Knife arrangement, cutting apparatus and method for removing a wishbone from a poultry carcass or parts thereof still comprising at least the wishbone, a keel bone, tendons and / or ligaments connected to the wishbone, and inner fillets and outer fillets

Abstract

The invention relates to a blade arrangement (10) designed and configured for removing a wishbone (11) from a poultry carcass (13) or parts thereof still comprising at least the wishbone (11), a keel bone (12), tendons and / or ligaments connected to the wishbone, and inner fillets and outer fillets, the arrangement comprising three separate blades (15, 16, 17), wherein two blades (15, 16) are arranged opposite one another and so as to extend towards one another in a V shape as side blades, wherein, at the free ends (20, 21) extending towards one another, first cutting edges (18, 19) of the two side blades (15, 16) are arranged in a substantially vertical cutting plane Sv, while the third blade (17), as a cover blade, covers one side of the interior space (22) formed by the two side blades (15, 16), wherein cutting edges (23, 24) of the cover blade (17) lie in a substantially horizontal cutting plane SH, which is distinguished in that, at least on one of the two side blades (15, 16), at least one second cutting edge (27, 28), which extends substantially horizontally, is formed on an inner side (25, 26) facing the other side blade (16, 15) respectively. The invention also relates to a cutting device and to a method for removing a wishbone (11).

