SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A PORTION OF A CARCASS LEG

Abstract

This description relates to a system and method for processing a carcass leg portion comprising a clamping section on or near the leg portion. The system comprises a loading station comprising a first conveyor device having a support surface for supporting and transporting the carcass portion to a loading area and comprising a positioning device having a first positioning element arranged to be moved together with the carcass portion while supported on the support surface, configured to position the clamping section relative to the support surface. The system further comprises a second conveyor device comprising a plurality of carriers that move across the loading area.The system is configured such that in the loading zone part of the channel is transferred from the support surface to a carrier in the clamping section of the channel part, in an automated manner in use.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A PORTION OF A CARCASS LEG Field of Invention The present invention relates to a system and method for processing a leg portion of a carcass, comprising a clamping section on or near a portion of the leg portion of the carcass. The invention relates in particular to the processing of leg portions of pork carcasses, although leg portions of other four-legged animals, such as cattle or sheep, can also be processed using the device and method according to the present invention. Background of the Invention WO 2011 / 074966 describes a system comprising a loading station having a conveyor belt that defines a support surface on which to bear and transport the leg portion of the carcass in a transport direction toward a loading zone. The system also comprises a conveyor device comprising carriers that move along a path comprising the loading zone. In the loading zone, the leg portion of the carcass is loaded from the support surface of the first conveyor device onto a carrier of the second conveyor device. Ref. 338972 Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI Figure 23A of WO 2011 / 074966 A1 is included in the present description as Figure 5 and shows a loading area of ​​a system having a loading station with a supply conveyor belt 1240, and a second conveyor device having a plurality of carriers 750, which are moved along a path 773 by trolleys 772 and a drive chain 774. An operator 1200 working at the loading station takes a leg portion 1 and positions it with the lower part of the leg in the inlet opening of a slot 762 of a carrier as can be understood from Figure 5. The leg portion is then further pushed into the slot 762 using the belt 781b on one side and the plate 781 on the other. Subsequently, part of leg 1 reaches the end of the supply conveyor belt 1240 and falls off belt 1240.The leg portion is then held suspended from the carrier and enters a processing line for further processing steps. Although the known system works satisfactorily in practice, there is room for improvement in terms of the ergonomics and efficiency of the system. Brief Description of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system and method for processing a portion of the leg of the carcass. Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for processing a portion of the carcass leg that has improved ergonomics for a system operator. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for processing a portion of the carcass leg that has improved efficiency. In a first aspect, the invention provides a system as defined in claim 1 for processing a carcass leg portion comprising a clamping section on or near a portion of the leg portion of the carcass. The system comprises a loading station comprising a first conveyor device having a support surface for supporting and transporting the carcass portion along a first path in a transport direction toward a loading area.The loading station also comprises a positioning device having a first positioning element coupled to the first conveyor device and arranged to be moved together with the carcass part while supported on the support surface; the positioning device is configured to place the clamping section in a predetermined position, defined by the first positioning element, with respect to the support surface during the transport of the carcass part to the loading area. The system further comprises a second conveyor device comprising a plurality of carriers moving along a second, i.e., different from the first, path passing through the loading zone, each of the plurality of carriers comprising a clamping assembly arranged to cooperate with the clamping section of the carcass part to thereby clamp the carcass part to the carrier. The system is configured such that in the loading zone, a portion of the channel is transferred from the support surface to the clamping assembly of a carrier in the clamping section of the channel portion, in an automated manner. The clamping section of the channel portion is thus loaded onto the carrier, and the channel portion is subsequently transported by a second conveyor. As a result, the positioning of the clamping section by the positioning device is eliminated; that is, the channel portion is released from the positioning device. As mentioned above, the present invention relates to a system and / or method for processing a leg portion of a carcass. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a system and / or method for processing a leg portion of a four-legged animal carcass, such as a leg portion of a pig, cow, or sheep carcass, preferably a leg portion of a pig carcass. One effect of the system according to the present invention is that, due to the provision of the positioning device, which enables the correct positioning of the carcass leg parts during transport to the loading area, an operator working with the system no longer has to manually place the carcass leg parts onto the carriers in the loading area, which is considered a physically demanding task. In this respect, it is noted that pork carcass leg parts can weigh up to 40 kg or even more. Thus, an operator simply needs to place the carcass leg parts on the support surface using the first positioning elements. This improves not only the efficiency but also the ergonomics of the system. Furthermore, the repeatability of the processing of the carcass leg parts at the loading station is improved, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of the system.In this way, one or more of the objects of the present invention have been achieved. The channel sections are intended to be supported on the support surface while oriented transversely, that is, extending in the transverse direction. This allows for efficient weight transfer from the support surface to the carrier. The attachment section can be a section of the leg part adjacent to the leg part, at a lower end of the radius or tibia bone. In one embodiment, the positioning device further comprises a second positioning element, arranged to be moved together with the first positioning element and configured to place the clamping section of the carcass portion between the first and second positioning elements during transport of the carcass portion to the loading area. This improves the accuracy and reliability of positioning a portion of the carcass leg on the support surface. In one embodiment, the positioning device comprises a plurality of separate first positioning elements, each for placing a portion of the individual carcass leg on the support surface and moving it toward the loading area. In an embodiment where the positioning device further comprises a second positioning element, it preferably also comprises a plurality of second positioning elements, each of which is provided adjacent to a first positioning element viewed in the direction of transport. The positioning device thus comprises a plurality of combinations, or pairs, of first and second positioning elements, each for placing a portion of the individual carcass leg on the support surface during transport to the loading area.The pairs of the first and second positioning elements are separated by a distance observed in the direction of transport. The distance