Spine treatment device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method, a system and a spine treatment device for separating meat from a spine portion of a segmented carcass portion of a four-legged slaughtered animal, comprising: positioning means for positioning the carcass portion; and a cutting device for separating meat from the spinous process portion and the articular process by cutting. The cutting device includes: a first cutter for cutting along the spinous process portion; the second cutter is used for cutting along the outer side of the zygopophysis; and the third cutter is used for cutting along the upper side of the zygopophysis. The second cutter is movable relative to the first cutter transverse to the cutting direction. The cutting device has a pushing element for pushing the second cutter towards the first cutter in the transverse direction during cutting such that the second cutter performs cutting along the outer side of the zygopophysis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a spinal column processing device for separating meat, preferably loin meat, from a segmented carcass part of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a spinal column part of a pig carcass part, the spinal column part comprising segmented vertebrae with corresponding spinous process parts, spinal body parts, articular processes and transverse processes. Such segmented carcass parts of other four-legged slaughtered animals, such as cattle or sheep, can also be processed with the device and method according to the invention. Background Art

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

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide improved spinal treatment devices and methods.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a spine processing device and method by which the yield of meat separated from the spine part can be controlled and / or increased.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a spinal column treatment device and method which is adapted to accommodate to a greater extent the different sizes and shapes of the spinal column portions to be treated. Summary of the invention

[0006] The spinal column treatment device, spinal column 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, a spinal processing device is provided for separating meat, preferably loin meat, from a divided carcass part of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a spinal column part of a pig carcass part, the spinal column part comprising divided vertebrae having corresponding spinous process parts, spinal body parts, articular processes and transverse processes.

[0008] The spinal treatment device includes:

[0009] - a positioning device for positioning the carcass part;

[0010] - a cutting device for separating the flesh from the spinous process and the articular process by cutting along a cutting direction parallel to the length direction of the spinal part. This means that during use, the cutting direction may be parallel to the length direction of the spinal part.

[0011] The cutting device includes:

[0012] - a first cutter configured to cut along a spinous process portion;

[0013] - a second cutter configured to cut along the lateral side of the articular process;

[0014] - A third cutter, the third cutter being between the first cutter and the second cutter, the third cutter being used to cut along the upper dorsal side of the articular process.

[0015] The first cutter, the second cutter and the third cutter are connected to each other for joint movement relative to the carcass part.

[0016] The second cutter is movable relative to the first cutter in a lateral direction transverse to the cutting direction.

[0017] The cutting device further has a pushing element, which is used to push the second cutter toward the first cutter in a lateral direction during cutting during use, so that the second cutter cuts along the outer side of the articular process.

[0018] The effect of the device according to the invention is that, by having a single cutting device having a first cutter, a second cutter and a third cutter connected to each other for joint movement relative to the carcass part, in combination with a pushing element that pushes the second cutter toward the first cutter and by pushing the second cutter toward the first cutter, the second cutter is kept cutting along the articular process, so that a relatively simple structure cutting device can be used to perform a very effective cutting operation, which is suitable for adapting to different sizes and shapes of the spinal column part to be processed to a greater extent. In addition, compared with known cutting devices that do not have such a pushing element and / or do not move relative to the carcass part, for example, the yield can be increased. During use, due to the movability of the second cutter relative to the first cutter, while pushing the second cutter toward the first cutter, the second cutter can effectively follow the outside of the articular process, regardless of how the shape of the articular process along the length of the spinal column part changes. In order to maximize the yield of meat separated from the spinal column part, the pushing element can be configured to push the second cutter toward the first cutter in a transverse direction during cutting during use, so that the second cutter cuts directly along the outside of the articular process. However, for some applications, it may be desirable for one or more of the first cutter, the second cutter, and the third cutter to follow the contour of the spine portion at a predetermined distance from the spine portion and cut the meat, thereby intentionally leaving a little meat at the spine portion. In other words, one or more of the first cutter, the second cutter, and the third cutter may be moved along the spine portion at a predetermined distance, thereby controlling the thickness of the meat layer left at the spine portion.

[0019] The invention also relates to a system according to claim 12 and a method according to claim 14 .

[0020] In an embodiment, the carcass part belongs to a porcine, bovine, caprine, ovine or camelid slaughtered animal. In an embodiment, the carcass part is a porcine, bovine, ovine or goat carcass part, preferably a porcine carcass part.

[0021] In the present description and claims, a "vertebral column portion" is a portion of the vertebral column obtained by a previous operation of dividing the carcass or a part of the carcass along the vertebral column.

[0022] In an embodiment, the first cutter has a guide pin protruding from the front side of the first cutter in the cutting direction for guiding the first cutter along the spinous process portion between the spinous process portion and the articular process. This helps to perform reliable cutting along the spinous process portion.

