U.S. patent number RE28,508 [Application Number 05/200,425] was granted by the patent office on 1975-08-12 for loin pull and rib cut machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Container Corporation of America. Invention is credited to Richard E. Doerfer, Clarence L. Harms, James D. Neebel, Richard R. Neebel.
United States Patent |
RE28,508 |
Neebel , et al. |
August 12, 1975 |
Loin pull and rib cut machine
Abstract
A machine for automatically performing loin pulling and rib
cutting operations on pork sides, the loin pulling operation
including a rib sawing operation, a loin cutting operation and a
loin push-off operation, and the rib cutting operation leaving the
ribs on the belly part of the pork side. The machine automatically
feeds pork sides, and cuts, saws and mechanically separates
portions thereof.
Inventors: |
Neebel; Richard R. (Waterloo,
IA), Harms; Clarence L. (Cedar Falls, IA), Neebel; James
D. (Denver, IA), Doerfer; Richard E. (Waterloo, IA) |
Assignee: |
Container Corporation of
America (Cedar Falls, IA)
|
Family
ID: |
26895750 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/200,425 |
Filed: |
November 19, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
719320 |
Apr 8, 1968 |
03546737 |
Dec 15, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
452/148; 452/171;
452/157 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A22B
5/0029 (20130101); A22B 5/0035 (20130101); A22C
17/0046 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A22B
5/00 (20060101); A22C 17/00 (20060101); A22c
017/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;17/1R,1G |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Liebery; Aldrich F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Molinare, Allegretti, Newitt &
Witcoff
Claims
We claim as our invention:
1. In a loin pull and rib cut machine, conveyor means operable to
convey pork sides through said machine, said machine having a loin
pull station, a loin push-off station and a rib cut station, loin
pull mechanism at said loin pull station comprising a scribe saw
and a U-shaped loin pull knife, said scribe saw being positioned
with respect to said conveyor means to scribe the ribs of the pork
side adjacent one edge of the loin, said loin pull knife having a
portion immediately following said scribe saw and a portion to cut
under the loin, means for causing said scribe saw and said portion
immediately following it to follow the shape of the loin comprising
a shoe carried by said scribe saw and adapted to follow the contour
of the back bone of the pork side, means to bias said shoe toward
the back bone, means at said push-off station to push the cut loin
from the pork side, and means at said rib cut station to cut the
ribs from the pork side.
2. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 1 wherein
said means for causing said scribe saw and said portion of said
loin pull knife immediately following said scribe saw to follow the
shape of the loin comprises a fluid pressure cylinder normally
operable to position said scribe at a diagonal to the line of
travel of said conveyor means, and means responsive to the pork
side when it arrives at a predetermined position on said conveyor
means to operate said cylinder to position said scribe saw
substantially parallel to the line of travel of said conveyor
means.
3. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 2 including
means operable to lift said loin pull knife, said lift means
comprising a roller coacting with a cam as a result of said
cylinder responding to said means responsive to the pork side when
it arrives at a predetermined position on said conveyor means.
4. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 1 wherein
additional conveyor means are provided for positively advancing the
pork side before it reaches said loin pull station and comprises a
gripper conveyor having gripper lugs biased to engage the back bone
portion of the pork side.
5. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 4 wherein
means is provided between said loin pull station and said push-off
station for feeding the pork side comprising a knobbed drive-drum,
and means to bias said drum toward the pork side comprising fluid
pressure operated means also responsive to the position of the pork
side when it arrives at said predetermined position.
6. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 4 wherein
fluid pressure operated means is provided to operate said push-off
means, and means responsive to the position of the pork side on
said conveyor means after the loin has been pulled to actuate said
fluid pressure operated means.
7. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 4 wherein
means is provided between said push-off station and said rib cut
station to feed the pork side and comprises knobbed drums and means
to bias said drums against the pork side.
8. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 4 wherein
said rib cut means comprises a rib cut knife and freely rotatable
drive-drums to hold the pork side against said conveyor means under
bias.
9. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 4 wherein
fluid pressure operated means is provided to operate said push-off
means, said push-off means having spring extended shoes to enter
the saw cut in the pork side and engage the adjacent edge of the
loin to effect push-off thereof with respect to the remaining
portion of the pork side, and means responsive to the position of
the pork side on said conveyor means after the loin has been pulled
to actuate said fluid pressure operated means.
10. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 4 wherein
said means to bias said gripper chain against the pork side
comprises fluid pressure operated cylinder means and an adjustable
pressure regulator for supplying fluid under pressure thereto.
11. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 10 wherein
said means to bias said shoe toward the back bone comprises a fluid
pressure operated cylinder, and means responsive to the pork side
when it arrives at a predetermined position to control said
cylinder.
12. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 11 wherein a
fluid pressure operated means is connected with said scribe saw and
said shoe for elevating them and a manually actuated jam valve is
provided for actuating said cylinder.
13. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 12 wherein
said means for causing said scribe saw and said first portion of
said loin knife to follow the shape of the loin comprises a fluid
pressure cylinder normally operable to position said scribe saw at
a diagonal to the line of travel of said conveyor means, means
responsive to the pork side when it arrives at a predetermined
position on said conveyor means to operate said cylinder to
position said scribe saw substantially parallel to the line of
travel of said conveyor means, wherein fluid pressure operated
means is provided to operate said push-off means, and means
responsive to the position of the pork side on said conveyor means
after the loin has been pulled to actuate said fluid pressure
means.
14. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 12 wherein
means are provided for actuating said jam valve so as to operate
said fluid pressure operated cylinder means in the reverse
direction.
15. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 10 wherein a
drive-drum is provided to feeding the pork side between said loin
pull station and said push-off station, and a fluid pressure
operated cylinder biases said drive-drum toward said conveyor means
and is controlled by said means responsive to the pork side when it
arrives at a predetermined position.
16. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 4 wherein a
rider arm is biased to engage the rib portion of the pork side and
force it toward said conveyor means.
17. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 4 wherein
said lugs of said gripper conveyor are tapered and are provided
with pork side engaging points and said conveyor means has lugs
thereon opposite said gripper conveyor to prevent slippage of said
conveyor means under the pork sides.
18. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 12 wherein
said jam valve also actuates said fluid pressure operated cylinder
means to bias said gripper conveyor against the pork side in a
contra-biasing direction.
19. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 18 wherein a
rider arm is biased to engage the rib portion of the pork side, and
fluid pressure operated means is provided to effect such bias, said
jam valve being also operable to actuate said last mentioned fluid
pressure operated means in a contra-biasing direction.
20. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 1 wherein
means is provided between said loin pull station and said push-off
station to bias the pork side against said conveyor means.
21. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 20 wherein
means is provided between said push-off station and said rib cut
station to feed the pork side and comprises knobbed drums, and
means to bias said drums against the pork side.
22. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 20 wherein
said rib cut means comprises a rib cut knife and freely rotatable
drive-drums biased to hold the pork side against said conveyor
means.
23. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 20 wherein
said means to bias the pork side against said conveyor means
comprises a knobbed drive-drum and fluid pressure operated means
normally biasing said drive-drum away from the pork side, and
including means responsive to the pork side when it arrives at a
predetermined position on said conveyor means and being also
operable to actuate said fluid pressure operated means in a
direction contra-normal to engage said drive-drum with the pork
side.
24. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 23 wherein a
jam valve is provided to actuate said fluid pressure operated means
normally biasing said drive-drum away from the pork side in said
normally biased direction.
25. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 20 whererin
means is provided responsive to the pork side when it arrives at a
predetermined position on said conveyor means to operate said means
between said loin pull station and said push-off station to bias
the pork side against said conveyor means.
26. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 1 wherein
fluid pressure operated means is provided to operate said push-off
means, and means responsive to the position of the pork side on
said conveyor means after the loin has been pulled to actuate said
fluid pressure means.
27. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 26 wherein
means is provided between said push-off station and said rib cut
station to feed the pork side and comprises knobbed drums, and
means to bias said drums against the pork side.
28. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 26 wherein
said rib cut means comprises a rib cut knife and freely rotatable
drive-drums to hold the pork side against said conveyor means under
bias.
29. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 1 wherein
means is provided between said push-off station and said rib cut
station to further feed the pork side and comprises a knobbed drum
and means to bias said drum against the pork side.
30. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 29 wherein
said rib cut means comprises a rib cut knife and freely rotatable
drive-drums to bias the pork side against said conveyor means.
31. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 29 wherein
said means to bias said drum comprises a fluid pressure operated
cylinder acting as an air spring to force said drum downward
against the pork side.
32. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 31 wherein
means is responsive to the position of the pork side on said
conveyor means after the loin has been pulled to actuate said fluid
pressure operated cylinder in the opposite direction.
33. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 1 wherein
said rib cut means comprises a rib cut knife and freely rotatable
drums to bias the pork side against said conveyor means while it is
drawn past said rib cut knife.
34. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 33 including
means to raise said drums and said rib cut knife out of the pork
side at the end of the rib cut operation, said means to raise
comprises a fluid pressure operated cylinder and delayed action
actuating means therefor responsive to the arrival of the advance
edge of the pork side past said rib cut knife.
35. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 34 wherein
means is provided after the ribs are cut from the pork side to
further advance the pork side along the conveyor and aid in pulling
it through said rib cut knife.
36. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 1 wherein
said scribe saw and said loin pull knife are mounted for
substantially free vertical and horizontal movement, the weight
thereof effecting operative engagement thereof with the pork side,
and a counterweight to effect the bias of said shoe toward the back
bone of the pork side.
37. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 1 wherein
said scribe saw and said loin pull knife are mounted for
substantially free vertical and horizontal movement, said loin pull
knife is adjustable in width, and means is responsive to the size
of the pork side to move said loin pull knife vertically and adjust
it to a narrower width as the loin pull knife rises, thereby
controlling the fat thickness left on the loin.
38. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 37 wherein
said U-shaped loin pull knife is flexible to vary the width of the
loin.[.,.]. cut thereby and means is responsive to the size of the
pork side to control the fat thickness left on the loin.
39. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 1 wherein
means is provided to lift said loin pull knife to follow the
contour of the pork side, and then lower it to resume cutting the
loin.
40. A loin pull and rib cut machine according to claim 39 wherein
said scribe saw is initially diagonal to the line of travel of said
conveyor means, and is thereafter positioned substantially parallel
to the line of travel of said conveyor means, and said means
operable to lift the loin pull knife comprises cam and roller means
to effect such lifting upon said scribe saw knife assuming said
diagonal position. .Iadd.
41. In a loin pull machine, conveyor means operable to convey pork
sides through said machine, loin pull mechanism comprising a scribe
saw and means for cutting a loin from each of said pork sides, said
scribe saw being positioned with respect to conveyor means to
scribe the ribs of the pork side adjacent one edge of the loin,
said loin cutting means having a portion immediately following said
scribe saw and a portion to cut under the loin, means for causing
said scribe saw and said portion immediately following to follow
the shape of the loin comprising a shoe carried with the scribe saw
and adapted to follow the contour of the backbone..Iaddend..Iadd.
42. A loin pull machine according to claim 41 wherein said means
for causing said scribe saw and said portion of said loin cutting
means immediately following said scribe saw to follow the shape of
said loin comprises a fluid pressure cylinder normally operable to
position said scribe saw at a diagonal to the line of travel of
said conveyor means, and means responsive to the pork side when it
arrives at a predetermined position on said conveyor means to
operate said cylinder to position said scribe saw substantially
parallel to the line of travel of said conveyor
means..Iaddend..Iadd. 43. A loin pull machine according to claim 42
including means operable to lift said loin cutting means said lift
means comprising a roller coacting with a cam as a result of said
cylinder responding to said means responsive to the pork side when
it arrives at a predetermined position on said conveyor
means..Iaddend..Iadd. 44. A loin pull machine according to claim 41
including means to bias said shoe toward the backbone said bias
means including a fluid pressure operated cylinder, and means
responsive to the pork side when it arrives at a predetermined
position to control said fluid pressure operated
cylinder..Iaddend..Iadd. 45. A loin pull machine according to claim
44 wherein said means for causing said scribe saw and said first
portion of said loin cutting means to follow the shape of the loin
comprises a fluid pressure cylinder normally operable to position
said scribe saw at a diagonal to the line of travel of said
conveyor means, means for pushing said loin from said conveyor,
means responsive to the pork side when it arrives at a
predetermined position on said conveyor means to operate said
cylinder to position said scribe saw substantially parallel to the
line of travel of said conveyor means, wherein fluid pressure
operated cylinder means is provided to operate said loin pushing
means, and means responsive to the position of the pork side on
said conveyor means after the loin has been pulled to actuate said
fluid pressure operated cylinder means..Iaddend..Iadd. 46. A loin
pull machine according to claim 45 including means for operating
said fluid pressure operated cylinder means in the reverse
direction..Iaddend..Iadd. 47. A loin pull machine according to
claim 41 wherein said scribe saw and said loin cutting means are
mounted for substantially free vertical and horizontal movement,
the weight thereof effecting operative engagement of said saw and
said loin cutting means with the pork side, and a counterweight for
biasing said shoe toward the backbone of the pork
side..Iaddend..Iadd. 48. A loin pull machine according to claim 41
wherein said scribe saw and said loin cutting means are mounted for
substantially free vertical and horizontal movement, said loin
cutting means is adjustable in width, and means is responsive to
the size of the pork side to move said loin cutting means
vertically and adjust it to a narrower width as the loin cutting
means rises, thereby controlling the fat thickness left on the
loin..Iaddend..Iadd. 49. A loin pull machine according to claim 41
wherein said loin cutting means is a U-shaped loin pull knife
having spaced legs and said legs are flexible to and away from each
other to vary the width of the loin cut thereby and means is
responsive to the size of the pork
side to control the fat thickness left on the loin..Iaddend..Iadd.
50. A loin pull machine according to claim 41 wherein means is
provided to lift said loin cutting means to follow the contour of
the pork side, and then lower it to resume cutting the
loin..Iaddend..Iadd. 51. A loin pull machine according to claim 50
including means for positioning said scribe saw for initially
diagonal to the line of travel of said conveyor means, and for
thereafter positioning said scribe saw substantially parallel to
the line of travel of said conveyor means, and said means operable
to lift the loin pull knife comprises cam and roller means to
effect such lifting upon said scribe saw knife assuming said
diagonal position..Iaddend..Iadd. 52. A loin pull machine according
to claim 41 including means downstream of the loin cutting means
for feeding the pork side comprising a knobbed drive-drum, and
means to bias the knobbed drive-drum toward the pork side
comprising fluid pressure operated means also responsive to the
position of the pork side when it reaches a predetermined position
on said conveyor means..Iaddend..Iadd. 53. A loin pull machine as
in claim 52 wherein the fluid pressure operated means is operable
to engage said knobbed drive-drum with the pork
side..Iaddend..Iadd. 54. A loin pull machine as in claim 53 wherein
a jam valve is provided to actuate said fluid pressure operated
means normally biasing said knobbed drive-drum away from the pork
side in said normally biased direction..Iaddend..Iadd. 55. In a rib
cut machine, conveyor means operable to convey pork sides through
said machine, and means to cut the ribs from the pork sides, said
rib cut means comprising a rib cut knife and freely movable drive
means to hold the pork
side against the conveyor means under bias..Iaddend..Iadd. 56. A
rib cut machine according to claim 55 including means to raise said
drive means and said rib cut knife out of the pork side at the end
of the rib cut operation, said means to raise comprises a fluid
pressure operated cylinder and delayed action actuating means
therefor responsive to the arrival of the advance edge of the pork
side past said rib cut knife..Iaddend..Iadd. 57. A rib cut machine
according to claim 56 wherein means is provided after the ribs are
cut from the pork side to further advance the pork side along the
conveyor and aid in pulling it through said rib cut
knife..Iaddend..Iadd. 58. A rib cut machine according to claim 55
wherein the rib cut knife is arranged diagonally to the direction
of travel of the conveyor means..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the invention is to provide a functional machine for
automatically completing all of the above enumerated operations
with less manual labor and more uniformity of the resulting pork
cuts than are possible by trained operators.
