Guide for carcass backsaw and method of use

A guide for providing a controlled cut down a longitudinal length of a spine of a carcass using a backsaw includes first and second guide members, wherein the guide members are preferably interconnected by a lateral bracing member. The guide members are fixedly secured to a blade guide of the backsaw. The guide members include a front surface sloped relative to the front of the blade guide. In use, the guide members contact the carcass on either side of the spine and maintain a blade alignment down the spinal column of the carcass.

FIELD

The present invention relates to meat processing equipment, and more particularly, to a guide for a backsaw that is used to split a carcass longitudinally down the spine.

BACKGROUND

When a carcass is split longitudinally down the spine, care must be taken to ensure that the saw does not move laterally. If the saw drifts laterally away from the spine and into the meat of the carcass, the quality of meat may be severally impacted. The carcass may even become unusable for meat. Accordingly, the carcass must be held in a centered alignment when it is split.

A number of different prior art devices exist for stabilizing and/or aligning a carcass. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,889 to Jacobs et al. discloses an apparatus for dividing a carcass along the spinal column. The carcass is held and aligned by means of guiding rollers that engage the back inside of the carcass, and support means that engage the back of the carcass. The support means comprise two plate shaped members that engage the carcass on either side of the spine. When the carcass is divided, the saw blade, guided by rollers, passes through the spine and between the two plate-shaped support members.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,368 to Menqi discloses a guiding device that cooperates with the inner face of the backbone of an animal carcass. The device is used in conjunction with a roller that cooperates with the outer face of the backbone of the carcass. The device is characterized by two guiding surfaces and connected to a rocking lever. The rocking lever is pivoted on a support member. The two guiding surfaces and are recessed in the shape of a V. The two guiding surfaces have curved ends designed to engage portions of the backbone.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,131 to Ivarsson discloses a machine for splitting animal carcasses along the backbone. The splitting saw is mounted on a guiding mechanism that alternates between a working and a resting position. The carcass is guided by a fixed U-shaped guide member comprising two bars situated on opposite sides of the backbone of the carcass.

The devices described above that are used to stabilize a carcass do not have a desirable shape and are not useable as an attachment to a bandsaw-type backsaw. In particular, the plate shaped support members of Jacobs are too large to be mounted on a bandsaw. The guide surfaces of Menqi are shaped to directly engage the spine. In order for a support device to be usable with a bandsaw, the device needs to engage portions of the carcass lateral to the spine in order to allow the bandsaw to pass through the spine. The bars disclosed Ivarsson are not easily mounted on a bandsaw and do not provide a reliable engagement surface for the carcass.

Backsaw attachments exist that engage the carcass, however, they do not serve to stabilize the carcass. One such attachment will be discussed in connection with the operation of a bandsaw-type carcass backsaw. With reference toFIG. 1a, a backsaw100including a blade guide guard104is shown in use. The backsaw100includes a bandsaw blade108and a removable blade guide112. An enlarged view of the backsaw100along with the blade guide guard104is shown inFIG. 1b. Backsaws of this type are available from a variety of manufactures including Jarvis, Inc. Saws of the this type are sold by Jarvis under the name Buster Saw.

An enlarged perspective view of the blade guide guard104is shown inFIG. 2a. A blade guide guard with a similar construction is available from Jarvis under the part number #1024063. The blade guide guard104includes sides walls200that are interconnected by means of a lateral rod204. As shown inFIG. 2b, the blade guide guard104fits over the blade guide112(shown removed from the backsaw100). In this position the two parts are welded or bolted together. In use, the sloped edge208of the blade guide may press against the carcass116. This protects the blade108by preventing it from being driven into the blade guide112.

The prior art blade guide guard104serves only to protect the blade108and does not function to guide the backsaw100. In particular, when the backsaw100including the guide104is used to split a carcass116, the backsaw is unguided and tends to drift laterally leading to an uneven cut. More particularly, the sloped edge208is not designed to keep the carcass116in position. For this reason, the carcass116may drift off center and out of alignment with the blade108when the backsaw100is in operation. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a backsaw attachment that, when pressed against a carcass, holds the carcass in position and thus guides the backsaw100.

SUMMARY

It is to be understood that the present invention includes a variety of different versions or embodiments, and this Summary is not meant to be limiting or all inclusive. This Summary provides some general descriptions of some of the embodiments, but may also include some more specific descriptions of certain embodiments.

The present invention is a guide for a backsaw for splitting a carcass. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the guide comprises a device that is interconnected to an existing backsaw. Alternatively, the guide may be integrally made with the body of the backsaw, or alternatively yet, otherwise interconnected to the backsaw. The device includes first and second guide members that traverse down first and second sides of the spine, respectively, as the backsaw is used to split the carcass. In operation, the operator of the backsaw orients the backsaw for essentially bisecting the spine in a longitudinal direction.

The guide is interconnected to the backsaw and pressed against the carcass, such that a first guide member is on one side of the spine and the second guide member is on the other side of the spine. The backsaw is then traversed along the length of the spine, and the blade of the backsaw longitudinally cuts the spine in two. During the process of cutting the spine, the guide members substantially maintain the blade in alignment with or sufficiently proximate the center of the spine, such that the spine is cut without meandering outside of the boundary of the spinal column.

In one embodiment of the invention, each guide member includes a wall and wing that extends laterally form the wall. Alternatively, the wings may be interconnected or otherwise attached to the backsaw directly without an associated wall.

In use, the front or top surface of the wing engages the carcass. The operator presses the guide against the back of the carcass as the saw cuts the spine in a longitudinal direction. The wings of the guide maintain the blade within the boundary of the spine as the spine is cut, thereby splitting the carcass.

The wings of the guide can have various shapes and curvatures designed to provide an optimal engagement with the carcass. In one embodiment, the guide members are interconnected by means of a lateral rod, and in such embodiments, the guide may be bolted, welded or otherwise attached to a blade guard portion of the backsaw.

Thus, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, a guide device for a backsaw having a bandsaw blade is provided, the backsaw used to cut a carcass longitudinally down a spine of the carcass, the device comprising: first and second curved members interconnected to the bandsaw, the first curved member located on a first lateral side of the bandsaw blade and the second curved member located on a second lateral side of the bandsaw blade; whereby the curved members are adapted to permit the backsaw to come into contact with the carcass so that the bandsaw blade is maintained substantially along the spine of the carcass when the carcass is split longitudinally. The guide device may further comprise walls attached to the curved members at an angle of at least 90 degrees. In addition, at least one lateral member may be provided to interconnect the walls.

A method of splitting a carcass is also provided as a separate aspect of the present invention. Thus, a method of splitting a carcass using a bandsaw is provided, the method comprising: aligning the bandsaw with a spine of the carcass; applying the bandsaw to cut the spine in a longitudinal direction; maintaining the bandsaw within the spine of the carcass by contacting a guide attached to the bandsaw to the carcass, the contacting comprising engaging portions of the carcass lateral to the spine with first and second carcass engaging surfaces of the guide, wherein the spine is received between the first and second carcass engaging surfaces, the carcass engaging surfaces being disposed at an angle from a reference plane, the reference plane being perpendicular to a plane of the saw; and extending cutting the spine until the carcass is split longitudinally. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the contacting comprises maintaining contact between said first and second carcass engaging surfaces and the carcass during at least 50% of the cutting operation. The method may include other steps.

Various embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the attached figures and in the detailed description of the invention as provided herein and as embodied by the claims. It should be understood, however, that this Summary may not contain all of the aspects and embodiments of the present invention, is not meant to be limiting or restrictive in any manner, and that the invention as disclosed herein is and will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to encompass obvious improvements and modifications thereto.