[0023] In an embodiment, the first cutter may have a first bevel at the inner side of the cutter facing the spinous process portion during use, and a second bevel larger than the first bevel on the opposite outer side, so that during cutting, due to the force of the meat acting on the first cutter, the first cutter will tend to move toward the spinous process portion. In an embodiment, the first cutter may have a single bevel at the outer side away from the spinous process portion during use. Then, the force acting on the first cutter on the second bevel side or the outer side will be greater than the force acting on the first bevel side, so the first cutter will tend to move toward the spinous process portion, so that the first cutter keeps cutting directly along the spinous process portion. This can increase meat yield. The first bevel can help prevent the first cutter from cutting into the spinous process portion. Alternatively, if it is desired to intentionally leave a thin layer of meat on the spinal column portion, the first cutter can move toward the spinous process portion and move along the spinous process portion at a predetermined distance.

[0024] In an embodiment, the second cutter is capable of pivoting relative to the first cutter about a pivot axis extending perpendicular to the cutting direction and the transverse direction, preferably, wherein the second cutter is arranged at the free end of a pivot arm, which is pivotally connected to the first cutter about the pivot axis. In this way, the second cutter can be positioned relative to the spinal column portion independently of the first cutter. During use, that is to say, during the execution of an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the second cutter is thus pivoted relative to the first cutter and thus moves towards and away from the first cutter, such as according to a change in the shape of the articular process along the length of the spinal column portion, while the second cutter is pushed towards the first cutter by the pushing element.

[0025] In an embodiment, the second cutter has a blade portion having a cutting edge on a side of the blade portion facing forward. The blade portion can be designed so that the blade portion extends along a plurality of continuous articular processes in a cutting direction. To this end, the size of the blade portion along the cutting direction can be at least 5cm, preferably, at least 7cm, and further preferably, at most 15cm. The blade portion can be positioned to be pushed by a pushing element toward the outside of the articular process, more specifically, against the outside of the articular process. The pushing element can act on the pivot arm to push the blade portion against the outside of the articular process. The pushing element can be or include a passive pushing element, such as a coil spring, or the pushing element can be actively controllable, such as using a cylinder, so that the contact pressure between the second cutter and the articular process can be adjusted or controlled to a greater extent. The pushing element can be positioned to act on the pivot arm. The blade portion is pushed toward the articular process and can be kept at a predetermined distance from the articular process to intentionally leave a layer of meat on the bone. However, if the blade portion is pushed against the articular process, substantially all of the meat will be cut off from the bone, thereby maximizing the yield of the meat separated from the spinal column portion.

[0026] In an embodiment, the cutting edge of the second cutter is at least substantially parallel to the cutting edge of the first cutter, seen in the cutting direction.

[0027] In an embodiment, the blade portion of the second cutter is pivotable relative to the first cutter around an additional pivot axis extending in the transverse direction. The cutting device may have an additional push element, which is used to push the cutting edge of the second cutter toward the transverse process in a direction perpendicular to the cutting direction and the transverse direction when in use. Therefore, during use, during the execution of the method according to the invention, the additional push element pushes the cutting edge of the second cutter toward the transverse process when cutting. In this way, it can be achieved that the second cutter remains in contact with the transverse process, and in this case, the cutting of the second cutter will have a maximum depth.

[0028] In an embodiment, the third cutter may have a cutting edge at the front side. The third cutter may also have a guide portion that exceeds the cutting edge, and the guide portion is designed so that the guide portion extends a plurality of continuous articular processes in the cutting direction. For this reason, the length of the third cutter along the cutting direction is at least 5 cm, preferably at least 7 cm, and further preferably, at most 15 cm. This helps prevent the third cutter from cutting into the articular process.

[0029] In an embodiment, the third cutter has a fixed portion fixed to the first cutter and has a movable portion fixed to the second cutter, so that the movable portion moves jointly with the second cutter relative to the first cutter when in use. In this way, the third cutter can be adapted to the width dimension of the articular process in the transverse direction.

[0030] In an embodiment, the fixed part and the movable part have overlapping respective cutting edges, which are configured so that when the second cutter moves relative to the first cutter in use, the respective cutting edges remain in an overlapping arrangement relative to each other. In this way, a continuous cutting edge is achieved, which improves the efficiency of the cutting. The cutting edge of the movable part can be a continuation of the cutting edge of the fixed part.

[0031] In an embodiment, the positioning device is configured to position the carcass part at least when cutting. In an embodiment, the positioning device comprises a positioning element, which is configured to contact the cutting surface of the spinal column portion, wherein the positioning element defines a positioning plane for the cutting surface. The positioning element may be plate-shaped. The front contact surface of the plate-shaped positioning element then defines the positioning plane. Therefore, during use, at least when cutting, the cutting surface of the spinal column portion is pushed against the plate-shaped positioning element.

[0032] The positioning device may further comprise a pressing device for pressing the spinal column portion against the positioning element, preferably by pressing directly against the spinal column portion.

[0033] By providing a positioning element which is configured to come into contact with the cutting surface of the carcass part and which defines a positioning plane, in combination with a pressing device, a stable and well-defined positioning of the carcass part for the cutting operation is achieved, in which way the spinal column part is more securely positioned.

[0034] The cutting direction is parallel to the positioning plane. The aforementioned cutting surface is the cutting surface produced by the cutting action previously performed through the spine for dividing the carcass part. The transverse direction is perpendicular to the positioning plane and, in the case of a plate-shaped positioning element, perpendicular to the front contact surface of the plate-shaped positioning element.

[0035] The cutting edge of the first cutter may extend in a first plane parallel to the positioning plane.The cutting edge of the second cutter may extend in a second plane parallel or at least substantially parallel to the positioning plane.

[0036] In an embodiment, the pressing device comprises a plurality of consecutive pressing units arranged in a cutting direction of the cutting device, the cutting direction being parallel to the positioning plane and therefore parallel to the length direction of the spinal column portion when in use, the plurality of consecutive pressing units each having:

[0037] - a pressing element which is individually movable towards and away from the positioning element for pressing the spinal column portion against the positioning element; and

[0038] - A moving device, which is used to move the pressing element from a non-working position to a working position to position the spinal column part against the positioning element when in use. In the non-working position, the pressing element is disengaged from the carcass part, and in the working position, the pressing element pushes the carcass part.

[0039] Using such a pressing unit, the spinal column portion can be very effectively pressed against the positioning element and thereby effectively and reliably positioned and held for cutting.

[0040] In an embodiment, the positioning device also includes a rod-shaped element that is in a fixed position relative to the positioning element, wherein the rod-shaped element extends in the cutting direction, that is, the rod-shaped element is parallel to the positioning plane, and at least at a position where the pressing element is located between the ineffective position and the working position, the rod-shaped element is aligned with the continuous pressing element. When in use, a first portion of the length of the spinal column portion can be pressed against the positioning element by a plurality of pressing elements, and a remaining second portion of the length of the spinal column portion can be pressed against the rod-shaped element. The structure of this rod-shaped element is very simple, but it is a very effective way to position a portion of the spinal column portion for cutting. In an embodiment, the spinal column portion is pressed against the rod-shaped element with its spinal body portion.

[0041] In an embodiment, the positioning device has a plurality of clamping elements, each of which protrudes from the positioning element and is configured to engage the spinal column from the cutting surface, preferably each of which is configured to hook the segmented neural tube of the spinal column, preferably, wherein each of the plurality of pressing units has an associated clamping element. Such clamping elements further contribute to reliable and effective positioning of the spinal column.

[0042] In an embodiment, in use, the carcass part may be suspended from a carrier connected to and moved by an overhead conveyor system arranged to transport the carcass part along a conveying trajectory past the spine processing device.

[0043] The invention also relates to a spinal column processing system for separating meat, preferably loin meat, from a divided carcass part of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a pig carcass part, from a spinal column part, the spinal column processing system comprising:

[0044] an overhead conveyor system having a plurality of carriers for conveying the portioned carcass parts along a conveying track, each of the plurality of carriers being arranged to suspend a carcass part on the carrier;

[0045] - The spinal column treatment device according to the invention is arranged along a transport trajectory.

[0046] In an embodiment of the device and / or system in which the carcass parts are suspended on such a carrier, the spine handling device may include a moving device for moving the spine handling device a predetermined distance along the transport trajectory at least during the separation of the meat from the spine parts. In this way, the carrier may be moved along the spine handling device in a continuous manner, i.e. as opposed to an indexing manner.

[0047] The invention also relates to a method for separating meat, preferably loin meat, from a spinal column portion of a divided carcass part of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a pig carcass part, the spinal column portion comprising divided vertebrae with corresponding spinous process portions, spinal body portions, articular processes and transverse processes, the method comprising:

[0048] - positioning of carcass parts;

[0049] - separating the flesh from the spinous process portions and articular processes by cutting with the cutting device in a cutting direction parallel to the length direction of the spinal column portion during use,

[0050] Cutting includes:

[0051] - using a first cutter of the cutting device to cut along the spinous process portion;

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

[0053] - using a third cutter of the cutting device between the first cutter and the second cutter to 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 jointly relative to the carcass part, and

[0055] During the cutting process, the second cutter is pushed toward the first cutter in a lateral direction using a pushing element of the cutting device, so that the second cutter cuts along the outer side of the articular process.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment of the method, the step of pushing the second cutter in a lateral direction toward the first cutter by using a pushing element of the cutting device during cutting includes pushing the second cutter so that the second cutter cuts directly along the outside of the articular process.

[0057] In an embodiment, the method comprises:

[0058] - positioning the carcass part by means of a positioning device, wherein the carcass part is in contact with its cutting surface with a positioning element which defines a positioning plane for the cutting surface;

[0059] - pressing the spinal column portion against the positioning element using a pressing device; and

[0060] -Separate the meat from the spine by cutting.

[0061] In an embodiment of the method, a device according to the invention or a system according to the invention may be used.

