Spine Treatment Device

Abstract

The present invention provides a method, system, and spine processing apparatus for loosening meat from a spinal portion of a divided carcass part of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a pork carcass part, the spine processing apparatus comprising a cutting device for loosening meat from the spinal portion by cutting, and a positioning device for positioning the carcass part at least during cutting, the positioning device comprising a positioning element configured to contact a cutting surface of the spinal portion, the positioning element defining a positioning plane of the cutting surface, and a pressing device for pressing the spinal portion against the positioning element.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a spinal processing device for loosening meat, preferably loin meat, from the spinal portion of a split carcass of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a pork carcass, the spinal portion including split vertebrae with their respective spinous processes, vertebral bodies, articular processes and transverse processes. Such split carcasses of other four-legged slaughtered animals, such as cattle and sheep, can also be processed with the device and method of the present invention. [Background technology]

[0002] WO 2004 / 103080 relates to a loin deboning machine in which meat is removed from a loin of a slaughtered animal by clamping the loin to a moveable carriage and advancing the carriage towards and past first and second perpendicular knives mounted on adjustable arms. The machine comprises a relatively complex cutter and positioning means combination 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 spinal treatment device and method in which the spinal segment is more firmly positioned for cutting.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a spinal treatment system and method that positions a spinal segment for cutting in a manner that is less sensitive to deviations in the shape of the spinal segment. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One or more of the above-mentioned objects are achieved by the spinal treatment devices, spinal treatment systems, and methods of the present invention.

[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a spinal processing device for loosening meat, preferably loin meat, from the spinal part of a divided carcass of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a carcass of a pig, as defined in claim 1, The spinal treatment device comprises: a cutting device for cutting and loosening the meat from the spinal portion; a positioning device for positioning the carcass part at least during cutting; Equipped with The positioning device includes a locator element configured to contact a cut surface of the spinal portion, the locator element defining a locating plane of the cut surface; a pressing device for pressing the spinal section against the positioning element; Equipped with.

[0008] The advantage of the spine treatment device according to the invention is that, due to the provision of a positioning element arranged to contact the cutting surface of the carcass part and defining a positioning plane in combination with the pressing device, a stable and well-defined positioning of the carcass part for the purpose of the cutting operation is achieved, whereby the spinal part is more firmly positioned. The division of a carcass part is usually not a very precise operation. Thus, for example, the spine is not cut exactly in half and at least some vertebrae are cut in such a way that they do not pass through the nerve canal but pass by it. This can make positioning difficult with the prior art systems. With the device according to the invention, even a carcass part that is not very precisely divided can be robustly and reliably positioned for the purpose of loosening the meat from the spinal part.

[0009] The invention also relates to a system according to claim 12 and to a method according to claim 14 .

[0010] In one embodiment the carcass part is a carcass part of a slaughtered animal of the porcine, bovine, caprine, ovine or camelid family. In one embodiment the carcass part is a carcass part of a porcine, bovine, ovine or caprine, preferably a porcine carcass part.

[0011] In this specification and claims, "vertebral portion" means a portion of the spine obtained by a previous operation of dividing a carcass or a portion of a carcass along the spine. A vertebral portion may include divided vertebrae, each having a spinous process, a vertebral body, an articular process, and a transverse process.

[0012] In one embodiment, the cutting device may be positioned to cut and loosen meat from the spinous and articular processes in a cutting direction parallel to the length of the spinal portion during use, i.e. parallel to the positioning plane.

[0013] In one embodiment, the locator element may be configured to contact the cut surface of the spinal portion.

[0014] In one embodiment, the pressing device may be arranged to press directly against the spinal portion in order to press the spinal portion against the positioning element, preferably against the vertebral body of the spinal portion.

[0015] In one embodiment, the positioning element is plate-shaped. The front contact surface of the plate-shaped positioning element defines the positioning plane. The cutting direction may in an embodiment be parallel to the positioning plane. The above-mentioned cutting plane is the cutting plane resulting from a previous cut through the spine in order to divide the carcass part.

[0016] In one embodiment, the pressing device comprises a plurality of successive pressing units arranged in succession in a cutting direction of the cutting device, the cutting direction being parallel to the positioning plane and therefore in use parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spinal portion, each of the successive pressing units having: a pressing element movable towards and away from the positioning element to press the spinal portion against the positioning element; a moving device for moving the pressing element from an inoperative position, in which the pressing element is free from the carcass portion in use, towards an operative position in which the pressing element presses the carcass portion to position the spinal portion against the positioning element; has.

