Method for detaching patella and patella collection machine

Abstract

To provide a method or a device for detaching from a femur, a patella to which at least a part of knuckle of the patella is adhered.SOLUTION: A front end 2 of a chisel 1 is engaged to a femur 3. Then, the front end 2 of the chisel 1 moves between the femur 3 and a patella 4 which are clamped at a prescribed position, for peeling at least a part of a connection part which exists naturally between the femur 3 and the patella 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for removing a patella to which at least a part of the patellar muscle is attached from the femur. The present invention further relates to a patella harvesting machine.

Background Art

[0002] As shown in FIG. 8, International Publication No. 2015 / 194945 discloses a method and a corresponding system for harvesting the patellar muscle (22) and the thigh muscle (31) from the entire leg meat product of poultry. The method includes the following group of steps.

[0003] - A step of providing a leg meat product having the following. - Thigh (30) - Drumstick (6) - Knee

[0004] - A step of engaging a patella scraper with the leg meat product adjacent to the patella (4) and a counter element at the rear part (left side in FIG. 8) of the patella (4).

[0005] - While the counter element is engaged with the leg meat product at the rear part of the patella (4), the patella (4) moves past the patella scraper, whereby the patellar muscle (22) is shaved off from the patella (4) while the patellar muscle (22) remains connected to the thigh (30).

[0006] International Publication No. 2015 / 194945 discloses, as an option, the following.

[0007] - A step of separating the shaved patella (4) from the drumstick (6) by cutting at a first cutting position located between the patella (4) and the drumstick (6), or

[0008] - A step of separating the patella (4) from the thigh (3) and the knee muscle (22) by cutting at a second cutting position located between the patella (4) and the thigh (3) and adjacent to the patella scraper, and maintaining the knee muscle (22) and the thigh (30) in a connected state with each other during the separation.

[0009] All embodiments explicitly disclosed by International Publication No. WO 2015 / 194945 show a method of selectively harvesting the patella (4) when the drumstick (6) is attached to the thigh (30) while the femur (3) has already been removed from the thigh (30). Therefore, International Publication No. WO 2015 / 194945 does not have a clear and explicit teaching on how to harvest the patella (4) when the femur (3) remains in the thigh (30) in addition to the thigh muscle (31). Also, it does not teach how to harvest the patella (4) when the thigh (30) has already been completely separated from the drumstick (6).

[0010] European Patent No. EP 2866573 and International Publication No. WO 2008 / 087617 show other methods and devices for removing the patella from a poultry leg. However, in European Patent No. EP 2866573 as well, the patella is removed after the removal of the femur.

[0011] U.S. Patent No. US 3486187 discloses still other methods and means for removing the patella or knee joint from an animal leg with reference to FIGS. 21 to 24 thereof. U.S. Patent No. US 3486187 shows a knee joint removing tool having a blade holder slidably engaged with a sharp blade. The blade is positioned adjacent to the knee joint of the animal and the cutting edge is sharpened so that it can penetrate the meat adjacent to the knee joint. The cutter having a sharp cutting edge is rotatably supported with respect to the blade holder. When the cutter rotates with respect to the blade holder to remove the knee joint, the blade retracts into the holder, so that the cutter can cut behind the knee joint and shear the tendon (supporting the knee joint) between the cutter and the blade holder.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0012]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for harvesting the patella under various circumstances and an improved patella harvesting machine.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0014] These and other objects made clear in the following disclosure are achieved by a method and a patella harvesting machine according to one or more of the appended claims.

[0015] According to the method of the present invention, the front end of the chisel engages with the femur, and then moves between the femur and the patella to peel off at least a part of the connection that naturally exists between the femur and the patella. While this method is being executed, the femur is clamped in a predetermined position. This method step can be applied not only when the drum bone has already been completely separated from the thigh, but also when the drum bone is still connected to the femur. The expression "drum bone" in this application is intended to include the possibility that the drum meat remains.

[0016] Particularly, when the drum bone has already been separated from the femur, following the movement of the chisel between the femur and the patella, it is preferable to move the chisel together with the patella in a direction away from the femur.