[0062] The embodiments of the present invention described with respect to the apparatus according to the present invention are applicable in a similar manner to the system and method according to the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention described with respect to the system and method according to the present invention are applicable in a similar manner to the apparatus according to the present invention. The effects of the embodiments of the apparatus are also applicable to the embodiments of the system and method according to the present invention, and the effects of the embodiments of the system and method are also applicable to the embodiments of the apparatus according to the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] The invention is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown and in which like reference numerals denote identical or similar elements.

[0064] Figure 1 An embodiment of a spinal treatment device according to the present invention is shown by way of a front view;

[0065] Figure 2 Shown in side view Figure 1 A part of a spinal treatment device as a part of an embodiment of a spinal treatment system according to the present invention;

[0066] Figure 3 A cross section of the spine is shown;

[0067] Figure 4 Shown in more detail Figure 1 A portion of a spinal treatment device;

[0068] Figure 5 The side view shows in more detail Figure 1 A portion of a spinal treatment device;

[0069] Figure 6 A portion of a spinal column treatment device is shown in more detail from the side and from below, the spinal column treatment device being connected to the spinal column treatment device. Figure 1 The spinal treatment device is similar to that of the invention but has a different embodiment of the compression device;

[0070] Figure 7 The bottom view shows the Figure 1 a portion of a cutting device and a portion of a positioning device of a spinal treatment device;

[0071] Figure 8 Shown in bottom view Figure 1 a portion of the cutting device of the spinal column processing device that engages with the cross-section of the spinal column portion;

[0072] FIG. 9a and FIG. 9b show the front view and side view respectively. Figure 1 a portion of a cutting device of a spinal treatment device, the cutting device being in a first operating state of the cutting device;

[0073] FIG. 9c shows a section IXc of FIG. 9a;

[0074] 10a and 10b show a portion of the cutting device of the spinal column treatment device of FIGS. 9a and 9b in front view and side view, respectively, the cutting device being in a second operating state of the cutting device;

[0075] Fig.11 Shown in more detail from the side and below Figure 1 A portion of a cutting device and a portion of a positioning device of a spinal treatment device; and

[0076] Figures 12a and 12b show the Figure 1 The present invention is a part of a positioning device of a spinal treatment device, and the positioning device is respectively in two corresponding operating states of the positioning device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0077] Figure 1 A spinal column processing device 1 is shown, which is an example of a spinal column processing device according to the present invention. The spinal column processing device 1 is configured to remove a spinal column portion 2 (composed of a spinal column portion 2) from a cut carcass portion 3 of a four-legged slaughtered animal. Figure 2 The dotted lines in the figure are highly schematically represented) separating the meat 11, preferably separating the loin meat. Figure 2 The example shown is a cut-up pig carcass portion. Figure 3 As shown, a cross section of a spinal column portion 2 has segmented vertebrae 4. The spinal column portion 2 has been obtained by a previous operation of segmenting the carcass along the spinal column of the carcass, i.e. by a previous longitudinal cut through the spinal column. This segmentation, which is usually performed in carcass part processing and is well known to the skilled person, produces a segmented spinal column with segmented vertebrae. For the sake of completeness, Figure 3The remaining portion of the segmented vertebra shown, i.e. the removed portion, is indicated by a dashed line identified by reference numeral 4'. The segmented vertebra 4 has a cutting surface 5 (resulting from the above segmentation of the spine). The segmented vertebra has a spinous process portion 6 (approximately half of the spinous process in the example shown), a spinal body portion 7 (approximately half of the spinal body in the example shown), articular processes 8, transverse processes 9 and a segmented neural tube 10. In general, it is worth noting that the shape of such a spinal vertebra can, for example, depend at least on the length of the vertebra along the length direction of the spine (which length direction is the same as the length of the spine). Figure 3 The articular processes 8 on the lumbar vertebrae may be larger than the articular processes on the thoracic vertebrae, and, for example, the size of the articular processes 8 may generally decrease from the posterior end to the anterior end of the spine.

[0078] Figure 2 A part of a spine processing system 100 is shown. The carcass part 3 is suspended by the hind ankle 12, thus in a head-down manner - but the head has been removed in a previous processing step - on a carrier 14, which is connected to and moved by a (highly schematically shown) suspended conveyor system 16, which is arranged to transport the carcass part along a conveying path 18 past the spine processing device 1. The spine processing device 1 has a moving device 20, which is used to move the spine processing device 1 along the conveying path 18 by a predetermined distance at least during the separation of meat 11 from the spine part 2. The moving device 20 can have a linear guide 22 and a drive unit 24 for moving the device 1 forward and backward with the carrier 14.

[0079] During use of the system 100, a carcass portion 3 that passes along the device 1 in order to separate the meat from the spine of the carcass portion 3 may have undergone previous processing steps upstream along the trajectory 18, similar to the mentioned carcass cutting, and may have undergone further processing steps, such as a deboning step.

