element is positioned spaced apart from the conveying path and / or a part of the conveyor. This movement allows for the unobstructed discharge of the cut meat portions and the positioning of one or more other meat pieces to be cut relative to the cut portions. As described above, the at least one cutting element is preferably movable at least in a direction having at least one direction component perpendicular to the conveying path. Conceivably, the direction of movement of the cutting element is completely perpendicular to the conveyor. In the case where the conveying path extends, for example, in a horizontal direction, then conceivably, the cutting element moves towards the conveyor in a vertically downward direction during displacement towards the operative state, and / or in which conceivably, the cutting element moves away from the conveyor in a vertically upward direction during displacement towards the non-operative state. This means that, according to this embodiment, in the non-operative state of the cutting element, the cutting element is positioned above the conveying path and at a distance from the conveying path.

[0015] Although conceivably the at least one cutting element can be displaced manually, preferably along a mechanically predefined path, it is generally preferred that the movement is fully automated and preferably synchronized with the intermittent movement of the conveyor. For this purpose, the device preferably includes at least one second drive system for preferably continuously or intermittently moving the at least one cutting element between the operative state and the non-operative state. Preferably, the first drive system and the second drive system are configured to synchronize the movement of the at least one cutting element and the intermittent movement of the ring conveyor. The synchronization of the movement of the conveyor and the movement of the cutting element can be achieved mechanically and / or electronically, for example by using a control unit programmed to synchronize the two movements discretely, semi-continuously or continuously. In the case where at least one control unit is to be used to synchronize the two movements, the control unit is preferably configured to synchronize the operation and / or movement of the first drive system and the operation and / or movement of the second drive system. Conceivably, the device also includes at least one sensor for measuring one or more device properties. The sensor can be communicatively connected to the control unit such that the control unit is configured to control the drive system based on one or more sensors. The at least one sensor can be a speed sensor, for example for measuring the rotational speed of the drive system and / or the conveyor. The at least one sensor can be a position sensor, such as an angular position sensor, a linear position sensor, a proximity sensor. The at least one sensor can provide a continuous signal, however it is also conceivable that the at least one sensor provides a signal in the case where the device is in a predefined position.

[0016] Preferably, the first intermittent motion drive system is configured to periodically and temporarily interrupt the movement of the endless conveyor, and wherein the second drive system is configured to position the at least one cutting element in an operative state when the endless conveyor is in the interrupted state, and to position the at least one cutting element in a non-operative state if the endless conveyor is not in the interrupted state. This generally results in a desired synchronization of the two motions, wherein the meat can be cut into portions while the conveyor is in a stable state (interrupted state or non-moving state), which facilitates the accuracy of the meat cutting process.

[0017] It is conceivable that the first drive system and the second drive system are configured to cooperate with each other and / or be at least partially integrated with each other. Each drive system can be driven by its own drive motor, in particular an electric drive motor. However, it is also conceivable and preferred that the drive systems are driven by the same drive motor, in particular the same electric drive motor. It is conceivable that the first drive system and the second drive system are the same (shared) drive system, preferably driven by the same source, such as the (electric) drive motor.

[0018] Various types of endless conveyors can be used in the meat cutting device according to the invention.The device may comprise a plurality of endless conveyors of the same and / or different types.

[0019] The at least one endless conveyor used in the apparatus according to the present invention can, for example, be a roller conveyor. The roller conveyor comprises a series of rollers to move the meat along the conveying path. In this embodiment, preferably, a plurality of the rollers are powered, and optionally, at least one other roller is non-powered. In this embodiment, the powered rollers are preferably axially rotated and / or prevented from rotating by the first drive system. Thus, the first drive system can be configured to intermittently drive the powered rollers.

[0020] Additionally or alternatively, another suitable endless conveyor for use in the apparatus according to the present invention is an endless conveyor carousel, also known as a turntable. This carousel is a conveying system designed to be circular or elliptical. This conveyor configuration typically comprises a rotating platform or a series of rotating carriers that move the meat pieces along an endless path (circular or elliptical) to guide the meat to be cut from a loading position via a cutting section to an unloading position.

[0021] Additionally or alternatively, another suitable and generally preferred endless conveyor for use in the apparatus according to the present invention is an endless belt conveyor. Such an endless belt conveyor preferably comprises at least one endless belt, such as a chain or V-belt and / or a toothed belt, such as a notched or cogged belt, and preferably comprises at least two endless belts, such as at least two chains and / or V-belts and / or toothed belts, such as notched or cogged belts, oriented in parallel and preferably spaced apart. Here, each conveyor belt is generally a continuous loop that can be made of various materials, such as metal, plastic, rubber and / or fabric. The width of the belt can be relatively small, such as less than 5 cm, such as less than 2 cm, or relatively large, such as at least 5 cm, preferably at least 10, 20, 30, 40 and / or 50 cm. In the latter case, the belt is wide enough to directly or indirectly support the piece of meat to be cut. In the case where one or more belts are used with a narrow width, these belts are generally used to mount one or more (generally wider) support elements for the meat to be cut. These support elements are also referred to as meat carriers.

[0022] Preferably, the endless belt conveyor comprises an upper run and a lower run, wherein an intermediate space is defined between the upper run and the lower run, and wherein at least a portion of the upper run defines a conveying path for the meat pieces. Preferably, the belt conveyor comprises at least one belt return device, which facilitates the transfer of the endless belt between the lower run and the upper run. The belt return device comprises at least one guide sprocket, preferably at least one non-driven guide sprocket. Preferably, the endless belt conveyor comprises at least one driven pulley, such as at least one driven (gear) wheel or driven sprocket, to drive the endless belt. The driven sprocket can constitute part of the belt return device, but can also be positioned spaced apart from the belt return device. Preferably, the driven sprocket is positioned in the intermediate space between the upper run and the lower run. The driven sprocket typically constitutes part of the first drive system. Therefore, preferably, at least a portion of the at least one first intermittent motion drive system is positioned in the intermediate space. Preferably, at least a portion of the at least one first intermittent motion drive system, such as the aforementioned driven sprocket (driven wheel), is configured to cooperate with the lower side of the upper run of the endless belt conveyor, and in particular to intermittently drive the lower side of the upper run of the endless belt conveyor. In this case, the driven sprocket is also configured to support the upper run, which facilitates the stability of the meat pieces positioned on the upper run. It is conceivable that the driven sprocket is also configured to cooperate with the lower run. Alternatively, the drive sprocket can be configured to cooperate only with the lower run and not with the upper run.

[0023] Preferably, the device further comprises at least one retaining element, preferably a driven retaining element, for retaining the conveyor in the stopped state. The retaining element is configured to secure or lock the conveyor in the stopped state (interrupted state) to stabilize the conveyor, particularly the upper run, and thereby stabilize the meat to be cut. Preferably, at least a portion of the at least one retaining element is positioned within the intermediate space. This allows the retaining element to interact with the upper run (and / or lower run) of the endless conveyor, particularly an endless belt conveyor (if applicable), to prevent the conveyor from shifting during the cutting action of the cutting section. This positioning of the retaining element within the intermediate space also results in a relatively compact construction, which reduces safety risks associated with operating the device, as the retaining element is more or less obscured by the conveyor. Preferably, the at least one retaining element is configured to interact with the underside of the upper run of the conveyor, and / or at least a portion of the at least one retaining element is configured to be received in one or more openings formed in the endless belt. If the endless belt is formed, for example, by a chain, the chain typically includes links, each of which includes openings, and the retaining element can be placed in the openings to prevent the chain from shifting. Similarly, in cases where the endless belt is formed by a chain, the conveyor typically includes one or more meat carriers mounted (attached) to the chain, wherein it is contemplated that retaining elements are configured to cooperate with the meat carriers to hold the conveyor in place. It is generally advantageous for the retaining elements to be at least partially hook-shaped and / or substantially L-shaped. In cases where one or more chain belts are employed, it is contemplated that at least one chain tensioning mechanism is employed to maintain (and optionally adjust) the desired chain tension. Preferably, at least one drive system, such as the first drive system, is configured to drive (displace or move) the at least one retaining element, in particular to displace the at least one retaining element between a retaining state, in which the conveyor is held in an interrupted state, and a release state, in which movement of the conveyor is permitted. Preferably, the at least one retaining element is vertically aligned with the cutting section, in particular positioned below the cutting section. This position ensures that the conveyor section undergoing the cutting action is secured. Furthermore, this position allows the drive system to be designed as compactly as possible, as the driven components are mounted and / or positioned adjacent to one another.

[0024] Preferably, a first portion of at least one retaining element is pivotally attached to a fixed frame, wherein a second portion of the retaining element comprises a follower configured to cooperate with a rotatable drive cam, which is preferably attached to a driven rotary shaft of at least one drive system, in particular a first drive system. An end section of the retaining element facing away from the first portion of the retaining element, or any other section of the retaining element, is preferably configured to alternately block and release the conveyor due to rotation of the drive cam. The end section or alternative section configured to cooperate with the conveyor can, for example, be a hook-shaped end section. Other movement mechanisms for shifting the retaining element between a conveyor-blocking state and a conveyor-releasing state are also conceivable.

[0025] Preferably, and as described above, the conveyor includes a plurality of meat carriers, each of which is configured to receive at least one meat block. Each meat carrier may be attached to at least one drive belt of a loop conveyor (preferably a loop belt conveyor). In the case of applying a plurality of generally parallel belts, each meat carrier may be attached to at least two of the plurality of belts. Preferably, the conveyor includes a plurality of meat carriers. It may be preferred that different meat carriers are not directly attached to each other, and the meat carriers are only attached to at least one belt of the conveyor. This results in a conveyor based on modular meat carriers, which is generally preferred for practical and processing reasons (e.g., for meat unloading reasons and for maintenance reasons). At least one meat carrier may be configured to support a single meat block (to be cut). At least one meat carrier may be configured to support a plurality of meat blocks (to be cut) simultaneously. This results in an increase in the meat cutting capacity of the device according to the present invention. In the latter case, the meat carrier is preferably configured to receive the different meat blocks in the lateral direction and thus receive the different meat blocks in a side-by-side orientation, which side-by-side orientation is preferably perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveyor. The meat carrier preferably includes at least one recess or deepened portion to stably receive at least one meat block. The recess or deepened portion may have a depth of at least 5 millimeters. The recess of the deepened portion preferably has at least a partially concave shape to facilitate unloading of the meat from the meat carrier. Preferably, the support surface of the meat carrier for supporting one or more meat blocks is a low-friction material. This further facilitates unloading of the meat after cutting. In the case where the meat carrier is configured to accommodate a plurality of meat blocks simultaneously, a plurality of separate or interconnected recesses or deepened portions are applied, wherein the recesses or deepened portions are preferably arranged in a side-by-side orientation. Preferably, at least one recess or deepened portion is inclined relative to the horizontal plane. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the front part, especially the upstream part, of at least one meat carrier is pivotally connected to the at least one loop belt, wherein the rear part, especially the downstream part, of the meat carrier is not connected to the at least one loop belt. The rear part can and generally will be supported by at least one belt. This configuration allows the front part of the meat carrier to pivot relative to the belt of the conveyor. Once the belt part returns from the upper stroke to the lower stroke together with the pivotally fixed meat carrier, the meat carrier will suddenly tilt due to gravity, wherein the rear part will move away from the belt. This tilt results in an impact on the (cut) meat supported or carried by the meat carrier, which impact will eject the (cut) meat from the meat carrier. Then, the (cut) meat will, for example, fall into a collection container and / or will fall onto another conveyor for further processing. For this purpose, it is preferred that the pivotable connection between the front part of the at least one meat carrier and the at least one loop belt is such that the axis of rotation defined by the connection extends in a direction perpendicular to the length of the at least one loop belt.More preferably, the pivotal connection between the front portion of the at least one meat carrier and the at least one endless belt is configured to rotate the meat carrier relative to the endless belt during transfer of the meat carrier from the upper run to the lower run of the endless belt conveyor, wherein the mutual angle of rotation is preferably mechanically limited, more preferably limited to an angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees, such as 45 degrees. The limitation of the pivotal angle can be simply achieved by positioning the axis of rotation at a (finite) distance from the front side of the meat carrier, with the result that the front side of the meat carrier can be used as a stop lug to limit the rotation of the meat carrier relative to the belt. Other mechanical solutions for limiting the maximum angle of rotation are also conceivable. This angle limitation will prevent the meat carrier from tilting excessively, which may damage the meat carrier and / or the belt, and / or may impede the smooth operation of the meat cutting device. As an alternative or supplement to the pivotal arrangement of the carrier, it is conceivable that the carrier includes at least one meat pusher. The meat pusher is preferably configured to discharge meat from the carrier, in particular from a recess or deepened portion of the carrier. Preferably, the meat pusher is configured to contact at least an upstream portion or a downstream portion of the meat received in the carrier. Preferably, the meat pusher is movably coupled to the carrier. In particular, the meat pusher is arranged to be rotatable relative to the carrier. The meat discharger is preferably rotatably coupled to the carrier about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the conveying path. The meat pusher may include a shaft and one or more discharger elements, preferably wherein the shaft coincides with the axis of rotation, and wherein the one or more discharger elements are coupled to the shaft and extend into a portion of the carrier, preferably into a recess or deepened portion. The discharger elements may be arranged near the cutting groove, in particular adjacent to (the two longitudinal sides of) the cutting groove. It is conceivable that the meat pusher can be moved between an idle state and an activated state, in which the discharger elements are received in the meat recess for holding the position of the meat in the meat recess, and in the activated state, at least the discharger elements are displaced or moved out of the meat recess. Preferably, the meat pusher, in particular the discharger elements, is activated by a cam on or near the conveying path. The cam is preferably positioned near the return portion from the upper stretch to the lower stretch. The cam is configured to trigger a cam follower coupled to the meat pusher. The cam causes the movement of the cam follower of the meat pusher, which movement causes the meat pusher to rotate from the idle state to the activated state to remove the meat block received in the recess. The meat pusher may be elastically rotatably coupled to the carrier such that the meat pusher is automatically pushed towards the idle position. The meat pusher may facilitate easier and / or more reliable removal of the meat block from the meat carrier.

[0026] Preferably, once the meat carrier is positioned on the upper run of the conveyor, it extends in a direction parallel to the upper run section of the belt, which direction is preferably horizontal. This means that the meat carrier can lie flat on and flush with the upper run of the belt. This orientation not only facilitates the stable support of the meat on the meat carrier but also contributes to a balanced and smooth cutting process, since the movement of the cutting element can be perpendicular to the plane defined by the meat carrier.

[0027] At least one meat carrier preferably includes a cutting groove for allowing at least one movable cutting element to pass through and / or at least partially be received in the cutting groove during cutting at least, wherein the length of the cutting groove is preferably greater than the length of the cutting element, more preferably at least 1.1 times greater. The width of the cutting groove is preferably greater than the width of the (blade portion of the) cutting element, for example at least 1.5 times greater. Once the meat carrier is aligned with the meat cutting section, in particular the cutting element, where the meat carrier is preferably positioned below the cutting element, in the non-operating state of the cutting element, the conveyor will stop and, simultaneously and / or continuously, the cutting element will move towards the meat carrier to cut the meat. In the extreme (lower) position of the cutting element, at least a part of each cutting element will preferably be positioned within the meat carrier, preferably within the cutting groove. The cutting groove and the cutting element are preferably aligned with each other and extend parallel. At least a part of the cutting groove may be positioned at or in the bottom surface of a recess or deepened portion of the meat carrier. The cutting groove may form a through-hole which facilitates the cutting of the meat carrier and subsequent cleaning of the meat carrier.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the device and / or the conveyor includes at least one (preferably static) ejector for ejecting the cut meat pieces downstream of the cutting section. As described above, when moving from the upper run to the lower run of the conveyor, the cut meat can be ejected (unloaded) from the meat carrier by pivoting the meat carrier relative to the endless belt of the conveyor. Additionally or alternatively, the preferably static ejector, such as at least one scraping element, such as at least one scraping arm, can be used to remove the cut meat from the meat carrier. Each scraping element can be configured to act together with one (cut) meat piece or can be configured to act together simultaneously with a plurality of (cut) meat pieces carried by the same meat carrier.

[0029] Preferably, the first drive system and / or the second drive system comprises a single drive motor, preferably an electric drive motor. As described above, the first drive system and the second drive system may be at least partially or completely identical drive systems. This allows the application of a single drive motor, which generally also helps to synchronize the intermittent conveyor movement and the movement of the cutting element. The drive motor may be configured to operate (continuously) at a constant speed. However, it is also conceivable that the drive motor is configured to operate at a variable speed, preferably at an oscillating speed. For this purpose, it is conceivable that during each drive cycle of the drive system, the motor comprises at least two, preferably three different drive speeds. This allows the stop and (re)start actions of the conveyor to be performed in a smoother and more gentle manner, which reduces the noise generation during operation. Furthermore, this results in smaller mechanical shocks and thus less wear, which makes the drive system and the conveyor and thus the device itself more durable. Preferably, the drive speed of the drive motor is reduced before the intermittent movement is provided to the conveyor. Preferably, the drive speed of the drive motor is increased after the conveyor has been positioned in the subsequent position. Thus, during the cutting action of the cutting section, the drive speed of the motor is greater.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the first drive system comprises at least one driven rotary shaft, and at least one drive cam attached to the driven rotary shaft for driving at least one or more movable parts of the device, wherein at least one main drive cam, preferably a plurality of laterally oriented main drive cams, is configured to intermittently drive the conveyor. Preferably, the driven rotary shaft is directly or indirectly connected to a drive motor, preferably an electric drive motor. The driven rotary shaft is preferably a linear (straight) axle and may also be referred to as a shaft. Preferably, a plurality of drive cams are fixedly mounted on the driven rotary shaft. This enables the drive cams to rotate. A drive cam is an element such as a wheel-shaped element having, for example, an irregular circumferential edge and / or at least one designed lateral groove for transmitting movement to a follower during rotation of the drive cam. The shape of the drive cam, in particular the circumferential edge and / or the lateral groove, determines the specific movement that will be transmitted to the follower. The follower will directly or indirectly form part of, and / or be connected to, and / or cooperate with another part to be driven (such as the conveyor and / or the cutting element).

[0031] Preferably, at least one main drive cam is provided with a circumferential edge that includes a toothed section having at least one drive tooth for moving the conveyor, and the main drive cam further includes a toothless section for interrupting the movement of the conveyor. In this embodiment, the main drive cam preferably serves as a partial gear, where the gear section (toothed section) of the drive cam is configured to move the conveyor, and where the toothless section is not configured to move the conveyor. Preferably, the basic shape of the main drive cam is wheel-shaped or cylindrical, where the basic shape has a circular cross-section. The toothed section will project relative to the base shape. When the main drive cam rotates and completes one revolution, the conveyor will be driven partially and not driven partially, resulting in an intermittent movement of the conveyor. In the non-driven state of the conveyor, the conveyor will typically actually stop moving directly due to frictional forces that act and prevent the conveyor from moving freely further.

[0032] Preferably, the at least one main drive cam is centrally attached to the driven shaft. This means that the center of the main drive cam coincides with the longitudinal axis of the driven shaft. In cases where the main drive cam can be considered as at least a part of a wheel or at least a part of a cylinder and / or at least a part of another prismatic shape, the position of the center is typically well-defined and well-known.

[0033] Preferably, at least one drive cam, such as at least one main drive cam, is configured to move at least one holding element between a holding state and a release state for holding the conveyor, particularly in an interrupted state. For this purpose, the at least one drive cam configured to move the at least one holding element preferably includes at least one non-circular continuous guide groove or guide edge at at least one face, the at least one non-circular continuous guide groove or guide edge serving as a cam profile that is configured to cooperate with at least one follower of the at least one holding element, where the guide groove or guide edge preferably has a non-circular shape selected from the group consisting of: pear-shaped, heart-shaped, teardrop-shaped, star-shaped, and serrated. In cases where the main drive cam is used for this purpose, the main drive cam will be assigned a dual function; the toothed section is configured to drive the conveyor, while the guide groove or guide edge is configured to drive the holding element.

[0034] Preferably, at least one auxiliary drive cam, preferably a plurality of laterally oriented auxiliary drive cams, is attached to the driven shaft for driving at least a part of the cutting section. The auxiliary drive cam(s) can be formed by and / or integrated with the main drive cam. It is also conceivable that one or more auxiliary drive cams are separate drive cams, which can facilitate the design and positioning of the drive cams. Preferably, the at least one auxiliary drive cam is eccentrically mounted to the driven shaft and / or provided with a non-circular circumferential guide groove and / or a non-circular, preferably continuous (annular) guide edge. Preferably, a part of the at least one auxiliary drive cam (in particular the circumferential guide groove and / or the guide edge) is configured to serve as a cam profile and cooperate with at least one follower of the cutting section to displace at least a part of the cutting section, and preferably to move the cutting element between a cutting position (operating state) and a non-cutting position (non-operating state). Preferably, the at least one auxiliary drive cam includes at least one cam profile, wherein the cutting section includes at least one follower configured to interact with the at least one cam profile, and wherein the cutting section preferably includes at least one spring, in particular at least one compression spring, to maintain contact between the follower and the cam profile. This ensures proper movement of the cutting element.

[0035] The device according to the invention preferably includes at least two second drive cams and at least one, preferably at least two, main drive cams, all of which are mounted to a driven rotary shaft, wherein the at least two main drive cams are preferably located between the at least two auxiliary drive cams. Preferably, the at least two, more preferably all, drive cams are positioned spaced apart from each other and are thus preferably spaced.

[0036] The cutting part preferably includes a displaceable support frame to which at least one cutting element is attached, and wherein the support frame is movable in a direction having at least a direction component perpendicular to the conveying path. Generally and preferably, the support frame is held in place by a stable support structure. Preferably, at least one cutting element, more preferably each cutting element, is releasably mounted to the support frame, in particular via a bayonet mount (bayonet connection). This allows the cutting elements to be easily replaced from time to time. The displaceable support frame of the cutting part is preferably guided by one or more guide rollers for guiding the cutting part, in particular the support frame, in at least one direction, preferably in a direction perpendicular to the conveying path. This will result in a linear movement, preferably a vertical movement, of the support frame and the cutting elements attached thereto. The guide rollers can be mounted to the stable support structure. The guide rollers are preferably non-driven guide rollers. The displaceable support frame preferably includes at least one follower configured to cooperate with at least one second drive cam to effect an up-and-down oscillating movement of the support frame and the cutting elements attached thereto. Optionally, the device according to the invention includes at least one sensor, such as a position or proximity sensor. The sensor can be arranged to determine the presence of a part of the support frame of the cutting part. This can allow the control unit (if applied) to determine the position of the drive system. The sensor can be used, for example, to determine the initial position of the movement cycle of the drive system. In particular, the sensor can be a user for resetting the period (i.e., restarting a new period). Preferably, a single cycle of the drive system corresponds to approximately 360 degrees. If the sensor signal does not match (i.e., based on the control unit's calculation) the periodic movement of the drive system, the device (in particular the drive system), it can preferably be arranged in an emergency drive at a lower speed. Preferably, the sensor is configured to detect the position of the cutting part, i.e., the operating position or the non-operating position.

[0037] Preferably, the cutting part includes a plurality of cutting elements, wherein the cutting elements are more preferably arranged transversely in the width direction of the annular conveyor and are preferably spaced apart from each other. The application of a plurality of cutting elements allows for the simultaneous cutting of a plurality of meat pieces. This preferred side-by-side orientation of the cutting elements keeps the cutting part relatively compact and generally simplifies the design of the cutting part and the conveyor (and its meat carrier), as well as the mutual alignment of the cutting elements relative to the meat carrier. At least one cutting element is preferably formed by and / or includes a cutting blade, wherein the cutting blade is straight (linear) or at least partially triangular and / or trapezoidal. Preferably, the cutting blade is non-serrated (although serrated cutting blades can be envisaged) to facilitate pressing the blade in a linear movement through the meat to be cut. The cutting blade preferably faces the conveying path both in the operating state (cutting position) and in the non-operating state (uncut position).

[0038] It is conceivable and may be preferred that the device includes at least one meat stabilizing structure and / or at least one meat stabilizing element for stabilizing the piece of meat contained in the meat carrier once the meat carrier is positioned near and / or aligned with the cutting section. This prevents the meat from being accidentally removed from the meat carrier during the cutting process. Preferably, the meat stabilizing structure is arranged at a predetermined distance relative to the endless conveyor. Typically, in the non-operating state, the meat stabilizing structure is positioned between the conveyor and the cutting element. Therefore, preferably, the stabilizing structure includes one or more cutting recesses or grooves for the passage of one or more cutting elements.

[0039] Preferably, the apparatus comprises at least one cooling section for cooling the cut and / or to-be-cut meat, wherein the cooling section is preferably configured to cool the endless conveyor directly or indirectly, and wherein the cooling section is preferably configured to cool the meat and / or the conveyor to a temperature of 8 degrees Celsius or lower, such as 6 degrees Celsius or lower or such as 4 degrees Celsius or lower. Such active cooling of the meat during the cutting process will benefit meat preservation and food safety.

[0040] The invention also relates to a first intermittent motion drive system for use in a device for processing meat pieces, in particular a device according to the invention.

[0041] The present invention also relates to a method for cutting meat pieces, preferably poultry pieces, in particular poultry mid-wings, into individual portions, preferably by using the device according to the invention, the method comprising the following steps:

[0042] a) positioning or loading one or more pieces of meat to be cut directly or indirectly onto the endless conveyor of the meat cutting device,

[0043] b) intermittently driving the endless conveyor by using an intermittent motion drive system such that the one or more pieces of meat are displaced in the conveying direction, wherein the movement of the endless conveyor is alternately moved and interrupted by the drive system,

[0044] c) in an interrupted state of the conveyor, cutting the at least one piece of meat into individual pieces by mechanically moving, preferably automatically, at least one cutting element of the cutting portion of the meat cutting device towards and into the at least one piece of meat aligned with the at least one cutting element, and then moving the at least one cutting element away from the cut meat and the conveyor,

[0045] d) removing the cut meat from the endless conveyor downstream of the cutting section, preferably automatically,

[0046] e) Periodically repeating at least steps a) to d).

[0047] Preferably, the intermittent motion drive system causes (and drives) the motion of at least one cutting element according to step c). The intermittent drive system preferably includes a single drive motor, which preferably operates continuously during step b)-c), preferably during step b)-d), more preferably during step a)-d). Preferably, the method also includes a step b1) before step c), in which the drive speed of the drive system is reduced, preferably gradually reduced. Preferably, after step c), the drive speed of the drive system is increased, preferably gradually increased. As mentioned above, regulating the speed of the drive system and adapting the speed of the drive system to the cutting process can minimize noise generation, thereby reducing the wear of the components of the device, which is beneficial to the life of the device. The speed can be adjusted in a continuous manner or in a stepped (discrete) manner.

[0048] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described by the following set of non-limiting clauses.

[0049] Terms

[0050] 1. A device for cutting meat pieces, preferably poultry pieces, in particular poultry mid-wings, into individual portions, comprising:

[0051] at least one endless conveyor for conveying meat pieces, preferably poultry pieces, in particular poultry mid-wings, along a conveying path,

[0052] at least one cutting section arranged along the conveying path of the endless conveyor, the cutting section comprising at least one movable cutting element for cutting the meat pieces conveyed along the conveying path into individual portions, wherein the at least one cutting element is movable at least in a direction having at least a directional component perpendicular to the conveying path,

[0053] At least one first intermittent motion driving system is provided, and the at least one first intermittent motion driving system is used to intermittently drive the endless conveyor.

[0054] 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one movable cutting element is capable of shifting between an operative state and a non-operative state, wherein in the operative state, the cutting element is configured to intersect with a portion of the conveying path and / or the conveyor to cut the meat into separate portions, and in the non-operative state, the cutting element is positioned spaced apart from a portion of the conveying path and / or the conveyor.

[0055] 3. The device according to clause 2, wherein the device includes at least one second drive system for moving the at least one cutting element between the operating state and the non-operating state, preferably continuously or intermittently moving the at least one cutting element between the operating state and the non-operating state.

[0056] 4. The device according to clause 3, wherein the first drive system and the second drive system are configured to synchronize the movement of the at least one cutting element with the intermittent movement of the endless conveyor.

[0057] 5. The device according to clause 4, wherein the first intermittent motion drive system is configured to periodically and temporarily interrupt the movement of the endless conveyor, and wherein the second drive system is configured to position the at least one cutting element in the operating state when the endless conveyor is in the interrupted state and to position the at least one cutting element in the non-operating state if the endless conveyor is not in the interrupted state.

[0058] 6. The device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the first drive system and the second drive system are configured to cooperate with each other, and / or wherein the first drive system and the second drive system are at least partially integrated, and wherein the device optionally includes at least one control unit to synchronize the first drive system and the second drive system.

[0059] 7. The device according to any of clauses 3-6, wherein the first drive system and the second drive system are the same drive system.

[0060] 8. The device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the conveying path of the meat block extends over at least a part of the upper side of the endless conveyor.

[0061] 9. The device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the endless conveyor is an endless belt conveyor.

[0062] 10. The device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the endless conveyor includes at least one endless belt, such as a chain, preferably including at least two endless belts, such as at least two chains, which are preferably parallelly oriented and preferably spaced apart.

[0063] 11. The device according to clause 10, wherein the endless belt conveyor includes an upper run and a lower run, wherein an intermediate space is defined between the upper run and the lower run, and wherein at least a part of the upper run defines the conveying path of the meat block.

[0064] 12. The device according to clause 11, wherein the belt conveyor includes at least one belt return device, and the at least one belt return device facilitates the transfer of the endless belt between the lower run and the upper run.

[0065] 13. The device according to clause 12, wherein the belt return device includes at least one guide sprocket, preferably including at least one non-driven guide sprocket.

[0066] 14. The device according to any one of clauses 11 - 13, wherein at least a part of the at least one first intermittent motion drive system is positioned within the intermediate space.

