NZ513279A - Automated brisket cutter which moves in tamdem with the animal on the chain and cutting mechanism is a circular saw. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of cutting the brisket of an animal suspended in the inverted dressing system, and being moved along a chain, wherein the cutting mechanism is moved in tandem with movement of the animal on the chain, and cutting means is inserted between the animals legs, and is moved along a predefined contour to cut the brisket without cutting into the intestines, or the oesophagus. There are also claims for an automated brisket cutting means.

Description

Patents Form # 5 new zealand Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL# 513279 DATED : 2 August 2001 TITLE : Automated Brisket Cutter We, Jarvis Equipment (NZ) Limited Address: S Te Apunga Place, Mt Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand Nationality: A New Zealand company do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: PFDSJW? FEE CODE 1050 AUTOMATED BRISKET CUTTER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the dressing of animals using the inverted dressing system. It has particular application to the cutting of the brisket of animals such as sheep, goats and bobby 5 calves, held suspended in the inverted position by all four legs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Attempts have been made to cut the brisket of animals, particularly sheep, in meatworks. There are difficulties in cutting the brisket, as animals differ considerably, and there is a risk 10 that in cutting the brisket of the animal, the cutting operation will cut into the intestines, or the oesophagus, contaminating the meat cut.

Animals such as sheep, goats and bobby calves are slaughtered and processed using an inverted dressing system in which all four legs are suspended from hooks (called spreaders) which move along a chain. Typically such chains run at 8.S sheep per minute in New 15 Zealand, and up to 10 sheep per minute in Australia. These chains can stop and start intermittently, and at present brisket cutting is an operation that is conducted by human operators.

There is a need for an automatic brisket cutting system.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved brisket cutting system, or one which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

T80SJ3NZQBAUeap.702/JV/da k STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the invention provides a method of cutting the brisket of an animal suspended in the inverted dressing system, S and being moved along a chain, wherein the cutting mechanism is moved in tandem with movement of the animal on the chain, and cutting means is inserted between the animals legs, and is moved along a predefined contour to cut the brisket without cutting into the intestines, or the Preferably the cutting method involves the cutting mechanism mounted on a support system parallel to the chain, and is designed to catch a portion of the moving chain, more preferably one of the spreaders, and to move at the same speed as the chain.

Preferably the cutting mechanism is a circular saw mounted on a first pivot aim, which is in turn mounted on a second pivot arm.

Preferably the predefined contour is controlled by a micro processor.

More preferably the micro processor makes use of sensory inputs, associated with the position of the first and second pivot aims.

In another aspect, the invention provides an automated brisket cutting means, comprising a moveable carriage which is capable of moving parallel to and at the same speed as the chain conveying animals to be dressed, the carriage containing moveable cutting means which can be moved between the animals legs to cut the brisket of the animal, and then be retracted to a position away from the animal.

Preferably the cutting means involves a circular saw mounted on a first pivot arm which is in turn mounted on a second pivot arm which is in turn supported by the moveable carriage.

More preferably each pivot aim is moved by a hydraulic ram, so its position can be accurately controlled.

TB05J3NZGBAUcap.702/JP/da More preferably each pivot arm has a sensor associated therewith to sense the position of the pivot aim and provide location information to a micro processor.

More preferably the sensors are rotary encoders, to provide information about the angular position of each of the pivot arms.

Optionally the carriage has means for attaching itself to part of the moveable chain, and it is particularly preferred that this mechanism involves means for grabbing one of the spreaders, so that movement of the spreader along the chain will cause the carriage to move at the same speed as the chain.

Preferably this mechanism involves a retractable pair of jaws, which can be extended and 10 retracted by means of an appropriate ram. Such ram is preferably an air ram, for fast actuation, to capture and engage the vertical stem of the spreader.

In addition it is preferred that there is means to assist in accelerating the carriage at about the same time that the carriage is connected to the chain.

It is also preferable that there is means for decelerating the carriage, when it is returned to the IS lifting position.

Preferably this means involves a ram, more preferably an air ram, which can be used to give the carriage a push at the same time the carriage engages with the chain, and that the same ram can then be used as a buffer, when the carriage returns to the lifting position.

Preferably the carriage once it has reached the end of its travel, is returned to the resting 20 position by appropriate return means. Whilst this could be a ram or the like, it is most preferable to use a counter weight, so that once the carriage is released from the chain, the counter weight will cause the carriage to move swiftly and smoothly towards the rest position.

