Abstract:
A conveyor with juxtaposed blocks moves along a path of travel, certain of the blocks have recesses which receive second joints of the wings of poultry. The second joints are arranged sidewise to the path of travel of the conveyor, in the recesses and are successively passed beneath a support frame where a hold down plate and knife is reciprocated as the support frame is towed by the conveyor to cut the flesh and skin between the ulna and radius bones and one or both cartilages, which join the ends of the bones. When cutting a cartilage, the bones are urged apart as the cut is made.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a method and apparatus of parting the second joints of poultry wings and is more particularly concerned with a method and apparatus of slicing the second joint longitudinally so as to cut one or both of the cartilages which connect the two bones of the second joint together. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the past, the second joint of the wing of a fowl has been sliced longitudinally so as to separate this second joint into two separate parts. One prior art machine has semiautomatically severs the second joint so as to separate it into two pieces. This prior art device includes a pair of rotatable discs having opposed inwardly opening recesses, each pair of which receives a second joint of the wing. These two discs are separated by a central spacer plate to provide a circumferential space between the discs, for receiving a stationary knife which is engaged by each wing, as the discs move the second joints in a rotary or orbital path. There is also a cam for automatically ejecting the cut pieces of second joint after such pieces have been severed. 
     The structure described above, while being capable of severing both of the cartilages which join the ulna and radius bones of the wing together, is slow in operation and requires dexterity on the part of the operator so as to insert the successive second joints into successive opposed pairs of slots as the discs are rotated. 
     An improvement over the prior art device described above is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,631. While that invention provides a much more versatile and easily operated machine over other prior art machines which is believed to be faster and provides a superior job of cutting either one or both cartilages of the second joint, use of that machine over time has led the applicant to realize that improvements over that initial design can be implemented. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly described, the present invention, which lends itself well to the processing of the second joints of wings of poultry, includes a continuous conveyor which has successive transversely mounted blocks on the outer portion of the conveyor. In one embodiment, each second, third or fourth block is a transportation block provided with an outwardly opening object (second joint) receiving recess or cavity and a transversely disposed knife recess. The operator stands adjacent to the down stream end of the machine and successively places wing joints into the recesses at the up stream end of the upper flight of the conveyor. These second joints are manually positioned transversely of the direction of travel of upper flight of the conveyor and are progressively carried down stream to a cutting zone beneath the cutter assembly. 
     The cutter assembly is disposed in spaced relationship over the cutting zone in the path of travel of the blocks on the upper flight of the conveyor and has a transverse central wedge-shaped knife which is reciprocated vertically for severing the second joint or other article disposed therebeneath on the transportation block. The knife or guillotine is reciprocated by a central pneumatic cylinder. While this structure has been taught with U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,631, what is not taught or suggested by that reference is the use of a hold down plate which at least assists in trapping the wing portions in the cavities or receiving recesses during the cutting operation. The hold down plate may reciprocate with or independent of the knife in many preferred embodiments. Furthermore, in preferred embodiments, the knife reciprocates through a slot in the plate. Other plate constructions could be used with other embodiments. 
     With a hold down plate both mid joints as well as pulley bones can be split apart. In order to accomplish this separate receiving recesses or cavities, which could be color coded or otherwise differentiated between the two, can be employed to identify a mid joint cavity or a pulley bone cavity. Furthermore, the new cavities, preferably have a slighter draft or curvature than the prior art designs which had almost perpendicular downwardly extending walls into the recess. The newly configured recesses have an acutely angled, although normally curved wall surface which proceeds downwardly to provide an acute angle from an upper surface of the cavity to assist in defining the cavity, instead of being provided as a perpendicular drop into the cavity from the upper surface. 
     Disposed on opposite sides of the central pneumatic cylinder are a pair of finger extending pneumatic cylinders which respectively carry fingers which can be extended and retracted by the pistons of the cylinders. When the fingers are extended, they project into side slots or cavities of a transportation block and eventually are engaged by the shoulders which define those cavities. Each transportation block is suitably supported by its end portions on the chains of the conveyor for travelling sidewise along the upper flight of the conveyor. This action can also direct the hold down plate onto the poultry portion for some embodiments. Thus, when the fingers are extended and are engaged by the shoulders of the block, not only is the cutting assembly moved rearwardly (down stream) by the conveyor, at the rate of travel of the conveyor, but the fingers and shoulders automatically align the knife or guillotine with the object to be cut. Thus, after the fingers engage the shoulders, and the cutting assembly is traveling rearwardly with the conveyor, the central air cylinder is actuated to cause the blade to cut down through the hold down plate and object (second joint) carried by the block. When such object is a second joint, the blade or guillotine will initially enter the central portion of the second joint, between the two transversely disposed ulna and radius bones and then cut outwardly so as to sever that portion of the meat between the bones and the one cartilage which join the two bones while the hold down plate holds the joint in the cavity. The knife or guillotine may have a spine or rounded portion which urges the two parts of the second joint apart, pivoting them about the remaining connecting cartilage. The knife may also proceed through a slot in the hold down plate and/or beside the plate during the severing process. 
     After the momentary reciprocation of the knife or guillotine by the central air cylinder, possibly together with the reciprocation of the hold down plate, the side air cylinders retract the fingers so that the cutting assembly and hold down plate is released from its alignment with a particular transportation block. Spring means return the cutting assembly up stream to its original position where the cycle is repeated for the next subsequent transportation block. The at least partially severed second joints are then successively dumped from the down stream end of the conveyor, as the transportation blocks move to the lower flight of the conveyor. The sequence of events is controlled by an air stepping relay and the conveyor is driven by an air motor. The front end of the conveyor and the cutting assembly are covered to protect the operator and a water spray is directed against successive blocks as they pass from the lower flight to the upper flight for washing any debris therefrom. 
     In the process carried out, successive spaced transversely disposed second joints are moved along a linear path of travel and are successively cut in a moving cutting zone by the reciprocating blade and thereafter are discharged from the path of travel. 
     Each second joint is disposed transversely of the path of travel and the blade of the cutting mechanism is also disposed transversely of the path of travel. Furthermore, the hold down plate and the knife or cutting element which cuts the second joint, progressively moves the two bones of the second joint apart as or after the cut progresses so as to bias the bones as the cut is made and then urge them to an open V-shape if only one cartilage is cut. The knife initially enters each second joint intermediate the ends of the second joint and between the two bones and then cuts progressively outwardly for severing one of the end cartilages. 
     In some embodiment, the knife or guillotine is V-shaped and simultaneously cuts the second joint outwardly in both directions so as to sever both cartilages of the second joint. In some preferred embodiments, the knives are bent along the axes of travel to provide camming surfaces which urge the bones apart and cutting edges which cut at angles through the cartilage. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of many embodiments of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method of cutting a second joint of a wing of a fowl so as to leave the second joint with only one cartilage connecting the two bones together and so as to arrange the two parts of the second joint in a V-shape. 
     Another object of many embodiments of the present invention is to provide a semiautomatic apparatus for cutting the second joints of poultry which apparatus is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure and efficient in operation. 
     Another object of many embodiments of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of cutting a second joint of poultry so as to separate the second joint into two separate parts, without excessive manual labor. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for severing a second joint of poultry which method is clean and provides a uniform product. 
     Another object of many embodiments of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for cutting the second joints of poultry wings which apparatus may effectively perform its cutting operation, regardless of the size of the second joint and will reduce the likelihood that the ulna and radius bones will be cut in the operation. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel V-shaped poultry product from the second joint of a chicken or other fowl. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of an apparatus for cutting the second joints of poultry wings, made according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the machine shown in  FIG. 1  and showing the knife, holding plate and fingers of the cutting assembly in their retracted positions; 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  but showing the knife, holding plate and the fingers in their extended positions; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged and exploded perspective view showing a portion of the chain of the conveyor and a transportation block of the conveyor of the machine of  FIG. 1 , the transportation block containing a second joint of a wing of a fowl, and a holding plate; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective view of the transportation block shown in  FIG. 4  and illustrating the knife or guillotine in its extended position and one of the fingers in its extended position through the holding plate; 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary perspective view of the knife and holding plate combination; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a prior art cavity in a transportation block; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of a transportation block of the present invention as taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the holding plate shown in other figures. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, numeral  9  in  FIG. 1  denotes generally the main frame of the apparatus of the present invention, this frame  9  including four upstanding spaced parallel feet  10 , the upper ends of pairs of which are joined by transverse bars  11 . An upstanding pair of front stanchions  12  is carried by the front bar  11  and support an inverted, U-shaped, transverse, front bracket  13  which, in turn, supports front end portions of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced, parallel, opposed conveyor support rails, such as rail  14 . A rear U-shaped bracket  15 , on rear stanchions  12  carried by the rear bar  11 , provides support for the rear portion of the rails, such as rail  14 . 
     A conveyor assembly  6  is supported on rails  14 , conveyor  6  includes a front transversely extending idler conveyor shaft  17  supported between the front end portions of the rails such as rail  14 . This idler shaft  17  is appropriately journalled by pillow blocks, such as block  18 . A drive shaft (not shown), driven by an air motor M 1 , in  FIG. 1 , is journalled at the rear portions of the opposed rails, such as rail  14 . Sprockets (not shown) on the spaced shafts, such as shaft  17 , support a pair of transversely spaced, opposed, parallel, longitudinally extending continuous conveyor chains, such as chain  20 , the continuous chains, being draped around sprockets (not shown) of the shaft which is driven by motor M 1 . 
     Transversely extending take-up roll  21  carried by brackets, such as downwardly extending bracket  22 , on rail  14  maintains appropriate tautness of the two opposed continuous conveyor chains, such as conveyor chain  20 . 
     The air motor M 1  is rotated by compressed air fed from tube  25 , via solenoid valve  26 , and thence through tube  27  and manual cut-off valves  28  and into motor M 1 . The discharge line  29  discharges the discharged air from motor M 1 . 
     Mounted in juxtaposition are a plurality of rectangular spacer blocks  30 , each of which is arranged transversely across two conveyor chains  20 , the spacer blocks  30  being secured by their bottom portions to the chain by means of opposed pairs of upstanding L-shaped chain brackets  31 , seen in  FIG. 4 . A pair of these brackets  31  back-to-back form a link in the conveyor chain  20 . 
     Between successive pairs of spacer blocks  30  are the transportation blocks  32 . Each block  32  has generally a rectangular shape of the same dimensions as the spacer block  30 . This block  32  is also mounted by brackets, such as bracket  31 , which forms a link in the chain  20 , the space between successive brackets  31  being approximately equal to the longitudinal width of the spacer block  30  or block  32 . Bolts, such as bolt  33 , seen in  FIG. 4 , secure the transportation block  32  onto pairs of transversely opposed brackets, such as bracket  31  on chains, such as chain  20 . The transportation block  32  extends transversely across the pair of chain conveyors, such as conveyor chain  20 , and are in longitudinal alignment with the spacer blocks  30 , the rear wall  34 , of the transportation block  32  being closely adjacent to the front wall of the adjacent spacer blocks  30  when the blocks  30  and  32  are passed along the upper flight of the conveyor. In the central bottom portion of each transportation block  32  is a downwardly protruding cam or cam block  36 , seen in  FIG. 4 . This cam block  36  actuates a control means, such as a pneumatic control valve  37 , seen in  FIG. 10  and commences one cycle of the machine, as will be described hereinafter. 
     At the opposed rear corners of each rectangular block  32  there are provided a pair of finger receiving recesses  40  which are formed in the upper surface  41  of the block  32 . These recesses  40  are generally rectangular so as to provide upper recess surfaces, such as surface  42 , in  FIG. 4  and vertical side surfaces  43  which are parallel to each other and are disposed longitudinally with respect to the machine. The recesses  40  are also defined by recess shoulders or walls  44  which have vertical surfaces which are transversely aligned with each other and are spaced rearwardly in the path of travel of the front surface  39  of block  32 . 
     Inwardly of the walls or surfaces  43  of each transportation block  32  is a central, upwardly open, object receiving, recess or cavity, denoted generally by the numeral  45 . This recess or cavity  45  is an upwardly open, oval shaped opening which is elongated transversely of the block  32 . Cavity  45  has concaved wall surfaces extending downwardly and thence is curved inwardly to form a central cup. Extending in a transverse direction across the cavity  45  and protruding beyond the cavity  45  on both of its sides is a is transverse central, vertically disposed, knife receiving slot  46  which conforms generally to the cross sectional maximum width of the knife or guillotine  50 , the transverse knife receiving slot  46  having a depth sufficient to permit full travel of the guillotine  50  downwardly to its most extended position as shown in  FIG. 5 . Each recess or cavity  45  is of a length greater than the length of the second joint  60  of a wing of a chicken or other fowl. 
     The term “second joint” means the part of a chicken or other fowl between a drumette of a wing of a chicken or other fowl and the flipper thereof. This second joint  60  has previously been severed from both the drumette and the flipper. Each second joint  60  has an ulna bone  61  and a radius bone  62 , shown in  FIG. 6 , of U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,631 are transversely spaced from each other and which extend essentially parallel to each other within the second joint. The end portions of the ulna and radius bones  61  and  62  are joined by cartilages, such as the cartilage, between the ends of bones  61  and  62 . Flesh and skin initially surround these two bones  61  and  62  and the connecting cartilages, the skin being identified by numeral  63  and the flesh by numeral  65 , in  FIG. 6 . Each second joint  60  also includes a web portion  64  which is essentially skin which protrudes from a corner of the second joint  60 . 
     In the present embodiment, the second joint  60 , which it is to be cut, is preferably positioned in cavity or recess  45  with the web  64  in the right hand forward corner of the recess  45 . The depth of the recess  45 , however, is less than the thickness of the second joint  60  and yet will orient the second joint  60  and hold it in its transverse position within the cavity  45 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The depth of cavity  45  may be sufficient to arrest any appreciable forward or rearward movement of the second joint  60  during its transportation in block  32  along the upper flight of the conveyor. The direction of travel of the upper flight of the conveyor is illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5  by the arrow  65 . 
     In  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  is shown the traveling knife carriage  5  having an upstanding, movable, cylinder support frame, denoted generally by the numeral  70 . As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , this cylinder support frame  70  includes a pair of transversely opposed, spaced, upright, support members  71 , the intermediate portions of which are joined by a vertically disposed, rectangular, transversely extending, mounting plate  72 . The lower end portions of the support members  71  are provided with holes through which the longitudinally disposed upper guide bars, such as upper guide bar or rod  74 , respectively protrude. The lower end portions of the support members  71  are respectively secured to and carried by a sliding frame, which includes slide blocks, such as slide blocks  75 , seen in  FIG. 1  and lower blocks, such as lower slide block  76 . Each pair of blocks  75  and  76  are joined by a vertically disposed travel bar  77 . The lower slide blocks, such as block  76 , slide along lower longitudinally extending rods, such as rod  79 . 
     The ends of the rods  74  and  79  on each side of the rods  14  are supported in U-shaped side frames, such as frame  80 , each frame having an upstanding pair of opposed brackets  78  which receive the ends of the parallel rods  74  and  79 . The U-shaped frames, such as frame  80 , are respectively mounted on the longitudinal rails, such as rail  14 , so as to dispose the two rods  74  and  79  in spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending, relationship in their frames  80 . Thus, the longitudinally extending rods, such as rods  74  and  79 , support the moveable frame  70  for reciprocating longitudinal motion, sliding in prescribed paths rearwardly and forwardly with respect to the upper flight of the conveyor, and supporting the mounting plate  72  disposed over the upper flight of the conveyor. Resilient straps, such as strap  87 , yieldably urges the moveable frames  80  forwardly to its normal position shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The mounting plate  72  is provided, in its central portion, with a pair of upstanding, parallel, flat, rectangular, piston supporting brackets  80   a  which are mounted to plate  72  by their lower ends and extend upwardly above the upper edge of the mounting plate  72 . These mounting brackets  80   a  carry a cylinder mounting plate  81 , disposed between the upper end portions of the brackets  80   a . A central, pneumatic, double acting, knife actuating cylinder  82  is mounted by its lower end on the plate  81 . Air is supplied to the upper end of the cylinder  82  via a line or tube  83 . When air under pressure is supplied by line  83  to the top of the piston within the cylinder  82 , this air extends the piston rod  84 . A second pneumatic line  85  supplies air under pressure to the bottom side of the piston within the cylinder  82  to withdraw or retract the piston rod  84 . A valve  86  seen in  FIG. 10  controls the supplying of air to this double acting cylinder  82 . The traveling knife carriage  5  is covered by a removable cover  7 . 
     On opposite sides of cylinder  82 , between the upstanding support members  71  and the upstanding brackets  80  are, respectively, a pair of finger or detent actuating cylinders  90 . These cylinders  90  are also double acting pneumatic cylinders and have piston rods  91  which are extended and retracted at appropriate times. The cylinders  90  always act simultaneously and may be controlled from a common control valve, air therefrom being supplied to the tops of the pistons, via air line  93  and lines  93   a  and  93   b . Air is supplied to the bottom of the cylinders  90  via air lines  94  and  94   a  and  94   b . Air line  94 , however, may be connected to position C of a “knot unit” or air manifold  100 . 
     Piston rods  95  of air cylinders  90  are extended when air is supplied via valve  92  to the tops of the pistons and such piston rods  95  are retracted when this air pressure is relieved and on line  93  via valve  92  and air is applied to the lower sides of the pistons of rods  95  from stepping relay via line  161  to position C of manifold and via position C of manifold and through line  94 ,  94   a , and  94   b.    
     The lower ends of the piston rods  95  are connected to slidable rectangular metal bars which are connected to the end of fingers  98 . The fingers  98  are respectively slidably journalled for axial movement within journal boxes  99  which are mounted on the front surface of the mounting plate  72 . The lower ends of the pneumatic cylinders  90  are mounted by brackets  101  to the upper portion of the mounting plate  72 . 
     Mounted on the protruding lower end of the piston rod  84  is a knife or guillotine supporting bar  102  which extends transversely between and is slidably confined by the arms  80 . The guillotine or knife  50  protrudes downwardly from the supporting bar  102  to a point  105  seen in  FIG. 6 . 
     A supporting staff  103 , seen in  FIG. 3 , supports the bracket  81  which, in turn, supports the lower end of the cylinder  82 . Thus, the upstanding arms  80  and the bracket  81  are supported quite rigidly with respect to the mounting plate  72 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the lower flight of the conveyor is covered by a lower U-shaped pan  150  and the front of the conveyor is covered by a concaved shield or cover  151 . The shield  151  has side plates, such as plate  152 , which fit over the forward edge portions of the main rails  14 . The cover  151  may be readily removed along with it sides  152  by simply lifting the cover  151  and pivoting it in a counterclockwise direction about chains  153  which secure the cover to the pan  150 . Water introduced through a hose  155  is sprayed against each of the blocks  30  or  32  as the case may be so that these blocks remain in a clean condition during the operation of the machine. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 6 , this knife or guillotine  50  is generally triangular and is formed of sheet metal, high carbon steel. The blade  50  may be substantially flat and have a straight transverse upper edge portion which is firmly secured to a rectangular, transversely extending, support bar or member  102 . The support bar  102  may be connected by its central portion to the end of piston rod  84  so that the blade  50  is quite rigidly held in its plane of travel as the piston rod  84  reciprocates the support member  102 . Below the support member  102 , the blade may have various configurations such as those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,631, incorporated herein by reference, or other configurations, such as but not limited to those configurations to cut left and right hand portions, respectively. 
     Pneumatic System 
     Control valve  37  is mounted in the path of travel of the cam block  36 , shown in  FIG. 4 , so that as the particular transport block  32  approaches the cutting zone of the guillotine  50 , the arm of valve  37  is depressed to start a stepping relay. 
     Numerous control valves (not shown) which are transversely spaced across the bottom of the path of travel of the transportation blocks, can be made selectively operable for selected blades or knives for the machine. Separate control valves may be dictated by different shaped knives, which may also require different transportation blocks, to match the shape of the installed blade. Thus, we the cam blocks, such as block  36 , can be positioned in different transverse locations for different transportation blocks, to provide that the correct block, such as block  32 , may be selected for the appropriate knife, such as knife or blade  50 . Thus, only if the appropriate block with its correctly positioned cam block, such as cam block  36 , is in the machine, and the appropriate selector valve can be appropriately set for the particular blade, such as blade  50 , so that air can be momentarily supplied to the stepping relay to start its stepping operation. 
     The fingers  98  can be directed to substantially simultaneously drop into the recesses  40  of the transportation block  30  located therebeneath. With progressive movement of the conveyor chains  20 , the transportation block  32  continues its rearward travel, thereby engaging the end portions of the extended fingers  98  in the recesses  40  and where they are engaged by abutting the shoulders  44 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Thus, the fingers  98  act as detents to accurately align the block  32  and knife  50  and to lock the travel of the carriage assembly for movement with the selected block  32 . The timer then steps the stepping relay so that second stage is actuated to supply air to a main central cylinder  82 , thereby causing it to extend the piston rod  84 , urging the guillotine or knife  50 , downwardly. 
     An operator or operators manually load each of the recesses with a second joint  60  in the manner depicted in  FIG. 4 , the web portion  64  being disposed at the right hand forward corner. The movement of the knife  50  by the piston  84  extends the knife  50  its full travel into the recess  46  for the knife  50  and thereby causes the knife  50  to slice the second joint  60 . This slicing is initiated by the point  105  of the blade, as shown in  FIG. 6 , this point  105  moving progressively downwardly through the central portion of the second joint so as to pass between the two bones. The blade  50  has a V-shaped cutting system consisting of the cutting edges  104  and  106  which when the knife moves progressively downwardly progressively cuts outwardly until the blade  104  severs the outer cartilage and spine  108  spreads the two bones apart. 
     It is therefore seen that the sequence of events take place in which initially the fingers  98  can be extended so as to be received in the recesses  40 . Then, after an appropriate time delay, the guillotine  50  is actuated to extend piston rod  84  and its knife or guillotine  50 . After it has travelled fully down, the relay then permits the fingers  90  to be withdrawn and thereafter the piston rod  84  to be withdrawn. Thus, the fingers hold the block  32  in alignment while the knife or guillotine  50  cuts the second joint  60  and all piston rods  95  and  84  are withdrawn to permit the repeat of the next cycle, when the cam block  36  of the next transportation block  32  actuates valve  37  a second time in a subsequent operation. 
     If desired, the two spacer blocks  30  may be replaced with a single spacer block so that each alternate block is a transportation block  32 . This will speed up the machine without increasing the speed of the conveyor. Furthermore, after each cycle, the resilient members  87  return the traveling frame to its original position for a subsequent operation. 
     During the entire time that the fingers  98  are extended and are received in the recesses  40 , the traveling knife carriage  5  travels at the same speed as the conveyor assembly  6 ; however, when the fingers  98  are retracted, the resilient members  87  may return the entire carriage  5  to its original position as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In the processing of chicken (poultry) it is believed to be an easy matter to accumulate the left second joints and the right second joints in separate containers (not shown). Thus, it is recommended that separate machines  9  or cavities  45  can be used for processing left hand second joints and right hand second joints so that camming pressure is applied to an intermediate portion of the larger ulna bone and the severing force of the blade is applied angularly to the cartilages at the junctions of the ulna  61  and radius  62 . This applies some transverse force to tend to spread the two bones apart before cutting one or both cartilages. 
     On a single lane machine which could have alternate or differently configured transportation blocks  32 , for example, and/or in place of any spacer blocks, such as blocks  30 , the appropriate turning of the handle of valve could select the particular transportation block which should be used for the appropriate blade installed in the machine. Other embodiments may be multiple lane machines having multiple cavities proceeding past multiple knives, such as parallel arrangements or other configurations. 
     A test machine has indicated that about 72 second joints per minute may be readily processed with a machine of the present invention. This can be doubled if the cavities  45  are in side by side relationship, etc. 
       FIG. 1  also shows hold down plate  200 . As can better be seen with reference to  FIG. 9 , hold down plate  200  has a slot  202  which can receive the knife  50  therethrough during operation, although other hold down plates may cooperate in other ways to allow the knife  50  to conduct its reciprocal operation. Bores  204 , 206  may allow for the fingers  98  to pass through the hold down plate, at least for some embodiments as well. In fact, as can be seen relative to a design with reference to  FIG. 6 , the blade  50  passes through the slot  202 , and the fingers  98  pass through the bores  204 , 206 . 
     Some embodiments may have retainers  208  which can assist in preventing the hold down plates  200  from disengaging the fingers (i.e., so that the fingers  98  can retract the hold down plates  200  when not in use). Furthermore, some embodiments may have springs  210  or other agents which can assist in directing the hold down plates above the cavities  45  (and thus above the poultry portions), to assist in retaining the poultry in the cavities, and more importantly, for at least some embodiments, assist in maintaining the bones of the poultry in a desired position so that the knife  50  can be directed in a desired location relative to the poultry portion  60 . 
     Other designs may have other hold down plate configurations and designs. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the hold down plate  200  directs a pressure atop the second joint  60  by direct contact of a lower surface of the plate  200  in the preferred embodiment. The joint  60  is thus held in the cavity  45  during at least the cutting operation. The knife  50  then reciprocates in the cutting operation at least partially through the slot  202  and the joint  60  as described above. The slot  202  is illustrated as bounded by a perimeter of the plate  200  or at least internal thereto. 
     After making the cut with knife  50 , the fingers  98  retract thus retracting the hold down plate  200  away from the at least partially cut portion  50 . In a preferred embodiment, the hold down plate  200  is removed from contact with the joint  60  during this step as the conveyor continues movement of the cut joint  60  away from the cutting zone. 
     In operation, the hold down plate  200  will contact the top of the second joint  60  prior to completing, or possibly beginning the cutting operation with the knife  50 . The contact could also be somewhat simultaneous. With the second joint  60  secured with the hold down plate  200 , the knife  50  can then reciprocate through the joint  60  and the hold down plate  200  can either be removed before the removal of the knife  50  or after the knife  50  depending on the embodiment selected. In the illustrated embodiment, the hold down plate  200  is moved away from the joint  60  with the removal of the fingers  98  which cooperate with the block  32  during cutting. Other embodiments may function differently. 
     Furthermore, hold down plates  200  may be configured differently than the illustrated plate. Some plates  200  may work independently of the fingers  98  and it may be possible that the knife  50  passes by the hold down plate  200  instead of through slot or slots  202  through the hold down plate  200  as illustrated. Multiple hold down plates  200  may be utilized either with a single joint or multiple joints  60 . 
       FIG. 8  can be contrasted with  FIG. 7  to show different cavity construction possibilities of the prior art design of  FIG. 7 , which can be used with some embodiments of this invention, as well as an improved cavity  245 . The improved cavity  245  has an acute angle B, which is less than 90 degrees from upper surface  246  of the cavity  245  coplanar with surrounding upper surface  242 , as opposed to acute angle A shown in  FIG. 7  which is initially perpendicular to an upper surface. This slighter draft, which may still be curved, or alternatively planar, has been found helpful for at least some embodiments. The angle B is presently about 75 degrees, but could be initially 45 degrees or other appropriate acute angle less than about 80 degrees for at least some embodiments. The acute angle B, particularly when combined with the hold down plate, has been found to increase the speed of loading, and the accuracy of the placement of the joint  60  by operators, particularly at higher speeds of operation. 
     It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiment here chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.