[0067] 15. The device according to any one of clauses 11 - 14, wherein at least a part of the at least one first intermittent motion drive system is configured to cooperate with the lower side of the upper run of the endless belt conveyor, in particular to intermittently drive the lower side.

[0068] 16. The device according to any one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the device further includes at least one holding element, preferably a driven holding element, for holding the conveyor in an interrupted state.

[0069] 17. The device according to any one of clauses 11 to 16, wherein at least a part of the at least one holding element is positioned within the intermediate space.

[0070] 18. The device according to clause 17, wherein at least one holding element is configured to cooperate with the lower side of the upper run of the conveyor, and / or wherein at least a part of the at least one holding element is configured to be received in one or more openings formed in the endless belt.

[0071] 19. The device according to any one of clauses 16 - 18, wherein the at least one first drive system is configured to drive at least one holding element, in particular to shift the at least one holding element between a holding state and a release state, in the holding state, the conveyor is held in an interrupted state, and in the release state, the movement of the conveyor is allowed.

[0072] 20. The device according to any one of clauses 16 - 19, wherein at least one holding element is vertically aligned with the cutting part, in particular positioned below the cutting part.

[0073] 21. The device according to any one of clauses 16 - 20, wherein a first part of at least one holding element is pivotally attached to a fixed frame, and wherein a second part of the holding element is rotatably movable about the rotatable attachment.

[0074] 22. The device according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the conveyor comprises a plurality of meat carriers, each of which is configured to receive at least one meat piece.

[0075] 23. The device according to clause 22, wherein the conveyor comprises an endless belt, and wherein the meat carriers are fixed to at least one endless belt of the conveyor.

[0076] 24. The device according to any one of clauses 11 - 21 and any one of clauses 22 - 23, wherein a front part, in particular an upstream part, of at least one meat carrier is pivotally connected to the at least one endless belt, and wherein a rear part, in particular a downstream part, of the meat carrier is not connected to the at least one endless belt.

[0077] 25. The device according to clause 24, wherein the pivotal connection between the front part of the at least one meat carrier and the at least one endless belt is such that the axis of rotation defined by the connection extends in a direction perpendicular to the length of the at least one endless belt.

[0078] 26. The device according to clause 25, wherein the pivotal connection between the front part of the at least one meat carrier and the at least one endless belt is configured to rotate the meat carrier relative to the endless belt during the transfer of the meat carrier from the upper run to the lower run of the endless belt conveyor, wherein the mutual angle of rotation is preferably mechanically limited, more preferably limited to 45 degrees.

[0079] 27. The device according to any one of clauses 22 to 26, wherein at least one meat carrier comprises a cutting slot for allowing at least one movable cutting element to pass through the cutting slot and / or be at least partially received in the cutting slot at least during cutting, wherein the length of the cutting slot is preferably greater than the length of the cutting element.

[0080] 28. The device according to any one of clauses 22 to 27, wherein at least one meat carrier comprises at least one receiving space, preferably, wherein the meat carrier comprises a plurality of laterally oriented receiving spaces, each of which is configured to receive at least one meat piece, in particular the middle wing meat of poultry.

[0081] 29. The device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the device and / or the conveyor comprises at least one, preferably stationary, discharger for discharging the cut meat pieces downstream of the cutting section.

[0082] 30. The device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the first drive system and / or the second drive system comprises a single drive motor, preferably an electric drive motor.

[0083] 31. The device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the first drive system comprises at least one driven rotary shaft and at least one drive cam attached to the driven rotary shaft for driving at least one or more movable parts of the device, wherein at least one main drive cam, preferably a plurality of laterally oriented main drive cams, is configured to intermittently drive the conveyor.

[0084] 32. The device according to clause 31, wherein at least one main drive cam is provided with a circumferential edge which comprises a toothed section having at least one drive tooth for moving the conveyor, and the main drive cam further comprises a toothless section for interrupting the movement of the conveyor.

[0085] 33. The device according to clause 31 or 32, wherein the at least one main drive cam is centrally attached to the driven shaft.

[0086] 34. The device according to any of clauses 31-33, wherein at least one drive cam, such as at least one main drive cam, is configured to move at least one holding element between a holding state and a release state, the at least one holding element being for holding the conveyor, especially in an interrupted state.

[0087] 35. The device according to clause 34, wherein the at least one drive cam configured to move at least one holding element comprises at least one non-circular continuous guide groove at at least one face, the at least one non-circular continuous guide groove serving as a cam profile configured to interact with at least one follower of at least one holding element, wherein the guide groove preferably has a non-circular shape selected from the group consisting of: pear-shaped, heart-shaped, teardrop-shaped, star-shaped and serrated.

[0088] 36. The device according to any of clauses 31-35, wherein at least one auxiliary drive cam, preferably a plurality of laterally oriented auxiliary drive cams, is attached to the driven shaft for driving at least a part of the cutting section.

[0089] 37. The device according to clause 36, wherein the at least one auxiliary drive cam is eccentrically mounted to the driven shaft and / or is provided with a non-circular circumferential edge.

[0090] 38. The device according to clause 36 or 37, wherein a part of the at least one auxiliary drive cam, in particular the circumferential edge, is configured to serve as a cam profile and cooperate with at least one follower of the cutting part to displace at least a part of the cutting part.

[0091] 39. The device according to any one of clauses 36 - 38, wherein at least one auxiliary drive cam includes at least one cam profile, wherein the cutting part includes at least one follower configured to interact with the at least one cam profile, and wherein the cutting part preferably includes at least one spring, in particular at least one compression spring, to maintain contact between the follower and the cam profile.

[0092] 40. The device according to any one of clauses 36 - 39, wherein the at least one auxiliary drive cam includes at least one, preferably non-circular, continuous guide groove at at least one face, the continuous guide groove serving as a cam profile configured to cooperate with at least one follower of the cutting part.

[0093] 41. The device according to any one of clauses 36 to 40, wherein the device includes at least two second drive cams and at least two main drive cams, all of the at least two second drive cams and the at least two main drive cams being mounted to the driven rotary shaft, and wherein the at least two main drive cams are preferably located between at least two auxiliary drive cams.

[0094] 42. The device according to any one of clauses 31 to 41, wherein all drive cams are spaced apart from each other.

[0095] 43. The device according to any one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the cutting part includes a support frame, wherein at least one cutting element is attached to the support frame, and wherein the support frame is movable in a direction having at least a direction component perpendicular to the conveying path.

[0096] 44. The device according to clause 43, wherein at least one cutting element is releasably mounted to the support frame, in particular via a bayonet mount.

[0097] 45. The device according to clause 43 or 44, wherein the support frame is guided by one or more guide rollers for guiding the cutting part, in particular the support frame, in at least one direction, preferably in a direction perpendicular to the conveying path.

[0098] 46. Apparatus according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the cutting portion comprises a plurality of cutting elements, wherein the cutting elements are arranged transversely in the width direction of the endless conveyor and are preferably spaced apart from each other.

[0099] 47. Device according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein at least one cutting element is formed by a cutting blade, wherein the cutting blade is at least partially triangular and / or trapezoidal, preferably facing the transport path.

[0100] 48. Apparatus according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein at least one cutting portion comprises a stabilising structure for stabilising the piece of meat accommodated in the meat carrier, preferably wherein the stabilising structure at least partially overlaps the at least one cutting portion.

[0101] 49. Apparatus according to clause 48, wherein the stabilising structure is arranged at a predetermined distance relative to the endless conveyor.

[0102] 50. The device according to any of clauses 48 to 49, wherein the stabilizing structure comprises one or more cutting recesses for passage of one or more cutting elements.

