Patent Description:
In a known method the furcula is removed manually. The furcula is difficult to remove due to its delicate V-shaped structure and anatomical location. In conjunction with the coracoid and the scapula the furcula forms a structure known as the triosseal canal. This canal houses a strong tendon which is attached to the furcula. The furcula is further embedded in breast meat. During removal of the furcula it is common for the furcula to fracture riddling a poultry carcass with small bone fragments. Due to the strong presence of tendon tissue the furcula is further often removed at the expense of a considerable portion of breast meat.

In another known method the removal of the furcula is automated. Due to natural variations in the size of the poultry breast caps and anatomical difference the automated method is inclined to produce inconsistent removal results. Oftentimes, in order to prevent the fracturing of the furcula, more meat is removed than is required. It frequently occurs that the furcula remains partly attached to a tendon, damaging the filet by ripping attached muscle tissue upon removal. It is also common for the furcula to fracture, and to damage surrounding tissue when extracted in a fractured state. Remaining bone fragments are further also a hazard for the consumer. Ingestion of sharp bone material may further also result in a variety of gastrointestinal issues. The automated removal of the furcula often leads to damaging of the filet of the poultry breast caps, which is generally the most expensive part of any poultry carcass.

In yet another known automated method the furcula is cut while inside the poultry breast cap and removed in separate parts. In such a method bone splinters, often a result from cutting, remain present in or on the meat during further processing steps which may result an inferior product or in an unfavorable consumer experience. Another example of automated device performing the removal of the furcula can be found in the document <CIT> where the cutting device is actuated by various cam followers running on cam tracks of a drum.

According to an update of the U. Department of Agriculture July <NUM>th, <NUM> the U. domestic consumption of poultry is approximately <NUM> per capita per year and is expected to grow to <NUM> by <NUM>. These numbers are reported on a carcass-weight basis and further back a worldwide continually rising demand for poultry.

Accordingly, a need is felt for a furcula remover apparatus capable of extracting a furcula with minimal loss of meat while preventing the fracturing of the furcula during the removal process thereof. There is further also a need felt to prevent the spread of bone fragments or splinters to the rest of the carcass in the event of fracturing a furcula during extraction proceedings thereof.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide such a remover apparatus and the ability to overcome or reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. It is further also an object of the invention to provide alternative solutions which are less cumbersome in assembly and operation. Alternatively, it is an object of the invention to at least provide a useful alternative.

To this end the invention provides for an apparatus, a poultry breast filleting system and a method as defined in one or more of the appended claims.

The present invention accomplishes the reliable removal of furculae from poultry breast caps while preventing or at least substantially reducing the contamination of meat with bone fragments, shards or splinters and the damaging of meat.

According to a first aspect of the invention the furcula remover apparatus, for a poultry breast fileting system, comprises a guide frame. The guide frame is arranged for attachment to a main body of a poultry breast fileting system in a conveying path thereof in a plane of conveyance. The furcula remover apparatus further comprises a carriage, which is slidably mounted to the guide frame for translatory movement with respect to the guide frame. This movement is between a first position upstream of a direction of conveyance and a second position downstream of the direction of conveyance. The furcula remover apparatus also comprises a furcula grappling unit, which is moveably connected to the carriage for movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of conveyance. This movement is between a retracted and an extended position. It will be appreciated that movement in the direction perpendicular to the plane of conveyance also includes a pivoting movement of which the turning circle theoretically contains a point along which a motion is substantially perpendicular to the plane of conveyance. It will further be understood that the plane of conveyance also means a local plane of conveyance in the vicinity of the furcula remover apparatus.

The furcula grappling unit includes a guide unit on a downstream end thereof. A knife carrier is slidably connected to the guide unit, for movement between a retracted and extended position and for grappling a furcula of a poultry carcass when extended. The furcula grappling unit, when in use and the guide frame attached to a poultry breast fileting system, is arranged for being engaged by one of a mandrel or a conveyor component of a poultry fileting system for movement from the first position to the second position. It will be appreciated that the guide frame may be height and position adjustable, allowing the apparatus to be adjusted according to the needs of the fileting system.

The carriage is resiliently biased into the first position, for receiving the poultry carcass, and arranged for moving to the second position against the resilient bias when engaged. This motion of the carriage enables the co-movement of carriage and the mandrel in the direction of conveyance such that all extraction related operations are performed at the same speed relative to a poultry breast cap resting on the mandrel. This enables the apparatus to maintain the same precision during the extraction at varying mandrel velocity or speed. As a result the furcula can be extracted in a controlled manner reducing the risk of fracturing the furcula.

The furcula remover apparatus is suitable for use in automatic deboning systems for poultry breast caps wherein preferably the conveying path extends through a substantially horizontal plane.

Optionally the carriage has a first linear actuator connected to the grappling unit for moving the grappling unit between the retracted and the extended positions. Preferably the first linear actuator is a pneumatic cylinder. It will be understood that the extraction of the furcula occurs during a retraction of the grappling unit. This has the benefit of allowing retraction and extension of the grappling unit to be controlled reducing the chance of damage to meat. When using a linear actuator the grappling unit can be returned faster to its extended position than when only under gravitational effect. This increases the speed of the extraction of the furcula and subsequently shorts the time needed for the extraction process.

Optionally the carriage has a second linear actuator connected to the knife carrier for sliding the knife carrier along the guide unit for grappling of the furcula. The second linear actuator is preferably pneumatic. In this way the grappling speed (speed at which the knife carrier extends) is controllable and can be adjusted. The grappling of the furcula can then be performed with a consistent motion at variety of mandrel velocities. A further benefit is that the velocity of extension can be adjusted to prevent fracturing of the furcula. Additionally, this allows retraction of the knife carrier to be adjusted such that the furcula is released when there is a reduced chance of contaminating the poultry breast cap with bone material such as splinters or fragments. It will be understood that the retraction of the knife carrier can be adjusted to release the furcula prior to being engaged by a next mandrel, such that contamination of possible bone material with a next poultry breast cap on the next mandrel is prevented or at least substantially reduced. The grappling motion can also be controlled and force limited. For example, this may be accomplished when using a pneumatic actuator by setting a predetermined pneumatic pressure. This may prevent accidental engagement of non-furcula related objects, materials or tissues.

Optionally the carriage is resiliently biased into the first position by a spring-loaded bias, a pneumatical bias, a magnetic bias, electrical bias, for example a servo motor, or a force bias. It will be understood that any combination of the prior is also possible. To this end the carriage will automatically return to its first position.

Optionally the resilient bias is generated by at least one helically wound spring. In this way the resilient bias is cost effective, requires relatively low maintenance and is highly reliable. The spring furthermore allows for the storage of kinetic potential energy to be released for moving the carriage opposite the direction of conveyance without the need of actuation.

Optionally the furcula grappling unit is pivotally connected to the carriage. It will be appreciated that the furcula grappling unit is arranged for pivoting between an extended position, towards the conveying path, and a retracted position, away from the conveying path. It will further be appreciated that in the extended position the grappling unit is angled towards the conveying path. Due to the nature of the pivoting motion of the grappling unit, it is further provided with the ability to move slightly in the direction of motion of the mandrel (conveyance), independent of the carriage. The pivoting motion is able to buffer an impact caused by engagement. In this way the apparatus allows for high-speed processing for the extraction of furculae from poultry breast caps. Additionally, the pivoting motion may also facilitate disengagement from a mandrel and prevent possible jamming of the apparatus.

Optionally the carriage can be arranged for engagement via the furcula grappling unit. Allowing the carriage to be engaged via the furcula grappling unit, rather than directly by the mandrel beneficially provides additional shock-buffering. Furthermore this allows an apparatus only to be engaged by a mandrel when the grappling unit is ready for engagement.

Additionally, and/or alternatively, the carriage can be engaged by the mandrel resulting in the co-movement of the carriage and the grappling unit.

Optionally the guide unit includes a central guide track. In this way the knife carrier is more accurately guided along a dedicated guide track.

Optionally the knife carrier includes a cutting element for cutting tendon tissue attached to the furcula. This provides a cutting element which assists in the grappling of the furcula by clearing attached tendon tissue.

Optionally, the cutting element includes a wedge shaped blade having converging cutting edges. In this way the wedge shaped blade provides the ability to wedge the furcula into position for grappling and additionally cuts tendon tissue. This improves the accessibility of the furcula for extraction.

Optionally the cutting element is mounted on the central guide track. In this way the cutting element cuts in accordance with the symmetry of the poultry breast cap. This allows for the wedging to occur in the plane of symmetry of the poultry breast cap.

Optionally the knife carrier includes a pair of gripping elements. A benefit is that this allows the symmetrical gripping of the furcula in the poultry breast cap. It will be understood that the gripping edges may also be able to cut in and along the direction of their movement. Preferably each gripping element has a gripping slat. In this way both a flat clamping surface and a sharp cutting edge or gripping edge can be provided.

Optionally the cutting element and the gripping elements, preferably gripping slats, are arranged to converge into a common meeting point. In this way all cuts of the gripping elements and cutting element meet up at a single point enabling simultaneous detachment of the cut out furcula and attached tissue. This further prevents the furcula from remaining attached to the carcass via any tendon tissue.

Optionally the gripping slats have gripping edges converging to one another. This provides a converging shape for the gripping slats. As such the gripping slats are matched or at least adjusted to the form of the furcula. Such that the gripping of the furcula will provide a desired force distribution over the furcula during the grappling thereof. This reduces the possibility of a fracture and splintering. Additionally, this has the benefit of sparing tissue during the extraction of the furcula. In this way consistent removal results are achieved with regard to natural variation in size of poultry breast caps and slight anatomical differences.

Optionally the converging gripping edges include mutually abuttable cutting edges. This allows the edges to converge on their cutting edges. Each gripping edge is able to provide a cut which meets up with the other, effectively detaching the gripped tissue from the remainder of the poultry breast cap. Bone can be held behind the abuttable cutting edges preventing contamination of meat in the event of a fractured furcula.

Optionally an inner longitudinal surface of each of the gripping slats extends parallel to an adjacent one of the converging cutting edges of the wedge shaped blade. This beneficially allows the gripping slats and the wedge shaped blade to converge into a single wedge shape.

Optionally the guide unit includes a pair of side guide tracks opposite another converging in an upstream direction of the guide unit. Providing side guide tracks allows the gripping elements to converge along separate guide tracks. In this way the side guide tracks provide a linear cut along the tissue directly surrounding the furcula while also gripping the furcula. It will be appreciated that when there are no side guide tracks and only a central guide track, the gripping elements may form a pincer.

Optionally the gripping slats can be mounted on the side guide tracks for converging movement towards the cutting element of the knife carrier. This enables the blade and slats to provide gripping of the furcula. This facilitates extraction of the furcula and prevents the contamination of meat with possible bone material.

Optionally the central guide track may comprise at least two parallel guide rods. This prevents the knife carrier or part of the knife carrier from rotating about the central guide track during operations.

Optionally and/or alternatively, the central guide track is arranged for preventing rotation of the knife carrier about the central guide track. For example, the central guide track may include a profile such as one or more recesses or extrusions along the length of central guide track for guiding the knife carrier.

Optionally the side guide tracks may each comprise at least two parallel guide rods. This prevents gripping elements from rotating about the side guide track during operations.

Optionally and/or alternatively, the side guide tracks are arranged for preventing rotation of the gripping elements about the respective side guide tracks. For example, the side guide tracks may include a profile such as one or more recesses or extrusions along the length of side guide track for guiding gripping elements.

Optionally the knife carrier includes a connection rod along which the gripping elements are slidably connected to the cutting element parallel to the plane of conveyance, for joint movement. In this way all cuts are effectuated simultaneously and efficiently. In the event that the furcula is damaged by one of the cuts. As no further cuts need to be performed, the risk of potential spreading of bone fragments is reduced.

Optionally the grappling unit may further also comprise a cleaning member for cleaning the knife carrier when moving from the extended to the retracted position. It will be understood that a knife carrier may carry bone fragments and/or meat from one poultry breast cap to the next if not cleaned properly. In this way the cutting element is scraped clean of such contaminations when retracting.

Optionally the cleaning member can be a wedge shaped block with a slanted surface. It will be understood that the wedge shaped blade retracts behind the cleaning member. It will further be appreciated that the cleaning member fits between the point of convergence and the gripping slats. In this way the cleaning member also provides a clamping surface for clamping poultry tissue between the cleaning element and the gripping slats.