[0017] With such a pressing unit, the spinal portion can be pressed very effectively against the positioning element, so that the spinal portion can be effectively and reliably positioned and held for cutting purposes. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of successive pressing units may each have a pressing element that is individually movable towards and away from the positioning element in order to press the spinal portion against the positioning element. The individually movable pressing elements can be adapted individually to the specific shape of the spinal portion by applying a dedicated actuator, e.g. a pneumatic cylinder, to each pressing element. However, in an alternative embodiment, at least two pressing elements of the plurality of successive pressing units may be jointly movable, e.g. by a common pneumatic cylinder, each pressing element comprising an elastic member for enabling the pressing element to be adapted individually to the specific shape of the spinal portion. The elastic member may comprise a soft rubber material, so that non-flat objects can be gripped, since the rubber allows the positioning elements to move relative to each other.

[0018] In one embodiment, each pusher element is rotatable about a pivot axis extending in the cutting direction.

[0019] In one embodiment, each force-on element has a knob-shaped engagement element, preferably a plurality of knob-shaped engagement elements, which engage with the spine portion in the operative position of the force-on element, such knob-shaped elements providing a good grip on the carcass portion.

[0020] In one embodiment, the positioning device further comprises a rod-shaped element in a fixed position relative to the positioning element, the rod-shaped element extending parallel to the cutting direction, i.e. parallel to the positioning plane, in a straight line with the successive pressing elements, at least in the position of the pressing elements between the passive position and the working position. In use, a first part of the length of the spinal portion may be pressed against the positioning element by the pressing elements, and a remaining second part of the length of the spinal portion may lie against the rod-shaped element. Such a rod-shaped element is a very simple construction, but a very effective way of positioning a part of the spinal portion for cutting. In one embodiment, the spinal portion lies with its vertebral body against the rod-shaped element.

[0021] In one embodiment, the positioning device has a plurality of gripping elements, each of which is configured to protrude from the positioning element and engage the spinal portion from the cut surface, preferably hooking into a divided neural canal of the spinal portion, and preferably each of the plurality of compression units has an associated gripping element, such gripping elements further contributing to a secure and effective positioning of the spinal portion.

[0022] In one embodiment, the cutting device is arranged to loosen the meat by cutting from the spinous processes and from the articular processes in a cutting direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spinal portion, The cutting device is a first cutter configured to cut along the spinous process; a second cutter configured to cut along a lateral surface of the articular process; a third cutter between the first and second cutters for cutting along the upper dorsal side of the articular process; Equipped with the first cutter, the second cutter, and the third cutter are interconnected for articulation relative to the carcass portion; the second cutter is movable relative to the first cutter in a lateral direction intersecting the cutting direction; The cutting device further comprises a biasing element for biasing the second cutter laterally toward the first cutter during cutting in use, so that the second cutter cuts directly along the lateral surface of the articular process. In this way, a relatively simple cutting device can be used to perform a very effective cutting operation, which is more often adapted to accommodate changes in size and shape of the vertebral portion being processed. Also, for example, yields can be improved compared to known cutting devices that do not have such a biasing element and / or do not move relative to the carcass part. In use, the second cutter, as a result of being movable relative to the first cutter, can effectively follow the lateral surface of the articular process while being biased toward the first cutter, regardless of the varying shape of the articular process along the length of the vertebral portion.

[0023] In one embodiment, the second cutter is pivotable relative to the first cutter about a pivot axis extending perpendicular to the cutting direction and the lateral direction, and preferably the second cutter is provided at a free end of a pivot arm pivotally connected to the first cutter about the pivot axis, In this manner, the second cutter may be positioned relative to the spinal portion independently of the first cutter.

[0024] In one embodiment, the third cutter has a fixed part fixed to the first cutter and a movable part fixed to the second cutter, and in use the movable part moves relative to the first cutter in cooperation with the second cutter, and preferably the fixed part and the movable part have respective overlapping cutting edges, and the respective cutting edges are configured such that in use the respective cutting edges maintain an overlapping arrangement relative to one another upon relative movement of the second cutter with respect to the first cutter.

