Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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10REVOLVING PQULTRY THIGH DEBONER
FIELD_ OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to a process and
apparatus for removing meat from bones of fowl and
animals, and in particular relates to a process and
apparatus for deboning poultry thighs by moving the bone
of khe thigh longitudinally with respect to the meat and
stripping the meat from the bone.
20BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When removing the meat of the poultry thigh from its
:~ bone, a common procedure is to strip the meat from the
:~ - bone by s¢raping with a tool along ~he length o~ the
bone. ~For example, two or more blades~ having notches
therein are moved~into contact with the meat and the
bone, wlth the notches ~of:;the bl:adés straddling~the bone,
: : and the bone is then~pulled through~the ~notches of:~the-
blades. ~This longitudinal ~movement of the:~bone:with
respect to ~ the blades~ causes the~blades to scrap~ the
meat along:the length o~ the bone and finally of~ the end
of:the bone. Usually, the meat remains in a single~ mass
afte~ the meat has~been stripped from the bone. Examples
o~ this~stripping type o~:meat removal ~rom a bone are
found in~U.S. Patents 3,672,000,: 4"327,463, 4,495,~75.
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One advantage of removing the bone from the meat of an edible
fowl is that when the meat is later cooked, the bone does not have to
be cooked, which saves energy. Further, if the bone is separated
before the cooking process, the bone can be conveniently saved and
S used for bone meal, etc.
A problem with some of the prior art poultry deboning equipment
is that the blades that engage the bone and strip the meat from the
bone sometimes inadvertently cause bone fragments to be carried away
from the bone in the meat.
Another problem with some of the prior art automated deboning
equipment is that the equipment must be manually loaded by placing the
poultry thighs in the equipment and permitting the equipment to
perform its deboning function while the operator waits for the
deboning cycle to be completed before beginning the next loading
function. The hand/eye coordination of the operator must be timed
with the operation of the equipment with the result that the operator
does not have the option to work at a variable pace which sometimes
is faqter than the movements of the equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, the present invention comprises a deboning
process and apparatus for removing meat from the bones of fowl and
animals.
The invention in one aspect provides an apparatus for removin~
meat from an elonyated bone of a poultry part or the like comprising
a bone holder for grasping one and of a bone, cutting means arranged
to cut the meat and the muscleq of the poultry part grasped and
supported by the bone holder, stripper means for engaging and pushing
the meat along the length of and off the bone, and means for rotating
the bone holder as the stripper means moves away from the bone holder
so as to rotate the bone with respect to the meat as the meat is
pushed from the bone.
Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for
separating meat from its bone of a poultry part such as a thigh and
the like, comprising a support system, a bone holder for supporting
an elongated bone adjacent one end thereof and stripper blades for
engaging the meat of the bone adjacent the bone holder, the stripper
blades being adapted to move away from the bone holder along the
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length of the bone to strip the meat from the bone and the bone holder
and the stripper blades being mounted as an operating module on the
support system. Power means moves the support system and revolves the
operating module through a processing path and cutting means is
positioned along a portion of the processing path for cutting the meat
and the muscles of the poultry part adjacent the bone holder. Cam
means moves the bone holder and stripper blades toward and away from
each other in response to the revolving of the operating module
through the processing path.
Still further, the invention comprehends a method of deboning
poultry thighs or the like comprising the steps of grasping a thigh
bone at a first knuckle with a bone holder, cutting the skin, meat or
tissue near the one end of the bone adjacent the first knuckle after
~rasping the thigh bone, moving the skin, meat or tissue away ~rom the
first knuckle after cutting the skin, meat or tissue, engaging the
thigh bone adjacent the first knuckle with meat stripper means, moving
the thigh bone and the meat stripper means with respect to each other
along the length of the thigh bone until the meat stripper means
passes over the other knuckle oi the thigh bone, cutting the meat
-20 adjacent the other knuckle to separate the meat from the bone, wherein
the bone holder and the thigh are moved along a processing path
through a series of processing stations, and the thigh bonP is rotated
about its length with respect to the meat and the meat stripper means
as the thigh bone and the meat stripper means move with respect to
each other along the length of the thigh bone.
