Patella reaper and method for removing patella

Abstract

A patella reaper and method for removing the patella (4) from a thigh bone (3) to which at least a portion of a knee meat is attached wherein a front end (2) of a chisel (1) engages with the thigh bone (3) and then moves between the thigh bone (3) and the patella (4), in this way, at least one part of the connection naturally existing between the thigh bone (3) and the knee bone (4) is separated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for removing a kneecap from a thigh bone, to which at least a part of the kneecap meat is attached. The present invention also relates to a kneecap harvester. Background Art

[0002] WO2015 / 194945 discloses a method and a corresponding system for harvesting kneecap meat and thigh meat from a whole leg poultry product. The method comprises the steps of:

[0003] - providing a leg product having:

[0004] - a thigh,

[0005] - a shank,

[0006] - a knee,

[0007] - engaging a kneecap scraper with the leg product near the kneecap and engaging a mating element with the leg product at the rear of the kneecap,

[0008] - while the mating element is engaged with the leg product at the rear of the kneecap, moving the kneecap past the kneecap scraper so as to scrape the kneecap meat off the kneecap while leaving the kneecap meat connected to the thigh.

[0009] As an option, WO2015 / 194945 discloses:

[0010] - cutting the scraped kneecap off the shank by making a cut at a first cutting position between the kneecap and the shank, or

[0011] - cutting the kneecap off the thigh and the kneecap meat by making a cut at a second cutting position between the kneecap and the thigh, near the kneecap scraper, during which cut the kneecap meat and the thigh remain connected to each other.

[0012] All embodiments explicitly disclosed by WO2015 / 194945 show how the optional harvesting of the kneecap is performed when the thigh bone has been removed from the thigh while the shank remains attached to the thigh. Thus, there is no clear and explicit teaching in WO2015 / 194945 on how to harvest the kneecap when the thigh bone still exists in the thigh outside the thigh meat, nor does it teach how to harvest the kneecap when the thigh has been completely separated from the shank.

[0013] EP 2 866 573B1 and WO 2008 / 087617 show other methods and devices for removing the kneecap from a poultry leg. However, additionally in EP 2 866 573B1, the kneecap is removed after the thigh bone has been removed.

[0014] U.S. Patent No. 3,486,187 discloses, with reference to FIGS. 21 through 24 thereof, yet another method and apparatus for removing the kneecap or patella from an animal leg. U.S. Patent No. 3,486,187 shows a patella remover having a blade holder slidably engaged with a pointed blade. The blade is positioned adjacent the patella of the animal and is sharp at its edges such that it can penetrate the flesh adjacent the patella. A cutter having a sharp edge is supported for rotation relative to the blade holder. As the cutter rotates relative to the blade holder to remove the patella, the blade retracts into the holder such that the cutter can cut behind the patella and sever the tendon that supports the patella between the cutter and the blade holder. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] It is an object of the present invention to teach how to provide an improved method of harvesting the kneecap in different situations and an improved kneecap harvester.

[0016] These and other objects, which will become apparent from the following disclosure, are achieved by a method and a kneecap harvester according to one or more of the appended claims.

[0017] According to the method of the present invention, a front end portion of a chisel engages the femur and is then moved between the femur and the patella to separate at least a portion of a connection that naturally exists between the femur and the patella, wherein, during performance of the method, the femur is clamped into a fixed position. This method step can be applied when the lower leg bone has been completely separated from the thigh, but can also be applied when the lower leg bone is still attached to the femur. In the present application, the term lower leg bone also includes the possibility that it still has its lower leg flesh.

[0018] Specifically, when the lower leg bone has been separated from the femur, it is preferred that, after the movement of the chisel between the femur and the patella, the chisel is then moved away from the femur together with the patella.

[0019] Then, it may be more preferred that a support plate is provided at an end of the femur facing the patella, the support plate serving to limit movement of the femur while the chisel engages the femur.

[0020] When the chisel is moved away from the femur together with the patella, it is then advantageous for the chisel to slide along the support plate.

[0021] When the method of the present invention is applied in a situation where the lower leg bone is still attached to the femur, it is preferred that a clamp holds the lower leg bone and the femur attached to the lower leg bone in place.

[0022] In particular, when the calf bone is still attached to the thigh bone, it is preferred that one or more blades engage with the flesh near the kneecap to release all connections of the kneecap with the thigh bone and the calf bone.

[0023] The method of the present invention can preferably be carried out with a kneecap harvester which is provided with the following features: the harvester includes a movable chisel having a front end portion which is arranged to engage with the thigh bone and move between the thigh bone and the kneecap to separate at least a part of the connection naturally existing between the thigh bone and the kneecap, wherein the harvester includes one or more clamping members for fixing the thigh bone in place before the chisel engages with the thigh bone.

[0024] This feature is particularly beneficial when the calf bone has been removed from the thigh bone, although this is not necessary.

[0025] Suitably, the chisel is arranged to move the kneecap away from the thigh bone after separating at least a part of the connection naturally existing between the thigh bone and the kneecap.

[0026] It is also preferred that the front end portion of the chisel is serrated to better adapt to the curvature of the thigh bone.

[0027] Then it is also beneficial that the harvester is provided with a support plate for restricting the movement of the thigh bone while the chisel engages with the thigh bone.

[0028] For operating on a poultry leg including a calf bone and a thigh bone, it is preferred that the harvester includes a clamp for fixing the calf bone attached to the thigh bone to a fixed position.

[0029] Advantageously, the harvester includes one or more blades for engaging with the flesh near the kneecap to release all connections of the kneecap with the thigh bone and / or the calf bone.

[0030] The drawings are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, which illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, are used to explain the principles of the present invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031] In the drawings:

[0032] - Figure 1 A first embodiment of the device of the present invention is shown in a side view for processing a thigh bone still connected to the calf;

[0033] - Figure 2 Shows another step in processing the thigh bone Figure 1device;

[0034] - Figure 3 shows the device in yet another processing step Figure 1 device;

[0035] - Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the device of the present invention in a side view, which is used for processing the thigh bone completely separated from the calf;

[0036] - Figure 5 shows the device in another step of processing the thigh bone Figure 4 device;

[0037] - Figure 6 shows the device in yet another processing step Figure 4 device; and

[0038] - Figure 7 A front view of the chisel used in the above figures is shown in detail.

[0039] Whenever the same reference numerals are used in the figures, these reference numerals refer to the same components. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0040] respectively as Figure 1 and Figure 4 The common point of the shown embodiments of the device of the present invention depicted therein is that the inclined front end 2 of the chisel 1 engages with the thigh bone 3. In these embodiments, the thigh bone 3 is shown without the thigh muscle, and the thigh muscle has been removed from the thigh bone 3.

[0041] As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 5 for two separately shown embodiments, after the chisel 1 has engaged with the thigh bone 3, the chisel 1 moves between the thigh bone 3 and the kneecap 4 to separate at least a part of the connection that naturally exists between the thigh bone 3 and the kneecap 4. This applies to Figure 1 and Figure 4 both embodiments.

[0042] In Figures 1 to 3 the first embodiment, the holder 7 fixes the calf 6 and the thigh bone 3 attached to the calf 6 in place.

[0043] Figures 4 to 6 Relates to the following embodiment: In this embodiment, the thigh bone 3 is completely separated from the calf, for example, after the thigh bone is clamped by the holder 7 in an embodiment such as Figure 2 and after the blade (not shown) is actuated, the thigh bone 3 is completely separated from the calf. Figure 5 and Figure 6Shown is that after the movement of the chisel 1 between the thigh bone 3 and the kneecap 4, followed by moving the chisel 1 together with the kneecap 4 away from the thigh bone 3. Also shown is that the thigh bone 3 is clamped by the clamp 5 into a fixed position.

[0044] Figures 4 to 6 Also shown is that at the end of the thigh bone 3 facing the kneecap, a support plate 8 is provided, and the support plate 8 is used to limit the movement of the thigh bone 3 while the chisel 1 engages with the thigh bone 3. The clamp 7 used in the first embodiment can be used for this.

[0045] Figure 5 and Figure 6 Also shown is that when the chisel 1 moves away from the thigh bone 3 together with the kneecap 4, the chisel 1 slides along the support plate 8. This makes the removal of the kneecap 4 and the attached flesh a reliable and repeatable operation.

