Field of the Invention

The present invention is broadly concerned with apparatus and methods for inversion of bodies, and particularly pork bellies during processing thereof. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such apparatus and methods wherein a body to be inverted is directed towards a rotatable drum, the body is clamped to the drum, and through further rotation of the drum the body is inverted and deposited onto exit structure permitting downstream processing of the body.

Description of the Prior Art

In conventional processing of pork bellies, the skinned bellies are placed on a first moving belt. Trimmers working astride the belt trim and detail the moving bellies. Next, the bellies are manually inverted and placed on a second belt so as to expose the undersides of the bellies on the second belt. The second belt runs slower than the first belt, creating an inversion/transfer point which is dangerous and can lead to hand injuries. Additional workers downstream of the inversion/transfer point can then trim the now-exposed undersides of the bellies. After this trimming operation, the bellies are commonly brined for production of bacon. The manual inversion process is highly labor-intensive, owing to the fact that the bellies typically weigh 16-24 lbs. Hence, the personnel inverting the bellies are prone to over-exertion and repetitive motion injuries.

There is accordingly a real and unsatisfied need for apparatus to carry out pork belly inversions without the need for significant manual labor. However, providing such equipment is not a straightforward matter. This stems from the fact that the bellies are of varying weights and dimensions, and moreover may be in different conditions, e.g., partially frozen or completely fresh.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above and provides apparatus for inverting bodies of meat, such as pork bellies, without the need for manual lifting and turning thereof. The apparatus of the invention broadly comprises a rotatable drum including a clamping assembly operable to clamp the body of meat to the drum, and to release the body of meat after inversion thereof. Entry structure, such as a conveyor, is used to deliver incoming bodies of meat to the inversion drum; similarly, exit structure is provided to convey the released body of meat away from the drum.

In preferred forms, the drum is made up of an inner drum subassembly and an outer drum subassembly. Coupling mechanism is provided to selectively interconnect the outer drum subassembly to the inner drum subassembly during rotation of the latter. Such coupling structure may be in the form of one or more lock pin cylinders operably attached to one of the drum subassemblies and including a shiftable rod, with a series of apertures provided on the other of the drum subassemblies. The lock pin cylinder is operable to extend the rod into one of the apertures in order to interconnect the drum subassemblies.

The drum clamping assembly preferably comprises an elongated, transversely extending clamping rod and structure supporting the clamping rod for selective movement thereof toward and away from the drum. The support structure may comprise a pair of shiftable mounting struts secured to the opposed ends of the clamping rod, with a piston and cylinder assembly operably coupled with at least one of the mounting struts and operable to selectively move the clamping rod toward and away from the drum.

In the method of the invention, a body of meat is directed towards a rotatable drum and is clamped to the drum. The drum is caused to rotate in order to invert the body of meat, whereupon it is released from the drum and conveyed in an inverted position away from the drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inversion device in accordance with the invention, depicting the exit end thereof and illustrating the main drive assembly;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing the outer drum subassembly position sensing arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the inversion device, viewing the input end thereof; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the inversion device;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and illustrating the internal components thereof; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, and illustrating further details of the device;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 4, and illustrating details of the drum and exit conveyor;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the drum of the inversion device, with one of the conveyor lift cams removed to better illustrate the construction of the drum;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the inner drum subassembly;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the outer drum subassembly;

Fig. 11 is a partial vertical sectional view illustrating one of the rotary unions used for supplying positive pressure air to the operating cylinders of the device;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view in partial vertical section illustrating the operation of a lock pin cylinder operable to interconnect the inner and outer drum subassemblies;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view in partial vertical section further illustrating the operation of a lock pin cylinder;

Fig. 14 is a partially schematic side view of the device illustrating the approach of a pork belly to be inverted;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to that of Fig. 14, but illustrating the pork belly advanced onto the inversion drum of the device;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to that of Fig. 15, but illustrating the pork belly clamped to the inversion drum;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to that of Fig.16, but illustrating the pork belly rotated towards the exit conveyor while still being clamped to the inversion drum;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to that of Fig.17, depicting the pork belly fully inverted and partially on the exit conveyor, but still clamped to the inversion drum

Fig. 19 is a view similar to that of Fig.18, but illustrating the pork belly as it is being undamped from the inversion drum;

Fig.20 A is the first portion of a schematic flow diagram setting forth the preferred normal sequence of operation of the inversion device;

Fig. 20B is a continuation of the flow diagram of Fig. 20A, under a first operational condition respecting the sensed positions of succeeding meat bodies entering the device; and Fig. 20C is a continuation of the flow diagram of Fig. 20A and 20B, under a second operational condition respecting the sensed positions of succeeding meat bodies entering the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings, an inversion device 30 is illustrated in Figs. 1 -4 and broadly includes an inversion drum 32, an entry conveyor 34, and exit conveyor 36. These components are supported by a floor-mounted frame assembly 38 and are situated within a housing 40. Although not shown, it will be appreciated that the operating components of device 30 are covered by appropriate guards and the like.

The inversion drum 32 comprises an inner subassembly 42 (Fig. 9) and a surrounding outer subassembly 44 (Fig. 10). The inner subassembly 42 includes a pair of circular end plate assemblies 46 and 48 as well as a surrounding cylindrical slotted wall 50. As illustrated in Figs. 1-4, the entire subassembly 42 is supported on a central, transversely extending shaft 52. The outer ends of shaft 52 are supported on bearings 54 secured to housing 40, as shown. Each end plate assembly 46, 48 includes a circular, spoked member 58 and an outer annular plate 60 having a plurality of apertures 61 therethrough. A drive sprocket 56 is secured to the extreme lefthand end of shaft 52, as viewed in Fig. 9. The end plate assemblies 46 and 48 are keyed to shaft 52 by means of couplers 62 so that the end plates and wall 50 rotate with the shaft 52.

A primary drive motor 66 is located within housing 40 and has a variable frequency drive within the motor control cabinet thereof. The motor is coupled with a gear reducer assembly 68 having an output shaft 70, and a sprocket 72 keyed to the latter. A drive chain 74 is trained around the sprockets 72 and 56 for powered rotation of the inner subassembly 42.

The outer subassembly 44 (Fig. 8) is disposed about the inner subassembly 42 and includes a pair of end plates 76 and 78, respectively adjacent the end plates 46 and 48 of inner subassembly 42. Each of the end plates 76, 78 has a tubular, outwardly projecting extension sleeve 80 which receives shaft 52; a bushing 82 is provided between the shaft 52 and extension sleeve 80 (Fig. 11). A series of elongated, transversely extending, circumferentially spaced, stationary support elements 84 are connected to and between the plates 76, 78.

The plates 76, 78 both have a pair of opposed pneumatic lock pin cylinders 86, each including a shiftable rod 88 sized to fit within a selected aperture 61 of an adjacent plate 60 (see Figs. 12 and 13). Additionally, each plate 76, 78 carries a pair of opposed, transversely extending, radially shiftable clamping rods 90. Each of these rods is supported by a pair of end- mounted struts 94 shiftable within guides 95. The struts 94 are in turn operatively connected to a respective pivot link 96. Pneumatic clamping piston and cylinder assemblies 98 are also supported on each plate 76, 78, with the pistons thereof coupled to a corresponding link 96, in order to effect selective radial movement of the clamping rods 90. A pair of opposed clamping rod-receiving notches 100 are provided in each of the plates 76, 78 (Fig. 10) to accommodate full inward shifting of the clamping rods. The plates 76, 78 also carry a pair of opposed, stationary cams 102 at a position adjacent the clamping rods 90. Finally, the right extension 80, as viewed in Figs. 10 and 11, includes a circular sensing plate 104 which carries a pair of opposed, projecting dowels 106 and 107 which extend in opposite directions from the plate 104 (Fig. 7).

In order to supply positive pressure air to the lock pin cylinders 86 and the clamping rod piston and cylinder assemblies 98 on demand, a rotary union 108 is keyed to each of the extension sleeves 80. A source of pressurized air (not shown) is directed to each union 108, and appropriate pneumatic lines 110 extend from each union 108 to the associated cylinder 86 or assembly 98.

The entry conveyor 34 (Fig. 6) includes a first wire mesh conveyor belt 112 mounted on a frame 114 and trained about end sprockets 116. A pair of optical sensors 118 are supported on frame 114 and are positioned in opposition above belt 112. The conveyor 34 is powered by means of a drive chain 120 (Fig. 5), which is coupled with a sprocket 122, the latter rotated via drive shaft 70. The chain 120 is also trained about an upper sprocket 126 keyed to transverse shaft 128 (Fig. 6). The shaft 128 also supports the end sprocket 116 nearest inversion drum 32, as well as a second pivoting frame 130, such that shaft 128 defines the pivot axis for the framel30 and frame 114. The outermost end of the shaft 128 is further equipped with a small sprocket 144 (Fig. 4). The inclination of belt 112 can be altered by means of connectors (not shown) which mate with selected apertures 134 (Fig. 5) provided in housing extensions 136 on opposite sides of the belt 112.

The overall entry conveyor 34 (Fig. 6) includes a second wire mesh conveyor belt 138 supported by the pivoting frame 130, which also support the end sprockets 140 on respective shafts 142. The end of shaft 142 (Fig. 4) closest to belt 112 has a sprocket 132 keyed thereon (Fig. 4). A short drive chain 146 is trained about sprockets 132 and 144, so as to drive the belt 138. It will be observed that the shaft 128 forms a pivot for both of the conveyor belts 112 and 138. The belt 112 can be adjusted in terms of its inclination, as previously described. Moreover, owing to this construction of the entry conveyor 34, the entirety of belt 138 is also pivotal about shaft 128 through the medium of the pivoting frame 130. The importance of this feature will be made clear hereinafter.

The exit conveyor 36 is disposed below the drum 32 and includes a frame assembly 148 (Fig. 6) supporting two sets of end sprockets 150. A belt 152 is trained about the sprockets 150 and serves to convey inverted product away from the drum assembly 32. The belt 152 is powered by means of a motor 154 also including a variable frequency drive, and a gear reducer assemblyl56, the latter being operatively coupled with upper sprockets 150.

Operation of the device 30 is controlled by means of a conventional, programmable digital controller (not shown) and the variable frequency drives for each motor 66 and 154. The optical sensors 118 are operatively coupled with the controller, along with a pair of proximity sensors 158 and 160. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 7, the sensors 158, 160 are supported on opposite sides of the sensing plate 104, such that the sensor 158 senses the proximity of dowel 106, whereas sensor 160 senses dowel 107. The variable frequency drives(not shown) and motors 66 and 154 are also operatively connected with the controller.

In order to selectively operate the cylinders 86 and 98 (Fig. 5), conventional solenoid valves (not shown) are coupled between the digital controller and the unions 108. Thus, when these cylinders are to be operated, the digital controller signals the appropriate solenoid valve to effect the desired cylinder operation. These electrical and pneumatic control elements are themselves conventional, and thus need not be described in detail.

Operation

The operational sequence of device 30 is illustrated in pictorial Figs. 14-19 and in the flow diagram of Fig. 20. In general, the operational sequence involves first conveying a body 162 to be inverted using entry conveyor 34 (Fig. 14) until the body 162 passes under one of the clamping rods 90 of the rotating outer drum subassembly 44 (Fig. 15, referred to as clamping rod 90A). Then rod 90A is moved radially inwardly by operation of the associated cylinders 98A to clamp the body 162 against the outer subassembly 44 (Fig. 16). Simultaneously, the outer subassembly 44 is engaged with the inner subassembly 42 through actuation of the lock pin cylinders 86A, so that the two subassemblies rotate in unison. Next, the drum 32 rotates so as to invert the body 162 above conveyor belt 152, and also causes the cams 102B to pivot belt 138 upwardly, allowing the other opposed clamping rod 90B to pass beneath the belt in its outwardly extended condition while a second body 164 is being delivered via entry conveyor 34 (Fig. 17). The drum 32 continues to rotate until the majority of the body 162 is placed on moving belt 152 and the second body 164 passes under clamping rod 90B (Fig. 18). In the next steps, the cylinders 98A operate to shift clamping rod 90A radially outwardly to thereby release the now- inverted first body 162 onto conveyor belt 152, and cylinders 98B retract rod 90B to clamp body 164 to drum 32. . This sequence of steps then continues as successive bodies are delivered to the device 30, inverted, and moved downstream on exit conveyor 152.

Referring to the block diagram of Figs. 20A-20C, a more detailed description of the normal operation of device 30 is provided, using two different operational conditions respecting the relative sensed positions of succeeding meat bodies 162. 164, at the entrance conveyor 112. Where appropriate, the reference numerals used in the preceding Figures have been employed. "Solenoid Valve A" and "Solenoid Valve B" refer to the conventional solenoid valves operatively connected to the cylinders 86A, 86B, 98A, and 98B described previously. The other references are to conventional control hardware and steps well known to those skilled in the art, including the lockout valve, E-stops, and the timers.

It will thus be appreciated that device 30 is able to efficiently invert meat bodies such as pork bellies on a continuous basis while completely eliminating manual labor. The device has a number of unique features which render it particularly useful in this connection. For example, the provision of the cams 102 together with pivotal mounting of the conveyor belt 138 makes it possible to maintain the adjacent clamping rod 90 in an extended condition as it clears the belt 138, so as to facilitate entry of an incoming pork belly into the space between the clamping rod and drum 32. Additionally, belt 138 fills the gap between belt 112 and drum 32 to convey "limp" or fresh bellies successfully to the drum 32 without the bellies falling between the belt 112 and drum 32. Additionally, both of the entry conveyor belts 112, 138 are powered using a single drive shaft and the belt 38 continues its movement even during upward pivoting thereof. In this same regard, the inclination of the conveyor belt 112 can be adjusted without the need for disconnecting the drive. The use of the lock pin cylinders 86 also allows quick, reliable interconnection of the inner and outer drum subassemblies 42, 44 in properly timed relationship.