Hog carcass configurer
AssigneeHormel Foods Corporation
InventorLyndon R. Leining
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus (10) configures animal carcasses (C) for processing by leaf lard puller. The apparatus (10) includes a frame (20) with a carriage (40) operatively connected to the frame (10) for movement and in alignment with a conveyor suspending a hog carcass (C). A connecting member (60) has a first end operatively connected to the carriage (40) and a second end moveable between a first position and a second position. A pair of opposable arms (72, 73) are movable between an open position and a configuring position. The arms (72, 73) are positioned around the hog carcass in the open position and as the arms move to the configuring position, the hog carcass (C) is moved to the desired width for further processing by a leaf lard puller.
Claims17
An apparatus for configuring an animal carcass for processing by a leaf lard puller, the carcass has been split longitudinally through its backbone, such as a hog carcass, the carcass being suspended on a conveyor, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a frame;
- b) a carriage operatively connected to the frame for movement in alignment with a conveyor suspending a hog;
- c) a connecting member having a first end and a second end, the first end operatively connected to the carriage and the second end moveable between a first position and a second position;
- d) first and second opposable arms operatively connected to the connecting member proximate its second end, the arms moveable between an open position and a configuring position;
- and
- e) a drive mechanism for moving the carriage on the frame, wherein the arms are positioned around the hog carcass in the open position and as the arms move to the configuring position the hog carcass is moved to a desired sized for use with a leaf lard puller.
An apparatus for configuring an animal carcass for processing by a leaf lard puller, the carcass has been split longitudinally through its backbone, such as a hog carcass, the carcass being suspended on a conveyor, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a frame;
- b) a carriage operatively connected to the frame for movement in alignment with a conveyor suspending a hog;
- c) a connecting member operatively connected to the carriage and moveable between a first position and a second position;
- d) a pair of opposable arms operatively connected to the connecting member and moveable between an open position and a configuring position;
- and
- e) a drive mechanism for moving the frame from an ending position to a starting position, whereby the frame is moved from the starting position to the ending position by phasing movement of the carriage with movement of the hog by the opposable arms in the configuring position around the hog.
A method of configuring a split hog carcass for processing by a leaf lard puller, as the carcass is moved along a conveyor, comprising:
- a) moving a connecting member from a first position to a second position, wherein arms are positioned around a hog carcass;
- b) moving the arms from an open position to a configuring position, wherein the hog carcass is configured to be processed by a leaf lard puller;
- c) moving the arms back to an open position;
- and
- d) moving the connecting member back to the first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.