Apparatus for holding, supporting and maneuvering an animal carcass while holding open the rib cage of the carcass

An apparatus for spreading open a rib cage of an animal carcass and for holding, supporting, and maneuvering the carcass while holding open the rib cage of the carcass, the apparatus comprising:

• a first actuator;
• a first support member coupled to the firs t actuator so that the first actuator can move the first support member up and down along a first axis;
• a second support member pivotally coupled to the first support member so that the second support member can pivot about a second axis relative to the first support member;
• a second actuator coupled to the second support member so that the second actuator can pivot the second support member about the second axis;
• a third actuator attached to and supported by the second support member;
• a pair of spreading plates;
• and
• a scissors linkage coupled to the third actuator at a first end of the scissors linkage, coupled to the second support member at central portion of the scissors linkage and coupled to the spreading plates at a second end of the scissors linkage.

An apparatus for spreading open a rib cage of an animal carcass and for holding, supporting, and maneuvering the carcass while holding open the rib cage of the carcass, the apparatus comprising:

• a base member comprising a first pneumatic actuator;
• a first support member attached to an upper end of the first actuator so that the first actuator can move the first support member up and down along a first axis;
• a second support member pivotally coupled to the first support member so that the second support member can pivot about a second axis relative to the first support member;
• a second pneumatic actuator fixed to the first support member and pivotally coupled to the second support member so that the second actuator can pivot the second support member about the second axis relative to the first support member;
• a third pneumatic actuator fixed to and supported by the second support member;
• a pair of spreading plates;
• screw members extending from the spreading plates;
• and
• a scissors linkage coupled to the third actuator at a first end of the scissors linkage, coupled to the second support member at central portion of the scissors linkage, and coupled to the spreading plates at a second end of the scissors linkage, so that the spreading plates move apart relative to each other when the third actuator is extended.