The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 22, 1994
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1992
L George Andre, Hamilton, OH (US);
Lawrence D Boody, Roane, TN (US);
David R Chappell, London, TN (US);
Joseph C Gundlach, Anderson, TN (US);
Acraloc Corporation, Oak Ridge, TN (US);
Abstract
An improved loin puller (10) for trimming the back fat (34) from a loin (32) and from a rib portion (37) which are attached to a carcass half (3o) by using an automated system having a variable width and depth of cut. A frame (12) is provided to support the individual components of the improved loin puller (10) a selected distance above a support surface (38). A conveyor belt (50) is provided for conveying the carcass half (30) toward a cutting blade (76). Loin and rib engagement chains (56, 57) are provided for pulling the loin (32), ribs (37), and associated back fat (34) toward and across the cutting blades (76,158) which are provided for separating the loin (32) and ribs (37) from the back fat (34). selectively controlling the depth of cut. A cutting width adjustor (22) is provided for selectively varying the width of the cut without substantially varying the depth of the cut. A cutting blade heater ( 28) is provided for heating each of the cutting blades (76,158) to soften the fat being cut and thus ease the cutting pressure required. A second conveyor belt (118) may be provided for supporting and conveying the front portion of the carcass half (36). A stationary support shelf (154) may alternatively be provided for supporting the front portion of the carcass half (154).