Another object is to provide a mechanism to saw through the ribs in
a self-determined direction depending on the size and shape of the
pork sides.
Still another object is to cut the loin in a predetermined pattern
conforming to the natural configuration of the pork side and with a
controlled quantity of fatback.
A further object is to automatically remove the loin from the
remainder of the side and allow such remainder to proceed to the
rib cutting mechanism of the machine.
Still a further object is to automatically cut out the remaining
ribs from the side in a plane as close to the ribs as possible and
with a blade which is withdrawn in a line corresponding with the
ends of the ribs, thus minimizing the meat lost with the ribs.
With these and other objects in view, our invention consists in the
construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of
our loin pull and rib cut machine, whereby the objects above
contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth,
pointed out in our claims and illustrated in detail on the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a loin pull and rib cut machine embodying
our invention, slightly more than one-half (the right half) of the
machine being shown;
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 2 showing mechanism
for initially advancing a pork side into the machine;
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5--5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is an enlargement of a transversely mounted tapered lug
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the lines 7--7 of
FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 7A is a diagrammatic view representing a continuation of the
left hand end of FIG. 7 and showing an arrangement for permitting
both vertical and horizontal movements of a secondary carriage
member;
FIG. 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8--8 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the parts of our machine shown in FIG. 7
and shows a loin scribe saw, a scribe saw shoe and a loin pull
knife in an initial position during the operation of the
machine;
FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view on the line 10--10 of FIG. 11
showing a pork side operated switch;
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the saw, shoe and knife
in a different position during a further operation of the
machine;
FIG. 12 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 11, and as taken on
the line 11--11 of FIG. 7 to show more clearly the relation of
details of the saw, shoe and knife;
FIG. 13 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of FIG. 2 above
the bracket 13 thereof and as taken on the line 13--13 of FIG.
9;
FIG. 14 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of FIG. 2 as taken on
the line 14--14 thereof;
FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 15--15 of FIG.
14;
FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 16--16 of FIG.
14;
FIG. 17 is an end view of a drive drum shown in FIG. 14 and as
viewed at the line 17--17 thereof;
FIG. 18 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of our machine
adjacent the line 18--18 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 19 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of FIG. 18 found
in the lower left quadrant thereof;
FIG. 20 is a detail sectional view on the line 20--20 of FIG.
19;
FIG. 21 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of FIG. 2 above the
bracket 21 and shows the parts in reverse to better illustrate
details thereof;
FIG. 22 is an enlarged end view of a roller illustrated in FIG.
21;
FIG. 23 is an enlarged elevation of the portion of FIG. 2 above the
bracket 23 thereof;
FIG. 24 is a diagrammatic view of eight air cylinders and the
controls therefor used in our machine; and
FIG. 25 is a plan view of the portion of the machine shown in FIG.
23.
LOIN PULL OPERATION
On the accompanying drawings we have used the reference numeral 26
to designate a pork side conveyor to which right pork sides (RS)
may be delivered by an infeed conveyor 27. A series of rollers 29
are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 to span the space between the
discharge end of the conveyor 27 and the intake end of the conveyor
26. The conveyors 26 and 27 may be driven in synchronism with each
other and in any suitable manner such as by a motor 31 driving a
speed reducer 33, and through a chain 35 driving a shaft 37 as
shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 also illustrates a chain drive 39 between
the intake end of the conveyor 26 and the discharge end of the
conveyor 27.
The direction of travel of the conveyors is in accordance with an
arrow 43 adjacent the right hand end of FIG. 1. Considering our
machine as oriented in accordance with the arrow 43, the left hand
edges of the conveyors 26 and 27 are cut off with broken lines 26a
and 27a. At 41 the fore-and-aft center line of the machine is
indicated.
The mechanism of our machine in FIG. 1 is somewhat diagrammatically
illustrated with reference characters F indicating various parts of
a stationary frame. Such mechanism is for the purpose of automatic
loin pulling and rib cutting operations for right pork sides
whereas the rest of the machine (to the left of the center line 41)
is identical except it is a mirrored opposite of that portion of
the machine to the right of the center line and is for left pork
sides. We therefore deem it unnecessary to illustrate the left half
of the machine.
In FIG. 1 we show right pork sides RS to indicate the position
thereof on the infeed conveyor 27 in relation to a side rail 28
against which the operator of the machine holds the side RS with
the backbone of the side lying parallel to and in full length
contact with the rail. This rail is corrugated in vertical cross
section as shown in FIG. 4 to reduce fractional drag on the sides
RS as they move through the machine. The ribs 45 of the pork side
RS (shown in FIGS. 5 and 13) are uppermost and are transverse to
the direction of travel of the infeed conveyor 27 and the pork side
conveyor 26.