T80SJ3NZGHAUcap.702/JP/da DRAWING DESCRIPTION These and other aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure S Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figures 10-14 is a side elevation showing an animal in the inverted position alongside the brisket cutting means, in the resting position. is a rear view of the brisket cutting means, and the chain. shows the brisket cutting means in the extended position moving in tandem with the animal on the chain. shows the cutting means in rear view, in its location relative to the chain. shows a top plan view of the carriage and supporting rails relative to the chain, with the pair of jaws engaging the stem of a spreader. This position corresponds to the starting position shown in Figures 3 and 4. shows the carriage at the end of its travel. is a schematic view of the position of the rotary saw relative to the brisket. is a second schematic view showing the rotary saw at the end of its travel shonly prior to retraction from the animal. is a partly cut away view of the carnage and associated counter weights. is a series of schematic views showing the sequence of the cutting operation, from the "ready position" in Figure 10 to the "wash position" in figure 14.

T80SJ3NZGBAUcsp.702/JP/da PREFERRED EMOBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In this preferred embodiment the cutting means involves a rotary saw mounted on a pair of pivot arms, with each aim being moveable by a hydraulic ram.

The rotary saw 18 is shown in its resting position in Figure 1 inside a safety housing 22, in 5 which position the saw can be washed prior to cutting the next animal 10.

The machine of the preferred embodiment is designed specifically for use with animals suspended in the inverted dressing position. A sheep 10 is shown schematically in Figures 1, 3,7 and 8, with its fore legs slightly higher than its hindlegs. Although the animal will move when the saw contacts it, the inverted position has the advantage that the intestines will hang 10 down within the animal away from the cutting zone of the saw.

It is preferred that the first and second pivotal aims are moved by hydraulically operated rams and that each pivot point has a rotary encoder associated with it, to provide sensor information as to the angular position of each aim. This information can be fed to a micro processor, which can be programmed to determine the physical location of die saw blade at 15 all times. The micro processor can also be provided with information as to the appropriate contours to be used for a particular type of animal, so that the saw blade follows the contours of the brisket without cutting into areas of the animal that might result in contamination. The sequence of cutting operations is shown in Figures 10 onwards, so that the rotary saw blade follows the upper contour 19 shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Although not shown in these ones, it is preferable that the rotary saw blade is provided with a guide, in the form of a "nose" on either side of the saw blade, so that the saw blade is prevented from cutting too deeply into the animal as it cuts the brisket.

It is preferred that the brisket saw is mounted on a carriage 22, which is in turn mounted on a pair of parallel rails, alongside the location of the chain, and hence alongside the path of the 25 animals as they move along the chain.

By slaving the motion of the carriage to the motion of the chain, it is possible to consider the cutting operation to be two dimensional cutting operation, as the carriage and hence the saw blade moves at the same speed as the chain.

T80SJ3NZGBAUeap, ?02/JP/da This is most conveniently arranged by having the carriage catch onto a portion of the chain. This can be seen from Figures 5 and 6, in which a pair of jaws 16, is positioned on the carriage 14, and can be extended or retracted by means of an air ram 24 in order to catch the stem of one of the spreaders 17 as it moves along the path of the chain. It is preferable that 5 the pair of jaws catches a predetermined spreader, for example a wide spreader moving along the chain just prior to the location of the animal. It will be appreciated that the spacing of the spreaders, and hence the spacing of the animals is predetermined, and thus the cutting means 11 can be programmed to grab a particular spreader, so that the rotary saw blade 18 and pivot aims 20 and 21 are aligned with the animal to be cut.

It is also preferable that an additional pushing means, in the form of an air ram is provided to give the carriage an initial impetus at the time that the jaws grab the spreader. This is seen as providing a smoother start up of the carriage, and reduces wear on the jaws and associated portions of the carriage. This air ram (not shown in Figures 5 and 6) preferably also acts as a buffer, when the carriage is returned to the resting position.

IS The carriage will move from its resting position as shown in Figure S along the length of the rails IS until it is disengaged from the chain, at which point it will be returned to die lifting position.

It is preferred that this return movement is under the coiitrol of a suitable counter weight 27, and cable pulley 25 as shown in Figure 9.

Preferably the counter weight is positioned in a vertical tube 26, which is itself filled with liquid, provides some degree of damping as the counter weight descends within the tube.

It is preferred that the blade is held within a container 14 when the blade is in the resting position shown in Figure 1. This container is preferably formed of stainless or other hard wearing sanitary material, and it is preferred that a washing means is provided within the 25 container so that the blade can be washed between animals.

In addition an air curtain can be provided in the container to dry the blade and remove any drips before the blade moves in the ready position.

T80SJ3NZGBAUca».702/jff/da i If the chain is operating at say 8.5 sheep per minute, then there is a window of opportunity of only seven seconds in which to cut the brisket, retract the blade, wash it and return the carriage to the resting position ready for the next animal.

If the chain runs at ten per minute which is currently the main speed used on some of the 5 Australian chains, then the window of opportunity for this operation is only six seconds per animal.

The system of this invention is able to process animals, within those time frames.

As shown in Figure 1 the upper ram 23 moves the upper pivot arm 21 from the resting position towards the extended position shown in Figure 3, and the outer ram 28 moves the 10 lower pivot aim from the almost vertical position shown in Figure 1 to the raised position shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3 the outer ram is slightly off vertical, and this ram can be used to provide upwards or downwards force on the saw as it moves along the contour of the brisket.

As can be seen from the schematic drawings of Figures 10 onwards, the saw moves from the IS belly of the animal towards the head region, along the contour which rises slightly in the nature of a "hill" but once it reaches the bow of the hill, the saw needs to move downwardly towards the neck region, and this requires the outer most ram to exert a downwards force on the saw blade with precise location, to prevent the saw blade cutting into the neck of the animal. Thereafter the saw blade is raised, and retracted, into the cover, and then moved into 20 the resting position shown in Figure 1, at which point it can be washed, and dried by the air curtain before returning to the ready position of Figure 10. The air curtain can be angled backwardly at say 30° to blow any drips of wash water away from the line of the chain.

The following specification shows the cylinder details and timing sequence for the operation of the prototype saw designed to cope with a main speed of 10 animals per minute.

Specification:- Shoulder Cylinder and Elbow Cylinder 2Smm dia x 18mm dia rod X 200mm stroke Saw FS900 2.8 USGPM @ 1800 psi SEQUENCE - For 10/min From Ready Position 1 (see Figure 10) T 80S J3NZGBAUcap.702/J?/da i 1. Incoming Sheep triggers Ready PC 2. Hanger triggers Cycle Start prox Latch extends Saw extends via Shoulder and Elbow Cylinders to 5 position 2 (Figure 11) 1.0 second 3. Saw Starts and drops to Position 3 (Figure 12) at Low pressure 0.5 second 4. Saw travels to position 4 (Cutting operation of Figure 13) at Low Pressure 1.5 second . Saw retracts to Wash Position S (Figure 14) 2.5 second 10 - Latch disengages Wash Cycle starts Carriage returns to home 6. Saw travels through the air curtains (not shown) back to Ready position 1 (Figure 10) 0.5 second The mechanism of the preferred embodiment, is capable of accurately cutting the brisket of animals as they move along the chain, and because the cutting mechanism is positioned on a moveable carnage, which is designed to move in tandem with the movement of the chain, the device can operate effectively whether the chain moves continuously, or in the situation 20 if the chain stops and starts.

It will be appreciated the above preferred embodiment is one example of putting the invention into practice. Some of the drawings include dimensions. They are purely for the purpose of illustration, and are not in any way intending to be limiting. They help to show the relative si2e of the machine compared to the chain. The chain which is shown in for 25 example Figure 2, and the relative location of the spreaders as shown by the small squares in for example Figures 5 and 6. Various automations and modifications may be made to the foregoing without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

TBOS!W2GBAUap.70a/mda

Claims (4)