Additional advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following discussion, particularly when taken together with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is a device for guiding a backsaw longitudinally down the spine of a carcass, such as a beef carcass. With reference toFIG. 3A, a backsaw guide is generally identified by reference numeral300and is shown unattached to a blade guide112. The guide300includes first and second guide members304that are interconnected by means of a lateral rod308. The guide members304include substantially parallel side walls312that define a reference plane A-A that is perpendicular to the sides walls312, where plane A-A is defined by the underside or rear surfaces310of parallel side walls312. The guide members304also include wings or wing-like carcass engaging surfaces316that extend laterally from the parallel side walls312. Preferably, the surfaces316extend laterally for a distance of between about one and three inches. The carcass engaging surfaces316include first portions320that are substantially perpendicular to the reference plane A-A, and second portions324that are substantially parallel to the reference plane A-A. The carcass engaging surfaces316also include sloping portions328that provide a transition between the first portions320and the second portions324. The carcass engaging surfaces316are angled away from the side walls312at a separation angle318, where the separation angle318is greater than ninety degrees.FIG. 3Billustrates the guide300engaging a carcass116, and further shows the separation angle318.

Like the prior art blade guide guard104, the backsaw guide300can be mounted to the removable blade guide112of the backsaw100, such that the blade guide112is disposed between the two side walls312of the guide members304. The backsaw guide300is mounted to the blade guide112in an orientation such that the first portion320of the carcass engaging surface316is forward or towards the carcass. As used herein, the forward direction is defined as towards the carcass116and the rearward direction is defined as away from the carcass116.

The backsaw guide300serves to guide the backsaw100along the spine of the carcass116to provide a controlled split of the carcass116. In particular, the carcass engaging surfaces316of the guide member304engage the carcass116on either side of the spine, and the blade108, which is disposed between the guide members304, directly engages the spine. As the carcass engaging surfaces316are angled away from the side walls312of the guide members304at separation angle318, they operate to cradle the carcass116such that it is supported in a centered alignment with the blade108. During the split of the carcass116, the entirety of the carcass engaging surfaces316may engage the carcass116. However, at various times, the carcass may be in contact with only a portion of the carcass engaging surfaces316. For example, if the backsaw100is used to split the carcass116from top to bottom, as shown inFIG. 1, the first portions320may initially engage the carcass116. Thereafter, the entirety of the carcass engaging surfaces316may come in contact with the carcass116. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the carcass engaging surfaces contact the carcass during at least about 20 to 100% of the cutting operation, and more preferably between about 35 to 100% of the cutting operation, and more preferably yet, during at least 50% of the cutting operation.

Referring now toFIGS. 4 and 5, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown that is generally identified by reference numeral400. The present embodiment includes a rearward extension of the carcass engaging surfaces, as described in greater detail below.FIG. 4shows the backsaw guide400mounted to a blade guide112that is attached to a backsaw100. Only a portion of the backsaw100is illustrated inFIG. 4.FIG. 5shows a perspective view of the backsaw guide400mounted to a blade guide112that is not attached to a backsaw100. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, guide400includes first and second guide members404, and also preferably includes a means for interconnecting the members404, such as a lateral rod408.

Referring still toFIGS. 4 and 5, the guide members404are positioned on either side of a blade guide112. The blade guide112serves to guide the saw blade108within the backsaw100, while the guide400of the present invention serves to guide the backsaw100along the spine of the carcass116to provide a controlled split of the carcass down the longitudinal length of the carcass116. The guide members404are preferably fixedly secured to the blade guide112, such as by bolts. The blade guide112and the attached guide400are interconnected to the backsaw100, such as by using a tongue and groove connector432. WhileFIGS. 4 and 5illustrate the attachment of the guide400, it should be understood that a similar attachment is used in connection with guide300.