between the first individual positioning elements or between the pairs can be chosen based on the specific carcass leg parts being processed, and can be less than approximately 1 m, preferably in the range of 0.25 to 0.5 m for pork leg parts. In one embodiment, the first positioning element is an elongated bar-like element configured to be able to point upwards with a free end thereof during the transport of the carcass part to the loading area, wherein the first positioning element is provided adjacent to a longitudinal side of the support surface, proposed to position the leg part of the carcass with its leg portion protruding beyond the longitudinal side. MM7 ίΠ / ZZΖηZ / E / YΙΛΙ Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI In one embodiment, the first and second positioning elements are each elongated bar-like elements and are each configured to be able to point upwards with a free end thereof during the transport of the carcass portion to the loading area, wherein the first and second positioning elements are provided adjacent to the same longitudinal side of the support surface, proposed to place the leg portion of the carcass between them with its leg portion protruding beyond the longitudinal side.For this purpose, preferably the first and second positioning elements are each elongated bar-like elements and each are configured to be able to point upwards with a free end thereof above the support surface so that a portion of the channel leg supported on the support surface can be effectively captured and thus placed between a first and second associated positioning element, i.e., placed by a pair mentioned, or, in combination, of a first and second positioning elements. In one embodiment, the second positioning element moves, preferably rotates, between an active position in which it points upwards with a free end thereof with respect to the support surface and an inactive position in which it moves away, preferably rotates downwards, from the first positioning element, preferably to a position lower than the support surface, such that in use in the active position of the second positioning element the clamping section of the channel part is captured between the first and second positioning elements.In the inactive position of the second positioning element, the resulting channel portion can be positioned with its clamping section against, or at least directly adjacent to, the first positioning element on one side of the first positioning element, which is oriented toward the second positioning element, at least substantially free from contact with the second positioning element. The distance between the first and its adjacent second positioning element, i.e., the first and second positioning elements of the aforementioned pair, corresponds to, or is less than, the entry width of a carrier clamping assembly. In another embodiment, the first, as well as the second, positioning element moves between an active and a passive position in the manner described.The mobility of the second positioning elements between an active and a passive position can be provided mechanically, such as by using a cam follower principle with a stationary track along the first conveyor device, where a follower coupled to or formed by a part of the second positioning element is guided. By providing the second positioning elements with a rotatable orientation around a transverse rotating axis, they can be moved efficiently and predictably between active and passive positions as they move toward the loading zone. The first and second positioning elements can, for this purpose, be coupled to an endless chain that travels alongside the support surface and in sync with the first conveyor device, i.e., at the same transport speed as that provided by the support surface.The first positioning elements can be rigidly coupled to the chain, while the second positioning elements can be rotatably coupled to the chain. Alternatively, the second positioning elements can be moved between their active and passive positions by means of a servomotor or stepper motor, a solenoid, or a pneumatic cylinder, for example. As an alternative to rotary movement, the second positioning elements can be moved vertically between positions, for example, by any of the means mentioned above. In one configuration, the system also includes an online weighing device, also referred to as MM7 ίΠ / ZZΖηZ / E / YΙΛΙ Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI flow weighing device, for in-line weighing of a portion of the carcass while it is being conveyed to the loading area. Preferably, this weighing device is placed between two successive individual sections of the first conveyor device, each of the two sections defining an individual section of the support surface, wherein the in-line weighing device is arranged such that a portion of the carcass is conveyed from a section of the first conveyor device upstream of the weighing device, through the weighing device where it can be weighed in-line, i.e., during conveying, in a section of the first conveyor device downstream of the weighing device in use during its conveying to the loading area.For this purpose, the weighing device may comprise a weighing conveyor for transporting the carcass portion in the transport direction during weighing. The first positioning element, as well as the second positioning element when provided, are preferably arranged to move along with the carcass portion while supported on both individual sections of the support surface, and during the passage of the carcass portion over the weighing device. In one mode, the positioning device is Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI is configured such that the second positioning element is in its inactive position or moves at least towards the inactive position as the carcass portion passes over the weighing device. This allows for a more accurate determination of the carcass portion's weight. In one embodiment, the system is configured such that the conveyor speed of the weighing device is higher than the conveyor speed of the upstream section of the first conveyor, and preferably also higher than the conveyor speed of the downstream section of the first conveyor. In an alternative embodiment, the system is configured such that the conveyor speed of the weighing device is lower than the conveyor speed of the upstream section of the first conveyor, in an embodiment comprising a first positioning element downstream of the carcass leg portion. By doing so, the clamping section is released from the first positioning element, as well as during weighing, which further increases the accuracy of the weight determination.The preferred method is the weighing conveyor with a higher speed, because it has the added advantage of at least separating. Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI temporarily place successive parts of the carcass leg on the support surface in the transport direction along the length, which also contributes to the accuracy of the weighing. In all modes, the first positioning elements and any of the second positioning elements can be actuated by a common actuator system. In one embodiment, the loading station further comprises a leg guide provided upstream of the loading zone, against which a free end of a leg portion of the carcass part is pushed in a thrust direction transverse to the conveying direction, when the carcass part is supported on the support surface. The leg guide can be formed by a vertically oriented guide plate extending in the conveying direction, which guide plate is provided stationary on and adjacent to the support surface. If an embodiment of the system has the weighing device in-line, the leg guide can be provided only on one side of the individual section of the first conveying device upstream of the weighing device, while the downstream section and the weighing device are thus free of this leg guide.By providing this leg guide, positioning the carcass leg on the support surface is made easier and more reliable, as the leg guide effectively facilitates the transverse positioning of the carcass leg components. This also increases the reliability of the positioning device and the final transfer from the support surface to the carrier in the loading zone. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of carriers of the second conveying device has a base position in which the carrier holds a portion of the carcass during further transport, and a loading position in which the carrier can engage the portion of the carcass in its gripping section in the at least loading zone. In one embodiment, the gripping assembly of each of the plurality of carriers comprises a slot-like portion for receiving the gripping section of the carcass portion therein, wherein the slot-like portion has an inlet portion at an open end thereof and a gripping portion, wherein the inlet portion is wider than the gripping portion. The width of the inlet portion may be approximately equal to, or preferably slightly wider than, a distance in the transport direction between a first and second positioning element.The system may then comprise a guide for pressing a clamping section into the clamping assembly, preferably into the clamping portion thereof, preferably while the carrier is raised to the loading position, by a ramp conveyor, from the loading zone to an operating height of the second conveyor device. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of carriers is configured to move, preferably to rotate upwards from the base position to the loading position, preferably about a rotating axis extending in the transport direction at least when the carrier is in the loading zone, the slotted portion facing upwards with an open end of the slotted portion thereof at least in the loading position, wherein the slotted portion is adjacent to the positioning device at least in the loading position thereof, in the loading zone. The movement from the base position to the loading position can be provided by a guide means positioned stationary along the second path and arranged to push the carriers from the base to the loading position.Alternatively, a track-following mechanism may be used, wherein a follower on each carrier moves along a stationary track along the second path. Alternatively, the carriers are arranged to rotate to the loading position by means of a spring mechanism within each carrier, wherein a guide or track-following mechanism may be provided to rotate the carriers to the base position just upstream of the loading zone, and such that the carriers rotate back to the loading position in the loading zone under the influence of the internal spring mechanism. As an alternative to the clamping assembly having the slot-like portion, carriers may have a clamping assembly formed by two mutually immobile clamps, or jaws, that are configured to actively clamp, or take, the clamping section of a carcass leg portion between them in the loading zone for the purpose of transferring the carcass leg portion from the support surface to the carrier.For the purpose of moving the clamping section of a carcass leg between the clamps, which may be located next to the support surface in the loading zone, the system may comprise a pusher, preferably arranged above the support surface, configured to push a portion of the carcass leg in the transverse direction in the loading zone in an automated manner, i.e., to push the portion of the carcass leg sideways on the support surface such that the clamping section moves sideways between the clamps, which open. Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI simultaneously, after which the clamps can be closed to actively grip the clamping section between them and further transport the channel portion away from the loading station along the second path. As an additional alternative to the clamping assembly having the slot-like portion, the carriers can have a clamping assembly in accordance with or similar to the assembly shown in Figures 9 and 10 of WO 2011 / 074966. The assembly can be provided in an inclined manner, like the clamping assembly 34 of the carriers 30, as explained below in the description of the embodiments. The jaw 211 of the assembly of Figures 9 and 10 can in this case be rotated upwards such that the front surface 215 of the stop block is arranged to engage the channel leg portion from below, in addition to the support surface, in the loading area.Next, hook 212 is pushed against the leg portion from above, or pushed into the leg portion such that it penetrates the flesh of the leg portion. The leg portion of the carcass can then be further transported away from the loading station along the second path. In one embodiment, the system is configured such that, at least in the loading zone, the transport direction of the first conveyor device and a transport direction of the second conveyor device, defined by the second path, are at least substantially parallel to each other and the first and second conveyor devices operate at at least substantially the same speed, at least in the loading zone. In one embodiment, the system further comprises a downward clamping device in the loading zone, positioned above the support surface of the first conveyor device, and arranged to make contact with an upper surface of the leg portion of the carcass as it is conveyed on the first conveyor device. The downward clamping device may be a downward clamping conveyor, preferably a belt conveyor, wherein a conveyor belt of the belt conveyor extends parallel to the support surface. A speed of the downward clamping conveyor may be set equal to a speed on the first conveyor device, at least in the loading zone. In use, the leg portions of the carcass pass beneath the downward clamping conveyor.The provision of a downward clamping device can reduce the possibility of tilting or rolling of the carcass parts, at least in the direction of transport, particularly in the loading zone, when the carcass part is transferred from the support surface to the clamping assembly of a carrier. In another embodiment, the downward clamping device can be a roller-clamping downward conveyor, which has a series of rollers extending transversely to the direction of transport. In another embodiment, the downward clamping device can have one or more spring-loaded downward clamping wheels within a system frame. These rollers and wheels are driven at the same speed as the first conveyor device, at least in the loading zone.The distance between the lower side of the downward clamping device and the support surface of the first conveyor device can be chosen depending on the particular parts of the carcass leg being handled by the system. For example, the distance can be in the range of 0.1 to 0.2 m. The corresponding embodiments are also applicable to the method described below in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention. The system is specifically arranged to carry out the method according to a second aspect of the invention. In a second aspect, the invention provides a method according to claim 12 for processing a portion of a carcass leg comprising a clamping section in or near a leg portion of the carcass leg, using a system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the method comprising the subsequent steps of: a) Place the channel part on the surface of the support of the first conveyor device, and place, using the first conveyor element of the positioning device, the clamping section of the channel part in a predetermined position with respect to the surface of the support, b) transport the part of the carcass to the loading area, and c) transferring the carcass part in the clamping section of the same from the support surface to a carrier in the loading zone, in an automated manner, so that the clamping section of the carcass part is thus loaded onto the carrier and the carcass part is further transported by the second conveyor device. In one embodiment, step a) comprises pushing a free end of the leg portion of the carcass part in the thrust direction transverse to the transport direction against the leg guide upstream of the loading zone. In one embodiment, during step a) the channel part is placed with its clamping section against or at least directly adjacent to the first positioning element, while the second positioning element is in its native position, and wherein no later than during step b) the