Optionally, the cleaning member is provided with at least one opening for supplying a burst of gas, preferably air, for removing poultry tissue from the cleaning member. This advantageously removes any remaining poultry from the cleaning member. This increases the reliability of the cleaning element and reduces contamination. Preferably, the at least one opening is provided on the slated surface of the cleaning member.

Optionally the knife carrier can be arranged to form an at least partially enclosed volume around the furcula by moving into an extended position. In this way the furcula and surrounding tissue can be stored in the partially enclosed volume when grappled. This effectively provides a barrier between the cut tissue and the poultry breast cap, preventing any contamination of the meat with bone fragments.

Optionally the guide frame can comprise cleaning nozzles for providing burst of water, preferably pressurized water for cleaning the knife carrier. In this way any sticky tissue can be removed from the knife carrier that would otherwise contaminate a subsequent poultry breast cap.

According to a second aspect of the invention a poultry breast filleting system is provided. The poultry breast filleting system includes a furcula remover apparatus according to any embodiment of the first aspect of the invention. The system further includes a conveyor arranged for moving in a conveyor path, and at least one mandrel arranged for carrying a poultry carcass. The at least one mandrel is connected to the conveyor for movement through the conveyor path. The furcula grappling unit is arranged for engagement by one of the mandrel and the conveyor component.

Advantageously such a system can be operated using the furcula remover apparatus in a substantially horizontal plane of conveyance. By operating in a horizontal plane of conveyance the poultry breast caps need not be suspended in an upside down manner prone to gravity. This reduces the complexity of the processing apparatus and subsequent processing stations.

Optionally, the apparatus and system can be arranged such that the carriage and the mandrel remain stationary with respect to each other during the engagement of the furcula grappling unit and at least one of the at least one mandrel and the conveyor component. This advantageously allows the extraction of the furcula independent of the velocity of the mandrel.

Optionally, more than one apparatus, such as two, can be positioned in a conveying path, preferably in series, such that the two, or more, apparatuses can be engaged by alternating mandrels, in the path of conveyance. The apparatus has the benefit of being able to share its workload with a further such apparatus up or downstream of the path of conveyance. As such, a fileting system is capable of handling high-speed mandrel velocities (traveling velocity of a mandrel in its path of conveyance). It will be appreciated that the mandrel speed is limited by at least the physical integrity of the apparatus or the distance between the first and second position of the carriage and the required duration of the extraction.

According to a third aspect of the invention a method is disclosed herein for removing a furcula from at least one poultry breast cap using a furcula remover apparatus according to any first aspect of the invention in a poultry breast fileting system in accordance with any second aspect of the invention. The method further comprises cutting the tendon and tissue surrounding the furcula and removing the furcula from the at least one poultry breast cap. The method may additionally comprise engaging the furcula remover apparatus using a conveyor component, such as a mandrel for co-movement of a carriage and a grappling unit of the furcula remover apparatus with the conveyor component. It will be appreciated that the poultry breast cap containing a furcula is positioned on the mandrel and that the velocity and direction of the mandrel and the conveyor component are the same. The method can be advantageously performed under a variety of mandrel velocities such that furcula extraction is performed.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a system <NUM> for the automatic deboning of poultry breast caps. The system <NUM> on opposite ends is provided with legs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The legs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are each provided with a pedestal <NUM>, at least one of which is adjustable to enable leveling of the system <NUM> with respect to a workspace floor surface. The system <NUM> also includes a main body <NUM> onto which are hinged a front door <NUM>, a first rear door <NUM>, and a second rear door <NUM>. The main body <NUM> also is provided with a control panel <NUM>. Arranged within the system <NUM> is an endless conveyor <NUM> for breast cap carrying mandrels <NUM>. A portion of the conveyor track <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, is exposed and not covered by a door. This section enables loading of the mandrels <NUM> with poultry breast caps (not shown, but conventional).