Description

The invention relates to a knife arrangement, configured and adapted for removing a wishbone from a poultry carcass or parts thereof, still comprising at least the wishbone, a keel bone, tendons and / or ligaments connected to the wishbone, as well as inner fillets and outer fillets, comprising three separate knives, wherein two knives are arranged as side knives opposite one another and converging in a V-shape, wherein first cutting edges of the two side knives at the free ends converging toward one another lie in a substantially vertical cutting plane, while the third knife as a top knife covers the inner space formed by the two side knives on one side, wherein cutting edges of the top knife lie in a substantially horizontal cutting plane. Furthermore, the invention relates to a cutting apparatus, configured and adapted for removing a wishbone from a poultry carcass or parts thereof, still comprising at least the wishbone, a keel bone, tendons and / or ligaments connected to the wishbone, as well as inner fillets and outer fillets, comprising a conveying element arranged on a frame for conveying the poultry carcasses or the parts thereof along a transport path in transport direction T, at least one transport saddle arranged on the conveying element for holding and guiding the poultry carcass or the parts thereof during transport along the transport path as well as a cutting device arranged along the transport path for removing the wishbone from a poultry carcass or from parts thereof with a knife arrangement, which can be brought into operative connection with the poultry carcass or the parts thereof. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for removing a wishbone from a poultry carcass or parts thereof, still comprising at least the wishbone, a keel bone, tendons and / or ligaments connected to the wishbone, as well as inner fillets and outer fillets, comprising the steps: conveying the poultry carcasses or parts thereof along a transport path in transport direction T by means of a conveying element, wherein the poultry carcasses or the parts thereof are held and guided on transport saddles during transport, removing the wishbone from the poultry carcass or the parts thereof by means of a knife arrangement, wherein for removing the wishbone three knives of the knife arrangement penetrate into the poultry carcass or the parts thereof, such that two side knives with first cutting edges, which lie in a substantially vertically oriented cutting plane, and a top knife with cutting edges, which lie in a substantially horizontal cutting plane, cut the wishbone free on three sides. Such knife arrangements, cutting apparatuses and methods are used in the poultry processing industry to cut wishbones out of a poultry carcass or a part thereof, namely for example a front half. Such carcasses or front halves have, in addition to the bone structure, which comprises at least the keel bone and the wishbone, also tendons and / or ligaments with which the wishbone is connected to the carcass, as well as the meat to be recovered, namely inner fillets and the outer fillets covering the inner fillets. The wishbone is surrounded by the meat. For a maximum yield, namely the maximum amount of recovered meat, the wishbone must be cut out of the carcass or the front half as precisely as possible, i.e., without meat remaining on the wishbone and without residual connections to the carcass. In other words, the knives must on the one hand cut as closely and precisely as possible along the wishbone and on the other hand precisely define the area to be cut out in order to gently guide the cut-out wishbone out of the carcass or the front half. In the known solutions, two side knives are provided, which are arranged converging toward one another in a V-shape. As a result, a space is formed between the two side knives, which is covered by a third knife, the top knife, which is configured separately from the two side knives. These three knives cut the wishbone free from three sides, wherein the two side knives cut from the outside in the direction of the wishbone, while the top knife cuts from the inside in the direction of the wishbone. With the cutting on three sides, the wishbone is only partially cut free, or residual connections remain, which lead to the area to be cut out being only insufficiently defined. This means that, on the one hand, a cutting path is at least section-wise carried out with a distance to the wishbone, so that meat remains on the wishbone and thus the yield is reduced. On the other hand, the wishbone is uncontrollably detached or torn from the meat on at least one side where no cut is applied. At the points where no defined cut is made, the meat is damaged. Residual connections are thereby separated uncontrollably. The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a knife arrangement which ensures an optimised and gentle removal of the wishbone with an improved meat yield. The object further consists in proposing a corresponding cutting apparatus and a corresponding method. This object is achieved by a knife arrangement with the initially mentioned features, in that at least on one of the two side knives, on an inner side facing the respective other side knife, at least a second cutting edge is configured, which extends substantially horizontally. Through this knife arrangement according to the invention, a defined cut is achieved from all sides of the wishbone with three knives. With the three knives, which provide cutting edges on both sides as well as above and below the wishbone, a particularly close cutting path near the wishbone is ensured. Through the two vertically oriented and two horizontally oriented cutting edges, a controlled cutting-out of the wishbone is ensured, whereby less meat remains on the wishbone. Inversely, the yield when harvesting the inner and / or outer fillets is improved. With the knife arrangement acting on all sides of the wishbone, the region to be cut out, in which the wishbone lies, is clearly defined, so that all connections of the wishbone to its surroundings are separated securely and controllably, in order to then guide the wishbone, which is then cut free on all sides, securely and gently out of the poultry carcass or the part thereof. Advantageously, on both side knives, on their inner sides facing each other, at least a second cutting edge is configured, each of which lies in a substantially horizontal cutting plane. As a result, a substantially closed receiving space can be formed with the cutting movement around the wishbone, so that the wishbone, cut free on all sides, can be guided out of the poultry carcass and the part thereof with the knife arrangement. A particularly preferred embodiment of the knife arrangement is characterised in that the vertically oriented first cutting edges as well as the horizontally oriented second cutting edges of the side knives are configured and adapted for engagement from the outside in the direction of the wishbone, while the horizontally oriented cutting edges of the top knife are configured and adapted for engagement from the inside in the direction of the wishbone. This creates a space-saving knife arrangement that guides closely along the wishbone, enabling a precise cutting free and a gentle removal. Expediently, the horizontally oriented second cutting edges of the side knives are configured as triangular cutting blades. The cutting blades