Device and procedure for detaching strips of meat located on the keel of the sternum of a poultry carcass

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (10) designed and configured for separating strips of meat (13) from a keel (11) of a poultry carcass (12) from slaughtered poultry carcasses (12) or parts thereof from which the breast fillets have already been removed. The apparatus comprises a circulating conveyor belt (14) with at least one clamping device (15) having a support body (16) for receiving and holding the poultry carcasses or parts thereof as they are conveyed through the apparatus (10) in the conveying direction T. It also comprises at least one processing station (17) along a conveying route of the conveyor belt (14), wherein one of the processing stations (17) is designed in the form of a release unit (18) for separating the strip of meat (13) from the keel (11). This processing station is distinguished in that the release unit (18) comprises a loosening element (19) and a separation element (20).Where the loosening element (19) is designed and configured to cut the strip of meat (13) in the region of a front projection (21) of the keel (11), viewed in the transport direction T, the separating element (20) is designed and configured to grasp the strip of meat (13) and separate it from the keel (11). The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device designed and configured for removing strips of meat located on the sternum of a poultry carcass from carcasses of slaughtered poultry or parts thereof that have already been freed of breast fillets, comprising a circulating conveyor with at least one holding device with a support body for receiving and holding the poultry carcasses or parts thereof during transport in the transport direction T through the device, and at least one processing station along a conveying section of the conveyor, wherein one of the processing stations is designed as a release unit for removing the strip of meat from the sternum.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for removing strips of meat located on the sternum of a poultry carcass from poultry carcasses of slaughtered poultry or parts thereof that have already been freed of breast fillets, comprising the steps of: feeding the poultry carcass along a conveyor in the transport direction T into the area of ​​a release unit for removing the strip of meat, wherein the poultry carcass is held on a support body of a holding device for holding the poultry carcasses during transport and processing, wherein the longitudinal axis L SK of the support body is aligned parallel to the transport direction T, and removing the strip of meat during transport along or through the release unit.

[0003] Such devices and methods are used in the poultry processing industry to achieve a high meat yield during the filleting process and to obtain the cleanest possible breastbone or parts thereof, particularly the cartilage. After the breast fillets, especially the outer and inner breast fillets, are removed from the carcass, some residual meat always remains. This is located on the sides of the breastbone and is removed, for example, using scraping tools. Additionally, when individual fillets are extracted, a strip of meat remains in the center of the breastbone, specifically on the keel. This strip is particularly noticeable when the breast fillets are separated from the carcass individually.Due to the separate cuts made to obtain the two breast fillets, the centrally located strip of meat initially remains attached to the carcass, which is why it is also called the central strip. The remaining meat, including the membrane that lies between the meat and the bone / cartilage of the sternum, forms the central strip, which extends along the sternal crest to the area of ​​the sternal horn.

[0004] This central strip, as mentioned, is created during the processing of poultry carcasses or parts thereof, whereby "parts" refers specifically to front halves and breast caps of the poultry carcasses. Detaching the meat strips / central strips describes both the loosening and at least partial detachment, as well as the complete detachment, including and especially the complete separation of the meat strip from the sternum.

[0005] A device having the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from WO 2008 / 118008 A1.

[0006] In previously known methods and devices for removing the residual meat forming the central strip, which remains attached to the carcass in the area of ​​the sternum after the breast fillets have been loosened and separated, removal is carried out either manually or automatically using mechanical tools. The known solutions employ rollers for removing the central strip. Two counter-rotating rollers are driven by means of interlocking drive mechanisms. The two rollers grip the central strip and pull it away from the sternum. However, this solution has several disadvantages. Firstly, the production of interlocking rollers is complex and expensive. Secondly, drive mechanisms are required, which also increase the cost of the device.A crucial disadvantage, however, lies in the insufficient quality and / or yield of the recovered residual meat. This is because, due to the varying sizes of the poultry carcasses or parts thereof being processed, the rollers sometimes remove bone / cartilage from the breastbone when processing larger carcasses or parts, thus contaminating the residual meat and potentially rendering it unusable. Conversely, with smaller carcasses or parts thereof, the rollers may not remove the residual meat at all, or only partially, as they do not come into contact with it. Adapting the system to different carcass sizes is extremely complex and costly.

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the objective of creating a simple device that ensures the gentle and reliable removal of meat strips / central strips from the breast comb of poultry carcasses of different sizes. A further objective is to propose a corresponding method.

[0008] This problem is solved by the device with the aforementioned features in that the release unit comprises a release element and a removal element, wherein the release element is designed and configured to cut the strip of meat in the area of ​​a sternal horn of the sternum that runs ahead in the transport direction T, and the removal element is designed and configured to grasp and pull the strip of meat from the sternum. The solution according to the invention ensures the gentle and reliable removal of the meat strips / central strips from the sternum for poultry carcasses of different sizes by enabling separate steps for release on the one hand and removal on the other, without the release element being in direct contact with the removal element.

[0009] The loosening element and the removal element can be combined in a single tool, wherein the functionalities (for loosening and removal) of the tool are spatially arranged sequentially to perform a loosening step and a subsequent removal step. A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the loosening element and the removal element are separate tools, designed and configured to perform separate and sequentially executable work steps and arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T. This inventive design of the device ensures the product-friendly removal of the remaining meat from the breastbone of poultry carcasses in a particularly reliable and simple manner, by using a first simple and therefore cost-effective tool to loosen the remaining meat and then using a second simple and therefore cost-effective tool to remove the loosened meat.The term "removal" refers to the partial or complete peeling off of the meat strip. Dividing the individual work steps between different tools allows for simple and cost-effective production. Furthermore, dividing the work steps between two tools and ensuring that the tools operate without any interlocking mechanism guarantees gentle harvesting of the remaining meat from the breastbone. The inventive design with two tools for loosening and removing the remaining meat also simplifies adapting the tools to different sizes of poultry carcasses being processed. This further enhances the advantages described above. The spatial separation of the two tools, which are coordinated in terms of control technology but without a direct functional connection, ensures clean and gentle removal of the meat strip.

[0010] Advantageously, the release element and the detach element are arranged on a single – preferably common – base body, with the detach element positioned behind the release element in the transport direction T. This ensures a simple and cost-effective design. Optionally, the tools can also be arranged directly on a housing, frame, or similar component of the device. However, it is preferred that the tools be arranged on a single base body, allowing for modular retrofitting of the tools or the release unit. Each tool can be assigned to its own base body. However, the arrangement of the tools on a common base body is particularly preferred.

[0011] An advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the support body is preferably rotatable about a rotational axis D SK, which is oriented essentially transversely to the transport direction T, and has a position in the area of ​​the release unit in which the longitudinal axis L SK of the support body is aligned parallel to the transport direction T. In other words, the support body, with the poultry carcass arranged on it, runs longitudinally into the area of ​​the tools, so that the breastbone with the keel also points longitudinally in the transport direction. The possibility of rotating the support body provides a simple and reliable way to finally and completely detach the strip of meat still gripped by the release element from the breastbone, in particular to tear it off. The rotation of the support body can, if necessary, further reduce the detachment process of the strip of meat.The process can be shortened and, above all, completed, particularly in cases where the release element needs to be returned to its starting position for processing the next poultry carcass due to close spacing of the holding devices. The holding device is preferably rotatable, and its rotation also rotates the support body.

[0012] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the device is characterized in that the release element comprises a pivot lever with a blade arranged at its free end, the pivot lever being pivotably mounted on the base body about a pivot axis S AE. The pivot lever can be straight. Preferably, however, the pivot lever is curved. This hook shape of the pivot lever ensures that the blade at its free end strikes the sternum horn in a targeted and precise manner. In other words, the pivot lever with the blade is designed and arranged such that, as the poultry carcasses are conveyed past, the cutting edge of the blade directly engages the base of the meat strip in the region of the sternum horn, cutting into and levering up the meat strip to position the free and detached end of the meat strip for the subsequent release element.The blade itself is preferably linear in design and has a sharpened cutting edge on the side facing the strip of meat to be processed / cut.

[0013] Advantageously, the blade is detachably attached to the pivot lever. This ensures easy replacement, for example, when the blade becomes worn. The blade can be attached to the pivot lever using a screw connection, clamp, or other quick-release systems.

[0014] A particularly advantageous embodiment is characterized by the fact that the pivoting lever is spring-loaded against an adjustable stop in a starting position, such that the poultry carcasses, transported by the conveyor along the conveying path in the direction of transport T, inevitably engage the pivoting lever and its attached blade with their breastbones. This ensures reliable detachment of the meat strip. Once the poultry carcass has been transported out of contact with the detaching element, the spring tension ensures that the pivoting lever quickly and automatically returns to its starting position. The adjustable stop allows the starting position to be varied for different size ranges, thus always providing the optimal point of contact between the blade and the breastbone.The spring tension, and therefore the spring force, is optionally adjustable or can be varied by replacing the spring element. The magnitude of the spring force is an important parameter for reliably cutting the strip of meat. Instead of a spring element, actively controlled elements, such as pneumatic drives, can also be used to move the pivoting lever or separate blades into and out of engagement with the sternum horn for cutting the strip of meat.

[0015] The blade is preferably positioned at the free end of the pivoting lever in its starting position at an angle β to the poultry carcass being processed, such that the tip of the blade points towards the breastbone. The correct angle β, along with the spring force, is an important parameter for precisely cutting the strip of meat at the breastbone.

[0016] Advantageously, the angle β between the longitudinal axis LSK of the support body and the longitudinal axis LK of the blade is greater than 0° and less than 90°, preferably between 20° and 60°, and particularly preferably about 45°. This angle of the blade relative to the sternum horn ensures, firstly, the ideal point of contact between the blade or its cutting edge and the sternum horn. Secondly, this angle ensures that the incised free end of the strip of meat is levered or lifted so that the subsequent removal element can reliably grasp this free end.

[0017] A particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that the pivotally mounted and spring-loaded lever is designed to deflect against the spring force in a product-controlled manner. This simple design ensures that the removal of meat strips from poultry carcasses of varying sizes is reliable and precise, so that the removed meat strips are free of bone and / or cartilage components from the breastbone in the case of larger poultry carcasses or parts thereof, and that the meat strips are reliably and completely harvested in the case of smaller poultry carcasses or parts thereof. Through product control, the product (namely the poultry carcass) "finds" the tool for removing the meat strip, regardless of size, and controls it itself.

[0018] A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the release element comprises a gripping tong with a pair of jaws and a deflector element, wherein the gripping tong is positioned in the transport direction T in front of the deflector element. The gripping tong is designed and configured to grasp and hold the free end of the meat strip cut by the release element. The deflector element is designed and configured to deflect the gripping tong. The claimed arrangement of the gripping tong and deflector element in succession ensures that the free end of the meat strip can be grasped and clamped first, before the poultry carcass comes into contact with the deflector element in order to detach the clamped meat strip from the breastbone by pulling it longitudinally.The design according to the invention ensures the simple and reliable removal of the meat strips, regardless of the size of the poultry carcass or parts thereof being processed. The removal element can also be designed in a different way, as long as it is designed and configured to hold the free end of the meat strip and peel it off the breastbone.

[0019] Advantageously, the release element is pivotally mounted on the base body around a pivot axis S GA. This pivotal mounting ensures simple relative movement of the release element to the poultry carcass being processed, thus guaranteeing the easy and reliable removal of the gripped or clamped strip of meat. Instead of pivotal mounting, other relative movements between the release element and the poultry carcass are also possible, either product-controlled and / or active, e.g., by pneumatic drives.

[0020] Preferably, the release element is spring-loaded against an adjustable stop in a starting position, such that the poultry carcasses, transported by the conveyor along the conveying path in the transport direction T, inevitably engage the release element with their breastbone. This triggers and executes the relative movement between the release element and the poultry carcass in a product-controlled manner. When the poultry carcass runs against the release element with its breastbone, the release element is deflected out of the breastbone's path against the spring force, resulting in a release force, preferably a tensile force, acting on the remaining meat. After the poultry carcass has been transported out of engagement with the release element, the spring tension ensures that the release element quickly and automatically returns to its starting position.The adjustable stop allows the starting position to be varied for different size ranges, ensuring optimal contact between the release element and the poultry carcass. The spring tension, and therefore the spring force, is also optionally adjustable or can be varied by replacing the spring element. Instead of a spring element, actively controlled elements, such as pneumatic actuators, can also be used to execute the relative movement.

[0021] Advantageously, the pivotally mounted and spring-loaded release element is designed to deflect against the spring force in a product-controlled manner. This ensures reliable removal or peeling of the meat strip, regardless of size.

[0022] A particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that the deflector element is pivotably mounted on the base body about the pivot axis S GA, and the pair of gripper jaws is pivotably mounted on the deflector element about pivot axes S ZB, the pivot axes S ZB of the gripper jaws being oriented essentially transversely to the pivot axis S GA of the deflector element. The gripper is arranged on the deflector element. For this purpose, the deflector element has a deflector arm and a deflector head. The gripper jaws are pivotably mounted on the deflector arm, which itself is pivotably mounted on the base body. The deflector head extends obliquely at the free end of the deflector arm towards the sternum to be processed in order to ensure that the sternum is not gripped. The two gripper jaws are positioned in the transport direction T in front of the deflector element.More precisely, the deflector head is positioned to grip / clamp the free end of the loosened strip of meat before the breastbone reaches the deflector head. Despite the clamped strip of meat—the jaws only clamp and hold the strip—the breastbone is transported through the jaws, thus increasingly diverting the deflector element from the conveying path of the poultry carcasses.

[0023] Advantageously, the gripping tongs are equipped with a pneumatic drive for the pneumatic opening and closing of the jaws, whereby the pivoting movements of the jaws towards and away from each other can be performed relative to the deflector element. The gripping tongs wait with the jaws open until the tip of the breastbone, i.e., the breastbone horn with the loosened strip of meat, enters between the jaws. The jaws are then closed pneumatically. As the poultry carcass continues to be transported while the gripping tongs remain stationary in the transport direction T, the strip of meat begins to be pulled off. During transport, the breastbone collides with the deflector element, which pivots to avoid the impact, thus assisting and accelerating the pulling process, as the strip of meat is additionally pulled away from the breastbone.

[0024] Particularly preferably, the two jaws of the tongs have a profile on their facing inner surfaces, the profile preferably being formed by a longitudinal grinding of the inner surfaces such that the profile grooves in the starting position of the release element run essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis L SK of the support body or essentially parallel to the transport direction T. This profile ensures, on the one hand, a high clamping effect of the strip of meat and, on the other hand, allows the transport or sliding of the sternum through the jaws in the clamping position. Preferably, the inner surfaces are chosen to be large and wide so that there is a time window in which the clamping can take place. In other words, the jaws of the tongs are chosen to be wide enough to allow for a sufficient time window for clamping.the time window for moving into the clamping position is more freely selectable and a capture of the loose end of the meat strip is ensured.

[0025] Optionally, a spring-loaded flap element is provided, positioned along the conveyor track so that it engages with the strip of meat that has already been partially removed from the breastbone. This flap, located in the poultry carcass conveyor, completely and thoroughly separates the almost entirely detached strips of meat, still held by the gripper, from the breastbone. The flap exerts additional pressure on the strip of meat to be removed, contributing to its complete separation. The flap can be product-controlled, e.g., against a spring force, or actively controlled, e.g., by a pneumatic actuator.

[0026] Advantageously, the pivot axes S AE of the release element and S GA of the release element are aligned transversely to the transport direction T. The pivot axes S AE and S GA preferably run parallel to each other. The pivot axis S GA of the deflector element is located behind the pivot axis S AE of the release element in the transport direction T and, transversely to the transport direction T, preferably closer to the poultry carcass to be processed than the pivot axis S AE of the release element.

[0027] Another preferred embodiment is characterized in that the release element comprises two clamping jaws, wherein at least one of the clamping jaws is movable relative to the second clamping jaw. This provides a simple and cost-effective tool for the final and complete removal of the strip of meat, which requires no active control means.

[0028] Advantageously, one clamping jaw is fixed in place, while the second clamping jaw is movable relative to the first. Both clamping jaws can also be movable. However, a particularly simple and effective design of the release element is one in which one clamping jaw is fixed to or integrally formed with a housing, frame, or similar structure, while the second clamping jaw is movable relative to the first—for example, by pivoting, tilting, rotating, or even by a superimposed linear and pivoting motion. This allows the strip of meat to be reliably grasped, held, and ultimately torn from the sternum.

[0029] A preferred embodiment of this design is characterized in that the movable clamping jaw, or jaws, is held in a receiving position for receiving the sternal crest between the two clamping jaws by means of at least one spring element. The movable clamping jaw is designed and configured to deflect relative to the stationary clamping jaw against the spring force of the spring element in a product-controlled manner. The release element according to the invention can do without active control means. The movable clamping jaw, or jaws, can be controlled independently in a product-controlled manner. In the variant in which one clamping jaw is stationary and the other is movable, the stationary, preferably lower, clamping jaw forms a firm support for the sternal crest, while the movable, preferably upper, clamping jaw presses the sternal crest onto the stationary clamping jaw.The sternal ridge, which can be inserted between the two clamping jaws, is thus securely guided. Due to spring tension, the upper clamping jaw is designed to be product-controlled and therefore flexible, allowing it to adapt to the sternal ridge, particularly its size, thickness, length, contour, and the like. The described design and arrangement of the clamping jaws ensures a uniform and precise fit of both jaws against the sternal ridge, allowing the sternal ridge to be guided between the two clamping jaws in a parallel orientation to the transport direction T.