[0025] The present invention relates to a spinal processing system for loosening meat, preferably loin meat, from the spinal portion of a divided carcass of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a pork carcass, the spinal processing system comprising: an overhanging conveying system having a plurality of carriers for conveying the divided carcass portions along a conveying track, each of the plurality of carriers being arranged to suspend a carcass portion; a spinal treatment device according to the present invention provided along the conveying track; Equipped with.

[0026] In embodiments of the apparatus and / or system in which the carcass portions are suspended from such a carrier, the spine processing device may include a movement device for moving the spine processing device a predetermined distance along the conveyor track while at least loosening meat from the spine portions. In this manner, the carrier may be moved along the spine processing device in a continuous manner, as opposed to an intermittent manner.

[0027] The present invention relates to a method for ripping meat, preferably loin meat, from the vertebral portion of a divided carcass part of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a pork carcass part, the method comprising: positioning the carcass part with the positioning device, where the carcass part having a cutting surface is contacted with a positioning element that defines a positioning plane for the cutting surface; Pressing the spinal segment against the positioning element using a pressing device; Cutting from the spine loosens the meat This includes:

[0028] In one embodiment of the method, a device according to the invention or a system according to the invention may be used.

[0029] In one embodiment, the loosening step may comprise cutting in a cutting direction parallel to the length of the spinal portion during use to loosen meat from the spinous and articular processes.

[0030] In one embodiment, the method comprises: Position the carcass, Using a cutting device to loosen meat from the spinous and articular processes with a cutting direction parallel to the length of the spinal portion during use. Prepare for this. The disconnection is Using the first cutter of the cutting device, cut along the spinous process; cutting along an outer surface of the articulated projection with a second cutter of the cutting device, wherein the second cutter is movable in a transverse direction transverse to the cutting direction relative to the first cutter; Using the third cutter located between the first and second cutters, cut along the upper dorsal side of the articular process. Including, the first, second, and third cutters move cooperatively relative to the carcass portion during cutting; A biasing element of the cutting device is used to bias the second cutter laterally toward the first cutter during cutting such that the second cutter cuts directly along the lateral surface of the articular process.

[0031] Embodiments of the invention described in relation to an apparatus according to the invention apply equally to the system and method according to the invention and vice versa, and advantages of the apparatus embodiments also apply to the system and method embodiments according to the invention and vice versa.

[0032] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which embodiments of the invention are shown and in which like reference numbers indicate the same or similar elements. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a front view of one embodiment of a spinal treatment device according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a portion of the spinal treatment device of FIG. 1 as part of an embodiment of a spinal treatment system according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a spine. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the spinal treatment device of FIG. 1 in greater detail. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of the spinal treatment device of FIG. 1 in more detail in a side view. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 shows in more detail from the side and from below a portion of a spinal treatment device similar to FIG. 1 but with a different embodiment of a compression device. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 illustrates a portion of the cutting and positioning devices of the spinal treatment device of FIG. 1 in greater detail in a bottom view. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 illustrates a portion of the cutting device of the spinal treatment device of FIG. 1 in a bottom view combined with a cross-section of a spinal portion. [Figure 9A] 9A and 9B show a front view and a side view, respectively, of a portion of the cutting device of the spinal treatment device of FIG. 1 in a first operative state. [Figure 9B] 9A and 9B show a front view and a side view, respectively, of a portion of the cutting device of the spinal treatment device of FIG. 1 in a first operative state. [Figure 9C] FIG. 9C shows cross section IXc of FIG. 9A. [Figure 10A] 10A and 10B show, in front and side views, respectively, a portion of the cutting device of the spinal treatment device of FIGS. 9A and 9B in a second operative state. [Figure 10B] 10A and 10B show, in front and side views, respectively, a portion of the cutting device of the spinal treatment device of FIGS. 9A and 9B in a second operative state. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 shows a portion of the cutting and positioning device of the spinal treatment device of FIG. 1 from the side and below in greater detail. [Figure 12A] 12A and 12B show, in top view, portions of the positioning device of the spinal treatment device of FIG. 1 in two respective corresponding operating states. [Figure 12B] 12A and 12B show, in top view, portions of the positioning device of the spinal treatment device of FIG. 1 in two respective corresponding operating states. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a spine processing device 1, which is an example of a spine processing device according to the invention. The spine processing device 1 is configured to loosen meat 11, preferably loin meat, from the spinal part 2 (very diagrammatically shown in broken lines in FIG. 2) of a split carcass part 3 of a four-legged slaughtered animal. The example shown in FIG. 2 is a split pork carcass part. As shown in FIG. 3, a cross section of the spinal part 2 has split vertebrae 4. The spinal part 2 was obtained by a previous operation of splitting the carcass along the spine, i.e. by a previous longitudinal cut through the spine. Such a splitting is a common practice in carcass processing and is well known to those skilled in the art, resulting in a split spine with split vertebrae. For the sake of completeness, the remaining, i.e. cut, part of the split vertebrae shown in FIG. 3 is shown with broken lines, identified with the reference 4'. The split vertebrae 4 have a cut surface 5 (result of the splitting of the spine). A split vertebra has a spinous process 6 (about half of the spinous process is shown in this example), a vertebral body 7 (about half of the vertebral body is shown in this example), an articular process 8, a transverse process 9, and a split neural canal 10. It should be noted that in general, the shape of the vertebrae of such a spine may vary with at least the position of the vertebra along the length of the spine (perpendicular to the plane of the page in FIG. 3) and with, for example, the age of the slaughtered animal. The articular processes 8 of the lumbar vertebrae may be larger than those of the thoracic vertebrae and may generally become smaller, for example, from the posterior to the anterior end of the spine.

