WO1994008460A1

WO1994008460A1 - Method and apparatus for deboning pieces of meat, for instance thighs and drumsticks of broilers

Info

Publication number: WO1994008460A1
Application number: PCT/DK1993/000334
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kristian Laursen
Original assignee: TIMEC AS
Current assignee: TIMEC AS
Priority date: 1992-10-09
Filing date: 1993-10-11
Publication date: 1994-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 1995-04-09
Also published as: AU5148893A; DK123992D0

Abstract

A method and an apparatus (2) for deboning pieces of meat, for instance thighs or drumsticks of broilers, namely deboning of extremities of slaughtering animals, where the meat is crapted free from the bone by means of a scraper device (8) with mutual adjustable scraping means, as the bone either is displaced between the scraping means (64) of a stationary scraper device (8) or a movable scraper device (8) is displaced around the bone, and that the adjustement of the scraping means (64) is controlled in such a manner, that the scraping means (64) form a scraper opening (22) with varying size and cross section corresponding to the outer contour of the bone, as the latter is displaced through the scraper opening (22) or vice versa.

Description

Method and apparatus for deboning pieces of meat, for instance thighs and drumsticks of broilers

The present invention relates to a method for deboning pieces of meat, for instance thighs and drumsticks of broilers, and of the type described in the introductory part of claim 1.

By slaughtering of poultry, for instance broilers, the cut up is often carried out according to the wishes of the customers by means of a cut up line along which the dif¬ ferent cut up stations or apparatuses are placed. There is a big difference price of the differenct parts of the broilers, and among others it is important, that the cut up is carried out in a correct manner, so that the most expensive pieces of meat, for instance the breast fillets, remain intact, that is having highest possible weight. The veterinary authorities furthermore find it important, that the cut up is made in an anotomic correct manner, that is so that damage or cut of bones is avoided.

From EP-B1-362 457 an apparatus for removing meat from thighs and drumsticks of poultry, for instance broiler, is known. This apparatus, which has a very complicated construction, has not been distributed very much, as it is very difficult to maintain and clean.

The invention has for its purpose to provide a method for deboning pieces of meat, and which by simple provisions makes it possible to obtain a general higher efficiency of the deboning of pieces of meat, as the method according to the invention by constructi¬ ve adjustment without problems may be used in connection with removing meat from extremities of slaughtering animals, for instance thighs or drumsticks of poultry, hams, hind parts, shoulders, and shanks of pigs and catties.

The method according to the invention is distinctive in that the meat is scraped free from the bone by means of a scraper device with mutual adjustable scraping means, as the bone either is displaced between the scraping means of a stationary scraper device or a movable scraper device is displaced around the bone, and that the adjustment of the scraping means is controlled in such a manner, that the scraping means form a scraper opening with varying size and/or cross section corresponding the outer contour of the bone, as the latter is displaced through the scraper opening or vice versa. By simple provisions it hereby is possible to obtain a general higher efficiency of the deboning of pieces of meat, as the method according to the invention by constructive adjustment without problems may be used in connection with removing meat from extremities of slaughtering animals, for instance thighs or drumsticks of poultry, hams, hind parts, shoulders, and shanks of pigs and catties.

Appropriately, a scraper device is used, comprising a number of uniform scraping means being such arranged, that the scraping means by mutual adjustment form an axis symmetrical, preferably multi-edged scraper opening with varying size, that is in a manner like that of a so-called iris. Or for bones with asymmetric partial cross section a scraper device is used, comprising a number of scraping means with different form being such arranged that the scraping means by mutual adjustment form an asymmetric, preferably multi-edged scraper opening with varying size and/or cross section.

More advantageously the continuous adjustment of size and/or cross section of the scraper opening is controlled by means of a model and ruler being adjusted to the form of the actual bone.

The invention furthermore relates to an apparatus for deboning pieces of meat by the method according to claim 1, which apparatus is distinctive in that it comprises a prefe¬ rably ring-shaped scraper device with a number of mutual adjustable scraping means, being adapted to be such adjusted, that end parts of the scraping means may form a pre¬ ferably multi-edged scraper opening with varying size and cross section, control means which in order to vary the size or the cross section of the scraper opening are adapted to effect mutual adjustment of the scraping means, and dispacement means being adapted to effect a relative displacement between the scraper device and the bone re- spectively the piece of meat - to be deboned - so that the meat is scraped free from the bone^-when the latter passes through the scraper opening or vice versa.