The pork side RS is moved toward the cutting and sawing section of
the machine, which will later be described, by the pork side
conveyor 26. The side RS is held down and pulled toward a cutter
arm 30 (which carries a loin scribe saw 40 and a loin pull knife
42) by stud ponts 32 mounted on a gripper chain 34. The speed of
the pork side conveyor 26 and the gripper chain 34 are
synchronized, and a gripper chain rider arm 36 is inclined
downwardly in the direction of travel to better hold the side RS in
a firm position against conveyor lugs 38 (see FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 11)
as it reaches and passes through the loin scribe saw 40 and the
loin pull knife 42 (see FIGS. 7, 9, 11 and 13).
The gripper chain 34 contains transversely mounted lugs 44 with
five of the pointed studs 32 mounted on each lug. The lugs 44 are
tapered as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 in order to better conform to
the contour of the back bone of the side RS which is pulled by them
through the loin scribe saw 40 and the loin pull knife 42. The
rider arm 36 is forced down against the center of the side RS by
its own weight as well as by an adjustable pneumatic cylinder C1
acting as an air spring. Adjustment is accomplished by supplying
compressed air to the cylinder through an adjustable pressure
regulator PR1 as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 24. This action
helps to position and hold the side RS for better sawing and
cutting action.
At the outgoing end of the gripper chain 34 there is a loin
depressor foot 48 (FIGS. 1 and 3) carried by a frame 55 for the
gripper chain, which forces the side RS off the gripper chain 34
and down against the pork side conveyor 26, and also holds the side
RS in position for sawing and cutting.
The gripper chain 34 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is of dual character
and is trained around a pair of dual sprockets 47 and 49, shafts 51
and 53 being provided therefor. The frame 55 is associated with the
gripper chain, its sprockets and shafts, and is pivoted about the
axis of the shaft 51. The left hand end of the frame 55 is
supported by a yoke 57, a piston rod 59 and a pneumatic cylinder
C2. The cylinder C2 also acts as an air spring, a pressure
regulator PR2 being provided therefor as shown in FIG. 24. The
rider arm 36 is supported by a piston rod 63 and the pneumatic
cylinder C1, the right hand end of the arm being mounted on a
bracket 65 pivoted about the axis of the shaft 51. The frame 55 is
provided with three spring biased hold-down rollers 67 (see FIG. 5)
so as to variably conform the successive stud points 32 to the side
RS as it passes under them as shown by dot-and-dash lines in FIGS.
3 and 4.
For rotating the shaft 51 and thereby actuating the gripper chain
34 a drive chain 69 shown in FIG. 1 is driven from a cross shaft 71
which is the output shaft from a speed reducer 73 driven by an
electric motor 75. Between the chain 69 and the shaft 51 a safety
slip clutch 25 is preferably provided for protection of the drive
mechanism for the loin pull and rib cut operations. The shaft 71
extends transversely of the machine to drive the left side
mechanism in synchronism with the right side mechanism, and the
speed reducers 33 and 73 are adjusted for obtaining the same
surface speed for the gripper chain 34 as for the conveyors 26 and
27.
An interval of at least 24" is allowed between successive sides RS
on the conveyors 26 and 27 as shown in FIG. 1 in order that the
cutter arm 30 shown and the loin scribe saw 40 shown in FIGS. 7, 9,
11 and 12 can be returned to their starting position by the
automatic action of mechanical linkage including a lever 50 secured
to the cutter arm 30 and actuated by a .[.hydraulic.].
.Iadd.pneumatic .Iaddend.cylinder C3 acting as an air spring
through the action of a pressure regulator PR3 shown in FIG. 24.
The entire assembly is pivotally mounted by securing the arm 30 to
a vertical shaft 77 shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 11, the shaft 77 being
journalled in a bracket 79 secured to a secondary carriage member
76, as shown in FIG. 7A, the carriage member 76 has a pair of rods
81 which are freely and vertically slidable in a primary carriage
member 83. The carriage member 83 is freely and horizontally
slidable on a pair of rods 85 carried by the frame F of the
machine.
FIGS. 11 and 12 show a normal position for the saw 40 parallel to
the travel of the pork side conveyor 26, and FIG. 9 shows an
angularly disposed position relative thereto for purposes which
will hereinafter appear. The cutter arm 30 also carries a scribe
saw shoe 52 (FIGS. 7 and 12) which functionally positions both the
loin scribe saw 40 and the loin pull knife 42 for their initial
cuts. The shoe 52 is held down by the weight of the cutter arm 30
and the elements 76 and 81 shown in FIG. 7A, and is pulled
horizontally by a cable 54 terminating in a counterweight 56 shown
diagrammatically in FIG. 7. The angle of the cable 54 is such that
vertical as well as a horizontal pull is obtained, the vertical
pull involving the rods 81 sliding in the primary carriage member
83 and counteracting to some extent the weight of the arm 30, etc.
as above referred to, and the horizontal pull involving the member
83 sliding on the rods 85. Thus, the dual purpose of the
counterweight 56 is to off-set the weight of the cutter arm 30,
etc. for easier maneuverability and to pull the scribe saw shoe 52
against the up-curved portion of the ribs 45 of the side RS
according to the arrow 87 in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 also has legends as to
parts of the side RS to clarify reference to the operations on the
side hereinafter referred to.
During initial contact of the saw blade 40 with the side RS, it is
diagonal (FIG. 9) to the line of conveyor 26 travel and the
horizontal direction of its cut is determined by the position of
the scribe saw shoe 52 at it rests on the side and follows the
contour of the back bone of the side. The vertical level of the saw
cut is determined by the elevation of the scribe saw shoe 52
throughout the entire travel of the side RS thereunder. The scribe
saw 40 is a circular saw blade driven by an angle head drive 130
and a flexible power cable 58 (see FIGS. 1 and 13) from a motor 60
centrally mounted above the work area on an upper portion of the
frame F. A scribe saw arm 64 which carries the shoe 52 and the saw
40 are horizontally stabilized by a pair of rollers 66 which ride
up and down in a straddling position on the left hand (considered
according to arrow 43) vertical side 42a of the loin pulling knife
42 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 12. The loin pull knife 42 is mounted on
the cutting arm 30 but during part of the cutting cycle it is
independently controlled as to direction and elevation of cut by
mechanical linkage 68 (FIGS. 7, 9 and 11) pivoted to a bracket 62
mounted on the secondary carriage member 76. The loin pull knife 42
is positioned slightly behind the scribe saw 40 with the vertical
portion 42a always following directly behind and in line with the
scribe saw through the cut made through the rib bones 45 by the
saw. In FIG. 9 it will be noted that the vertical portion 42b of
the knife 42 is parallel to the arrow 43 but the portion 42a is
diagonal (the initial contact mentioned at the beginning of this
paragraph). During the last part of the loin cut operation shown in
FIG. 11 both portions 42a and 42b are parallel to the arrow 43 as
permitted by flexibility of the knife 42.
A unique feature of the vertical positioning mechanism for the loin
pull knife 42 is a stationary cam track 70 (FIG. 13) and a roller
72 which serve to lift the knife 42 at the moment coinciding with
the position of the side RS when the shoulder thereof has passed
the knife. In this way the knife rises to follow the contour of the
side RS and is then lowered to resume cutting the loin. The roller
72 is carried by dual arms 46 pivoted at 61 on a bracket 89 carried
by the cutter arm 30, and is operatively connected by links 91 to
the upper end of a piston rod 93 in a cylinder C4. The piston rod
93 acts normally as a supporting guide rod for the scribe saw 40
and the shoe 52 through the scribe saw arm 64. The cylinder C4 can
be pneumatically actuated by the operation of a jam valve J (FIG.
24) for lifting the saw and shoe as will hereinafter appear.
The initial position (FIG. 9) of the loin knife 42 is determined by
the vertical and horizontal position of the scribe saw shoe 52.
However, as the side RS is moved further along by the pork side
conveyor 26 it depresses a wire loop switch actuator 74 (FIGS. 9,
10 and 11) of a micro-switch SW1 which then activates the hydraulic
cylinder C3 (see FIG. 24) which repositions the entire cutter arm
and thereby the saw 40 and the knife 42 into another position shown
in FIG. 11 by the switch opening a solenoid valve SV1. FIGS. 7 and
13 also show the parts in this other position.
The solenoid valve SV1 is a double acting type with spring return,
supply inlet 1, normal outlet 2, operated outlet 3 and exhaust 4.
Solenoid valves SV2 and SV3 referred to later, are the same type.
The cylinder C3 is also under control of the switch SM1 and the
solenoid valve SV1 (see FIG. 24).
In changing from the initial position of FIG. 9 to this other
position shown in FIG. 11, the roller 72 passes over the hump of
the cam track 70 as further explained hereinbefore. Thus, a
momentary lifting of the loin pull knife 42 is effected and it is
then returned to its previous elevation but in its new direction of
cutting action shown in FIG. 11. This is necessary in order to
follow the natural contour of the side RS at that point. The saw
and knife are now in a position to continue cutting down the length
of the side RS in the direction of the conveyor 26 instead of
diagonally. This change in cutting direction is necessary due to
the fact that the loin (shaded area on the sides RS in FIG. 1) is
broader at the lead end than it is shortly thereafter. The result
is, first a curved saw cut path, and then a straight saw cut path
down the length of the side RS.
Also when the cutter arm 30 is moved into this final position of
FIG. 11, the vertical portion 42b of the loin pull knife 42
contacts a stop button 78 as in FIG. 7 to close the loin knife
(spring its sides closer together) so it will cut a narrower
horizontal portion of the loin from the side RS as shown. The knife
will be found more open in FIG. 9. Such closing of the knife is
possible because of its flexible character and is permitted by the
mechanical linkage 68. During this time the knife 42 is also
positioned closer to the side rail 28.
The stop button 78 is automatically adjusted by means of a cam
lever 127 shown in FIG. 7 pivoted to the frame F and carrying a cam
roller 128. One of the rods 81 as shown in FIG. 7 has a roller
engaging arm 129 which at times engages the roller 128. The stop
button 78 controls the amount of fat left on the loin. This is
accomplished by the variation in elevation of the scribe saw shoe
52 which rides on the rib section. As the scribe saw shoe 52
changes elevation the cutter arm 30 also changes elevation. This in
turn actuates the stop button 78 to control the horizontal location
of the knife, thus controlling the fat thickness left on the loin
after cutting. Normally the heavier or thicker the side RS is, the
thicker the fat back. Thus, distance 100 increases on heavier sides
to adjust for the thicker fat backs.