[0017] Furthermore, in order to limit the movement of the femur while the chisel engages with the femur, it is preferable that a support plate is provided at the kneecap facing end of the femur.

[0018] When the chisel moves away from the femur together with the kneecap, or as the chisel moves away from the femur together with the kneecap, it is advantageous for the chisel to slide along the support plate.

[0019] When the method of the present invention is applied when the drum bone is attached to the femur, the gripper preferably fixes the drum bone attached to the femur in a predetermined position.

[0020] In particular, when the drum bone is still attached to the femur, it is preferable that a single blade or a plurality of blades engage with the flesh near the kneecap in order to release all the connections between the kneecap and the femur and the drum bone.

[0021] The method of the present invention is preferably carried out with a kneecap harvesting machine having the following configuration. The harvesting machine has a movable chisel having a front end portion arranged to engage with the femur and move between the femur and the kneecap in order to peel at least a part of the connection naturally existing between the femur and the kneecap, and a single clamp or a plurality of clamps for fixing the femur in a predetermined position before the chisel engages with the femur. This configuration is particularly beneficial when the drum bone has already been removed from the femur, but this is not essential.

[0022] Preferably, after at least a part of the connection naturally existing between the femur and the kneecap is peeled off, the chisel is arranged to move the kneecap away from the femur.

[0023] In order to be easily adapted to the curvature of the femur, it is preferable that the front end portion of the chisel is recessed.

[0024] To limit the movement of the femur while the chisel engages the femur, it is further beneficial for the harvesting machine to be provided with a support plate.

[0025] To process the leg of a poultry comprising a drumstick bone and a femur, the harvesting machine preferably comprises grippers for fixing the drumstick bone attached to the femur in a predetermined position.

[0026] More advantageously, the harvesting machine comprises a single blade or a plurality of blades that engage the meat near the patella to release all the connections between the patella and the femur and / or the drumstick bone.

[0027] The accompanying drawings are incorporated herein and form a part hereof, and together with the specification, serve to explain one or more embodiments of the present invention and to explain the principles of the present invention. The drawings are for the purpose of illustrating one or more embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

[0029] When the same reference numerals are applied in the drawings, these reference numerals refer to the same components.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 respectively, common to both of the illustrated embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention is that a front end 2 having a bevel angle of the chisel 1 (bevel shape) engages with the femur 3. In these embodiments, the femur 3 is shown in a state without the hamstring muscles that have already been removed from the femur 3.

[0031] Regarding the two embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 respectively, after the chisel 1 engages with the femur 3, the chisel 1 moves between the femur 3 and the patella 4 in order to separate at least a part of at least some of the connecting portions that naturally exist between the femur 3 and the patella 4. This applies to both embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 4.

[0032] In the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the gripper 7 fixes a drumstick 6 (drum bone or tibia) attached to the femur 3 in a predetermined position.

[0033] FIGS. 4 to 6 relate to an embodiment in which the femur 3 is completely separated from the drumstick. For example, after a blade (not shown) is activated after the femur is gripped by the gripper 7 as in the embodiment of FIG. 2. FIGS. 5 and 6 show that after the movement of the chisel 1 between the femur 3 and the patella 4, the chisel 1 is moved in a direction away from the femur 3 together with the patella 4. It also further shows that the femur 3 is fixed in a predetermined position by the clamp 5.

[0034] Figures 4 to 6 also show that a support plate 8 is provided at the patellar-side end of the femur 3 in order to restrict the movement of the femur 3 while the chisel 1 engages with the femur 3. The gripper 7 used in the first embodiment may be used therefor.

[0035] Furthermore, FIGS. 5 and 6 show that when the chisel 1 moves away from the femur 3 together with the patella 4, the chisel 1 slides along the support plate 8. Thereby, removing the patella 4 together with the attached muscle becomes a highly reliable and reproducible operation.

