Loin separation apparatus and method of operation therefor

In a loin separation apparatus, a loin knife assembly comprising:

• (a) an arm pivotally coupled to the loin separation apparatus to pivot about lateral and vertical axes;
• (b) a head assembly, coupled to the arm, the head assembly including a generally U-shaped knife blade having first and second sides;
• (c) vertical moving means for moving the arm vertically about the lateral axis;
• (d) lateral adjustment means for moving the arm laterally about the vertical axis;
• and
• (e) width adjustment means for varying the separation between the first and second sides of the knife blade.

In a loin separation apparatus, a loin knife assembly comprising:

• (a) a generally U-shaped knife blade having first and second sides;
• (b) vertical moving means for moving the knife blade in a vertical direction;
• and
• (c) first and second lateral moving means for respectively and independently moving the first and second sides of the knife blade in a lateral direction.

A loin separation apparatus for separating a loin portion from a side of meat, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a loin knife assembly, including:
• (1) a generally U-shaped knife blade having first and second sides;
• (2) first and second lateral moving means for respectively moving the first and second sides of the U-shaped knife blade in a lateral direction;
• and
• (3) vertical moving means for moving the U-shaped knife blade in a vertical direction;
• (b) conveying means for conveying a side of meat past the loin knife assembly;
• (c) an imaging camera positioned to generate a top plan image of the side of meat;
• and
• (d) a controller, coupled to the loin knife assembly, the conveying means, and the imaging camera, the controller including:
• (1) image processing means for determining backbone and fat/lean separation lines from the top plan image;
• (2) profile calculating means for generating profiles for the vertical moving means and the first and second lateral moving means to control the first side of the U-shaped knife blade to follow a preset distance from the backbone line, and the second side of the U-shaped knife blade to follow a preset distance from the fat/lean separation line;
• and
• (3) activating means for activating the vertical moving means, the first and second lateral moving means and the conveying means to follow the profiles generated by the profile calculating means.

In a loin separation apparatus of the type including (1) a loin knife assembly having a generally U-shaped knife blade, first and second lateral moving means for respectively moving first and second sides of the knife blade in a lateral direction, and a vertical moving means for moving the U-shaped knife blade in a vertical direction, and (2) conveying means for conveying a side of meat past the loin knife assembly, a control system comprising:

• (a) an imaging system, the imaging system including means for generating a top plan image of the side of meat and means for processing the top plan image to locate a backbone line and a fat/lean separation line on the side of meat;
• (b) a host controller, coupled to the imaging system and the motion control system, the host controller including profile calculating means for generating profiles for the conveying means, the vertical moving means and the first and second lateral moving means such that the first side of the U-shaped knife blade follows a preset distance from the backbone line and the second side of the U-shaped knife blade follows a preset distance from the fat/lean separation line as the conveying means conveys the side of meat past the loin knife assembly;
• and
• (c) a motion control system for controlling the first and second lateral moving means, the vertical moving means and the conveying means to each follow the profiles generated by the host controller.

A method of separating a loin portion from a side of meat in a loin separation apparatus of the type including a loin knife assembly having a generally U-shaped knife blade, first and second lateral moving means for respectively moving first and second sides of the knife blade in a lateral direction, and a vertical moving means for moving the U-shaped knife blade in a vertical direction, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a top plan image of a side of meat;
• (b) determining the location of a backbone line and a fat/lean separation line on the side of meat from the top plan image;
• (c) generating profiles for the vertical moving means and the first and second lateral moving means to control the first side of the U-shaped knife blade to follow a preset distance from the backbone line, and the second side of the U-shaped knife blade to follow a preset distance from the fat/lean separation line;
• and
• (d) activating the vertical moving means, the first and second lateral moving means and the conveying means to follow the generated profiles.