초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for classification of a meat cut based on the thickness of the fat layer. The meat classification system comprises a split dual-belt conveyor system and a probe/trolley mechanism assembly where the probe is operable to penetrate the meat cut for measuring fat thickness as the

An apparatus and method for classification of a meat cut based on the thickness of the fat layer. The meat classification system comprises a split dual-belt conveyor system and a probe/trolley mechanism assembly where the probe is operable to penetrate the meat cut for measuring fat thickness as the meat cut is being conveyed along the dual belts.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A meat cut classification system for determining the thickness of a layer of fat comprising:a classification station frame;a conveyor mounted on said classification station frame having parallel split dual belts proximately spaced apart in a side by side relationship extending in the same directi

1. A meat cut classification system for determining the thickness of a layer of fat comprising:a classification station frame;a conveyor mounted on said classification station frame having parallel split dual belts proximately spaced apart in a side by side relationship extending in the same direction and having a uniform equidistant gap there between and where said conveyor has a conveyor drive;a trolley mechanism mounted on said classification station frame having a probe assembly attached thereto where said trolley mechanism is operable to be selectively driven by the conveyor drive by engaging a clutch operatively linked between said conveyor drive and said trolley mechanism;said trolley mechanism adapted to translate along a rail extending in a direction parallel to said split dual belts for positioning said probe assembly; andsaid probe assembly having a cylinder adapted to elevate a probe of said probe assembly upward between the split dual belts for probing a meat cut being conveyed on said conveyor.2. The meat cut classification system as recited in claim 1 further comprising:a stabilizing roller assembly mounted on a frame positioned above said conveyor where said stabilizing roller assembly has a cylinder operable to downwardly extend transverse the direction of conveyance a roller axially attached to said roller assembly for selectively applying downward pressure to a meat cut being conveyed on the conveyor sufficient to hold the meat cut on the conveyor during probing.3. The meat cut classification system as recited in claim 1 where said trolley mechanism further comprises:a cam follower operably attached between a trolley main body and a trolley roller chain where said roller chain is driven by a sprocketed pulley wheel operably linked thereto and where said sprocketed pulley wheel is axially attached to a drive shaft where said drive shaft is operatively connected to the conveyor drive by the clutch.4. The meat cut classification system as recited in claim 1 where said probe further comprises:a pointed end of the probe sufficiently pointed to penetrate a meat cut;a signal emitter housed interior the probe and adjacent a window of the probe and operable to emit a signal through said window to a surrounding area exterior the probe; anda signal receiver housed interior the probe and adjacent the window and operable to receive a signal reflected back through the window and transmit a control signal representative of the reflected signal to a controller.5. A meat cut classification system for determining the thickness of a layer of fat comprising:a classification station frame;a trolley mechanism mounted on said classification station frame and having a probe assembly attached thereto where a probe of said probe assembly extends vertically upward from the trolley mechanism and said probe operable to be extended upward by a cylinder of said probe assembly through a uniform equidistant gap between side by side proximately spaced split dual belts of a conveyor for probing a meat cut;said trolley mechanism operable to be selectively driven by a conveyor drive by engaging a clutch operatively attached to said trolley and said clutch operatively linked between said conveyor drive and said trolley mechanism; andsaid trolley mechanism adapted to translate along a rail extending in a direction parallel to said split dual belts.6. The meat cut classification system as recited in claim 5 further comprising:a stabilizing roller assembly mounted on a frame positioned above said conveyor where said stabilizing roller assembly has a cylinder operable to downwardly extend transverse the direction of conveyance a roller axially attached to said roller assembly for selectively applying downward pressure to a meat cut being conveyed on the conveyor sufficient to hold the meat cut on the conveyor during probing.7. The meat cut classification system as recited in claim 5 where said trolley mechanism further comprises:a trolley main body; anda cam follower operably attached between the trolley main body and a trolley roller chain where said roller chain is driven by a sprocketed pulley wheel operably linked thereto and where said sprocketed pulley wheel is axially attached to a drive shaft where said drive shaft is operatively connected to the conveyor drive by the clutch.8. The meat cut classification system as recited in claim 5 where said probe further comprises:a pointed end of the probe sufficiently pointed to penetrate a meat cut;a signal emitter housed interior the probe and adjacent a window of the probe and operable to emit a signal through said window to a surrounding area exterior the probe; anda signal receiver housed interior the probe and adjacent the window and operable to receive a signal reflected back through the window and transmit a control signal representative of the reflected signal to a controller.9. A meat cut classification method for determining the thickness of a layer of fat comprising:conveying a meat cut with a conveyor having split dual belts proximately spaced apart in a side by side relationship extending in the same direction and having a uniform equidistant gap there between and where said conveyor has a conveyor drive;selectively translating a trolley mechanism having a probe assembly attached thereto by selectively engaging a clutch operatively linked between said conveyor drive and said trolley mechanism, where translating is along a rail extending in a direction parallel to said split dual belts for positioning said probe assembly;elevating upward a probe vertically extending from the probe assembly with a cylinder of said probe assembly where said cylinder is adapted to elevate a probe upward between the split dual belts; anddetermining the thickness of a meat cut.10. The meat cut classification method of claim 9 where the step of elevating upward a probe further comprises the steps of:sensing the presence of the meat cut conveyed along a portion of the conveyor with a meat cut detection sensor;providing a meat cut present control signal to a controller responsive to sensing the presence of a meat cut with said meat cut detection sensor;sensing when the translation speed of the trolley mechanism is synchronized with the conveyor conveyance speed with a speed synchronization sensor; andproviding a synchronous speed control signal to the controller responsive to sensing synchronized translation and conveyance speeds, where elevating upward is responsive to a meat cut present control signal and a synchronous speed control signal and is for penetrating the meat cut.11. The meat cut classification method of claim 10 further comprising the step of:retracting downward the probe with the cylinder, removing the probe from the meat cut.12. The meat cut classification method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:lowering a stabilizing roller with a cylinder of a stabilizing roller assembly attached to a frame positioned above the conveyor and pressing down on a meat cut with said stabilizing roller.13. A meat cut classification method for determining the thickness of a layer of fat comprising:conveying a meat cut with a conveyor having split dual belts proximately spaced apart in a side by side relationship extending in the same direction and having a uniform equidistant gap there between and where said conveyor has a conveyor drive;elevating upward through said gap with a cylinder a probe for probing a meat cut being conveyed on said conveyor;translating said probe along said gap in a direction of conveyance and at a translation speed synchronized with a conveyance speed;determining the thickness of a meat cut;where the step of elevating upward a probe further comprises the steps of,sensing the presence of a meat cut conveyed along a portion of the conveyor with a meat cut detection sensor;providing a meat cut present control signal to a controller responsive to sensing the presence of a meat cut with said meat cut detection sensor;sensing when the translation speed of the trolley mechanism is synchronized with the conveyor conveyance speed with a speed synchronization sensor; andproviding a synchronous speed control signal to a controller responsive to sensing synchronized translation and conveyance speeds, where elevating upward is responsive to a meat cut present control signal and a synchronous speed control signal and is for penetrating the meat cut.14. The meat cut classification method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:retracting downward the probe with the cylinder, removing the probe from the meat cut.15. The meat cut classification method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:lowering a stabilizing roller with a cylinder of a stabilizing roller assembly attached to a frame positioned above the conveyor and pressing down on a meat cut with said stabilizing roller.