[0103] 51. An apparatus according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one cooling section for cooling cut and / or to-be-cut meat, wherein the cooling section is preferably configured to cool the endless conveyor directly or indirectly, and wherein the cooling section is preferably configured to cool the meat and / or the conveyor to a temperature of 8 degrees Celsius or lower.

[0104] 52. Apparatus according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the motor for driving the intermittent motion drive system is driven continuously by a single motor, wherein the motor comprises at least two, preferably three different drive speeds during each drive cycle of the drive system.

[0105] 53. A first intermittent motion drive system for use in an apparatus for processing meat pieces, in particular an apparatus according to any of the preceding clauses.

[0106] 54. A method for cutting meat pieces, preferably poultry pieces, in particular poultry mid-wings, into individual portions, preferably by using an apparatus according to any of clauses 1 to 52, the method comprising the steps of:

[0107] a) positioning or loading one or more pieces of meat to be cut directly or indirectly onto the endless conveyor of the meat cutting device,

[0108] b) intermittently driving an endless conveyor by using an intermittent motion drive system such that the one or more pieces of meat are displaced in the conveying direction, wherein the movement of the endless conveyor is alternately moved and interrupted by the drive system,

[0109] c) in an interrupted state of the conveyor, cutting the at least one piece of meat into individual pieces by mechanically moving, preferably automatically, at least one cutting element of the cutting portion of the meat cutting device towards and into the at least one piece of meat aligned with the at least one cutting element, and then moving the at least one cutting element away from the cut meat and the conveyor,

[0110] d) removing the cut meat from the endless conveyor downstream of the cutting section, preferably automatically,

[0111] e) Periodically repeating at least steps a) to d).

[0112] 55. The method according to clause 54, wherein the conveyor is set in motion again after step c).

[0113] 56. The method according to clause 54 or 55, wherein the intermittent motion drive system causes the movement of the at least one cutting element according to step c).

[0114] 57. The method of clause 56, wherein the intermittent drive system comprises a single drive motor, the single drive motor preferably operating continuously during steps b) to d), preferably operating continuously during steps a) to d).

[0115] 58. The method according to any of clauses 54 to 57, further comprising a step b1) before step c), in which the driving speed of the driving system is reduced, preferably gradually reduced.

[0116] 59. Method according to any of clauses 54-58, wherein during step f), the drive speed of the drive system is increased, preferably gradually. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0117] The invention will be further elucidated hereinafter based on the following non-limiting drawings, in which:

[0118] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a non-limiting embodiment of the device;

[0119] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 a detailed view of a portion of the apparatus shown;

[0120] Figure 3 A non-limiting embodiment of an intermittent motion drive system according to the present invention is shown;

[0121] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the cutting portion in a first state;

[0122] Figure 5 Shown with Figure 4 a perspective view of the same cutting portion shown but in a second condition;

[0123] Figure 6 shows a portion of a drive system in a first state;

[0124] Figure 7 Shown as Figure 6 the same portion of the drive system as shown, but in a second state; and

[0125] Figure 8 depicts details of a drive system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0126] Figure 9a 、 Figure 9b 、 Figure 9c An embodiment of a meat carrier comprising a meat drainer is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0127] Figure 1A perspective view of a device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The device 100 allows for the efficient cutting of meat pieces (preferably poultry, such as in particular the middle wing of poultry) into individual parts. The device 100 includes an endless conveyor 200 for conveying the meat pieces along a conveying path. A cutting section 300 is arranged along this conveying path and, in this embodiment, includes a movable frame 301 having a plurality of movable cutting elements. The cutting elements can move away from and towards the conveyor 200, in particular perpendicular to the conveyor 200. The conveyor 200 includes an upper run 201 and a lower run 202, where the upper run 201 can define a part of the conveying path of the meat pieces. A pair of endless belts 205 (in particular chains as shown in this embodiment) are arranged along a pair of guide sprockets 206 so as to connect the upper run 201 and the lower run 202. A plurality of meat carriers 203 are attached to the endless belts 205. The meat carriers are configured to carry one or more meat pieces, in particular the middle wing of poultry. The guide sprockets 206 are rotatably arranged at the rotation axes 102, 103. The sprockets 206 are non-driven sprockets and are used to guide the chain from the upper run 201 to the lower run 202 and vice versa. There is an intermediate space between the upper run 201 and the lower run 202 of the conveyor 200. Within this intermediate space, a drive system 400 is provided, in particular an intermittent motion drive system 400. The drive system 400 is configured to drive the conveyor intermittently and also, in this embodiment, to drive the cutting section. This is convenient because a single drive system 400 is configured to drive both the conveyor and the cutting section, thus allowing for good timing between different operations, which can be a difficult aspect in an intermittent drive system. The drive system 400 is particularly configured to periodically shift the meat carriers 203 one position at a time. Thus, the meat carriers are shifted along the conveying path into the cutting section 300. The entire device 100 can be supported by a fixed frame 101 which, in this non-limiting embodiment, is arranged on four supports 104, the height of the supports 104 being adjustable to level the device 100. Preferably, the device is placed in an environment and / or includes a temperature controller for maintaining a preferred temperature for processing the meat pieces, where the temperature is preferably below 8 degrees Celsius.

[0128] Figure 2 There is provided as Figure 1Detailed view of the cutting part 300 shown. The cutting part includes a plurality of movable cutting elements 304. The cutting element 304 is movable in a direction having at least a component in a direction perpendicular to the conveying path, and in this embodiment, this direction component is substantially perpendicular to the meat carrier 203. This can allow for an effective cutting action of the device. For ease of maintenance, the cutting element 304 formed here by a tool with a substantially triangular front end can be easily replaced. In this embodiment, the cutting element 304 is attached to the carrying part 303 of the support frames 301, 302, 303 by means of a bayonet mount 305. This allows for easy replacement in the case where the cutting element 304 is damaged. Very little device downtime is required. A part of the support frames 301, 302, 303, in particular the vertically oriented part 302, is movable in a direction having at least a component in a direction perpendicular to the conveying path A. In the illustrated embodiment, the support frame part 302 is vertically oriented and is movable vertically (i.e., perpendicular to the horizontal conveying path). By moving the support frames 301, 302, 303, the cutting elements 304 mounted thereon are provided with movement. To prevent unwanted movement of the support frames 301, 302, 303, the vertically oriented member 302 is guided by one or more guide rollers 306. The guide roller 306 is preferably a non-driven guide roller 306 for guiding the support frame in at least one direction, in this case the vertical direction A. Preferably, the support frames 301, 302, 303 are moved by a part of the intermittent drive system 400 according to the present invention. The figure also shows more details of the conveyor, in particular the meat carrier 203. In this embodiment, each meat carrier 203 includes a plurality of (in particular four parallel) receiving spaces 204 for receiving a meat piece, in particular a poultry mid-wing meat. In the depicted embodiment, the poultry mid-wing can be oriented substantially parallel to the transport direction when received in the receiving space 204. The meat carrier 203 is preferably fixed to the belt of the endless conveyor. Although not shown in this figure, it is conceivable that the front part of at least one meat carrier 203 is pivotally connected to the at least one endless belt, and wherein the rear part of the meat carrier 203 is not connected to the at least one endless belt. This can allow the meat carrier 203 to rotate relative to the conveyor, which can help to discharge the meat piece into the receiving space 204. The meat carrier also includes at least one cutting slot 205 for allowing at least one movable cutting element 304 to pass through and / or at least partially be received in the cutting slot 205 at least during cutting. In the figure shown here, the cutting part 300 is positioned in a non-operating state, where the cutting element 304 does not intersect the conveying path and thus no cutting action is performed.However, it can be seen that the meat carrier 203 is aligned with the cutting element 304, and in particular, the cutting groove 205 of the meat carrier 203 is aligned with the cutting element 304, such that when the cutting portion 300 is moved to the operating state, the cutting element 304 can extend into the cutting groove 205, so that a meat block accommodated in the accommodation space 204 can be divided into individual pieces.

[0129] Figure 3An embodiment of an intermittent motion drive system 400 according to the present invention is shown. Specifically, the depicted embodiment can be used to drive one or more components, particularly a cutting section and a conveyor of an apparatus according to the present invention. The drive system 400 includes a plurality of drive cams 402 attached to a driven shaft 401 such that the drive cams 402 can rotate about an axis of rotation 405. In this embodiment, the drive system 400 includes a pair of main drive cams 403 configured to intermittently drive a conveyor. The pair of main drive cams 403 are spaced apart from each other on the driven shaft 401 and positioned to interact with a portion of an endless belt, particularly a chain. Each main drive cam 403 includes a toothed section 413 and a toothless section 414, the toothless section 414 being devoid of teeth. In this embodiment, the main drive cam 403 is specifically provided with only a single tooth 413. This tooth is configured to interact with a portion of the conveyor. Thus, the toothed section 413 is configured to move the conveyor, while the toothless section 414 is configured to interrupt the conveyor's movement. While this embodiment of the drive system 400 shows a single drive tooth 413, it is contemplated that a different number of teeth may be provided. The main drive cam 403 is centrally attached to the driven shaft 401 and is substantially circular. The main drive cam 403 is also configured to move a retaining element 409, which is used to retain the conveyor and / or meat carrier, particularly in an interrupted state. The retaining element 409 can be moved between a retaining state and a released state by the main drive cam 403. The retaining element 409 includes a lever 410 pivotally attached to the device's fixed frame and a contact element 411 for contacting a portion of the conveyor or meat carrier in the retaining state. The embodiment depicted in this figure shows the retaining element 409 in the retaining state. To this end, the main drive cam includes at least one non-circular, continuous guide groove 412 on at least one face. This at least one non-circular, continuous guide groove 412 serves as a cam profile configured to interact with at least one follower of the at least one retaining element 409. The cam follower can be formed by a circular roller rotatably attached to the retaining element 409. The guide groove 412 preferably has a non-circular shape selected from the group consisting of: pear-shaped, heart-shaped, teardrop-shaped, star-shaped and concave circular. At least in this embodiment, the drive system 400 also includes a pair of auxiliary drive cams 404. The auxiliary drive cams 404 are laterally oriented and attached to the driven shaft 401 for driving a part of the cutting part 300, in particular the support frames 301, 302, 303 of the cutting part 300. The auxiliary drive cam is eccentrically mounted to the driven shaft 401 and / or is provided with a non-circular circumferential edge. The auxiliary drive cam 404 is provided with a guide groove 407 (in particular at at least one face) serving as a cam profile that is configured to work together with at least one follower 408 of the cutting part 300.Accordingly, a part of at least one auxiliary drive cam 404, in particular its circumferential edge, is configured to serve as a cam profile and cooperate with at least one follower 408 of the cutting part 300 to displace at least a part of the cutting part 300, in particular its support frames 301, 302, 303. All the main drive cams 403 and the auxiliary drive cams 404 are mounted on the driven shaft 401, wherein the at least two main drive cams 403 are preferably located between the at least two auxiliary drive cams 404. The driven shaft 401 is preferably driven by only a single motor 406, in particular an electric drive motor 406. In this way, the conveyor (i.e., via the main drive cams 403), the cutting part (i.e., via the auxiliary drive cams 404), and the holding element (i.e., via the main drive cams 403) are moved by means of only a single motor 406. In the depicted figure, the cutting part 300 is in the operating state and thus during the cutting of a meat piece. It can be seen that the cutting element 304 intersects the conveying path partially.

[0130] Figure 4 A perspective view of the cutting part 300 in a first state (operating state) is shown. Here, the cutting part 300 (in particular the support frames 301, 302, 303) is positioned in a lowered position such that the cutting element intersects the conveying path. The detailed view shows a bayonet mount 305 for releasably attaching the cutting element to the support frames 301, 302, 303. In addition, the figure shows some details of the meat carrier 203. Two meat carriers 203 are clearly shown at a position upstream of the cutting part 300. Each meat carrier 203 includes four laterally separated receiving spaces 204. Among them, each receiving space 204 has a cutting groove 205. In addition, the receiving space 204 is provided with one or more protrusions 207. The protrusions reduce the contact surface between the receiving space 204 and the meat piece. This prevents the meat piece from remaining adhered to the receiving space 204 after cutting. Near the receiving space, a stabilizing structure 310 for stabilizing the meat piece received in the meat carrier is arranged. The stabilizing structure 310 at least partially overlaps at least one cutting part 300 and stabilizes the meat piece during the cutting operation. In particular, it can prevent the meat piece from being removed from the receiving space 204 when the cutting element moves from the operating state to the non-operating state. The stabilizing structure 310 is arranged at a predetermined distance relative to the ring conveyor. This distance allows at least the transportation of the meat carrier 203 under the stabilizing structure 310. Figure 5The same detailed perspective view is shown, but with the cutting section 300 in a non-operating state. This can be seen by the positioning of the cutting elements 304 at a distance from the meat carriers 203 and the conveyor path. During this positioning, the conveyor can shift the meat carriers 203 so that a new meat carrier 203 containing a piece of raw meat is aligned with the cutting section 300. In this non-operating state, it can be clearly seen that the meat carriers 203 are transported beneath the stabilizing structure 310, which includes a plurality of cutting recesses 311. These cutting recesses 311 are aligned and parallel to the cutting elements 304, allowing them to pass through the cutting recesses 311.

[0131] Figure 6 A portion of the drive system 400 and a portion of the conveyor are shown. The figure shows a portion of the upper run 201 and a portion of the lower run 201 of the conveyor. Along the upper run 201, the shackle 205 of the endless belt chain is visible. This shackle includes an opening 210 for interacting with the teeth 413 of the main drive cam 403 attached to the driven shaft 401. A plurality of meat carriers 203 are shown above the endless belt 205 on the upper run 201. The cutting section is in operation, as evidenced by the cutting element 304 partially extending through the meat carriers 203 aligned with the cutting section 300. In this position, the retaining element 409 (specifically, the contact element 411) is in contact with a portion of the conveyor, specifically a portion of the meat carriers 203, and more specifically, the space between two meat carriers. In this figure, this space 211 is visible on the underside of the meat carriers 203 visible along the lower run 202. When the holding element 409 is in the holding state, the contact element 411 can be partially accommodated in the space 211. The figure further depicts the main drive cam 403, wherein the inwardly facing surface of the main drive cam 403 includes a guide groove 412. The guide groove 412 has a non-circular shape for actuating the holding element 409. To this end, the guide groove 412 includes at least one recessed portion 420. When the follower arranged in the guide groove 412 and connected to the holding element 409 moves along the recessed portion 420, the holding element is temporarily moved to the released state, so that the contact element 411 is temporarily removed from the space 211 between the meat carriers 203. This state is Figure 7 The meat carrier 203 can be attached to an endless belt, in particular a chain 205. This can be done via one or more mounting elements 212. Figure 7 The same detailed perspective view is shown, but during the intermittent driving of the endless belt 205. It can be seen that the retaining elements 409 (particularly the contact elements 411) are released from the spaces 211 between the meat carriers 203, thereby allowing the endless belt 205 to move. It can be seen that the teeth 413 of the main drive cam 403 engage with the endless belt 205 in order to move the endless belt 205. Figure 8The figure depicts details of a drive system 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, it can be seen that the contact element 411 of the retaining element 409 contacts or is received in the space 211 between the two meat carriers 203. Thus, the retaining element both supports the meat carriers 203 and restricts the movement of the conveyor. This contact element 411 engages the space 211 between the meat carriers 203 along the upper run. This space 211 is located on the lower side of the upper run.

[0132] Figure 9a 、 Figure 9b 、 Figure 9c An alternative and / or additional meat carrier 203a is shown, which includes a meat drainer 203b. The meat drainer 203b is preferably configured to drain meat from the meat carrier 203a, in particular, from a recess or deepened portion of the carrier. Preferably, the meat drainer is configured to contact at least an upstream portion or a downstream portion of the meat contained in the carrier. In the illustrated embodiment, the meat drainer 203b is movably coupled to the carrier. The meat drainer 203b is arranged to be rotatable relative to the carrier 203a. The illustrated embodiment of the meat drainer 203b is rotatably coupled to the carrier about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the conveying path. The meat drainer 203b includes a shaft 203s and one or more drain elements 203c, wherein the shaft coincides with the axis of rotation. In the illustrated embodiment, multiple drain elements 203c are coupled to the shaft 203s, and each drain element extends into a corresponding recess or deepened portion 203e of the meat carrier 203a. The ejector element 203c may be arranged in the vicinity of the cutting groove, in particular adjacent to (both longitudinal sides of) the cutting groove.The meat ejector 203b is movable between an idle state and an activated state as shown. Figure 9a The meat ejector 203b is shown in an idle state, wherein the ejector element 203c is received in the meat recess for maintaining the position of the meat in the meat recess. Figure 9b The activated state is shown, wherein at least the ejector element is displaced or moved out of the meat recess. In the embodiment shown, the meat ejector (particularly the ejector element) is activated by a cam on or near the conveying path. The cam 203d is at Figure 9c As shown in Figure 9cIn [the figure], the meat expeller 203b is not shown. This is for illustrative purposes. The cam 203d can be positioned near the return portion from the upper extension to the lower extension. The cam is configured to trigger a cam follower (not shown), which can be coupled to the meat expeller 203b. The cam causes the movement of the cam follower of the meat expeller 203b, which causes the meat expeller to rotate from the idle state to the activated state to remove the meat block accommodated in the recess 203e. The meat expeller can be elastically and rotatably coupled to the carrier such that the meat expeller is automatically pushed to the idle position. The above inventive concept is illustrated by several illustrative embodiments. It is conceivable that each inventive concept including the details of the invention can be applied, rather than other details of the examples described when doing so. Examples of all conceivable combinations of the above inventive concepts do not need to be described in detail, because those skilled in the art will understand that many inventive concepts can be (re)combined in order to achieve a specific application and / or alternative embodiment.

[0133] Ordinal numbers used in this document, such as "first", "second", and "third", are for identification purposes only. Thus, for example, the use of the expression "second" component does not necessarily require the coexistence of the "first" component. "Complementary" or "cooperating" components mean that these components are configured to act together with each other. However, for this purpose, these components do not necessarily have to have complementary forms. The verb "comprising" and its variations used in the present disclosure are understood to mean not only "including", but also understood to mean the phrases "containing", "substantially consisting of", "formed by" and their variations.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cutting meat pieces, preferably poultry pieces, in particular poultry mid-wings, into individual parts, characterized in that, Comprising: At least one ring conveyor for conveying meat pieces, preferably poultry pieces, in particular poultry mid-wings, along a conveying path At least one cutting section arranged along the conveying path of the ring conveyor, the cutting section comprising at least one movable cutting element for cutting the meat pieces conveyed along the conveying path into individual parts, wherein at least one cutting element is movable at least in a direction having a component perpendicular to the conveying path At least one first intermittent motion drive system for intermittently driving the ring conveyor 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein The at least one movable cutting element is displaceable between an operating state and a non-operating state, in the operating state the cutting element being configured to intersect the conveying path and / or a part of the conveyor to cut the meat into individual parts, and in the non-operating state the cutting element being positioned spaced apart from the conveying path and / or a part of the conveyor 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The device comprises at least one second drive system for moving the at least one cutting element between the operating state and the non-operating state, preferably continuously or intermittently moving the at least one cutting element between the operating state and the non-operating state 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, The first intermittent motion drive system and the second drive system are configured to synchronize the movement of the at least one cutting element with the intermittent movement of the ring conveyor 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein The first intermittent motion drive system is configured to periodically and temporarily interrupt the movement of the ring conveyor, and wherein the second drive system is configured to: position the at least one cutting element in the operating state when the ring conveyor is in an interrupted state, and position the at least one cutting element in the non-operating state if the ring conveyor is not in an interrupted state 6. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The first intermittent motion drive system and the second drive system are configured to cooperate with each other, and / or, wherein the first intermittent motion drive system and the second drive system are at least partially integrated, and wherein the device optionally comprises at least one control unit for synchronizing the first drive system and the second drive system 7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 3 - 6, wherein, The first intermittent motion drive system and the second drive system are the same drive system 8. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The ring conveyor comprises at least one endless belt, such as a chain, preferably comprising at least two endless belts, such as at least two chains, which are parallelly oriented and preferably spaced apart 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, The belt-type ring conveyor comprises an upper run and a lower run, wherein an intermediate space is defined between the upper run and the lower run, and wherein at least a part of the upper run defines a conveying path for the meat pieces 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, The belt-type conveyor comprises at least one belt return device which facilitates the transfer of the endless belt between the lower run and the upper run 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, The belt return device comprises at least one guide sprocket, preferably comprising at least one non-driven guide sprocket 12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9-11, wherein, At least a part of the at least one first intermittent motion drive system is located in the intermediate space 13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9 - 12, wherein, At least a part of the at least one first intermittent motion drive system is configured to cooperate with the lower side of the upper run of the endless conveyor, in particular to intermittently drive the lower side of the upper run of the endless conveyor.

14. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The conveyor includes a plurality of meat carriers, wherein each meat carrier is configured to receive at least one meat piece.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, The conveyor includes an endless belt, wherein the meat carriers are fixed to at least one endless belt of the conveyor, and wherein at least one meat carrier includes at least one meat discharger.

16. The device according to any one of claims 9-13 and any one of claims 14-15, wherein, The front part of at least one meat carrier is pivotally connected to the at least one endless belt, in particular the upstream part is pivotally connected to the at least one endless belt, and wherein the rear part of the meat carrier is not connected to the at least one endless belt, in particular the downstream part is not connected to the at least one endless belt.

17. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The first intermittent motion drive system and / or the second drive system includes a single drive motor, preferably an electric drive motor.

18. A method for cutting meat pieces, preferably poultry pieces, in particular middle wings of poultry, into separate parts, preferably by using the device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, the method comprising the following steps: a) positioning or loading one or more meat pieces to be cut directly or indirectly onto the endless conveyor of the meat cutting device; b) intermittently driving the endless conveyor by using an intermittent motion drive system such that the one or more meat pieces are displaced in the conveying direction, wherein the motion of the endless conveyor is alternately moved and interrupted by the drive system; c) in the interrupted state of the conveyor, cutting the at least one meat piece into separate pieces by mechanically moving, preferably automatically moving, at least one cutting element of the cutting part of the meat cutting device towards and into the at least one meat piece aligned with the at least one cutting element, and then moving the at least one cutting element away from the cut meat and the conveyor; d) removing the cut meat from the endless conveyor downstream of the cutting part, preferably automatically removing the cut meat; e) periodically repeating at least steps a)-d).

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein, Moving the conveyor again after step c).

20. The method according to any one of claims 18-19, further comprising step b1) before step c), in which step b1), the driving speed of the drive system is reduced, preferably gradually reduced.

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