Spinal treatment device

Abstract

This invention provides a method, system, and spinal processing apparatus for separating meat from a segmented carcass of a four-legged slaughter animal, such as the spinal portion of a pig carcass. The spinal processing apparatus includes a cutting device and a positioning device. The cutting device is used to separate meat from the spinal portion by cutting. The positioning device is used to position the carcass portion at least during cutting. The positioning device includes a positioning element configured to contact the cutting surface of the spinal portion, wherein the positioning element defines a positioning plane for the cutting surface. The pressing device is used to press the spinal portion against the positioning element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a spinal processing apparatus for separating meat from a segmented carcass portion of a four-legged slaughter animal, such as a pig carcass, specifically from the spinal portion, and preferably from loin meat. The spinal portion comprises segmented vertebrae having corresponding spinous processes, a main spinal column, articular processes, and transverse processes. Such segmented carcass portions of other four-legged slaughter animals, such as cattle or sheep, can also be processed using the apparatus and method according to the invention. Background Technology

[0002] WO 2004 / 103080A1 relates to a loin deboning apparatus. Meat is removed from the loin region of a slaughtered animal by clamping the loin onto a movable transport and advancing the transport toward and past a first and second cutter, which is mounted on an adjustable arm and perpendicular to each other. The apparatus comprises a relatively complex combination of cutters and positioning components for cutting along the spine.

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved spinal treatment device and method.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a spinal treatment apparatus and method by means of which a portion of the spine is more securely positioned for cutting.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a spinal processing apparatus and method by means of which a spinal portion is positioned in a manner less sensitive to shape deviations of the spinal portion for cutting. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The spinal treatment device, spinal treatment system, and method according to the present invention have achieved one or more of the above-mentioned objectives.

[0007] According to the present invention, as defined in claim 1, a spinal processing apparatus is provided for separating meat from a segmented carcass portion of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a spinal portion of a pig carcass, preferably separating loin meat, the spinal processing apparatus comprising:

[0008] - A cutting device used to separate meat from the spinal section by cutting;

[0009] - A positioning device for positioning at least a portion of the carcass during cutting, the positioning device comprising:

[0010] - A positioning element configured to contact the cutting surface of the spinal segment, wherein the positioning element defines a positioning plane for the cutting surface; and

[0011] - A pressing device for pressing the spinal portion against the positioning element.

[0012] The advantage of the spinal processing device according to the invention is that, by providing a positioning element configured to contact the cutting surface of the carcass portion and defining a positioning plane, combined with a pressing device, stable and precise positioning of the carcass portion for cutting operations is achieved, thereby making the spinal portion more firmly positioned. Carcass division is typically a less precise operation. Therefore, for example, the spine may not be precisely cut in half; for instance, the cutting element may pass outside the neural canal rather than through it, at least for some vertebrae. In prior art systems, this can lead to positioning difficulties. Using the device according to the invention, even less precisely divided carcass portions can be firmly and reliably positioned for separating meat from the spinal portion.

[0013] The present invention also relates to the system according to claim 12 and the method according to claim 14.

[0014] In this embodiment, the carcass portion belongs to a pig, cattle, goat, sheep, or camel. In this embodiment, the carcass portion is a pig, cattle, sheep, or goat carcass, preferably a pig carcass portion.

[0015] In this specification and claims, "vertebral portion" refers to a portion of the spine obtained by a prior operation of dividing a carcass portion or a portion of a carcass along the spine. The vertebral portion may include divided vertebrae having corresponding spinous processes, spinous bodies, articular processes, and transverse processes.

[0016] In an embodiment, the cutting device may be arranged to separate the meat from the spinous process and articular processes by cutting along a cutting direction that is parallel to the length of the spinal portion when in use, i.e., parallel to the positioning plane.

[0017] In one embodiment, the positioning element may be configured to contact the cut surface of the spinal portion.

[0018] In an embodiment, in order to press the spinal portion against the positioning element, the pressing device can be arranged to press directly against the spinal portion, preferably directly against the main body portion of the spinal portion.

[0019] In this embodiment, the positioning element is plate-shaped. Thus, the front contact surface of the plate-shaped positioning element defines a positioning plane. In this embodiment, the cutting direction may be parallel to the positioning plane. The aforementioned cutting surface is the cutting surface created by the previous cutting action performed on the spine to divide the carcass.

[0020] In an embodiment, the pressing device includes a plurality of consecutive pressing units arranged continuously in the cutting direction of the cutting device, which is parallel to the positioning plane and therefore parallel to the length direction of the spine portion during use. Each of the plurality of consecutive pressing units has:

[0021] - A pressing element that is movable toward and away from the positioning element, used to press the spinal portion against the positioning element; and

[0022] - A moving device for moving the pressing element from a non-working position to a working position during use, so as to position the spine portion against the positioning element. In the non-working position, the pressing element is disengaged from the carcass portion, and in the working position, the pressing element is pressed against the carcass portion.