[0035] 2 shows a part of the spine processing system 100. The carcass part 3 is suspended head-down by its hind ankles 12 from a carrier 14 connected to and moved by an overhanging transport system 16 (shown very diagrammatically) arranged for transporting the carcass part past the spine processing device 1 along a transport track 18, even though the head has already been removed in a previous processing step. The spine processing device 1 has a moving device 20 for moving the spine processing device 1 over a predetermined distance along the transport track 18, at least during the loosening of the meat 11 from the spine part 2. The moving device 20 may have a linear guide 22 and a drive device 24 for moving the device 1 together with the carrier 14 back and forth.

[0036] During use of the system 100, a carcass part 3 passing along the apparatus 1 for the purpose of loosening the meat from the spine may have been subjected to a pre-processing step upstream along the track 18, such as the aforementioned splitting of the carcass, or may have been subjected to a further processing step, for example a deboning step.

[0037] The vertebral processing device 1 comprises a positioning device 26 for positioning the carcass part 3. The positioning device 26 has a positioning element 30 configured to contact the cutting surface 5 of the vertebral part 2, which positioning element 30 is plate-shaped at least in this example. The positioning element 30 defines a positioning plane that passes through a front contact surface 32 of the plate-shaped positioning element 30 against the cutting surface 5, i.e. is flush with the cutting surface 5. The positioning device 26 also comprises a pressing device 34 for pressing the vertebral 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 more detail below.

[0038] The spine processing device 1 also comprises a cutting device 28 for loosening the meat 11 by cutting away from the spinous processes 6 and away from the articular processes 8 in a cutting direction 36 parallel to the length direction 38 of the spinal portion 2 during use (i.e. out of the plane of the paper in FIG. 3 as shown). The cutting device 28 is moved in the cutting direction 36 along the spinal portion 2 during use of the spine processing device 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the cutting direction 36 is vertically downwards, and the cut starts at the rear end of the vertically extending spinal portion 2 and proceeds to the front end of the spinal portion 2. During such downward cutting action, the processing device 1 temporarily moves together with the carrier 14 from which the carcass portion 3 is suspended. After the release of the carcass portion 3, the spine processing device 1 returns upstream and is ready to process the next carcass portion suspended from a carrier passing along the device 1.

[0039] The cutting device 28 comprises a first cutter 40 configured to cut along the spinous process 6. To that end, the first cutter 40 has a cutting edge 42 that is inclined backwards from a front side 44 of the first cutter 40, as shown in FIG. 4. In this way, the first cutter 40 gradually cuts along the spinous process 6. FIG. 9C shows a cross section of a portion of the first cutter 40 that constitutes the cutting edge 42. As shown, the first cutter 40 has a blade 46 with a spinous contact surface 46a on the left side in FIG. 9B, which blade contact surface 46a faces the plate-like positioning element 30 and therefore faces the spinous process 6 during cutting in use. As shown in FIG. 9C, the first cutter 40 has a small bevel 48 on the contact surface 46a and a larger bevel 50 on the opposite peripheral surface. As a result, the first cutter 40 tends to move towards the spinous process 6 during cutting as a result of the forces acting on the cutter 40 by the meat 11, more specifically on the larger bevel 50 of the first cutter 40. The smaller bevel 48 is provided to reduce the risk of inadvertently cutting the spinous process 6. The first cutter 40 also has a guide pin 43 projecting in the cutting direction 36 from the front side 44 of the first cutter 40 for guiding the first cutter 40 along the spinous process 6 between the spinous process 6 and the articular process 8. The rounded tip of the guide pin 43 prevents the guide pin 43 from penetrating the bone and provides a positive guidance of the first cutter 40 running parallel along the spinous portion through the generally concave, i.e. curved, shaped space 13 between the spinous process 6 and the articular process 8.

[0040] The first cutter 40 is fixedly connected via a slotted mounting hole 58 to a movement device 52 for moving the cutting device 28 downward in the cutting direction 36 and upward relative to the cutting direction. The movement device 52 may include a guide 56 and a chain or belt drive 54 for providing vertical movement.

[0041] The cutting device 28 also comprises 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, which is only visible in FIG. 8, but has a similar shape with a small inner bevel and a large outer bevel, as the first cutter 40, as shown in FIG. 9C and as described above. The second cutter 60 has a cutting edge 68, the cutting edge 64 being provided on the forward facing side of the cutting edge 68, which is dimensioned, i.e. designed, in the cutting direction 36 to extend along a number of consecutive articular processes 8 in the cutting direction 36. In other words, the dimension of the second cutter 60 in the cutting direction 36 is such that the second cutter 60 cannot end between two consecutive vertebrae 4, or at least the change in the dimension is relatively small. 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, as shown in Figures 9B and 10B. By "at least substantially" we mean that although there may be slight rotational movement of the second cutter 60 relative to the first cutter 40, as will be explained below, the cutters can nevertheless be considered to be oriented approximately parallel during use.

[0042] The second cutter 60 is movable relative to the first cutter 40 in a horizontal transverse direction 62 intersecting the cutting direction 36. The transverse direction 62 extends perpendicular to the plate-like positioning element 30 and thereby perpendicular to the aforementioned positioning plane. To provide this movement, a blade 68 having a cutting edge 64 is attached 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 so as to rotate about a pivot axis 66. The pivot axis 66 extends perpendicular to the cutting direction 36 and the transverse direction 62, as shown in FIG. 9A. That is, like the cutting direction 36, the pivot axis 66 extends in an imaginary plane parallel to the plate-like 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 in which the second cutter 60 has been rotated in the transverse direction 62 towards the first cutter until it is 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 that while the first cutter 40 cuts along the spinous process 6, the cutting edge 64 of the second cutter 60 cuts or continues to cut directly along the lateral surface 8a of the articular process 8, even when the cross-sectional shape of successive spinous processes 6 and / or articular processes 8 of the vertebrae 4 changes over the length of the spinal portion 2 during use. For this purpose, the cutting device 28 further comprises a biasing element 69 (see FIG. 9A ) in the form of a compression spring for biasing the second cutter 60 in the lateral direction 62 towards the first cutter 40 during cutting during use. The biasing element acts on a pivot arm 65 to which the cutting edge 68 of the second cutter 60 is connected, biasing it to rotate about a pivot axis 66 towards the first cutter 40, i.e., taking into account FIGS. 9B and 10B, from a maximum position shown in FIG. 9B towards a minimum position shown in FIG. 10B. As a result of the provision of the biasing element 69, the blade 68 of the second cutter 60 remains biased against the outer surface 8a of the articular process 8 while cutting along the spinal portion 2. As a result, a very effective cut can be made directly along the outer surface 8a of the articular process 8, resulting in a high meat yield. With regard to the change in cross-sectional shape of the spinal portion 2, Figure 8 can be compared with Figure 3, both of which may show cross-sections of vertebrae of the same spinal portion, albeit very diagrammatically.For convenience, like parts of the vertebrae are identified with like reference numerals.

