Method and apparatus for collecting meat from an animal part

Abstract

A method and device are disclosed for mechanically collecting meat from animal parts having an elongated bone extending through a sleeve of meat. The device includes a deboning unit adapted to be associated with a supporting tray for supporting one of the animal parts, a stripper diaphragm on one end of the supporting tray, when associated with the deboning unit, and a movable bone pusher rod and a movable tubular knife on an opposite end of the supporting tray, when associated with the deboning unit. The bone pusher rod and the tubular knife are arranged concentrically about one another. A mechanism is provided for advancing and retracting the bone pusher rod and the tubular knife between first positions, allowing loading of the animal part, and second positions, in which the meat is collected against the stripper diaphragm and the bone is pushed partly through the diaphragm. The mechanism for advancing and retracting is adapted to move the bone pusher rod over one distance and the tubular knife over another distance smaller than the one distance, so as not to extend through the diaphragm. A rotating mechanism can rotate the tubular knife upon engagement with the meat and a cutting anvil for severing the meat from a trailing one of opposite ends of the elongated bone. An engaging member for engaging the bone portion partly protruding through the diaphragm pulls the bone completely through the diaphragm.