[0023] Using such a pressing unit, the spinal portion can be pressed very effectively against the positioning element, thereby being effectively and reliably positioned and held for cutting. In a preferred embodiment, multiple successive pressing units may each have a pressing element capable of moving individually toward and away from the positioning element for pressing the spinal portion against the positioning element. The ability of pressing elements to move individually, for example by applying a dedicated actuator such as a cylinder to each pressing element, allows multiple pressing elements to individually adapt to a specific shape of the spinal portion. However, in an alternative embodiment, at least two pressing elements of multiple successive pressing units may be moved jointly, for example by means of a shared cylinder, wherein each pressing element includes an elastic member to allow the pressing element to individually adapt to a specific shape of the spinal portion. The elastic member may comprise a flexible rubber material, thereby allowing clamping of non-flat objects, as the rubber will allow the positioning elements to move relative to each other.

[0024] In one embodiment, each pressing element is capable of pivoting about a pivot axis extending in the cutting direction.

[0025] In this embodiment, each pressing element has a knob-shaped engagement element, preferably multiple knob-shaped engagement elements, which engage with the spinal portion in the working position of the pressing element. This knob-shaped element provides good gripping of the carcass portion.

[0026] In an embodiment, the positioning device further includes a rod-shaped element fixed in position relative to the positioning element, wherein the rod-shaped element extends in the cutting direction, i.e., parallel to the positioning plane, and coincides with successive pressing elements at least at positions of the pressing elements between ineffective and working positions. In use, a first portion of the length of the spinal section can be pressed against the positioning element by multiple pressing elements, and a second remaining portion of the length of the spinal section can abut against the rod-shaped element. This rod-shaped element has a very simple structure, but it is a very effective way to position a portion of the spinal section for cutting. In an embodiment, the spinal section abuts against the rod-shaped element with its main spinal portion.

[0027] In an embodiment, the positioning device has a plurality of holding elements, each of which protrudes from the positioning element and is configured to engage the spinal portion from the cutting surface, preferably configured to hook into the segmented neural canals of the spinal portion, preferably wherein each of the plurality of pressing units has an associated holding element. Such holding elements further facilitate reliable and effective positioning of the spinal portion.

[0028] In one embodiment, the cutting device is arranged to separate the flesh from the spinous process and articular processes by cutting in a cutting direction parallel to the length direction of the spinal portion. The cutting device includes:

[0029] - A first cutter, configured to cut along the spinous portion;

[0030] - A second cutter, configured to cut along the outer side of the articular process;

[0031] - A third cutter, located between the first and second cutters, is used to make cuts along the upper dorsal side of the articular process;

[0032] The first, second, and third cutters are interconnected to move in unison relative to the carcass.

[0033] The second cutter is capable of moving relative to the first cutter in a transverse direction to the cutting direction.

[0034] The cutting device also includes a pushing element that, during use, pushes the second cutter laterally toward the first cutter in the cutting direction, causing the second cutter to cut directly along the outer side of the articular process. This allows for highly efficient cutting operations using a relatively simple cutting device suitable for adapting to varying sizes and shapes of the spinal segment being processed. Furthermore, throughput can be increased compared to known cutting devices, for example, those without such a pushing element and / or that do not move relative to the carcass. During use, due to the mobility of the second cutter relative to the first cutter, when the second cutter is pushed toward the first cutter, it can effectively follow the outer side of the articular process, regardless of the shape of the articular process varying along the length of the spinal segment.

[0035] In one embodiment, the second cutter is pivotable relative to the first cutter about a pivot axis extending perpendicular to and laterally in the cutting direction. Preferably, the second cutter is located at the free end of a pivot arm pivotally connected to the first cutter about the pivot axis. This allows the second cutter to be positioned independently of the first cutter relative to the spinal portion.

[0036] In an embodiment, the third cutter has a fixed portion fixed to the first cutter and a movable portion fixed to the second cutter, such that the movable portion moves together with the second cutter relative to the first cutter during use. Preferably, the fixed portion and the movable portion have overlapping corresponding cutting edges, which are configured such that, during use, when the second cutter moves relative to the first cutter, the corresponding cutting edges remain overlapping relative to each other.

[0037] The present invention also relates to a spinal processing system for separating meat from the spinal portion of a four-legged carcass, such as a pig carcass, preferably separating loin meat, the spinal processing system comprising:

[0038] - A suspended conveyor system having multiple carriers for conveying segmented carcass portions along a conveyor track, each of the multiple carriers being arranged to suspend the carcass portion on the carrier.

[0039] -The spinal treatment device according to the invention is arranged along a transport trajectory.

[0040] In embodiments of the apparatus and / or system in which the carcass portion is suspended on such a carrier, the spinal processing device may include a moving device for moving the spinal processing device a predetermined distance along a transport trajectory, at least during the process of separating the meat from the spinal portion. Thus, the carrier can move along the spinal processing device in a continuous manner, as opposed to an indexing manner.

[0041] The present invention also relates to a method for separating meat from a carcass portion of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as the vertebral portion of a pig carcass, and preferably separating loin meat, the method comprising:

[0042] - The carcass portion is positioned by means of a positioning device, wherein the carcass portion contacts a positioning element using the cutting surface of the carcass portion, the positioning element defining a positioning plane for the cutting surface;

[0043] - Use the pressing device to press the spinal section against the positioning element; and

[0044] - Separate the meat from the spine by cutting.

[0045] In embodiments of the method, the apparatus according to the invention or the system according to the invention may be used.

[0046] In one embodiment, the separation step may include separating the flesh from the spinous process and articular processes by cutting along a cutting direction parallel to the length direction of the spinal portion during use.

[0047] In an embodiment, the method includes:

[0048] - Locate the parts of the carcass;

[0049] -The flesh is separated from the spinous process and articular processes by cutting along a cutting direction parallel to the length of the spine when in use, using a cutting device.

[0050] Cutting includes:

[0051] - The first cutter of the cutting device cuts along the spinous portion;

[0052] - A second cutter of the cutting device cuts along the outer side of the articular process, wherein the second cutter is movable relative to the first cutter in a transverse direction to the cutting direction;

[0053] - Using a cutting device, a third cutter between the first and second cutters makes a cut along the upper dorsal side of the articular process;

[0054] During the cutting process, the first cutter, the second cutter, and the third cutter move in unison relative to the carcass, and

[0055] During the cutting process, the pushing element of the cutting device pushes the second cutter in the lateral direction toward the first cutter, so that the second cutter cuts directly along the outside of the articular process.

[0056] The embodiments of the invention described with respect to the apparatus according to the invention are similarly applicable to the systems and methods according to the invention, and the embodiments of the invention described with respect to the systems and methods according to the invention are similarly applicable to the apparatus according to the invention. The effects of the embodiments of the apparatus also apply to the embodiments of the systems and methods according to the invention, and the effects of the embodiments of the systems and methods also apply to the embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0057] The invention is described below with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown, and in which similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements.

[0058] Figure 1 An embodiment of the spinal treatment device according to the present invention is shown in a front-view manner;

[0059] Figure 2 Shown in a side view Figure 1 A portion of a spinal treatment device, which is part of an embodiment of a spinal treatment system according to the present invention;

[0060] Figure 3 A cross-section of the spine is shown;

[0061] Figure 4 Showing more details Figure 1 Part of a spinal treatment device;

[0062] Figure 5 Shown in more detail as a side view Figure 1 Part of a spinal treatment device;

[0063] Figure 6 A portion of the spinal treatment device is shown in more detail from the side and bottom, the spinal treatment device being connected with... Figure 1 Similar to the spinal treatment device, but with a different embodiment of the pressing device;

[0064] Figure 7 Shown in more detail in a bottom view. Figure 1 A part of the cutting device and a part of the positioning device of the spinal treatment device;

[0065] Figure 8 Shown in a bottom view Figure 1The part of the cutting device of the spinal treatment device that is combined with the cross-section of the spinal section;

[0066] Figures 9a and 9b show the front view and side view, respectively. Figure 1 The cutting device of the spinal treatment device is part of the cutting device, which is in the first operating state of the cutting device;

[0067] Figure 9c shows the IXc section of Figure 9a;

[0068] Figures 10a and 10b show a portion of the cutting device of the spinal treatment apparatus of Figures 9a and 9b in a second operating state, respectively, as a front view and a side view.

[0069] Figure 11 Shown in more detail from the side and below. Figure 1 A part of the cutting device and a part of the positioning device of the spinal treatment device; and

[0070] Figures 12a and 12b show the top view. Figure 1 The spinal treatment device is part of the positioning device in two corresponding operating states of the positioning device. Detailed Implementation

[0071] Figure 1 A spinal processing device 1 is shown, which is an example of a spinal processing device according to the present invention. The spinal processing device 1 is configured to process the spinal portion 2 (from the spinal portion 3 of a four-legged slaughtered animal) of the carcass. Figure 2 (The height of the dotted line in the diagram is schematically indicated) Separate meat 11, preferably separate the loin meat. Figure 2 The example shown is a segmented pig carcass. Figure 3 As shown, the cross-section of the spinal section 2 has segmented vertebrae 4. The spinal section 2 is obtained through a previous operation of dividing the carcass along its spine, i.e., by a previous longitudinal cut through the spine. This division, a common practice in carcass processing and well-known to those skilled in the art, produces a segmented spinal section with segmented vertebrae. For completeness, Figure 3 The remaining portion of the segmented vertebra, i.e., the removed portion, is indicated by the dashed line marked by reference numeral 4'. The segmented vertebra 4 has a cutting surface 5 (created by the aforementioned segmentation of the spine). The segmented vertebra has a spinous process portion 6 (approximately half of the spinous process in the example shown), a spinous body portion 7 (approximately half of the spinous body in the example shown), articular processes 8, transverse processes 9, and a segmented neural canal 10. Generally, it is noteworthy that the shape of such a spinal vertebra can, for example, depend at least on the length direction of the vertebra along the spine (which is perpendicular to the spinal column). Figure 3The position of the articular process 8 (perpendicular to the plane of the paper) varies depending on the age of the animal being slaughtered. The articular processes 8 on the lumbar vertebrae can be larger than those on the thoracic vertebrae, and, for example, the size of the articular processes 8 can generally decrease from the posterior end to the anterior end of the spine.

[0072] Figure 2 A portion of the spine processing system 100 is shown. The carcass portion 3 is suspended from the rear ankle 12, thus head down—although the head has been removed in a previous processing step—on a carrier 14, which is connected to and moved by a suspended conveyor system 16 (shown schematically), arranged to transport the carcass portion along a conveyor track 18 past the spine processing device 1. The spine processing device 1 has a moving device 20 for moving the spinal processing device 1 a predetermined distance along the conveyor track 18, at least during the separation of meat 11 from the spine portion 2. The moving device 20 may have a linear guide rail 22 and a drive unit 24 for moving the device 1 back and forth with the carrier 14.

[0073] During the use of system 100, in order to separate the meat from the spine of the carcass portion 3, the carcass portion 3 passing through the device 1 may have undergone previous processing steps upstream along trajectory 18, similar to the aforementioned carcass splitting, and may have undergone further processing steps, such as deboning.

[0074] The spinal treatment device 1 includes a positioning device 26 for positioning the carcass portion 3. The positioning device 26 has a positioning element 30, which is plate-shaped at least in this example, and is configured to contact the cutting surface 5 of the spinal portion 2. The positioning element 30 defines a positioning plane, which is a plane containing the front contact surface 32 of the plate-shaped positioning element 30 for the cutting surface 5; that is, the positioning plane is flush with the front contact surface 32. The positioning device 26 also has a pressing device 34 for pressing the spinal portion 2 against the front contact surface 32 of the plate-shaped positioning element 30. Further aspects of the positioning device 26 will be described in detail below.

[0075] The spinal treatment device 1 also includes a cutting device 28 for separating the flesh 11 from the spinous process portion 6 and the articular process 8 by cutting in a cutting direction 36, which in use is parallel to the length direction 38 of the spinal portion 2 (i.e., as shown in the image). Figure 3 The plane exiting (or entering) the paper (as shown in the view) is parallel. During the use of the spine processing device 1, the cutting device 28 moves along the spine portion 2 in the cutting direction 36. Figure 2As shown, the cutting direction 36 is vertical and downward, such that the cutting begins at the rear end of the vertically extending spinal section 2 and proceeds towards the front end of the spinal section 2. During this downward cutting movement, the processing device 1 temporarily moves with the carrier 14 suspending the carcass section 3. After releasing the carcass section 3, the spinal processing device 1 moves back upstream, making the spinal processing device 1 ready to process the next carcass section suspended on the carrier along the path of the device 1.

[0076] The cutting device 28 includes a first cutter 40 configured to cut along the spinous portion 6. For this purpose, as Figure 4 As shown, the first cutter 40 has a cutting edge 42 that slopes backward from the front side 44 of the first cutter 40. Thus, the first cutter 40 cuts progressively along the spinous portion 6. Figure 9c shows a cross-section of a portion of the first cutter 40, which includes the cutting edge 42 in itself. As shown, the first cutter 40 has a blade portion 46, which, in the view of Figure 9b, has a spinous contact side 46a on its left side. This contact side 46a faces the plate-shaped positioning element 30 and therefore faces the spinous portion 6 during use. As shown in Figure 9c, the first cutter 40 has a small bevel 48 on the contact side 46a and a much larger bevel 50 on the opposite outer side. Therefore, during cutting, due to the force of the meat 11 acting on the cutter 40, and more specifically, the force acting on the larger bevel 50 of the first cutter 40, the first cutter 40 will tend to move towards the spinous portion 6. The small bevel 48 is provided to reduce the risk of unintended cutting into the spinous process portion 6. The first cutter 40 also has a guide pin 43 projecting from the front side 44 of the first cutter 40 in the cutting direction 36 for guiding the first cutter 40 along the spinous process portion 6 between the spinous process portion 6 and the articular process 8. The blunt end of the guide pin 43 prevents the guide pin 43 from penetrating the bone portion and provides reliable guidance for the first cutter 40 to pass through the typically concave or arcuate space 13 between the spinous process portion 6 and the articular process 8 and to move parallel to the spinal portion.

[0077] The first cutter 40 is fixedly connected to the moving device 52 via an elongated mounting hole 58 for moving the cutting device 28 downward in the cutting direction 36 and upward in the reverse cutting direction. The moving device 52 may include a guide 56 and a chain or belt drive 54 for providing vertical movement.

[0078] The cutting device 28 also includes a second cutter 60 configured to cut along the outer side 8a of the articular process 8. The second cutter 60 has a cutting edge 64 and a shape similar to that of the first cutter 40 as shown in FIG. 9c and explained above, but only in certain situations. Figure 8 As can be seen in the image, the shape has a small inner bevel and a large outer bevel. The second cutter 60 has a blade portion 68 with a cutting edge 64 on its forward-facing side. The blade portion 68 is designed, that is, has dimensions in the cutting direction 36, such that the blade portion 68 extends along a plurality of consecutive articular processes 8 in the cutting direction 36. In other words, the dimensions of the second cutter 60 in the cutting direction 36 prevent the second cutter 60 from being positioned between two consecutive vertebrae 4, or at least the change in the cutting direction 36 is relatively small. As shown in Figures 9b and 10b, in the cutting direction 36, the cutting edge 64 of the second cutter is at least substantially parallel to the cutting edge 42 of the first cutter 40. In this respect, the use of "at least substantially" means that regardless of whether the second cutter 60 has slight possible pivoting relative to the first cutter 40 as will be explained below, the two cutters can still be considered to be generally parallel in orientation during use.

[0079] The second cutter 60 is movable relative to the first cutter 40 in a horizontal transverse direction 62, which is transverse to the cutting direction 36. The transverse direction 62 extends perpendicular to the plate-shaped positioning element 30 and thus perpendicular to the aforementioned positioning plane. To provide this movement, a blade portion 68 having a cutting edge 64 is mounted to the free end of a pivot arm 65 of the second cutter 60. The pivot arm 65 is connected to the first cutter 40 in a manner that pivots about a pivot axis 66. As shown in FIG. 9a, the pivot axis 66 extends perpendicular to both the cutting direction 36 and the transverse direction 62. That is, similar to the cutting direction 36, the pivot axis 66 extends in a virtual plane parallel to the plate-shaped positioning element 30. FIG. 9b shows the maximum pivoting movement of the second cutter 60 away from the first cutter in the transverse direction 62. FIG. 10b shows the position of the second cutter 60, where it is pivoted in the transverse direction 62 toward the first cutter to the position closest to the first cutter 40. The purpose of this mobility of the second cutter 60 relative to the first cutter 40 is to achieve the following effect: during use, when the first cutter 40 cuts along the spinous process 6, the cutting edge 64 of the second cutter 60 cuts directly along the outer side 8a of the articular process 8, i.e., maintaining the cut; furthermore, when the cross-sectional shape of the continuous spinous process portion 6 and / or articular process 8 of the vertebra 4 varies along the length of the spinal portion 2, the cutting edge 64 of the second cutter 60 also cuts directly along the outer side 8a of the articular process 8, i.e., maintaining the cut. For this purpose, the cutting device 28 also has a pushing element 69 in the form of a compression spring (see FIG. 9a), which is used to push the second cutter 60 toward the first cutter 40 in the lateral direction 62 during cutting. The pushing element acts on the pivot arm 65 to which the blade portion 68 of the second cutter 60 is connected, and pushes the pivot arm 65 to pivot about the pivot axis 66 in the direction of the first cutter 40, that is, from the maximum position shown in FIG9b to the minimum position shown in FIG10b, in terms of FIG9b and FIG10b. Due to the provision of the pushing element 69, the blade portion 68 of the second cutter 60 is pushed, i.e., held pushed, against the outer side 8a of the articular process 8 during cutting along the spine portion 2. Therefore, efficient cutting can be performed directly along the outer side 8a of the articular process 8, thereby obtaining a high meat yield. Regarding the cross-sectional shape of the aforementioned variation in the spine portion 2, Figure 8 Can be with Figure 3 A comparison was made. Although the drawing was highly schematic, Figure 8 and Figure 3 All figures show cross-sections of vertebrae from the same spinal region. For convenience, identical portions of the vertebrae are labeled with the same reference numerals.

[0080] The blade portion 68 of the second cutter 60 can pivot relative to the first cutter 40 about an additional pivot axis 70 extending in the transverse direction 62. More specifically, the blade portion 68 is pivotally connected to the pivot arm 65 of the second cutter 60 about the pivot axis 70. The cutting device 28 has an additional actuating element 73 in the form of a torsion spring (see FIG. 10a), which operates between the blade portion 68 and the pivot arm 65, at the position of the pivot axis 70, to push the cutting edge 64 of the blade portion 68 of the second cutter 60 toward the transverse process 9 in a direction 72 perpendicular to the cutting direction 36 and the transverse direction 62 during use. This pivoting movement about the additional pivot axis 70 serves to keep the second cutter 40 along the transverse process 9 when cutting along the spinal portion 2, and to enable the second cutter 60 to cut as deeply as possible into the meat 11 along the articular process 8 under the constraint of the transverse process 9. Compared to Figures 10a and 10b, Figures 9a and 9b show that the blade portion 68 pivots to a greater extent in direction 72.

[0081] The cutting device 28 also has a third cutter 80 between the first cutter 40 and the second cutter 60, which is used to cut along the upper dorsal side 8b of the articular process 8. The first cutter, the second cutter, and the third cutter are interconnected to move together relative to the carcass portion 3 in the cutting direction 36. This is achieved by mounting the second cutter 60 and the third cutter 80 to the first cutter 40, which moves in the cutting direction 36 during use, thereby causing the second cutter 60 and the third cutter 80 to move together automatically. The third cutter 80 has a fixed portion 81 fixed to the first cutter 40 and a movable portion 82 fixed to the second cutter 40, such that the movable portion 82 moves together with the second cutter 60 relative to the first cutter 40 during use. The movable portion 82 is fixed to a pivot arm 65, including embodiments where the movable portion 82 is a cutter-shaped end of the pivot arm 65.

[0082] The third cutter has cutting edges 83, 84 and a guide portion 87 extending beyond the cutting edges. The guide portion 87 is designed to extend a plurality of consecutive articular processes 8 in the cutting direction 36 to prevent the third cutter from cutting into the articular processes 8. The fixed portion 81 and the movable portion 82 have overlapping corresponding cutting edges 83, 84, which are configured such that, in use, when the second cutter 60 moves relative to the first cutter 40 and thus the movable portion 82 moves relative to the fixed portion 81, the corresponding cutting edges 83, 84 remain overlapping relative to each other, as shown in the image. Figure 11 That's understandable. For example... Figure 7As shown in detail, the cutting edge 84 of the movable portion 82 is a continuation of the cutting edge 83 of the fixed portion 81, at least in the cutting direction 36. During the movement of the cutting device 28 in the cutting direction, the first, second, and third cutters are allowed to move slightly relative to the moving device 52 in direction 72, allowing the third cutter 80 to slide on the top 8b of the articular process, since the third cutter 80 abuts against the upper side 8b of the articular process when pushed in direction 72. The device 1 also has another pushing element, such as a cylinder, which operates between the first cutter 40 and the moving device 52 to provide the aforementioned slight movement of the first cutter 40, thereby enabling the first, second, and third cutters to move in unison in direction 72.

[0083] As explained above, the positioning device 26 is configured to position the slender portion 3, having the cutting surface 5 of the spinal portion 2, on the positioning plane, abutting against the plate-shaped positioning element 30. In the example according to the drawings, the cutting direction 36 is parallel to the positioning plane 32 and vertically downward. In any case, the cutting direction 36 is along the extension direction of the spinal portion 2. The cutting edge 42 of the first cutter 40 extends in a virtual plane parallel to the positioning plane. The cutting edge 64 of the second cutter 60 extends in another virtual plane, which is also parallel to the positioning plane, and more specifically, is at least substantially parallel to the second cutter 60 within the range of relative movement of the second cutter 60 with respect to the first cutter 40.

[0084] The positioning device 26 will now be described in more detail. As described above, the positioning device 26 has a plate-shaped positioning element 30 configured to contact the cutting surface 5 of the spinal portion 2, and the positioning device 26 has a pressing device 34 for pressing the spinal portion 2 against the contact surface 32 of the plate-shaped positioning element 30. The plate-shaped positioning element 30 is formed as a flat contact plate. In this way, the spinal portion 2 of the carcass portion 3 to be processed is pressed and thus preferably positioned against the defined contact surface.

[0085] The pressing device 34 includes a plurality of continuous pressing units 90 arranged in the cutting direction 36—four in the positioning device 26. Figure 6 The embodiment of the pressing device 134 shown has a plurality of—three—sequential pressing units 190. Apart from this, the pressing device 134 is the same as or at least very similar to the pressing device 34, and therefore the following description of the pressing device 34 also applies to the pressing device 134 in a similar manner.

[0086] like Figure 8As shown, each of the plurality of consecutive pressing units 90 has a pressing element 91 that is movable toward and away from the positioning element 30 for pressing the spinal portion 2 against the positioning element 30 by pressing against the body portion 7 below the transverse process 9. Each pressing unit 90 also has a moving device 93 for moving the pressing element 91 from a non-working position (shown in FIG. 12a) toward a working position (shown in FIG. 12b) during use to position the spinal portion 2 against the positioning element 30. In the non-working position, the pressing element 91 is disengaged from the body portion 3. In the working position, the pressing element 91 is closer to the positioning element 30 than in the non-working position and pushes against the body portion 3, more specifically, against the spinal body portion 7. As shown in FIG. 12a and FIG. 12b, the moving device 93 has a lever 94 that is pivotable about a pivot axis 95 for each pressing element 91. The lever 93 can be pivoted by appropriate actuation of the pneumatic actuator 96. The pivot axis 95 extends in the cutting direction 36. Each pressing element 91 has two knob-shaped engagement elements 92, preferably multiple knob-shaped engagement elements, which engage with the spine portion 2 in the working position of the pressing element 91.

