Toolless quick change blade holder apparatus

A toolless quick change blade holder for receiving and supporting a blade in a skinning machine for trimming a layer of unwanted material from a meat product, the blade holder comprising:

• a lower base plate;
• an upper clamping plate adapted to be removably secured to said lower base plate, said lower base and upper clamping plates having forward, central, and rearward portions, said blade being positioned between said forward portions of said lower base and upper clamping plates;
• mounting means for mounting said holder on said skinning machine wherein said blade is positioned for trimming engagement with said meat product;
• fulcrum means for removably securing said upper clamping plate to said lower base plate and for limiting upward movement of said central portion of said clamping plate relative to said base plate wherein said blade may be removably secured between said forward portions of said plates;
• and
• means for releasably separating said rearward portions of said base and clamping plates thereby pivoting said upper clamping plate relative to said fulcrum means to urge said forward portions of said plates together to clamp said blade therebetween said means including
• an upwardly and rearwardly sloping ramp, positioned along said rearward portion of said base plate such that rearward movement of said clamping plate causes said rearward portion of said clamping plate to engage and slide up said ramp causing said rearward portion of said clamping plate to be raised relative to said rearward portion of said base plate, activating said fulcrum means, and clamping said blade between said forward portions of said base and clamping plates.