Servo knock out assembly

Abstract

Systems and methods for a food processing are provided. A food processing knockout assembly includes: a motor; a crank arm connected to the motor and configured to be rotated by the motor, around an axis that passes through the crank arm; a connecting arm connected to the crank arm and configured to move in a vertical direction in response to rotation of the crank arm; a beam connected to the connecting arm and configured to move in the vertical direction in response to movement of the connecting arm in the vertical direction; and at least one knockout shaft connected to the beam, at one end of the at least one knockout shaft, and configured to move in the vertical direction in response to movement of the beam in the vertical direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a food processing knockout assembly, the method comprising:
 knocking out food product by causing at least one knockout shaft of the food processing knockout assembly to move downward by operating a motor of the food processing knockout assembly;   moving the at least one knockout shaft of the food processing knockout assembly upward to a return position by operating the motor,   wherein the food processing knockout assembly further includes:
 a crank arm connected to the motor and configured to be rotated by the motor, around an axis that passes through the crank arm, 
 a connecting arm connected to the crank arm and configured to move in a vertical direction in response to rotation of the crank arm, and 
 a beam connected to the connecting arm and configured to move in the vertical direction in response to movement of the connecting arm in the vertical direction, and 
   wherein the at least one knockout shaft is connected to the beam, at one end of the at least one knockout shaft, and configured to move in the vertical direction in response to movement of the beam in the vertical direction.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one knockout shaft is configured to repetitively move upward and downward, based on the motor generating rotational motion in a single rotational direction. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one knockout shaft includes a tube shaft and a pull bar, provided within the tube shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein another end of the at least one knockout shaft is connected to a spreader bar. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one knockout shaft is two knockout shafts that are attached to respective ends of the beam. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the food processing knockout assembly further includes:
 a housing that houses the motor, the crank arm, the connecting arm, and the beam,   wherein another end of the at least one knockout shaft is configured to protrude out of the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the housing includes a base and a cover. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , the food processing knockout assembly further includes a gearbox connected to the motor, and a coupling that connects the crank arm to the gearbox.