[0046] In Figures 1 to 3 the embodiment where the calf bone 6 is still attached to the thigh bone 3, Figure 2 shown is that one or more blades 9 engage with the flesh near the kneecap 4 to release all the connections of the kneecap 4 with the thigh bone 3 and the calf bone 6. It is also possible that, Figures 4 to 6 the harvester of the second embodiment includes one or more blades 9, and the one or more blades 9 engage with the flesh near the kneecap 4 to release all the connections of the kneecap 4 with the thigh bone 3 and / or the calf bone 6. In addition, the inclined front end portion may have a cutting edge.

[0047] Therefore, the present invention is implemented as a kneecap harvester schematically depicted in the drawings, wherein the harvester includes a movable chisel 1 having an inclined front end portion 2 that engages with the thigh bone 3 and moves between the thigh bone 3 and the kneecap 4, thereby separating at least a part of the connection that naturally exists between the thigh bone 3 and the kneecap 4.

[0048] Finally, Figure 7 a front view of the chisel 1 used in the above embodiment is depicted. The front end portion 2 of the chisel 1 is serrated.

[0049] Embodiments of the present invention may include every combination of features disclosed herein independently of each other. Although the present invention has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and these specific embodiments can be varied in many ways without departing from the present invention. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments discussed should not be used to strictly interpret the appended claims accordingly. On the contrary, the embodiments are only intended to explain the language of the appended claims and are not intended to limit the claims to these exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted only in accordance with the appended claims, wherein these exemplary embodiments should be used to resolve possible ambiguities in the language of the claims.

[0050] Variations and modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the present invention is intended to cover all such modifications and equivalents in the appended claims. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference. Unless specifically stated as "necessary" above, the various components or the interrelationships of the various components are not necessary for the operation of the present invention. On the contrary, the desired results can be achieved by replacing the various components and / or reconfiguring the relationships between the various components.

Claims

1. A method for removing a kneecap (4) from a femur (3), to which at least a portion of the kneecap flesh is attached, wherein: The front end (2) of the chisel (1) engages the femur (3) and is then moved between the femur (3) and the kneecap (4) to separate at least a portion of the naturally existing connection between the femur (3) and the kneecap (4), Characterized in that during the performance of the method, the femur (3) is clamped in a fixed position.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The movement of the chisel (1) between the femur (3) and the kneecap (4) is followed by moving the chisel (1) together with the kneecap (4) away from the femur (3).

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that A support plate (5) is provided at the end of the femur (3) facing the kneecap, and the support plate (5) is used to limit the movement of the femur (3) while the chisel (1) is engaged with the femur (3).

4. The method according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that The chisel (1) is slid along the support plate (5) as the chisel (1) moves together with the kneecap (4) away from the thighbone (3).

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The femur (3) is attached with a tibia (6), characterized in that a clamp (7) fixes the tibia (6) and the femur (3) attached to the tibia (6) in place.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: One or more blades (9) engage the flesh adjacent the kneecap (4) to release all connections of the kneecap (4) to the thighbone (3) and shinbone (6).

7. A kneecap harvester for removing a kneecap from a femur of poultry, the harvester comprising a movable chisel (1) having a front end (2), the front end (2) being arranged to engage with a femur (3) and to move between the femur (3) and the kneecap (4) to separate at least a portion of the naturally existing connection between the femur (3) and the kneecap (4), It is characterized in that The harvester comprises one or more clamps (5) for securing the femur (3) in place before the chisel (1) engages with the femur (3).

8. The kneecap harvester according to claim 7, characterized in that: The chisel (1) is arranged to move the kneecap (4) away from the femur (3) after separating at least a portion of a naturally existing connection between the femur (3) and the kneecap (4).

9. The kneecap harvester according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: The front end (2) of the chisel (1) is serrated.

10. The kneecap harvester according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that The harvester is provided with a support plate (8) for limiting the movement of the femur (3) while the chisel (1) is engaged with the femur (3).

11. The kneecap harvester according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that: The harvester comprises a clamp (7) for fixing a tibia (6) attached to the femur (3) in a fixed position.

12. The kneecap harvester according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that The harvester comprises one or more blades (9) for engaging the flesh near the kneecap (4) to release all connections of the kneecap (4) to the thighbone (3) and / or the tibia (6).

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