Robotic Technologies Limited

Steven John Fern

Liam James Hopkins

Stephen Robert Maunsell

Scott Clark

Alan Dickie

Ian Joseph Lormans

A carcass processing machine and carcass processing assemblies for processing sections of carcass having vertebrae in them, such as loin sections. The carcass processing machine includes an assembly for removing portions of meat from the ventral side of the vertebrae. This assembly has a knife with a cutting feature that varies in height. This assembly also has a rotating member for removing a portion of meat. The carcass processing machine includes an assembly for removing portions of meat from the dorsal side of the vertebrae. This assembly has a blade, which may be a plough blade, that cuts meat from the transverse processes and can moved by another blade that rides over the transverse processes near their bases. The plough blade has a blunt tip. This assembly can have another blade that is movable relative to the blade that rides over the transverse processes.

Carcass processing machine and assemblies

Methods of automated meat processing including an end to end processing method in which carcasses are cut into major portions at a first robotic processing station and into minor portions at robotic processing sub-stations. In one processing method carcass portions are acquired by a robotic arm, imaged and then cuts performed without transfer. In another a first series of processing steps are performed by rotating carcass portions through a plurality of processing stations and a second series of processing steps are performed as carcass portions are advanced along a linear conveyor. In another processing method a plurality of clamps are employed to stabilize a saddle section during a flap cut. In another processing method split pins are used to position a saddle section for a vertebrae cut. In another method a spinal cord is removed by applying a pressurized fluid stream against one end of the spinal cord and applying suction at the other end of the spinal cord.

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Dunedin, New Zealand

Steven John Fern