lying opposite each other thereby form a scissor-like cutting blade arrangement, by means of which the fourth side of the wishbone can be reliably cut free. The horizontally oriented second cutting edges of the two side knives are particularly preferably arranged offset from one another in the vertical direction, one above or below the other. The size of the vertical distance can vary. A distance is preferred in which the two cutting edges lie one over the other in a scissor-blade-like manner. Expediently, the horizontally oriented second cutting edges of the side knives overlap in the horizontal direction. This reliably ensures the complete separation of all residual connections lying in the effective area of the second cutting edges. A preferred further development is characterised in that the horizontally oriented second cutting edges are arranged in the front, tapering region of the side knives. This ensures a good and reliable initial cut as well as a reliable cutting through of the residual connections. Expediently, the horizontally oriented and internally arranged second cutting edges on the side knives are configured in one piece with the side knives. This creates a compact and stable side knife. In principle - with the exception of the cutting edges -inner surfaces and outer surfaces of the side knives are configured and adapted to be planar and smooth. Other configurations and forms of the second cutting edges are also usable. The cutting edges or cutting blades can, for example, also be releasably attached to the inner sides of the side knives to allow for an exchange. An advantageous embodiment is characterised in that the side knives have an elongated base body which is configured to be fork-shaped at the free ends opposite the vertically oriented first cutting edges. The fork shape or a corresponding recess or several recesses serve for the releasable attachment and centering of the knives on an actuating mechanism, for example on a frame arrangement controllable by a pneumatic drive. Particularly preferably, the first cutting edges of the side knives, which lie substantially in a vertical cutting plane, run from a thick base to a comparatively thin edge, wherein an upper edge of the side knives facing the top knife is configured to be at least section-wise descending, starting from the fork-shaped end in the direction of the cutting edge. With this embodiment, a particularly precise incision close to the wishbone is ensured. An advantageous further development is characterised in that in the area of one of the two side knives, a groove is configured along and parallel to the substantially vertically oriented cutting edge, which is configured and adapted for receiving the substantially vertically oriented cutting edge of the other side knife. Through the groove in the one side knife extending over the entire length of the cutting edge, the cutting edge of the other side knife can dip into the groove during the cutting motion, wherein the groove forms a kind of counter-bearing for the cutting edge. This ensures the reliable and complete severing of existing residual connections. Preferably, the top knife comprises a fork-shaped support section and an arrow-shaped knife section extending in the direction of the substantially vertically oriented first cutting edges of the side knives. This allows for a precise free-cutting of the wishbone to be realized. The object is also achieved by a cutting apparatus with the initially mentioned features, in that the knife arrangement is configured and adapted according to one or more of claims 1 to 12. The advantages resulting therefrom have already been described in connection with the knife arrangement, which is why reference is made to the corresponding passages to avoid repetition. Advantageously, the knife arrangement is configured and adapted to be movable synchronously as a unit from a retracted waiting position into a forwardly directed cutting position and back. This ensures a precise and controlled cutting motion. Through the synchronous and simultaneous cutting of the defined area around the wishbone, a yield-optimised removal of the wishbone is ensured. Particularly preferably, the two side knives are each attached to a holder, which is configured to be linearly movable back and forth along guide bodies and are attached via bearing blocks to a lower frame of a frame arrangement. The top knife is attached to a holder, which is configured to be linearly movable back and forth along guide bodies and is attached to an upper frame of a frame arrangement. This frame arrangement is preferably configured and adapted to be movable as a unit by means of a single pneumatic drive. Other drive concepts are also usable. Optionally, the individual knives can also be controlled separately, preferably synchronized with each other. The object is also achieved by a method with the initially mentioned steps, in that the wishbone is cut free from a fourth side, in that second cutting edges of the side knives, which lie in a substantially horizontal cutting plane, penetrate into the poultry carcass or the parts thereof on the side opposite the top knife. The advantages resulting therefrom have already been explained above and also result in a corresponding manner from the method according to the invention. Advantageously, the side knives perform a cutting movement that is directed from the outside in the direction of the wishbone. This means that side knives penetrate from the side facing away from the transport saddle, on which the poultry carcass or the parts thereof are held, from the outside to the inside into the poultry carcass or the parts thereof. This allows the externally located residual connections to be reliably separated. Preferably, both the vertically oriented first cutting edges of the side knives and the horizontally oriented second cutting edges of the side knives cut the wishbone free from the outside to the inside in the direction of the wishbone. For the reliable and controlled cutting free, in particular of the tendons and / or ligaments connecting the wishbone with the poultry carcass or the parts thereof, the penetration of the horizontally oriented second cutting edges of the side knives from the outside in the direction of the wishbone is advantageous. Expediently, the top knife performs a cutting movement that is directed from the inside in the direction of the wishbone. Thus, the top knife with its cutting edges is the only knife whose arrow-shaped cutting edges perform an outwardly directed cutting motion when moving from the waiting position into the cutting position. The wishbone is thereby cut free in a horizontal cutting plane from both the inside and the outside, whereby a yield-optimised removal of the wishbone is ensured. An advantageous embodiment is characterised in that all three knives for cutting the wishbone free from four sides are moved together from a retracted waiting position into a forwardly directed cutting position and back. This makes both the cutting free of the wishbone within the poultry carcass or the parts thereof and the guiding out of the cut-free wishbone from the poultry carcass or the parts thereof gentle and yield-efficient. Expediently, all three knives are moved synchronously by means of a single pneumatic drive. The movement comprises the insertion of all knives with their vertical and horizontal cutting edges for the all-sided cutting free