Further still, the invention pertains to a method of deboning
poultry thighs or the like meat/bone surrounded with meat comprising
the steps of inserting a meat/bone product at a first one of its ends
into a bone holder, moving the meat/bone product and the bone holder
along a processing path, as the meat/bone product is moved along the
processing path, moving the notched edges of a pair of stripper
members toward each other about the one end of the bone to position
the notches about the bone to substantially surround the bone with the
stripper members to engage the bone with the meat stripper members,
moving the bone and the meat stripper means longitudinally with
respect to each other along the length of the bone until the meat
stripper means reaches the other end of the bone and substantially
removes the meat from the bone~
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More particularly, the embodiment of the invention disclosed
herein includes a plurality of deboning modules mounted on a revolving
support system whereby poultry thighs and similar bone and muscle
parts can be placed in sequence in modules of the apparatus at an
operator's station, and as the apparatus revolves, meat stripping
functions are performed se~uentially on each thigh.
Each module of the apparatus includes a rotary bone holder which
carries the thigh bone with the module and the rotary bone holder
rotates the bone about its own longitudinal axis. A pair of notched
stripping blades engage the poultry thigh with the notches straddling
the bone and move the blades along the length of the bone as the bone
is rotated so as to strip the meat from the bone. As the meat is
being stripped from the bone, the meat and the bone are twisted
relative to each other. This bone versus meat twisting action tends
to enhance the meat removal function of the system.
Therefore, this invention seeks to provide an improved meat
deboning process and apparatus whereby poultry thighs and similar
meat and bone animal/fowl products can be expediently and reliably
deboned.
Further, this invention seeks to provide a system and apparatus
for deboning poultry thighs and the like which utilizes a revolving
arrangement of modules each of which carries a poultry thigh through
a series of processing stations as the thigh is deboned.
Still further this invention seeks to provide an improved process
and apparatus for deboning poultry thighs and the like which func'cions
to rotate the bone with respect to the meat as the meat is stripped
from the bone.
Other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent upon reading the followi~g specification, when
taken in conjunction wit~ the accompanying drawings.
B~IEF DESCRIPTION OF THE: DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective illustration of the operative elements
of the revolving deboner, showing only one deboning module mounted
thereon for clarity.
Fig. 2 is a per~pective illustration of one of the
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modules of the deboner.
Fig. 3 is perspective illustration of the stripper
blades.
Fig. 4 is a top view of the revolving deboner,
showing how the bone holder turning sprocket is engaged
by the turning sprocket protrusions.
Fig. 5 is a perspective illustration of a rotary
bone holder and a poultry thigh mounted therein as the
poultry thigh is carried through a ~irst cutting station.
Fig. 6 is a perspective illustration of the rotary
bone holder and second set of cutting blades, showing how
the poultry thigh is carried by the rotary holder through
the second set of blades.
Fig. 7 is a perspective illustration of the rotary
bone holder, showing a poultry thigh mounted therein and
showing how the strips work to push the meat away from
one end of the bone a short distance.
Figs. 8-16 are perspective illustrations of a
portion of the deboner showing a rotary bone holder in
one of the modules, and showing the progressive movement
of the stripper blades and how the meat is scraped from
the poultry thigh.
Fig. 17 is a perspectivé illustration of the rotary
bone holder and stripper blades showing how the stripper
blades move into engagement with a poultry thigh.
Fig. 18 is a perspective iIlustration of the rotary
bone holder and stripper blades, showing the movement of
stripper blades down the bone of the poultry thigh and
how the meat is scraped as the bone is rotated.