In <FIG> a portion of a conveyor chain <NUM> with an associated mandrel <NUM> is shown on an enlarged scale. Each mandrel <NUM> has an associated pitch of three individual chain links <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Intermediate chain link <NUM> is interposed between leading chain link <NUM> and trailing chain link <NUM>. A succession of chain links pivotally interconnecting leading chain links <NUM> to respective trailing chain links <NUM> forms an endless conveyor chain <NUM>. For movement in the direction of arrow <NUM> or direction of conveyance the conveyor chain <NUM> will be engaged by driven wheel <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>). The intermediate chain link <NUM> is provided with a bearing for rotatingly supporting Maltese cross <NUM>, which is non-rotatingly connected to the mandrel <NUM> through a shaft <NUM>. When the Maltese cross <NUM> is rotated in the direction of arrow <NUM>, the mandrel <NUM> will rotate with it in the same direction. The Maltese cross <NUM> is further provided with diagonal, inwardly directed slots 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, for being engaged by detents (not shown, but conventional) in a guide channel (not shown, but conventional) for rotating the mandrel <NUM> in the direction of arrow <NUM>. The rotatability of the mandrels allows the system <NUM> to perform various alternative automatic deboning of poultry breast caps in a single plane of conveyance. As can be seen from <FIG> the poultry breast caps are transported in the single plane of conveyance. The plane of conveyance here being substantially horizontal and is defined by the path in which the mandrels <NUM> are transported in <FIG>. The mandrel <NUM> is further provided with spring-biased clamp <NUM> for clampingly holding a central bone of a poultry breast cap. In the position of the mandrel <NUM> as shown in <FIG> the breast cap meat depends from opposite sides of the mandrel <NUM>, which defines a plane of symmetry that extends perpendicular to the shaft <NUM>. The plane of symmetry of the mandrel <NUM> thus is kept in a vertical position and a breast cap is supported on the mandrel <NUM> in a gravity neutral manner. in this way there is no bias on the meat of the breast cap in a lateral direction. The mandrels <NUM> can be generally of a type as described in <CIT>.

In <FIG> a furcula remover apparatus <NUM> is shown in a conveying path <NUM>, also referred to as path of conveyance, of the system <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> is attached to the main body <NUM> of the system <NUM> via two attachment members 49a, 49b from which a guide frame <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> is suspended. The guide frame <NUM> is fixed with respect to the main body <NUM> as to prevent displacement of the apparatus <NUM>. The guide frame <NUM>, as further also sown in <FIG> and <FIG>, has two spring-loaded guide members 53a, 53b attached to it (53b, shown in <FIG>). A carriage <NUM> is attached to the guide frame <NUM> by being slidably mounted on spring-loaded guide members 53a, 53b. The carriage <NUM> is moveable between a first position upstream of the direction of conveyance <NUM> and a second position downstream of the direction of conveyance <NUM>. The spring-loaded guide members 53a, 53b are further each provided with a helically wound spring 57a, 57b (57b, shown in <FIG>) around each guide member 53a, 53b respectively, providing a resilient bias, for biasing the carriage <NUM> into the first position thereof. The carriage <NUM> is provided with a furcula grappling unit <NUM> which is pivotally connected to the carriage <NUM> by a pivoting shaft <NUM>. The furcula grappling unit <NUM> is arranged for pivoting between an extended position, towards the conveying path <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>), and a retracted position, away from the conveying path <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>). Arrow <NUM> indicates the direction of a motion of retraction of the furcula grappling unit <NUM>, which is perpendicular to the direction of conveyance <NUM> and perpendicular to the plane of conveyance. The extending motion is opposite the direction of arrow <NUM>. The furcula grappling unit <NUM> is further also connected to the carriage <NUM> by a first linear actuator <NUM> provided as a pneumatic cylinder for actuating the retraction and extension of the furcula grappling unit <NUM>. The furcula grappling unit <NUM> is further provided with a guide unit <NUM> on a downstream end <NUM> of the furcula grappling unit <NUM>. The furcula grappling unit <NUM> is further also provided with an abutment member <NUM> which is attached to the guide unit <NUM>. The abutment member <NUM> is a rubber block that is positioned for receiving the spring-biased clamp <NUM> of the mandrel <NUM>. A knife carrier <NUM> is slidably connected to the guide unit <NUM> for movement between a retracted position, as shown in <FIG>, and an extended position, as shown in <FIG>, for grappling the poultry breast cap (not shown, but conventional) carried by the mandrel <NUM>. The extended position is obtained by sliding the knife carrier <NUM> along the guide unit <NUM> in the direction of arrow <NUM> The guide unit <NUM> and knife carrier <NUM> will be explained in detail further below. The furcula grappling unit <NUM> further includes a second linear actuator <NUM> which is connected to the knife carrier <NUM> for sliding the knife carrier <NUM> along the guide unit <NUM>. The second linear actuator <NUM> is also a pneumatic cylinder. The furcula grappling unit <NUM> is engaged by the mandrel <NUM> via engagement of the abutment member <NUM> by the spring-biased clamp <NUM> of the mandrel <NUM> pushing the furcula grappling unit <NUM> in the direction of conveyance <NUM>. The engagement of the furcula grappling unit <NUM> results in a co-motion of the carriage <NUM> and the furcula grappling unit <NUM> in the direction of conveyance <NUM>.