The apparatus according to the invention is such provided that the apparatus comprises either a ruler or a model with a form adjusted to the actual bone, and which is adapted to co-operate with said scraper device for continuous adjustment of the scraping means or activation means being adapted to vary the size of the scraper opening between open and closed position.

Appropriately, the apparatus according to the invention is such provided, that the scraper device comprises a ring-shaped housing in form of an outer ring member divided into two parts, which ring member in surfaces facing each other are provided with a number of periphery recesses placed in front of each other, in which recesses outer end parts of said scraping means in form of mainly rhomb-shaped scraper plate members are secured, and of two inner ring members, which together are pivotally ar¬ ranged in relation to the outer ring member, and which between themselves control the scraper plate members, which furthermore are pivotally secured on axle journals stretching through the inner ring members in such a manner, that interior joint end parts of the scraper plate members by pivoting of the inner ring members in relation to the stationary other ring member - corresponding to an iris - may form said varying scraper opening.

In order to facilitate the regular sluicing of the scraper device, the latter comprises an outmost ring member being provided with an interior ring-shaped sluicing channel, which through an exterior radial threaded opening may be supplied with sluicing water, which via radial nozzle bores in the outer ring member may be lead into said periphery recesses thereof and be lead out between the scraper plate members.

The apparatus comprises a displacement means with a piston and an activation rod being adapted to press the bone of the piece of meat through the scraper opening, which piston at a foremost end part is provided with a spring-loaded retaining ring being adapted to keep the piece of meat in place in front of the scraper opening, preferably supported on a carrier plate, and that a steering tube is placed at die back of the scraper device, which tube is adapted to control the bone, while it is pressed through the scraper opening.

The adjustment mechanism by the apparatus according to the invention is in a simple manner such provided, that the inner pivoting ring members are connected with a sideways projecting pivot arm, which by means of a downwards directed arm part either is provided with a control roller, which is kept pressed against an upper side egde of a ruler stretching parallel with and co-operates with the piston of the displace¬ ment means, and being provided with a model placed in front of said foremost end part of the piston and having a shape corresponding to the cross section of the actual bone, so that the size and the cross section of the scraper opening by the control rollers resting against the model via the pivot arm continuously turn the inner ring members and currently adjust the cross section of the scraper opening according to the bone - during its passage through the scraper opening, or is connected with a preferably pneu- matic cylinder, which controlled by position signal means is adapted to open and close the scraper opening by mutual turning of the inner ring members. The invention is explained in more detail in the following with reference to the drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 shows a side view - partly in section - of an embodiment for a deboning appa- ratus according to the invention - ready for use,

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the deboning apparatus shown in Fig. 1 - after deboning a pieces of meat,

Fig. 3 shows a view of the deboning apparatus shown in Fig. 1 - seen from above and ready for use,

Fig. 4 shows a view of an embodiment for the scraper device for the deboning apparatus according to the invention - seen from the back,

Fig. 5 shows a scraper device cf. Fig. 4 seen from the front, that is from the side, wherefrom the bone is pressed through the scraper opening and provided with an adjustment mechanism,

Fig. 6 shows a side view - partly in sections - of a scraper device for a deboning ap¬ paratus according to the invention,

Figs. 7 and 8 show an other embodiment for a scraper device with a lager number scraping plate members,

Figs.-P - 11 show 3 situation side views of an other embodiment for a deboning apparatus according to the invention, while

Fig. 12 shows a view of a deboning apparatus according to the invention - provided with endless "feeding belt".

The deboning apparatus 2 shown in Figs. 1 - 3 is constructed as an independent free¬ standing apparatus, which is mounted on a table surface 4 with legs 6, and comprising a scraper device 8 (Fig. 6). On the top side of the table surface 4 a set of sliding rods 10 is mounted between the carrier members 12, and on sliding rods 10 a carriage 14 is di- splaceable mounted. The carriage 14 is moved forwards and backwards on the gliding rods 10 by means of a pneumatic cylinder 16 and a piston 18 being placed at the under side of the table top 4, which along the gliding rods 10 is provided with a longitudinal cutting out.

The carriage 14 is provided with an activation rod 20, which - driven by the cylinder 16 - is adapted to press the bone of a piece of meat through a scraper opening 22 of the scraper device 8, and which is secured in a holding bushing of the carriage 14. The ac¬ tivation rod 20 is at a foremost end part provided with a retaining ring member 28, which is kept on its place on the activation rod 20 by means of a lock washer 30 and a long spiral spring 32 surrounding the activation rod 20 between the retaining ring member 28 and the holding bushing 24. At the back of the scraper device 8 a steering tube 25 is placed in front of the scraper opening 22, which steering tube 25 has to prevent the bone to escape sidewards.

On the carriage 14 a steering ruler 26 is furthermore fastened stretching parallel with the activation rod 20, and which on level with the foremost end part thereof is provided with a model 34 having a shape corresponding to the cross section of the bone type actually being removed from a piece of meat. The steering ruler 26 and the model 34 co-operate with a steering roller 36 on an arm part 38 of a pivot arm 40 (Figs. 5 and 6), by means of which size and/or cross section of the scraper opening 22 - as descri- bed below - continuously is regulated, when a bone is pressed through the scraper device 8 by means of the activation rod 20. In front of the scraper opening 22 of the scraper device 8 a support plate 42 with an arched middle 44 is placed.

The scraper device 8 consists of a ring-shaped mechanism, which is described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6, and which comprises two outer ring members 46 and 48 being-tightened together by means of bolts 50, and being surrounded by an outmost ring member 52 being provided with a ring-shaped chamber 54, which serves to supply sluicing water being supplied via a threaded opening 56. From the ring chamber 54 the sluicing water is lead in through radial nozzle bores 58 to periphery recesses 60, which are provided in the outer ring members 46 and 48.

Together with the internal ring plates 62 of the outer ring members 46 and 48 the periphery recesses serve as sideways steering for the mainly rhomb-shaped scraping plates 64, of which outer end parts by means of axle journals 66 and oblong control bushings 68 are control in also oblong recesses 70 in opposite wall parts of the outer ring members 46 and 48, that is that said out end part of the scraping plates 64 are both precisely and loosely fastened into the recesses 70, as these are having a little more length than the oblong control bushings 68.

The scraping plate members 64 are furthermore steered between inner ring members 72 and 74 being loosely tightened around internal edge recesses of the ring members 46 and 48 by means of bolts 76, which furthermore stretch through freeholes in the scraping plate members 64, that is that the internal ring members 72 and 74 together with the scraping plate members 64 may be pivotated in relation to the outer ring elements 46 and 48, so that size and/or cross section of the scraper opening 22 at the same time may be adjusted so that the scraping plate members 64 may be mutual displaced edge with edge, as the scraper opening in reality is formed by free pointed end parts of the scraping plate members 64.

By pivotating the inner ring members 72 and 74 clockwice - as shown with an arrow in Fig. 5, which shows the scraper device 8 seen from the front - the cross section of the scraper opening 22 will be enlarged, which corresponds to moving downwards of the pivot arm 40 and the arm part 38 towards the steering ruler 26 respectively the model 34; while the cross section of the scraper opening 22 correspondingly will be reduced, if the pivot arm 40 respectively the arm part 38 of the steering roller are moved upwards.

It shall be mentioned, that it of course is of no importance, how the actual adjustment of the size of the scraper opening and/or the cross section is carried out. Either a model with positive form (Fig. 6) may be used, that is with a thickness on level with the thickness of the bone or vice versa, or a model with negativ form (Fig. 5), that is with a confeaction on level with the-thickness of the bone or vice versa. Cf. Fig. 6 upwards- movement of the pivot arm 40 shall imply enlarged scraper opening; while the pivot arm cv. Fig. 5 shall be moved downwards in order to enlarge the scraper opening.

It is important, that the scraping plate members 64 are secured in such a mutual correct manner, that their side edges are not squeezed totally close towards each other, so that effective cleaning by regular supply of sluicing water via the ring chamber 54, the nozzle bores 58, and the recesses 60 is made difficult.

