AN APPARATUS FOR BONING ANIMAL BONES, LIKE THIGHS OF SLAUGHTERED CHICKENS

Abstract: Apparatus for boning animal bones like thighs of slaughtered chickens where by the rectilinearly movable blades (19,20) and the damps (11,12) movable in a plane perpendicular to the blades are mechanically connected to one rotary driving means (15). A pan conveyor (22) may be connected to said rotary driving means.

Description: THE INVENTION RELATES TO AN APPARATUS FOR BONING ANIMAL BONES HAVING AT LEAST A JOINT AT ONE END, LIKE THIGHS OF SLAUGHTERED CHICKENS, SUBSTANTIALLY COMPRISING TWO BLADES RECTILINEARLY MOVABLE TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER WHICH CAN ENCIRCLE THE BONE AND A JOINT IN ORDER TO INCISE THE MEAT, TWO CLAMPS MOVABLE TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER WHICH MOREOVER ARE MUTUALLY RECTILINEARLY MOVABLE TO AND FROM IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE BLADES IN ORDER TO CLAMP A BONE END AND PULLING IT THROUGH THE BLADES, AND DRIVING MEANS FOR THE BLADES AND CLAMPS. SUCH AN APPARATUS IS KNOWN FROM US PATENT SPECIFICATION 4,495,675. THE KNOWN APPARATUS COMPRISES PNEUMATIC DRIVING MEANS FOR THE BLADES AND CLAMPS. THIS CAUSES GREAT DIFFICULTIES AS TO ADJUSTING THE RIGHT MOTION TIMES OF THE BLADES AND THE CLAMPS AND PROBLEMS AS TO MAINTAINING THE MOTION TIMES IN QUESTION. THE PRESENT INVENTION AIMS TO IMPROVE ON THE ABOVE. ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION THIS IS BASICALLY ACHIEVED IN THAT THE BLADES AND CLAMPS ARE MECHANICALLY CONNECTED TO ONE ROTARY DRIVING MEANS. FURTHERMORE A PAN CONVEYOR MAY HAVE BEEN MOUNTED WHICH IS ALSO MECHANICALLY CONNECTED TO THE SAME ROTARY DRIVING MEANS, IN WHICH CASE PREFERABLY ALSO A PUSHER IS MOUNTED PUSHING ONE BONE TO BE BONED BETWEEN THE CLAMPS AT EVERY STROKE. IN ORDER TO PUT THE MERIT OF THE INVENTION INTO PRACTICE, THE DRIVING MEANS CAN BE CONNECTED TO A CURVE DISK HAVING A CURVE GROOVE IN WHICH A CURVE ROLL EXTENDS WHICH IS CONNECTED TO A CARRYING BAR OF THE CLAMPS, SAID BAR BEING RECIPROCABLE IN A GUIDEWAY. ON THE CARRYING BAR A CLAMP HOLDER CAN BE MOUNTED IN WHICH A SHAFT CONNECTED WITH TWO PAIRS OF CARRYING PLATES FOR THE CLAMPS IS RECIPROCATABLE AGAINST A SPRING, WHILE A STOP AND A DUAL LEVER CAN HAVE BEEN APPLIED FOR ROTATING THE CLAMPS WITH RESPECT TO THE PISTON. FURTHERMORE THE DRIVING MEANS THROUGH A TRANSMISSION CAN BE CONNECTED TO A SECTOR DISK THAT CAN COOPERATE WITH THE LONGER SPREAD ARM OF A PANTOGRAPH SYSTEM FOR MOVING THE BLADES TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. A CAM CAN ROTATE WITH THE SECTOR DISK TO LET THE REAR JOINT OF THE BONE PASS THE BLADES. FINALLY THE DRIVING MEANS CAN BE CONNECTED THROUGH A COUPLING TO A CHAIN WHEEL OF THE PAN CONVEYOR. THE COUPLING CAN MAINLY CONSIST OF A CURVE WHEEL THAT MESHES ONLY DURING A PART OF ONE ROTATION WITH A WHEEL DISK. IN A COMPLETELY MECHANICALLY OPERATING VARIANT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION, THE PUSHER, IS REPLACED BY A LOADING ARM WHICH THROUGH A BAR STRUCTURE AND A CURVE ROLL, IS DRIVABLE BY A CURVE TRACK BEING MOUNTED ON THE UPPER SIDE OF THE CURVE DISK. ITS CURVE TRACK CAN CONSIST OF TWO RAILS WITH CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTION WHICH ARE SUPPORTED ON THE CURVE DISK BY BARS. THE EFFICIENCY OF SUCH AN APPARATUS CAN BE FURTHER IMPROVED BY THE IMPORTANT MEASURES THAT IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE PAN CONVEYOR SEEN BEFORE THE BLADES AND CLAMPS A MUSCLE STRIPPER HAVING VERTICAL BLADES IS MOUNTED,SAID MUSCLE STRIPPER BEING PROVIDED WITH A STRIPPING ARM, BRINGING ONE BONE TO BE STRIPPED PARTLY BETWEEN THE VERTICAL BLADES AT EVERY STROKE, AND IN THAT THE VERTICAL BLADES ARE PULLED TOGETHER BY A SPRING AND SPACED APART BY A WEDGE, IN WHICH THE MOTION OF THE WEDGE IS DERIVED FROM THE ROTATION OF THE DUAL LEVER. THE LOADING ARM AND THE STRIPPING ARM CAN BE CONNECTED TO THE PER­ TAINING BAR STRUCTURE THROUGH A HORIZONTAL SHAFT AND CAN BE PROVIDED WITH A STOP IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE ARMS CAN SLIDE OVER THE PAN CONVEYOR, EACH BAR STRUCTURE ALSO HAVING MEANS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LENGTH VARIATION OF THE BONES. NEAR THE BLADES AND CLAMPS A FOLDABLE SUPPORT PLATE CAN BE MOUNTED EXTENDING THE BOTTOM OF THE PANS OF THE PAN CONVEYOR BEFORE THE LOADINGARM MOVES A BONE TO THE CLAMPS. THE BLADES PREFERABLY COMPRISE ADJUSTABLE DAMPERS WHICH CAN COOPERATE WITH STOPS WHICH ARE FOLDABLE THROUGH A BAR STRUCTURE BY A CURVE ROLL MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT ON WHICH THE SECTOR DISK IS ALSO MOUNTED. FURTHERMORE A MECHANICAL DISCHARGER CAN BE MOUNTED WHICH IS DRIVABLE THROUGH A BAR STRUCTURE BEING OPERATED BY A RECESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CURVE DISK. THE INVENTION WILL BE FURTER ELUCIDATED HEREAFTER ON THE BASIS OF THE DRAWING, IN WHICH AS AN EXAMPLE AN EMBODIMENT OF AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION IS SHOWN. IN THE DRAWING: FIG. 1 SHOWS A PARTIALLY CROSS-SECTIONED AND SCHEMATIC SIDE VIEW OF A THIGH BONING APPARATUS, FIG. 2 SHOWS A SCHEMATIC TOP VIEW OF FIG. 1, FIG. 3 SHOWS A BOTTOM VIEW OF THE CURVE DISK, FIG. 4 SHOWS A CROSS-SECTION ALONG LINE IV-IV OF FIG. 3, FIG. 5 SHOWS A DIAGRAM FOR ELUCIDATING THE VARIOUS STAGES OF BONING WITH THE APPARATUS ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION, FIG. 6 SHOWS A REAR VIEW OF THE PANTOGRAPH SYSTEM FOR MOVING THE BLADES TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, FIG. 7 SHOWS A TOP VIEW OF FIG. 6, FIG. 8 A CROSS-SECTION ALONG LINE VIII-VIII OF FIG. 6, FIG. 9 SHOWS A TOP VIEW OF THE CLAMP MEANS, FIG. 10 SHOWS A CROSS-SECTION ALONG LINE X-X OF FIG. 9, FIG. 11 SHOWS A CROSS-SECTION ALONG LINE XI-XI OF FIG. 9, FIG. 12 SHOWS A BASIC SKETCH OF THE COUPLING OF THE PAN CONVEYOR, FIGS 13-15 SHOW THREE VIEWS OF THE CURVE WHEEL OF THE COUPLING OF FIG. 12, FIG. 16 SHOWS IN PERSPECTIVE A VIEW OF THE FINAL EMBODIMENT OF THE BONER WITH MUSCLE STRIPPER, MECHANICALLY DRIVEN ARMS AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS, FIG. 17 A PARTIALLY CROSS-SECTIONED AND SCHEMATIC SIDE VIEW OF THE THIGH BONING APPARATUS OF FIG. 16, FIG. 18 SHOWS A SCHEMATIC TOP VIEW IN FIG. 17, FIG. 19 SHOWS A BOTTOM VIEW OF THE CURVE DISK, FIG. 20 SHOWS A CROSS-SECTION ALONG XX OF FIG. 19, FIG. 21 SHOWS IN PERSPECTIVE A LOADING ARM AND STRIPPING ARM OF THE APPARATUS OF FIG. 16, FIG. 22 SHOWS VIEWS OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM VERTICAL BLADE RESPECTIVELY, FIG.23 SHOWS IN PERSPECTIVE THE DRIVING MEANS OF THE VERTICAL BLADES, FIG. 24 SHOWS A VIEW AS IN FIG. 6, FIG. 25 SHOWS A TOP VIEW OF FIG.24 , AND FIG. 26 A SCHEMATIC VIEW ALONG LINE XXVI -XXVI OF FIG.25. THE APPARATUS SHOWN IN FIGURES 1 AND 2 COMPRISES A BOX 3 OF LONGITUDINAL BEAMS 4, 5 AND TRANSVERSE BEAMS 6-8 BEING SUPPORTED BY LEGS 1 AND STRUTS 2. THE BOX HOUSES A CURVE DISK 9 FOR RECIPROCATING A CARRYING BAR 10 OF THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12. THESE HAVE BEEN INDICATED BY DRAWN LINES IN THEIR MOST WITHDRAWN POSITION AND BY DOTTED LINES IN THEIR POSITION CLOSEST BEHIND THE BLADES 19 AND 20 (FIG. 6-8) WHICH HAVE BEEN MOUNTED ON A FRONT PLATE 13 OF THE APPARATUS. OVER THE BOX 3 BETWEEN THE TRANSVERSE BEAMS 6 A COVER 14 IS MOUNTED IN WHICH A ROTARY DRIVING MEANS 15, E.G. AN ELECTRO MOTOR IS POSITIONED, AS WELL AS TRANSMISSIONS FURTHER TO BE EXPLAINED AND A COUPLING 6. ABOVE THE PORTION OF THE BOX 3 NOT COVERED BY COVER 14 A SECTOR DISK 18 MOUNTED ON THE EXTREMITY OF A SHAFT 17 IS VISIBLE WHICH IS PART OF THE CONTROL OF THE BLADES 19 AND 20 NOT SHOWN IN FIGS 1 AND 2 (FIGS 6 AND 7). THE COUPLING 16 TO BE FURTHER ELUCIDATED SERVES FOR PERIODICALLY DRIVING, THROUGH A DIFFERENTIAL GEAR 21 INDICATED BY STRIPE-­ DOTTED LINES, A PAN CONVEYOR 22 AT THE FRONT OF THE APPARATUS, I.E. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FRONT PLATE 13. THE PAN CONVEYOR 22 HAS PANS 23 HAVING TROUGH-SHAPED CROSS-­ SECTIONS, THE DIMENSIONS OF WHICH ARE ADJUSTED TO THE BONES TO BE PROCESSED. BETWEEN THE FRONT PLATE 13 AND THE PANS 23 THERE IS SPACE FOR THE CENTERING BLOCKS 24 AND 25 (FIGS 6 AND 7) NOT SHOWN IN FIGS 1 AND 2. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PAN CONVEYOR 22 A PUSHER 26 IS MOUNTED WHICH CAN PUSH A BONE FROM A PAN 23 BROUGHT INTO CORRECT POSITION BY THE PAN CONVEYOR INTO THE OPENED CLAMPS 11 AND 12. THE PORTION ABOVE THE BOX 3 BETWEEN THE FRONT PLATE 13 AND THE COVER 14 CAN BE CLOSED BY A LID (NOT SHOWN) BEING PIVOTABLY CONNECTED ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS TO THE COVER. ONLY THE PAN CONVEYOR 22 AND THE PUSHER 26 REMAIN VISIBLE DURING OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS. THE THIGHS TO BE BONED HAVE ONLY TO BE PLACED INTO THE PANS 23 AND THE APPARATUS TAKES CARE OF THE REST OF THE OPERATIONS FULLY AUTOMATICALLY. THE CURVE DISK 9 SHOWN IN FIGS 3 AND 4 HAS IN ITS BOTTOM PLANE A CURVE GROOVE 27, A CENTRAL BORE 28 BEING FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO A SHAFT 29 (FIGS 1 AND 2) OF THE DRIVING. THE CURVE GROOVE 27 COOPERATES WITH A CURVE ROLL 30 (FIG. 1) PROTRUDING UPWARDS FROM THE CARRYING BAR 10 RECIPROCATABLE IN THE BOX 3 THROUGH PAIRS OF ROLLS 31. AT THE FREE END OF THE CARRYING BAR 10 A CLAMP MEANS 32 IS MOUNTED, AND THUS THE CURVE DISK 9 SERVES TO RECIPROCATE THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12. ACCORDING TO FIGS 9 AND 10, THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12 DEFINE IN CLOSED POSITION A CLAMPING HOLE 34 IN WHICH THE BONE PAST THE ONE JOINT FITS. THEN SAID JOINT IS PUSHED AGAINST A CENTERING CUP 35 BY THE PUSHER 26. THE CENTERING CUP ALSO DEFINES A STOP ENSURING THAT THE BONE WILL NOT BE PUSHED TOO FAR INTO THE CLAMP, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO LOSS OF MEAT. TO REACH THE CENTERING CUP THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12 HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN OPEN. THIS WAS ESTABLISHED BECAUSE EACH CLAMP IS MOUNTED ON AN UPPER SHORT CARRYING PLATE 36, 37 AND A LOWER SHORT CARRYING PLATE 38, 39. THESE CARRYING PLATES 36-39 ARE ROTATABLY CONNECTED TO A SHAFT 40 BEING MOVABLE AGAINST SPRING 41 LOAD IN THE CLAMP MEANS 32. THE EXTREMITIES OF THE LONG CARRYING PLATES 39, 39 CARRY A SLIDING BLOCK 42 THAT CAN MOVE THROUGH A GROOVE 43 IN THE LOWEST (45) OF TWO GUIDE PLATES 44, 45 SITUATED IN THE EXTENSION OF THE CLAMP CYLINDER 32. THE GUIDE PLATES 44 AND 45 CAN ALSO BE PART OF AN INTEGRALLY FORMED GUIDE BLOCK FOR THE CLAMP 11, 12. IF AT A CERTAIN MOMENT THE UPPER SHORT CARRYING PLATES 36 TOUCH UPON AN ADJUSTABLE STOP 46 (FIG. 1) WITHIN THE BOX 3, THEN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE GUIDE PLATES 44, 45 AND THE CARRYING PLATES 36-39 WILL DECREASE AND THEN THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12 OPEN. RETURNING TO FIG. 3 AND STARTING FROM POSITION 0° IN THE DIRECTION OF ARROW A THE FOLLOWING DETAILS OF THE CURVE GROOVE 27 CAN BE ESTABLISHED: - UP TO SECTION B THE LOADING TAKES PLACE, I.E. THE OPERATION OF OF THE PUSHER 26, - IN SECTION B THE CLOSING OF THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12 TAKES PLACE, - JUST AFTER SECTION B, THE BLADES 19, 20 SLAM TOGETHER IN A MANNER FURTHER TO BE ELUCIDATED, THEN THE ACTUAL BONING FOLLOWS UP TO POSITION 180°. NOW CLAMPS 11 AND 12 WILL HAVE TO BE REOPENED TO RELEASE THE BONE STRIPPED OF ITS MEAT. THIS IS PERFORMED BY THE DUAL LEVER 49 VISIBLE IN FIG. 2 WHICH CAN ROTATE ABOUT A SHAFT 50 MOUNTED ON THE TRANSVERSE BEAM. WHEN THE SHORT PORTION 51 OF THE LEVER 49 IS PUSHED BACKWARDS BY AN ADJUSTABLE STOP 52 OF GUIDE PLATE 44, A LONGER PORTION 53 NATURALLY ROTATES ALSO AND THEN PUSHES AGAINST A ROLL 54 BEING MOUNTED UNDER ONE OF THE SLIDING BLOCKS 42, SO THAT THE SAME EFFECT IS ESTABLISHED AS IF THE CARRYING PLATES TOUCH UPON THE STOP 46. RETURNING AGAIN TO FIG. 3, THE FOLLOWING DETAILS CAN ALSO BE ESTABLISHED: - BETWEEN POSITION 180° AND SECTION C THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12 OPEN. - IN SECTION C THE CLAMPS REMAIN OPEN AND THE BONE FALLS FROM THE CLAMPS, WITH WHICH POSSIBLY A (NOT SHOWN) DISCHARGING CYLINDER CAN BE OF ASSISTENCE, - AFTER SECTION C THE CARRYING BAR 10 WITH THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12 MOVES FORWARD AGAIN AND THE CLAMPS ARE CLOSED, AND - JUST BEFORE REACHING POSITION 0° THE CARRYING PLATES TOUCH UPON STOP 46 AGAIN AND THE CLAMPS OPEN. SECTIONS 8 AND C CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN THE DIAGRAM OF FIG 5 FURTHERMORE THE RELATION BETWEEN THE MOTION OF THE CLAMPS 11, 12 AND THE BLADES 19, 20 CAN BE DERIVED FROM IT. THERE THE REMAINING CHARACTERS HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANING: D= COMMENCE BONING, E= BLADES OPEN SLIGHTLY IN ORDER TO LET THE REAR JOINT THROUGH, F= BLADES CLOSE BEHIND THE FIRST JOINT, G= BLADES BEGIN TO OPEN, AND H= BLADES ARE COMPLETELY OPEN. THE MECHANICAL DRIVING OF THE BLADES 19 AND 20 WILL NOW BE ELUCI­ DATED ON THE BASIS OF FIGURES 1, 2 AND 6-8. THE OUTGOING SHAFT 55 (FIG. 2) OF THE MOTOR 15 BEARS A SMALL PULLEY 56. THE SHAFT 29 BEARING AT ITS BOTTOM END CURVE DISK 9, IS PART OF A WORM WHEEL BOX 57 WITH AN INGOING SHAFT 58 BEARING A LARGER PULLEY 59. A STRING 60 IS PLACED ABOUT THE PULLEYS 56 AND 59. AT THE TOP END OF SHAFT 29 A CHAIN WHEEL 61 IS MOUNTED, BEING CONNECTED THROUGH A CHAIN 62 TO A CHAIN WHEEL 63 OF A SQUARE GEARBOX 64 BEING CONNECTED THROUGH A UNIVERSAL JOINT 65 AND THE COUPLING 16 TO THE SHAFT 17 ON WHICH THE SECTOR DISK 18 IS MOUNTED. THE BLADES 19 AND 20 HAVE FACING CUTTING EDGES WITH AN APPEARANCE BEING ADJUSTED IN THE USUAL MANNER TO THAT OF THE BONES TO BE PROCESSED, AND THEY ARE RELEASABLY CONNECTED TO BLADE CARRIERS 66, 67 BEING ABLE TO MOVE RECTILINEARLY TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER BETWEEN PAIRS OF UPPER AND LOWER GUIDING ROLLS 68 PROTRUDING FROM THE FRONT PLATE 13. THE BLADE CARRIERS 66, 67 ARE LOADED TOWARDS EACH OTHER BY A TENSION SPRING (NOT SHOWN). CATCHING ROLLS 69 PROTRUDE FROM THE BLADE CARRIERS 66, 67, SAID ROLLS BEING ABLE TO COOPERATE WITH SPREAD ARMS 70, 71. THE LONGER SPREAD ARM 70 BEARS AT ITS TOP END A SPREADING ROLL 72 THAT CAN COOPERATE WITH THE CURVE DISK 18, (FIG. 2) AND IS ABOUT MIDLENGTH ROTATABLY SUPPORTED IN A BEARING 73 MOUNTED TO THE FRONT PLATE 13. THE SHORTHER SPREAD ARM 71 IS AT ITS TOP END ROTATABLY SUPPORTED IN A BEARING 74 MOUNTED TO THE FRONT PLATE 13. BOTH SPREAD ARMS 70 AND 71 ARE CONNECTED TO A COUPLE BAR 75 IN SUCH A WAY THAT IF THE SECTOR DISK 18 TOUCHES UPON THE ROLL 72, BOTH BLADES 19 AND 20 SUBSTANTIALLY COVER THE SAME TRACK IN THE DIRECTION OF OPENING. IF THE SECTOR DISK 18 IS DISENGAGED FROM THE SPREAD ROLL 72, THE TENSION SPRING (NOT SHOWN) CAUSES THE BLADES TO CLOSE AGAIN. SUCH A MECHANISM CAN BE CALLED A PANTOGRAPHMECHANISM. ON THE SHAFT 17 A CAM 76 (FIG. 6) IS ALSO MOUNTED WHICH SLIGHTLY OPENS TO LET THROUGH THE REAR JOINT OF THE BONE (SECTION E OF FIG 5). AT THE FRONT SIDE OF THE FRONT PLATE 13 IN FIGS 7 AND 8 THE AIR CYLINDERS 77 AND 78 ARE ALSO VISIBLE OPERATING THE CENTERING BLOCKS 24 AND 25, HOWEVER, THESE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE ACTUAL SUBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION: MECHANICALLY DRIVING THE CLAMPS 11, 12, AND BLADES 19, 20. THE CENTERING BLOCKS HAVE BEEN MOUNTED BECAUSE MOST OF THE MEAT IS FOUND ON THE JOINT TO BE STUCK IN THIS IS THEN STRIPPED, SO THAT IT IS NOT LOST. A METHOD WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION TO MECHANICALLY ESTABLISH THE ABOVE WILL BE ELUCIDATED ON THE BASIS OF FIGS 16 FF. HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL SOMETHING SUITABLE FOR MECHANICAL DRIVING, VIZ. THE DRIVING OF THE PAN CONVEYOR 22 AND THIS DRIVING WILL BE ELUCIDATED ON THE BASIS OF FIGS 1, 2 AND 12-15. THE DIFFERENTIAL GEAR 21 OBVIOUSLY ONLY HAS TO ROTATE PART OF ONE ROTATION WITH ONE ROTATION OF THE SHAFTS 17 AND 29 (FIG. 2). THIS IS ACHIEVED WITH THE COUPLING 16. FIG. 12 SHOWS THE PRINCIPLE OF COUPLING 16. ON THE CONTINUOUSLY ROTATING SHAFT 17 FOR DRIVING THE SECTOR DISK 18 IS A CURVE WHEEL 79 ON THE INTERMITTINGLY ROTATING SHAFT 80 CONNECTED THROUGH A CHAIN TRANSMISSION 81 (FIG. 1) TO THE DIFFERENTIAL TRANSMISSION 21 FOR DRIVING THE PAN CONVEYOR 22, IS A WHEEL DISK 82. THE WHEEL DISK 82 CARRIES ON ITS ONE SIDE FIVE FRONT WHEELS 83 SPACED APART AT REGULAR ANGULAR DISTANCES ALONG ITS PERIPHERY AND ON THE OTHER SIDE FIVE REAR WHEELS 84 POSITIONED EXACTLY INBETWEEN THE FRONT WHEELS. THE CURVE WHEEL 79 HAS A FRONT PORTION 85 WITH A SMALL DIAMETER CARRYING A RECESS 88 WHICH CAN COME EXACTLY BETWEEN TWO FRONT WHEELS AND THEN TURN THE CURVE WHEEL 79 OVER ONE TENTH OF A REVOLUTION. THE CURVE WHEEL 79 HAS A REAR PORTION 87 WITH LARGER DIAMETER HAVING A RECESS 88 WHICH CAN MESH WITH A REAR WHEEL 84. CON­ SEQUENTLY THE PROTRUSION 86 FIRSTLY PUSHES WHEEL 83 AWAY, SO THAT DISK 82 CAN ROTATE WHEEL 84 THEN ROTATES INTO RECESS 88, PROTRUSION 86 ROTATES THE WHEEL DISK 82 OVER ONE-TENTH OF A REVOLUTION, WHEREUPON SURFACE A (FIG. 15) TAKES OVER AND ROTATES THE WHEEL DISK STILL ONE-TENTH REVOLUTION, SO THAT IT IS IN FACT ROTATED OVER ONE-FIFTH REVOLUTION. AFTER THIS ROTATION OF DISK 82, AGAIN TWO WHEELS 84 ROTATE AGAINST PORTION 87, SO THAT DISK 82 CANNOT ROTATE ANYMORE. THE CURVE WHEEL 79 HAS A DRILLED-THROUGH BORE 89 AND A PAIR OF SECURING HOLES 90 FOR SECURING IT TO THE SHAFT 17. FIG. 16 SHOWS AN APPARATUS IN OPERATION. I.E. THAT ALMOLST ALL THE MOVING PARTS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LOADING PLACE OF THE PAN CONVEYOR 22 ARE OBSCURED FROM OBSERVATION BY LIDS AND COVERS. THE CURVE OF THE PAN CONVEYOR IS SCREENED OFF BY A CURVE SCREEN 101 FOR SECURITY S SAKE. THE APPARATUS SHOWN IN FIGS 17 AND 18 COMPRIMES A BOX 3 OF LONGITUDINAL BEAMS 4, 5 AND TRANSVERSE BEAMS 6-8, BEING SUPPORTED BY LEGS 1 AND STRUTS 2 IN WHICH THE TRANSVERSE BEAM CONTRARY TO FIG. 2 I INTERRUPTED FOR LETTING A BAR STRUCTURE STILL TO BE DISCUSSED, PASS. THE BOX HOUSES A CURVE DISK 9 FOR RECIPROCATING A CARRYING BAR 10 OF THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12. THESE HAVE BEEN INDICATED BY DRAWN LINES IN THEIR MOST WITHDRAWN POSITION AND BY DOTTED LINES IN THEIR POSITION CLOSEST BEHING THE BLADES 19 AND 20 (FIG. 24 AND 25) WHICH HAVE BEEN MOUNTED ON A FRONT PLATE 13 OF THE APPARATUS. OVER THE BOX 3 BETWEEN THE TRANSVERSE BEAMS 6 AND 7 A COVER 14 IS MOUNTED IN WHICH A ROTARY DRIVING MEANS 15, E.G. AND ELECTRO MOTOR IS POSITIONED, AS WELL AS TRANSMISSIONS FURTHER TO BE EXPLAINED AND A COUPLING 16. ABOVE THE PORTION OF THE BOX 3 NOT COVERED BY COVER 14 A SECTOR DISK 18 MOUNTED ON THE EXTREMITY OF A SHAFT 17 IS VISIBLE WHICH IS PART OF THE CONTROL OF THE BLADES 19 AND 20 (FIGS 24 AND 25) NOT SHOWN IN FIGS 17 AND 18. THE COUPLING 16 TOT BE FURTHER ELUCIDATED SERVES FOR PERIODICALLY DRIVING, THROUGH A DIFFERENTIAL GEAR 21 INDICATED BY STRIPE-DOTTED LINES, A PAN CONVEYOR 22 AT THE FRONT OF THE APPARATUS, I.E. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FRONT PLATE 13. THE PAN CONVEYOR 22 HAS PANS 23 HAVING THROUGH-SHAPED CROSS-SECTIONS, THE DIMENSIONS OF WHICH ARE ADJUSTED TO THE B0NES TO BE PROCESSED. ON THE OUTER SIDE OF THE PAN CONVEYOR 22 A LOADING ARM 26 IS MOUNTED WHICH CAN TRANSFER A BONE FROM A PAN 23 BROUGHT INTO CORRECT POSITION BY THE PAN CONVEYOR INTO THE OPENED CLAMPS 11 AND 12. THE PORTION ABOVE THE BOX 3 BETWEEN THE FRONT PLATE 13 AND THE COVER 14 CAN BE CLOSED 8Y A LID 102 CONNECTED TO THE COVER 14; AND THE PORTION BEYOND THE LID BY A PROTECTIVE HOUSING 103. THE ONLY THING REMAINING VISIBLE DURING OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS IS THE PAN CONVEYOR 22. THE THIGHS TO BE BONED HAVE ONLY TO BE PLACED INTO THE PANS 23 AND THE APPARATUS TAKES CARE OF THE REST OF THE OPERA­ TION FULLY AUTOMATICALLY. THE CURVE DISK SHOWN IN FIGS 19 AND 20 HAS IN ITS B0TTOM PLANE A CURVE GROOVE 27, A CENTRAL BORE 28 BEING FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO A SHAFT 29 (FIGS 17 AND 18) OF THE DRIVING. THE CURVE GROOVE 27 COOPERATES WITH A CURVE ROLL 30 (FIG. 17) PROTRUDING UPWARDS FROM THE CARRYING BAR 10 RECIPROCATABLE IN THE BOX 3 THROUGH PAIRS OF ROLLS 31. AT THE FREE END OF THE CARRYING BAR 10 A CLAMP MEANS 32 IS MOUNTED, AND THUS THE CURVE DISK 9 SERVES TO RECIPROCATE THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12. THE CURVE DISK 9 SHOWN IN FIGS 19 AND 20 HAS IN ITS UPPER PLANE A CURVE TRACK 104 COMPRISING AN OUTER RAIL 105 AND AN INNER RAIL 106 EACH RESTING ON THE CURVE DISK 9 BY MEANS OF BARS 107. BETWEEN THE TWO RAILS RUNS A CURVE ROLL 108 (FIG. 17) BEING CONNECTED THROUGH A BAR STRUCTURE 109 THE PUSHER 26 WHICH NOW IS EMBODIED AS A LOA­ DING ARM. THE BAR 110 CARRYING THE CURVE ROLL 108 IS CONNECTED TO THE BOX 3 VIA A RACKETT 111 AND THE HORIZONTAL BAR 112 RECIPROCATES THE LOADING ARM 26 WHICH IS SUPPORTED IN A GUIDE 113 (FIG. 18) ON THE FRONT PLATE 13. ON THE BASIS OF FIG. 21, THE LOADING ARM SUSPENSION WILL BE EXPLAINED IN MORE DETAIL. YOU ARE REMINDED THAT THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12 IN FIGS 9 AN 10 IN THEIR CLOSED POSITION DEFINE A CLAMPING HOLE 34 IN WHICH THE BONE FITS PAST THE BIG JOINT. THEN SAID JOINT IS PUSHED AGAINST THE CENTERING CUP 35 BY THE LOADING ARM 26, AFTER THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12 HAVE BEEN OPENED IN THE EARLIER-DESCRIBED MANNER. RETURNING TO FIG. 19, STARTING FROM THE POSITION 0° IN THE DIRECTION OF ARROW A THE FOLLOWING DETAILS OF THE CURVE GROOVE 27 CAN BE ESTABLISHED - UP TO SECTION B THE LOADING TAKES PLACE. I.E. THE OPERATION OF THE LOADING ARM 26. - IN SECTION B THE CLOSING OF THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12 TAKES PLACE, - JUST AFTER SECTION B, THE BLADES 19, 20 SLAM TOGETHER IN A MANNER FURTHER TO 8E ELUCIDATED, THEN THE ACTUAL BONING FOLLOWS UP TO POSITION 180°. NOW CLAMPS 11 AND 12 WILL HAVE TO BE REOPENED TO RELEASE THE BONE STRIPPED OF ITS MEAT. THIS IS PERFORMED BY THE DUAL LEVER 49 VISIBLE IN FIG. 18 WHICH CAN ROTATE ABOUT A SHAFT 50 MOUNTED ON THE TRANSVERSE BEAM 7. WHEN THE SHORT PORTION 51 OF THE LEVER 49 IS PUSHED BACKWARD BY AN ADJUSTABLE STOP 52 OF CLAMP MEANS 32, A LONGER PORTION 53 NATURALLY ROTATES ALSO AND THEN PUSHES AGAINST A ROLL 54 (FIG. 17) BEING MOUNTED UNDER ONE OF THE SLIDING BLOCKS 42. AGAIN RETURNING TO FIG. 19 THE FOLLOWING DETAILS CAN ALSO BE ESTABLISHED; - BETWEEN POSITION 180° AND SECTION C THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12 OPEN, - IN SECTION C THE CLAMPS REMAIN OPEN AND THE BONE FALLS FROM THE CLAMPS, WITH WHICH POSSIBLY A (NOT SHOWN) DISCHARGER CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS OPERATED THROUGH A BAR STRUCTURE AND A ROLL BY A RECESS 114 UNDER THE CURVE DISK 9, - AFTER SECTION C THE CARRYING BAR 10 WITH THE CLAMPS 11 AND 12 MOVES FORWARD AGAIN AND THE CLAMPS ARE CLOSED, AND - JUST BEFORE REACHING POSITION 0° THE CLAMPS OPEN AGAIN. THE MECHANICAL DRIVING OF THE BLADES 19 AND 20 WILL NOW BE ELUCIDATED ON THE BASIS OF FIGS 17, 18, 24 AND 25. THE OUTGOING SHAFT 55 (FIG. 18) OF THE MOTOR 15 BEARS A SMALL PULLEY 56. THE SHAFT 29 BEARING AT ITS BOTTOM END CURVE DISK 9, IS PART OF A WORM WHEEL BOX 57 WITH AN INGOING SHAFT 58 BEARING A LARGER PULLEY 59. A STRING 60 IS PLACED ABOUT THE PULLEYS 56 AND 59. AT THE TOP END OF SHAFT 29 A CHAIN WHEEL 61 IS MOUNTED, BEING CONNECTED THROUGH A CHAIN 62 TO A CHAIN WHEEL 63 OF A SQUARE GEARBOX 64 BEING CONNECTED THROUGH A SHAFT 65 AND THE COUPLING 16 IS CONNECTED TO THE SHAFT 17 ON WHICH THE SECTOR DISK 18 IS MOUNTED. THE BLADES 19 AND 20 HAVE IN FIG. 24 FACING CUTTING EDGES WITH AN APPEARANCE BEING ADJUSTED IN THE USUAL MANNER TO THAT OF THE BONES TO BE PROCESSED, AND THEY ARE RELEASABLY CONNECTED TO BLADE CARRIERS 66, 67 BEING ABLE TO MOVE RECTILINEARLY TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER BETWEEN PAIRS OF UPPER AND LOWER GUIDING ROLLS 68 PROTRUDING FROM THE FRONT PLATE 13. THE BLADE CARRIERS 66, 67 ARE LOADED TOWARDS EACH OTHER BY A TENSION SPRING 115. CATCHING ROLLS 69 PROTRUDE FROM THE BLADE CARRIERS 66, 67, SAID ROLLS BEING ABLE TO COOPERATE WITH SPREAD ARMS 70, 71. THE LONGER SPREAD ARM 70 BEARS AT ITS TOP END A SPREADING ROLL 72 THAT CAN COOPERATE WITH THE CURVE DISK 18, (FIG. 18) AND IS ABOUT MIDLENGHT ROTATABLY SUPPORTED IN A BEARING 73 MOUNTED TO THE FRONT PLATE 13. THE SHORTER SPREAD ARM 71 IS AT ITS TOP END ROTATABLY SUPPORTED IN A BEARING 74 MOUNTED TO THE FRONT PLATE 13. BOTH SPREAD ARMS 70 AND 71 ARE CONNECTED TO A COUPLE BAR 75 IN SUCH A WAY THAT IF THE SECTOR DISK 18 TOUCHES UPON THE ROLL 72, BOTH BLADES 19 AND 20 SUBSTANTIALLY COVER THE SAME DISTANCE IN THE DIRECTION OF OPENING. IF THE SECTOR DISK 18 IS DISENGAGED FROM THE SPREAD ROLL 72, THE TENSION SPRING 115 CAUSES THE BLADES TO CLOSE AGAIN. SUCH A MECHANISM CAN BE CALLED A PANTOGRAPHMECHANISM. ON THE SHAFT 17 A CAM 76 (FIG.24) IS ALSO MOUNTED WHICH SLIGHTLY OPENS THE BLADES TO LET THROUGH THE REAR JOINT OF THE BONE (SEE SECTION E OF FIG. 5). THE MECHANICAL DRIVING OF THE PAN CONVEYOR 22 IS IN THIS EMBODI­ MENT OF THE APPARATUS IDENTICAL TO WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED ON THE BASIS OF FIGS 12-15. AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO DESCRIBED EMBODIMENTS IS FOUND IN ADDING A SO-CALLED MUSCLE STRIPPER 116 AND THIS WILL BE ELUCIDATED ON THE BASIS OF FIGS 18 AND 21-23. THE FUNCTION OF THE MUSCLE STRIPPER IS TO PREVENT THE BLADES 19, 20 FROM CUTTING INTO THE MEAT, WHICH WOULD DECREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE APPARATUS WITH RESPECT TO THE QUOTIENT OF THE WEIGHTS OF THE REMOVED TO REMOVABLE MEAT. HOWEVER, THIS DOES ENTAIL THAT THE TOUGH KNEE CAP MASS WHICH IS NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION REMAINS ALSO ATTACHED TO THE MEAT FOR THE MOMENT, BUT SAID MASS CAN EASILY BE REMOVED BY HAND DURING THE FINAL CHECK WHICH IS NECESSARY ANYWAY. AN ADDED ADVANTAGE OF APPLYING THE MUSCLE STRIPPER IS THAT THE CLAMPS HAVE BETTER GRIP ON A BONE WITHOUT MEAT THAN ON A BONE WITH MEAT. THE PART IN QUESTION IS CALLED A MUSCLE STRIPPER, BECAUSE THE TOUGH KNEE CAP MASS IS CONNECTED TO THE BONE BY A THICK MUSCLE AND MEMBRANE. THE MUSCLE STRIPPER 116 COMPRISES IN FIG. 18 A STRIPPING ARM 117 HAVING SIMILARITIES WITH THE LOADING ARM 26 AND WHICH THROUGH A BAR STRUCTURE 118 IS DRIVEN BY A CRANK 120 ITSELF BEING MADE TO ROTATE BY A CHAIN 121 WHICH IS DRIVEN BY A CHAIN WHEEL BEING PLACED ON THE CENTRAL SHAFT 29. THE BAR STRUCTURE 118 IS SUPPORTED ON THE FRONT PLATE 13 BY A GUIDE 119 BEING IDENTICAL TO THE GUIDE 113 FOR THE LOADING ARM 26. THE ARMS 26 AND 117 AND THE GUIDES 113 AND 119 WILL BE FURTHER DISCUSSED ON THE BASIS OF FIG. 21, IN WHICH ALSO ONE OF THE VERTICAL BLADES 122 IS VISIBLE WHICH ARE DRIVEN IN THE MANNER WHICH WILL BE ELUCIDATED ON THE BASIS OF FIG. 23. FIG. 21 SHOWS ALSO THAT THE ARMS 26 AND 117 EACH HAVE A PLATE 127 ROTATABLE ABOUT A HORIZONTAL SHAFT 126. THE CORRECT POSITION OF THE PLATES 127 IS ADJUSTABLE BY AN ADJUSTABLE STOP 128 BEING CONNECTED TO THE SLIDE, AND THE PLATES ARE LOADED BY SPRINGS (NOT VISIBLE) ACCORDING TO THE ADJUSTED POSITON. IF A PLATE OF AN ARM 26 OR 117 WOULD NOT HAVE MOVED BACK SUFFICIENTLY BEFORE THE PAN CONVEYOR STARTS TO MOVE, THEN THE PLATE 127 CAN ROTATE OVER THE PANS 23. BAR STRUCTURES 109 AND 119 ALSO SHOW A TUBULAR THICKENING 152 WHICH HOUSES A SPRING WHICH IS ADAPTED TO COMPENSATE THE LENGTH VARIATIONS OF THE BONES. THE UPPER BLADE 122 WHICH IS HARD TO SEE IN FIG. 21 IS CONNECTED TO A BOW 129 BETTER VISIBLE THERE. THE UPPER BLADE 122 IS GUIDED ON THE FRONT PLATE 13 BETWEEN TWO WELDED-ON ANGULAR STRIPS 130 (ONLY ONE OF WHICH IS VISIBLE IN FIG. 21) AND THIS ALSO HOLDS GOOD FOR A VERTICAL LOWER BLADE 131. BOTH VERTICAL BLADES 122 AND 131 ARE PULLED TOGETHER BY A SPRING 132 SO AS TO DETERMINE THE CLOSED POSITION OF THE BLADES. IN SAID CLOSED POSITION THE GREATER END OF A BONE IS PUSHED BETWEEN THE SPECIALLY FORMED EDGES OF THE BLADES 122 AND 131 BY THE PLATE 127 OF THE MUSCLE STRIPPER 116. SUBSEQUENTLY THE BLADES HAVE TO BE OPENED TO LET THE END OF A BONE LYING IN A PAN 23 PASS THROUGH IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PLATE 127 IN FRONT OF THE CLAMPS 11, 12. SAID OPENING OF THE VERTICAL BLADES 122 AND 131 IS ATTAINED IN THE MANNER SHOWN IN FIGS 18 AND 22 BY PUSHING A WEDGE 133 BETWEEN TWO PINS 153, 154 BEING CONNECTED TO THE UPPER BLADE 122 AND THE LOWER BLADE 131 RESPECTIVELY. SAID WEDGE 133 IS POSITIONED AT THE END OF A BAR STRUCTURE 134 WHICH IS LEAD INTO A SLEEVE 135 BEING CONNECTED TO THE TRANSVERSE BEAM 8, AND WHICH IS DRIVEN BY AN EXTRA ARM 136 CONNECTED TO THE SHAFT 50 AND WHICH CAUSES THE BAR STRUCTURE TO MOVE AGAINST A SPRING (137) LOAD. CONSEQUENTLY THE MUSCLE STRIPPER 116 PUSHES THE JOINT THROUGH THE VERTICAL BLADES 122 AND 131, SO THAT THE VERY THICK MUSCLE AND THE HARD WEB AND THE MEAT WITH SEVERAL AFFIXTURES ARE STRIPPED OFF SAID JOINT. AFTER THIS TREATMENT THE MEAT REMAINS ON THE BONE IN A MORE BACKWARD POSITION, SO THAT THE JOINT CAN EFFECTIVELY BE GRIPPED. THE HORIZONTAL BLADES 19, 20 NOW CLOSE IN FRONT OF THE MEAT AND THUS DO NOT CUT INTO THE MEAT. BETWEEN THE MUSCLE STRIPPER 116 AND THE HORIZONTAL BLADES 19, 20 THE JOINTS OF THE BONES PROTRUDE FROM THE PANS 23 OF THE PAN CONVEYOR AND IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE BONES FROM ROLLING OUT, A HORIZONTAL SUPPORT PLATE 138 (FIG. 18) IS MOUNTED IN THAT SECTION. FOR THE HORIZONTAL BLADES 19, 20 THEMSELVES THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PANS 23 AND THE BLADES 19, 20 IS COVERED BY A FOLDABLE SUPPORT PLATE 139 (FIG. 17)WHICH THROUGH A BAR STRUCTURE 140 IS DRIVEN BY A STOP 141 ON THE GUIDE PLATE 44 (FIG. 18). THE FOLDABLE SUPPORT PLATE 139 RETURNS TO ITS SUSPENDED POSITION UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A SPRING 142 (FIG. 17). BECAUSE THE BLADES 19, 20 PRODUCE A LOT OF NOISE NUISANCE AT CLOSING AND ALSO SUSTAIN WEAR ON ACCOUNT OF IMPACT EFFECT, A DAMP CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN MOUNTED WHICH WILL BE FURTHER ELUCIDATED ON THE BASIS OF FIGS 24-26. THE BLADE CARRIERS 66, 67 ARE PROVIDED WITH SUPPORTS 143 (FIG. 25) ON WHICH ADJUSTABLE STOPS 144 ARE MOUNTED. WHEN CLOSING THE BLADES 19 AND 20 THE STOPS ENGAGE DAMPERS 145 WHICH ARE MOUNTED ON THE LEVERS 146 (FIG. 26) WHICH CAN ROTATE ABOUT A SHAFT 147 CONNECTED TO THE BOX 3. ONE OF THE LEVERS 146 IS FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO A ROLL 148 RUNNING IN A CURVE WHEEL 149 BEING MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT 17 ON WHICH THE SECTOR DISK 18 IS ALSO MOUNTED. BOTH THE LEVERS HAVE BEEN INTEGRATED BY A HORIZONTAL COUPLE BAR 150. AFTER THE DAMPERS 145 AND STOPS 144 HAVE PERFORMED THEIR DUTY, THE DAMPERS ARE FOLDED AWAY AND THE BLADES 19 AND 20 TOUCH UPON THE BONE. THE SHAFT 147 IS SUPPORTED ON AN EXTRA TRANSVERSE BEAM 151 WHICH ALSO SUPPORTS THE SLEEVE 135 (FIG. 23). TO MAKE SURE THAT NO BONE REMAINS IN THE CLAMPS 11, 12 AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN OPENED, FINALLY A MECHANICAL DISCHARGER CAN BE MOUNTED WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE RECESS 114 ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE CURVE DISK 9 (FIG. 19). FOR CLARITY'S SAKE THIS DISCHARGER HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE DRAWINGS. THUS AN ENTIRELY MECHANICALLY OPERATING APPARATUS IS OBTAINED, WHICH, IF DESIGNED FOR BONING THIGHS OF POULTRY, CAN HAVE A CAPACITY OF ABOUT 1250 BONES PER HOUR. REMOVING THE THIGHS CAN TAKE PLACE ON A CONVEYOR BELT (NOT SHOWN). OTHER EMBODIMENTS THAN THOSE SHOWN IN THE DRAWINGS CAN ALSO BE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION.