[0043] The blade 68 of the second cutter 60 is pivotable relative to the first cutter 40 about a further pivot axis 70 extending in the transverse direction 62. More specifically, the blade 68 is pivotably connected to the pivot arm 65 of the second cutter 60 about the pivot axis 70. The cutting device 28 has a further biasing element 73 in the form of a torsion spring (see FIG. 10A ) which operates at the pivot axis 70 between the blade 68 and the pivot arm 65 in order to bias, in use, the cutting edge 64 of the blade 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. The function of this pivoting movement about the further pivot axis 70 is to ensure that the second cutter 40 continues to follow the transverse process 9 while cutting along the spinal portion 2, so that the cutting by the second cutter 60 is performed as deep as possible in the meat 11 along the articular process 8 while being limited by the transverse process 9. 9A and 9B show blade portion 68 pivoted significantly in direction 72 as compared to FIGS. 10A and 10B.

[0044] The cutting device 28 also includes a third cutter 80 between the first cutter 40 and the second cutter 60 for cutting along the dorsal upper portion 8b of the articular process 8. The first, second and third cutters are interconnected for relative articulation in the cutting direction 36 with respect to the carcass part 3. This is achieved by the second cutter 60 and the third cutter 80 being attached to the first cutter 40, which is moved in the cutting direction 36 in use, thereby automatically moving the second cutter 60 and the third cutter 80. The third cutter 80 has a fixed part 81 fixed to the first cutter 40 and a movable part 82 fixed to the second cutter 40, and the movable part 82 moves relative to the first cutter 40 in cooperation with the second cutter 60 in use. The movable part 82 is fixed to the pivot arm 65, including an embodiment in which the movable part 82 is a cutter-shaped end of the pivot arm 65.

[0045] The third cutter has cutting edges 83, 84 and a guide portion 87 past the cutting edges, which is designed to extend over a number of consecutive articular processes 8 in the cutting direction 36 so as to prevent the third cutter from cutting into the articular processes 8. The fixed part 81 and the movable part 82 have corresponding overlapping cutting edges 83, 84, which are configured such that, in use, during relative movement of the second cutter 60 with respect to the first cutter 40 and as a result of relative movement of the movable part 82 with respect to the fixed part 81, the corresponding cutting edges 83, 84 maintain an overlapping arrangement relative to one another, as can be seen in FIG. 11. The cutting edge 84 of the movable part 82 is a continuation of the cutting edge 83 of the fixed part 81 at least in the cutting direction 36, as FIG. 7 shows in detail. While the cutting device 28 is moving in the cutting direction, a slight movement of the first, second and third cutters in the direction 72 relative to the moving device 52 is permitted so that the third cutter 80 can slide over the upper part 8b of the articular process while being biased in the direction 72 against the upper part 8b of the articular process. The device 1 further comprises a further biasing element, such as formed by a pneumatic cylinder, acting between the first cutter 40 and the moving device 52 for the purpose of providing a slight movement of the first cutter 40 and thus a concerted movement in the direction 72 of the first, second and third cutters.

[0046] As explained above, the positioning device 26 is configured to position the carcass part 3, which has the cutting surface 5 of the spinal part 2 in its positioning plane, against the plate-shaped positioning element 30. The cutting direction 36 is parallel to the positioning plane 32 and faces vertically downwards in the illustrated example. In both cases, the cutting direction 36 is the extension direction of the spinal part 2. The cutting edge 42 of the first cutter 40 extends in an imaginary plane parallel to the positioning plane. The cutting edge 64 of the second cutter 60 extends in another imaginary plane parallel to the positioning plane, more specifically at least substantially parallel within the range of the mutual movement of the second cutter 60 relative to the first cutter 40.

[0047] The positioning device 26 will now be described in more detail. As already mentioned above, the positioning device 26 comprises a plate-shaped positioning element 30 which is adapted to come into contact with the cut surface 5 of the spinal portion 2 and comprises a pressing device 34 for pressing the spinal portion 2 against a 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 part 3 to be processed is pressed and thereby well positioned against the contact surface defined.

[0048] The pressing device 34 comprises a plurality of, four, successive pressing units 90 arranged successively in the cutting direction 36 in the positioning device 26. The embodiment of the pressing device 134 shown in Fig. 6 has a plurality of three successive pressing units 190. Otherwise, the pressing device 134 is the same as or at least very similar to the pressing device 34, so that the following description of the pressing device 34 also applies to the pressing device 134 in an analogous manner.