second positioning element is moved from its inactive position to its active position such that the clamping section of the channel part is captured between the first and second positioning elements at least in the loading zone. In one mode during step b) the carcass part passes over the weighing device while the second positioning element is in its inactive position or moves at least towards the inactive position during the passage of the carcass part over the weighing device. The corresponding modalities are applicable to the system described above in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention. The effects of the method according to the present invention are analogous to the effects of the system according to the invention as described above. In general terms, the present invention relates to a system and method for processing a portion of a carcass leg, comprising a clamping section on or near a portion of the leg. The system comprises a loading station comprising a first conveyor device having a support surface for supporting and transporting the carcass portion to a loading area and comprising a Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI positioning device having a first positioning element arranged to be moved together with the channel portion while supported on the support surface, configured to position the clamping section with respect to the support surface. The system further comprises a second conveyor device comprising a plurality of carriers that move across the loading zone. The system is configured such that the loading zone transfers a channel portion from the support surface to a carrier in the clamping section of the channel portion in an automated manner. Brief Description of the Figures The present invention is henceforth described with reference to the accompanying schematic figures in which the embodiments of the present invention are shown and in which similar reference numbers indicate the same or similar elements. Figure 1 shows a 3-dimensional view of one embodiment of a system for processing a portion of the leg of the carcass according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a part of the system in Figure 1 from a different point of view; Figure 3 shows a rear view of a part of a charging station of the system in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a side view of a part of the system in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a system of the above technique, Figure 6 shows in 3-dimensional view an additional embodiment of a system for processing a portion of the leg of the carcass according to the present invention; and Figure 7 shows a side view of a part of the system in Figure 6. Detailed Description of the Invention Figure 1 shows a system 100 for processing leg portions of carcass 1. System 100 is an example of a system according to the present invention. The leg portions of carcass 1 shown schematically in the Figures represent leg portions of a pig carcass comprising a leg portion (a) and at least one lower leg portion (b). The leg portions may also comprise an upper leg portion including the femur (hind leg) or humerus (front leg). For the purpose of explaining the principle of the present invention, a clamping section 2 is defined as a section of the leg portion of carcass 1 in or near the leg portion (a) of the leg portion of carcass 1, such as a leg portion section adjacent to the leg portion, at a lower end of the radius or tibia. See in particular Figure 4.The purpose of system 100, and in particular of loading station 4 thereof, is to supply leg parts 1 to a loading zone 16 where the carcass leg parts are to be transferred to carriers 30 of a second conveyor device 6. Conveyors of the type referred to herein as the second conveyor device are known and commonly used in the field of carcass processing. The carriers can be configured to transport a carcass part suspended from the carrier, where the carcass part can be grasped, picked up, actively and passively penetrated by some hook-like element, or otherwise coupled. An example of such a conveyor, more specifically an overhead conveyor, is described in WO 2011 / 074966 A1.This conveyor, in the example shown in the Figures, which is an elevated conveyor carrying carriers that passively hold the carcass parts, will be referred to as the second conveyor device in the following further explanation of the examples of systems according to the invention. However, the invention also covers these classes of conveyors, such as the carriers mentioned above. System 100 comprises a loading station 4 and a second conveyor device 6, which is, at least in the Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI, as shown in the Figures, is an elevated conveyor as mentioned above. The loading station 4 comprises a first conveyor device 8 having a support surface 10 for supporting and transporting the leg portions of the carcass 1 along a first path 12 in a transport direction 14 towards a loading area 16. The first conveyor device 8 has a flat belt conveyor, which forms the support surface 10 on top of a first path 12. The first conveyor device may alternatively, or in combination with a flat belt conveyor, have a modular belt made of modular units, such as those with a length in the transport direction of 10 to 50 mm, internally connected via a hinge system, for example, or it may be a roller conveyor.A modular belt is less susceptible to belt tension but requires more frequent cleaning. Depending on the current situation, a specific type of conveyor can be chosen. As shown in the Figures, the leg portions 1 are oriented transversely, that is, with a longitudinal axis of the leg portion transverse to the transport direction 14. This means that the leg portion generally points sideways, and the leg portions of all the leg portions are oriented in the same direction. At least in the example shown, the first conveyor device 8 has two successive individual sections 8a, 8b, each of the two sections 8a, 8b defining an individual section 10a, 10b of the support surface 10.An in-line weighing device 20 is provided between sections 8a and 8b, such that carcass portion 1 is conveyed from section 8a of the first conveyor device 8 upstream of the weighing device 20, through the weighing device 20, into section 8b of the first conveyor device 8 downstream of the weighing device 20 in use during its transport to the loading area 16. The use of an in-line weighing device 20 is optional in view of the present invention. Depending on the actual case in practice, an in-line weighing device may be provided when the carcass portions need to be weighed while being conveyed in the loading section 4. Otherwise, for example, if the leg portions have already been weighed earlier in the process, a weighing device may be omitted.In this case, the first conveyor device 8 may comprise only one section, such as that formed by a flat belt conveyor having a continuous support surface 10. The provision of an in-line weighing device integrated into the loading station is convenient, however, because in that case the weight of each carcass part can be easily coupled, in an automated manner by a system control module, to the specific carcass part to be transferred to a carrier of the second conveyor device. The position of the leg part on the second conveyor device, i.e., on the specific carrier 30, is known as the specific leg part. The weight of the leg part can thus be associated with a specific carrier for further processing. The loading station 4 also comprises a positioning device 22 having a plurality of first positioning elements 24 spaced apart along the first conveyor device 8, coupled to the first conveyor device 8, and arranged to be moved together with the carcass portion 1 while the carcass portion is supported on the support surface 10. In this manner, the first positioning elements 24 of the positioning device 22 are configured to move together with the support surface 10. Each of the first positioning elements 24 is configured to place the clamping section 2 of a leg portion of the carcass 1 in a predetermined position, defined by the first positioning element 24, with respect to the support surface 10 during the transport of the carcass portion 1. MM7 iP / ZZΖ / E / YILI towards loading zone 16. The positioning device 22 may also have a plurality of second positioning elements 26, each associated with each first positioning element 24 and provided or separated adjacent to positioning element 24 in the transport direction. The second positioning elements 26 are arranged to be moved together with the first positioning elements 24 and are configured to place the clamping section 2 of the channel part 1 between the first and second positioning elements 24, 26 during transport of the channel part 1 towards loading zone 16. The provision of the second positioning elements 26 in this way is optional, but they contribute to the positioning of the leg parts of channel 1 on the support surface 10 more reliably and accurately.To that end, a distance d (see Figure 3) between each first and second mutually associated positioning elements 24, 26 is preferably slightly greater than the width of the clamping section 2 of a portion of the larger expected carcass leg 1 being transported by the system. For the pork carcass leg portions, the total width is generally approximately 3 to 7 cm, averaging between 4 and 6 cm, and typically about 5 cm. Thus, the positioning device of system 100 comprises a... Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI plurality of combinations of a first and second positioning element, each for placing a portion of the channel leg on the support surface, from which the first and second positioning element can be at a distance of approximately 5 cm, or slightly more, such as between 5 and 5.5 cm. As shown in the Figures, the first and second positioning elements 24, 26 are each elongated bar-like elements and each is configured to be able to point upwards with a free end thereof, i.e., extending in a vertical direction perpendicular to the support surface 10 and higher than the support surface as shown in Figure 4, during the transport of the carcass parts 1 towards the loading zone 16. The first and second positioning elements 24, 26 are provided adjacent to a longitudinal side 28 of the support surface 10, with the intention of positioning the leg portion of carcass 1 on its leg portion which protrudes beyond the longitudinal side 28 as shown in Figure 4.Further details of the positioning device 22 and how it moves together with the support surface 10 and thus with parts of the channel 1 will be discussed below with particular reference to Figure 3. In the use of system 100, a part of channel 1 has been Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI placed on a side directly adjacent to or bordering a first positioning element 24. This can be carried out by an operator while placing the channel portion 1 of a supply onto the support surface 10, in the example according to the Figures in the much more current section 10a thereof. In the event that the system also comprises second positioning elements 26, the operator needs to place the leg portions 1 directly adjacent to or bordering a first positioning element 24 on the side of the second positioning element 26 associated with the first positioning element 24 so that the clamping section 2 is placed between the first positioning element 24 and the second positioning element 26. The second conveyor device 6, as already mentioned, comprises a plurality of successive, separate carriers 30 that can be moved, by a drive system not further shown in the Figures, along a second path 32, defined by an overhead rail system 33, passing through the loading area 16. Only some of the carriers 30 are shown in the Figures for the purpose of explaining the present invention. Each of the plurality of carriers 30 comprises a clamping assembly 34 arranged to cooperate with the clamping section 2 of a channel portion 1, thereby clamping the channel portion 1 to the carrier 30 by passively clamping the clamping section of the channel portion 1. Each of the plurality of carriers 30 has a base position in which the carrier can clamp a channel portion 1 during further transport (see the rightmost channel portion in Figure 1).Each of the carriers, or at least the clamping assembly 34 thereof, can be rotated upwards between this base position and a loading position in which the clamping assembly 34 can engage the channel portion 1 in the clamping section 2 thereof at least in the loading area 16. In view of Figure 2, the leftmost carrier and the rightmost carrier are in the loading position (the leftmost carrier in Figure 2, as well as in Figure 1, simply to clearly show the loading position in the Figures for the purpose of explaining the present invention), while the two carriers 30 between the leftmost and rightmost carrier have been rotated, clockwise as observed in the transport direction 14, or downwards, to the base position thereof. The aforementioned rotary motion from the base position to the loading position is accomplished by the guide bar 41, which is stationary along the second path 32 in the loading zone and immediately upstream of it. The guide bar 41 is positioned so that it contacts a rear side of the carriers and is designed to allow the carrier to rotate upwards as it passes along the guide bar 41, thus moving from the base position to the loading position. Instead of a guide bar, a track-following mechanism may be provided, where a follower on each carrier moves on a track stationary along the second path. Alternatively, the carriers may be designed so that they tend to tilt upwards towards the loading position under the influence of an operative spring force within each carrier.These carriers can be held in the base position by a similar guide bar or other guide means placed along the second path upstream of the loading zone, where in the loading zone the end of the guide means and the carriers rotate upwards to the loading position as a result of the spring force. The clamping assembly 34 of each of the plurality of carriers 30 comprises a groove-like position 36 for receiving the clamping section 2 of the channel portion 1 therein. The groove-like portion 36 has an entry portion at an open end thereof and a deeper clamping portion therein, wherein the entry portion is wider than the clamping portion. The clamping portion is designed such that a channel portion pushed into the clamping portion is passively clamped therein, the clamping portion being of a width similarly smaller than, on average, the width of the clamping section 2 of the channel portion 1.The width of the infeed portion is approximately equal to, or preferably slightly wider than, the distance mentioned above, d, in the transport direction between the first and second positioning elements 24, 26, so that a portion of the carcass can be reliably transferred to the conveyor. A carrier having a clamping assembly with this clamping portion is particularly suitable for use with leg portions of the pig carcass, for clamping the leg portion of the leg portion of the carcass.In the load position, the clamping assembly 34 is oriented upwards with an open end of the slot-like portion 36 thereof, wherein the slot-like portion is adjacent to the positioning device 22, meaning adjacent to the combination of a first and second positioning element 24, 26 thereof observed in the transverse direction (see Figure 4) and at least in the load position thereof in the load zone 16. In Figure 2 this is shown for the carrier further to the. Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI right 30 that only moves, along the path 32 of the same, through the loading zone 16. According to the present invention, the system 100 is configured such that in the loading zone 16 a portion of the channel 1 is transferred from the support surface 10 to the clamping assembly 34 of a carrier 30 in the clamping section 2 of the channel portion 1, in an automated manner in use, so that the clamping section 2 of the channel portion 1 is thus loaded onto the carrier 30 and the channel portion 1 is further transported by the second conveying device 6. The positioning of the clamping section 2 by the positioning device 22 is then canceled accordingly, i.e., the channel portion is released from the positioning device 22 after the transfer of the channel portion to the carrier.In view of Figure 1, the rightmost channel portion 1 has already been transferred from the support surface 10 to a carrier 30 and is already moving away from the loading zone along the second path 32 of the second conveyor device 6, while its underlying upward channel portion is only in the process of being transferred by the upward rotation of the clamping assembly 34 of a carrier 30 that is adjacent in the transverse direction in line with a first and second positioning elements 24, 26, in the transport direction 14, placing channel portion 1 on the support surface 10.At least in loading zone 16, the transport direction 14 of the first conveyor device 8 and a transport direction of the second conveyor device 6, defined by the path 32 of the same in loading zone 16, are at least substantially parallel to each other. The first and second conveyor devices 8 and 6 operate at at least substantially the same speed. In this way, the leg portion of the carcass 1 can be reliably transferred from the support surface 10 to the carriers 30. For the purpose of reliably clamping a clamping section 2 of a channel portion 1 in the clamping assembly 34 of a carrier 30, a pusher bar 42 is provided downstream of the loading zone 16 to exert a downward force on the clamping section 2 as it moves with the carrier 30 along the second path and away from the support surface 10. The pusher bar 42 thus pushes the clamping section 2 deeper into the clamping portion of the groove-like portion 36 of the clamping assembly 34 of the carrier 30 so that it will be reliably clamped within the 34. In order to support the carriers during the pushing by the pusher bar 42, a conveyor belt provided as a ramp is provided adjacent to the end portion of the support surface 10, downstream of the loading zone. The pusher bar 42 is omitted from Fig. 2 for clarity. Figures 6 and 7 show, very schematically, an optional clamping conveyor 60, positioned above the downstream section 8b of the first conveyor device 8. The clamping conveyor can be driven at the same speed as section 8b. The clamping conveyor 60 extends over the loading area 16, and a lower belt conveying surface 62 is parallel to section 10b of the support surface. It is connected to the system frame via brackets 61 or similar (not shown in Figure 6). One downstream end of the clamping conveyor 60, on the right-hand side in the view of Figure 6, is located just upstream of the conveyor belt 40.The purpose of the clamping conveyor 60 is to make contact with an upper side of the lower leg portion Ib with a lower conveyor belt surface 62 while the carcass portion 1 moves beneath the clamping conveyor 60, as shown in Figure 7. The presence of the clamping conveyor 60 above section 8b and its operation at the same speed as in section 8b reduces the tilt or roll change of the carcass portion 1. <?Ρ / 7 ίΠ / 77Ω7 / Β / ΥΙΛΙ al menos en la dirección de transporte 14, en particular en la zona de carga, cuando la parte de la canal 1 se transfiere de la superficie de soporte 10 al montaje de sujeción 34 de un portador 30 en la sección de sujeción 2 de la parte de la canal 1, de modo que la sección de sujeción 2 de la parte de la canal 1 se carga de esta manera en el portador 30. Although the Figures show a second conveyor device provided with carriers having clamping assemblies with slot-like portions that pivot upwards just to one side of the first and second positioning elements for the purpose of transferring the carcass portion to the carrier, the present invention also covers other classes of known second conveyor devices, such as, for example, conveyor devices having carriers having a clamping assembly formed by two mutually movable clamps, or jaws, that are configured to actively grasp, or take, the clamping section of a carcass leg portion between them in the loading zone for the purpose of transferring the carcass leg portion from the support surface to the carrier.For the purpose of moving the clamping section of a carcass leg between the clamps, which may be to one side of the support surface in the loading zone, the system may comprise a pusher configured to push a portion of the carcass leg in the transverse direction in the loading zone, i.e., to push the portion of the carcass leg to the sides on the support surface such that the clamping section moves to the sides between the clamps, which open at the same time, after which the clamps may close in order to actively clamp the clamping section between them and further transport the portion of the carcass away from the loading station along the second path. As mentioned, the positioning device 22 has a plurality of pairs of a first and a second positioning element 24, 26, which move together with the support surface 10 and thus with the channel parts 1 towards the loading zone 16.Optionally, and as is the case in the example shown in the Figures, the second positioning element 26 can be moved, in this example rotated, between an active position in which it points upwards with a free end of the same with respect to the support surface 10 and an inactive position in which it moves away, preferably rotated downwards, from the first positioning element 24, such that in the active position of the second positioning element 26 the clamping section 2 of the channel part is captured between the first and second positioning element 24, 26, while in the inactive position the clamping section cannot be captured between the elements 24, 26.In the inactive position of the second positioning element 26, the channel portion 1 can be positioned with clamping sequence 2 against or at least directly adjacent to the first positioning element 24 on the side of the first positioning element 24 that faces the second positioning element 26, at least substantially free from contact with the second positioning element 26, as shown for the channel portion in Figures 1 and 2. For each combination, the second positioning element 26 can be provided downstream of the first positioning element 24 as shown, although the other arrangement is also possible within the scope of the present invention.The distance between elements 24, 26 at least in the active position of the second positioning element 26, is equal to, or preferably slightly smaller than, the width of the inlet portion mentioned above of the slot-like portion 36 of the clamping assembly 34 of the carriers 30, thereby ensuring that the channel parts can be reliably transferred to the carriers 30. Figure 3 shows the positioning device 22. The pairs of each first positioning element 24 and second positioning element 26 are mounted on a drive chain 44 following the first path 12, of which an upper portion moves in the transport direction 14. It is noted in this respect that, for the purpose of the present invention, only the upper portion 12 of the first path 12 is relevant; the lower portion is merely a return portion for the endless chain and the positioning elements. As shown, each first positioning element 24 is fixed to the chain 44, i.e., it cannot rotate or move relative to the chain 44 at its point of attachment to the chain.Each second positioning element 26 can be rotated as mentioned, where each can rotate around a pivot axis that extends transversely 46 from it with respect to the chain 44 and thus with respect to the first positioning element 24. Each second positioning element 26 is supported by a stationary track 48. Element 26 moves as a cam follower on the track 48. When the stationary track is lowered relative to the chain, the second positioning element rotates counterclockwise (as shown in Figure 3), and vice versa. In this way, the second positioning elements can be rotated very efficiently and reliably between their inactive and active positions as they move in the transport direction 14 along the Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI first path 12. As Figure 3 shows, track 48 has a first lowered portion 48a. This is the upstream portion of the first conveyor device 8, adjacent to an upstream portion of the upstream section 10a of the support surface 10. As mentioned above, the second positioning element 26 is in its idle position, as Figure 3 also shows for the two rightmost elements 26, so that an operator can easily place a portion of channel 1 at the upstream end of the support surface 10 with the clamping section (represented by the dashed lines in Figure 3) adjacent to the first positioning element 24.Although the channel 1 parts move together with the positioning elements 24, 26 in the transport direction 14, track 48 is raised with respect to chain 44 as shown in Figure 3 so that the second positioning elements 26 are rotated clockwise (in the view of Figure 3) to active positioning, capturing a clamping section 2 between elements 24 and 26 as shown. Figure 3 also shows an additional lowered track section 48b. This section is to one side of the in-line weighing device 20. The positioning device 22, more specifically the pairs of the first and second positioning elements 24, 26 thereof, are arranged to move together with the channel portion 1 while supported on both of the individual sections 10a, 10b of the support surface 10, as well as during the passage of the channel portion 1 over the weighing device 20. For the purpose of accurately weighing the channel portion 1, it is preferred that the clamping section 2 be at least to a large degree of contact with the positioning device 22.For this purpose, the second positioning elements 26 are then in or at least move towards the inactive position as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, i.e. during the passage of the channel part 1 over the weighing device 20, as a consequence of the lowered track section 48b together with the weighing device 20. A conveyor belt that is part of the weighing device can move at the same or approximately the same speed compared to at least the upstream section 8a and preferably both of the upstream and downstream sections 8a, 8b of the first conveyor device 8, forming the support surface sections 10a and 10b respectively.However, another measure to increase the accuracy of the weight measurement and ensure that the succession section is also free from the first positioning element 24, such as the leftmost clamping section 2 in Figure 3, is to allow a conveyor belt that is part of the weighing device to run faster, preferably slightly faster, compared to at least the upstream section 8a and preferably both the upstream and downstream sections 8a and 8b of the first conveyor device 8, forming the support surface sections 10a and 10b, respectively. The faster-running conveyor belt that is part of the weighing device can mean that it runs faster such that the clamping section is freed from the positioning element 24 over a distance in the range of 1 mm to 10 mm, for example, preferably in the range of 1 mm to 5 mm.It is observed in this respect that if the second two positioning elements are placed each time upstream of the first associated positioning element, this conveyor belt of the weighing device would be made to operate a little slower, to achieve the same effect of the clamping section being released from the first positioning element. The loading station 4 further comprises a leg guide 50 provided upstream of the loading zone 16 and in the present example also upstream of the weighing device 20, in a further individual section Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI upstream 10a of the support surface 10 of the first conveying device 8. In this way, section 10b is released from this leg guide. The leg guide 50 is formed by a vertically oriented guide plate extending in the conveying direction 14, which guide plate 50 is provided stationary on one side 28 of and adjacent to the support surface 10, more precisely on the same longitudinal side as the positioning device 22. In use, when a portion of the channel 1 is placed in this loading station 4, such as by an operator, and thus supported on the support surface 10, a free end of the leg portion of the channel portion 1 must be pushed against this leg guide 50, in a thrust direction transverse to the conveying direction 14. This is shown in Figure 4.This ensures that the channel portion 1 is also positioned transversely on the support surface 10 in a well-defined manner. As a result, the channel portion 1 will be properly positioned in the clamping section 2 by the positioning device 22. As explained above, at least for the individual steps thereof, an example of a method according to the invention for processing a leg portion of carcass 1 comprising a clamping section in or near a leg portion of the leg portion of the carcass, using a system 100, comprises the following subsequent steps. First, a carcass portion 1 is placed on the support surface 10 of the first conveying device 8, in this example on the upstream portion of the individual section 10a. Preferably while placing, or otherwise immediately after placing, portion 1 on the support surface 10, the clamping section is positioned, using the first positioning element 24 of the positioning device 22, in a predetermined position with respect to the support surface 10, i.e., in the direction of transport. This can be done by the operator.Although the leg guide 50 is optional, preferably at this time also a free end of the leg portion of the channel part 1 is pushed in a thrust direction transverse to the direction of 14 against the leg guide 50. The channel part must be positioned with its clamping section 2 against or at least directly adjacent to the first positioning element 24, while the second positioning element 26 is in its inactive position, and where afterwards, but before the channel part 1 reaches the loading zone, 16, the second positioning element 26 moves from its inactive position to its active position such that the clamping section 2 of the channel part 1 is captured between the first and second positioning elements 24, 26 and is thus captured between them at least in the loading zone 16. The carcass portion is then (additionally) transported to loading zone 16, and carcass portion 1 is transferred in the clamping section 2 of the same from the support surface 10 to a carrier 30 in loading zone 16, in an automated manner, so that the clamping section 2 of carcass portion 1 is thus loaded onto the carrier 30 and carcass portion 1 is further transported by the second conveyor device 6, as described in detail above. During the transport of the carcass portion to loading zone 16, the carcass portion may pass over the weighing device 20 (i.e., if a weighing device has been provided) while the second positioning element 26 is in its inactive position or at least moves towards the inactive position during the passage of the carcass portion over the weighing device 20. Other variations to the described embodiments can be understood and implemented by those skilled in the art of practicing the claimed invention, based on a study of the figures, the description, and the appended claims. The foregoing description provides embodiments of the invention by way of example only. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. One or more of the subjects of the invention are achieved by the appended claims. It is hereby stated that, as of this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the present invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for processing a leg portion of a carcass comprising a clamping section in or near the leg portion of the leg portion of the carcass, characterized in that it comprises: - a loading station comprising: - a first conveyor device having a support surface for supporting thereon and transporting the carcass portion along a first path in a transport direction towards a loading area, and - a positioning device having a first positioning element coupled to the first conveyor device and arranged to be moved together with the carcass portion while the carcass is supported on the support surface, the positioning device being configured to place the clamping section in a predetermined position, defined by the first positioning element,With respect to the support surface during the transport of the carcass portion to the loading zone, the system further comprises: - a second conveyor device comprising a plurality of carriers moving along a second path passing through the loading zone, each of the plurality of carriers comprising a clamping assembly arranged to operate with the clamping section of the carcass portion to thereby clamp the carcass portion to the carrier, wherein the system is configured such that in the loading zone the carcass portion is transferred from the support surface to the clamping assembly of a carrier in the clamping section of the carcass portion, in an automated manner, so that the clamping section of the carcass portion is thereby loaded onto the carrier and the carcass portion is further transported by the second conveyor device.