A CUTTING SYSTEM WITH A CURVED KNIFE BLADE

FOR CUTTING MEAT OFF BONES

The present invention relates to a cutting system for harvesting meat from suspended and conveyed tubular bones, which cutting system comprises a flexible knife assembly, activating a curved or composite knives blade, for cutting off the meat without damaging the bone.

Background of invention

When deboning meat at abattoirs or other food producing companies, meat and sinews are often cut while the product is suspended and conveyed past a fixed knife. To obtain proper cutting in such systems, it is important that each product has a pre-determined size, and is hanging in a correct position, with the sinews facing the knife.

If the products are smaller than the pre-determined size, the meat and sinews may not be cut, as the knife blade cannot reach to the bone, and thus cannot cut to the bone. This reduces the amount of harvested meat from the bones. If the products are larger than the pre-determined size, the knife cuts into the bone, which reduces the sharpness of the knife, and damage the bone with risk of bone fragments in the deboned meat.

Only products of the pre-determined size are cut just to the bone, i.e. to the bone, but not into the bone. Furthermore, if the products are hanging such that the sinews are not facing the knife, e.g. if the products have rotated in the conveyor system, then the products are not, or are not properly cut, thus reducing the amount of harvested meat. With such prior art systems, the knife sometimes cuts to the bone and only touches the bone tangential, i.e. in a small point towards the knife blade.

FR 2612370 Al discloses a manually operated knife for cutting animals in a butchery, which knife is composed of a blade holding a "guide finger", that can be inserted into the medullary cavity of the vertebral column of the animal, and which blade is capable of vibrating, thus promoting cutting of the animal.

EP 201980, EP 3120706, US 3672000, US 4639974, US 4893378, US 5071388, WO 97/11609, WO 00/59311, and WO 2011/121899 all relate to various devices and methods for deboning poultry thighs.

US 4843682 discloses a poultry thigh and drumstick deboning device comprising a rotatable gripper jaw and rotary cutter blades. WO 2018/065430 discloses a product carrier or shackle (conveyer) for carrying suspended poultry legs.

However, the cutting system disclose herein has not been described. Summary of invention

The cutting system of the invention is a mechanical cutting system for harvesting meat from suspended and conveyed tubular bones conveyed past two or more (i.e. at least two) fixed knives.

The cutting system of invention facilitates that meat and sinews are cut just to the bone, without cutting into the bone, and that the sinews are actually cut, even though products are hanging in a slightly rotated position compared to a predetermined position, and furthermore that meat products are cut properly, even though they are larger or smaller than a pre-determined size.

The cutting system has a modest extend, and has a size capable of being mounted in today's cutting systems. Furthermore, the cutting system is rather inexpensive.

The cutting system of the present invention is suitable for cutting various meat products, including elements like skin, meat, sinews/tendons, membranes, and fat, which elements may encase a bone, or may be located next to a bone. Compared to the use of traditional cutting systems, the cutting system according to the present invention secures cutting along a longer part of the periphery of the bones.

The cutting system of the invention cuts along the periphery, or at least along a section of the periphery, of a bone of suspended or fixed meat products.

When cutting meat on a bone, the cutting line across the bone may be increased by using a cutting system with a knife with a curved or composite knife blade, and at the same time during cutting, the knife is pressed towards the bone without cutting into the bone.

The curved or composite knife blade makes the knife suitable to cut a larger region around a bone. The cutting system is preferably used for cutting suspended meat products such as products from poultry.

The second cutting part (3B) together with the rear edge (3C) of the knife according to the invention, together with the movement of the knife activated by the actuator (8), allows a larger region around a bone in a meat product to be cut.

The method of the invention for cutting meat of tubular bones allow for an increase in harvested meat, as the system allows more of the skin, meat, sinews/tendons, membranes, and fat around a bone to be cut. When cutting suspended meat products, e.g. parts of poultry suspended in shackles, the poultry part may rotate just a little, whereby the sinew/tendons may not be cut by prior art cutting systems, whereas using the cutting system described herein, the cutting length around the bone is longer, and a larger rotation of the meat products can be accepted, and still allowing the sinews/tendons to be cut properly.

Brief description of the drawing

The present invention is further illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :

Figs. 1A, IB and 1C illustrate various knives (2A, 2B, 2C) according to the invention, wherein (3, 3A, 3A1, 3A2, 3B, 3C) represents the (composite) knives edge, (4) represents the front side, (5) represents the back side, and (6) represents the mounting base;

Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate a cutting unit comprising a knife (2) and an actuator (8) of the cutting system (1) of the invention, wherein (2) represents the knife blade; (6) represents the basis of the knife; (7) represents the basis of the cutting unit, i.e. knife and actuator assembled; (8) represents the actuator; (9) represents a rotary joint (axis of rotation); (10) represents a power regulator; (11) represents one attachment point of the actuator to the knife (the fixed joint); and (12) represents the other attachment point (flexible joint) of the actuator to the cutting unit;

Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate another view of a cutting unit for use according to the invention wherein (2) represents the knife blade; (6) represents the basis of the knife; (7) represents the basis of the cutting unit, i.e. knife and actuator assembled; (8) represents the actuator; (9) represents a rotary joint (axis of rotation); (10) represents a power regulator; (11) represents one attachment point of the actuator to the knife (the fixed joint); and (12) represents the other attachment point (flexible joint) of the actuator to the cutting unit; and

Fig. 4 illustrates a processing line/conveyor (13) for use according to the invention, with two knives (2A and 2B) in succession; wherein (13) designates the processing line/conveyor; (14) illustrates the direction of the conveyor; and (16) represents the location of the sinews/tendons to be cut. Detailed description of the invention

The cutting system In its first aspect, the invention relates to a cutting system (1) for harvesting meat from suspended and conveyed tubular bones (15). The cutting system of the invention may be considered a mechanical cutting system (1) for harvesting meat from suspended and conveyed tubular bones (15) conveyed past two fixed knives.

I one embodiment, the cutting system of the invention is characterised by comprising :

a first knife (2A) and a second knife (2B), each knife having a composite knife edge (3), a front side (4), a back side (5), and a mounting base (6); wherein said composite knifes edge (3) can be curved, representing one continuous cutting edge, or having a curve resembling substantially half of an ellipse, or it may be composed of a first cutting part (3A), a second cutting part (3B), and a rear edge (3C);

which knives are in operation with an actuator (8), capable of operating said knife such that, when in function, the knife (2) is pushed and/or pulled towards the tubular bone (15) to be cut.

In another embodiment, the composite knifes edge (3) is composed of a first cutting part (3A), a second cutting part (3B), and a rear edge (3C), which cutting parts (3A, 3B) rear edge (3C) represents one continuous cutting edge which is curved, representing one continuous cutting edge, or having a curve resembling substantially half of an ellipse.

In a third embodiment, the composite knifes edge (3) is composed of a first cutting part (3A), a second cutting part (3B), and a rear edge (3C), wherein the first cutting part (3A) is straight, or substantially straight, and the second cutting part (3B) is straight or substantially straight, and the rear edge (3C) is curved.

In a fourth embodiment, the composite knifes edge (3) is composed of a first cutting part (3A), a second cutting part (3B), and a rear edge (3C), wherein the first cutting part (3A) is straight, or substantially straight, and the second cutting part (3B) is curved in any curvature, and said rear edge (3C) is also curved; or the second cutting part (3B) and the rear edge (3C) constitute one continuous curved knifes edge.

In a fifth embodiment, the composite knifes edge (3) is composed of a first cutting part (3A1), another first cutting part (3A2), a second cutting part (3B), and a rear edge (3C), wherein said first cutting part (3A) is straight, or substantially straight, and said second cutting part (3B) is straight or substantially straight, and said rear edge (3C) is curved. In a sixth embodiment, the composite knifes edge (3) of the first knife (2A) is composed of a first cutting part (3A), a second cutting part (3B), and a rear edge (3C), wherein the first cutting part (3A) is straight, or substantially straight, and said second cutting part (3B) is straight or substantially straight, and said rear edge (3C) is curved; and

the composite knifes edge (3) of the second knife (2B) is composed of a first cutting part (3A1), another first cutting part (3A2), a second cutting part (3B), and a rear edge (3C), wherein said first cutting part (3A) is straight, or

substantially straight, and said second cutting part (3B) is straight or substantially straight, and said rear edge (3C) is curved.

In a seventh embodiment, the cutting system (1) of the invention, for harvesting meat from suspended and conveyed tubular bones (15) conveyed past two fixed knives (2A, 2B), may characterised by comprising :

a first knife (2A) and a second knife (2B), each knife having a composite knifes edge (3), a front side (4) and a back side (5), and a mounting base (6); wherein

the first knife (2A) has a knife edge composed of a first cutting part (3A), a second cutting part (3B), and a rear edge (3C), where said first cutting part (3A) is straight, or substantially straight, and said second cutting part (3B) is straight or substantially straight, and said rear edge (3C) is curved (Fig. 1);

the second knife (2B) has a knife edge composed of a first cutting part (3A1), another first cutting part (3A2), a second cutting part (3B), and a rear edge (3C),

- wherein the first cutting part (3A1) is curved, the other first cutting part (3A2) is straight or substantially straight, the second cutting part (3B) is straight or substantially straight, and the rear edge (3C) is curved; or

- wherein the first cutting part (3A1) and the other first cutting part (3A2) represents one curved cutting part (3A);

and which knives are in operation with an actuator (8), capable of operating said knife such that, when in function, the knife (2) is pushed and/or pulled towards the tubular bone (15) to be cut.

In one embodiment, the cutting system of the invention has a first cutting knife (2A) and a second cutting knife (2B), positioned one after the other, and arranged on both sides of the conveyor (13), wherein each subsequent knife is laterally reversed when compared to the first knife, and with the second cutting part (3B) of the first knife (2A) followed by the first cutting part (3A1 and/or 3A2) of the subsequent knife (2B) (see Fig. 4). In another embodiment, the knife blade (2) of the invention is connected to the mounting base of the cutting system (7) via a rotary joint (9), which rotary joint allows the knife (2) to move back and forth as the suspended and conveyed tubular bones (15) are transported by the knife blade.

In a third embodiment, the cutting system of the invention comprises a power regulator (10), attached to the mounting base of the cutting system (7), and in operation with the actuator (8), allowing adjustment of the cutting force of the knife (2).

In a fourth embodiment, the actuator (8) is attached to the knife (2) via a fixed joint (11), and to the power regulator (10) via a flexible joint (12).

The activator allows the knife (2) to pivot a location of a base part (9) of the knife, whereby the knife (2) is operated such as pushed and/or pulled towards the product to be cut (15) when in function.

The knife of the cutting system of the invention is located such that the meat product to be cut (15) enters the knife and is first cut by the first cutting part (3A) of the knife (2), followed by the second cutting part (3B), and later the rear edge (3C) of the knife (2).

The cutting system described herein is designed for cutting various meat products, including skin, meat, sinews, membranes, and fat surrounding or located above a bone, which bone may be a thigh, a drumstick, a leg, or part of a leg.

For such purposes, the system shall satisfy certain requirements in respect of materials and hygienic design, thereby making it possible to perform the cutting processes without contaminating the processed products.

The length of the first cutting part (3A) may equal the length of the second cutting part (3B) and the rear edge (3C) of the knife (2). However, the first cutting part (3A) may also be longer than the second cutting part (3B) and the rear edge (3C), or the first cutting part (3A) may be shorter than the second cutting part (3B) and the rear edge (3C). In a preferred design, the cutting edge of the first cutting part (3A) is longer than the cutting edge of the second cutting part (3B) and the rear edge (3C).

The design of the knife (2) may be determined in respect of the kind of meat product to be processed, and the exact construction of the cutting system. The total length of the first and second cutting part (3B) and the rear edge (3C) is preferably shorter than the distance between two products (15) conveyed towards the cutting system. Hereby the position of the knife can return to the start position before starting cutting another product. For chickens, this total distance of the first and second cutting parts (3A and 3B) and the rear edge (3C), i.e. total cutting length of the knife, may be, e.g., between about 5 cm and 35 cm.

The length of the rear edge (3C) or the total length of a knife (2), as described herein, may be between 3 cm and 20 cm. For chickens, the length of the knife is preferably between 6 and 12 cm, between 7 and 11 cm, between 8 and 10 cm, or about 9 cm.

In the cutting system of the invention, the width of the knife (2) may be between 1 and 10 cm, where the width is determined as the longest dimension of a line perpendicular to the rear edge (3C), excluding any mounting means for mounting the knife to the rest of the cutting system. The width and thickness of the knife preferably is as little as possible, still giving the required strength to the knife. A low weight make it easier for the actuator (8) to operate and activate the knife during the cutting process. For chickens, the width of the knife is preferably between 2 and 4 cm, between 2.5 and 3.5 cm, or about 3 cm.

The actuator (8) may be any actuator capable of operating the knife, i.e. pulling and/or pushing the knife in the correct direction, perpendicular to the mounting base (6), and with an effect/ pressure which can be adjusted, by use of the power regulator (10), to the necessary cutting force, i.e. just enough to cut meat and tendons without damaging or cutting into the bone. Dependent on the product to be cut, the pressure may be between 1 and 5 kg, as determined by the skilled person.

