Abstract:
An apparatus for spitting whole poultry mid-wing sections into a first radius portion that includes the radius bone of the mid-wing and its surrounding muscle, tissue, and skin and a second ulna portion that includes the ulna bone of the mid-wing and its surrounding muscle, tissue, and skin. The apparatus is provided with a rotatably driven carrier wheel having a plurality of product carrier slots formed therein for accepting mid-wings and moving them along a predetermined arcuate path. A splitting blade is mounted in the arcuate path for engaging and splitting the mid-wings into the desired portions. The apparatus is additionally provided with a retention fender for preventing mid-wings from exiting the carrier slots while the mid-wings are being split, and an ejector comb for forcing the mid-wings out of the carrier slots after they have been split.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to a poultry processing apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for automatically separating the radius and ulna portions of a poultry mid-wing from one another. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   To meet the demands of large scale poultry consumption throughout the world, numerous machines have been developed over the past several decades to enhance various aspects of poultry processing with particular attention directed toward improving the efficiency with which various cuts of poultry meat can be produced. While such machines have proven to be highly effective for producing various different cuts of poultry, some poultry parts contain small, tightly spaced bones that require complex manual manipulation to be separated into smaller cuts. For example, the mid-wing section of a poultry wing, which is located intermediate the larger, more muscular drumette section and the smaller, less muscular wingtip section, contains two generally parallel bones (i.e., the radius and the ulna bones) that are joined together at their ends by ligaments. 
   Although mid-wing sections of poultry wings are typically cooked and consumed as unitary pieces of food in the United States, it is common practice in some parts of the world to separate the radius bone and its surrounding muscle, tissue, and skin (herein referred to as the “radius portion”) from the ulna bone and its surrounding muscle, tissue, and skin (herein referred to as the “ulna portion”) to produce two separate, smaller cuts of meat. These cuts are generally easier to consume than a whole mid-wing in that they do not require a consumer to manually rend, or eat between, the radius and ulna bones. This method of preparing mid-wing sections of poultry has been gaining popularity in light of recent advances in agronomy that have allowed the farming of larger, more muscular poultry. Such poultry have large mid-wing sections that can be difficult to manually rend or otherwise consume as a single piece. 
   Traditionally, the radius and ulna portions of poultry mid-wing sections have been separated by manual cutting, which is time consuming, labor intensive, and somewhat dangerous. The inconsistent nature of manual cutting can also result in the accidental cutting or nicking of the radius and ulna bones themselves, which can create shards of bone that make the cuts undesirable. Therefore, the need exists for a means of separating the radius and ulna portions of poultry mid-wing sections safely, efficiently, and without forming shards. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a poultry mid-wing splitting apparatus having a rotatably driven carrier wheel mounted on a support frame. The carrier wheel is preferably formed of two substantially identical wheel-halves that can be axially separated from one another to facilitate convenient maintenance or repair of the apparatus. A plurality of radially-oriented product carrier slots are formed in the wheel for accepting poultry mid-wings. The carrier wheel is also provided with a radially-elongated annular channel that extends from a central hub of the wheel to the periphery of the wheel. The annular channel intersects, and preferably bisects, each of the product carrier slots. 
   A substantially planar splitting blade is removably mounted within the annular channel for engaging mid-wings as they are rotatably moved by the carrier wheel along an arcuate path in a downstream direction (i.e., away from the mid-wings&#39; point of entry into the product carrier slots and toward the splitting blade). As the mid-wings are forced over the splitting blade by the carrier wheel, the splitting blade longitudinally splits the mid-wings into separate radius and ulna portions. A retention fender having a radially inwardly-facing arcuate surface is preferably mounted in close proximity to the outer periphery of the carrier wheel for preventing mid-wings from being ejected from the product carrier slots as they are being split. 
   A substantially planar ejector comb is removably mounted within the annular channel downstream of the splitting blade. The ejector comb has a plurality of parallel tines extending therefrom in a generally downstream and radially outward direction. As the separated radius and ulna portions of the mid-wings are moved by the carrier wheel over the tines, frictional engagement between the mid-wings and the tines causes the mid-wings to be forced radially outwardly and ultimately ejected from the product carrier slots. Preferably, the separated radius and ulna portions thereafter fall by gravity into a product collection bin below the carrier wheel. 
   Therefore, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an apparatus for separating the radius and ulna portions of a poultry mid-wing from one another. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a left side view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a front view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1  with the safety cover and front wheel-half removed for clarity. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial top view illustrating the carrier wheel of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view illustrating a poultry mid-wing being inserted into a carrier slot of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIGS. 6-13  are a series of partial front views illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 , with a poultry mid-wing in a carrier slot being rotatably advanced by the carrier wheel. 
   

   In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   An apparatus for splitting the mid-wing sections of poultry wings into separate radius and ulna portions is indicated generally at  10  in  FIGS. 1-3  and is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus  10  generally includes a support frame  12 , a splitting station  14 , a drive system  16 , and a collection bin  18 . The apparatus  10  preferably also includes a lockable safety cover  20  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) that is hingedly mounted to the support frame  12  for preventing an operator from coming into contact with the moving parts of the apparatus  10  during operation of the apparatus and for allowing access to the splitting station  14  when necessary. For the sake of clarity, the safety cover  20  is removed in FIGS.  3  and  6 - 13 . 
   Terms such as “front,” “rear,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” “inwardly,” “outwardly,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “lateral,” and “longitudinal,” will be used herein to describe the relative placement and orientation of various components of the apparatus  10 , all with respect to the geometry and orientation of the apparatus  10  as it appears in  FIG. 1 . The terms “upstream” and “downstream” will be used herein to refer to a relative counter-clockwise position and a relative clockwise position, respectively, both with reference to the carrier wheel  22  (described in detail below) as it is oriented in  FIG. 1 . The terms “radial” and “axial” are used to indicate directions relative to the carrier wheel  22 . The above terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the support frame  12  includes numerous horizontal and vertical frame members, such as steel tubing sections  24  and  26 , that are rigidly joined together to provide suitable support for the other components of the apparatus  10 . The support frame  12  is preferably provided with locking casters  28  for allowing the apparatus  10  to be easily moved and secured at a desired location within a plant or other operating environment. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the splitting station  14  includes a carrier wheel  22 , a splitting blade  30 , a retention fender  32 , and an ejector comb  34 . The carrier wheel  22  is formed of substantially identical, laterally-opposing front and rear wheel-halves  36  and  38  (the front wheel-half  36  is shown in  FIG. 4 ) that are mounted in an abutting relationship on a horizontal drive shaft  40  that extends through the axis of each wheel-half  36  and  38 . Each wheel-half  36  and  38  is provided with a plurality of rectangular grooves  42  and  44 , respectively (the rectangular grooves  42  of the front wheel-half  36  are shown in  FIG. 4 ), formed in its axially inwardly facing surface. The grooves  42  and  44  extend radially outwardly from a central hub  48  (the central hub of the front wheel-half  36  is not within view) to the periphery of each wheel-half  36  and  38 , respectively. 
   The grooves  42  and  44  of each wheel-half  36  and  38  are defined by a plurality of spaced triangular ribs  50  and  52 , respectively (the triangular ribs  50  of the front wheel-half  36  are shown in  FIG. 4 ). The grooves  42  and  44  are thus voids in the spaces between the ribs  50  and  52 . Each of the grooves  42  and  44  therefore has a bottom wall that is defined by the radially outwardly facing surface of its respective central hub, a rear wall and a front wall that are defined by the opposing upstream-facing and downstream-facing surfaces of the triangular ribs  50  and  52  adjacent the groove, and a sidewall defined by the laterally inwardly-facing surface of the groove&#39;s respective wheel-half  36  and  38 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the axially inwardly-facing surface of each central hub (the central hubs are not within view) of the wheel-halves  36  and  38  abut one another at a vertical plane. The axially inwardly-facing surfaces of the triangular ribs  50  and  52  are spaced from one another to form a channel  54 . The channel  54  is bisected by the vertical plane where the central hubs abut (only the central hub  48  of the rear wheel-half  38  is shown). The laterally inwardly-facing surfaces of the opposing central hubs are therefore in direct, continuous contact with one another, and there are narrow gaps intermediate the laterally inwardly-facing surfaces of the triangular ribs  50  and  52  of the opposing wheel-halves  36  and  38  that form the radially-elongated annular channel  54  between the wheel-halves  36  and  38 . Together, the laterally-abutting central hubs of the wheel-halves  36  and  38  define the radially-inward extreme from which the annular channel  54 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , radially extends. 
   The radial grooves  42  of the front wheel-half  36  are aligned with the radial grooves  44  of the rear wheel-half  38  to form a series of generally rectangular carrier slots  56  that are axially bisected by the annular channel  54 , as best shown in  FIG. 4 . The width and breadth of each of the carrier slots  56  is only large enough to accommodate a largest anticipated poultry mid-wing with little or no clearance between the walls of each slot and the outer surface of the inserted mid-wing. A mid-wing can thus be securely held in a carrier slot in a desired orientation by the walls defining the slot. There are preferably a total of 30 carrier slots  56  formed in the carrier wheel  22 , although it is contemplated that the number of carrier slots  56  can be varied to accommodate the characteristics of a particular carrier wheel, such as the diameter of the carrier wheel and the rotational speed with which the carrier wheel turns, or the size of the mid-wings to be inserted therein. Generally, there should be an inverse relationship between the total number of carrier slots and the wheel&#39;s rotational speed for allowing convenient operation of the apparatus as will become apparent below. 
   In order to maintain proper alignment between the two wheel-halves  36  and  38 , a cylindrical recess  60  (see  FIG. 3 ) is formed in the central hub  48  of the rear wheel-half  38  and a corresponding cylindrical peg (not shown) extends axially from the central hub of the front wheel-half  36 . The recess  60  and the cylindrical peg have substantially similar dimensions and are located at substantially the same radial position on their respective central hubs. The cylindrical peg fits snugly in the recess  60  when the central hubs abut one another, thereby, along with the driveshaft  40 , preventing the two wheel-halves  36  and  38  of the carrier wheel  22  from rotating relative to one another while allowing the front wheel-half  36  to be axially separated from the rear wheel-half  38  in a convenient manner for maintenance or repair of the apparatus  10 . Although the cylindrical peg and the recess  60  of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus  10  are cylindrical in shape, it is contemplated that the cylindrical peg and the recess  60  may be of any suitable shape, such as square, rectangular, triangular, or oblong. It is further contemplated that alternative embodiments of the apparatus  10  can incorporate more than one peg-recess pair, or that the locations of the cylindrical peg and the recess  60  can be reversed, with the cylindrical peg extending from the rear wheel-half  38  and the recess  60  formed in the front wheel-half  36 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the drive system  16  is mounted to the support frame  12  adjacent the rear of the carrier wheel  22 . The drive system  16  of the preferred embodiment incorporates a conventional variable-speed drive (VSD)  64  that is coupled to the drive shaft  40  for rotatably driving the carrier wheel  22  in a clockwise rotational direction (as viewed in  FIG. 3 ). A VSD is preferred for its ability to provide precisely controlled low-speed rotation of the carrier wheel  22 , although it is contemplated that any other type of conventional drive system can alternatively be used. For example, it is contemplated that the drive system  16  can alternatively incorporate a conventional electric motor in combination with a series of drive sprockets and drive chains and/or gears. Regardless of the type of drive system used, the operational rotational speed of the carrier wheel  22  should preferably not exceed about 3 revolutions per minute (RPM) for the preferred carrier wheel  22 , and more preferably not exceed about 2 RPM, for allowing an operator to comfortably feed mid-wings into the carrier slots  56  of the carrier wheel  22  in a manner that will be described in greater detail below. It is contemplated that the speed of rotation can be varied beyond the above-described ranges depending on factors such as the diameter of a particular carrier wheel and the number of carrier slots that are incorporated in a wheel. A control panel  66  is operatively connected to the drive system  16  and is conveniently positioned for allowing an operator to safely and easily control the operation of the apparatus  10 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the retention fender  32  is a sheet of food safe material, and preferably stainless steel, having a radially inwardly-facing arcuate surface with a contour that substantially matches the curvature of the periphery of the carrier wheel  22 . The fender  32  has a lateral width that is slightly greater than the lateral width (axial length) of the carrier wheel  22 , but at least as wide as the carrier slots  56 . The retention fender  32  is rigidly mounted to the support frame  12  with its radially-inwardly facing surface in close radial proximity to the periphery of the wheel  22 , preferably with a continuous separation of about ¼ inch between the two surfaces. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the splitting blade  30  is a substantially planar sheet of metal, and preferably stainless steel, having an inner cutting edge  68  and an outer cutting edge  70  that meet and terminate at an uppermost piercing tip  72 . The splitting blade  30  is mounted to the support frame  12  substantially parallel to, and extends upwardly into, the annular channel  54  axially intermediate the opposing wheel-halves  36  and  38 . The splitting blade  30  is positioned radially intermediate the retention fender  32  and the central hubs of the carrier wheel  22 . The splitting blade  30  is preferably about ¼ inch thick at its thickest point, although splitting blades of other thicknesses are contemplated. It is generally required that the splitting blade  30  be thinner than the width of the annular channel  54  for allowing the splitting blade  30  to pass between the laterally opposing wheel-halves  36  and  38  without contacting, or substantially frictionally engaging, them. 
   As the inner and outer cutting edges  68  and  70  of the splitting blade  30  extend downwardly from the piercing tip  72 , the profile of the blade  30  widens in a generally linear fashion for several inches. Extending further downward along the blade  30 , the inner edge  68  of the blade  30  curves radially inwardly, toward the central hubs of the carrier wheel  22 , until it reaches a lower terminus  74  that is in close radial proximity to the radially outwardly facing surface of the central hubs. 
   As the outer cutting edge  70  of the splitting blade  30  extends downwardly, below the lower terminus  74  of the inner edge  68 , it curves radially outwardly for several inches, away from the hubs of the carrier wheel  22 , until it reaches an apex near the outer periphery of the carrier wheel  22 . The outer edge then curves radially outwardly at a much more gradual rate until reaching a lower terminus  76  immediately adjacent the outer periphery of the carrier wheel  22  and in close radial proximity to the inner surface of the retention fender  32 . 
   It is preferred that the portions of the splitting blade&#39;s inner and outer cutting edges  68  and  70  that are immediately adjacent each edge&#39;s lower terminus be sharper than the other portions of the edges  68  and  70 . Specifically, the portions of the inner and outer cutting edges  68  and  70  that are immediately adjacent the edges&#39; lower termini  74  and  76  should be sharp enough to severe the connective tissue of a typical poultry mid-wing, but not sharp enough to damage the radius and ulna bones of a mid-wing upon moderately forceful contact as provided by the rotational motion of the carrier wheel  22 . The other portions of the inner and outer cutting edges  68  and  70  of the splitting blade  30  (i.e., the portions not immediately adjacent the lower termini  74  and  76 ) are preferably only sharp enough to sever the softer, less resilient skin and muscle of a typical mid-wing, and are not sharp enough to sever the firmer, more resilient connective tissue of a mid-wing upon moderately forceful contact as provided by the rotational motion of the carrier wheel  22 . These less sharp portions of the blade  30  are less likely to nick the bones of the mid-wing than the sharper portions. 
   The description and depiction of the basic contours of the splitting blade  30  contained herein, while provided by way of example only, have been found to be particularly effective. It is contemplated, however, that numerous variations to the shape, position, and orientation of the splitting blade  30  can be incorporated without departing from the spirit of the invention as will be understood by one skilled in the art. For example, it is contemplated that the splitting blade can alternatively be triangular, circular or have a variety of other shapes. It is further contemplated that a rotatably driven splitting blade, such as the blade of a circular saw, can be incorporated into an alternative embodiment of the apparatus  10 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the ejector comb  34  is a substantially planar piece of sheet metal having a bracket segment  78  with a plurality of elongated, parallel tines  80  extending therefrom. It is preferred that the ejector comb  34  be formed of stainless steel, although it is contemplated that the comb  34  can be formed of any sufficiently rigid, food safe material, including, but not limited to Delrin or comparable thermoplastics conventionally used in food processing applications. 
   Like the splitting blade  30 , the ejector comb  34  is removably mounted to the support frame  12  substantially parallel to, and extends upwardly into, the annular channel  54  axially intermediate the carrier slots  56  of the carrier wheel  22 . The ejector comb  34  is positioned downstream from the splitting blade  30  with the tines  80  of the comb  34  extending downstream at a downward angle from adjacent the central hubs to the outer periphery of the carrier wheel  22 . 
   The ejector comb  34  is preferably about ¼ inch thick, although combs of other thicknesses are contemplated. It is a general requirement that the ejector comb  34  be thinner than the width of the annular channel  54  for allowing the comb  34  to pass between the laterally-opposing wheel-halves  36  and  38  without substantially impeding the rotation of the carrier wheel  22 . 
   It is contemplated the ejector comb  34  can have a variety of alternative shapes and sizes to those described above and shown herein. For example, it is contemplated that the ejector comb  34  can incorporate a greater or lesser number of tines  80  than the four tines shown in  FIG. 3 . It is further contemplated that the tines  80  of the comb can be curved radially inwardly, toward the central hubs of the carrier wheel  22 , or radially outwardly, away from the central hubs of the carrier wheel  22 . It is important, however, that the lower terminus of at least one of the tines  80  be positioned substantially adjacent the periphery of the carrier wheel  22 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the collection bin  18  is preferably a conventional rectangular bin having an open top that is removably mounted to the supporting frame  12  below the splitting station  14  for catching product that is ejected from the carrier wheel  22 , as will be described in greater detail below. The bin  18  preferably includes a lip  82  that extends outwardly from the periphery of its top edge for resting upon, and slidably engaging, a pair of L-shaped support brackets  84  that extend laterally from the front of the support frame  12  for supporting the bin  18  in an upright orientation. It is contemplated that the support brackets  84  can alternatively be omitted and that the bottom of the collection bin  18  can be alternatively seated on a shelf or other support structure on the frame for holding the bin  18  in position below the splitting station  14 . The bin  18  preferably has a plurality of apertures formed in its bottom surface for allowing water and other fluids to drain from the bin  18 , although it is contemplated that the apertures may be omitted. 
   During typical operation of the apparatus  10 , a human operator sequentially inserts whole poultry mid-wings, such as the mid-wing  86 , into empty carrier slots at the top of the carrier wheel  22  as the wheel  22  rotates in a clockwise direction, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The mid-wings are inserted into the carrier slots longitudinally, with the radius portion of the mid-wings positioned substantially in one lateral half of the slot and the ulna portion of the mid-wing positioned substantially in the opposing lateral half of the slot. The mid-wings are preferably inserted into the carrier slots with the smaller wing-tip end of each mid-wing positioned radially inward of the larger drumette end. This orientation is preferred because it facilitates more reliable ejection of the mid-wings from the carrier slots  56  as will be described in greater detail below. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 6-11 , the slotted mid-wing  86  is moved in the direction of the arrow by the carrier wheel  22  from the insertion point in a downstream direction toward the splitting blade  30 . When the mid-wing  86  reaches the splitting blade  30  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ), the piercing tip  72  of the splitting blade  30  pierces the mid-wing  86  at a point laterally intermediate the radius and ulna bones of the mid-wing. As previously described, it is preferred that the piercing tip  72  be sharp enough to pierce the skin and the muscle of a mid-wing, but not sharp enough to damage the bones of a mid-wing, given the amount of force provided by the carrier wheel  22 , even if the tip  72  contacts a bone. Thus, if the mid-wing  86  is slightly misaligned within the carrier slot resulting in the piercing tip  72  striking one of the radius or ulna bones of the mid-wing, the tip  72  will not pierce or nick the bone, but will instead force the bone to shift or slide laterally to the outer side of the splitting blade  30  and thus allow the blade  30  to pass between the radius and ulna bones. 
   As the mid-wing  86  is forced further downstream and onto the splitting blade  30  as shown in  FIG. 8 , the inner and outer cutting edges  68  and  70  of the blade  30  sever the soft tissue of the mid-wing  86  longitudinally outwardly from the point of entry of the piercing tip  72  toward the opposing wingtip and drumette ends of the mid-wing  86 . After the mid-wing  86  is forced downwardly over the first several inches of the splitting blade  30 , the connective tissue at the crux of the wingtip end of the mid-wing  86  engages the inwardly-curving portion of the inner edge  68  of the blade  30 . It is important to note that if the inner edge  68  strikes one of the radius or ulna bones, the relative dullness of the upper portion of the inner edge  68  (described above) allows the inner edge  68  to slide along the surface of the bone and effectively “seek” the connective tissue at the wingtip end without nicking or cutting the bone. 