[0087] The positioning device 126 also includes a rod-shaped element 89 fixed in position relative to the positioning element 30, wherein the rod-shaped element 89 extends in the cutting direction 36 and coincides with the continuous pressing element 91 at least between the ineffective position shown in FIG. 12a and the working position shown in FIG. 12b. During use, during cutting, such as... Figure 2 As shown, a first portion of the length of the spinal section 2 is pressed against the positioning element 30 by a plurality of pressing elements 91, the first portion including lumbar vertebrae, and a second remaining portion of the length of the spinal section 2 is pressed against the rod-shaped element 89.

[0088] To more securely position the spinal segment 2 against the positioning element 30, the positioning device 26 has a plurality of holding elements 98, each of which protrudes from the positioning element 30 and is configured to engage with the spinal segment and, depending on the cutting precision formed by the segmentation, enter the segmented neural canals 10 of the spinal segment 2. Each of the plurality of pressing units 90 has an associated holding element 98, as shown in Figures 12a and 12b, which can be in a rest position (Figure 12a, Figure 12b). Figure 6 ) and card holding position (Figure 12b, Figure 7 , Figure 11 The device pivots between the rest position and the holding position, and in the holding position, the holding element 98 protrudes from the positioning element 30. The holding element 98 is configured to move between the rest position and the holding position by means of a cylinder 99. In this example, two pairs of holding elements 98 are provided, each pair of holding elements 98 being movable by means of a cylinder 99.

[0089] As will be clear from the above description of the spinal processing device 1, the method for separating meat from the carcass portion 3 of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as the spinal portion 2 of a pig carcass, and preferably separating loin meat includes:

[0090] - The carcass portion is positioned using the positioning device 26. The carcass portion 3 can contact the positioning element 30 using the cutting surface 5 of the carcass portion 3, which defines a positioning plane 32 for the cutting surface 5;

[0091] - Use the pressing device 34 to press the spinal part 2 against the positioning element 30;

[0092] -The meat is separated from the spinous process portion 6 and articular process 8 by cutting along a cutting direction 36 that is parallel to the length direction 38 of the spinous process portion 2 when in use, using a cutting device 28.

[0093] Cutting includes:

[0094] - Use the first cutter 40 to cut along the spinous portion 6;

[0095] - Use a second cutter 60 to cut along the outer side 8a of the articular process 8, the second cutter 60 being movable relative to the first cutter 40 in a transverse direction 62 transverse to the cutting direction 36;

[0096] - Use a third cutter 80 positioned between the first cutter 40 and the second cutter 60 to cut along the upper dorsal side 8b of the articular process 8.

[0097] During the cutting process, the first cutter, the second cutter, and the third cutter move together relative to the carcass portion 3, and

[0098] During the cutting process, the pushing element 69 is used to push the second cutter 60 toward the first cutter 40 in the lateral direction 62, so that the second cutter 60 cuts directly along the outer side 8a of the articular process 8.

Claims

1. A spine processing device for separating meat from the spine portion of a segmented carcass of a four-legged slaughtered animal. The spinal treatment device includes: - A cutting device for separating the meat from the spinal portion by cutting; - A positioning device for positioning the carcass portion at least during cutting, the positioning device comprising: - A positioning element configured to contact a cutting surface of the spinal portion, the cutting surface of the spinal portion being generated by a longitudinal cutting action of the spine, wherein the positioning element defines a positioning plane for the cutting surface; and - A pressing device for pressing the spinal portion against the positioning element. The characteristic feature is that the pressing device is arranged to directly press against the main body portion of the spine portion for pressing the spine portion against the positioning element.

2. The spinal treatment device according to claim 1, wherein, The positioning element is plate-shaped.

3. The spinal treatment device according to claim 1 or 2, in, The pressing device includes: - A plurality of consecutive pressing units, the plurality of consecutive pressing units being arranged continuously in the cutting direction of the cutting device, the cutting direction being parallel to the length direction of the spinal portion during use, each of the plurality of consecutive pressing units having: - A pressing element, movable toward and away from the positioning element, for pressing the spinal portion against the positioning element; and - A moving device, wherein the moving device is used to move the pressing element from a non-working position to a working position during use, so as to position the spinal portion against the positioning element, wherein in the non-working position the pressing element is disengaged from the carcass portion, and in the working position the pressing element is against the carcass portion for pressing.

4. The spinal treatment device according to claim 3, wherein, Each pressing element is capable of pivoting about a pivot axis extending in the cutting direction.

5. The spinal treatment device according to claim 3, wherein, Each pressing element has a knob-shaped engagement element that engages with the spinal portion at the working position of the pressing element.

6. The spinal treatment device according to claim 5, wherein, Each pressing element has multiple knob-shaped engagement elements.

7. The spinal treatment device according to claim 3, wherein, The positioning device further includes a rod-shaped element, which is fixed in position relative to the positioning element, wherein the rod-shaped element extends in the cutting direction and coincides with the continuous pressing element at least at a position of the pressing element between the non-working position and the working position. In use, a first portion of the length of the spinal section is pressed against the positioning element by a plurality of pressing elements, and a second remaining portion of the length of the spinal section abuts against the rod-shaped element.

8. The spinal treatment device according to claim 3, wherein, The positioning device has multiple holding elements, each of which protrudes from the positioning element and is configured to engage the spinal portion from the cutting surface.

9. The spinal treatment device according to claim 8, wherein, Each holding element is configured to hook into the segmented neural canals of the spinal segment.

10. The spinal treatment device according to claim 8, wherein, Each of the plurality of pressing units has an associated holding element.

11. The spinal treatment device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The spinal column comprises segmented vertebrae, each segmented vertebra having a corresponding spinous process, a main spinal column, articular processes, and transverse processes. The cutting device is arranged to separate the flesh from the spinous process and the articular process by cutting in a cutting direction parallel to the length direction of the spinal portion. The cutting device includes: - A first cutter, configured to cut along the spinous portion; - A second cutter, configured to cut along the outer side of the articular process; - A third cutter, located between the first cutter and the second cutter, is used to cut along the upper dorsal side of the articular process; The first cutter, the second cutter, and the third cutter are interconnected to move in unison relative to the carcass portion. The second cutter is capable of moving relative to the first cutter in a lateral direction perpendicular to the cutting direction. The cutting device also has a pushing element for pushing the second cutter toward the first cutter in the lateral direction during use, such that the second cutter cuts directly along the outer side of the articular process.

12. The spinal treatment device according to claim 11, wherein, The second cutter is pivotable relative to the first cutter about a pivot axis extending perpendicular to the cutting direction and the transverse direction, wherein the second cutter is located at the free end of a pivot arm that is pivotally connected to the first cutter about the pivot axis.

13. The spinal treatment device according to claim 11, wherein, The third cutter has a fixed portion fixed to the first cutter and a movable portion fixed to the second cutter, such that the movable portion moves together with the second cutter relative to the first cutter during use, wherein the fixed portion and the movable portion have overlapping corresponding cutting edges, the corresponding cutting edges being configured such that, during use, when the second cutter moves relative to the first cutter, the corresponding cutting edges remain overlapping relative to each other.

14. The spinal treatment device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, In use, the carcass portion is suspended on a carrier connected to and moved by a suspended conveyor system, which is arranged to transport the carcass portion along a conveyor track through the spinal processing device, which includes a moving device for moving the spinal processing device a predetermined distance along the conveyor track, at least during the process of separating the meat from the spinal portion.

15. The spinal treatment device according to claim 1, wherein, The spine processing device is used to separate meat from the spine portion of a pig carcass.

16. The spinal treatment device according to claim 1, wherein, The spinal processing device is used to separate loin meat from the spinal portion of the carcass of the four-legged slaughtered animal.

17. A spine processing system for separating meat from the spine portion of a segmented carcass of a four-legged slaughter animal, the spine processing system comprising: - A suspended conveying system having multiple carriers for conveying the segmented carcass portions along a conveying trajectory, each of the multiple carriers being arranged to suspend the carcass portion on the carrier; - The spinal treatment device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spinal treatment device is disposed along the transport trajectory.

18. The spinal treatment system according to claim 17, wherein, The spinal processing device includes a moving device for moving the spinal processing device a predetermined distance along the conveying trajectory, at least during the process of separating the meat from the spinal portion.

19. The spinal processing system of claim 17, wherein the spinal processing system is used to separate meat from the spinal portion of a pig carcass.

20. The spinal processing system of claim 17, wherein the spinal processing system is used to separate loin meat from the spinal portion of the carcass portion of the four-legged slaughtered animal.

21. A method for separating meat from the spinal portion of a segmented carcass of a four-legged slaughter animal, the method comprising: - The carcass portion is positioned by means of a positioning device, wherein the carcass portion contacts a positioning element using a cutting surface of the carcass portion, the cutting surface of the carcass portion being generated by a longitudinal cutting motion of the spine, and the positioning element defining a positioning plane for the cutting surface. - Use the pressing device to press the spinal portion against the positioning element; and - The meat is separated from the spinal section by cutting. Its features are, - The step of pressing the spinal portion against the positioning element using the pressing device includes pressing the pressing device directly against the spinal body portion of the spinal portion to press the spinal portion against the positioning element.

22. The method of claim 21, using the apparatus according to any one of claims 1-16 or the spinal treatment system according to any one of claims 17-20.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the method is used to separate meat from the spinal portion of a pig carcass.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the method is used to separate loin meat from the spinal portion of a segmented carcass of the four-legged slaughtered animal.

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