[0030] Various clamping bodies are suitable as clamping jaws, designed and configured to pick up, grip, and hold the strip of meat or parts thereof. Advantageously, the two clamping jaws are formed by two separate sheet metal bodies, arranged opposite each other with their narrow edges to form a gap for receiving the breastbone. This allows a breastbone of the poultry carcass, transported parallel to the direction of travel T, to be inserted into the gap at a breastbone attachment point between the breastbone and a breastbone ridge. The sheet metal bodies are thin compared to their flat dimensions. Thus, the cut edges of the sheet metal bodies form the narrow (end) edges. These narrow edges of the two sheet metal bodies lie against each other in the receiving position, while the sheet metal bodies are awaiting the insertion of a breastbone, possibly with a gap preferably less than 1 mm.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the clamping jaws or sheet metal bodies are designed and configured such that, in the receiving position, they are shaped to widen in the direction of the poultry carcasses or parts thereof entering in the transport direction T. The clamping jaws or sheet metal bodies form a funnel-shaped feed area converging towards each other in the transport direction T, by means of a shape or recess, through which the breastbone or keel can be safely and reliably inserted into the gap. Accordingly, in their receiving position, the clamping jaws or sheet metal bodies have a greater distance between them in the feed area than in a clamping area downstream of the feed area.

[0032] Preferably, the movable clamping jaw or sheet metal body is rotatable about a pivot axis D from a receiving position to a holding position and back. The movable clamping jaw or sheet metal body is shaped and formed like a clamping bracket or handle and is attached to a rotatable shaft. The spring element, which is tensioned between the clamping bracket and a housing part, frame, or the like, holds the clamping bracket in the receiving position.

[0033] Advantageously, the axis of rotation D of the movable clamping jaw or the movable sheet metal body, and especially also of the shaft, is aligned parallel to the transport direction T of the incoming poultry carcasses or parts thereof, such that the compensating or adjusting movement of the clamping bracket relative to the transport direction T occurs upwards or downwards. If a breastbone comb is inserted into the gap between the sheet metal bodies, the clamping bracket is deflected upwards. After the breastbone comb has been transported out of the release element, the spring element causes the clamping bracket to be pulled back towards the stationary clamping jaw.

[0034] A preferred embodiment of the release element is characterized in that the clamping jaws or the sheet metal bodies are aligned in the transport direction T of the incoming poultry carcasses or parts thereof with a first section essentially parallel to the transport direction T and parallel to the breastbone base between the keel and the keel, while at least a second section is aligned at an angle β to the transport direction T and to the breastbone base between the keel and the keel, with β > 0, running away from a transport path defined by the transport direction T of the poultry carcasses or parts thereof. While the sheet metal bodies in the first section are still parallel to the breastbone base, the distance preferably increases continuously in the second section.This causes the sternum to be moved out of the gap between the metal sheets, at least from the second section onwards, while the strip of meat is "trapped" by the metal sheets and ultimately torn away from the sternum. The sternum attachment runs along an imaginary line that is aligned parallel to the transport direction T.

[0035] Advantageously, a third section of the clamping jaws or sheet metal body is oriented at an angle α to the transport direction T and to the sternal junction between the sternal crest and the sternal bridge, with α > β running away from the transport path. The first, second, and third sections of a clamping jaw or sheet metal body are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T and are integrally connected. The three sections of a clamping jaw or sheet metal body thus form, on the one hand, a guide for the sternal crest and, on the other hand, a stripping guide for removing the strip of meat from the sternal crest. More than three sections with a variable angle to the transport direction T and to the sternal junction can also be provided.

[0036] Advantageously, the two clamping jaws or sheet metal bodies forming the release element are designed to run in the same direction in the transport direction T.

[0037] Advantageously, the spring force of the release element and / or the spring force of the release element is designed to be adjustable, thus enabling individual adjustment in order to obtain the meat strips with high yield efficiency.

[0038] A further development of the invention is characterized by the fact that additional processing stations can be configured as a scoring unit for scoring the skin, a skinning unit for removing the skin, a tendon separating unit, a unit for separating the forelegs, a filleting unit for detaching and separating the breast fillets from the poultry carcass, a unit for extracting the residual meat located laterally on the breastbone, and a unit for extracting parts of the breastbone, including the cartilaginous areas of the breastbone or parts thereof. This ultimately describes and claims a complete filleting machine, whereby the number and / or selection of processing stations can be varied and supplemented. The invention ensures particularly efficient and gentle processing of poultry carcasses or parts thereof with maximum yield, regardless of product size.

[0039] The device preferably includes a control unit designed and configured to control the conveyor, including the holding device comprising the support body, as well as each processing station. This supports the advantages described above and, in particular, ensures automated processing.

[0040] The task is also accomplished by a process with the steps mentioned above, whereby the strip of meat is detached from the breastbone of the poultry carcass in two separate and sequential steps using the detaching unit. These steps, while coordinated, are performed separately in time and space, allowing for the use of simple and therefore inexpensive tools, and ensuring that the strips of meat can be easily and reliably detached from the breastbone. Furthermore, the two-stage removal of the meat strip simplifies the processing of poultry carcasses of varying sizes.

[0041] In a first step, the strip of meat is loosened in the area of ​​a sternal horn that runs ahead in the transport direction T. This is achieved by cutting the membrane between the meat and the sternum at the sternal horn. In a second step, the cut free end of the strip of meat is grasped and pulled lengthwise along the sternal crest. The cut creates a free end of the strip of meat that can then be easily grasped and pulled off.

[0042] Advantageously, for the initial loosening step, the incision in the strip of meat is made at an acute angle β with a blade in the area of ​​the breastbone horn. This angle is formed between a longitudinal axis LSK of a support body holding the poultry carcass and a longitudinal axis LK of the blade making the incision. The blade, with its sharpened cutting edge, meets the breastbone horn, creating the loose end, which is then lifted by the blade. This preparatory step simplifies the subsequent grasping and removal of the strip of meat. Alternatively, the loosening can also be performed by the gripping tongs themselves, with a sharp edge of the tongs loosening the strip of meat before the tongs clamp and remove it.

[0043] A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the blade, in its initial position, engages with the breastbone horn as the poultry carcass is transported in the direction of transport T. The blade is then guided in a product-controlled manner, with the pressure of the blade on the breastbone horn increasing with further transport in the direction of transport T. The blade is then moved back to its initial position as soon as it is no longer engaged with the poultry carcass due to the continued transport in the direction of transport T. Because the blade is guided in a product-controlled manner, poultry carcasses of varying sizes can be processed with consistently high quality.

[0044] The blade is conveniently deflected by a pivoting lever through the breastbone of the poultry carcass against spring tension, so that it is returned to its starting position against a stop when not engaged by the spring tension. This ensures that the pivoting lever and blade are automatically in a position to "receive" the next poultry carcass after the cut.

[0045] A particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that, for the detachment step of removing the already partially detached strip of meat, the free end of the strip is clamped between two jaws of a gripping tool, and the clamped strip of meat is at least partially pulled longitudinally from the sternum by a product-controlled deflector element. Because the gripping tool is stationary in the transport direction T, the continued transport of the poultry carcass in the same direction causes the gripped strip of meat to be pulled from the sternum due to the relative movement. The product-controlled deflector element increases the distance between the gripping tool and the sternum, thereby assisting and accelerating the peeling process. Preferably, this method results in the complete detachment of the strip of meat.In some cases, it can be difficult to completely detach the strip of meat because the subsequently transported poultry carcass "forces" the gripping tongs to return to their open starting position. For these cases, the invention provides additional accelerating steps for complete detachment, which are described below.

[0046] Advantageously, the jaws of the gripping tongs are opened and closed by means of a pneumatic drive, whereby the gripping tongs, in their clamping position, are moved away from the sternum in a product-controlled manner via the deflector element. The pneumatic drive enables fast and precise opening and closing of the jaws.

[0047] Advantageously, the gripping tongs or the two tong jaws are actively controlled to open and close depending on the position of the support body carrying the poultry carcass along the conveyor line.

[0048] The gripper jaws of the gripper wait in an open position along the conveyor until the tip of the breastbone, in the form of the sternum horn, along with the loosened strip of meat, enters the open gripper. Pneumatically controlled, the jaws then move into their clamping position to grip the free end of the meat strip. Due to the design of the gripper and its jaws, the clamping, i.e., the closing of the jaws, can also occur within a specific time window. Control can be managed by a control system to which, for example, in addition to drives for a circulating conveyor, sensors for monitoring the position of the poultry carcasses along the conveyor and / or other detection and / or measuring devices for identifying and / or calculating the respective position of the breastbone of the poultry carcass are connected.