The deboning apparatus 2 is easy to operate, as a piece of meat, for instance a drum¬ stick from a broiler, is placed on the carrier plate 42 with the skin side upwards in front of the scraper opening 22 - and preferably with the bone in such a position, that the bone part of the knee faces a foremost hollow end of the activation rod 20. By acti¬ vation of the pneumatic cylinder 16 the carriage 14 is moved forward, and the piece of meat is fixed by means of the retaining ring member 28, whereafter the activation rod 20 moves the bone through the scraper opening 22, which automatically firstly is enlarged - as the steering roller 36 at the same time is guided over the "thick" end part of the model 34, so that the pivot arm is moved upwards (Fig. 6) involving that the scraper opening is similarly enlarged - when the thick part of the bone has passed the scraper opening - the mechanic steering automatically takes care of reducing the scraper opening - so that the front end parts of the scraping plate members permanently are guided rather close along the contour of the bone and effectively scrape all meat free from the bone, which finally is discharged at the back of the scraper device; while the deboned piece of meat by returning the activation rod 20 automatically is loosen from the retaining ring member 28 and may be removed from the carrier plate 42.

Or the carrier plate may eventual be tilted automatically for delivering of the deboned piece of meat in the receiving container or to a conveyor. The apparatus may further¬ more be adapted to automatically to collect "discharged" bones in a suitable receptacle.

The invention is in the preceeding described in relation with a stationary scraper device and a displacable activation rod; however there is of course nothing to hinder, that the scraper device being moved in relation to a stationary "activation rod".

In Figs. 7 and 8 an alternative scraper device 80 is shown comprising a large number of scraping plate members 82 being kranked and provided with a more pointed active end, that is a scraper device 80 with an approximate circular scraper opening 84, which may vary between a smallest "focal distance" approximately 0 (Fig. 7) to a largest focal distance of about 45 mm (Fig. 8).

In Fig. 9 to 11 an other embodiment for a deboning apparatus 86 according to the in- vention is shown, being provided with a scraper device 80, and which furthermore is control in such a manner, that the size of the scraper opening 84 - varied in principle in the same manner as described earlier by means of mutual pivotable parts - but here in an on and/or off-like manner by means of a non-shown pneumatic cylinder. This cylinder is controlled by means of an adjustable arranged foremost steer 88 being adapted partly to register that the front end of the bone - to be scraped free from meat - just is moved through the scraper opening 84, and partly to activate said pneumatic cylinder for closing the scraping plate members 82 close together around the tube part of the bone, so that the meat is scraped free from the bone, when it - as described earlier - is pressed through the scraper device 80.

When the opposite thick end of the bone approaches the scraper device 80, that is when the front end part of the activation rod 20 is placed just behind the scraper device 80, the pneumatic cylinder is activated for opening the scraper opening 84, so that the bone may be moved entirely through the scraper device 80. The length of the middle tube part of the bone may vary rather much, while the length of the thick end parts in practice only vary very little. Therefore, the opening of the scraper device 80 may in practice be controlled by the placement of the front end of the activation rod 20 - possible effected of that a stop member on the displacement part of the apparatus hitting a steer being adapted to activate the pneumatic cylinder for opening the scraper opening 84.

In Fig. 12 is shown, that the deboning apparatus 86 may comprise an endless conveyor 90 with a large number of holding plates 92 for pieces of meat to be deboned, and which continuously may be placed in position in front of the scraper device 80.

It will be within the scope of the invention, that two movable scraper devices are used, for instace for simultaneous deboning of connected thighs and drumsticks of broilers, where two scraper devices - eventual in two rounds are moved towards each other - so that the deboned meat is pressed together between the scraper devices. In this connecti¬ on it could be advantageously to use an especial rotating tube knife, which after opening of one of the scraper devices may be moved through this for cutting free meat and sinews around the knee joint. It shall furthermore be mentioned, that the pointed end parts of the scraping plate members on the edges eventual may be provided with side knives.

