US4083083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine for cutting poultry into selectively variable portions
Assignee: Duncan Creations Inc
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Filing: 1976-09-17
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Granted: 1978-04-11
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Expires: 1996-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A machine originally constructed for the automatic cutting of fowl, such as chickens or the like, into nine portions can be modified by the selective removal and/or addition of elements to produce fowl cut into any number of symmetrical pairs of portions from one to five.
Inventors
- 👤 William D. Duncan
- 👤 Carolyn L. Duncan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:34
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C21/00; A22C21/0023; B; B26; B26D; B26D11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
In apparatus for automatically cutting eviscerated poultry carcasses alternatively into a plurality of pre-selected groups of portions under the control of a single operator, each of said groups of portions consisting of a whole poultry carcass severed into separate predetermined pieces numbering between two and ten inclusive, comprising: a frame means; b first cutter means removably mounted on the frame means for severing the wings from a carcass; c second cutter means removably mounted on the frame means for severing breast meat from the carcass and the legs from the thighs; d third cutter means mounted on the frame means for at least partially severing a carcass into two halves in the plane of the backbone; e fourth cutter means removably mounted on the frame means for severing thighs from the rib cage; f fifth cutter means including means for removably and selectively mounting the fifth cutter means on the frame means in one position tangent to the third cutter means to coact with said third cutter means to split a carcass into two similar halves and in another position on the frame means to sever the breast meat only into two halves, and; g conveyor means mounted on the frame means for moving successive poultry carcasses in a predetermined path for engagement with those of said aforementioned cutter means as are mounted on the frame means, whereby the apparatus is convertible to cut poultry carcasses into between two and ten pieces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
In apparatus for automatically cutting eviscerated poultry carcasses alternatively into a plurality of pre-selected groups of portions under the control of a single operator, each of said groups of portions consisting of a whole poultry carcass severed into separate predetermined pieces numbering between two and ten inclusive, comprising: a frame means; b first cutter means removably mounted on the frame means for severing the wings from a carcass; c second cutter means removably mounted on the frame means for severing breast meat from the carcass and the legs from the thighs; d third cutter means mounted on the frame means for at least partially severing a carcass into two halves in the plane of the backbone; e fourth cutter means removably mounted on the frame means for severing thighs from the rib cage; f fifth cutter means including means for removably and selectively mounting the fifth cutter means on the frame means in one position tangent to the third cutter means to coact with said third cutter means to split a carcass into two similar halves and in another position on the frame means to sever the breast meat only into two halves, and; g conveyor means mounted on the frame means for moving successive poultry carcasses in a predetermined path for engagement with those of said aforementioned cutter means as are mounted on the frame means, whereby the apparatus is convertible to cut poultry carcasses into between two and ten pieces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first cutter means comprises two removably mounted rotary knives disposed in spaced relation to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second cutter means comprises a pair of rotary knives removably mounted tangent to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said third cutter means is a rotary knife fixedly mounted on the frame means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fourth cutter means comprises a pair of rotary knives removably mounted on the frame means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes additional shield means for removable mounting on the frame means to prevent removal of breast meat by said second cutter means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
174 words
In apparatus for automatically cutting chicken, or the like, into a pre-selected number of pieces of the type wherein a self-centering conveyor means comprising a pair of endless belts grasp the opposite sides of the rib cage of a carcass to bring the carcass into engagement with a first rotary knife for severing the carcass into two halves disposed on opposite sides of the plane of the backbone, said first knife being backed up by a fixed guide to enable complete severing of the carcass by said one knife, and said apparatus also includes two additional rotary knives disposed at an angle with respect to the first knife for severing the legs from the thighs and also normally severing the breast meat from the carcass, the improvement which comprises an additional fixed shield arranged adjacent said additional rotary knives in the path of the breast meat as the carcass is moved by the conveyor means toward said additional knives to prevent said breast meat from being severed from the carcass by said additional knives.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
174 words
In apparatus for automatically cutting chicken, or the like, into a pre-selected number of pieces of the type wherein a self-centering conveyor means comprising a pair of endless belts grasp the opposite sides of the rib cage of a carcass to bring the carcass into engagement with a first rotary knife for severing the carcass into two halves disposed on opposite sides of the plane of the backbone, said first knife being backed up by a fixed guide to enable complete severing of the carcass by said one knife, and said apparatus also includes two additional rotary knives disposed at an angle with respect to the first knife for severing the legs from the thighs and also normally severing the breast meat from the carcass, the improvement which comprises an additional fixed shield arranged adjacent said additional rotary knives in the path of the breast meat as the carcass is moved by the conveyor means toward said additional knives to prevent said breast meat from being severed from the carcass by said additional knives.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention defined in claim 7, wherein said fixed shield is positioned generally in alignment with said fixed guide whereby the breast meats is cut into two pieces by said first knife.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-10 | 1981-10-10 | 1982-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-10 | 1985-10-10 | 1986-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-10 | 1989-10-10 | 1990-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |