Yieldable arresting or indexing arrangements are fairly common in automated meat processing equipment. One well known application is in rotatable carcass hangers for poultry processing conveyors and examples are described in EP 0444782, EP 0786208, and US 5092815. All these known arresting means rely on ball detents that are biased into recesses by the force of a helical spring. The necessary springs and cavities to house these present a serious hazard of bacterial contamination, which is objectionable in the meat processing industry. Although regular cleaning of the equipment is aimed at minimizing the hazard of bacterial infection, the risk itself could not effectively be eliminated with the known yieldable arresting means. Apart from rotatable carcass hangers, yieldable arresting means can also find application in various other parts of meat processing equipment, including bone holders.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to propose an improved yieldable arresting means for arresting relatively movable elements of meat processing equipment in at least one predetermined position of relative movement. In a more general sense it is an object of the present invention to at least overcome or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art. It is also an object of the present invention to at least provide alternative structures which are less cumbersome in manufacture and use and which can be made and used relatively inexpensively. At any rate the present invention is at the very least aimed at offering a useful choice and contribution to the existing art.

To this end the present invention provides a meat processing equipment including: a first element having a first face; a second element having a second face; wherein the first and second faces extend parallel to one another and define a common plane between the first and second faces; the first and second elements being relatively movable with respect to one another; and yieldable arresting means for yieldably arresting the first and second element in at least one predetermined position of relative movement, wherein the yieldable arresting means include cooperating first and second permanent magnets, associated with at least one of the first and second elements. This arrangement eliminates the need for helical springs and open cavities and thus ensures more hygienic conditions than were possible with the prior art.

Advantageously in a meat processing equipment according to the invention the first and second magnets can be either attracting or repelling one another. Both these options can be used in conjunction with and without mechanical contact between the first and second elements. Contact between the movable first and second elements through the yieldable indexing means, may in some situations be useful to retard and better control the velocity rate of the relative movement between the first and second elements.

The meat processing equipment according to the invention can also have the first element include a cavity for accommodating the first magnet and/or the second element include a cavity for accommodating the second magnet. Such cavities are easily formed into first and second elements of nonmagnetic material and also can be easily sealed against the ingress of contaminations, in particular bacterial contaminations. In combination with attracting magnets the yieldable arresting means can also function entirely contactless, which is a further advantage in maintaining hygienic conditions.

It is further advantageous when in meat processing equipment according to the invention the second element includes a further cavity that accommodates a third permanent magnet forming a pair with the second magnet. In particular this is the case when the first and second magnets are not attracting one another, when the first element does not include a cavity for accommodating the first magnet, or when the second element does not include a cavity for accommodating the second magnet. When arresting one repulsive magnet in the first element between a pair of repulsive magnets in the second element, a firmer indexing may be obtained that can still function contactless.

The meat processing equipment according to the invention can also have one of the first and second magnets being part of a plunger that is arranged for translating movement in a direction perpendicular to the common plane and slideably held in a mating cavity in one of the first and second elements, and wherein the other of the first and second elements in the respective first or second face is provided with a recess engageable by the plunger. In particular this is the case when one of the following applies: the first and second magnets are not attracting one another, the first element does not include a cavity for accommodating the first magnet, or the second element does not include a cavity for accommodating the second magnet. In such an embodiment both the first and second magnets may optionally also be associated with the second element, on one side of the common plane.

Depending on whether attractive or repulsive magnetic forces are use to bias the plunger into engagement with the recess, the extent of frictional engagement may be adapted to requirements. With magnetic attraction friction between the plunger and the first element is operative only in the vicinity of the recess of the first element. With magnetic repulsive forces the plunger is continuously urged toward the first element. This action is comparable to a helical spring as used in the prior art, but without the intricate surface portions of a helical spring that may result in an additional contamination hazard.

The meat processing equipment according to the invention may also have the yieldable arresting means advantageously incorporated in a support assembly for parts of slaughtered animals. In particular this is the case when the first and second magnets are not attracting one another, when the first element does not include a cavity for accommodating the first magnet, or when the second element does not include a cavity for accommodating the second magnet. Advantageously the support assembly can be a hanger for a poultry carcass. In such meat processing equipment the hanger for poultry is arranged for attachment to a conveyor extending along a processing path, the poultry hanger further may advantageously comprise: a trolley securable to the conveyor; a shackle rotatably secured with respect to the trolley and be configured to support an article; and wherein the yieldable arresting means is embodied as an indexing arrangement associated with the shackle and configured to maintain the shackle yieldably in at least a first and a second indexed rotational orientation relative to the processing path; the indexing arrangement comprising confronting surfaces rotatable with respect to each other and having surface features that mate when the shackle is in the first and the second indexed rotational orientations; and magnets associated with the indexing arrangement, the magnets being positioned and oriented to urge the confronting surfaces toward one another through magnetic force when the shackle is in the first and the second indexed rotational orientations.