[0049] Each of the plurality of successive pressing units 90 has a pressing element 91 movable towards and away from the positioning element 30, as shown in FIG. 8, for pressing against the body part 7 below the transverse processes 9 and pressing the spinal part 2 against the positioning element 30. Each pressing unit 90 also has a moving device 93 for moving the pressing element 91 from an inoperative position (shown in FIG. 12A), in which the pressing element 91 is free from the carcass part 3 in use, towards an operative position (shown in FIG. 12B), in which the pressing element 91 approaches the positioning element 30 compared to the inoperative position and presses against the carcass part 3, more specifically against the vertebral body 7, and positions the spinal part 2 against the positioning element 30. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the moving device 93 comprises a lever 94 rotatable about a pivot axis 95 for each pressing element 91. The lever 93 can be rotated by suitable actuation of a pneumatic actuator 96. The pivot axis 95 extends in the cutting direction 36. Each thrust element 91 has two knob-shaped engagement elements 92, preferably a plurality of knob-shaped engagement elements, which engage with the spinal portion 2 in the operative position of the thrust element 91.

[0050] The positioning device 126 further comprises a rod-shaped element 89 in a fixed position relative to the positioning element 30, which extends in the cutting direction 36 in a straight line with the successive pressing elements 91, at least at the position of the pressing elements 91 between the passive position and the working position, as shown in Figures 12A and 12B. In use, when cutting, a first portion of the length of the spinal portion 2, which may comprise the lumbar vertebrae, is pressed against the positioning element 30 by the pressing elements 91, and a remaining second portion of the length of the spinal portion 2 lies against the rod-shaped element 89, as shown in Figure 2.

[0051] In order to position the spinal portion 2 more firmly relative to the positioning element 30, the positioning device 26 has a number of gripping elements 98, each of which projects from the positioning element 30 and is adapted to engage the spinal portion and, depending on the precision of the cut by the division, to engage the divided nerve canal 10 of the spinal portion 2. Each of the multiple pressing units 90 has an associated gripping element 98, which is pivotable between a rest position (FIGS. 12A, 6) and a gripping position (FIGS. 12B, 7, 11), as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, in the latter position protruding from the positioning element 30. The gripping elements 98 are adapted to be moved between the rest position and the gripping position by a pneumatic cylinder 99. In this example, two pairs of grippers 98 are provided, each pair being movable by a cylinder 99.

[0052] As is already clear from the above description of the vertebral treatment device 1, the method for loosening meat, preferably loin meat, from the vertebral portion 2 of a divided carcass part 3 of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a carcass part of a pig, comprises the steps of: The positioning device 26 is used to position the carcass part, where the carcass part 3 having the cutting surface 5 is brought into contact with a positioning element 30 defining a positioning plane 32 for the cutting surface 5; Pressing the spinal section 2 against the positioning element 30 using a pressing device 34; The cutting device 28 is used to loosen the meat by cutting away from the spinous processes 6 and the articular processes 8 in a cutting direction that is parallel to the length 38 of the spinal portion 2 in use. This includes:

[0053] The disconnection is A first cutter 40 is used to cut along the spinous process 6, a second cutter 60 movable in a lateral direction 62 intersecting the cutting direction 36 relative to the first cutter 40 is used to cut along the lateral surface 8a of the articular process 8; Using the third cutter 80 provided between the first cutter 40 and the second cutter 60, a cut is made along the upper dorsal portion 8b of the articular process 8. Including, the first, second and third cutters move in unison relative to the carcass portion 3 during cutting; A biasing element 69 is used to bias the second cutter 60 laterally 62 towards the first cutter 40 during cutting, such that the second cutter 60 cuts directly along the lateral surface 8 a of the articular process 8 .

Claims

1. A spinal processing device for separating meat, preferably loin meat, from the spinal portion of a divided carcass of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a pig carcass, The spinal cord processing device is A cutting device for cutting and loosening meat from the aforementioned spinal portion, A positioning device for positioning the carcass portion during cutting, Equipped with, The positioning device is, A positioning element configured to contact the cut surface of the vertebral portion, wherein the positioning element defines a positioning plane of the cut surface, A pressing device for pressing the spinal portion against the positioning element A spinal cord processing device equipped with the following features.