The guide members404include substantially parallel side walls412that define a reference plane A-A that is perpendicular to the sides walls412. The guide members404also include wing-like carcass engaging surfaces416that extend laterally from the substantially parallel side walls412. The carcass engaging surfaces416are angled away from the side walls412. Like the guide300shown inFIG. 3A, the carcass engaging surfaces416extend laterally from the side walls412for a distance of approximately one to three inches. Preferably, the carcass engaging surfaces416are positioned at a separation angle418of greater than 90 degrees, such as between 90 and 135 degrees away from the lateral side walls412. More preferably, the carcass engaging surfaces416are positioned at a separation angle418of between 95 and 115 degrees away from the lateral side walls412. More preferably still, the carcass engaging surfaces416are positioned at a separation angle418of between 97 and 112 degrees away from the lateral side walls412. Alternatively, the angle of the carcass engaging surfaces416may be defined with reference to a reference plane defined as being perpendicular to the plane of the backsaw blade108. Accordingly, the above ranges would be defined as between 0 and 45 degrees, 5 and 25 degrees, and 7 and 12 degrees, respectively, relative to the reference plane. While the above dimensions are described in connection with backsaw guide400, it should be understood that similar dimensions apply to backsaw guide300.

The present embodiment includes a rearward extension of the carcass engaging surfaces. Like the backsaw guide shown300shown inFIG. 3A, the carcass engaging surfaces416include a first portion420that is substantially perpendicular to the reference plane A-A, a second portion424that is substantially parallel to the reference place A-A, and sloping portions428that provide a transition between the first portion420and the second portion424. Additionally, the backsaw guide400includes rearward portions436of the carcass engaging surfaces416that are oriented substantially perpendicular to the reference plane A-A. The rearward or third portions436of the carcass engaging surfaces416provide a robust support for the carcass, particularly when steeper and wider carcass engaging surfaces416are employed.

Referring now toFIG. 6, a side elevation view of a guide member400is illustrated showing the various portions of one carcass engaging member404. The sloping portion428preferably slopes at a transition angle φ of about 10 to 40 degrees downward from the second portion424of the guide member404to a first portion420of the guide member404, and more preferably, the sloping portion428slopes at an angle φ of about 15 to 35 degrees downward from the second portion424of the guide member404to the first portion420of the guide member404, and more preferably yet, the sloping portion428slopes at an angle φ of about 20 to 30 degrees downward from second portion424of the guide member404to first portion420of the guide member404. While the above dimensions are described in connection with backsaw guide400, it should be understood that similar dimensions apply to backsaw guide300.

Referring now toFIG. 7, a bottom view of the guide400is shown. The side walls412of the guide members404can be seen bolted to the blade guide112using bolts700. A rear or back surface704of the blade guide116is substantially parallel to a front surface (both of which are substantially parallel to reference plane A-A), of the blade guide112and the sloping portions428of each guide member404is offset from the back surface704at an angle φ as described above.

Referring now toFIGS. 8 and 9, reverse angle rear perspective views of the guide400are shown in combination with the blade guide112. The angle of the sloping portions428can be seen relative to a back surface704of the blade guide112.

While two guides300and400are described herein, it should be understood that additional embodiments including differently shaped carcass engaging surfaces are considered with in the scope of the invention. In particular, it may be possible to optimize the shape of the carcass engaging surface by altering their curvature, length, width, steepness, and/or other characteristics to fit a particular application.

Backsaw guides of the present invention, including guide300and guide400, perform two functions during the splitting of a carcass116. First, the backsaw guides guard the blade and prevent it form being deflected into the blade guide112. This function is similar to the function of the prior art blade guide guard104. In addition to guarding the blade, backsaw guides of the present invention also maintain the carcass116in a centered alignment with the blade108.

The present invention may comprise a modification to an existing backsaw part. In particular, carcass engaging surfaces may be welded or otherwise attached to the blade guide guard104shown in shown inFIG. 2a. Alternatively, embodiments of the present invention, including guides300and400, may be a single manufactured part. The present invention is made form a durable materials such as cast iron, stainless steel, or high strength polymers.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, the guide members404do not comprise wheels.

By way of example and not limitation, all components of the invention described herein are preferably manufactured of a material appropriate for meat processing equipment. For example, the components can be made of stainless steel. However, it is to be understood that other types of materials may also be used, such as titanium or ceramics.