Patella harvester and method for removing the patella

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 provides a patella harvester for removing patellas from femurs of poultry; The present invention relates to a method for removing a patella from a femur, the patella having at least a portion of the patella's flesh attached thereto. do. [Background technology]

[0002] WO 2015 / 194945 discloses a method and corresponding system for harvesting knee meat (22) and thigh meat (31) from whole poultry leg meat products, as shown in Figure 8. The method includes the following steps:

[0003] - Providing a leg meat product having: -Thigh(30) -Drumsticks (6) -knees

[0004] - Engaging the patella scraper with the leg meat product adjacent to the patella (4) and with a counter element at the rear of the patella (4) (on the left in Figure 8).

[0005] - moving the patella (4) past the patella scraper while the counter element is engaged with the leg meat product behind the patella (4), thereby scraping the knee meat (22) from the patella (4) while the knee meat (22) remains connected to the thigh (30).

[0006] WO 2015 / 194945 discloses the following as an option:

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

[0008] - separating the patella (4) from the thigh (3) and the kneecap (22) by cutting at a second cutting location located between the patella (4) and the thigh (3) and adjacent to the patella scraper, the kneecap (22) and the thigh (30) remaining connected to each other during the separation.

[0009] All of the embodiments explicitly disclosed by WO 2015 / 194945 show how to selectively harvest 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). Thus, WO 2015 / 194945 does not provide clear and unambiguous teachings on how to harvest the patella (4) when the femur (3) remains attached to the thigh (30) in addition to the thigh meat (31). It also does not teach how to harvest the patella (4) when the thigh (30) has already been completely separated from the drumstick (6).

[0010] EP 2866573 and WO 2008 / 087617 show other methods and devices for removing the patella from poultry legs, but in EP 2866573 the patella is also removed after removal of the femur.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,187, with reference to Figures 21 to 24, discloses yet another method and means for removing the patella or kneecap from an animal's leg. U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,187 shows a kneecap remover having a blade holder that slidably engages a sharp blade. The blade is positioned adjacent to the animal's kneecap, and the cutting edge is sharply ground so that it can penetrate the flesh adjacent to the kneecap. A resecter with a sharp cutting edge is rotatably supported relative to the blade holder. When the resecter rotates relative to the blade holder to remove the kneecap, the blade retracts into the holder, allowing the resecter to cut behind the kneecap and shear the tendon (which supports the kneecap) between the resecter and the blade holder. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2015 / 194945 [Patent Document 2] European Patent No. 2866573 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2008 / 087617 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 3,486,187 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] The present invention provides an improved method for harvesting patellar bones in a variety of situations. patella harvester and improved method The purpose is to provide the following. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] These and other objects which will become apparent in the following disclosure are achieved by one or more of the appended claims. patella harvester and method This is achieved by:

[0015] Methods of the Invention This method uses a patella harvester, which will be described later. Front end of the chisel of , engaging the femur To make , followed by, The front end, a moving mechanism between the femur and the patella to release at least a portion of the natural connection between the femur and the patella; and During this method, the femur of Clamp in place including This method step is applicable not only when the drum bone has already been completely separated from the femur, but also when the drum bone is still connected to the femur, and the reference to the drum bone in this application is intended to include the possibility that the drum meat may remain.

[0016] In particular, if the drum bone has already been separated from the femur, it is preferred that following the movement of the chisel between the femur and the patella, the chisel is moved together with the patella in a direction away from the femur.

[0017] Additionally, a support plate is attached to the kneecap facing end of the femur to limit movement of the femur while the chisel is engaged with the femur. Set up It is preferable.

[0018] As the chisel moves with the patella in a direction away from the femur, or as the chisel moves with the patella in a direction away from the femur, of Slides along the support plate to make It is advantageous to

[0019] When the method of the present invention is applied when a drum bone is attached to the femur, the gripper By Preferably, the drum bone attached to the femur is fixed in place.

[0020] In particular, when the drum bone is still attached to the femur, a blade or blades are applied near the patella to release any connection between the patella and the femur and / or the drum bone attached to the femur (3). Knee attached to the patella Preferably it is meat engaging.

[0021] The method of the present invention is carried out by a patella harvester having the following features: R, The harvester engages the femur to strip at least a portion of the natural connection between the femur and the patella. do a movable chisel having an anterior end positioned to move between the femur and the patella, and a clamp or clamps to secure the femur in place before the chisel engages the femur, this arrangement being particularly useful when the femur has already been cleared of any bone, although this is not required.

[0022] Preferably, the chisel is positioned to move the patella away from the femur after at least a portion of the natural connection between the femur and the patella has been released.

[0023] The front end of the chisel is preferably concave to help conform to the curvature of the femur.

[0024] It is further advantageous if the harvester is provided with a support plate to limit movement of the femur while the chisel is engaged with the femur.

[0025] For processing poultry legs comprising a drum bone and a femur, the harvester preferably comprises a gripper for fixing in place the drum bone attached to said femur.

[0026] Further advantageously, the harvester comprises a blade or blades which engage the meat near the patella to release any connections between the patella and the femur and / or the drum bone.

[0027] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are for purposes of illustrating one or more embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the device of the invention for preparing a femur that is still connected to a drum bone; FIG. [Figure 2] 2 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a further step in the preparation of the femur; [Figure 3] 2 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a further processing step. [Figure 4]FIG. 10 is a side view of a second embodiment of the device of the present invention for preparing a femur completely separated from the drum bone. [Figure 5] 5 shows the apparatus of FIG. 4 in a further step in the preparation of the femur. [Figure 6] 5 shows the apparatus of FIG. 4 in a further processing step. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 shows a detailed front view of the chisel used in the previous figures. [Figure 8] FIG. 1A is a side view of FIG. 1A of Patent Document 1, with the reference numerals corrected to reflect this specification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Where the same reference numbers are used in different drawings, they refer to the same parts.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1 and 4 respectively, what is common to both illustrated embodiments of the device of the present invention is that a beveled front end 2 of a chisel 1 engages a femur 3. In these embodiments, the femur 3 is shown without any thigh meat already removed therefrom.