of the wishbone as well as the guiding out of the cut-free wishbone from the poultry carcass or the parts thereof. Accordingly, the cut-free wishbone, surrounded by the three knives on four sides, is guided out of the poultry carcass or the parts thereof. An advantageous embodiment provides that the horizontally oriented second cutting edges of the side knives move toward each other in a scissor-like manner transverse to the transport direction T when executing the cutting movement. Through the scissorlike meeting of the two cutting blades, a secure separation of the tendons and / or ligaments with which the wishbone is connected to the poultry carcass or the parts thereof is ensured. The method is particularly preferably carried out with a cutting apparatus according to one or more of claims 13 to 16. Further expedient and / or advantageous features and further developments of the knife arrangement according to the invention as well as of the cutting apparatus as well as preferred method steps of the method according to the invention result from the subclaims as well as the description. A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows in Fig. 1        a schematic representation of a knife arrangement according to the invention in a perspective view from obliquely above and from the front, Fig. 2        the knife arrangement according to Figure 1 in a perspective view from obliquely below and from the rear, Fig. 3 the knife arrangement according to Figure 1 in a first side view, Fig. 4 the knife arrangement according to Figure 1 in a second side view, Fig. 5 the knife arrangement according to Figure 1 in a front view, Fig. 6 the knife arrangement according to Figure 1 in a rear view, Fig. 7 a schematic representation of a first side knife in a perspective view from obliquely above and from the inside, Fig. 8 the side knife according to Figure 7 in a perspective view from obliquely below and from the outside, Fig. 9 the side knife according to Figure 7 in a top view, Fig. 10 a schematic representation of a second side knife in a perspective view from obliquely above and from the outside, Fig. 11 the side knife according to Fig. 10 in a perspective view from obliquely below and from the inside, Fig. 12 the side knife according to Figure 10 in a top view, Fig. 13 a schematic representation of a cutting device of a cutting apparatus according to the invention in a perspective view from obliquely above and from the front, Fig. 14 the cutting device according to Figure 13 in a perspective view from obliquely below and from the front, Fig. 15 a schematic representation of parts of a cutting apparatus according to the invention, and Fig. 16 an enlarged detail of the cutting apparatus according to Figure 15 with a poultry carcass positioned on a transport saddle and a cutting device. The invention relates to a knife arrangement 10 for removing a wishbone 11 from a poultry carcass 13, still comprising at least the wishbone 11, a keel bone 12, tendons and / or ligaments connected to the wishbone 11, as well as inner fillets and outer fillets, a cutting apparatus 14 with such a knife arrangement 10, and a corresponding method. The preferred embodiment shown in the drawing shows a knife arrangement 10 for removing the wishbone 11 from a front half. The disclosed subject matter relates, in other words, to the deboning of a poultry breast. The automated deboning is a step in the processing of poultry on a processing line and the removal of the joint rod or wishbone 11 affects the yield of the breast meat, i.e., the inner and outer fillets. The knife arrangement 10 comprises three separate knives 15, 16, 17, wherein two knives 15, 16 are arranged as side knives opposite one another and converging in a V-shape, wherein first cutting edges 18, 19 of the two side knives 15, 16 at the free ends 20, 21 converging toward one another lie in a substantially vertical cutting plane SV, while the third knife 17 as a top knife covers the inner space 22 formed by the two side knives 15, 16 on one side, wherein cutting edges 23, 24 of the top knife 17 lie in a substantially horizontal cutting plane SH. This knife arrangement 10 is characterised according to the invention in that at least on one of the two side knives 15, 16, on an inner side 25, 26 facing the respective other side knife 16, 15, at least a second cutting edge 27, 28 is configured, which extends substantially horizontally. The features and further developments described below represent, considered by themselves or in combination with each other, preferred embodiments. It is expressly pointed out that features which are summarized in the claims and / or the description or are described in a common embodiment can also functionally independently further develop the knife arrangement 10 described further above as well as a cutting apparatus 14. The same applies to the method described further below. The two side knives 15, 16 have an elongated base body 29, 30, which is configured to be fork-shaped at the free ends 31, 32 opposite the vertically oriented first cutting edges 18, 19. The fork shape or recess serves for the releasable attachment and centering of the side knives 15, 16 on an actuating mechanism described further below. On both side knives 15, 16, on their inner sides 25, 26 facing each other, at least a second cutting edge 27, 28 is configured, each of which lies in a substantially horizontal cutting plane SH. The horizontally oriented second cutting edges 27, 28 of the side knives 15, 16 are configured as triangular cutting blades 33, 34. The second cutting edges 27, 28 or the cutting blades 33, 34 are configured in one piece with the side knives 15, 16. The first cutting blade 33 as a first inner knife has a lower surface and an upper surface with a front cutting edge 27, which is formed by a bevel that tapers from a thicker base to a comparatively relatively thinner cutting edge 27. The front cutting edge 27 extends from the inner surface of the side knife 15 and ends at a rear edge. In one implementation, the first inner cutting blade 33 forms a substantially triangular shape. The second cutting blade 34 as a second inner knife has a lower surface and an upper surface with a front cutting edge 28, which is formed by a bevel that tapers from a thicker base to a comparatively relatively thinner cutting edge 28. The front cutting edge 28 extends from an inner surface of the side knife 16 and ends at a rear edge. The horizontally oriented second cutting edges 27, 28 of the two side knives 15, 16 are arranged offset from one another in the vertical direction, one above or below the other. As can be seen in particular from Figure 6, the two side knives 15, 16 or their base bodies 29, 30 have a different height. The one side knife 15 or the base body 29 has a first height H1. At the lower edge of the base body 29, the one cutting blade 33 is arranged. The other side knife 16 or the base body 30 has a height H2, where H2 is greater than H1. As a result, the base body 30 projects downwards beyond the base body 29 with a protrusion 35. In the area of this protrusion 35, the other cutting blade 34 is arranged, so that the two cutting blades 33, 34 are guided one over the other during the cutting motion. In the horizontal direction, the horizontally oriented second cutting edges 27, 28 of the side knives 15, 16 overlap. As can be seen in particular in Figure 7, the horizontally oriented second cutting edges 27, 28 of the side knives 15, 16 are arranged in the front, tapering region of the side knives 15, 16. The vertically oriented first cutting edges 18, 19 as well as the horizontally oriented second cutting edges 27, 28 of the side knives 15, 16 are configured and adapted for engagement from the outside in the direction of the wishbone 11, while the horizontally oriented cutting edges 23, 24 of the top knife 17 are configured and adapted for engagement from the inside in the direction of the wishbone 11. The first cutting edges 18, 19 of the side knives 15, 16, lying substantially in a vertical cutting plane SV, run from a thick base 36, 37 to a comparatively thin edge 38, 39, which form the cutting edge 18, 19, wherein an upper edge 40, 41 of the side knives 15, 16 or the base bodies 29, 30, facing the top knife 17, is configured to be at least section-wise descending starting from the fork-shaped end in the direction of the cutting edge 18, 19 (see in particular Figure 5). In the area of one of the two side knives 15, a groove 42 is configured along and parallel to the substantially vertically oriented cutting edge 18, which is configured and adapted for receiving the substantially vertically oriented cutting edge 19 of the other side knife 16. The top knife 17 comprises a fork-shaped support section 43 and an arrow-shaped knife section 44 extending in the direction of the substantially vertically oriented first cutting edges 18, 19 of the side knives 15, 16. The top knife 17 as an upper blade, in other words, forms on the one hand a fork-shaped attachment section at a base on the rear side for attachment to a rear holder and extends on the other hand arrow-shaped forward, wherein it forms a triangular blade on the front side, which ends at a nose 45 with a front cutting edge 46, which is formed by a bevel that tapers from a thicker base to a comparatively relatively thinner front cutting edge 46. On a first side, the top knife 17 as an upper blade forms a first cutting edge 23, which is formed by a bevel that tapers from a thicker base to a comparatively relatively thinner cutting edge 23, and on a second side, the top knife 17 as an upper blade forms a second cutting edge 24, which is formed by a bevel that tapers from a thicker base to a comparatively relatively thinner cutting edge 24. The nose 45 of the top knife 17 extends slightly downwards, wherein the first side and the second side are shaped to match the front edges of the side knives 15, 16. The described knife arrangement 10 can be used as a separate component, for example, as a replacement or spare part. Preferably, however, the knife arrangement 10 is part of a cutting apparatus 14. The cutting apparatus 14 is configured and adapted for removing a wishbone 11 from a poultry carcass 13 or parts thereof, still comprising at least the wishbone 11, a keel bone 12, tendons and / or ligaments connected to the wishbone 11, as well as inner fillets and outer fillets, and comprises a conveying element 48 arranged on a frame 47 for conveying the poultry carcasses 13 or the parts thereof along a transport path in transport direction T, at least one transport saddle 49 arranged on the conveying element 48 for holding and guiding the poultry carcass 13 or the parts thereof during transport along the transport path, as well as a cutting device 50 arranged along the transport path for removing the wishbone 11 from a poultry carcass 13 or from parts thereof with a knife arrangement 10, which can be brought into operative connection with the poultry carcass 13 or the parts thereof. This cutting apparatus 14 is characterised according to the invention in that the knife arrangement 10 is configured and adapted according to one or more of claims 1 to 12. The conveying element 48 is, in the illustrated embodiment, an endless conveyor chain 51, which is guided around deflection and / or drive elements and is driven by means of a drive means. On the conveyor chain 51, several transport saddles 49 are arranged, by means of which the poultry carcasses 13 or the parts thereof are held, guided, and also positionable. At least the drive means and the cutting device 50 or all cutting devices 50 are connected to a control device 53. The cutting device 50 comprises a frame arrangement 54 with an upper frame 55 and a lower frame 56. The two side knives 15, 16 are each attached to a holder 57, 58, which are configured to be linearly movable back and forth along guide bodies 59, 60 and are attached via bearing blocks 61, 62 to the lower frame 56 of the frame arrangement 54. The top knife 17 is attached to a holder 63, which is configured to be linearly movable back and forth along guide bodies 64 and is attached to the upper frame 55 of the frame arrangement 54. The knife arrangement 10 is configured and adapted to be movable synchronously as a unit from a retracted waiting position into a forwardly directed cutting position and back. For this purpose, a pneumatic drive 65 is assigned to the frame arrangement 54, which is also connected to the control device 53. In the following, the method will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. The method serves to remove a wishbone 11 from a poultry carcass 13 or parts thereof, still comprising at least the wishbone 11, a keel bone 12, tendons and / or ligaments connected to the wishbone 11, as well as inner fillets and outer fillets. For this purpose, the poultry carcasses 13 or parts thereof are conveyed along a transport path in transport direction T by means of a conveying element 48, wherein the poultry carcasses 13 or the parts thereof are held and guided on transport saddles 49 during transport. Before reaching the knife arrangement 10, the poultry carcasses 13 or the parts thereof are aligned and positioned in order to then remove the wishbone 11 from the poultry carcass 13 or the parts thereof by means of a knife arrangement 10. For removing the wishbone 11, three knives 15, 16, 17 of the knife arrangement 10 penetrate into the poultry carcass 13 or the parts thereof, such that two side knives 15, 16 with first cutting edges 18, 19, which lie in a substantially vertically oriented cutting plane SV, and a top knife 17 with cutting edges 23, 24, which lie in a substantially horizontal cutting plane SH, cut the wishbone 11 free on three sides. This method is characterised according to the invention in that the wishbone 11 is cut free from a fourth side, in that second cutting edges 27, 28 of the side knives 15, 16, which lie in a substantially horizontal cutting plane SH, penetrate into the poultry carcass 13 or the parts thereof on the side opposite the top knife 17. In doing so, the side knives 15, 16 perform a cutting movement that is directed from the outside in the direction of the wishbone 11. Thereby, both the vertically oriented first cutting edges 18, 19 of the side knives 15, 16 and the horizontally oriented second cutting edges 27, 28 of the side knives 15, 16 cut the wishbone 11 free from the outside inwards in the direction of the wishbone 11. When executing the cutting movement, the horizontally oriented second cutting edges 27, 28 of the side knives 15, 16 move toward each other in a scissor-like manner transverse to the transport direction T. The top knife 17 performs a cutting movement that is directed from the inside in the direction of the wishbone 11. All three knives 15, 16, 17 for cutting the wishbone 11 free from four sides are