Fig. 19 is a perspective illustration of the
stripper blades showing how the stripper blades spread
apart slightly to slip over the large lower knuckle of
the poultry tbig` bone.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in
which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the
several views, Fig. 1 illustrates the revolving poultry
thigh deboner 30 in perspective, with only one deboning
module 31 illustrated on the apparatus, with the other
deboning modules being removed for`clarity. It will bP
understood that a plurality of deboning modules 31 are
positioned at equally spaced positions about the
lo perimeter of the revolving poultry thigh deboner 30, and
a plurality of work stations are also positioned about
the revolv;ng poultry thigh deboner. Some of the work
stations are not illustrated in Fig. 1 for clarity. Much
of the support structure is likewise not shown in Fig. 1
for clarity.
The deboner 30 includes a support framework (not
shown) with vertical sprocket shafts 36 rotatably
supported in the framework. Sprockets 37 and 38 are
mounted on the upper and lower ends of the sprocket
shafts and upper and lower chains 32 and 33 extend about
the upper and lower sprockets respectively. A motor 34
is connected in driving relationship with one sprocket
and drives the sprocket and chain system in a counter
clockwise dire~tion as indicated by arrow 40.
Deboning modules such as the single module 31
illustrated in Fig. 2, are carried around the deboner 30
in the counter clockwis~ direction 40 by the movement of
the chains 32 and 33.
Fig. 2 shows a deboning module 31 in detail,
including a carrier assembly 49, a rotary bone holder
assembly 50 and a stripper assembly 51. The carrier
assembly 49 comprises a pair of vertical guide bars 42
extending between upper and lower chains 32 and 33. The
rotary bone holder assembly 50 is fixedly mounted to an
upper portio~ of tbe carrier ~s-embly 49 whlle the
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stripper assembly 51 is slidably mounted upon the pairof vertical guide bars 42 of the carrier assembly.
Each rotary bone holder assembly 50 includes a bone
holder carrier block 81 which is rigidly mounted to
upper chain 32. A bone holder block 82 is rigidly
mounted to the bone holder carrier block 81. Near one
end o~ the bone holder block 82 is mounted a bone holder
sprocket 83. A vertical axle 84 extends through an
opening ~unshown) in the bone holder block 82. Vertical
axle 84 is rigidly mounted at its lower end to the
cylindrical support block 86 and is rigidly mounted at
its upper end to the bone holder turning sprocket 83. A
bone carrier 87 is rigidly attached to the cylindrical
support block 86 and includes an upright stem 88 and a
receiving yoke 89. Upright stem 88 is offset from the
center of the cylindrical support block 86 such that the
vertical axis 91 extends through yoke gap 92 in the
receiving yoke 89. The receiving yoke 89 is bifurcated
and is approximately U-shaped.
As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, when each deboning
module 31 revolves in a counter-clockwise direction about
the deboner 30 in direction B, the bone holder turning
sprocket 83 of each module engages turning protrusions 93
in selected positions. Each turning protrusion 93 causes
sprocket 83 to rotate 90 degrees as th~ sprocket moves
past the protrusion. By selectively placing the
protrusion .93 in the path o~ sprocket 83 on one side or
the other of the vertical axis 91 about which the
sprocket rotates, the sprocket is caused to rotate either
~30 in a clockwise dir~ction or in a counter-clockwise
:direction as required. Each time:the turning sprocket 83
moves into enqagement with a sprocXet turning protrusion
93, the sprocket rotates 90 degrees, which results in the
-rotary bone holder 87 rotating 90 degrees as well.
Each deboning module 31 also includes a stripper
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assembly 51 movably mounted upon the vertical guide bars
42. As illustrated in Fig. 2, each stripper assembly
comprises a carrier block 60 that has a pair of vertical
openings 61 mounted about vertical guide bars 42. A cam
roller 62 is rotatably mounted to carrier block 60 and is
received in a stripper module cam track 43. Thus, as
the stripper assembly 51 revolves about the deboner 30
the cam roller 62 follows the cam track 43 to raise and
lower the stripper assembly upon the guide bars 42.
10Stripper block 63 is rigidly mounted to and carried
by carrier block 60. Blade support arms 67 and 68 each
are rigidly mounted at their upper ends to stripper
blades 65, 66, and each blade support arm is rigidly
mounted at its lower end to a half gear 71, 72. Each
half gear is pivoted about a pivot pin 73, 74 with the
pivot pins 73, 74 being mounted to stripper block 63.
The half gears 71, 72 have teeth 77, 78 which engage the
opposite half gear 72, 71. With this arrangement, when
stripper blade 65 pivots away from the opposite stripper
20blade 66 about its horizontal axle 73, its half gear 71
will tilt the opposite half gear 72 and its s~ripper
blade in the opposite direction. Likewise, when a
stripper blade moves back toward engagement with the
opposite stripper blade, the gears 71 and 72 cause
corresponding movement of the opposinq stripper blade.
Stripper block 63 is shapéd so :as to receive-blade
support arms 67 and 68 and hal~ gears 71 and 72, with
: enough space being formed within the stripper block to
accommodate the tilting mo~emPnt of elements. Springs,
~30 such as a pair of coil tens:ion springs 79, are connected
` at their ends to carrier block 60 and the lower end of
: blade support arm 67 to urge the stripper blades 65 and
.66 toward engagement with each other. A guard pin 76 is
mounted above the teeth 77, 78 to prevent meat s~raps
and..debris from.fouling the gear teeth.
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Cam arm 69 is rigidly mounted at one end to first
half gear 71 and extends beneath and beyond carrier block
60 and between vertical guide bars 42. Cam follower 70
is mounted on the other end of cam arm 69.
As illustrated in Figs. 1 & 2, first, second and
third stripper blade cam tracks 44, 45 and 46 are
positioned below stripper module cam track 43 for causing
cam follower 70 to move vertically relative to carrier
block 60 of the stripper assembly 51. As the stripper
assembly 51 revolves about the thigh deboner, the cams
work to raise and lower the follower relative to the
carrier block 60, which causes the stripper blades 65 and
66 to open and closeO As best seen in Fig. 1, second
cam 45, which works to close the stripper blades 65, 66,
is pivotably mounted at one end and attached to a coil
spring 47 at an opposite end. This arrangement allows
the cam to operate with some amount of compliance when
closing the blades.
As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the stripper
blades 65 and 66 have complementary shaped facing edges
95 and 96. Stripper bIade 65 includes a central half
opening or recess 97 while stripper blade 66 includes a
similar hal~ opening or recess 98, which, when moved
together form a circular opening. Outer protrusions 100
and 101 of stripper blade 65 fit about inner protrusions
102 and 103 of stripper blade 66 when the blades move
together. This tends to lock the blades in a precise fit
when they move together about bone 105 of a poultry thigh
106, with the blades 65 and 66 being locked together
above substantially all of the meat 107 of the poultry
thigh.
Figs. 8-16 illustrate the functions of the deboning
modules 31 as the modules progress through the processing
path about the thigh deboner 30. Figs. 8-16 correspond
~ to positions Pl through P9 as indicated on FiyO 1.
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Located between positions Pl and P2 in Fig. 1 are a
first and second pair of cutting stations 53 and 54. A
rotary disk cutting station indicated at 55 and meat
transfer member indicated at 56 are located between
positions P7 and P9. A bone ejection station indicated
generally at 57 is located in the vicinity of position
P9 .
As illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, first cutting
station 53 is positioned in the path of travel of the
bone carrier 87 as the bone carrier moves a thigh 106 in
the direction as indicated by arrow B. Cutting station
53 includes a pair of cutting blades 111 and 112 that are
spring urged toward the path of the poultry thigh 106.
As illustrated in Fig. 5, cuttin~ blades 111 and 112 are
located at an elevation just below the bone receiver yoke
89 of the bone carrier 87.` With this arrangement,
cutting blades 111 and 112 cut through the meat 107 and
muscles of the poultry thigh 106 just below the upper
knuckle 108 of the thigh bone 105.