In <FIG> the furcula remover apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> is shown in a perspective view. The attachment members 49a, 49b are each provided with an attachment opening 85a, 85b (85a, shown in <FIG>) respectively for allowing a component of the main body <NUM> there through to be fastened by screw fastening. The main body <NUM> is clamped between the attachment members 49a, 49b and latches 87a, 87b (87a, shown in <FIG>) respectively. The attachment openings 85a, 85b further allows the furcula remover apparatus <NUM> to be placed or relocated along the path of conveyance <NUM> as desired. The guide unit <NUM> has a central guide track <NUM> and a pair of side guide tracks <NUM>, <NUM> opposite another converging in an upstream direction of the guide of the guide unit or in the direction of arrow <NUM>. The knife carrier <NUM> consists of a cutting element <NUM> slidably connected to the central guide track <NUM> and a pair of gripping elements <NUM>, <NUM> slidably connected to the side guide tracks <NUM>, <NUM> respectively. The cutting element <NUM> and the gripping elements <NUM>, <NUM> are slidably connected along a connection rod <NUM> for movement along the connection rod <NUM> for moving along with the cutting element <NUM> in the direction of arrow <NUM>. The second linear actuator <NUM> is attached to the cutting element <NUM> of the knife carrier <NUM> for actuating the knife carrier <NUM> via the cutting element <NUM>. The cutting element <NUM> contains a wedge shaped blade <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) and the gripping elements <NUM>, <NUM> contain gripping slats <NUM>, <NUM> respectively. The knife carrier as presented in <FIG> is in the retracted position. The guide frame <NUM> is further also fitted with cleaning nozzles 110a, 110b directed at the knife carrier <NUM> and guide unit <NUM> for delivering bursts of pressurized water to the knife carrier <NUM> for cleaning the knife carrier <NUM>.

In <FIG> it can be seen that the spring-loaded guide members 53a, 53b are parallel to each other and attached to opposite sides of the guide frame <NUM>. The guide frame is equipped with guide channels 109a, 109b as seen from <FIG> and guide channels 109c, 109d as seen from <FIG>, for determining a fastening position for the attachment members 49a,49b and for allowing the relocation of apparatus <NUM> over the path of conveyance <NUM>. The gripping slats <NUM>, <NUM> each have mutually abuttable cutting edges <NUM>, <NUM> (<NUM> shown in <FIG>). A cleaning member <NUM> is provided as a wedge shaped polymer block with a triangular slanted surface, which is further provided with two openings 116A, 116B (as shown in <FIG>) each arranged for supplying a burst of air for removing poultry tissue from the cleaning member. The cleaning member <NUM> is attached to the furcula grappling unit <NUM> for cleaning the mutually abuttable cutting edges <NUM>, <NUM> of the gripping slats <NUM>, <NUM> when the knife carrier <NUM> is in the retracted position. The cleaning member <NUM> is shaped to allow the wedge shaped blade <NUM> of the cutting member <NUM> to move past the cleaning member <NUM> over a bottom edge <NUM> of the cleaning member <NUM>. The retracting motion of the wedge shaped blade <NUM> over the bottom edge <NUM> of the cleaning member <NUM> provides a scraping motion for removing poultry tissue from the wedge shaped blade <NUM>. The cleaning member <NUM> is shaped to allow the gripping slats <NUM>, <NUM> to move past the cleaning member <NUM> over side edges <NUM>, <NUM> respectively. The cleaning member <NUM> also allows for gripping of poultry tissue between the cleaning member <NUM> and the gripping slats <NUM>, <NUM> as will be explained further below.

