Loin knife mechanism

Claim 2

In an animal side processing machine, main frame means, conveyor means on said main frame means operable to convey animal sides through the machine, a loin pull mechanism comprising carriage means, a generally U-shaped loin pull knife, said carriage means including a first frame, supporting one arm portion of the loin pull knife, a second frame supporting a second arm portion of the loin pull knife, said second frame being pivoted on the first frame about an axis generally at right angles to the plane of said conveyor means, first control means adapted for raising and lowering the carriage means to follow the contour of the backbone of the animal side, and second control means for pivoting the first frame relative to the second frame to properly angle said loin pull knife during the loin pulling operation, the improvement characterized by the carriage means including a third frame supporting the first frame for movement transverse to the direction of conveyor travel, means for moving the third frame relative to the main frame means, and means for actuating said moving means at a preselected time during the loin pull operation to cause the arm portions of the loin pull knife to be moved toward one another and provide a suitable cut on said loins.

Claim 3

An animal side processing machine as in claim 1 including third control means on the main frame means operable in response to the position of the carriage means to control the lateral position of an arm portion of the loin pull knife.

Claim 4

An animal processing machine as in claim 2 wherein the actuating means comprises a fluid cylinder operative between the main frame means and third frame for moving the third frame and the second and first frames carried therewith to cause said one arm portion of the loin pull knife to abut the third control means and said second arm portion of the loin pull knife to be moved laterally relative therto so as to squeeze the arm portions of the loin pull knife.

Claim 5

An animal side processing machine as in claim 3 wherein a spring is operative between the cylinder and the third frame.

Claim 6

An animal side processing machine as in claim 4 wherein the actuating means includes a cylinder rod extending from the fluid cylinder which is secured to the main frame means, the cylinder rod having a spring thereon, a projection on the third frame cooperating with the spring, whereby movement of the cylinder rod will compress the spring and bias the third frame so as to squeeze the arm portions of the loin pull knife during the loin pulling operation.

Claim 7

A animal side processing machine as in claim 1 wherein the third frame includes means for guiding the first frame and the second frame carried therewith for movement toward and away from the path of travel of the conveyor means in response to the first control means.

Claim 8

An animal side processing machine as in claim 6 including means for stabilizing the lateral movement of the third frame, said stabilizing means including cross rod means journalling a portion of the third frame.

Claim 9

An animal side processing machine as in claim 7 wherein the stabilizing means include rollers for guiding a portion of the third frame.

Claim 10

The machine of claim 1 including a scribe saw mounted on said second frame of said carriage means.

Claim 11

In an animal side processing machine, main frame means, conveyor means on said main frame means operable to convey animal sides through the machine, a loin pull mechanism comprising carriage means carrying a scribe saw and a generally U-shaped loin pull knife, said carriage means including a first frame, supporting one arm portion of the loin pull knife, a second frame supporting the scribe saw and a second arm portion of the loin pull knife, said second frame being pivoted on the first frame about an axis generally at right angles to the plane of the conveyor surface conveying the animal sides, first control means adapted to follow the contour of the backbone of the animal side for raisiNg and lowering the carriage means and second control means for pivoting the first frame relative to the second frame to properly angle the scribe saw and loin pull knife during the loin pulling operation, the improvement characterized by the carriage means including a third frame supporting the first frame for movement transverse to the direction of conveyor travel, and actuating means for moving the third frame relative to the main frame means, the actuating means being moved in timed relationship to the second control means to squeeze the arm portions of the U-shaped knife in synchronization with the pivoting of the second frame relative to the first frame so as to provide a suitable cut on said loins.

Claim 12

In an animal side processing machine, main frame means, conveyor means on said main frame means operable to convey animal sides through the machine, a loin pull mechanism comprising carriage means carrying a scribe saw and a generally U-shaped loin pull knife, said carriage means including a first frame, supporting one arm portion of the loin pull knife, a second frame supporting the scribe saw and a second arm portion of the loin pull knife, said second frame being pivoted on the first frame about an axis generally at right angles to the plane of the conveyor surface conveying the animal sides, first control means adapted to follow the contour of the backbone of the animal side for raisiNg and lowering the carriage means and second control means for pivoting the first frame relative to the second frame to properly angle the scribe saw and loin pull knife during the loin pulling operation, the improvement characterized by the carriage means including a third frame supporting the first frame for movement transverse to the direction of conveyor travel, and actuating means for moving the third frame relative to the main frame means, the actuating means being moved in timed relationship to the second control means to squeeze the arm portions of the U-shaped knife in synchronization with the pivoting of the second frame relative to the first frame so as to provide a suitable cut on said loins.