CLAIMS: -10- 51327 1. A method of cutting the brisket of an animal suspended in the inverted dressing system, and being moved along a chain, wherein the cutting mechanism is moved in tandem with movement of the animal on the chain, and the cutting means is inserted between the animals legs, and the cutting means is moved and operated along a predefined contour to cut the brisket without cutting into the intestines, or the oesophagus. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting mechanism is a circular saw mounted on a first arm, which is in turn pivotally mounted on a second arm, which is in turn pivotally mounted on a moveable carriage. 3. An automated brisket cutting means, comprising a moveable carriage which is capable of moving parallel to and at the same speed as the chain conveying animals to be dressed, the carriage containing moveable cutting means which can be moved between the animals legs and operated along a predefined contour to cut the brisket of the animal, and then be retracted to a position away from the animal. 4. Automated brisket cutting means, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cutting means includes a circular saw mounted on a first arm which is in turn pivotally mounted on a second arm which is in turn pivotally mounted on the moveable carriage. 5. Automated brisket cutting means, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the relative angle between the first arm and the second arm upon which it is pivotally mounted, and the -11- 9 relative angle of the second arm with respect to the carriage upon which it is pivotally mounted, are both influenced and controlled by hydraulic rams. 6. Automated brisket cutting means, as claimed in claim 4 and 5, wherein each pivoting arm has a sensor associated therewith to sense the relative position of the arm and provide position information to a micro processor. 7. Automated brisket cutting means, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensors are rotary encoders, to provide information about the angular position of each of the pivoting arms. 8. Automated brisket cutting means, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the carriage has means for attaching itself to part of the moveable chain, and it is particularly preferred that this mechanism involves means for grabbing one of the spreaders, so that movement of the spreader along the chain will cause the carriage to move at the same speed as the chain. 9. A method of cutting the brisket of an animal suspended in the inverted dressing system, and being moved along a chain, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. 10. An automated brisket cutting means, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. PIPERS Attorneys for Jarvis Equipment (NZ) Limited OF CLAIMS 00T805NZcap-rvsd claims.0603.doc -12- Abstract An automated brisket cutting saw 18 for cutting the brisket of an animal 10 suspended in the inverted dressing system has a moveable carriage 11 which connects to the chain so that the cutting means 18 moves with the animal, and has a pair of pivot aims 20,21 controlled by hydraulic ram 23 to move a circular saw 18 in a defmed contour to cut the brisket without cutting into the intestines or the oesophagus of the animal. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 3 0 JUL 2002 received T80SJ3NZGBAUeap.7Q2/IP/da To - The Commissioner The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand Our reference: T/JP/00T805NZ Patent Form # 1 Patents Act 1953 application for a patent 1. We: Jarvis Equipment (NZ) Limited Address: 2 Grayson Avenue, Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand Nationality: A New Zealand company are in possession of an invention which is described in the accompanying provisional specification under the title: Automated Brisket Cutter 2. We believe Allan Philip Lee Address: 10 Spinnaker Drive, Te Atatu Penninsula, Auckland, New Zealand Nationality: A New Zealand citizen to be the true and first inventor(s) of the invention, and we are the assignees of the said inventors in respect of the right to make this application. We declare that to the best of our knowledge and belief the statements made above are correct and there is no lawful ground of objection to the grant of a patent to us on this application, and We pray that a patent may be granted to us for the said invention. AND We request that all notices, requisitions, and communications relating to this application may be sent to : PIPERS (Takapuna), Patent Attorneys 16 Byron Avenue, Takapuna North Shore City, NEW ZEALAND who are hereby appointed to act for us. D&ted/l5July^001 _ 2 2 AUG 2001 Jarvis Equipment (NZ) Limited [ R E C EIVED PF01.JWP: tt FEE CODE-1010 5 1 32 7 9 To - The Commissioner The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand Our reference : T/JP/00T805NZ Patent Form # 1 Patents Act 1953 application for a patent

1. We: Jarvis Equipment (NZ) Limited Address: 2 Grayson Avenue, Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand Nationality: A New Zealand company are in possession of an invention which is described in the accompanying provisional specification under the title: Automated Brisket Cutter

2. We believe Allan Philip Lee Address: 10 Spinnaker Drive, Te Atatu Penninsula, Auckland, New Zealand Nationality: A New Zealand citizen to be the true and first inventor(s) of the invention, and we are the assignees of the said inventors in respect of the right to make this application.

3. We declare that to the best of our knowledge and belief the statements made above are correct and there is no lawful ground of objection to the grant of a patent to us on this application, and We pray that a patent may be granted to us for the said invention.

4. AND We request that all notices, requisitions, and communications relating to this application may be sent to : PIPERS (Takapuna), Patent Attorneys 16 Byron Avenue, Takapuna North Shore City, NEW ZEALAND who are hereby appointed to act for us. Dated: 1 August 2001 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 AUG 2001 received PIPERS Attorneys for Jarvis Equipment (NZ) Limited PFOI.JWP: tt 1 "«"»■ mm .50.00 L0Rf? 1 1UQ9GST "6.2 5