By simultaneous use of two movable scraper devices it furthermore will be an obvious possibility, that one of the scraper devices or eventual both of them - in turn - is used for the fixing of the bone by squeezing it between the outer ends of the scraping plate members, that is while one scraper device is displaced towards the other scraper device, which is used for the fixing or holding of the bone.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for deboning pieces of meat, for instance thighs or drumsticks of broilers, namely preferably deboning of extremities of slaughtering animals, characteri¬ ze d in that the meat is scraped free from the bone by means of a scraper device with mutual adjustable scraping means, as the bone either is displaced between the scraping

5 means of a stationary scraper device or a movable scraper device is displaced around the bone, and that the adjustment of the scraping means is controlled in such a manner, that the scraping means form a scraper opening with varying size and/or cross section corresponding the outer contour of the bone, as the latter is displaced through the scraper opening or vice versa. 10

2. A method according to claim ^characterized in that a scraper device is used, comprising a number of uniform scraping means being such arranged, that the scraping means by mutual adjustment form an axis symmetrical, preferably multi-edged scraper opening with varying size, that is in a manner like that of a so-called iris.

15

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a scraper device is used, comprising a number of scraping means with different form being such arranged that the scraping means by mutual adjustment form an asymmetrical, preferably multi- edged scraper opening with varying size and/or cross section.

20

4. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the continuous adjust¬ ment of size and/or cross section of the scraper opening is controlled by means of a model and ruler being adjusted to the form of the actual bone.

²⁵5. An apparatus for deboning pieces of meat by the method according to claim 1, c h a- racterizedin that the apparatus comprises a preferably ring-shaped scraper device with a number of mutual adjustable scraping means, being adapted to be such adjusted, that end parts of the scraping means may form a preferably multi-edged scraper opening with varying size and cross section, control means which in order to

³⁰ vary the size or the cross section of the scraper opening are adapted to effect mutual ad¬ justment of the scraping means, and dispacement means being adapted to effect a relative displacement between the scraper device and the bone respectively the piece of meat - to be deboned - so that the meat is scraped free from the bone, when the latter passes through the scraper opening or vice versa.

35 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the apparatus comprises either a ruler or a model with a form adjusted to the actual bone, and which is adapted to co-operate with said scraper device for continuous adjustment of the scraping means or activation means being adapted to vary the size of the scraper

5 opening between open and closed position.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the scraper device comprises a ring-shaped housing in form of an outer ring member divided into two parts, which ring member in surfaces facing each other are provided with a number of

10 periphery recesses placed in front of each other, in which recesses outer end parts of said scraping means in form of mainly rhomb-shaped scraper plate members are secured, and of two inner ring members, which together are pivotally arranged in relation to the outer ring member, and which between themselves control the scraper plate members, which furthermore are pivotally secured on axle journals stretching

15 through the inner ring members in such a manner, that interior joint end parts of the scraper plate members by pivoting of the inner ring members in relation to the stationary other ring member - corresponding to an iris - may form said varying sraper opening.

208. An apparatus according to claims 5 and 7, characterized in that the scraper device comprises an outmost ring member being provided with an interior ring-shaped sluicing channel, which through an exterior radial threaded opening may be supplied with sluicing water, which via radial nozzle bores in the outer ring member may be lead into said periphery recesses thereof and be lead out between the scraper plate

25 members.

9. An apparatus according to claims 5-8, characterizedin that the apparatus comprises a displacement means with a piston and an activation rod being adapted to press the bone of the piece of meat through the scraper opening, which piston at a 30 foremost end part is provided with a spring-loaded retaining ring being adapted to keep the piece of meat in place in front of the scraper opening, preferably supported on a carrier plate, and that a steering tube is placed at the back of the scraper device, which tube is adapted to control the bone, while it is pressed through the scraper opening.

3510. An apparatus according to claims 7 and 9, characterized in that the inner pivoting ring members are connected with a sideways projecting pivot arm, which by means of a downwards directed arm part either is provided with a control roller, which is kept pressed against an upper side egde of a ruler stretching parallel with and co¬ operates with the piston of the displacement means, and being provided with a model placed in front of said foremost end part of the piston and having a shape corresponding to the cross section of the actual bone, so that the size and the cross section of the scraper opening by the control rollers resting against the model via the pivot arm conti¬ nuously turn the inner ring members and currently adjust the cross section of the scraper opening according to the bone - during its passage through the scraper opening, or is connected with a preferably pneumatic cylinder, which controlled by position signal means is adapted to open and close the scraper opening by mutual turning of the inner ring members.