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first positioning element is an elongated bar-like element configured to be able to point upwards with a free end thereof during the transport of the carcass part towards the loading area, wherein the first positioning element is provided adjacent to a longitudinal side of the support surface, proposed to position the leg part of the carcass with its leg portion protruding beyond the longitudinal side.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the positioning device further comprises a second positioning element, arranged to be moved together with the first positioning element and configured to place the clamping section of the carcass part between the first and second positioning elements during the transport of the carcass part to the loading area.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that the second positioning element is an elongated bar-like element configured to be able to point upwards with a free end thereof during the transport of the carcass portion to the loading area, wherein the first and second positioning elements are provided adjacent to the same longitudinal side of the support surface, with the intention of placing the leg portion of the carcass between them with its leg portion protruding beyond the longitudinal side.

5. The system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the second positioning element moves, preferably rotates, between an active position in which it points upwards with a free end thereof with respect to the support surface and an inactive position in which it moves away, preferably rotates downwards from the first positioning element, such that in use in the active position of the second positioning element the clamping section of the channel part is captured between the first and second positioning element.

6. The system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises an in-line weighing device positioned between two successive individual sections of the first conveyor device, each of the two sections defining an individual section of the support surface, wherein the in-line weighing device is arranged such that a portion of the carcass is conveyed from a section of the first conveyor device upstream of the weighing device, through the weighing device, into a section of the first conveyor device downstream of the weighing device in use during its conveying to the loading zone, wherein the first positioning element is arranged to be moved together with the portion of the carcass while being supported both in the individual sections of the support surface and during the passage of the portion of the carcass over the weighing device.

7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that the positioning device is configured such that the second positioning element is in its inactive position or at least moves towards the inactive position during the passage of the carcass portion over the weighing device, preferably wherein the system is configured such that a transport speed of the weighing device is higher than a transport speed of the section of the first conveying device upstream of the weighing device.

8. The system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loading station further comprises a leg guide provided upstream of the loading zone, against which the leg guide of a free end of a leg portion of the channel part must be pushed, in a thrust direction transverse to the transport direction, in use when the channel part is supported on the support surface.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the leg guide is formed by a vertically oriented guide plate extending in the transport direction in which the guide plate is provided stationary on one side of a support surface.

10. The system according to claim 6 or 7, and according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the leg guide is provided on one side of the individual section of the first conveyor device upstream of the weighing device.

11. The system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the plurality of carriers has a base position in which the carrier holds a portion of the carcass during further transport, and a loading position in which the carrier can engage the portion of the carcass in the clamping section thereof at least in the loading zone, preferably wherein the clamping assembly of each of the plurality of carriers comprises a slot-like portion for receiving the clamping section of the portion of the carcass therein, wherein the slot-like portion has an inlet portion at an open end thereof and a clamping portion, wherein the inlet portion is wider than the clamping portion, preferably wherein each of the plurality of carriers is configured to pivot upwards from the base position to the loading position,The slot-like portion is oriented upwards with an open end of the slot-like portion thereof at least in the loading position, wherein the slot-like portion is adjacent to the positioning device at least in the loading position thereof, in the loading zone. Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI, 12. The system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a clamping device in the loading area, positioned above the support surface of the first conveyor device, and arranged to make contact with an upper side of part of the leg of the carcass while it is being transported in the first conveyor device.

13. A method for processing a leg portion of a carcass comprising a clamping section in or near a leg portion of the leg portion of the carcass, using a system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the subsequent steps of: a) placing the carcass portion on the support surface of the first conveying device, and placing, using the first positioning element of the positioning device, the clamping section of the carcass portion in a predetermined position relative to the support surface, b) conveying the carcass portion to the loading zone, and c) transferring the carcass portion in the clamping section thereof from the support surface to a carrier in the loading zone, in an automated manner.so that the clamping section of the carcass part is loaded in this way onto the carrier and the carcass part is transported additionally by the second conveyor device.

14. The method according to claim 13, using a system according to claim 8 or a dependent claim thereof, characterized in that step a) comprises - pushing a free end of the leg portion of the channel part in the thrust direction transverse to the transport direction against the leg guide upstream of the loading zone.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, using a system according to claim 5 or a dependent claim thereof, characterized in that during step a) the channel part is placed with its clamping section against or at least directly adjacent to the first positioning element, while the second positioning element is in its inactive position, and wherein no later than during step b) the second positioning element is moved from its inactive position to its active position such that the clamping section of the channel part is captured between the first and second positioning element at least in the loading zone.

16. The method according to claim 13, 14 or 15, using a system according to claim 7 or a dependent claim thereof, characterized in that during step b) the carcass part passes over the in-line weighing device while the second positioning element is in its inactive position or moves at least to the inactive position 5 during the passage of the carcass part over the weighing device.

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