[0049] Preferably, the closed gripping tongs, which clamp the strip of meat, are moved away from the sternum in the transport direction T during transport in a product-controlled manner. This is achieved by deflecting the spring-loaded deflector element through the sternum as soon as the sternum reaches the deflector element, until the strip of meat is at least partially detached from the sternal crest. Subsequently, after at least partial detachment of the meat strip, the tong jaws are actively opened, and the release element, formed by the gripping tongs and deflector element, is moved by spring tension into its waiting position with the jaws open. The detached strips of meat can then be removed and further processed.

[0050] As already described, the strip of meat is preferably completely detached from the breastbone by the preceding process steps.In the event that, due to a tight timing of the holding devices transported in the transport direction T with the poultry carcasses arranged on them, the release element on the one hand and especially the release element on the other hand must be moved back to their starting position more quickly before the strip of meat is completely detached, the complete detachment can be accelerated while the strip of meat is still clamped, i.e. the process can be shortened, by rotating the support body with the strip of meat still clamped in the gripper from an orientation in which it is aligned with its longitudinal axis L SK parallel to the transport direction T of the holding devices for releasing and removing the strip of meat, about a rotation axis D SK which is aligned transverse to the transport direction T, in order to completely tear the released and at least partially detached strip of meat from the poultry carcass.In other options, the partially removed strip of meat can be completely detached by a flap or similar device positioned along the conveyor belt of the poultry carcass being processed. The flap exerts additional pressure on the strip of meat, thus assisting and accelerating the detachment process.

[0051] To detach the already partially separated strip of meat, the poultry carcass, with the breastbone ridge attached, can be inserted between two clamping jaws. Specifically, the poultry carcass, with the area of ​​the breastbone attachment between the breastbone ridge and a breastbone bridge, is inserted parallel to the transport direction T into a gap formed between two metal bodies acting as clamping jaws, so that the metal bodies are positioned between the partially separated strip of meat and the breastbone bridge. This creates a spatial separation between the meat strip on the one hand and the breastbone bridge on the other, allowing the breastbone ridge to follow a different transport path, namely further in the transport direction T, than the meat strip, which is pushed diagonally outwards and away from the breastbone ridge by the clamping jaws and ultimately prevented from being transported further.

[0052] For this purpose, during the transport of the poultry carcass in transport direction T, the loosened strip of meat is first moved by the sheet metal bodies towards a free edge of the sternum and ultimately held in transport direction T, so that during further transport of the poultry carcass in transport direction T the strip of meat is held out of the loosening unit and completely torn off the sternum.

[0053] While the sternum ridge is transported between the clamping jaws or the sheet metal bodies, at least one sheet metal body is moved away from the second sheet metal body in a product-controlled manner, so that the sheet metal bodies form a gap between them and lie against the sternum base on both sides of the sternum ridge, whereby the gap between the two sheet metal bodies closes and holds the strip of meat as soon as the sternum ridge leaves the release unit.

[0054] The strips of meat are thus prevented from being transported further in the direction of transport T by the metal plates. Once the sternum has completely left the release unit, the released strips of meat are clamped between the metal plates. The strips of meat held by the metal plates and completely detached from the sternum are then pushed out of their holders by subsequently released strips of meat and transported away. For example, the strips of meat can fall down a chute into a transport box.

[0055] The method is particularly preferably carried out with a device according to one or more of claims 1 to 32. The resulting advantages have already been described in detail in connection with the device, and therefore, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the relevant passages.

[0056] Further expedient and / or advantageous features and developments of the device and the method are described in the dependent claims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention in a bottom view, Fig. 2 the device according to Figure 1 Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a complete system for processing poultry carcasses with a device according to the invention in a rear view, Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of a complete system for processing poultry carcasses with a device according to the invention in a front view, Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of an alternative release element in a perspective view, and Fig. 6 shows a release unit with the release element according to the invention. Figure 5 .

[0057] The device shown in the drawing is used for processing breast caps of slaughtered poultry carcasses, specifically for removing strips of meat located on the sternum of a poultry carcass from carcasses that have already been trimmed of breast fillets. Similarly, the device is also used for processing front halves of slaughtered poultry carcasses or other parts of slaughtered poultry carcasses that still include the sternum.

[0058] The invention relates to a device 10, designed and configured for detaching strips of meat 13 located on a keel 11 of a poultry carcass 12 from poultry carcasses 12 of slaughtered poultry or parts thereof that have already been freed of breast fillets, comprising a circulating conveyor 14 with at least one holding device 15 with a support body 16 for receiving and holding the poultry carcasses or parts thereof during transport in the transport direction T through the device 10, and at least one processing station 17 along a conveying section of the conveyor 14, wherein one of the processing stations 17 is designed as a release unit 18 for detaching the strip of meat 13 from the keel 11.

[0059] According to the invention, this device 10 is characterized in that the release unit 18 comprises a release element 19 and a release element 20, wherein the release element 19 is designed and configured for cutting the strip of meat 13 in the area of ​​a sternal horn 21 of the sternal ridge 11 extending forward in the transport direction T, and the release element 20 is designed and configured for gripping and pulling the strip of meat 13 from the sternal ridge 11.

[0060] The features and further developments described below represent preferred embodiments of the device 10, either individually or in combination. It is expressly pointed out that features summarized in the claims and / or the description and / or the drawing, or described in a common embodiment, can also functionally and independently further develop the device 10 described above.

[0061] The conveyor 14 is preferably an endless conveyor chain guided around deflection elements. The deflection elements can be designed as drive and / or guide bodies. The deflection elements are rotatable about axes of rotation, the orientation of which can vary. For example, the axes of rotation can be horizontally oriented, so that the conveyor chain forms an upper run and a lower run. In the illustrated embodiment, the axes of rotation are inclined to the vertical. Preferably, a plurality of holding devices are arranged on the conveyor chain at a defined distance from one another.

[0062] As in the Figure 1 and 2In the preferred embodiment, the release element 19 and the release element 20 are separate tools designed and configured to perform separate and sequentially executable work steps. In other embodiments, the release element 19 and the release element 20 can also be configured as a single, combined tool. In the illustrated embodiment, the release element 19 and the release element 20 are arranged on a common base body 22, with the release element 20 positioned behind the release element 19 in the transport direction T. The base body 22 is detachably attached to a frame 23, housing, or the like of the device 10.The release unit 18 is arranged on the frame 23 in such a way that the tools, i.e. the release element 19 and the release element 20, protrude into the conveying path, so that holding devices 15 entering the working area of ​​the release unit 18 inevitably bring the poultry carcasses 12 into contact with the tools.

[0063] In principle, the holding devices 15 with the support bodies 16 are oriented in such a way that the poultry carcasses 12 held on the support devices 16 are transported longitudinally through the release unit 18. At the latest when the holding devices 15 enter the working area of ​​the release unit 18, the longitudinal axis LSK of the support body 16 (and thus also the longitudinal axis LGK of the poultry carcass 12) is aligned parallel to the transport direction T, so that the strip of meat 13 to be removed is also located in a longitudinal extent parallel to the transport direction T. To change the orientation of the holding devices 15 with the support bodies 16, the support body 16 is preferably rotatable about a rotation axis DSK, which is oriented essentially transversely to the transport direction T, either directly or indirectly.In the area of ​​the release unit 18, the support body 16 has a position, at least at the beginning of processing, in which the longitudinal axis L SK of the support body is aligned parallel to the transport direction T. During the course of processing, a change in orientation is ensured, also within the release unit 18 itself, preferably by means of the holding device 15 being rotatable relative to a conveyor chain 24 of the conveyor 14 by means of suitable actuating or drive means.

[0064] The release element 19 comprises a pivot lever 25, at the free end 26 of which a blade 27 is arranged. The pivot lever 25 is curved, preferably almost semicircular, so that the hook-shaped pivot lever 25 projects with its free end 26 into the conveying path of the poultry carcasses 12. The blade 27, which in the illustrated embodiment is linear, is detachably attached to the free end 26 of the pivot lever 25 by means of a screw 28. The blade 27 has a sharpened cutting edge 29 at its end opposite the transport direction T. The pivot lever 25 is pivotably mounted with the blade 27 about a pivot axis S AE on the base body 22. The pivot axis S AE is preferably oriented transversely to the transport direction T.

[0065] In the Figure 1 and 2The pivot lever 25 is in its starting position. In the starting position, the pivot lever 25 is spring-loaded – preferably by a spring element not explicitly shown – against an adjustable stop, which is also not explicitly shown, such that the poultry carcasses 12, transported by the conveyor 14 along the conveying path in the transport direction T, inevitably come into contact with the pivot lever 25 and its blade 27, which is in its starting position, via the breastbone 30. More precisely, as the poultry carcass 12 continues to be transported in the transport direction T, its breastbone horn 21 strikes the cutting edge 29 of the blade 27.

