US4128916A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for processing pork sides
Assignee: Madison Foods Inc
•
Filing: 1977-10-25
•
Granted: 1978-12-12
•
Expires: 1997-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A downwardly biased, upwardly movable wheel is positioned in the path of bodies of meat advancing on a conveyor having lateral hooks for impaling and retaining the meat. The rotational axis of the wheel lies at an acute angle to the conveyor direction, guiding the meat-engaging portion of the wheel in a path which lies convergent to the conveyor direction and has a lateral component opposed to the hooks. A pork side engaged by the rotating wheel is shifted laterally during conveyor movement to drive the pork side into impaled engagement on a hook for subsequent cutting of the loin from the belly.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin O. Fick, Jr.
- 👤 Edward L. Bell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:06
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C17/00; A22C17/02; A22B; A22B7/00; A22B7/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
Meat processing apparatus, comprising, a conveyor means for supporting bodies of meat, said conveyor means being driven in a given direction and having lateral hooks provided with impaling ends, shifting means positioned above the conveyor in the path of bodies of meat on the conveyor for shifting the bodies of meat into impaled engagement on said hooks, said shifting means having a meat-engaging portion guided for movement in a path which is convergent to said given direction of the conveyor, said path having lateral component opposed to said hooks whereby meat on the conveyor engaged by said shifting means is shifted laterally on the conveyor and driven into impaled engagement on said hooks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
Meat processing apparatus, comprising, a conveyor means for supporting bodies of meat, said conveyor means being driven in a given direction and having lateral hooks provided with impaling ends, shifting means positioned above the conveyor in the path of bodies of meat on the conveyor for shifting the bodies of meat into impaled engagement on said hooks, said shifting means having a meat-engaging portion guided for movement in a path which is convergent to said given direction of the conveyor, said path having lateral component opposed to said hooks whereby meat on the conveyor engaged by said shifting means is shifted laterally on the conveyor and driven into impaled engagement on said hooks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distance between said hooks along the given direction is no more than about six inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the meat-engaging portion of the shifting means is downwardly biased to a rest position spaced above the conveyor, said shifting means being upwardly movable from said rest position to change its spacing from the conveyor when said meat-engaging portion is in engagement with a body of meat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shifting means includes a weighting chamber fillable with fluid to vary the pressure applied thereby to loins being processed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The meat processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shifting means is a rotary member, the lower portion of which is said meat-engaging portion, said rotary member having a rotational axis lying at an acute angle to said conveyor direction to guide said meat-engaging portion in said path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 5 having support means for said rotary member which enables said acute angle to be changed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rotary member has a toothed circular peripheral edge comprising said meat-engaging portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the distance between said hooks along the given direction is no more than about six inches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the meat-engaging portion of the shifting means is downwardly biased to a rest position spaced above the conveyor, said shifting means being upwardly movable from said rest position to change its spacing from the conveyor when said meat-engaging portion is in engagement with a body of meat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rotary member includes a weighting chamber fillable with fluid to vary the pressure applied thereby to meat on the conveyor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rotary member is movable by a body of meat advancing thereunder from a rest position located in the path of a body of meat on the conveyor to a raised position when said meat-engaging portion is in contact with the upper surface of a body of meat on said conveyor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 11 having means for limiting the movement of the rotary member toward said conveyor to establish a said rest position spaced from the conveyor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
93 words
The apparatus of claim 12 having a pivoted support arm which carries the rotary member, said support arm having an intermediate pivot which enables the rotary member to be movable in a direction which changes its distance from the conveyor, said means for limiting the movement of the rotary member toward said conveyor being a flexible member having an anchored lower end and a movable upper end attached to a point on said support arm, said intermediate pivot being located between said rotary member and said point of attachment of the flexible member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the rotary member has a toothed circular peripheral edge comprising said meat-engaging portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the distance between said hooks along the given direction is not more than about six inches.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rotary member is spaced above said conveyor in the path of meat supported on the conveyor, means for biasing said rotary member toward said conveyor, and support means enabling the rotational axis of said rotary member to move relative to said conveyor when said meat-engaging portion is in contact with a body of meat passing between the conveyor and the rotary member.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of processing a pork side including a loin on a conveyor having lateral hooks for retaining the pork side on the conveyor, said method comprising the steps of, placing the pork side on a conveyor having lateral hooks provided with impaling ends, said pork side overlying said hooks but not penetrated thereby, moving the conveyor in a forward direction to advance the pork side through an impaling station, engaging the upper surface of said pork side at said impaling station with a rotary member which has its rotational axis lying at an acute angle to said forward direction, rotating the rotary member while engaged with said pork side at said impaling station to shift the pork side laterally on the conveyor toward said impaling ends to drive the pork side into impaled engagement on said hooks, and cutting the pork loin from said side supported on the conveyor and impaled by said hooks.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of processing a pork side including a loin on a conveyor having lateral hooks for retaining the pork side on the conveyor, said method comprising the steps of, placing the pork side on a conveyor having lateral hooks provided with impaling ends, said pork side overlying said hooks but not penetrated thereby, moving the conveyor in a forward direction to advance the pork side through an impaling station, engaging the upper surface of said pork side at said impaling station with a rotary member which has its rotational axis lying at an acute angle to said forward direction, rotating the rotary member while engaged with said pork side at said impaling station to shift the pork side laterally on the conveyor toward said impaling ends to drive the pork side into impaled engagement on said hooks, and cutting the pork loin from said side supported on the conveyor and impaled by said hooks.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 17 including the steps of biasing the rotary member against the pork side while engaging the pork side and rotating the rotary member, and moving the rotational axis of the rotary member as a pork side moves between the conveyor and the rotary member to maintain the rotary member in engagement with the pork side.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17 wherein a substantially constant force is applied by the rotary member to the pork side throughout the engagement of the pork side by the rotary member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of moving the rotational axis of the rotary member away from the conveyor as a pork side moves between the conveyor and the rotary member to maintain the rotary member in engagement with the pork side.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 having a motor for driving the meat engaging portion of said shifting means in said path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-12-11 | 1982-06-12 | 1982-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-12-11 | 1986-06-12 | 1986-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-12-11 | 1990-06-12 | 1990-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |