Automatic animal carcass splitting

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically processing an animal carcass, the apparatus comprising carcass support means (170, 171, 201) for supporting a carcass (82) after removal of the viscera and for restraining the carcass (82) against lateral movement, splitting support means (81) selectively movable lengthwise along the carcass (182), the apparatus being characterised by an opposed pair of spine tracking means (86) carried by the splitting support means (81) and for engaging with the carcass at opposite sides of and in close proximity to the spine of the carcass (82) to straddle the spine and therefore to locate and restrain the spine against lateral movement and for moving along and following the spine along its length with a rolling contact, the spine tracking means (86) being urged into engagement with the carcass (82) to positively locate on opposite sides of the spine and to remain on opposite sides of the spine as the spine tracking means (86) moves lengthwise with the rolling contact along the spine, cutting means (87,200) mounted to the splitting support means (81) for cutting the carcass (82) along the spine to split the carcass, the cutting means (87,200) being operative to cut the carcass (82) generally at the location of the tracking means (86) whereby the cutting action of the cutting means (87,200) occurs where the tracking means (86) is restraining the spine against lateral movement.

Description: This invention relates to the handling of animals and, in particular, to apparatus for automatic processing of animals as in abattoirs, boning plants, etc. In Australian Patent Specification Nos. 35,992/84 and 19,034/88, an animal processing line is described which includes an animal lead up race, capture and stun assembly, and hock and horn removal stations located after the animal has been stuck. The carcass is then ready for manual or automatic dressing and boning operations. One operation carried out on a carcass involves splitting the carcass into two sides after evisceration. Although automatic apparatus for carcass splitting has been proposed in the past, the difficulties of accurately locating and tracking a saw along the spine have been unsatisfactorily solved, resulting in for example wandering of the saw away from the centre of the spine, particularly when the saw reaches the neck of the carcass. Movement of the carcass, particularly the neck can result in "soft siding" where the saw blade runs off the spine and cuts through meat to one side with consequent damage to that meat and loss of or reduction in value of the meat. Circular saw blades have been used in earlier proposals to automatically split a carcass. A circular saw blade results in the creation of substantial bone dust and loss of saleable body weight as a result of the width of bone and meat cut by the saw. EP-A-67331 shows an apparatus in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic carcass splitting apparatus which is capable of accurately splitting a carcass along the spine with a high degree of repeatability. According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for automatically processing an animal carcass so as to carry out a splitting operation on the carcass, the apparatus comprising carcass support means for supporting a carcass after removal of the viscera and for restraining the carcass against lateral movement, splitting support means selectively movable lengthwise along the carcass, an opposed pair of spine tracking means carried by the splitting support means and for engaging with the carcass at opposite sides of and in close proximity to the spine of the carcass to straddle the spine and therefore to locate and restrain the spine against lateral movement and for moving along and following the spine along its length, cutting means mounted to the splitting support means for cutting the carcass along the spine to split the carcass, the cutting means being operative to cut the carcass generally at the location of the tracking means whereby the cutting action of the cutting means occurs where the tracking means is restraining the spine against lateral movement, the splitting support means comprising a trolley movable along a track located lengthwise relative to the carcass, the splitting support means further including a cutting support mounting the cutting means, the cutting support being movable relative to the trolley towards and away from the carcass so as to vary the height of the cutting means relative to the trolley and relative to the carcass so as to be capable of maintaining an operative position relative to the carcass, the spine tracking means being mounted for floating movement along the spine so as to follow the contour of the spine along the length thereof, characterised by the splitting support means including means responsive to the floating movement of the spine tracking means and operative to control the height of the cutting support and hence of the cutting means to thereby maintain the desired height of the cutting means relative to the carcass throughout the length of the spine. The spine tracking means may comprise two laterally spaced tracking wheels, the rims of which are arranged to contact and roll along the carcass, the axes of the rotation of the two wheels being non-collinear, the closest separation of the rims of the wheels being at the region where the wheels contact the carcass on opposite sides of the spine whereby any lateral force acting on a wheel rim as a result of any tendency of the carcass to move laterally has a component of force acting radially relative to the axis of rotation of the wheel whereby the wheel will strongly resist the lateral movement of the carcass at the spine. The spine tracking means may comprise two pairs of rolling contact means; the two pairs being spaced lengthwise relative to the carcass, and the two pairs of rolling contact means being carried by tracking support means which is pivotally movable about a transverse axis located between the two longitudinally spaced pairs of rolling contact means so as to maintain at least one of the pairs of rolling contact means in contact with the carcass and straddling the spine at all times. Preferably the carcass support means is operative to support the carcass in an inverted position with the spine located beneath the carcass throughout the splitting operation, the carcass support means including means for supporting the legs in a spread condition. In one embodiment the cutting means may comprise a circular saw arranged in a plane with the general longitudinal direction of the spine being located in the plane of the saw, the circular saw being movable longitudinally along the spine so as to cut through the spine between the opposed spine tracking means where the spine is restrained against lateral movement. In an alternative embodiment the cutting means may comprise a band saw movable longitudinally along the spine so as to cut through the spine between the opposed spine tracking means where the spine is restrained against lateral movement. At the carcass splitting station, the equipment can be thoroughly cleaned and/or sterilized for reuse so as to prevent cross contamination of carcasses. To this end, the design of such equipment takes into account the need for thorough cleaning. Possible and preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings: FIG. 1 shows the components of a carcass splitter that employs a rotary saw; FIG. 2 is a detail of a brisket clamp that can be used in the carcass splitter of FIG. 1; FIGS. 3 and 4 show details of a spine tracking means for use in the carcass splitter of FIG. 1; FIGS. 5 and 6 show details of a neck guide for use in the carcass splitter of FIG. 1; FIG. 7 shows the location of various sensors used in an automatic carcass splitter; FIGS. 8 and 9 are side and end views of an alternative spine tracking means used in carcass splitting; and FIG. 10 is a side view of an alternative carcass splitter support means. In an abattoir live animals are brought from holding yards, separated and isolated, immobilized, stunned and stuck. After bleeding and removal of hocks and horns, manual hide prearation may take place. While the carcass is inverted, hide is released from the legs and under body to depend at the carcass sides in preparation for further removal automatically at a later stage along the line as is described in Patent Specification No. WO 89/05584 & EP-A-397703 being the publication number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC. The legs are then shackled and the shackles are engaged with overhead rails so that, with a suitable drive, which may be similar to existing chains, the carcass is drawn upwardly to an elevated position for further processing. Manual operations continue to prepare the carcass for head removal, hide removal and evisceration. This may include severing the head hide; removal of the muzzle; recordal of tooth number; removal of the tongue; and complete the clearing of the oesophagus, trachea and arteries from the thoracic cavity. The tongue and then the head may be passed to a separate conveyor to be separately processed. Head removal may be an automatic operation utilising apparatus as is described in said Specification No. WO 89/05584. Also at the rear end of the carcass, a series of manual operations may be carried out to prepare for aitchbone cutting, hide removal, evisceration and splitting. This may include rumping; mark and strip the tail; remove tail bush; remove the pizzle and erector muscles; clear and pull the rectum and bung (sphincter); and bag the anus. Automatic operations may begin after the manual preparation steps and stations enabling this are described in said Patent Specification No. WO 89/05584. After most processes, the carcass is split by a suitable means such as a band saw or rotary saw; an apparatus for splitting according to the present invention is described below. Inspection may be undertaken at various stages with condemned carcasses ejected from the line. Trimming may proceed with further inspection after carcass splitting. Carcasses requiring further trimming may be ejected from the line to enable further processing. Finished carcasses may be fed off onto a storage line when carcasses are washed, inspected, etc. on their way to chiller rooms of the usual character. Inspection is undertaken as usual with those carcasses that require it being ejected for a rewash. Decontamination may be undertaken with grading being performed when necessary. The front leg may be released to allow the carcass half to hang from its back leg. The removed shackle might be fed back to the head of the line automatically. In the following description, there is set out a particular preferred structure for a processing station where carcasses may be split. The actual placement of this station along a processing line of the above described character may be varied according to particular objectives. Splitting may be carried out as shown in FIG. 1 with the carcass 82 hanging horizontally by the four legs. Preferably, as with head removal, hide removal and evisceration, the carcass 82 is conveyed transversely or longitudinally through the splitting station. Splitting of the carcass 82 in FIGS. 1 to 7 is achieved using a circular saw 87 passing through the length of the carcass 82 from underneath. A bandsaw 200 could also be used as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10. Initially the carcass 82 is supported and located centrally over the splitting mechanism by suitable support means (170, 171, 201). As with the other processes, the beef line can be stop/start with the splitting saw 87, 200 stationary, or the splitting saw can be indexed along, splitting the carcass 82 on the move. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, with the carcass 82 in position the splitting cycle is initiated. The process begins with means 201 for restraining the carcass against lateral movement being brought into operation by centralizing the forequarter of the carcass by lowering down the brisket locating arm 83 through the open brisket 84. The parallel fingers 95, 96 then spread to rigidly locate centrally the spine in the forequarter area. The rear of the spine is then located and the splitting support means 81 comprising saw trolley 94 moves into position to begin cutting. Once in position tracking means 86 is used to centralise the spine in relation to the saw blade 87. This guide 86, acting on a pneumatic spring, follows the back of the carcass 82 underneath controlling the raising and lowering of the saw 87 to contour along the back 88 of the carcass 82. This ensures that the spine is aligned as the saw 87 passes through the carcass 82. As the saw 87 approaches the neck area a pair of roller guides 89 may swing in on either side of the neck 90 to give extra support and guidance as the saw cuts through the neck 90. The neck guide 89 is used to eliminate the tendency for the neck to swing about and cause the cut to "soft-side", that is run off centre. When the saw 87 has completed the splitting of the carcass 82 the saw is lowered and then returns to the start of travel to be sterilized ready for the next carcass. The saw blade 87 is mounted to a cutting support 85 for vertical movement and its height may be automatically adjusted by the contouring of the tracking means 86 along the spine. Vertical movement might be controlled by links 91 lifting the saw mount up posts 92 and 93 on wheeled trolley 94 which may be driven along the length of the carcass 82 and returned when splitting is complete. In FIG, 2, brisket locating arm 83 comprises two clamp fingers 95 and 96 which are movable to and fro on arms 97 and 98 which are angularly intermeshed by gears 99 and 100 so that when ram 102 acting through rod 101 moves arm 97, the clamp fingers 95 and 96 are activated between a closed and open position. The brisket clamp 83 is initially closed, lowered into the brisket and opened so as to open the brisket with a predetermined force. FIGS. 3 and 4 show detailed views of the spine tracking means 86 which contours along the spine 88 of carcass 82. Two spaced sliding contact means in the form of rails 103 and 104 span the feather bones 109 of the spine of carcass 82 and are guided thereby along the spine to restrain the spine against lateral movement and to set the height of the saw blade 87. The flared extensions 107 and 108 catch and locate the spine when the splitter is initially moved up behind a carcass. The spine tracking means 86 is supported on a pivotal mount 105 on a pin at 106 over a stem 110 so as to permit angular tilting when following the contour of the spine. In FIGS. 5 and 6, neck rollers 89 are mounted on control arms 111 which are constrained to move equally about their vertical support line through cross bar 112 over supporting mechanisms 113 and 114. The rollers 89 may contour over the variable neck surface but they act equally to centralise the neck 90. The saw 87 may be provided with a shroud 115. In FIG. 7 is shown the general location of sensors 116, 117 and 118 which may be utilized so as to enable operation of the splitter. Sensor 116 may be a limit switch to sense the rear of carcass 82. Sensor 117 may be a limit switch to control the contouring of the back 88. Sensor 118 may be a photo optic beam sensor to register the back height. A pneumatic cylinder 113 may adjust the spine tracking means for contouring. In FIGS. 8 and 9 there is shown an alternative spine tracking means 86 which makes a rolling contact with the spine on opposite sides of the spine. The spine tracking means is urged into engagement with the carcass 82 eg. by air ram or cylinder 202 acting through arm 203 which is pivotally supported about its end remote from the tracking means 86. This positvively locates the tracking means 86 on opposite sides of the spine and maintains that engagement as the tracking means 86 moves along the spine. As shown in FIG. 8, the rolling contact means 205 comprises two laterally spaced tracking wheels 206, 207 the rims of which are arranged to contact and roll along the carcass 82. The axes 208, 209 of rotation of the two wheels 206, 207 are non-collinear. The closest separation of the rims of the wheels 206, 207 is at the region where the wheels contact the carcass 82 so that any lateral force acting on a wheel rim as a result of any tendency of the carcass 82 to move laterally has a component of force acting radially relative to the axis of rotation so that the respective wheel 206, 207 will strongly resist the lateral movement of the carcass 82 at the spine. As shown in FIG. 9, the spine tracking means 86 comprises two pairs of rolling contact means 210, 211, the pairs 210, 211 being spaced lengthwise relative to the carcass 82. The pairs 210, 211 are carried by tracking support means 212 which is pivotally movable about transverse axis 213 located between the pairs 210, 211 so as to maintain at least one of the pairs 210, 211 in contact with the carcass 82 and straddling the spine at all times. In FIG. 10 there is shown maximum and minimum expected sizes of carcass 82 suspended neck down and having an associated support frame 215 on which trolley 94 runs. The trolley 94 supports the splitting support means 81 which in turn mounts the cutting support 85. The support 85 is selectively movable between the collapsed condition shown in full line and the extended position shown in broken line so that the bandsaw 200 carried by the support 85 can be adjusted in position relative to the carcass 82. The support 85 can support tracking means 86 generally as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 so that the line of cutting of the bandsaw 200 is directly between the rolling contact means 211 in FIG. 9. By utilizing the above described means, a carcass 82 might be split automatically when suspended by all four legs. The splitting apparatus is preferably located immediately following evisceration, and operates transversely or longitudinally to the overhead rails. A mechanism may be provided to ensure a desired leg spread across the fore legs and hind legs during splitting. The rail separation can be used to determine the optimum fore and aft leg spread. Either of a band saw 200 or a circular saw 87 may be used with the blade acting as a rigid member with low lateral deflection (typically less than 2mm) with an orientation that results in one vertebra being cut completely before a new one is commenced. Splitting might proceed with the tail in place. The use of the respective tracking means 86 and guides 89 is such as to prevent "soft siding", the tendency of the saw to follow a line of least resistance. The above apparatus may operate in the following manner. The carcass 82 can be indexed to the splitting saw 87, 200 in a transverse position following evisceration. The fore legs and hind legs are then spread. The brisket guide 83 can be lowered through the open sternum into the thoracic cavity and the fingers 95, 96 of the guide are then spread to locate the ribs. The tail bone is located to enable the start of sawing, the saw trolley 94 is positioned and the saw 87, 200 is activated. The spine tracking means 86 contact the tail bones to align the centre line of the vertebrae with that of the saw 87, 200. Sawing progresses with the trolley 94 moving at constant speed. Laterally spreading the fore legs assists in aligning the carcass 82 and provides lateral stability. Too great a spread strains the shoulders excessively and adds to the force required at the spine tracking means 86 so as to centralise the feather bones 109. Decreasing the spread reduces the sternum opening and interferes with operation of the brisket guide 83. Hind leg spreading likewise stabilises the carcass 82 but too much or too little affects tracking of the saw 87, 200. Fore and aft spreading requires to be likewise optimized for stability. The brisket guide 83 gives lateral stability and its force at the rib cage is optimized for this purpose (typically 870 Newtons). The spine tracking means 86 operates effectively with a vertical force that is typically 160 Newtons. The neck rollers 89 should engage the neck 90 at a position forward of the saw blade 87, 200 to avoid it being braked as would occur if it were placed after the cut. In operation of the splitting apparatus, control of a cycle is achieved by the saw support 85 being moved up till a photo optic beam 118 is broken indicating the carcass 82 is in place. The saw 87, 200 is turned on, the trolley 94 moves forward and the saw is lowered, typically 50 mm. Contact of the limit switch 116 stops forward motion of the trolley 94. The spine tracking means 86 is moved up until limit switch 117 is tripped and this positions the cutting saw 87, 200 about 50 mm, in a typical situation, from the tail bone. The forward travel and vertical contouring mechanisms are then initiated and splitting begins. Following splitting, the saw trolley 94 may be retracted, cleaned and reset for the next operation.

Claims: An apparatus for automatically processing an animal carcass so as to carry out a splitting operation on the carcass, the apparatus comprising carcass support means (170, 171, 201) for supporting a carcass (82) after removal of the viscera and for restraining the carcass (82) against lateral movement, splitting support means (81) selectively movable lengthwise along the carcass (82), an opposed pair of spine tracking means (86) carried by the splitting support means (81) and for engaging with the carcass at opposite sides of and in close proximity to the spine of the carcass (82) to straddle the spine and therefore to locate and restrain the spine against lateral movement and for moving along and following the spine along its length, cutting means (87, 200) mounted to the splitting support means (81) for cutting the carcass (82) along the spine to split the carcass, the cutting means (87, 200) being operative to cut the carcass (82) generally at the location of the tracking means (86) whereby the cutting action of the cutting means (87, 200) occurs where the tracking means (86) is restraining the spine against lateral movement, the splitting support means (81) comprising a trolley (94) movable along a track located lengthwise relative to the carcass (82), the splitting support means (81) further including a cutting support (85) mounting the cutting means (87, 200), the cutting support (85) being movable relative to the trolley (94) towards and away from the carcass (82) so as to vary the height of the cutting means (87, 200) relative to the trolley (94) and relative to the carcass (82) so as to be capable of maintaining an operative position relative to the carcass (82), the spine tracking means (86) being mounted for floating movement along the spine so as to follow the contour of the spine along the length thereof, characterised by the splitting support means (81) including means responsive to the floating movement of the spine tracking means (86) and operative to control the height of the cutting support (85) and hence of the cutting means (87, 200) to thereby maintain the desired height of the cutting means (87, 200) relative to the carcass (82) throughout the length of the spine. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the spine tracking means (205) comprises two laterally spaced tracking wheels (206, 207), the rims of which are arranged to contact and roll along the carcass (82), the axes (208, 209) of the rotation of the two wheels (206, 207) being non-collinear, the closest separation of the rims of the wheels (206, 207) being at the region where the wheels contact the carcass (82) on opposite sides of the spine whereby any lateral force acting on a wheel rim as a result of any tendency of the carcass (82) to move laterally has a component of force acting radially relative to the axis of rotation (208, 209) of the wheel (206, 207) whereby the wheel will strongly resist the lateral movement of the carcass (82) at the spine. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the spine tracking means (86) comprises two pairs of rolling contact means (210, 211), the two pairs being spaced lengthwise relative to the carcass (82), and the two pairs of rolling contact means (210, 211) being carried by tracking support means (212) which is pivotally movable about a transverse axis (213) located between the two longitudinally spaced pairs of rolling contact means so as to maintain at least one of the pairs of rolling contact means in contact with the carcass (82) and straddling the spine at all times. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the carcass support means (170, 171) is operative to support the carcass (82) in an inverted position with the spine located beneath the carcass (82) throughout the splitting operation, the carcass support means (170, 171) including means for supporting the legs in a spread condition. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the cutting means comprises a circular saw (87) arranged in a plane with the general longitudinal direction of the spine being located in the plane of the saw (87), the circular saw (87) being movable longitudinally along the spine so as to cut through the spine between the opposed spine tracking means (86) where the spine is restrained against lateral movement. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the cutting means comprises a band saw (200) being movable longitudinally along the spine so as to cut through the spine between the opposed spine tracking means (86) where the spine is restrained against lateral movement.

Inventors: BOYCE PHILLIP RODNEY C-CSIRO M, BUHOT JOHN WILLIAM C-CSIRO MEA, DE CHASTEL DAVID JOHN C-CSIRO, KERR DAVID TEAL C-CSIRO MEAT R, RANKIN RUSSELL JAMES C-CSIRO M, TRITCHLER ROBERT WILLIAM C-CSI, WESCOMBE GRAEME LESLIE C-CSIRO, WHITE RAYMOND MALCOLM C-CSIRO, BOYCE, PHILLIP RODNEY, C/- CSIRO MEAT RES. LAB., BUHOT, JOHN WILLIAM, C/- CSIRO MEAT RES. LAB., DE CHASTEL, DAVID JOHN, C/- CSIRO MEAT RES. LAB., KERR, DAVID TEAL, C/- CSIRO MEAT RES. LAB., RANKIN, RUSSELL JAMES, C/- CSIRO MEAT RES. LAB., TRITCHLER, ROBERT WILLIAM, C/- CSIRO MEAT RES. LAB, WESCOMBE, GRAEME LESLIE, C/- CSIRO MEAT RES. LAB., WHITE, RAYMOND MALCOLM, C/- CSIRO MEAT RES. LAB.
Applicants: COMMW SCIENT IND RES ORG, MEAT RESEARCH CORP, COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION, MEAT RESEARCH CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A22B5
IPC codes: A22B5