Optionally such meat processing equipment may further optionally comprising a turning block associated with the shackle, wherein rotation of the turning block relative to the trolley causes corresponding rotation of the shackle relative to the trolley. In this regard it is optionally advantageous when the indexing arrangement is disposed between the turning block and the trolley.

The meat processing equipment of the invention may alternatively or additionally have the yieldable arresting means incorporated in a support assembly for parts of slaughtered animals, being a bone holder. Accordingly the bone holder may then also be rotatably suspended from an overhead conveyor. Advantageously the bone holder may alternatively or additionally include a receiving block and a locking arm that is swivelable with respect to the receiving block between an open and a closed position and is embodied as one of the first and second elements and wherein the receiving block is then embodied as the other of the first and second elements. In such meat processing equipment the swivelable locking arm can be magnetically latched in its closed position and/or the swivelable locking arm can be magnetically arrested in its open position.

The latter mentioned specific exemplary applications of arresting means should not be regarded as limiting the invention in any way. These are merely examples of practical embodiments, but various others will be apparent to the skilled person without diverting from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Further advantageous aspects of the invention will become clear from the appended description and in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective illustration of a rotatable article support;

Figure 2 is a cross section of the exploded perspective illustration of

Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation in ghost view of the article support of

Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation in ghost view of the article support of Figures 1, 2 and 3;

Figure 5 shows a first arrangement of turning pins in relation to a first output position for the article support;

Figure 6 shows a second arrangement of turning pins in relation to a second output position of the article support;

Figure 7 shows a third arrangement of turning pins in relation to a third output position for the article support;

Figure 8 shows a fourth arrangement of turning pins in relation to a fourth output position for the article support;

Figure 9 schematically illustrates a first alternative embodiment of yieldable arresting means that can be used for indexing and latching;

Figure 10 schematically illustrates a second alternative embodiment of yieldable arresting means; Figure 11 schematically illustrates a third alternative embodiment of yieldable arresting means;

Figure 12 schematically illustrates a fourth alternative embodiment of yieldable arresting means;

Figure 13 shows a bone holder as a further use of magnetic arresting means in meat processing equipment;

Figure 14 shows the bone holder of Figure 13, but with its locking arm in an open position; and

Figure 15 is a perspective exploded view of the bone holder of Figures 13 and 14.

In Figure 1 an exploded arrangement is shown of a rotatable article support assembly 1. The article support assembly 1 is provided with a shackle 3, which in this example is a so called weighing shackle for the suspension of animal carcasses, such as fowl or poultry carcasses. The shackle 3 is rotatably suspended from a base block 5. The base block 5 is arranged for movement along an overhead conveyor rail or track (not shown, but conventional). Such conveyor rails or tracks are common in industrial apparatuses for carrying out a succession of processing steps. Commonly such conveying tracks are laid out in a continuous loop that defines a path of conveyance along a plurality of processing stations. Such systems are well known in the meat processing industry, but are also used in other disciplines of industry and manufacture. In this regard the base block 5 forms a trolley or carriage that is linked to similar base blocks of adjacent article support assemblies by trolley brackets 7 and chains, or the like. The trolley brackets 7 are attached to the base block 5 by means of bolts 9 and nuts 11. Extending upwardly from shackle 3 is a shaft 13 to which an abutment flange 15 is attached by means of a first transverse pin 17. The shaft 13 extends upwardly through a central bore in the base block 5, which central is enlarged at the upper end of the base block 5 to form a cavity 19. The cavity 19, as best seen in Figure 2, has three bores 21 (only one visible in Figure 2) for each receiving a lower magnet 23. The cavity 19 has a groove 25 for non-rotatably receiving an indexing plunger 27 which has it perimeter adapted to the contour of cavity 19 to inhibit relative rotation but to allow axial movement of the plunger 27.

Not visible in Figures 1 and 2, but visible in the ghost views of

Figures 3 and 4, the indexing plunger 27 has bores opening into its bottom surface for receiving upper magnets 29. In this example the lower magnets 23 are positioned with their north poles on top and the upper magnets 29 are positioned with their north poles facing down. In such an orientation, the lower and upper magnets 23, 29 will repulse one another, so that the indexing plunger 27 carries a number of radial indexing formations 31, which cooperate with complementary indexing formation on a lower face of a turning gear, or turning block 33. In this example, the indexing formations 31 provide rotational positions that are 90° apart. The turning block 33 is mounted to the shaft 13 by means of a second transverse pin 35. Spacing between transverse bore in the shaft 13 for receiving the first and second transverse pins 17, 35 is such that the base block 5 is snugly and rotatably received between the abutment flange 15 and the turning block 33. Thereby also the indexing plunger 27 is held within the cavity 19 of the base block 5 against the repulsive forces of the confronting lower and upper magnets 23, 29. The magnets 23, 29 are preferably identical and sintered rare earth magnets. Such sintered rare earth magnets may contain neodymium or be ceramic magnets of ferrous material. Another suitable magnet material may be samarium cobalt. The polarity of the lower and upper magnets 23, 29 should be properly directed to obtain the repulsive force necessary to bias the indexing formation 31 in engagement with the turning block 33. This can be with the north poles of confronting magnets facing one another, but may also be achieved by having the south poles facing one another. The important aspect is that equal poles of confronting magnets are facing one another. The turning block 33 further has diagonal slots 37 extending diagonally inwardly from each corner of the substantially square contour of the turning block 33.

In Figures 3 and 4 a side and a rear elevation of the assembled article support assembly 1 are illustrated as ghost views. Thereby internal parts like the magnets 23, 29, the indexing plunger 27 and the indexing formations 31 are visible as if the base block 5 and the turning block 33 were of transparent material. Also best visible in Figures 3 and 4 is that the turning block 33 has an upper cut-out 39 along one edge extending between adjacent slots 37, as well as a lower cut-out 41 along another edge that is perpendicular to the one edge.

The purpose of the upper and lower cut-outs will now be described in reference to Figures 5 to 8. In Figures 5 to 8 several output positions are shown for the article support assembly 1, after having passed particular aligning, or turning stations 43A, 43B, 43C, 43D in a direction of conveyance indicated by arrow 45. The representation of Figures 5 to 8 is essentially schematic and structure that is not directly relevant to a correct

understanding of the disclosure, is omitted for clarity. Also the article support assembly 1 is shown in a simplified form with the turning block 33 separated in two levels of disks 33A, 33B to better visualise the upper and lower cut-outs 39, 41. Each of the turning stations 43A-43D has opposed left and right hand guiding walls 47, 49. Each left hand and right hand guiding wall 47, 49 has a series of openings 51 in a upper and a lower row, each consisting of three openings 51. Each opening 51 is adapted to selectively receive a turning pin 53. As shown in Figure 5, three turning pins 53 are successively arranged in the upper row of openings 51 of the left hand guiding wall 47. Irrespective of the rotational position of the article support assembly 1 when it enters the turning station 43A, the three successive turning pins 53 in the upper row will always be sufficient to engage as many of the diagonal slots 37 as is necessary to bring the upper cut-out 39 (in level 33A of the turning block) in a position facing the left hand guide rail 47, once it has passed all three turning pins 53. As shown in Figure 6, three turning pins 53 are now mounted in the upper row of three opening 51 of the right hand guiding wall 49. This has the effect that article supported assembly 1 will now leave the turning station 43B with the upper cut-out 39 facing the right hand guiding wall 49. This results in a different position of the shackle 3 than that achieved with the turning station 43A of Figure 5.

In Figure 7 again a different arrangement of turning station 43C is shown. In this variation the three successive turning pins 53 are positioned in the lower row of opening 51 of the left hand guiding wall 47. The pins 53 now engage the diagonal slots 37 at the lower portion 33B of the turning block. Upon passage of the article support assembly 1 through the turning station 43C in the direction 45 of conveyance, the lower cut-out 41 will emerge from the turning station 43C, facing the left hand guide wall 47.

In a further variation according to Figure 8, the turning station 43D has the successive turning pins 53 installed on the lower row of openings 51 in the right hand guide wall 49. This results in the lower cut-out 41 of the lower portion 33B of the turning block to emerge from the turning station 43D facing the right hand side wall 49. While one level of turning pins 53 that are 180° apart, using a second level for positioning the turning pins and a second cut- out at 90° from the first cut-out, enables positioning of the article support assembly 1 at predetermined position at 90°.

Accordingly an article support assembly 1 is disclosed that is adapted for movement by a conveyor along a path of conveyance. The article support assembly 1 includes a trolley 5 for engagement by the conveyor and a shackle 3 configured to support an article, and rotatable with respect to the trolley. A turning block 33 is associated with the shackle 3, and rotation of the turning block with respect to the trolley 5 causes corresponding rotation of the shackle relative to the trolley. Yieldable indexing means 23, 27, 29, 31 are operatively arranged between the trolley 5 and the turning block 33 to define at least a first and a second incremental rotational position for the shackle 3. The yieldable indexing means 23, 27, 29, 31 of the article support assembly 1 are biased into engagement by magnetic repelling forces. A conveyor system for conveying articles along processing stations is adapted to include the article support assembly 1 and comprises the turning stations 43A, 43B, 43C, 43D for giving a predetermined rotational position to the shackle 3 with respect to the trolley 5.

While it has been described in the above example that the indexing plunger 27 and the turning block 33 providing the yieldable indexing means are biased into engagement by magnetic repelling forces, it is alternatively also possible to obtain this bias by attracting magnetic forces. This effect can be obtained by positioning lower magnet in the indexing plunger 27, and accommodating upper magnets in suitable bores in the turning block 33, but with the confronting lower and upper magnets then positioned to have their opposite poles facing one another.

Figures 9 to 12 illustrate schematically several options of obtaining yieldable arresting means for indexing and latching predetermined relative positions between first and second relatively movable elements 61, 63. Each of the first and second elements 61, 63 is shown in partial cross section and it is to be understood that the first element 61 can be spaced from the second element 63 along an imaginary plane 65. In other words there need not be contact between the first and second elements 61, 63 when these are moved by relative translation or rotation in parallel to the imaginary plane 65.

In Figure 9 there is also no contact between the yieldable arresting means formed by a first magnet 67 in the first element 61 and a second magnet 69 in the second element 63. The polarity of the first and second magnets 67, 69 is arranged such that their confronting poles attract one another. In Figure 9 this is schematically indicated by "N" for north pole and "S" for south pole.

In the embodiment of Figure 10 repelling forces are used to obtain a predetermined indexing position between the first and second elements 61, 63. To this end the embodiment of Figure 10 uses a first upper magnet 67 and a pair of lower second magnets 71, 73. In this arrangement the polarities of the magnets are arranged such that these repel one another. In this way the upper magnet 67 will be arrested in a predetermined position in between the pair of lower magnets 71, 73. The arresting means of Figure 10 may be more suitable for applications in which the velocity difference between the first and second elements 61, 63 is of such magnitude that arresting the movement with a single attracting magnet (such as in Figure 9) may not function reliably.

While the arresting means according to the embodiments of Figures 9 and 10 are completely contactless, there may also be situations where some friction is beneficial to control the movement taking place between the first and second elements 61, 63. Accordingly is it also possible to achieve magnetic arresting with mechanical contact between the first and second elements. Figure 11 schematically illustrates one example that uses mechanical contact of a plunger element 75 that can telescope in and out from a mating cavity 77 in the second element 63. The first element 61 is provided with a recess 79, into which the plunger 75 can engage to arrest the first and second elements 61, 63 in a predetermined position. The plunger includes a plunger magnet 81, which is attracted by an upper magnet 67 in the first element 61. In this arrangement the plunger 75 is only urged toward the first element 61, when in the vicinity of the recess 79 which defines the indexing position. Friction will thus be limited to the direct area of engagement between the plunger 75 and the recess 79. The arrangement of Figure 11 corresponds to the alternative that is mentioned above for the rotatable poultry meat hanger 1 of Figures 1 to 4.

Another embodiment that uses mechanical contact between a plunger 75 and a first element 61 is shown in Figure 12. The plunger 75 is again provided with a plunger magnet 81 and telescopable with respect to a mating cavity 77 as in the embodiment of Figure 12. In contrast the first element 61 does not have a magnet but a further magnet 83 is now positioned below the cavity 77. The polarities of the uppermost plunger magnet 81 and the lowermost further magnet 83 is such that these are repelling one another. The repelling force between the magnets 81, 83 now urges the plunger 75 continually against the first element 61. This may result in a controlled amount of friction between the first and second elements 61, 63 that keeps the speed differences between the first and second elements 61, 63 under control, also when the plunger is not in the vicinity of the recess 79 in the first element 61. The arrangement of Figure 12 corresponds to the yieldable indexing means 23, 27, 29, 31 of the hanger 1 of Figure 1-4.

