Patent ID: 6607431
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: A22B

Abstract:
An installation (1) having a moving station for cutting up carcasses (2) of meat animals suspended from a transporter (4) by their hind legs (3), said installation comprising two columns (14, 15) facing each other and defining between them a space through which the animals to be cut up advance continuously, said two columns (14, 15) being mounted to move over a certain stroke in the direction in which the carcasses move, and in the opposite direction, an abutment one of the columns (15) carrying an abutment device (43) including means (50, 58) for coming into abutment against the outside dorsal face of the carcass along the backbone, following the cutting-up, the cutting-up other column (14) carrying firstly a cutting-up device (17) comprising cutting-up means (17) inserted via the ventral face under the tail, and mounted to move vertically, and secondly an internal guide device (31) comprising guide means situated under the cutting-up means (17) inserted via the ventral side of the carcass and acting against the abutment means (50, 58), said installation being characterized in that it further comprises a control and servo-control device for controlling and servo-controlling the movement of the internal guide device (31), of the abutment device (43), and of the cutting-up device (17), the control and servo-control device being suitable for enabling the abutment means (50; 58) to be moved independently from the cutting-up means (17), the abutment means being mounted to move vertically during the cutting up;the control device including monitoring means for monitoring the position of the cutting-up means (17) and of the abutment means (50, 58), and is suitable for controlling the drive means (21, 25, 29, 45, 46) on the basis of speed profiles or position profiles that are predetermined or that are calculated fore each carcass; and the monitoring means comprising a detection device (34, 73) for detecting the bottom end portion (69) of the carcass, the detection device comprising two bottom wheels (35, 74) mounted on detection means actuated by an actuator rod, the detection means being moved to a threshold position causing the cutting-up means to be retracted.