   After engaging the relatively dull portion of the inner edge  68  of the splitting blade  30 , the crux of connective tissue at the wingtip end of the mid-wing  86  (which is too firm to be cut cleanly by the dull portion of the inner edge  86 ) slides downwardly and radially inwardly along the inner edge  68 , toward the central hubs of the carrier wheel  22 . When the wingtip end of the mid-wing  86  approaches the lower terminus  74  of the inner edge  68  of the splitting blade  30 , the connective tissue at the wingtip end is forced into a radial pinch point between the curving inner edge  68  of the blade  30  and the radially outwardly-facing surface of the central hubs (as shown in  FIG. 8 ). The carrier wheel  22  then forces the mid-wing  86  downwardly, onto the relatively sharp portion of the inner edge  68  of the splitting blade  30  adjacent the inner edge&#39;s lower terminus  74 , which thereby severs the connective tissue, skin, and muscle that connect the radius and ulna portions at the wingtip end of the mid-wing  86 . 
   As the mid-wing  86  continues to be moved further downstream over the splitting blade  30 , the connective tissue at the crux of the drumette end of the mid-wing  86  engages the curving outer edge  70  of the splitting blade  30 . Because the radius and ulna portions have been completely severed from one another at the wingtip end of the mid-wing  86 , the mid-wing  86  is free to be moved radially outwardly, along the curving outer edge  70  of the splitting blade  30  without interference from the inner edge  68  (as shown in  FIG. 9 ). As with the inner edge  68 , the relative dullness of the upper portion of the outer edge  70  of the splitting blade  30  allows the outer edge  70  to slide along the surfaces of the radius and ulna bones and seek the connective tissue at the drumette end without nicking or cutting the bones. 
   Also like the inner edge  68  of the splitting blade  30  described above, the curved outer edge  70  of the splitting blade  30  forces the crux of connective tissue at the drumette end of the mid-wing  86  to move outwardly and into a radial pinch point between the outer edge  70  and the inwardly-facing surface of the retention fender  32  (as shown in  FIG. 9 ). The carrier wheel  22  then forces the mid-wing  86  downwardly, onto the relatively sharp portion of the outer edge  70  of the splitting blade  30  adjacent the outer edge&#39;s lower terminus  76 , which thereby severs the connective tissue, skin, and muscle that connect the radius and ulna portions at the drumette end of the mid-wing  86  (as shown in  FIG. 10 ). 
   After the radius and ulna portions of the mid-wing  86  have been completely severed from one another and have been advanced downstream beyond the splitting blade  30 , the radius and ulna portions are brought in engagement with the ejector comb  32  (as shown in  FIG. 11 ). More particularly, the axially inwardly-facing surfaces of the separated radius and ulna portions of the mid-wing  86  are forced into engagement with the axially outwardly-facing surfaces of the ejector comb  32 , thus causing the machined edges of the tines  80  to dig, or “bite”, into the inwardly-facing surfaces the muscle, connective tissue, and, to a lesser extent, the skin of the radius and ulna portions. The engagement between the tines  80  and the radius and ulna portions, in cooperation with the radially inward-to-outward angling of the tines  80  across the carrier slots  56 , causes the rotational force of the carrier wheel  22  on the mid-wing  86  to be translated into a generally radially outward force on the mid-wing  86 . The force provided by the tines  80  thereby pushes the separated radius and ulna portions of the mid-wing  86  out of the carrier slot  56  (as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 ), ejecting them into the collection bin  18  below. 
   As briefly described above, the orientation of the mid-wing  86  within the carrier slot  56  (i.e., with the drumette end of the mid-wing  86  nearer the periphery of the carrier wheel  22 ) generally allows the mid-wing  86  to be ejected more easily than if the orientation were reversed (i.e., with the wingtip end of the mid-wing  86  nearer the periphery of the carrier wheel  22 ). This is because the drumette end, which is larger and therefore more prone to snugly engage the inner walls of the carrier slot  56  than the smaller wingtip end, must travel a shorter distance to exit the slot  56  than the wingtip end. The described orientation therefore minimizes the overall amount of frictional engagement between the drumette end and the walls of the carrier slot  56  that must be overcome to eject the mid-wing  86  from the slot. 
   This detailed description in connection with the drawings is intended principally as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementing the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and features may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention and that various modifications may be adopted without departing from the invention or scope of the following claims.