moved together from a retracted waiting position into a forwardly directed cutting position and back, wherein all three knives 15, 16, 17 are moved synchronously by means of a single pneumatic drive 65. The wishbone 11, cut free on all sides, is then - surrounded by the three knives 15, 16, 17 on four sides -guided out of the poultry carcass 13 or the parts thereof. By moving the cutting device 50 from a working position back to a waiting position, the knife arrangement 10 with the knives 15, 16, 17 is withdrawn in its cutting position and a counter-bearing body from the abdominal cavity of the poultry carcass 11, whereby the wishbone 12 is removed from the poultry carcass 13. Only after the wishbone 12 has been completely removed from the poultry carcass 13, the knives 15, 16, 17 of the knife arrangement 10 are moved from their cutting position back to the waiting position. The method is particularly preferably carried out with a cutting apparatus 14 according to one or more of claims 13 to 16. In summary and in other words, the invention can be described as follows: An apparatus, a system and a method for a wishbone blade arrangement are shown and described in the following detailed description and in Figures 1 to 15. The arrangement 10 is mounted in an apparatus 14, which is a component of a machine in a poultry processing line. A poultry carcass 13 is presented to the assembly and the apparatus 14 assists in the alignment of the blade arrangement 10 with the poultry carcass 13 and the movement of the blades of the assembly to cut the tissue connecting the wishbone 11 to the carcass 13, and to capture the wishbone 11 in the blade assembly 10 to remove the wishbone 11 from the poultry carcass 13. The blade assembly 10 generally comprises a first side blade 15, a second side blade 16 and an upper blade 17. The side blades 15, 16 comprise inner blades 27, 28, which more precisely control the amount of meat removed with the wishbone 11, for example, by increasing the precision of the placement of the cuts. The blades 15, 16, 17 are connected by holders to the apparatus 14. The apparatus 14 has an upper frame 55 and a lower frame 56 and is connected at a rear end 66 to machines, and the blades 15, 16, 17 are in operative connection at a front end 67 with the poultry carcass 13. The first side blade 15 is connected to a right holder 57, which is movable back and forth along guide rails 59, wherein the guide rails 59 are connected via mounting blocks 61 to the lower frame 55. The second side knife 16 is connected to a left holder 58 and moves back and forth along guide rails 60, wherein the guide rails 60 are connected to the lower frame 55 via mounting blocks 62. The upper blade 17 is connected to a rear holder 63 and moves forward and backward within the frame arrangement 54 along a guide rail 64. The synchronous forward and backward movement of the blade assembly 10 can be achieved by an actuator 65, which is connected to the blade holders by an actuator holder. In one embodiment, the rear holder 63 is received between the arms of an actuator holder 68, and a guide rod extends through the holders 57, 58, 63 and the actuator holder 68 and establishes a sliding connection between the holders 57, 58, 63 and the actuator holder 68, wherein a backward movement of the holders causes the blades 15, 16, 17 to diverge toward the rear end 66, and a forward movement of the holders causes the blades 15, 16, 17 to converge toward the front end 67. In use, the blades of the blade assembly 10 move from a first or rearmost position to a second, foremost position, as shown in the figures, wherein the blades 15 and 16 have severed the tissue connecting the wishbone 11 to the keel bone 12, and wherein the blade 17 has severed the legs of the wishbone 11 at a position adjacent the wing joints. With reference to Figures 1 to 12, the blade assembly 10 is further described. In one embodiment, the blades 15, 16, 17 are formed from stainless steel. The first side blade 15 has an elongated body 29 with a generally flat outer surface and a flat inner surface. The rear side of the blade 15 is fork-shaped to allow for mounting on the right holder 57. A front cutting edge 18 on the front side of the blade 15 is formed by a bevel that tapers from a thick base to a relatively thin cutting edge. An upper edge 40 of the blade 15 extends from the rear side of the blade 15 and forms a forwardly descending edge. The second side blade 16 has an elongated body 30 with a generally flat outer surface and a flat inner surface. The rear side of the blade 16 forms a fork shape for attachment to the left holder 58. A front cutting edge 19 on the front side of the blade 16 is formed by a bevel that tapers from a thick base to a relatively thin cutting edge 19. A vertical groove 42 is formed by the inner surface adjacent to the front cutting edge 19 to receive the front cutting edge 18 of the first side blade 15. An upper edge 41 of the knife 16 extends from the rear side of the knife 16 and forms a forwardly descending edge. The lower part of the inner surface of the first side knife 15 forms a first inner blade 33, which passes by a second inner blade 34 formed on the lower inner surface of the second side knife 16 when the blade assembly 10 moves from the first position to the second position to cut around the wishbone 11. The first inner blade 33 has a lower surface and an upper surface, with a front cutting edge 27 formed by a bevel that tapers from a thick base to a relatively thin cutting edge 27. The front cutting edge 27 extends from the inner surface and ends at a rear edge. In one embodiment, the first inner blade 33 forms a generally triangular shape. The second inner blade 34 has a lower side and an upper side with a front cutting edge 28, which is formed by a bevel that tapers from a thick base to a relatively thin cutting edge 28. The front cutting edge 28 extends from the inner surface and ends at a rear edge. The upper knife 17 forms a fork-shaped attachment section at a base on the rear side for attachment to the rear holder 63 and extends forward, wherein it forms a triangular blade on the front side, which ends at a nose 45 with a front cutting edge 46, which is formed by a bevel that tapers from a thick base to a relatively thin front cutting edge 46. On a first side, the upper knife 17 forms a first side cutting edge 23, which is formed by a bevel that tapers from a thick base to a relatively thin cutting edge 23, and on a second side, the upper knife 17 forms a second side cutting edge 24, which is formed by a bevel that tapers from a thick base to a relatively thin cutting edge 24. The nose 45 extends slightly downwards, wherein the first side and the second side correspond 5 to the front edges. In use, when the blade assembly 10 moves from the first position to the second position, the front edges of the side knives 15, 16 move under the upper knife 17, and the front cutting edge 18 of the first side knife 15 is received by a groove 42 formed in 10 the inner surface of the second side knife 16. The wishbone blade assembly 10 of the disclosed subject matter increases the yield of breast meat from the poultry carcass due to the use of opposing first and second inner cutting blades 33, 34, which better define the area of the material to be removed, whereby more meat remains on the breast section of the front half of the poultry carcass or the breast cap that is 15 processed.

Claims

1. Knife arrangement (10), configured and adapted for removing a wishbone (11) from a poultry carcass (13) or parts thereof, still comprising at least the wishbone (11), a keel bone (12), tendons and / or ligaments connected to the wishbone, as well as inner fillets and outer fillets, comprising three separate knives (15, 16, 17), wherein two knives (15, 16) are arranged as side knives opposite one another and converging in a V-shape, wherein first cutting edges (18, 19) of the two side knives (15, 16) at the free ends (20, 21) converging toward one another lie in a substantially vertical cutting plane SV, while the third knife (17) as a top knife covers the inner space (22) formed by the two side knives (15, 16) on one side, wherein cutting edges (23, 24) of the top knife (17) lie in a substantially horizontal cutting plane SH, characterised in that at least on one of the two side knives (15, 16), on an inner side (25, 26) facing the respective other side knife (16, 15), at least a second cutting edge (27, 28) is configured, which extends substantially horizontally.

2. Knife arrangement (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that on both side knives (15, 16), on their inner sides (25, 26) facing each other, at least a second cutting edge (27, 28) is configured, each of which lies in a substantially horizontal cutting plane SH.

3. Knife arrangement (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the vertically oriented first cutting edges (18, 19) as well as the horizontally oriented second cutting edges (27, 28) of the side knives (15, 16) are configured and adapted for engagement from the outside in the direction of the wishbone (11), while the horizontally oriented cutting edges (23, 24) of the top knife (17) are configured and adapted for engagement from the inside in the direction of the wishbone (11).

4. Knife arrangement (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the horizontally oriented second cutting edges (27, 28) of the side knives (15, 16) are configured as triangular cutting blades (33, 34).

5. Knife arrangement (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the horizontally oriented second cutting edges (27, 28) of the two sideknives (15, 16) are arranged offset from one another in the vertical direction, one above or below the other.

6. Knife arrangement (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the horizontally oriented second cutting edges (27, 28) of the side knives (15, 16) overlap in the horizontal direction.

7. Knife arrangement (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the horizontally oriented second cutting edges (27, 28) are arranged in the front, tapering region of the side knives (15, 16).

8. Knife arrangement (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the horizontally oriented and internally arranged second cutting edges (27, 28) on the side knives (15, 16) are configured in one piece with the side knives (15, 16).

9. Knife arrangement (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the side knives (15, 16) have an elongated base body (29, 30) which is configured to be fork-shaped at the free ends (20, 21) opposite the vertically oriented first cutting edges (18, 19).

10. Knife arrangement (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the first cutting edges (18, 19) of the side knives (15, 16), lying substantially in a vertical cutting plane SV, run from a thick base (36, 37) to a comparatively thin edge (38, 39), wherein an upper edge (40, 41) of the side knives (15, 16) facing the top knife (17) is configured to be at least section-wise descending starting from the fork-shaped end (31, 32) in the direction of the cutting edge (18, 19).