[0066] The blade 27 at the free end 26 of the pivot lever 25 is, in its initial position, aligned at an angle β to the poultry carcass 12 to be processed, such that the tip, i.e., the sharpened cutting edge 29, of the blade 27 is directed towards the breastbone horn 21. The angle β, or its magnitude, is variable and can be changed, for example, by means of the adjustable stop. The angle β enclosed between the longitudinal axis LSK of the support body 16 and the longitudinal axis LK of the blade 27 is greater than 0° and less than 90° and is preferably between 20° and 60°, and particularly preferably about 45°.

[0067] The pivotally mounted and spring-loaded pivot lever 25 is designed to deflect against the spring force in a product-controlled manner. As soon as the cutting edge 29 of the blade 27 is in contact with the sternum horn 21, the further transport in the transport direction T inevitably leads to the deflection of the pivot lever 25. Because the cutting edge 29 is in the view according to the Figure 1and 2 As the cutting edge 29 engages the breastbone horn 21 at an angle from below, the transport in the direction of transport T causes the pressure of the cutting edge 29 on the meat strip 13 in the area of ​​the breastbone horn 21 to increase, so that the meat strip 13, with its now free end, is detached from the breastbone ridge 11. Simultaneously, the cutting edge 29 levers the loose end of the meat strip 13 upwards during transport, making it easy to grasp. As soon as the contact between the poultry carcass 12 and the release element 19 is broken by the transport of the poultry carcass 12 in the direction of transport T, the release element 19 automatically returns to its starting position due to spring force. The spring force of the release element 19 is adjustable, for example, by replacing the spring element or by other means.

[0068] In a first embodiment, the release element 20 comprises a gripping tong 31 with a pair of jaws 32, 33 and a deflector element 34, wherein the gripping tong 31 is positioned in front of the deflector element 34 in the transport direction T. This positioning refers to the functional parts of the gripping tong 31 and the deflector element 34 that come into contact with the poultry carcass. The release element 20 is pivotably mounted as a unit about a pivot axis S GA on the base body 22. The pivot axis S GA of the release element 20 is oriented substantially transversely to the transport direction T. In the transport direction T, the pivot axis S GA of the release element 20 lies behind the pivot axis S AE of the release element 19. Transversely to the transport direction T, the distance of the pivot axis S GA of the release element 20 to the support body 16 is less than the distance of the pivot axis S AE of the release element 19 to the support body 16.

[0069] The gripper 31 comprises two gripping arms 35, 36. A gripper jaw 32, 33 is arranged at the free end of each of the two gripping arms 35, 36. The deflector element 20 comprises a deflector arm 37 and a deflector head 38. The deflector head 38 is angled on the deflector arm 37 such that the deflector head 38 projects further into the conveying path than the deflector arm 37. The deflector head 38 lies transversely to the conveying direction T at approximately the level of the gripper jaws 32, 33. The gripper jaws 32, 33 of the gripper 31 are located in front of the deflector head 38 of the deflector element 34 in the conveying direction T.In the event that the release element 19 and the release element 20 are formed by a combination tool, the gripping tongs 31 also assume the functionality of the release element 19 by having a sharp edge or the like on the entry side of the poultry carcass, by means of which the cutting can be carried out before the jaws 32, 33 are moved into their clamping position. In other embodiments, the gripping tongs 31 can be designed to be so "biting" that the cutting is carried out during the clamping process.

[0070] The release element 20 is spring-loaded against an adjustable (not explicitly shown) stop in a starting position, such that the poultry carcasses 12, transported by the conveyor 14 along the conveying path in the transport direction T, inevitably engage with the release element 20 in its starting position with their breastbone 30. The spring tension is generated by a spring element 39, which is optionally replaceable. The pivotally mounted and spring-loaded release element 20 is designed to deflect against the spring force in a product-controlled manner. As soon as the contact between the poultry carcass 12 and the release element 20 is broken by the continued transport of the poultry carcass 12 in the transport direction T, the release element 20 automatically moves back to its starting position due to the spring force. The spring force of the release element 20 is adjustable, e.g., by replacing the spring element or by other means.

[0071] Preferably, the deflector element 34 of the release element 20 is pivotably mounted on the base body 22 about the pivot axis S GA, and the pair of gripper jaws 32, 33 is pivotally mounted on the deflector element 34 about pivot axes S ZB, the pivot axes S ZB of the gripper jaws 32, 33 being oriented transversely to the pivot axis S GA of the deflector element 34. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the deflector arm 37 is pivotally mounted on the base body 22. The cranked deflector head 38 is arranged at the free end of the deflector arm 37. The deflector head 38 has an inclined contact surface 40 onto which the poultry carcass 12 runs with its breastbone 30. The gripping jaws 31 are pivotably mounted on the deflector arm 37 with their gripping arms 35, 36. The cranked jaws 32, 33 are arranged at the free ends of the gripping arms 35, 36. The jaws 32, 33 and the deflector head 38 form the functional parts of the gripping jaws 31 and the deflector element 34.

[0072] The gripping jaws 31 are equipped with a pneumatic drive 41 for pneumatically closing and opening the jaws 32, 33, wherein the pivoting movements of the jaws 32, 33 towards and away from each other relative to the deflector element 34 and the deflector arm 37, respectively, can be performed. The gripping arms 35, 36 are pivotable about the pivot axes S ZB by means of the pneumatic drive 41. The two jaws 32, 33 have a profile 42 on their facing inner surfaces, wherein the profile 42 is preferably formed by a longitudinal grinding of the inner surfaces such that the profile grooves in the initial position of the release element 20 run essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis L SK of the support body 16 or essentially parallel to the transport direction T.

[0073] In an embodiment not shown, a flap element is further provided which is spring-loaded and is arranged along the conveying path in such a way that it can be brought into engagement with the strip of meat 13 which has already been partially removed from the sternal crest 11.

[0074] In a second embodiment, the release element 20 comprises two clamping jaws 50, 51, wherein at least one of the clamping jaws 51 is designed to be movable relative to the second clamping jaw 50. In the embodiment described in Figure 5In the illustrated embodiment, a first clamping jaw 50, namely a lower clamping jaw 50, is designed to be stationary. The stationary clamping jaw 50 can be part of a housing, the frame 23, or the like, or attached to it. The second clamping jaw 51, namely an upper clamping jaw 51, is designed to be movable relative to the first clamping jaw 50. The movable clamping jaw 51, or each movable clamping jaw 51, is held in a receiving position for receiving the sternal crest 11 between the two clamping jaws 50, 51 by means of at least one spring element 52. The movable clamping jaw 51 is designed and configured to deflect relative to the stationary clamping jaw 50 against the spring force of the spring element 52 in a product-controlled manner. The spring element 52 is attached to the movable clamping jaw 51 on one side and to the frame 23 on the other.

[0075] In the preferred embodiment, the two clamping jaws 50, 51 are formed by two separate sheet metal bodies which are arranged opposite each other with their narrow edges 50.1, 51.1 to form a gap 53 for receiving the keel bone 11, such that a keel bone 30 of the poultry carcass 12, transported parallel to the transport direction T, can be inserted into the gap 53 at a keel bone attachment 54 between the keel bone 11 and a keel bone rib 55. The keel bone attachment 54 is particularly in the Figure 6 represented by an imaginary line extending parallel to the transport direction T. In the Figure 6It can be seen that the holding device 15 with the support body 16 has the same orientation when moved by the release unit 18 both in the area of ​​the release element 19 and in the area of ​​the release element 20, such that the sternum 30 with the sternal crest 11 is guided between the clamping jaws 50, 51 in a parallel orientation to the transport direction T.

[0076] The clamping jaws 50, 51 and the sheet metal bodies are designed and configured such that, in the receiving position, they are shaped to widen in the opposite direction to the poultry carcasses or parts thereof entering in the transport direction T. The clamping jaws 50, 51 and the sheet metal bodies form an inlet or feed funnel that tapers in the transport direction T and opens into the actual (guide) gap 53. In a feed area 56 of the clamping jaws 50, 51 and the sheet metal bodies, their distance from each other is greater than in a clamping area 57, where the distance between them, which can also be zero, defines the gap 53.

[0077] The movable clamping jaw 51, or the movable sheet metal body, is designed and configured to rotate about a pivot axis D from a receiving position to a holding position and back. The sheet metal body of the movable clamping jaw 51 is shaped as a clamping bracket, the free ends of which are attached to a rotatable shaft 58. The shaft 58 itself is mounted on the housing, frame 23, or the like. The pivot axis D of the movable clamping jaw 51, or the movable sheet metal body, is aligned parallel to the transport direction T of the incoming poultry carcasses or parts thereof.

