Automated leg shear with bi-directional cutting arm

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically shearing the leg from a carcass moving along a carcass rail includes an arm having a first end pivotally attached to a support structure and a second end attached to a shearing assembly. The arm is pivotally attached to said support structure in a manner such that the arm swings along a first swing axis between a first predetermined location and a second predetermined location adjacent the carcass rail, and a second swing axis substantially parallel to the carcass rail. In a first embodiment, the shearing assembly shears a carcass leg projecting perpendicular to the carcass rail. The arm driver moves the arm along the first swing axis between the first predetermined location and the second predetermined location. The arm pivots along the second swing axis if the shearing assembly becomes entangled with the moving carcass. A deactivation sensor deactivates the apparatus and the carcass rail if the arm moves a predetermined distance along the second swing axis. In a second embodiment, the shearing assembly shears a carcass leg that is parallel to the rail. The arm is first driven along the first swing axis, and then along the second swing axis and toward the carcass on the carcass rail. The arm driver continually moves the arm towards the carcass as the shearing assembly shears the leg off the carcass.