11. Knife arrangement (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that in the area of one of the two side knives (15 or 16), a groove (42) is configured along and parallel to the substantially vertically oriented cutting edge (19 or 18), which is configured and adapted for receiving the substantially vertically oriented cutting edge (18 or 19) of the other side knife (16 or 15).

12. Knife arrangement (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the top knife (17) comprises a fork-shaped support section (43) and an arrow-shaped knife section (44) extending in the direction of the substantially vertically oriented first cutting edges (18, 19) of the side knives (15, 16).

13. Cutting apparatus (14), configured and adapted for removing a wishbone (11) from a poultry carcass (13) or parts thereof, still comprising at least the wishbone (11), a keel bone (12), tendons and / or ligaments connected to the wishbone (11), as well as inner fillets and outer fillets, comprising a conveying element (48) arranged on a frame (47) for conveying the poultry carcasses (13) or the parts thereof along a transport path in transport direction T, at least one transport saddle (49) arranged on the conveying element (48) for holding and guiding the poultry carcass (13) or the parts thereof during transport along the transport path, as well as a cutting device (50) arranged along the transport path for removing the wishbone (11) from a poultry carcass (13) or from parts thereof with a knife arrangement (10), which can be brought into operative connection with the poultry carcass (13) or the parts thereof, characterised in that the knife arrangement (10) is configured and adapted according to one or more of claims 1 to 12.

14. Cutting apparatus (14) according to claim 13, characterised in that the knife arrangement (10) is configured and adapted to be movable synchronously as a unit from a retracted waiting position into a forwardly directed cutting position and back.

15. Cutting apparatus (14) according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the two side knives (15, 16) are each attached to a holder 57, 58), which is configured to be linearly movable back and forth along guide bodies (59, 60) and are attached via bearing blocks (61, 62) to a lower frame (56) of a frame arrangement (54).

16. Cutting apparatus (14) according to one or more of claims 13 to 15, characterised in that the top knife (17) is attached to a holder (63), which is configured to be linearly movable back and forth along guide bodies (64) and is attached to an upper frame (55) of a frame arrangement (54).

17. Method for removing a wishbone (11) from a poultry carcass (13) or parts thereof, still comprising at least the wishbone (11), a keel bone (12), tendons and / or ligaments connected to the wishbone (11), as well as inner fillets and outer fillets, comprising the steps:- conveying the poultry carcasses (13) or parts thereof along a transport path in transport direction T by means of a conveying element (48),- wherein the poultry carcasses (13) or the parts thereof are held and guided on transport saddles (49) during transport,- removing the wishbone (11) from the poultry carcass (13) or the parts thereof by means of a knife arrangement (10),- wherein for removing the wishbone (11) three knives (15, 16, 17) of the knife arrangement (10) penetrate into the poultry carcass (13) or the parts thereof, such that two side knives (15, 16) with first cutting edges (18, 19), which lie in a substantially vertically oriented cutting plane SV, and a top knife (17) with cutting edges (23, 24), which lie in a substantially horizontal cutting plane SH, cut the wishbone (11) free on three sides,characterised in that the wishbone (11) is cut free from a fourth side, in that second cutting edges (27, 28) of the side knives (15, 16), which lie in a substantially horizontal cutting plane SH, penetrate into the poultry carcass (13) or the parts thereof on the side opposite the top knife (17).

18. Method according to claim 17, characterised in that the side knives (15, 16) perform a cutting movement that is directed from the outside in the direction of the wishbone (11).

19. Method according to claim 17 or 18, characterised in that both the vertically oriented first cutting edges (18, 19) of the side knives (15, 16) and the horizontally oriented second cutting edges (27, 28) of the side knives (15, 16) cut the wishbone (11) free from the outside inwards in the direction of the wishbone (11).

20. Method according to one or more of claims 17 to 19, characterised in that the top knife (17) performs a cutting movement that is directed from the inside in the direction of the wishbone (11).

21. Method according to one or more of claims 17 to 20, characterised in that all three knives (15, 16, 17) for cutting the wishbone (11) free from four sides are moved together from a retracted waiting position into a forwardly directed cutting position and back.

22. Method according to one or more of claims 17 to 21, characterised in that all three knives (15, 16, 17) are moved synchronously by means of a single pneumatic drive (65).

23. Method according to one or more of claims 17 to 22, characterised in that the cut-free wishbone (11) is guided out of the poultry carcass (13) or the parts thereof surrounded by the three knives (15, 16, 17) on four sides.

24. Method according to one or more of claims 17 to 23, characterised in that the horizontally oriented second cutting edges (27, 28) of the side knives (15, 16) move toward each other in a scissor-like manner transverse to the transport direction T when executing the cutting movement.

25. Method according to one or more of claims 17 to 24, characterised in that it is carried out with a cutting apparatus (14) according to one or more of claims 13 to 16.

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