Method and apparatus for removing a hide from a back portion and tail of a carcass

Abstract

An apparatus (10) and method for removing a hide (14) from a back portion of a carcass (12) is provided. The apparatus (10) comprises first and second peeling members (18 and 20) pivotally mounted on a frame (28). The members are positionable to enter a gap (22) between the carcass (12) and the hide (14) due to carcass (12) movement. The back portion of the hide (14) is removed by pivoting the members (18 and 20) to peel the hide (14).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for removing a hide from a back portion and tail of an animal carcass, comprising: first and second elongated members pivotally mounted on a frame, said members positioned to enter a gap between the hide and the carcass near a small of the carcass' back; and   means for moving said first member towards the tail and said second member towards a neck of the carcass, wherein the hide is peeled from the carcass.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said members comprise metal rods. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said members are mounted on pivot arms and said means for moving comprises a motor to pivot said arms. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: joints between said members and the frame to allow said arms to pivot about said joints; and   means for pivoting said arms about said joints.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a carcass conveyor to move said carcass to the apparatus so that said members enter said gap.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising triggering means associated with said frame to synchronize movement of said members with a selected position of said carcass. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said triggering means comprises: a limit switch to initiate said movement of said members.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim .Iadd.1, .Iaddend.further comprising a sterilizer associated with said frame to sterilize said members. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said sterilizer comprises a housing positioned to receive said members after the hide is peeled from the carcass. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for moving said first member away from said carcass.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said means for moving said first member away from said carcass comprises: a retractable arm; and   a retractable cylinder to retract said arm.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said means for moving said first member away from said carcass comprises: a jointed arm; and   a retractable cylinder to pivot said arm about the joint.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for simultaneously moving said first member away from said carcass and generally towards said tail.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for simultaneously moving comprises: a jointed arm pivotally mounted on a frame comprising an inner portion, an outer portion, and a joint between the portions;   a first retractable cylinder to pivot said inner portion; and   a second retractable cylinder to pivot said outer portion about said joint.   
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for simultaneously moving said second member away from said carcass and generally towards said neck.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for simultaneously moving comprises: a jointed arm pivotally mounted on a frame comprising an inner portion, an outer portion, and a joint between the portions;   a first retractable cylinder to pivot said inner portion; and   a second retractable cylinder to pivot said outer portion about said joint.   
     
     
       17. A method for removing a hide from a back portion and tail of an animal carcass, comprising the steps of: positioning first and second peeling members in a gap formed between the hide and the carcass, said gap located between the carcass' tail and neck; and   moving said first member in a first direction towards the tail and said second member in a second direction towards said neck thereby peeling the hide from the back portion and tail of the carcass.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of positioning comprises placing said first and second members in a path of said gap as the carcass moves on a conveyor. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of moving comprises pivoting said members to conform generally to a contour of the carcass. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of: a disinfecting said members after said step of moving.   
     
     
       21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of: moving said first member in a third direction away from the carcass before said step of moving in said first direction.   
     
     
       22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of: moving said first member in a third direction away from the carcass simultaneously with said step of moving in said first direction.   
     
     
       23. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of: generating a signal indicative of carcass position; and   initiating said step of moving responsive to said step of generating.   
     
     
       24. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of: pivoting said members about joints during said step of moving.   
     
     
       25. A method for removing a hide from a back portion and tail of an animal carcass, comprising the steps of: suspending the carcass from a conveyor such that a longitudinal axis through the carcass is generally vertical;   forming a gap between the hide and the carcass near a small of the back;   positioning said gap such that first and second peeling members are received within said gap due to lateral movement of the carcass; and   pivotally moving said first member toward the tail and said second member towards a neck of the carcass, wherein the hide is peeled from the carcass.   
     
     
       26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of: continuing to pivot said members into a disinfecting housing.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of: generating a signal indicative of carcass position; and   initiating said step of pivotally moving responsive to said step of generating. .Iadd.   
     
     
       28.  An apparatus for removing a hide from a back portion of an animal carcass, said animal carcass suspended from a conveyor for conveying said carcass in a first direction, said apparatus comprising: at least one elongated member pivotally mounted on a frame, said member positioned to enter a gap between the hide and the carcass near a small of the carcass's back; and   means for moving said at least one member towards the neck of the carcass, wherein the hide is peeled from the carcass. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       29.  The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising: means for moving said at least one member away from said carcass. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said drive means drives said peeling member a predetermined arcuate path alone said back portion of said suspended carcass. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a sterilizer associated with said frame to sterilize said at least one member. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. An apparatus for removing hide from a back portion of an animal carcass, said animal carcass suspended from a conveyor for conveying said carcass in a first direction in a substantially vertical plane, said apparatus comprising:   an elongated member mounted on a frame, said member positioned to enter a gap between the hide and the carcass near a small of the carcass's back;   means for moving said elongated member, wherein said hide is peeled from said back portion of said carcass by said elongated member when said elongated member is moved towards the neck of the carcass; and   a triggering means associated with said frame to synchronize movement of   
     
     
        said member with a selected position of said carcass. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a sterilizer associated with said frame to sterilize said member. .Iaddend..Iadd.34. An apparatus for removing hide from a back portion of an animal carcass, said animal carcass having a hide, a back and a neck suspended from a conveyor for conveying said carcass, said apparatus comprising: an elongated member pivotally mounted on a frame, said member positioned to enter a gap between the hide and the carcass near the small of the carcass's back;   means for moving said member towards the neck of the carcass wherein the hide is peeled from the carcass; and   a sterilizer associated with said frame to sterilize said member.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.35.  A method for removing hide from a back portion of an animal carcass suspended from a conveyor for conveying said carcass in a first direction in a substantially vertical plane, comprising the steps of: positioning at least one peeling member in a gap formed between the hide and the carcass, said gap located between the carcass' tail and neck; and   moving said at least one member in a direction towards the neck of the animal carcass, thereby peeling the hide from the back portion of the carcass. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. The method of claim 35, wherein said step of moving said peeling device from said first position to said second position along said first predetermined path comprises moving said peeling device along a substantially arcuate path. .Iaddend.