Claims: 1. AN APPARATUS FOR BONING ANIMAL BONES HAVING AT LEAST A JOINT AT ONE END, LIKE THIGHS OF SLAUGHTERED CHICKENS, SUBSTANTIALLY COMPRISING TWO BLADES RECTILINEARLY MOVABLE TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER WHICH CAN ENCIRCLE THE BONE AND A JOINT IN ORDER TO INCISE THE MEAT, TWO CLAMPS MOVABLE TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER WHICH MOREOVER ARE MUTUALLY RECTILINEARLY MOVABLE TO AND FROM IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE BLADES IN ORDER TO CLAMP A BONE END AND PULLING IT THROUGH THE BLADES, AND DRIVING MEANS FOR THE BLADES AND CLAMPS, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE BLADES (19, 20) AND CLAMPS (11, 12) ARE MECHANICALLY CONNECTED TO ONE ROTARY DRIVING MEANS (15). 2. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT A PAN CONVEYOR (22) IS MOUNTED WHICH IS ALSO MECHANICALLY CONNECTED TO THE SAME ROTARY DRIVING MEANS (15), AND THAT A PUSHER (26) IS MOUNTED PUSHING ONE BONE TO BE BONED BETWEEN THE CLAMPS (11, 12) AT EVERY STROKE. 3. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE DRIVING MEANS (15) IS CONNECTED TO A CURVE DISK (9) HAVING A CURVE GROOVE (27) IN WHICH A CURVE ROLL (30) EXTENDS WHICH IS CONNECTED TO A CARRYING BAR (10) OF THE CLAMPS, SAID BAR BEING RECIPROCABLE IN A GUIDEWAY (31). 4. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 1 OR 3, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT ON THE CARRYING BAR (10) A CLAMP MEANS (32) IS MOUNTED IN WHICH A SHAFT (40) CONNECTED WITH TWO PAIRS OF CARRYING PLATES (36-39) FOR THE CLAMPS IS RECIPROCATABLE AGAINST A SPRING (41) LOAD AND IN THAT A STOP (46) AND A DUAL LEVER (49) ARE MOUNTED FOR ROTATING THE CLAMPS WITH RESPECT TO THE SHAFT (40). 5. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE DRIVING MEANS (15) THROUGH A TRANSMISSION (57, 60, 62, 64) IS CONNECTED TO A SECTOR DISK (18) THAT CAN COOPERATE WITH THE LONGER SPREAD ARM (70) OF A PANTOGRAPH SYSTEM (70-75) FOR MOVING THE BLADES TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. 6. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 5, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT A CAM (76) ROTATES WITH THE SECTOR DISK (18) TO LET THE REAR JOINT OF THE BONE PASS THE BLADES (19, 20). 7. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 1 OR 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE DRIVING MEANS THROUGH A COUPLING (16) IS CONNECTED TO A CHAIN WHEEL OF THE PAN CONVEYOR (22). 8. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 7, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE COUPLING (16) SUBSTANTIALLY CONSISTS OF A CURVE WHEEL (79) THAT MESHES ONLY DURING A PART OF ONE ROTATION WITH A WHEEL DISK (82). 9. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 1 OR 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE PUSHER IS REPLACED BY A LOADING ARM (26) WHICH THROUGH A BAR STRUCTURE (109) AND A CURVE ROLL (108) IS DRIVABLE BY A CURVE TRACK (104) BEING MOUNTED ON THE UPPER SIDE OF THE CURVE DISK (9). 10. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 9, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE CURVE TRACK CONSISTS OF TWO RAILS (105, 106) WITH CIRCULAR CROSS-­ SECTION WHICH ARE SUPPORTED ON THE CURVE DISK BY BARS (107). 11. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIMS 1-10, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE PAN CONVEYOR (22) SEEN BEFORE THE BLADES (19, 20) AND CLAMPS (11, 12) A MUSCLE STRIPPER (116) HAVING VERTICAL BLADES (122, 121) IS MOUNTED, AND IN THAT A STRIPPING ARM (127) IS MOUNTED, TRANSFERRING ONE BONE TO BE STRIPPED PARTLY BETWEEN THE VERTICAL BLADES AT EVERY STROKE. 12. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 11, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE VERTICAL BLADES ARE PULLED TOGETHER BY A SPRING (132) AND SPACED APART BY A WEDGE (133), IN WHICH THE MOTION OF THE WEDGE IS DERIVED FROM THE ROTATION OF THE DUAL LEVER (49). 13. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TOT CLAIM 10 OR 11, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE STRIPPING ARM (127) IS DRIVABLE THROUGH A BAR STRUCTURE (118) BY A CRANK (120) WHICH IS DRIVEN BY THE DRIVING MEANS (15). 14. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO ANY TO CLAIMS 9-13, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE LOADING ARM (26) AND THE STRIPPING ARM (127) ARE CONNECTED TO THE PERTAINING BAR STRUCTURE (109, 118)THROUGH A HORIZONTAL SHAFT (126) AND HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH A STOP (128) IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE PLATES OF THE ARMS CAN SLIDE OVER THE PAN CONVEYOR (22), AND IN THAT THE BAR STRUCTURES (109, 118) COMPRISE MEANS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LENGTH VARIATION OF THE BONES. 15. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 1 OR 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT NEAR THE BLADES AND CLAMPS A FOLDABLE SUPPORT PLATE (139) IS MOUNTED EXTENDING THE BOTTOM OF THE PANS (23) OF THE PAN CONVEYOR (22) BEFORE THE LOADING ARM (26) MOVES A BONE TO THE CLAMPS (11, 12). 16. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 15, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE FOLDABLE SUPPORT PLATE (139) IS DRIVABLE THROUGH A BAR STRUCTURE (140) BY A STOP (141) ON THE GUIDE PLATES (44, 45). 17. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 1 OR 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE BLADES (19, 20) COMPRISE ADJUSTABLE DAMPERS (144) WHICH CAN COOPERATE WITH STOPS (145) WHICH ARE FOLDABLE THROUGH A BAR STRUCTURE (146, 147, 150) BY A CURVE ROLL (148) MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT (17) ON WHICH THE SECTOR DISK (18) IS ALSO MOUNTED. 18. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 1 OR 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT A MECHANICAL DISCHARGER IS MOUNTED WHICH IS DRIVABLE THROUGH A BAR STRUCTURE BEING OPERATED BY A RECESS (114) AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CURVE DISK (9).

Inventors: HAZENBROEK, JACOBUS ELIZA
Applicants: SYSTEMATE HOLLAND B.V.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A22C17
IPC codes: A22C17, A22C21