[0080] The spine processing device 1 comprises a positioning device 26 for positioning the carcass part 3. The positioning device 26 has a positioning element 30, which is plate-shaped at least in the present example and is configured to be in contact with the cutting surface 5 of the spine part 2. The positioning element 30 defines a positioning plane, which is a plane passing through the front contact surface 32 of the plate-shaped positioning element 30 for the cutting surface 5, i.e., flush with the front contact surface 32 of the plate-shaped positioning element 30 for the cutting surface 5. The positioning device 26 also has a pressing device 34, which is used to press the spine part 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.

[0081] The spinal treatment device 1 further comprises 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, when in use, is aligned with a length direction 38 of the spinal portion 2 (i.e., Figure 3 During use of the spine processing device 1, the cutting device 28 moves along the spine portion 2 in the cutting direction 36. Figure 2 As shown, the cutting direction 36 is vertical and downward, so that the cutting starts at the rear end of the vertically extending spine portion 2 and proceeds to the front end of the spine portion 2. During this downward cutting movement, the processing device 1 temporarily moves with the carrier 14 on which the carcass part 3 is suspended. After releasing the carcass part 3, the spine processing device 1 moves back upstream so that the spine processing device 1 is ready to process the next carcass part hanging on the carrier passing along the device 1.

[0082] The cutting device 28 includes a first cutter 40 configured to cut along the spinous process portion 6. For this purpose, Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 9 , the first cutter 40 has a cutting edge 42 that is inclined backward from the front side 44 of the first cutter 40. In this way, the first cutter 40 cuts step by step along the spinous process portion 6. FIG. 9 c shows a cross section of a portion of the first cutter 40 including the cutting edge 42. As shown, the first cutter 40 has a blade portion 46, which has a spinous process contact side 46a on the left side in the view of FIG. 9 b, and the blade portion contact side 46a faces the plate-shaped positioning element 30, and therefore faces the spinous process portion 6 when cutting during use. As shown in FIG. 9 c, the first cutter 40 has a small bevel 48 on the contact side 46a, and has a much larger bevel 50 on the opposite outer side. Therefore, during the cutting process, due to the force of the meat 11 acting on the cutter 40, more specifically, the force acting on the larger bevel 50 of the first cutter 40, the first cutter 40 will tend to move toward the spinous process portion 6. The small bevel 48 is provided to reduce the risk of undesired cutting into the spinous process portion 6. The first cutter 40 also has a guide pin 43 protruding 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 into the bone portion and provides reliable guidance for the first cutter 40 to pass through the generally concave or arc-shaped space 13 between the spinous process portion 6 and the articular process 8 and to be displaced parallel to the spinal column portion.

[0083] The first cutter 40 is fixedly connected to the moving device 52 via the elongated hole-like mounting hole 58 for moving the cutting device 28 downwardly and upwardly in the cutting direction 36. The moving device 52 may include a guide 56 and a chain or belt drive 54 for providing vertical movement.

[0084] The cutting device 28 also has a second cutter 60, which is configured to cut along the outer side 8a of the articular process 8. The second cutter 60 has a cutting edge 64, and the second cutter 60 has a shape similar to the first cutter 40 shown in Figure 9c and explained above, but this is only Figure 8 , which has a smaller inner bevel and a larger outer bevel. The second cutter 60 has a blade portion 68, which has a cutting edge 64 on the side of the blade portion 68 facing forward, and the blade portion 68 is designed, that is, the blade portion 68 has a size in the cutting direction 36 so that the blade portion 68 extends along a plurality of consecutive articular processes 8 in the cutting direction 36. In other words, the size of the second cutter 60 in the cutting direction 36 is such that the second cutter 60 cannot be located between two consecutive vertebrae 4; or at least the size of the second cutter 60 in the cutting direction 36 changes relatively little compared to the previous situation. As shown in Figures 9b and 10b, the cutting edge 64 of the second cutter is at least substantially parallel to the cutting edge 42 of the first cutter 40 when viewed in the cutting direction 36. In this regard, the use of "at least substantially" means that regardless of whether the second cutter 60 has a slight possible pivotal movement relative to the first cutter 40 as will be explained below, it can still be considered that the two cutters are oriented substantially parallel during use.

