US 7,546,789 B2Granted

Whole muscle slicer and separator

AssigneeTyson Foods, Inc.

InventorsTim Reddell, Charley Reed, Marshall Vanderpool, Kelvin D. Lasse, James Ruff

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A whole muscle slicer and separator that solves the product separation problem and other problems found with an ordinary slicer. The invention is where one embodiment includes a special peel out finger bar comb that peels out every other product piece onto a conveyor and a final comb that peels out the remaining product pieces onto a second conveyor. This can be accomplished by tilting the cutting assembly to about approximately a 45 degree angle off vertical. There can be an upper and lower combs arranged in a interfacing relationship with the cutter for separating the product. Another embodiment includes a single finger bar comb having two sets of fingers.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A whole muscle slicer and separator assembly comprising:

a frame for supporting a cutter assembly;
a cutter assembly mounted on said frame and including a rotatable cutting roller having multiple proximately spaced apart radially extending circular cutting blades along the length of the cutting roller and a rotatable pinch roller having multiple proximately spaced apart radially extending circular ribs along the length of the pinch roller, where the pinch roller is oriented such that each of the ribs extend into spaces between the circular blades for pulling a whole muscle product into engagement with the cutting roller and where the cylindrical axis of the cutting roller and the cylindrical axis of the pinch roller lie in a first common plane;
said cutter assembly is mounted on said frame such that said first common plane is not horizontal or vertical for optimally receiving a whole muscle product;
and
a finger bar comb mounted on said frame and having a first set of spaced apart finger members having a first bend that addresses the cutting roller at a first point by extending into a first set of alternate spaces between the cutting blades for diverting a first set of alternate product slices and said finger bar comb further having a second set of spaced apart finger members that addresses the cutting roller at a second point by having a second bend different from the first bend and extending into a remaining second set of alternate spaces between the cutting blades for diverting a remaining second set of alternate product slices,
and a first take-away conveyor positioned proximate the first point where the first set of finger members address the cutting roller for receiving and conveying away the first set of alternate product slices.

3 more elements

A whole muscle slicer and separator assembly comprising:

a frame for supporting a cutter assembly;
a cutter assembly mounted on said frame and including a rotatable cutting roller having spaced apart circular cutting blades along the length of the cutting roller and a rotatable pinch roller, where the pinch roller is oriented proximate the cutting roller and such that the cylindrical axis of the cutting roller and the cylindrical axis of the pinch roller lie in a first common plane for pulling a product along a line of entry into engagement with the cutting roller;
said cutter assembly is mounted on said frame such that said first common plane is not horizontal or vertical for optimally receiving the product;
an in-feed conveyor oriented to feed product into engagement with the pinch roller and cutting roller along the line of entry;
and
a finger bar comb mounted on said frame and having a first set of spaced apart finger members with a first bend that addresses the cutting roller at a first point by extending into a first set of alternate spaces between the cutting blades for diverting a first set of alternate product slices and said finger bar comb further having a second set of spaced apart finger members with a second bend different from the first bend that addresses the cutting roller at a second point by extending into a remaining second set of alternate spaces between the cutting blades for diverting a remaining second set of alternate product slices,
and a first take-away conveyor positioned proximate the first point where the first set of finger members address the cutting roller for receiving and conveying away the first set of alternate product slices.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/463,001Filed 7 Aug 2006
Published: US 2008/0028906 A17 Feb 2008
Granted: 16 Jun 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B26D 1/24
With a circular cutting member, e.g. disc cutter: coacting with another disc cutter
B26D 7/32
Means for performing other operations combined with cutting: for conveying or stacking cut product
B26D 1/553
Having a wire-like cutting member: with a plurality of wire-like cutting members
B26D 7/00
Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by