When the side RS has tripped the switch wire 74 to close the switch
SW1, a loin drive-drum 80 (FIGS. 14 and 17) is automatically forced
down on the already cut portion of the loin which is still lying on
top of the remainder of the side RS in order to help pull the
entire side through the loin cutting and sawing operation and on to
the next station of the machine. This is accomplished through a
pressure regulator PR5 by a cylinder C5 also actuated by the switch
SW1 and the solenoid valve SV1 as illustrated diagrammatically in
FIG. 24. The cylinder C5 normally keeps the drum 80 raised by flow
of compressed air from outlet 2 of the valve SV1.
Two sizes of loin knives 42 may be used on our machine depending on
whether regular or heavy sides RS are being processed. With respect
to these pork sides, regular sides are 24 to 30 inches long and
heavy sides are 30 to 40 inches long as a general rule. A heavier
and wider knife is used for heavy sides and requires an adjustment
along the arm 30 which holds the scribe saw 40 in order to cut a
wider loin portion. A wing nut 82a is provided for this purpose
(FIGS. 7, 9, 11 and 13). The knives 43 themselves are secured to
the cutter arm 30 for quick exchange by a wing nut 82.
Preceding the wire loop switch actuator 74 and extending from the
lower edge of the corrugated side rail 28 is a deflector bar 84
(FIGS. 7 and 8) which forces the fatback of the side RS up against
the loin knife 42, thus giving a maximum sized cut of loin by
preventing the fatback from packing down into the adjacent corner
between the frame F and the rail 28.
After the side RS has passed by the wire loop switch actuator 74
and the actuator has returned to its normal position, the cylinder
C3 which controls the two positions (FIG. 9 and 11) of the saw 40
and the knife 42 automatically returns the saw and knife to their
respective starting positions of FIG. 9 through the action of the
switch SW1 and the solenoid valve SV1 and at the same time the loin
drive-drum 80 is raised through the action of the same switch and
valve shown in FIG. 24.
In an emergency the machine operator can raise (and later lower)
the gripper chain rider arm 36 (C1), the gripper chain 34 (C2), the
saw 40 and shoe 52 (C4) and the drum 80 (C5) pneumatically by
closing (and later opening) the jam valve J as evident in FIG.
24.
The drive drum 80 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 14 to 16 inclusive is
mounted on a shaft 86 connected by universal joint 101 with a shaft
122 which is journalled in the frame F. The shaft 122 is driven by
a chain 121 as shown in FIG. 1 from a counter shaft 97 which in
turn is driven by a chain 99 from the shaft 51. A bearing 103 is
supported by a yoke 105 and a piston rod 107 of the cylinder C5,
and the shaft 86 is guided by a bearing 109 thereof movable in a
slot 111 of a portion of the frame F of the machine.
After the loin has been pulled, the side RS (now in two pieces)
proceeds with the pork side conveyor 26 toward the next (loin
push-off) operation. As the corrugated side rail 28 ends, the back
bone side of the side RS is held in position by a horizontal guide
rail bar 88 (FIGS. 18 and 21) located in line with the railing 28
and above the conveyor 26. This guide rail bar is movable, pivoting
outward from an axis 113 the same as a pair of spring loaded kick
off shoes 90. FIG. 19 shows a spring 119 to effect such
loading.
The kick off shoes 90 are inclined upwardly at their lead ends (see
FIG. 21 wherein the view is from the side of the machine opposite
that shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 13 so travel is opposite as
indicated by an arrow 120 in FIG. 13) so that they may ride up on
the side RS as it proceeds down the conveyor 26. The shoes 90 are
located on either side of a pair of freely rotating knob covered
drums 92 as shown in FIG. 21. The kick off shoes 90 are slidably
supported in a welded tube assembly 94 and the pair of shoes and
the guide rail bar 88 move together as a unit about the axis as
shown by solid and dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 18. Also the shoes 90
have limited oscillation possibilities as illustrated in FIG. 20 to
allow them to align themselves for the purpose of dropping into the
scribe saw cut at 123 FIGS. 7 and 13).
When the side RS actuates a trip arm 96 shown in FIG. 21, an
actuating arm 98 forming part of the assembly 94 is pivoted from
the full line position in FIG. 18 to the dot-and-dash line position
thereof by a cylinder C6 so that the kick off shoes 90 will drag
transversely across the side RS, drop into the saw cut at 123 and
push the pulled lion 124 off the side of the conveyor 26 and onto a
chute 125 where it falls into a loin cart or onto a loin conveyor
131 or the like. The trip arm 96 closes a switch SW2 which through
a solenoid valve SV2 as shown in FIG. 24 controls the flow of
compressed air to the cylinder C6 for moving the actuating arm 98
from the full line position to the dot-and-dash line position of
FIG. 18. At the same time the switch SW2 effects lowering of the
knob covered drums 92 (controlled by a pressure regulator PR7a)
which are normally in the raised position through the action of a
cylinder C7 and a pressure regulator PR7 (see FIGS. 18, 21 and
24).
Slightly preceeding the above operation and in order to hold the
side RS in position during the loin push-off operation, the pair of
transversely mounted knob covered drums 92 drop onto the remaining
rib section of the side RS under the pressure of the pneumatic
cylinder C7. The two drums 92 are supported on a side mounted frame
102 which pivots up and down. This holding operation is thus also
triggered by the trip arm 96 of the switch SW2. The knob covered
drums 92 are raised automatically after the side RS has passed by
and allowed the trip arm 96 to resume its normal vertical position
shown in FIG. 21.