It should be noticed in respect to the various embodiments in accordance with Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 that the magnets 67, 69, 71, 73, 81, 83 are encased in a non-magnetic material, such as plastic.

Encasing the magnets in the contactless arrangements of Figures 9 and 10 is particularly favourable for meat processing lines. As there is an issue with bacterial contamination, wherever the traditional indexing and arresting means create cavities, the arrangement of Figures 9 and 10 creates favourable circumstances to prevent bacterial contamination and to promote hygiene.

Figures 13 to 15 show yet another use of magnetic arresting means in meat processing equipment. Shown is a bone holder 101 that can be part of an overhead conveyor from which it is suspended by a trolley 103 connected to a trolley bracket, or shackle connector 107. Although for clarity only one trolley 103 is shown it should be understood that a similar trolley will be connected to the opposite trolley bracket 107. Both trolley brackets 107 are connected to a base block 105 that may be somewhat similar to the base block of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, including turning and indexing means for rotatably mounting a receiving block 109. The trolleys 103 will be connected to other trolleys by means of a chain 111, of which only a portion is shown. The receiving block of the bone holder 101 has a bifurcated receiving hook 113 at its lower end. A locking arm 115 is swivably mounted to the receiving block 109 to secure a bone knuckle engaged in the receiving slot 117. Figure 14 shows the bone holder 101 with the swivable locking arm 115 in an open position, ready to receive an animal bone part. As can be seen in Figures 13 and 14 the locking arm 115 when closed is engaged against an abutment member 119 and in open position is arrested by magnets 121, of which only an outer one is visible. The arrangement, however, may correspond to either the Figure 9 or Figure 10 variant. It will further be seen in the exploded view of Figure 15 that the receiving block 109 has mounted therein outer magnets 121 to confront inner magnets 123 on the swivable locking arm 115. The abutment member 119 has a first pair of latch magnets 125 mounted therein, while the locking arm 115 has a further second pair of latch magnets 127 mounted therein. The locking arm 115 is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the receiving block 109 by means of a first pivot shaft 129 that is inserted through corresponding openings 131, 133 in the receiving block 109 and locking arm 115. The pivot shaft 129 is non-rotatably secured to the locking arm 115 by a transverse locking pin 135. Thus the locking arm 115 has only two stable positions, a first one when open and arrested by the outer and inner magnets 121, 123, and a second one when engaged against the abutment member 119 by a force generated by the attracting first and second pair of magnets 125, 127. As further seen in Figures 13 to 15 the first pivot shaft 129 on an exposed end is provided with an operating arm 137. The operating arm 137 is used to swivel the locking arm 115 from its open to its closed position and vice-versa. As bones to be held by the receiving block 109 of the bone holder 101 come in various sizes, the abutment member 119 is adjustably mounted about a second pivot shaft 139 that engages through aligned openings 141, 143 in the receiving block 109 and the abutment member 119. The second pivot shaft 139 is held in position by suitable screw fasteners 145 and optional further hardware, such as washers. For adjustment the abutment member 119 cooperates with a screw adjuster, generally indicated by reference numeral 147. Further it is shown that the bifurcated receiving hook 113 is detachably mounted by conventional fasteners 149, to be exchanged by differently sized units. This feature may further extend the range of animal bones that can be held by the device. It is also of advantage that the attracting force of the confronting pairs of latching magnets 125, 127 will also accommodate slight variation in size of bones, which may still occur, in spite of a particular adjustment made to the abutment member 119.

It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description and drawings appended thereto. It will be clear to the skilled person that the invention is not limited to any embodiment herein described and that modifications are possible which should be considered within the scope of the appended claims. Also kinematic inversions are considered inherently disclosed and to be within the scope of the invention. In the claims, any reference signs shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The term 'comprising' and 'including' when used in this description or the appended claims should not be construed in an exclusive or exhaustive sense but rather in an inclusive sense. Thus the expression 'comprising' as used herein does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps in addition to those listed in any claim. Furthermore, the words 'a' and 'an' shall not be construed as limited to 'only one', but instead are used to mean 'at least one', and do not exclude a plurality. Features that are not specifically or explicitely described or claimed may be additionally included in the structure of the invention within its scope. Expressions such as: "means for ..." should be read as: "component configured for ..." or "member constructed to ..." and should be construed to include equivalents for the structures disclosed. The use of expressions like: "critical", "preferred", "especially preferred" etc. is not intended to limit the invention. Additions, deletions, and modifications within the purview of the skilled person may generally be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as is determined by the claims.