Dual blade loin knife assembly for automatic loin puller apparatus

An apparatus for processing a carcass middle portion of an animal, and for separating at least the loin and fatback portion thereof, comprising:

• a working surface onto which the carcass middle is positioned, said working surface supported by a frame above a support surface;
• a dual blade loin knife assembly carried by said frame at a first selected location on said frame, said dual blade loin knife assembly providing a plurality of cuts on the carcass middle, said dual blade loin knife assembly including at least two loin knife blades carried by said dual blade loin knife assembly, each of said loin knife blades having a proximal end, a distal end, a cutting edge and a trailing edge, said at least two loin knife blades disposed to sequentially engage the carcass middle, said at least two loin knife blades including;
• a first cutting blade carried by said frame proximate said first selected location, said first cutting blade being disposed a selected distance above said working surface to define a depth of cut, said first cutting blade defining a selected cutting contour for separating the loin and fatback portion from the carcass middle, said first cutting blade further defined by a z-blade, said z-blade adapted to engage the carcass middle so as to leave a shelf cut therein, said z-blade including a bight positioned and configured so as to pull a loin portion from the carcass middle with the fatback portion intact and further so as to leave a shelf of a selected depth on a remaining belly portion of the carcass middle that incorporates a selected amount of finger lean while leaving a portion of finger lean on the loin portion;
• a second cutting blade carried by said frame proximate said first selected location, said second cutting blade being disposed a second selected distance above said conveyor to define a second depth of cut, said second cutting blade defining a second cutting contour for separating the loin from the fatback portion, said second cutting blade further defined by a j-blade, said j-blade adapted to engage the carcass after said z-blade engagement of the carcass
• said apparatus for processing a carcass middle portion of an animal further comprising a means for positioning said dual blade loin knife assembly providing adjustment of depth and width of said plurality of cuts made on the carcass middle by said dual blade loin knife assembly;
• a means for conveying carried by said frame for conveying the carcass middle toward said first selected location to engage said dual blade loin knife assembly, said conveying means having a working surface for engaging the carcass middle;
• and
• a gripper assembly carried by said frame for gripping the carcass middle and forcing the carcass middle against said conveying means and toward said first selected location;
• whereby said dual blade loin knife assembly provides cuts on the carcass middle as the carcass middle is moved by said conveying means past said first selected location on said frame.

A loin separator assembly for an automatic apparatus for processing an carcass middle and separating at least a loin portion and a fatback portion thereof, said loin separator assembly comprising:

• a frame for elevating a working surface a selected distance above a support surface, said frame having a first end and a second end;
• a dual blade loin knife assembly connectable to said frame above said working surface, said dual blade loin knife assembly including:
• a z-shaped blade adapted to engage the carcass middle, said z-shaped blade having a proximal end, a distal end, a cutting edge, and a trailing edge;
• a j-shaped blade adapted to engage the carcass middle after said z-shaped blade engagement of the carcass, said j-shaped blade having a proximal end, a distal end, a cutting edge, and a trailing edge;
• a bight on said z-shaped blade being positioned and configured so as to pull the loin portion from the carcass middle with the fatback portion intact and further so as to leave a shelf of a selected depth on a remaining belly portion of the carcass middle that incorporates a selected amount of finger lean while leaving a portion of finger lean of a selected depth on the loin portion;
• and
• a means for positioning of said dual blade loin knife assembly, said means for positioning attachable said frame, said means for positioning including independently configured first positioning means for positioning said z-shaped blade, and second positioning means for positioning said j-shaped blade for independently adjusting the depth and width of cuts of said z-shaped blade and said j-shaped blade.

An apparatus for processing a carcass middle of an animal, and separating at least a loin portion and a fatback portion thereof, 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 including a dual blade loin knife assembly providing for adjustment of depth and width of cuts made on the carcass middle by said dual blade loin knife assembly;
• a conveying assembly carried by said frame having a conveyor belt for conveying the carcass middle toward said first selected location to engage said dual blade loin knife assembly, said conveying assembly including said conveyor belt having a working surface for engaging the carcass middle;
• 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 dual blade loin knife assembly;
• 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 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 said dual blade loin knife assembly, whereby dual blade loin knife assembly passes through the carcass middle at said kerf created by said saw blade;
• a sensor means for detecting the carcass middle and for actuating horizontal and vertical movement of said dual blade loin knife assembly, said sensor means being carried by said frame proximate said dual blade loin knife assembly;
• and
• means for calculating the preferred depth of cut of said dual blade loin knives, said means for calculating includes means for adjusting the orientation of each cut of said dual blade loin knives.