The actuator (8) may be a spring actuator, a servomotor, a pneumatic actuator, or a hydraulic actuator. In a preferred embodiment, e.g. for mounting the cutting system in existing carrousel cutting lines with minimal space, the actuator is without a motor for driving the actuator, and may in particular be a spring actuator.

The cutting system of the invention comprises two or more cutting knives positioned one after the other, and the two knives following each other may be positioned identical, with the mounting base (6) of each knife (2) positioned in one, straight or curved, line, or the knives may be laterally reversed, as compared to the following knife. For such two knives following each other on the production line, there is preferably a minimum distance between the two knives, securing that they do not interfere during the movements initiated by the actuator (8).

The cutting system of the invention may be a processing carrousel, where suspended meat products (15) are passed by the cutting knives (2), though the cutting system may also be a processing line where one or more knife/knives are located to cut suspended meat products (15). Method for cutting the meat

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for cutting meat from a suspended and conveyed tubular bone, which method comprises the subsequent steps of:

a) providing the cutting system (1) of the invention;

b) obtaining a meat product (15) to be cut;

c) suspending and/or fixing said meat product on a production

line/conveyor (13); and

d) directing said meat product (15) past the knives (2) of the cutting system (1), such that in one continuous cutting process, the meat product is cut by said first knife (2A) and said second knife (2B), and any subsequent knife, if present, which knives are in operation with an actuator (8);

hereby obtaining a meat product cut around, or at least cut in a region around, said tubular bone (15).

The method of the invention may subsequently be followed by harvesting the meat cut from the tubular bone by conventional harvesting techniques.

In one embodiment, the method of the invention is applied to suspended and conveyed tubular bones (15), conveyed by the product carrier or shackle described in WO 2018/065430 for suspending animal carcasses or parts hereof.

In the method of the invention, the knife (2) is pulled or pushed towards the meat product (15) by the activity of the actuator (8), so that the second cutting part (3B) and/or the rear edge (3C) cuts along at least part of the backside of said meat product.

The cutting system (1) of the invention cuts along the periphery, or at least along a section of the periphery, of a bone of suspended or fixed meat products (15).

In step d) of the method described above, the knife (2) is pressed or pushed towards the bone of the meat product by activation an activator (8).

Meat products (15) may be conveyed on a conveyor belt during a process, where the meat products are cut by the cutting system (1) as described herein.

Meat products (15) may also be conveyed suspended. Preferably the suspended meat product is fixed, such that it is not capable of turning, or that it rotates less than 20°, e.g. by use of the product carrier or shackle described in WO 2018/065430 for suspending animal carcasses or parts hereof.

Therefore, in one embodiment, the method of the invention is applied to suspended and conveyed tubular bones (15), conveyed by the product carrier or shackle described in WO 2018/065430 for suspending animal carcasses or parts hereof.

When using the knife (2) such that the meat product (15) is first cut by the first cutting part (3A) followed by the second cutting part (3B) and the rear edge (3C) of the knife (2), the method may include that the knife (2) is pressed towards the meat product (15) such that the second cutting part (3B) and/or the rear edge (3B), which preferably is a curved cutting part, cuts along at least a 'backside' of the meat product. By 'backside' is meant that the cutting line along the bone is increased, as the knife cuts towards the bone at a much longer line than if the knife is not curved and not pressed towards the bone.

In another embodiment, the meat product (15) is first be cut by the first knife (2A), followed by the second knife (2B) if the cutting system (1), wherein these two knives are laterally reversed when compared to each other, and with a curved cutting part of one knife following a straight cutting part of another knife.

The meat product to be cut by the cutting system (1) of the invention may comprise a tubular or a flat bone.

The meat product to be cut may be obtained from any animal such as from poultry, pig, cow/cattle, deer, sheep, goats, games, rabbits. Preferably the method is used for meat products obtained from domesticated animals, and in particular from poultry.

The meat product to be cut (15) is preferably a meat product comprising a bone which is at least partly surrounded by meat, and possible one or more other elements such as skin, sinews/tendons, membranes and fat. The method of the invention is particularly suited for cutting skin, meat, sinews, membranes, and/or fat.

The method of the invention is particularly suited for cutting thighs, drumstick, legs or part of legs.

In one embodiment of the method of the invention the meat product is a thigh, a drumstick, a leg, or part of a leg from poultry.