[0078] As in particular the Figure 6As can be seen, the clamping jaws 50, 51 or the sheet metal bodies are aligned in the transport direction T of the incoming poultry carcasses or parts thereof with a first section A essentially parallel to the transport direction T and parallel to the breastbone attachment 54 between the breastbone ridge 11 and the breastbone web 55, while at least a second section B is aligned at an angle β to the transport direction T and to the breastbone attachment 54 between the breastbone ridge 11 and the breastbone web 55 with β > 0 away from a transport path defined by the transport direction T of the poultry carcasses or parts thereof. Preferably, a third section C of the clamping jaws 50, 51 or of the sheet metal body is aligned at an angle α to the transport direction T and to the sternal base 54 between the sternal crest 11 and the sternal bridge 55 with α > β running away from the transport path, wherein the first and second and third sections A, B, C of a clamping jaw 50, 51 orThe two clamping jaws 50 and 51, forming the release element 20, are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T and are integrally connected. The two clamping jaws 50 and 51, respectively, are arranged to run in the same direction in the transport direction T.

[0079] The device 10 can be designed and configured as a single unit solely for extracting the strip of meat 13 from the sternum ridge 11. Preferably, the discharging unit 18 is only one of several processing stations of the device 10. For example, the device 10 can be provided with further processing stations including a scoring unit (not explicitly shown) for scoring the skin, a skinning unit 43 for removing the skin, a tendon separating unit 44, a unit 45 for separating the forked bones, at least one filleting unit 46 for loosening and separating the breast fillets from the poultry carcass 12, a unit 47 for extracting the residual meat located laterally on the sternum 30, and a unit 48 for extracting parts of the sternum 30, which also include the cartilaginous areas of the sternum or parts thereof. This ultimately forms a filleting machine 49, which may additionally include further processing stations.

[0080] The device 10 and also the filleting machine 49 comprise a control unit (not explicitly shown) which is designed and configured to control the conveyor 14, including the holding device 15 comprising the support body 16, as well as each processing station 17. The control unit is used to coordinate the operation of the driven functional parts of the device 10.

[0081] The inventive method is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing: The method serves to detach strips of meat 13 located on a keel 11 of a poultry carcass 12 from poultry carcasses 12 of slaughtered poultry or parts thereof that have already been gutted. For detachment, each poultry carcass 12 is guided along a conveyor in the transport direction T into the area of ​​a detachment unit 18 for detaching the strip of meat 13, wherein the poultry carcass 12 is held on a support body 16 of a holding device 15 during transport in the transport direction T for holding the poultry carcasses 12 during transport and processing. During transport of the poultry carcass 12 into the working area of ​​the detachment unit 18, the longitudinal axis L SK of the support body 16 is aligned parallel to the transport direction T.In the case of a poultry carcass 12 oriented in this way, which is transported longitudinally through the detaching unit 18 with its keel 11, the strip of meat 13 is detached during transport along or through the detaching unit 18.

[0082] According to the invention, the strip of meat 13 is detached from the sternum ridge 11 of the poultry carcass 12 by means of the detaching unit 18 in two separate and successive steps. In a first detachment step, the strip of meat 13 is detached in the region of a sternum horn 21 of the sternum 30 that runs ahead in the transport direction T by cutting the membrane located between the meat and the sternum 30 at the sternum horn 21, while in a second detachment step the cut free end of the strip of meat 13 is grasped and pulled away from the sternum ridge 11 in the longitudinal direction. The detachment and the removal can be carried out with a combination tool or with separate tools.

[0083] For the initial deboning step, the incision in the strip of meat 13 in the region of the sternum horn 21 is made by a blade 27 at an acute angle β, formed between a longitudinal axis LSK of a support body 16 carrying the poultry carcass 12 and a longitudinal axis LK of the blade 27 making the incision. In other words, the poultry carcass 12 with its sternum horn 21 runs against the blade 27, thereby incising the tip of the sternum 30 or of the strip of meat 13 located on the sternal crest 11 in the region of the sternum horn 21.

[0084] For this purpose, the blade 27 is brought into engagement with the breastbone horn 21 in its initial position by the transport of the poultry carcass 12 in transport direction T. The blade 27 is then guided in a product-controlled manner, whereby the pressure of the blade 27 on the breastbone horn 21 increases with further transport in transport direction T. As soon as the blade 27 is disengaged from the poultry carcass 12 due to further transport in transport direction T, the blade 27 is moved back to its initial position. First, the blade 27 is deflected by a pivot lever 25 through the breastbone 30 of the poultry carcass 12 against a spring tension. The spring tension ensures that the pivot lever 25, with the blade 27, is then moved back to its initial position against a stop.The loosening of the meat strip 13 is exclusively product-controlled, so that it works regardless of size for both large and small poultry carcasses 12.

[0085] For the detachment step of removing the already partially detached strip of meat 13, the free end of the strip is clamped between two jaws 32, 33 of a gripper 31, and the clamped strip of meat 13 is at least partially pulled longitudinally from the sternum ridge 11 by a product-controlled deflector element 34. For this purpose, the poultry carcass 12 continues to be conveyed in the transport direction T. Along the conveying path or conveyor section, the jaws 32, 33 of the gripper 31 wait in an open waiting position until the tip of the sternum 30, in the form of the sternum horn 21, with the partially detached strip of meat 13, enters the open gripper 31, at which point the jaws 32, 33 move into their clamping position to clamp the free end of the strip of meat 13. This is preferably done pneumatically. The jaws 32, 33 of the gripping pliers 31 are closed and opened by means of a pneumatic drive 41.The controlled closing and opening of the gripping tongs 31 depends on the position of the holding device 15. Once the holding device 15 has reached a specific position, the tong jaws 32, 33 are closed. Later, the tong jaws 32, 33 are opened again at another specific position to release the detached strip of meat 13.

[0086] In the clamping position of the gripping jaws 31, they are moved away from the breastbone 30 in a product-controlled manner via the deflector element 34. Thus, on the one hand, a relative movement occurs due to the transport of the poultry carcass 12 by the release unit 18, since the gripping jaws 31 are stationary in the transport direction T. On the other hand, a relative movement occurs – preferably superimposed – due to the pivoting movement of the gripping jaws 31 via the deflector element 34.

[0087] While the gripping tongs 31, or rather the two jaws 32, 33, are actively controlled to open and close depending on the position of the support body 16 carrying the poultry carcass 12 along the conveyor path in order to clamp and release the strip of meat 13, the movement for detaching the strip of meat 13 is product-controlled. Specifically, the closed gripping tongs 31, which are clamping the strip of meat 13, are moved away from the breastbone in the transport direction T during transport in a product-controlled manner by deflecting the spring-loaded deflector element 34 through the breastbone 30 as soon as the breastbone 30 reaches the deflector element 34, until the strip of meat 13 is at least partially detached or pulled off the breastbone ridge 11.After at least partial detachment of the strip of meat 13, the jaws of the tongs 32, 33 are actively opened and the detachment element 20, formed from the gripping tongs 31 and the deflecting element 34, is moved by spring tension into its waiting position with the jaws of the tongs 32, 33 open.

[0088] In the event that the meat strip 13 cannot be completely detached by the two relative movements mentioned above during a processing cycle before a subsequent holding device 15 enters the working and effective area of ​​the release unit 18, the complete detachment of the meat strip 13 while it is still clamped can be supported and accelerated. A simple way to achieve this, for example, is to provide an obstacle along the conveyor path. The obstacle could be, for example, a simple spring-loaded flap against which the still-clamped meat strip 13 is transported.Another possibility is that the support body 16, with the strip of meat 13 still clamped in the gripping jaws 31, is rotated from an orientation in which it is aligned with its longitudinal axis L SK parallel to the transport direction T of the holding devices 15 for loosening and removing the strip of meat 13, about a rotation axis D SK, which is aligned transversely to the transport direction T, in order to completely tear the loosened and at least partially detached strip of meat 13 from the poultry carcass 12.

