Loin puller

An apparatus for processing an animal carcass middle and separating at least the loin thereof, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame for elevating a working surface a distance above a support surface;
• a loin separator knife assembly carried by said frame at a first selected location, said loin separator knife assembly providing for adjustment of depth and width of cut of a loin knife blade;
• a conveyor belt assembly carried by said frame having a conveyor belt for conveying the carcass middle toward said first selected location to engage said loin knife blade;
• a load bar assembly carried by said frame at a second selected position having an elongated load bar for engaging a chine portion of the carcass middle and for aligning the carcass middle in a selected alignment with said loin separator knife;
• a guide bar assembly carried by said frame proximate said load bar assembly having an elongated guide bar for engaging the carcass middle as the carcass middle engages said apparatus, said guide bar being in substantial alignment with said load bar, whereby said guide bar aligns the carcass middle with said load bar;
• an impeller assembly carried by said frame for forcing the carcass middle against said load bar and simultaneously driving the carcass middle toward said first selected location, said impeller assembly having an impeller for engaging the chine portion of the carcass middle, a first motor for driving said impeller laterally towards said load bar and a second motor for rotatably driving said impeller whereby the chine portion of the carcass middle forcibly engages said load bar and the carcass middle is driven towards said first selected location;
• a carcass middle gripper assembly carried by said frame for gripping the carcass middle and forcing the carcass middle against said conveyor belt and toward said first selected location;
• a scribe saw assembly mounted on said frame such that said scribe saw assembly moves vertically and laterally, said scribe saw assembly having a saw blade for cutting through at least a portion of the carcass middle, whereby a kerf of a selected depth is created, said scribe saw assembly provided with means for positioning said saw blade in alignment with a portion of said loin knife blade whereby said loin knife blade passes through the carcass middle at a kerf created by said saw blade;
• a depth gauge assembly mounted proximate said scribe saw assembly, whereby said depth gauge assembly moves vertically as said saw blade moves vertically, said depth gauge assembly having a depth gauge for decelerating the vertical movement of said saw blade as said saw blade moves vertically in a downward direction and for limiting said selected depth of said kerf created by said saw blade;
• and
• a sensor means for detecting the carcass middle and for actuating said vertical movement of said scribe saw assembly, said sensor means being carried by said frame proximate said scribe saw assembly.

An apparatus for processing an animal carcass middle and separating at least the loin thereof, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame for elevating a working surface a distance above a support surface;
• a loin separator knife assembly carried by said frame at a first selected location, said loin separator knife assembly providing for adjustment of depth and width of cut of a loin knife blade;
• a conveyor belt assembly carried by said frame having a conveyor belt for conveying the carcass middle toward said first selected location to engage said loin knife blade;
• a load bar assembly carried by said frame at a second selected position having an elongated load bar for engaging a chine portion of the carcass middle and for aligning the carcass middle in a selected alignment with said loin separator knife;
• a guide bar assembly carried by said frame proximate said load bar assembly having an elongated guide bar for engaging the carcass middle as the carcass middle engages said apparatus, said guide bar being in substantial alignment with said load bar, whereby said guide bar aligns the carcass middle with said load bar;
• impeller means for forcing the chine portion of the carcass middle against said load bar and simultaneously driving the carcass middle toward said first selected location carried by said frame, said impeller means having an impeller for engaging the carcass middle, a first means for driving said impeller laterally towards said load bar and a second means for rotatably driving said impeller whereby the chine portion of the carcass middle forcibly engages said load bar and the carcass middle is driven towards said first selected location;
• a carcass middle gripper assembly carried by said frame for gripping the carcass middle and forcing the carcass middle against said conveyor belt and toward said first selected location;
• a scribe saw assembly mounted on said frame such that said scribe saw assembly moves vertically and laterally, said scribe saw assembly having a saw blade for cutting through at least a portion of the carcass middle, whereby a kerf of a selected depth is created, said scribe saw assembly provided with means for positioning said saw blade in alignment with a portion of said loin knife blade whereby said loin knife blade passes through the carcass middle at a kerf created by said saw blade;
• and
• depth gauge means for decelerating the vertical movement of said saw blade as said saw blade moves vertically in a downward direction and for limiting said selected depth of said kerf created by said saw blade, said depth gauge means being mounted proximate said scribe saw assembly, whereby said depth gauge means moves vertically as said saw blade moves vertically.