2. The spinal cord processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning element is plate-shaped.

3. The pressing device is, A plurality of continuous pressing units arranged in a continuous manner in the cutting direction of the cutting device, wherein the cutting direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spine portion during use. Equipped with, The aforementioned plurality of consecutive pressing units are, To press the spinal portion against the positioning element, a pressing element is provided that is movable toward and away from the positioning element, A moving device for moving the pressing element from a non-operating position, which is free from the carcass portion during use, toward an operating position, which is where the pressing element presses against the carcass portion to position the spine portion relative to the positioning element. A spinal cord processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, having the following features.

4. The spinal cord processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each pressing element is rotatable about a pivot axis extending in the cutting direction.

5. The spinal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each pressing element has a knob-shaped engaging element, preferably a plurality of knob-shaped engaging elements, that engages with the spinal portion at the operating position of the pressing element.

6. The positioning device further comprises a rod-shaped element that is fixed relative to the positioning element, The rod-shaped element extends in the cutting direction in a straight line with the continuous pressing element at least at the position of the pressing element between the passive position and the operating position, The spinal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a first portion of the length of the spinal portion during use is pressed against the positioning element by the plurality of pressing elements, and the remaining second portion of the length of the spinal portion lies relative to the rod-shaped element.

7. The positioning device has a plurality of gripping elements, Each gripping element is configured to protrude from the positioning element and hook onto the divided neural tube of the spinal portion, preferably engaging with the spinal portion from the cut surface. Preferably, the spinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pressing units has an associated gripping element.

8. The vertebral portion includes divided vertebrae, each having a spinous process, vertebral body, articular process, and transverse process. The cutting device is positioned to loosen the flesh by cutting in a cutting direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vertebral portion, from the spinous process and the articular process. The cutting device is A first cutter configured to cut along the aforementioned spinous projection, A second cutter configured to cut along the outer surface of the articular protrusion, A third cutter located between the first cutter and the second cutter for cutting along the upper dorsal side of the articular process, Equipped with, The first cutter, the second cutter, and the third cutter are interconnected so as to articulate with respect to the carcass portion. The second cutter is movable relative to the first cutter in a lateral direction intersecting the cutting direction, The spinal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing element for biasing the second cutter laterally toward the first cutter during cutting such that the second cutter directly cuts along the outer surface of the articular process during use.

9. The spinal cord processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second cutter is rotatable relative to the first cutter about a pivot axis extending perpendicular to the cutting direction and the lateral direction, and preferably the second cutter is provided at the free end of a pivot arm that is rotatably connected to the first cutter about the pivot axis.

10. The spinal cord processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the third cutter has a fixed portion fixed to the first cutter and a movable portion fixed to the second cutter, and when in use, the movable portion moves relative to the first cutter in cooperation with the second cutter, preferably the fixed portion and the movable portion have overlapping cutting edges, and the cutting edges are configured to maintain an overlapping arrangement with respect to each other when the second cutter moves relative to the first cutter during use.

11. During use, the carcass is connected to an overhang conveying system arranged to transport the carcass along a conveying track that passes through the spinal cord processing device, and is suspended from a carrier moved by the overhang conveying system. The spinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spinal apparatus comprises a moving device for moving the spinal apparatus along the transport track over a predetermined distance while at least the meat is being separated from the spinal portion.

12. A spinal processing system for separating meat, preferably loin meat, from the spinal portion of a divided carcass of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a pig carcass, The aforementioned spinal processing system is An overhang conveying system having a plurality of carriers for conveying the divided carcass portions along a conveying track, wherein each of the plurality of carriers is positioned to suspend the carcass portions, A spinal cord processing apparatus according to claim 1, provided along the transport track, A spinal processing system equipped with the following features.

13. The spinal processing system according to claim 12, wherein the spinal processing device comprises a moving device for moving the spinal processing device over a predetermined distance along the transport track while at least the meat is being separated from the spinal portion.

14. A method for separating meat, preferably loin meat, from the spinal portion of a divided carcass of a four-legged slaughtered animal, such as a pig carcass, The aforementioned method, The carcass portion is positioned using a positioning device, where the carcass portion having a cut surface is in contact with a positioning element that defines the positioning plane of the cut surface. The spinal portion is pressed against the positioning element using a pressing device. The meat is separated by cutting from the aforementioned vertebral portion. A method that includes doing so.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus described in claim 1 or the system described in claim 12 is used.

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