[0031] For the two embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 5, respectively, after the chisel 1 engages the femur 3, the chisel 1 moves between the femur 3 and the patella 4 to strip at least a portion of at least a portion of the connection that naturally exists between the femur 3 and the patella 4. This applies to both the embodiments of Figures 1 and 4.

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

[0033] Figures 4 to 6 relate to an embodiment in which the femur 3 has been completely separated from the drumstick, for example after the blade (not shown) has been activated after gripping the femur with the gripper 7, as in the embodiment of Figure 2. Figures 5 and 6 show the movement of the chisel 1 between the femur 3 and the patella 4, followed by the movement of the chisel 1 together with the patella 4 away from the femur 3. It further shows that the femur 3 is secured in place with the clamp 5.

[0034] 4 to 6 also show that a support plate 8 is provided at the patella end of the femur 3 to limit movement of the femur 3 while the chisel 1 is engaged with the femur 3. The gripper 7 used in the first embodiment may be used for this purpose.

[0035] 5 and 6 show that the chisel 1 slides along the support plate 8 as it moves away from the femur 3 together with the patella 4. This makes removing the patella 4 along with any adhering flesh a reliable and reproducible operation.

[0036] In the embodiment of Figures 1-3, the drum bone 6 is still attached to the femur 3, whereas in Figure 2, a blade 9 or multiple blades engage the meat near the patella 4 to release all connections between the patella 4 and the femur 3 and the drum bone 6. The harvester of the second embodiment of Figures 4-6 can also include a blade or multiple blades 9 that engage the meat near the patella 4 to release all connections between the patella 4 and the femur 3 and / or the drum bone 6. The beveled front end may also have a cutting edge.

[0037] The present invention is therefore embodied in a patella harvester, shown diagrammatically in the drawings, which comprises a movable chisel 1 having a beveled anterior end 2 which engages with and 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.

[0038] Finally, Figure 7 shows a front view of the chisel 1 used in the previous embodiment. The front end 2 of the chisel 1 is concave.

[0039] Embodiments of the present invention may include any combination of features disclosed herein independently of each other. Although the present invention has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, which may be varied in various ways without departing from the invention. Therefore, the described exemplary embodiments should not be used to strictly interpret the scope of the appended claims. Instead, these embodiments are intended merely to explain the language of the appended claims, without intending to limit the scope of the claims to these exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be interpreted solely in accordance with the scope of the appended claims, and any ambiguities that may arise in the language of the claims shall be resolved using these exemplary embodiments.

[0040] Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and equivalents. The disclosures of all prior art references, applications, patents, and publications cited above are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Unless specifically described above as "essential," none of the various components or their interrelationships are essential to the operation of the present invention. Rather, substitution of the various components and / or rearrangement of their interrelationships may result in desirable results. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 chisel 2 Beveled front end 3 Femur 4 Patella 5 Clamp 6 drum bones (drumsticks or tibiae) 7 Gripper 8 Support Plate

Claims

1. 1. A patella harvester for removing patellas from femurs of poultry, comprising: a movable chisel (1) having a front end (2) positioned to engage the femur (3) and move between the femur (3) and the patella (4) to separate 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:

2. 2. The patella harvester according to claim 1, wherein 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 separated.

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

4. 2. The patella harvester according to claim 1, 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).

5. 2. The patella harvester according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a gripper (7) for fixing in place the drum bone (6) attached to the femur (3).

6. 2. The patella harvester according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a blade (9) or a plurality of blades that engage with the knee flesh attached to the patella (4) near the patella (4) to release any connections between the patella (4) and the femur (3) and / or the drum bone (6) attached to the femur (3).

7. 2. A method for removing a patella (4) having at least a portion of the patella (4) attached thereto from a femur (3) using the patella harvester according to claim 1, comprising: Engaging the anterior end (2) of the chisel (1) of the patella harvester with the femur (3), and then moving the anterior end (2) 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 of removing the patella, comprising clamping the femur (3) in place while performing said method.

8. 8. A method for removing a patella according to claim 7, characterized in that following the movement of the chisel (1) between the femur (3) and the patella (4), the chisel (1) is moved together with the patella (4) in a direction away from the femur (3).

9. 8. A method for removing a patella according to claim 7, 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).

10. Following the movement of the chisel (1) between the femur (3) and the patella (4), the chisel (1) is moved together with the patella (4) in a direction away from the femur (3), a support plate (5) is provided at the patella end of the femur (3) to limit movement of the femur (3) while the chisel (1) is engaged with the femur (3); 8. A method for removing a patella according to claim 7, characterized in that the chisel (1) is slid along the support plate (5) when moving the chisel (1) together with the patella (4) in a direction away from the femur (3).

11. When the drum bone (6) is attached to the femur (3), A method for removing a patella according to claim 7, characterized in that the drum bone (6) attached to the femur (3) is fixed in place by means of a gripper (7).

12. 8. A method for removing a patella according to claim 7, characterized in that a blade (9) or blades are engaged in the knee flesh near the patella (4) to release all connections between the patella (4) and the femur (3) and / or the drum bone (6) attached to the femur (3).

Images