RIB CUT OPERATION
After the loin has been removed, the remaining portion of the side
RS proceeds down the conveyor 26 and is contacted by the first of
two knobbed drive drums 104 (larger than the first pair of drums
92) powered to propel the side RS through a rib cutting knife 106
(see FIGS. 23 and 25) at a speed synchronized with the conveyor
drive. Such synchronized drive is attained by a chain 126 from the
shaft 97 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This portion of the conveyor
has a side rail 28a similar to the side rail 28. The rib cutting
knife 106 is arranged diagonally to the direction of conveyor
travel as shown in FIGS. 1 and 25 for two reasons;
(1) By entering the side RS at one corner rather than along the
entire leading edge of the knife, the meat is more easily drawn
past the knife.
(2) The ends of the ribs are diagonal to the side RS itself and
thus when the knife 106 is elevated to withdraw it from the side RS
it leaves the meat on a diagonal line corresponding to the ends of
the ribs.
The rib knife 106 is sharpened with the bevel on the upper side and
is mounted with the leading edge of the knife higher than the
trailing edge in respect to the pork side conveyor 26 as shown in
section at 106a in FIG. 23. This arrangement provides an angle of
attack which forces the knife up in a plowing effect which forces
it to cut close to the bottom of the ribs 45. A hold down plate 108
is mounted at the bottom of and between the two drive drums 104.
Its purpose is to prevent the side RS from sticking to the first
drive drum and to force the side RS against the lugs 38 of the
conveyor 26. The rib cutting knife 106 is automatically positioned
vertically by the thickness of the side RS and it cuts immediately
under the ribs. The angle at which the rib cutting knife 106 is set
and the angle at which the edge is sharpened as above described
satisfies a requirement that the knife cut as close to the under
side of the ribs as possible. This knife is designed with a
curvature throughout its length which corresponds to the natural
curvature of the ribs and thus provides most effective cutting.
When the leading edge of the side RS strikes an actuator wire 110
located downstream of the second drive drum 104 (see FIGS. 23 and
25), there is a delayed action pneumatic force supplied to a pair
of arms 116 and 116a on which the drive drums 104, hold down plate
108 and rib cutting knife 106 are mounted by a pneumatic cylinder
C8 (normally under control of a pressure regulator valve PR8),
lifting the arm 116-116a upward and pulling the knife 106 free from
the meat. This withdrawal of the knife 106 is so timed as to cut
off the ribs on a line corresponding to the upstream ends thereof.
Part of the arm 116a serves as a housing for the chain 126.
The delayed action referred to may be had by the arrangement shown
diagrammatically in FIG. 24, a switch SW3 being actuated by the
wire 110 and in turn energizing a solenoid valve SV3(D), the "D"
indicating a delayed action type of valve.
Since the knife 106 is the lowest member attached to the arm
116-116a, the side RS (FIGS. 23 and 25) is no longer propelled by
the pair of drive drums 104. Therefore, an independently mounted
drive wheel 114 continues to pull the side RS down the conveyor and
free of the rib cutting knife 106. The drive wheel 114 and its
drive motor 115 are mounted in a separate pair of arms 132 and 132a
which are free to move up and down, loosely pivoting on pivot pins
118 at opposite sides or the right and left sides of the machine.
The two arms 132 and 132a, and a cross member 117, form a frame for
mounting the wheel 114 for the side RS, a similar wheel (not shown)
for the other pork side (also not shown) and its motor 115. The
loose pivoting referred to allows either of the drive wheels 114
(the right hand one shown) or the left hand one (not shown) to
independently seek their own elevation as dictated by the right and
left pork sides respectively.
An operator at the discharge end of the machine can lift the ribs
from the remaining portion of the side RS and place them in a
separate container, conveyor or the like, thus completing the rib
cutting operation.
With further reference to FIG. 24, only the essential operation of
the pneumatic circuit is disclosed. Solenoid valves are indicated
as actuated by switches without going into detail with respect to
electric circuits therefore. Since circuitry of this character is
well known in the automatic machine art, we deem it unnecessary to
illustrate the same in detail. FIG. 24 also serves as a summary of
the machine as all operations are shown in sequence, cylinders C1
and C2 representing a preliminary feed station, cylinders C3 and C4
a loin pull station, cylinder C5 an intermediate feed station,
cylinder C6 a push-off station, cylinder C7 a second intermediate
feed station, and cylinder C8 a rib cut station. Beyond the rib cut
station, the independent motor driven wheel 114 of FIG. 23
constitutes a final feed station.
From the foregoing specification it will be obvious that we have
provided a loin pull and rib cut machine which greatly reduces the
normal work and hand labor of loin pulling and rib cutting
operations, thus reducing the labor force. At the same time the
quality of the loin pulled and the ribs cut are maximum and labor
costs are reduced because of reducing the amount of subsequent hand
trimming of fat from the loins and ribs. The operation by our
machine are performed in such manner that the parts thereof are
automatically adjusted for each cutting operation to the individual
size and shape of each side RS. While these operations are being
performed by the right side of the machine, the left side is
simultaneously performing the same operations on left sides in an
obvious manner, and the only attention required by operators is one
to feed the right and left sides onto the infeed conveyor 27 and
another to remove the ribs and rib meat from the fat backs which
are discharged off the pork side conveyor 26 (upper left hand end
in FIG. 1).
* * * * *