Automated method and system for processing a hog carcass
AssigneeSwift & Company
InventorsPeter Haagensen, Bruce Johnson, John Cliff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for removing loins from pork bellies to result in a high yield of loin in a two-step method, the first step involving the removal of the loin and the second step involving the skinning of the loin portion removed. A unique knife shaped in the form of a Z is used to cut all the way through the belly. Once complete, the skin from the belly remains on the loin and is subsequently run through a loin skinner in a controlled cutting process that significantly reduces the chance of cutting below the loin fat and into the muscle.
Claims12
An automated system for processing a hog carcass, said carcass having a loin portion, a belly portion, a rib section and a first and second side, comprising:
- a first cutting blade configured so as to fit through a cut previously made in a rib section of the hog carcass such that said blade proceeds along said cut throughout a cutting operation;
- a second cutting blade positioned on a second side of said animal carcass portion being severed, said blade being positioned so that a significant portion of skin associated with said belly portion of said carcass is retained on said belly portion after said cutting operation;
- a driving means operatively associated with said first and second cutting blades, said driving means capable of moving the first and second blades in a predetermined fashion to sever said loin portion from said belly portion;
- at least one ultrasonic sensor operatively associated with a progressive charge coupled camera capable of defining a map of a fat/muscle surface area of said hog carcass;
- one or more skinner positioning screw motors in communication with said first and second cutting blades and with at least one of said ultrasonic sensors such that when a signal from one of said ultrasonic sensors is received by said one or more skinner positioning screw motors, said first and second cutting blades are guided into proper positioning for a cutting operation;
- whereby said cutting operation maximizes the amount of skin remaining with the belly portion of the hog carcass after severing of said loin portion and said belly portion.
An automated method for processing a hog carcass, said carcass having a loin portion, a belly portion, a rib section and a first and second side, comprising:
- providing a first cutting blade configured so as to fit through a cut previously made in a rib section of the hog carcass such that said blade proceeds along said cut throughout a cutting operation;
- positioning a second cutting blade on a second side of said animal carcass portion being severed, said blade being positioned so that a significant portion of skin associated with said belly portion of said carcass is retained on said belly portion after said cutting operation;
- moving a driving means, operatively associated with said first and second cutting blades, in a predetermined fashion to sever said loin portion from said belly portion;
- defining a map of a fat/muscle surface area of said hog carcass using at least one ultrasonic sensor operatively associated with a progressive charge coupled camera;
- guiding said first and second cutting blades into proper positioning for a cutting operation using one or more skinner positioning screw motors in communication with said first and second cutting blades and with at least one of said ultrasonic sensors;
- whereby said method maximizes the amount of skin remaining with the belly portion of the hog carcass after severing of said loin portion and said belly portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.