[0036] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3, the drum bone 6 is still attached to the femur 3, but in FIG. 2, a single blade 9 or a plurality of blades engage the muscle near the patella 4 in order to release all the connection parts between the patella 4, the femur 3, and the drum bone 6. Also, the harvesting machine of the second embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6 can also be provided with a single blade or a plurality of blades 9 that engage the muscle near the patella 4 in order to release all the connection parts between the patella 4, the femur 3, and / or the drum bone 6. Also, the front end portion having a bevel shape (a shape having an oblique angle) may have a cutting edge.

[0037] Therefore, the present invention is embodied in a patella harvesting machine schematically shown in the drawings, the harvesting machine comprising a movable chisel 1 having a bevel-shaped front end portion 2 that engages the femur 3 and moves between the femur 3 and the patella 4 in order to peel at least a part of the connection part that naturally exists between the femur 3 and the patella 4.

[0038] Finally, FIG. 7 shows a front view of the chisel 1 used in the above-described embodiment. The front end portion 2 of the chisel 1 is recessed.

[0039] Embodiments of the present invention can include any combination of features disclosed herein independently of each other. In the foregoing, the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments that can be varied in various ways without departing from the invention. Therefore, the described exemplary embodiments should not be used to strictly interpret the appended claims. On the contrary, these embodiments are only intended to explain the language of the appended claims without the intention of limiting the claims to these exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be construed only in accordance with the appended claims, and any ambiguity that may arise in the language of the claims shall be resolved using these exemplary embodiments.

[0040] Modifications and variations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and equivalents. The disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications, such as all the prior art documents cited above, are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Unless specifically stated as "essential" above, none of the various components or their interrelationships are essential for the operation of the present invention. Rather, desirable results can be obtained by substituting various components and / or reconfiguring their interrelationships.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0041] 1 Chisel 2 Bevel-shaped front end 3 Femur 4 Patella 5 Clamp 6 Drum bone (drum stick or tibia) 7 Gripper 8 Support plate

Claims

1. A method for removing a patella (4) having at least a portion of the patella (4) attached thereto from a femur (3), comprising the steps of: a front end (2) of a chisel (1) engages the femur (3) and then moves between the femur (3) and the patella (4) to strip at least a portion of the natural connection between the femur (3) and the patella (4); A method for removing the patella, characterized in that the femur (3) is clamped in place during the performance of said method.

2. 2. A method for removing a patella according to claim 1, characterized in that following the movement of the chisel (1) between the femur (3) and the patella (4), the chisel (1) together with the patella (4) is moved away from the femur (3).

3. 3. A method for removing a patella according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a support plate (5) is provided at the patella-side end of the femur (3) to limit movement of the femur (3) while the chisel (1) is engaged with the femur (3).

4. 4. A method for removing a patella according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the chisel (1) slides along the support plate (5) as it moves together with the patella (4) away from the femur (3).

5. A drum bone (6) is attached to the femur (3), 2. Method for removing a patella according to claim 1, characterized in that a gripper (7) fixes in place the drum bone (6) attached to the femur (3).

6. A method for removing a patella according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a blade (9) or blades engage the flesh near the patella (4) to release all connections of the patella (4) with the femur (3) and the drum bone (6).

7. 1. A patella harvester for removing a patella from a femur of a poultry, comprising: a movable chisel (1) having a front end (2) arranged to engage the femur (3) and move between the femur (3) and the patella (4) to strip at least a portion of the natural connection between the femur (3) and the patella (4); a clamp or clamps (5) for fixing the femur (3) in place before the chisel (1) engages the femur (3); A patella harvesting machine comprising:

8. 8. The patella harvester according to claim 7, characterized in that the chisel (1) is arranged to move the patella (4) away from the femur (3) after at least a portion of the natural connection between the femur (3) and the patella (4) has been detached.

9. Patella harvester according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the front end (2) of the chisel (1) is concave.

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

11. 11. The patella harvester according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a gripper (7) for fixing in place the drum bone (6) attached to the femur (3).

12. The patella harvester according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a blade (9) or a plurality of blades for engaging the flesh near the patella (4) to release any connections between the patella (4) and the femur (3) and / or the drum bone (6).

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