[0085] The second cutter 60 can be moved relative to the first cutter 40 in a horizontal transverse direction 62 transverse to the cutting direction 36. The transverse direction 62 extends perpendicular to the plate-shaped positioning element 30 and thus extends perpendicular to the above-mentioned positioning plane. In order to provide the movement, a blade portion 68 with 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 pivoting around a pivot axis 66. As shown in Figure 9a, the pivot axis 66 extends perpendicular to 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. Figure 9b shows the maximum pivotal movement of the second cutter 60 away from the first cutter in the transverse direction 62. Figure 10b shows the following position of the second cutter 60, in which the second cutter 60 is pivoted toward the first cutter in the transverse direction 62 to the position closest to the first cutter 40. The purpose of this movability 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, that is, keeps cutting, at a predetermined distance from the outer side 8a of the articular process 8 or directly along the outer side 8a of the articular process 8; in addition, in the case where the cross-sectional shape of the continuous spinous process portion 6 and / or articular process 8 of the vertebra 4 changes over the length of the spinal column portion 2, the cutting edge 64 of the second cutter 60 also cuts, that is, keeps cutting, at a predetermined distance from the outer side 8a of the articular process 8 or directly along the outer side 8a of the articular process 8. For this purpose, the cutting device 28 also has a pushing element 69 in the form of a compression spring (see Figure 9a), which is used to push the second cutter 60 towards the first cutter 40 in the transverse direction 62 when cutting during use. 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 around the pivot axis 66 in the direction of the first cutter 40, i.e., with respect to Figures 9b and 10b, from the maximum position shown in Figure 9b toward the minimum position shown in Figure 10b. Due to the provision of the pushing element 69, the blade portion 68 of the second cutter 60 is pushed against, i.e., remains pushed against, the outer side 8a of the articular process 8 during cutting along the spinal column portion 2. Therefore, efficient cutting can be performed at a predetermined distance from the outer side 8a of the articular process 8 or directly along the outer side 8a of the articular process 8, thereby obtaining a high meat yield. With regard to the mentioned changed cross-sectional shape of the spinal column portion 2, it can be Figure 8 and Figure 3 Although drawn highly schematically, Figure 8 and Figure 3 Each may show a cross section of a vertebra of the same spinal column portion. For convenience, the same portion of the vertebra is identified with the same reference numeral.

[0086] The blade portion 68 of the second cutter 60 can be pivoted relative to the first cutter 40 about a further 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 a further urging element 73 in the form of a torsion spring (see FIG. 10 a ) operating between the blade portion 68 and the pivot arm 65 at the location of the pivot axis 70 for urging the cutting edge 64 of the blade portion 68 of the second cutter 60 towards the transverse process 9 in a direction 72 perpendicular to the cutting direction 36 and the transverse direction 62 when in use. The effect of this pivoting movement about the further pivot axis 70 is that the second cutter 40 remains following the transverse process 9 when cutting along the spinal column portion 2 and that it is achieved that the second cutter 60 cuts as deeply as possible along the articular process 8 into the flesh 11 under the restriction of the transverse process 9. FIGS. 9 a and 9 b show that blade portion 68 is pivoted to a greater extent for movement in direction 72 than FIGS. 10 a and 10 b .

[0087] 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 connected to each other for joint movement relative to the carcass part 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 when in use, so that the second cutter 60 and the third cutter 80 automatically move together. The third cutter 80 has a fixed part 81 fixed to the first cutter 40, and has a movable part 82 fixed to the second cutter 40, so that the movable part 82 moves jointly with the second cutter 60 relative to the first cutter 40 when in use. The movable part 82 is fixed to the pivot arm 65, which includes an embodiment in which the movable part 82 is a cutter-shaped end of the pivot arm 65.

[0088] The third cutter has cutting edges 83, 84 and a guide portion 87 extending beyond the cutting edges, the guide portion 87 being designed such that the guide portion 87 extends over 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 respective cutting edges 83, 84, which are configured such that, in use, when the second cutter 60 moves relative to the first cutter 40 and thereby the movable portion 82 moves relative to the fixed portion 81, the respective cutting edges 83, 84 remain in an overlapping arrangement relative to each other, as shown in FIG. Fig.11 Understandable. Figure 7As shown in detail, the cutting edge 84 of the movable part 82 is a continuation of the cutting edge 83 of the fixed part 81, at least as seen in the cutting direction 36. During the movement of the cutting device 28 in the cutting direction, the first cutter, the second cutter and the third cutter are allowed to move slightly relative to the moving device 52 in the direction 72, so that the third cutter 80 can slide on the top 8b of the articular process, because when the third cutter 80 is pushed in the direction 72, the third cutter 80 abuts on the upper side 8b of the articular process. The device 1 also has a further pushing element, such as formed by a cylinder, which operates between the first cutter 40 and the moving device 52, with the purpose of providing the said slight movement of the first cutter 40, so that the first cutter, the second cutter and the third cutter are moved jointly in the direction 72.

[0089] As explained above, the positioning device 26 is configured to position the carcass part 3 so that the cutting surface 5 of the spinal column part 2 is in the positioning plane, against the plate-shaped positioning element 30. In the example according to the accompanying drawings, the cutting direction 36 is parallel to the positioning plane 32 and vertically downwards. In any case, the cutting direction 36 is along the extension direction of the spinal column part 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, more specifically, at least substantially parallel within the range of mutual movement of the second cutter 60 relative to the first cutter 40.

[0090] The positioning device 26 will now be described in more detail. As already described above, the positioning device 26 has a plate-shaped positioning element 30, which is configured to come into contact with the cutting surface 5 of the spinal column portion 2, and the positioning device 26 has a pressing device 34 for pressing the spinal column 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 column portion 2 of the carcass part 3 to be processed is pressed and thus preferably positioned against the defined contact surface.