In <FIG> a bottom view the furcula grappling unit <NUM> as used in the furcula remover apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> can be seen with the knife carrier <NUM> in a retracted position. The abutment member <NUM> is not shown in this Figure, but is part of the furcula grappling unit <NUM>. The wedge shaped blade <NUM> has converging cutting edges <NUM>, <NUM>. The inner longitudinal surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> of each of the gripping slats <NUM>, <NUM> respectively extend parallel to the adjacently converging cutting edges <NUM>, <NUM> of the wedge shaped blade <NUM>. The side guide tracks <NUM>, <NUM> are sharply angled to converge in the upstream direction of the guide unit <NUM> or arrow <NUM>. The central guide track <NUM> and the second linear actuator <NUM> run parallel to axis <NUM>. The second linear actuator <NUM> is arranged for generating a linear motion of the cutting element <NUM> along the central guide track <NUM> when actuated. The side guide tracks <NUM>, <NUM> are angled <NUM> degrees from axis <NUM>. All motion along the central guide track <NUM> and the side guide tracks <NUM>, <NUM> is parallel to a plane of operations which is defined by axis <NUM> and axis <NUM>. Axis <NUM> being defined by the connection rod <NUM> perpendicular to axis <NUM>.

In <FIG> a perspective view of the furcula grappling unit <NUM> with carriage <NUM> is shown having the knife carrier <NUM> in the extended position. Here the cutting element <NUM> is further seen to be attached second linear actuator <NUM> via a piston rod <NUM>. The connection rod <NUM> is fixed to the cutting element <NUM> of the knife carrier <NUM>. As a result the wedge shaped blade <NUM> remains stationary with respect to the connection rod <NUM>.

In <FIG> a bottom view of the furcula grappling unit <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG> is schematically shown with the knife carrier <NUM> in the extended position. In the extended position the gripping slats have converged to the a front tip <NUM> of the wedge shaped blade <NUM> which represents a common meeting point. Also the gripping slats <NUM>, <NUM> have moved towards the side edges <NUM>, <NUM> of the cleaning member <NUM> respectively. The movement of the gripping slats <NUM>, <NUM> towards the cleaning member <NUM> is a gripping or clamping motion which allows the gripping or clamping of poultry tissue (not shown, but conventional) in between the gripping slats <NUM>, <NUM> and the side edges <NUM>, <NUM> of the cleaning member <NUM>. The wedge shaped blade <NUM> is sufficiently sharp to cut through tendon tissue attached to the furcula (non-show, but conventional). The wedge shaped blade <NUM> is further capable of wedging the furcula into a position for gripping by the gripping slats <NUM>, <NUM>. In the extended position of the knife carrier <NUM> the furcula of the poultry breast cap is firmly held in an enclosed volume <NUM> (shown in <FIG>). The inner longitudinal surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> of each of the gripping slats <NUM>, <NUM> enclose the volume <NUM> together with the wedge shaped blade and the cleaning member <NUM>. In the enclosed volume <NUM> a part of the poultry breast cap which has been cut off by the wedge shaped blade <NUM> is contained and held in place by the gripping slats <NUM>, <NUM>.

In <FIG> a perspective view of a furcula grappling unit <NUM> with carriage <NUM> is shown with the knife carrier <NUM> in the extended position. The central guide track <NUM> consists of two parallel guide rods 89a, 89b securing the cutting element <NUM> against rotation along the central guide track <NUM>. The side guide tracks <NUM>, <NUM> each consist of parallel guide rods 91a, 91b and parallel guide rods 93a, 93b respectively, preventing the rotation of the gripping elements <NUM>, <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) about the side guide tracks <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> describe the relative motions of the carriage <NUM>, the furcula grappling unit <NUM> and the knife carrier <NUM> of the furcula remover apparatus <NUM> in a process of extracting the furcula from a poultry breast cap (not shown, but conventional) carried by the mandrel <NUM>. <FIG> follow each other chronologically in the process of extracting the furcula.

<FIG> schematically shows a side view of the furcula remover apparatus <NUM> of <FIG>. The furcula remover apparatus makes contact with the mandrel <NUM> prior to engagement. Prior to engagement the carriage <NUM> is in the first position and the furcula grappling unit <NUM> is in the extended position. The knife carrier <NUM> is in the retracted position, as described in <FIG> and <FIG>. The abutment member <NUM> is attached to the furcula grappling unit <NUM>. In order to engage the carriage <NUM> the spring-biased clamp <NUM> of the mandrel <NUM> impacts with the abutment member <NUM> and transfers kinetic energy from the mandrel <NUM> to the furcula grappling unit <NUM>. Further movement of the mandrel <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, in the direction of conveyance <NUM> will result in the carriage <NUM> and the mandrel <NUM> becoming stationary in relation to each other. Prior to engagement by the mandrel <NUM>, the carriage <NUM> is also stationary with respect to the guide frame <NUM>.

In <FIG> a side view of the furcula remover apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> is shown during engagement by the mandrel <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> can be seen to have moved from the first position as shown in <FIG> to the second position. The furcula grappling unit <NUM> can be seen to remain in the extended position in which the abutment member <NUM> remains in contact with the spring-biased clamp <NUM> of the mandrel <NUM>. The knife carrier <NUM> can be seen to have moved from the retracted position, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, to the extended position, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. In the extended position of the knife carrier <NUM>, the knife carrier <NUM> has already cut the tendon tissue attached to the furcula of the poultry breast cap (not shown but conventional). The gripping slats <NUM>, <NUM> have converged towards each other and will be understood to have gripped and cut out the furcula with the mutually abuttable cutting edges <NUM>, <NUM> together with the wedge shaped blade <NUM>.

In <FIG> a side view of the furcula remover apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> is shown after disengagement from the mandrel <NUM>. The furcula grappling unit <NUM> can be seen to have pivoted in the direction of arrow <NUM> from its previous extended position to its retracted position. In the retracted position the grappling unit <NUM> is moved away from the path of conveyance <NUM> clear of the poultry breast cap (not shown, but conventional) mounted on the mandrel <NUM>. The first linear actuator <NUM> here is seen forcing the furcula grappling unit <NUM> into the retracted position. The furcula and attached tissue (not shown, but conventional) are inside the enclosed volume <NUM> and have been removed from the poultry breast cap (not shown, but conventional) by the retraction of the furcula grappling unit <NUM>. The motion of the furcula grappling unit <NUM> from extended to retracted provides a pulling motion on the furcula and any still attached tissue from the poultry breast cap resulting in the extraction of the furcula. During the retraction of the furcular grappling unit the knife carrier <NUM> remains in the extended position.

Claim 1:
A furcula remover apparatus (<NUM>), for a poultry breast fileting system (<NUM>), comprising:
a guide frame (<NUM>) for attachment to a main body (<NUM>) of a poultry breast fileting system (<NUM>) in a conveying path (<NUM>) thereof in a plane of conveyance;
a carriage (<NUM>) slidably mounted to the guide frame (<NUM>) for movement with respect to the guide frame (<NUM>) between a first position upstream of a direction of conveyance (<NUM>), and a second position downstream of the direction of conveyance (<NUM>);
a furcula grappling unit (<NUM>) moveably connected to the carriage (<NUM>) for movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of conveyance between a retracted and an extended position, the furcula grappling unit (<NUM>) comprising a guide unit (<NUM>) on a downstream end thereof; and
a knife carrier (<NUM>) slidably connected to the guide unit (<NUM>), for movement between a retracted and extended position, for grappling a furcula of a poultry carcass when extended;
wherein the furcula grappling unit (<NUM>), when in use and the guide frame (<NUM>) attached to a poultry breast fileting system (<NUM>), is arranged for being engaged by one of a mandrel (<NUM>) or a conveyor component of a poultry fileting system for movement from the first position to the second position,
wherein the carriage (<NUM>) is resiliently biased into the first position, for receiving the poultry carcass, and arranged for translatory movement from the first position to the second position in the direction of conveyance against the resilient bias when engaged, and from the second position to the first position in a direction opposite the direction of conveyance.