[0089] Alternatively, for the detachment step of removing the already partially detached strip of meat 13, the poultry carcass 12 with the breastbone ridge 11 can be inserted between two clamping jaws 50, 51. When the poultry carcass 12 is transported in the transport direction T, the orientation of the holding device 15 and the support body remains the same, so that the poultry carcass 12, or rather its breastbone ridge 11, is moved parallel to the transport direction T. The breastbone ridge 11 then runs between the two clamping jaws 50, 51. More precisely, the poultry carcass 12, with the area of ​​a breastbone attachment 54 between the breastbone ridge 11 and a breastbone ridge 55, is inserted parallel to the transport direction T into a gap 53 formed between two sheet metal bodies acting as clamping jaws 50, 51, so that the sheet metal bodies are located between the partially detached strip of meat 13 and the breastbone ridge 55.In other words, the sternum ridge 55 lies on one side of the clamping jaws 50, 51, while the sternum ridge 11 with the detached strip of meat 13 is located on the other side of the clamping jaws 50, 51. During transport of the poultry carcass 12 in the transport direction T, the detached strip of meat 13 is initially moved by the sheet metal bodies towards a free edge 59 of the sternum ridge 11 and ultimately held in the transport direction T, so that during further transport of the poultry carcass 12 in the transport direction T, the strip of meat 13 is held out of the release unit 18 and completely torn off the sternum ridge 11.At least one sheet metal body is moved away from the second sheet metal body in a product-controlled manner, so that the sheet metal bodies form a gap 53 between them and rest against the sternal ridge 11 at the sternal base 54 on both sides. The gap 53 between the two sheet metal bodies closes and holds the strip of meat 13 as soon as the sternal ridge 11 leaves the release unit 18. Initially, the sheet metal bodies lie in the receiving position with their narrow edges 50.1, 51.1 abutting each other, at least in the clamping area 57. In the feeding area 56, the distance between the free edges 50.1, 51.1 is greater to facilitate the insertion of the sternal ridge 11 between the sheet metal bodies. When the sternal ridge 11 reaches the clamping area 57, it lifts the movable clamping jaw 51, i.e., the upper sheet metal body, so that the gap 53 between the sheet metal bodies opens.On one side of the clamping jaws 50, 51 forming the release element 20, the poultry carcass 12 with the breastbone ridge 55 is guided along, while the breastbone ridge 11 with the detached strip of meat 13 is guided along the other side of the clamping jaws 50, 51 forming the release element 20. During further transport, the breastbone ridge 11 can exit the release element 20 through the gap 53, while the strip of meat 13 is held by the release element 20 and prevented from being transported further, so that tearing inevitably occurs. The strips of meat 13, held by the metal bodies and completely detached from the breastbone, are then pushed out of the holder and transported away by subsequently detached strips of meat 13.

[0090] The completely detached strips of meat 13 are removed from the device 10 and processed further. For example, the detached strips of meat 13 can fall onto a chute or the like, by means of which they are then fed into a transport container.

[0091] The method is particularly preferably carried out with a device 10 according to one or more of claims 1 to 32.

Claims

1. Apparatus (10), configured and adapted for detaching meat strips (13), which are located on a breastbone crest (11) of a poultry carcass (12), from poultry carcasses (12) of slaughtered poultry bodies or parts thereof which are already freed from breast fillets, comprising a circulating conveyor (14) having at least one holding apparatus (15) with a support body (16) for receiving and holding the poultry bodies or the parts thereof during transport by the apparatus (10) in transport direction T, and at least one processing station (17) along a conveying path of the conveyor (14), wherein one of the processing stations (17) is configured as a detaching unit (18) for detaching the meat strips (13) from the breastbone crest (11), characterised in that the detaching unit (18) comprises a pre-detaching element (19) and a detaching element (20), wherein the pre-detaching element (19) is configured and adapted to cut into the meat strip (13) in the region of a breastbone horn (21) of the breastbone crest (11) which leads in transport direction T and the detaching element (20) is configured and adapted to grip and peel the meat strip (13) off the breastbone crest (11).

2. Apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the pre-detaching element (19) and the detaching element (20) are separate tools which are configured and adapted to carry out separate work steps that can be performed one after the other and are arranged one behind the other in transport direction T.

3. Apparatus (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the pre-detaching element (19) and the detaching element (20) are arranged on a preferably common main body (22), wherein the detaching element (20) is arranged downstream of the pre-detaching element (19) in transport direction T.

4. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the support body (16) is preferably configured to be rotatable about an axis of rotation DSK, which is oriented essentially transverse to the transport direction T, and has a position in the region of the detaching unit (18) in which the longitudinal axis LSK of the support body (16) is oriented parallel to the transport direction T.

5. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the pre-detaching element (19) comprises a pivot lever (25) on the free end (26) of which a blade (27) is arranged, wherein the pivot lever (25) is mounted on the main body (22) such that it can pivot about a pivot axis SAE.

6. Apparatus (10) according to claim 5, characterised in that the blade (27) is releasably attached to the pivot lever (25).

7. Apparatus (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the pivot lever (25) is spring-loaded against an adjustable abutment in a starting position in such a manner that the breastbone (30) of the poultry carcasses (12) transported along the transport path in transport direction T inevitably comes into engagement with the pivot lever (25) which is in the starting position and its blade (27) arranged thereon by means of the conveyor (14).

8. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the blade (27) on the free end of the pivot lever (25) is oriented in the starting position of said pivot lever at an angle β to the poultry carcass (12) to be processed, in such a manner that the tip of the blade (27) is directed towards the breastbone horn (21).

9. Apparatus (10) according to claim 8, characterised in that the angle β enclosed between the longitudinal axis LSK of the support body (16) and the longitudinal axis LK of the blade (27) is greater than 0° and less than 90° and is preferably between 20° and 60° and particularly preferably is approximately 45°.

10. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the pivotably mounted and spring-loaded pivot lever (25) is configured to be deflectable against the spring force in a product-controlled manner.

11. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the detaching element (20) comprises gripping tongs (31) with a pair of tong jaws (32, 33) and a deflector element (34), wherein the gripping tongs (31) are arranged upstream of the deflector element (34) in transport direction T.

12. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 3 to 11, characterised in that the detaching element (20) is mounted on the main body (22) such that it can pivot about a pivot axis SGA.

13. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the detaching element (20) is spring-loaded against an adjustable abutment in a starting position, in such a manner that the breastbone (30) of the poultry carcasses (12) transported by means of the conveyor (14) along the transport path in transport direction T inevitably comes into engagement with the detaching element (20) which is in the starting position.

14. Apparatus (10) according to claim 13, characterised in that the pivotably mounted and spring-loaded detaching element (20) is configured to be deflectable against the spring force in a product-controlled manner.

15. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 12 to 14, characterised in that the deflector element (34) is mounted on the main body (22) such that it can pivot about the pivot axis SGA and the pair of tong jaws (32, 33) is mounted on the deflector element (34) such that it can pivot about pivot axes SZB with respect to the deflector element (34), wherein the pivot axes SZB of the tong jaws (32, 33) are aligned substantially transverse to the pivot axis SGA of the deflector element (34).

16. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 11 to 15, characterised in that a pneumatic drive (41) for pneumatically opening and closing the tong jaws (32, 33) is associated with the gripping tongs (31), wherein the pivoting movements of the tong jaws (32, 33) can be executed towards each other and away from each other with respect to the deflector element (34).

17. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 11 to 16, characterised in that the two tong jaws (32, 33) have profiling (42) on their inner surfaces directed towards each other, wherein the profiling (42) is preferably formed from a longitudinal section of the inner surfaces, in such a manner that profiled grooves in the starting position of the detaching element (20) extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LSK of the support body (16) or substantially parallel to the transport direction T.

18. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that in addition a flap element is provided which is spring-loaded and arranged along the transport path in such a manner that it can be brought into engagement with the meat strip (13) already partially peeled off the breastbone crest (11).

19. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 12 to 18, characterised in that the pivot axes SAE of the pre-detaching element (19) and SGA of the detaching element (20) are oriented transverse to the transport direction T.

20. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the detaching element (20) comprises two clamping jaws (50, 51), wherein at least one of the clamping jaws (50, 51) is configured to be movable with respect to the second clamping jaw (51, 50).

21. Apparatus (10) according to claim 20, characterised in that a first clamping jaw (50) is configured to be fixed and stationary, and the second clamping jaw (51) is configured to be movable with respect to the first clamping jaw (50).

22. Apparatus (10) according to claim 20 or 21, characterised in that the or each movable clamping jaw (51) is held by means of at least one spring element (52) under spring tension in a receiving position for receiving the breastbone crest (11) between the two clamping jaws (50, 51), wherein the movable clamping jaw (51) is configured and adapted to be deflectable with respect to the fixed clamping jaw (50) against the spring force of the spring element (52) in a product-controlled manner.

23. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 20 to 22, characterised in that the two clamping jaws (50, 51) are formed by two separate sheet metal bodies which, in order to form a gap (53) for receiving the breastbone crest (11), are arranged with their thin edges (50.1, 51.1) opposite each other in such a manner that a breastbone (30) of the poultry carcass (12), which is transported parallel to the transport direction T, can be introduced into the gap (53) on a breastbone appendage (54) between the breastbone crest (11) and a breastbone web (55).

24. Apparatus (10) according to claim 22 or 23, characterised in that the clamping jaws (50, 51) or the sheet metal bodies are configured and adapted in such a manner that, in the receiving position, they are shaped so as to expand counter to the poultry bodies or parts thereof entering in transport direction T.

25. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 20 to 24, characterised in that the movable clamping jaw (51) or the movable sheet metal body is configured and adapted to be rotatable about an axis of rotation D from a receiving position to a holding position and back.

26. Apparatus (10) according to claim 25, characterised in that the axis of rotation D of the movable clamping jaw (51) or the movable sheet metal body is oriented parallel to the transport direction T of the incoming poultry bodies or the parts thereof.

27. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 23 to 26, characterised in that the clamping jaws (50, 51) or the sheet metal bodies are oriented in transport direction T of the incoming poultry bodies or the parts thereof with a first portion (A) substantially parallel to the transport direction T and parallel to the breastbone appendage (54) between the breastbone crest (11) and the breastbone web (55), while at least one second portion (B) is oriented at an angle β to the transport direction T and to the breastbone appendage (54) between the breastbone crest (11) and the breastbone web (55) with β > 0 running away from a transport path defined by transport direction T of the poultry bodies or the parts thereof.

28. Apparatus (10) according to claim 27, characterised in that a third portion (C) of the clamping jaws (50, 51) or the sheet metal bodies is oriented at an angle α to the transport direction T and to the breastbone appendage (54) between the breastbone crest (11) and the breastbone web (55) with α > β running away from the transport path, wherein the first and second and third portions (A, B, C) of a clamping jaw (50, 51) or a sheet metal body are each arranged one behind the other in transport direction T and are integrally connected to each other.

29. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 20 to 28, characterised in that the two clamping jaws (50, 51) or sheet metal bodies forming the detaching element (20) are configured to extend in alignment in transport direction T.

30. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 13 to 29, characterised in that the spring force of the pre-detaching element (19) and / or the spring force of the detaching element (20) is configured to be adjustable.

31. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 30, characterised in that in transport direction T upstream of the detaching unit (18) for detaching the meat strips (13) from the breastbone crest (11), further processing stations (17) may be or are configured as a scoring unit for scoring the skin, as a skinning unit (43) for removing the skin, as a sinew separating unit (44), as a unit (45) for separating the wishbones, as a filleting unit (46) for detaching and separating the breast fillets from the poultry carcass (12), and as a unit (47) for recovering remainders of meat located laterally on the breastbone (30), and in transport direction T downstream of the detaching unit (18) for detaching the meat strips (13) from the breastbone crest (11) further processing stations (17) may be or are configured as a unit (48) for recovering parts of the breastbone (30) which also comprise the cartilaginous regions of the breastbone or parts thereof.

32. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 31, characterised in that it comprises a control unit which is configured and adapted to control the conveyor (14) including the holding apparatus (15) comprising the support body (16) and the or each processing station (17).

33. Method for detaching meat strips (13), which are located on a breastbone crest (11) of a poultry carcass (12), from poultry carcasses (12) of slaughtered poultry bodies or parts thereof which are already freed from breast fillets, comprising the steps: - Feeding the poultry carcass (12) along a conveying path in transport direction T into the region of a detaching unit (18) for detaching the meat strip (13), wherein the poultry carcass (12) is held during transport in transport direction T on a support body (16) of a holding apparatus (15) for holding the poultry carcass (12) during transport and during processing, wherein the longitudinal axis LSK of the support body (16) is oriented parallel to the transport direction T, and - Detachment of the meat strip (13) during transport along or through the detaching unit, characterised in that the meat strip (13) is detached from the breastbone crest (11) of the poultry carcass (12) by means of the detaching unit (18) in two separate and successive steps.

34. Method according to claim 33, characterised in that, in a first pre-detaching step, the meat strip (13) is pre-detached in the region of a breastbone horn (21) of the breastbone (30) preceding in transport direction T, in that the membrane on the breastbone horn (21) located between the meat and the breastbone (30) is cut into, while, in a second pre-detaching step, the free end of the meat strip (13) cut into is gripped and peeled off the breastbone crest (11) in the longitudinal direction thereof.

35. Method according to claim 34, characterised in that, for the pre-detaching step, the incision in the meat strip (13) is made in the region of the breastbone horn (21) to pre-detach the meat strip (13) using a blade (27) at an acute angle β, which is formed between a longitudinal axis LSK of a support body (16) carrying the poultry carcass (12) and a longitudinal axis LK of a blade (27) making the incision.

36. Method according to claim 35, characterised in that, in its starting position, the blade (27) is brought into engagement with the breastbone horn (21) by transporting the poultry carcass (12) in transport direction T, the blade (27) is then guided in a product-controlled manner, wherein the pressure of the blade (27) on the breastbone horn (21) increases due to the further transport in transport direction T, and the blade (27) is moved back to its starting position as soon as the blade (27) is out of engagement with the poultry carcass (12) due to the further transport in transport direction T.

37. Method according to claim 35 or 36, characterised in that the blade (27) is deflected via a pivot lever (25) against a spring tension by the breastbone (30) of the poultry carcass (12) in order to be moved out of engagement by the spring tension back to its starting position against an abutment.

38. Method according to one or more of claims 34 to 37, characterised in that for the detaching step to detach the already pre-detached meat strip (13), the free end thereof is clamped between two tong jaws (32, 33) of gripping tongs (31), and the clamped meat strip (13) is stripped at least partially from the breastbone crest (21) in the longitudinal direction by a product-controlled deflector element (34).

39. Method according to claim 38, characterised in that the tong jaws (32, 33) of the gripping tongs (31) are closed and opened by means of a pneumatic drive, wherein the gripping tongs (31) in their clamping position are moved away from the breastbone (30) in a product-controlled manner via the deflector element (34).

40. Method according to claim 38 or 39, characterised in that the gripping tongs (31) or the two tong jaws (32, 33) are actively controlled closed and open along the conveying path depending on the position of the support body (16) carrying the poultry carcass (12).

41. Method according to one or more of claims 38 to 40, characterised in that the tong jaws (32, 33) of the gripping tongs (31) wait in an open standby position along the conveying path until the tip of the breastbone (30), in the form of the breastbone horn (21) with the pre-detached meat strip (13), enters the open gripping tongs (31), in order to then move the tong jaws (32, 33) in a pneumatically controlled manner into their clamping position to clamp the free end of the meat strip (13).

42. Method according to one or more of claims 38 to 41, characterised in that the closed gripping tongs (31) clamping the meat strip (13) are moved away from the breastbone (30) in a product-controlled manner during transport in transport direction T, in that the spring-loaded deflector element (34) is deflected by the breastbone (30) as soon as the breastbone (30) reaches the deflector element (34) until the meat strip (13) is at least partially detached from the breastbone crest (11).

43. Method according to one or more of claims 38 to 42, characterised in that, after at least partial detachment of the meat strip (13), the tong jaws (32, 33) are actively opened and the detaching element (20) formed of gripping tongs (31) and deflector element (34) is moved in a spring-loaded manner into its standby position with tong jaws (32, 33) open.

44. Method according to one or more of claims 33 to 43, characterised in that the support body (16) with the meat strip (13) still clamped in the gripping tongs (31) is rotated about an axis of rotation DSK, which is oriented transverse to the transport direction T, out of an alignment in which said support body is oriented with its longitudinal axis LSK parallel to the transport direction T of the holding apparatuses (15) for pre-detaching and peeling off the meat strip (13), in order to strip the pre-detached and at least partially detached meat strip (13) completely from the poultry carcass (12).

45. Method according to one or more of claims 33 to 37, characterised in that for the detaching step to detach the already pre-detached meat strip (13), the poultry carcass (12) is inserted with the breastbone crest (11) between two clamping jaws (50, 51).

46. Method according to claim 45, characterised in that the poultry carcass is inserted with the region of a breastbone appendage (54) between the breastbone crest (11) and a breastbone web (55) parallel to the transport direction T into a gap (53) formed between two sheet metal bodies as clamping jaws (50, 51) so that the sheet metal bodies are located between the pre-detached meat strip (13) and the breastbone web (54).

47. Method according to claim 46, characterised in that during transport of the poultry carcass (12) in transport direction T, the pre-detached meat strip (13) is initially moved by the sheet metal bodies towards a free edge of the breastbone crest (11) and is ultimately stopped in transport direction T so that during further transport of the poultry carcass (12) in transport direction T, the meat strip (13) is held out of the detaching unit (18) and completely stripped off the breastbone crest (11).

48. Method according to claim 46 or 47, characterised in that at least one sheet metal body is moved away from the second sheet metal body in a product - controlled manner so that the sheet metal bodies form a gap (53) between them and rest on the breastbone appendage (54) on both sides of the breastbone crest (11), wherein the gap (53) between the two sheet metal bodies closes and holds the meat strip (13) as soon as the breastbone crest (11) leaves the detaching unit (18).

49. Method according to claim 47 or 48, characterised in that the meat strips (13) held by the sheet metal bodies and completely detached from the breastbone (30) are each pressed out of the holder by subsequently detached meat strips (13) and transported away.

50. Method according to one or more of claims 33 to 49, characterised in that it is carried out with an apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 32.

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