[0091] The pressing device 34 comprises a plurality of—four in the case of the positioning device 26 —sequential pressing units 90 which are arranged successively in the cutting direction 36 . Figure 6 The illustrated embodiment of the pressing device 134 has a plurality of—three—sequential pressing units 190. Apart from this, the pressing device 134 is identical to or at least very similar to the pressing device 34, so that the following description of the pressing device 34 also applies in an analogous manner to the pressing device 134.

[0092] like Figure 8As shown, each of the plurality of consecutive pressing units 90 has a pressing element 91 that can be moved toward and away from the positioning element 30, for pressing the spinal column portion 2 against the positioning element 30 by pressing against the main 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) when in use, so as to position the spinal column portion 2 against the positioning element 30, in which the pressing element 91 is disengaged from the carcass portion 3, and in which the pressing element 91 is closer to the positioning element 30 than in the non-working position, and pushes the carcass portion 3, more specifically, the spinal column main portion 7. As shown in FIG. 12a and FIG. 12b, the moving device 93 has a lever 94 that can be pivoted about a pivot axis 95 for each pressing element 91. The lever 93 can be pivoted by appropriate actuation of a pneumatic actuator 96. The pivot axis 95 extends in the cutting direction 36. Each pressure element 91 has two, preferably a plurality of, knob-shaped engagement elements 92 which engage with the spinal column part 2 in the working position of the pressure element 91 .

[0093] The positioning device 126 further comprises a rod-shaped element 89 in a fixed position relative to the positioning element 30, wherein the rod-shaped element 89 extends in the cutting direction 36 and is aligned with the continuous pressing element 91 at least in a position where the pressing element 91 is located between the inactive position shown in FIG. 12a and the working position shown in FIG. 12b. During use, during cutting, a first portion of the length of the spinal column portion 2 is pressed against the positioning element 30 by a plurality of pressing elements 91, the first portion comprising the lumbar vertebrae, and a remaining second portion of the length of the spinal column portion 2 is pressed against the rod-shaped element 89, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 shown.

[0094] In order to more firmly position the spinal column portion 2 against the positioning element 30, the positioning device 26 has a plurality of clamping elements 98, each of which protrudes from the positioning element 30 and is configured to engage with the spinal column portion and, according to the cutting accuracy formed by the segmentation, enter the segmented neural tube 10 of the spinal column portion 2. Each of the plurality of pressing units 90 has an associated clamping element 98, as shown in FIGS. 12a and 12b, which can be in a rest position (FIG. 12a, Figure 6 ) and the holding position (Fig. 12b, Figure 7 , Fig.11 ), 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 holders 98 are provided, each pair of holders 98 being movable by a cylinder 99.

[0095] It will be clear from the above description of the spine processing device 1 that the method for separating meat, preferably loin meat, from a divided carcass part 3 of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a spine part 2 of a pig carcass part, comprises:

[0096] - positioning the carcass part using the positioning device 26 , with the cutting surface 5 of the carcass part 3 , the carcass part 3 can come into contact with a positioning element 30 which defines a positioning plane 32 for the cutting surface 5 ;

[0097] - pressing the spinal column part 2 against the positioning element 30 using the pressing device 34;

[0098] - Separating the flesh from the spinous process portions 6 and articular processes 8 by cutting using the cutting device 28 along a cutting direction 36 which, in use, is parallel to the length direction 38 of the spinal column portion 2.

[0099] Cutting includes:

[0100] - Using the first cutter 40 to cut along the spinous process portion 6;

[0101] - cutting along the lateral side 8a of the articular process 8 using a second cutter 60 which is movable relative to the first cutter 40 in a transverse direction 62 transverse to the cutting direction 36;

[0102] - cutting along the upper dorsal side 8b of the articular process 8 using a third cutter 80 disposed between the first cutter 40 and the second cutter 60;

[0103] During the cutting process, the first cutter, the second cutter and the third cutter move jointly relative to the carcass part 3, and

[0104] During the cutting process, the second cutter 60 is pushed toward the first cutter 40 in the lateral direction 62 using the pushing element 69 so that the second cutter 60 cuts along the outer side 8a of the articular process 8. The second cutter 60 can cut at a predetermined distance from the outer side 8a of the articular process 8 or directly along the outer side 8a of the articular process 8.

Claims

1. A spinal column processing device for separating meat, preferably loin meat, from a spinal column portion of a divided carcass portion of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a pig carcass portion, the spinal column portion comprising divided vertebrae, the divided vertebrae having corresponding spinous process portions, spinal body portions, articular processes and transverse processes, the spinal column processing device comprising: - a positioning device for positioning the carcass part; - a cutting device for separating the flesh from the spinous process portion and the articular process by cutting along a cutting direction parallel to the length direction of the spinal column portion, The cutting device comprises: - a first cutter configured to cut along the spinous process portion; - a second cutter configured to cut along the lateral side of the articular process; - a third cutter, the third cutter being between the first cutter and the second cutter, the third cutter being used for cutting along the upper dorsal side of the articular process; wherein the first cutter, the second cutter and the third cutter are connected to each other for joint movement relative to the carcass part, wherein the second cutter is movable relative to the first cutter in a transverse direction transverse to the cutting direction, The cutting device further comprises a pushing element for pushing the second cutter toward the first cutter in the transverse direction during cutting during use, so that the second cutter cuts along the outer side of the articular process.

2. The spinal column treatment device according to claim 1, wherein: The second cutter is pivotable relative to the first cutter about a pivot axis extending perpendicularly to the cutting direction and the transverse direction, preferably wherein the second cutter is arranged at a free end of a pivot arm which is pivotally connected to the first cutter about the pivot axis.

3. A spinal treatment device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The second cutter has a blade portion having a cutting edge on a forward-facing side of the blade portion, and the blade portion is designed so that the blade portion extends along multiple consecutive articular processes in the cutting direction, wherein the blade portion is positioned to be pushed toward the outer side of the articular process by the pushing element.

4. The spinal column treatment device according to claim 3, wherein: The cutting edge of the second cutter is at least substantially parallel to the cutting edge of the first cutter as seen in the cutting direction.

5. A spinal treatment device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The blade portion of the second cutter is capable of pivoting relative to the first cutter about a further pivot axis extending in the transverse direction, and wherein the cutting device has a further pushing element for pushing the cutting edge of the second cutter towards the transverse process in a direction perpendicular to the cutting direction and the transverse direction when in use.

6. A spinal treatment device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The third cutter has a cutting edge at the front side and a guide portion beyond the cutting edge, the guide portion being designed such that the guide portion extends over a plurality of consecutive articular processes in the cutting direction.

7. A spinal treatment device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The third cutter has a fixed portion fixed to the first cutter, and has a movable portion fixed to the second cutter, so that the movable portion moves jointly with the second cutter relative to the first cutter when in use.

8. The spinal column treatment device according to claim 7, wherein: The fixed part and the movable part have overlapping respective cutting edges configured such that, in use, the respective cutting edges remain in an overlapping arrangement relative to each other when the second cutter is moved relative to the first cutter.

9. The spinal column treatment device according to claim 8, wherein: The cutting edge of the movable part is a continuation of the cutting edge of the fixed part.

10. A spinal treatment device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: - the positioning device is configured to position the carcass part so that the cutting surface of the spinal column part is in a positioning plane; - the cutting direction is parallel to the positioning plane; - a cutting edge of the first cutter extends in a first plane parallel to the positioning plane; and - The cutting edge of the second cutter extends in a second plane parallel to the positioning plane.

11. A spinal treatment device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: When in use, the carcass part is suspended on a carrier, which is connected to and moved by a suspended conveying system. The suspended conveying system is arranged to transport the carcass part along a conveying trajectory through the spine processing device, and the spine processing device includes a moving device, which is used to move the spine processing device a predetermined distance along the conveying trajectory at least during the process of separating the meat from the spine part.

12. A spinal column processing system for separating meat, preferably loin meat, from a divided carcass part of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a pig carcass part, from a spinal column part, the spinal column processing system comprising: - an overhead conveying system having a plurality of carriers for conveying the divided carcass parts along a conveying trajectory, each of the plurality of carriers being arranged to suspend a carcass part thereon; - Spinal column treatment device according to any of the preceding claims, arranged along the delivery trajectory.

13. The spinal treatment system according to claim 12, wherein: The spine processing device includes a moving device for moving the spine processing device along the transport track by a predetermined distance at least during the process of separating the meat from the spine portion.

14. A method for separating meat, preferably loin meat, from the spinal column portion of a divided carcass portion of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a pig carcass portion, the spinal column portion comprising divided vertebrae having respective spinous process portions, spinal body portions, articular processes and transverse processes, the method comprising: - positioning the carcass part; - separating the flesh from the spinous process portion and the articular process by cutting with a cutting device in a cutting direction parallel to the length direction of the spinal column portion during use, The cutting comprises: - using a first cutter of the cutting device to cut along the spinous process portion; - cutting along the lateral side of the articular process using a second cutter of the cutting device, wherein the second cutter is movable relative to the first cutter in a lateral direction transverse to the cutting direction; - using a third cutter of the cutting device between the first cutter and the second cutter to cut along the upper dorsal side of the articular process; During the cutting process, the first cutter, the second cutter and the third cutter move jointly relative to the carcass part, and During the cutting process, the second cutter is pushed toward the first cutter in the transverse direction using the pushing element of the cutting device, so that the second cutter cuts along the outer side of the articular process.

15. A method according to claim 14, using an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 1-11 or using a system according to any one of the preceding claims 12 or 13.

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