MACHINE FOR REMOVAL OF TENDONS FROM MEAT

Abstract: An automatic machine for the removal of tendons from cuts of meat by means of two flat profiled endless chains (6,7) which run parallel to, and alongside a belt conveyor (2), on which the meat travels and which chains are adapted for gripping a tendon between them, a dividing member (3) which is held at an angle above said conveyor directs the meat, and pulls the tendon to a different direction.

Description: The present invention relates to an automatic machine for the removal of tendons from meat. Meat, in general, and Turkey-fillet for example, in particular, contains tendons. For obvious reasons, it is desirable to remove these tendons before the meat is marketed. Conventionally, tendons are extracted manually by skilled workers by pulling the tendons with one hand while the meat is held with the other hand. This manual operation, being performed by skilled workers, is quite obviously time-consuming and costly. Attempts are known to provide machinery for extracting tendons from meat. In fact there exists a number of patents in this. field. In some of the specifications of earlier patents, there have been described mechanical devices which are manually actuated; some later patent specifications describe machines. which do not, require manual actuation. Finally there are known fully mechanical devices which however, only superficially constitute something similar to the present solution of the problem. Of all the arrangements which relate to the present invention, U.S. patents: No. 4 359 807 of Frank Adkinson & al., and No. 3 613 153 of E.L. McDonald are of interest, as the constructions which comprise, inter alia certain elements which are also present in the construction according to the present invention, but the mechanics as complete constructions are different from ours, as the reference to the abovementioned patents, and to the following description will show. Also known from US-A-4,359,807 is a machine as defined in the precharacterizing part of claim 1. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION : It is thus the object of the present invention to provide an automatic machine for the removal of tendons from meat. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a machine which will speed-up the operation without the need for the costly employment of skilled workers. As a consequence of using an automatic machine, the operation of the removal of tendons is performed under conditions of cleanliness, thus obtaining a much hugher "clean" meat yield. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION : The above-mentioned objects are achieved by a machine as defined in claim 1. The machine according to the invention comprises a chassis which carries a belt conveyor, two flat profile endless chains or the like, which run parallel to and alongside the belt conveyor, and of which contacting runs are co-directional, so being adapted for gripping a tendon between them on top of the conveyor belt there being provided a dividing member directing the meat and the pulled tendons to different directions, means such as a hydraulic or electric motor being provided to drive the said conveyor belt and the said chains. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS : The invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings in which: Fig.1 - is a schematic perspective view of the machine according to the invention; Fig. 2 - is a side-view thereof; Fig. 3 - is an end-view, while Fig. 4- is a detailed view of a part thereof, at an enlarged angle. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS : Turning first to Fig. 1, the machine comprises a chassis 1, which carries a conveyor belt 2. On the upper run of the conveyor belt 2, there is provided a divider-member 3, being a ruler-like part which extends obliquely across the upper run of the belt 2, and which is pressed to the belt and held in transversal and diagonal position by means of a screw-threaded handle 4, provided with a rubber-bushing 5. Adjacent and parallel to the conveyor belt 2, run two flat profile endless chains 6 and 7 (Fig.4) Intermediate to the upper and lower run of chains 6 and 7, there are provided two ruler-like parts 8 so that said rulers ensure the straight parallel movement of the chains. Said chains are pressed to each other and the contacting lower run of the upper chain 6, and the upper run of the lower chain 7, move co-directionally. The machine is operated in the following manner: The meat, such as Turkey Fillet, containing the outwardly extending tendon at the end, is placed on the moving belt 2, and moves along the belt unit close to the edge of the band until the tendon is caught between chains 6 and 7, and is pulled by them parallel to the moving belt. The tendon continues to be pulled by the chains and passes between the divider and moving belt; however, due to the divider, the meat does not continue to move, remaining on one side of the divider while simultaneously the tendon continues to be pulled by the chains causing thus the separation of the tendon from the meat. In order to keep the two chains urged against each other and to keep the ruler-like member 3 in its position - due to the importance of these positions, handles 4, 9 and 10 are provided which are fixed to internal screw-threaded members. Screwbolt 11 is pivotally connected to a rod 12, the one end of which is attached to the lower ruler-like part 8, while the other end is pivotally connected to plate 13 which is attached to the upper ruler-like member 8. Screwbolt 11 passes through hole 14 in plate 13, and through bushing 5. By turning handles 4, 9 or 10 to either direction, the correct adjustment is achieved. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: Machine for the removal of tendons from meat, such as turkey-fillet, comprising rectilinearly moving conveyor means (2) for moving the meat at a predetermined velocity, means (6, 7) for contacting and gripping the tendon protruding from said piece of meat, said gripping means (6, 7) moving parallel with the conveyor means (2), and means (3) for separating the tendon from the meat, the meat and tendon being separately received by suitable receiver means, characterized in that said means for separating the tendon from the meat comprise stationary mechanical deflection means (3) positioned at an angle to said rectilinearly moving conveyor means (2) and being rigidly attached to moving support means (4, 5, 11-14) above said conveyor means (2), whereby upon the tendon being gripped, the meat encounters the stationary mechanical deflection means (3) which angularly deflects the direction of movement of the meat and simultaneously pulls the tendon out from said piece of meat. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveyor means (2) and the gripping means (6, 7) move co-directionally at essentially the same velocity. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the linear velocity of the conveyor means (2) is of the order of 50 cm/second. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said deflecting means (3) comprises a ruler-like divider member (3) positioned at an angle of about 30° with respect to the longitudinal centre line of said conveyor (2) leaving a gap of some millimeters for accommodating a portion of a tendon between the conveyor (2) and the lower edge of the rectangular member (3). Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a chassis supporting said conveyor belt (2) and said means (6, 7) for contacting and gripping the tendon, which comprise two flat profiled endless chains (6, 7) running parallel to and alongside said belt conveyor (2) and defining co-directional contacting runs adapted to grip a tendon between them on top of the conveyor belt (2), driving means being provided for said conveyor belt (2) and said endless chains (6, 7). Machine according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the chains (6, 7) are flat-type metal chains (6, 7). Machine according to claim 1 and 5, characterized in that the chains (6, 7) are of rubber or the like. Machine according to claim 1 and 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that it further comprises at least two ruler-like guide members (8) located at an intermediate position between the upper and lower runs of said chains (6, 7). Machine according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that said driving means is an electric motor or hydraulic motor. Machine according to claims 1 and 8, characterized in that said ruler guide like members (8) comprise an upper ruler-like guide member (8) and a lower ruler-like guide member (8), and in that it further comprises at least two adjustment mechanisms (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) each having at least one screw bolt (11) pivotally connected to a rod (12) having one end connected to said lower ruler-like member (8) and another end connected to a plate (13) attached to said upper ruler-like member (8), said screw bolt (11) passing through a hole (14) formed in said plate (13) and being threadedly engaged by a screw-thread adjustment handle (9 or 10). Machine according to claim 10, characterized in that each adjustment mechanism further comprises at least one resilient bushing (5) which is axially penetrated by said screw bolt (11) and interposed between said plate (13) and said screw-thread adjustment handle (9 or 10). Machine according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that said ruler-like divider member (3) is pressed onto said conveyor belt (2) and held in a transverse diagonal position by at least one screw-threaded handle (4).

Inventors: REUVENI, ZOHAR
Applicants: HOD LAVAN TURKEY PRODUCTS, LTD.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A22C17
IPC codes: A22C17, A22C21