Detailed description of the drawing

The invention is discussed in more details by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :

Fig. 1A illustrates the various knives blades for use according to the invention, here a first cutting knife (2A) and a second cutting knife (2B), which knives are laterally reversed when compared to each other; wherein (3) designates the (composite) knives edge; (4) designates the front side of the knife blade; (5) designates the back side of the knife blade; (6) designates the mounting base for the knife blade;

Fig. IB also illustrates the various knives blades for use according to the invention, here a first cutting knife (2A) and a second cutting knife (2B), which knives are laterally reversed when compared to each other; wherein (3A, 3A1, 3A2) designates the first cutting part of the knife; (3B) designates the second cutting part of knife; (3C) designates the rear edge of knife; (4) designates the front side of the knife blade; (5) designates the back side of the knife blade; (6) designates the mounting base for the knife blade;

Fig. 1C illustrates an alternative form of a knife for use according to the invention, wherein the knifes edge (3) is curved, representing one continuous cutting edge and has a curve resembling substantially half of an ellipse;

Fig. 2A illustrates a knife and actuator (cutting unit) for use according to the invention; (2) designates a knife; (6) designates the basis of the knife, with means for assembling the knife and actuator; (7) designates the basis of the cutting unit, i.e. knife and actuator assembled; (8) designates the actuator, here a spring fixed to a power regulator (10) through a flexible joint (12), and operating on the knife (2) through a fixed joint (11); (9) designates a rotary joint (axis of rotation), around which the knives blade can rotate in response to the impact of the conveyed meat product (15) and the power of the actuator (8); (10) designates a power regulator; (11) designates the attachment of the actuator to the knife (the fixed joint); and (12) designates the attachment (flexible joint) of the actuator (8) to the power regulator (10);

Fig. 2B illustrates another view of a cutting unit according to the invention; wherein (2) designates a knife for use according to the invention; (7) designates the mounting base of the cutting unit, where the unit is fixed to the remaining cutting system; (8) designates an a actuator (here a spring); (9) designates the rotary joint/axis of rotation, allowing the knife to react on the conveyed meat product (15); (10) designates a power regulator, allowing adjustment of the force by which the knife hits the conveyed meat product (15), thereby obtaining correct cutting of the product; (11) and (12) shows where the actuator is connected to the cutting unit;

Fig . 2C illustrates a side view of a cutting unit according to the invention; wherein (2) designates the position of a knife blade; (7) designates the mounting base of the cutting unit; and (10) designates a power regulator;

Fig. 3A illustrates another view of a cutting unit according to the invention; wherein (2) designates the knife blade; (6) designates the basis of the knives blade, where it is fixed to the cutting unit through the rotary joint (9); (7) designates the mounting base of the cutting unit, where the unit is fixed to the remaining cutting system; (8) designates the actuator; (9) designates the rotary joint/axis of rotation, allowing the knife to react on the conveyed meat product (15); (10) designates the power regulator; and (11) and (12) shows where the actuator is connected to the cutting unit;

Fig. 3B illustrates yet another view of a cutting unit according to the invention; wherein (2) designates the knife blade; (6) designates the basis of the knives blade; (7) designates the mounting base of the cutting unit, where the unit is fixed to the remaining cutting system; (8) designates the actuator; (9) designates the rotary joint/axis of rotation; and (10) designates the power regulator;

Fig. 3C illustrates yet another view of a cutting unit according to the invention; wherein (2) designates the knife blade; (6) designates the basis of the knives blade; (7) designates the mounting base of the cutting unit, where the unit is fixed to the remaining cutting system; and (10) designates the power regulator; and

Fig. 4 illustrates a processing line/conveyor (13) with two knives (2A and 2B) in succession; wherein (13) designates the processing line/conveyor, on which the meat products are suspended and conveyed; (14) illustrates the direction of the conveyor/movement of the meat product (15) to be cut; and (16) represents the location of the sinews/tendons to be cut, e.g. the poultry Achilles tendon in case of a chicken, and particularly if the meat product is conveyed using the product carrier or shackle (conveyer) for carrying suspended poultry legs described in WO

2018/065430.

List of reference signs

List of reference signs used in the context of this invention

1. A cutting system;

2. Knife blade;

2A. First knife blade;

2B. Second knife blade;

3. Composite knifes edge;

3A. First cutting part of knife;

3A1. First cutting part of knife;

3A2. First cutting part of knife;

3B. Second cutting part of knife; C. Rear edge of knife;

. Front side of knife blade;

. Back side of knife blade;

. Knife fixation means (mounting base for knife blade);. Mounting base for the cutting system;

. Actuator;

. Rotary joint (axis of rotation);

0. Power regulator;

1. Fixed attachment joint;

2. Flexible attachment joint;

3. Conveyor;

4. Transport direction of the conveyor;

5. Tubular bone subjected to the cutting process;

6. Position of poultry Achilles tendon;