Patent ID: 7207880
Filing Date: 2007-04-24
Classification: A22B

Abstract:
1. A meat processing apparatus for processing a carcass middle having a rib section, a loin, and a belly with an area of finger lean inbetween, said meat processing apparatus comprising: a conveyor for carrying a carcass middle having a bottom surface, a top surface, a rib line, and a loin, said conveyor having a surface adapted to grip the bottom surface of the carcass middle; a chain drive biased towards said conveyor and adapted to engage the carcass middle, said chain drive cooperating with said conveyor to move the carcass middle, said chain drive including a plurality of guide arms biased towards said conveyor and a plurality of guide wheels, each guide wheel carried by one of said plurality of guide arms, said plurality of guide wheels providing a track for a chain, said chain adapted to grip the top surface of the carcass middle; a scribe saw for cutting through at least a portion of the carcass middle creating a kerf of a selected depth, said scribe saw being horizontally and vertically positionable to control the position and depth of the kerf; a z-blade having a cutting surface, said z-blade cutting surface positioned to separate the loin from the belly through the finger lean, said z-blade passing through the kerf created by said scribe saw; a z-blade positioner connected to said z-blade, said z-blade positioner adapted to move said z-blade in at least a horizontal direction; a j-blade having a cutting surface, said j-blade cutting surface positioned to remove a layer of fatback around said loin; a j-blade positioner connected to said j-blade, said j-blade positioner adapted to move said j-blade vertically and horizontally; a primary height sensor adapted to detect an initial surface height of the carcass middle, said primary height sensor producing a first output corresponding to the initial surface height; a secondary height sensor adapted to detect a surface height of the rib line proximate to said z-blade, said secondary height sensor producing a second output corresponding to the surface height utilized to actuate the exact position of the z-blade enabling the contour following of the rib line; and a control circuit in communication with said primary height sensor, said secondary height sensor, and said z-blade positioner, said control circuit performing a method comprising the steps of: