Tool for cutting along a path along the spinous processes in an animal carcass, and a slaughterhouse cutting device with the tool

A method of using a processing tool for cutting along a path (P) along spinous processes in an animal carcass, wherein said processing tool comprises:

• two opposite knives mounted to a knife holder via respective mounting structures, said knife holder further comprising an actuator, at least one of said respective mounting structures being movably mounted to said knife holder, said actuator being coupled to said at least one of said respective mounting structures being movably mounted to said knife holder for moving said at least one of said respective mounting structures relative to said knife holder;
• the method comprising:
• moving said processing tool along a path (P);
• operating said actuator to vary, during said moving said processing tool along said path (P), a width between said two opposite knives at a tip of said two opposite knives.

A method of using a processing tool for cutting along a path (P) along spinous processes in an animal carcass, wherein said processing tool comprises:

• two opposite knives mounted to a knife holder via respective mounting structures, said knife holder further comprising an actuator, at least one of said respective mounting structures being movably mounted to said knife holder, said actuator being coupled to said at least one of said respective mounting structures being movably mounted to said knife holder for moving said at least one of said respective mounting structures relative to said knife holder;
• the method comprising:
• biasing said two opposite knives towards each other;
• allowing movement of said two opposite knives away from each other during cutting along a path (P) along spinous processes in an animal carcass;
• and
• operating said actuator on completion of said cutting to return said two opposite knives to a position required for processing a subsequent animal carcass.

A method of using a processing tool for cutting along a path (P) along spinous processes in a suspended pig carcass, wherein said processing tool comprises:

• two opposite parallel knives each comprising a tip, mounted to a knife holder via respective mounting structures, said knife holder further comprising an actuator, at least one of said respective mounting structures being movably mounted to said knife holder, said actuator being coupled to said at least one of said respective mounting structures for translationally moving said respective mounting structures relative to said knife holder, to vary a width of a gap between said two opposite parallel knives at said tip;
• and
• a controller for controlling movement of said respective mounting structures by said actuator;
• wherein the method comprises:
• moving said processing tool along a path (P);
• operating said actuator to vary, during said moving said processing tool along said path (P), said width of said gap between said two opposite parallel knives at said tip of said two opposite parallel knives.

A method of using a processing tool for cutting along a path (P) along spinous processes in a suspended pig carcass, wherein said processing tool comprises:

• two opposite parallel knives each comprising a tip, mounted to a knife holder via respective mounting structures, said knife holder further comprising an actuator, at least one of said respective mounting structures being movably mounted to said knife holder, said actuator being coupled to said at least one of said respective mounting structures for translationally moving said respective mounting structures relative to said knife holder, to vary a width of a gap between said two opposite parallel knives at said tip;
• and
• a controller for controlling movement of said respective mounting structures by said actuator;
• wherein the method comprises:
• biasing said two opposite parallel knives towards each other;
• and
• allowing movement of said two opposite parallel knives away from each other during cutting along a path (P) along spinous processes in a suspended pig carcass and operating said actuator on completion of said cutting to return said two opposite parallel knives to a position required for processing a subsequent animal carcass.

A slaughterhouse cutting device comprising:

• a processing tool for cutting along a path (P) along spinous processes in a suspended animal carcass, said processing tool comprises:
• two opposite knives mounted to a knife holder via respective mounting structures;
• and
• an actuator;
• wherein at least one of said respective mounting structures being movably mounted to said knife holder, said actuator being coupled to said respective mounting structures being movable mounted to said knife holder for moving said respective mounting structures relative to said knife holder to vary a width of a gap between said two opposite knives at a tip of said two opposite knives;
• a carrier structure, for controlled spatial movement of said processing tool connected with said carrier structure;
• a data provider configured for providing information about an animal carcass to be processed by said processing tool, based on i) a vision system (camera), an X-ray or ultra sound image of said animal carcass, or on length or weight of said animal carcass, or ii) fat of said animal carcass, or iii) a digital recipe stored in a memory;
• a computer device for establishing data representing geometry of a spine of said animal carcass to be processed and for establishing said path (P) along said spinous processes;
• and
• a controller controlling said actuator in accordance with said established data, to vary said width of said gap as the processing tool is moved along said path (P).