As shown in Fig. 6, a second cutting station 54
includes a set of similar cutting blades 113 and 114
which are positioned just beyond cutting blades 111 and
112 in the path of the poultry thigh 106, and blades 113
and 114 are located just above the yoke 89 o~ bone
carrier 87. It will be noted that bone carrier 87 and
the poultry thigh 106 have rotated 90 degrees when moved
from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6, so
that the cutting blades 113 and 114 cut in the areas of
the meat and muscles adjacent the upper end of the bone
of the poultry thigh that was not previously cut by
blades 111 and 112. Upright stem 88 has notches 85 in a
lower portion adjacent bone carrier raceiving yoke 89 to
allow the cutting blades 113 and 114 to cut the meat
while avoidin~,contact with the upri~ht stem.
Positioned just below and extending beyond cutting
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blades 113 and 114 are a pair of strips 116 and 117 which
are inclined downwardly for a short distance in the
direction of travel indicated by arrow B of the thigh 106
and which tend to push the meat downwardly away from the
upper knuckle 108 of the thigh bone 105 and make a space
for the stripper blades 65 and 66 to reach the bone 105.
OPERATION
When the revolving poultry thigh deboner 30 (Fig. l)
is in operation, its motor 34 causes the upper and lower
chains 32 and 33 to be driven by the upper and lower
sprockets 37, 3~ and causes the chains to rotate in the
counter-clockwise direction as indicated by arrow 40. An
operator (not shown) retrieves poultry thighs from a
supply and places each poultry thigh in a rotary bone
holder 50 of each revolving deboning module 31. As best
seen in Figs. 2 and 5, the poultry thigh is mounted in
the bone holder 50 by inserting the upper knuckle 108 of
the bone into the gap 92 of the bone receiving yoke 89,
with the yoke supporting the upper knuckle 108 of the
poultry thigh~ Thus, each poultry thigh is firmly
supported in and suspended beneath the bone carrier B7.
As the modules of the poultry thigh deboner 30
revolve about the apparatus, each poultry thigh 106 is
moved along a processing path through a series of
processing positions indicated generally at Pl through P9
: in Fig. 1. As illustrated in Figs. l and 8, as the
dehoning module 31 carrying a poultry thigh 106 moves
into the position indicated at Pl the poultry thigh 106
is urged further ihto the yoke qap 92 of the bone
- carrier B7 by means of a pair of ramps 121 and I22. As
the deboning ~odule 31 moves through the first position
indicated at Pl as shown in Fig~ 8, the U-shaped opening
or gap 92 of the receiving yoXe 89 is oriented away from
the guide rods 42 in the genera,~direction ~ndicated by
arrow A and the stripper assembly 51 is located in a
lowered positioned with the stripper blades in a closed
position. As the module passes position P1 the cam
roller 62 of the carrier block is forced upwardly in the
direction of C by the cam track 43. At the same time,
first cam surface 44 urges the cam follower 70
protruding ~rom beneath carrier block 60 downwardly
thereby causing the first gear half 71 to rotate in a
counter-clockwise direction. The teeth 77 on the gear 71
engage the teeth 78 on the second half gear 72 to cause
half gear 72 to rotate the same amount in a clockwise
direction. This causes the blade support arms 67 and ~8
to open up, moving the stripper blades 65 and 66 apart
from one another.
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 9, as the deboning
module progresses from position Pl to position P2 the
stripper blades 65 and 66 continue to open up while the
entire stripper assembly 51 continues to move upwardly in
the direction of C toward the rotary bone holder assembly
50. Between positions Pl and P2 the rotary holder
engages a first cutting station 53, as seen in Fig. 5O
A pair of stationary kni~e blades 111 and 112 cut the
skin of the thigh 106 as the rotary bone holder
progresses past the station 53 in the direction o~ B. As
the module progresses in the direction of B toward
position P2, the bone holder sprocket 83 engages a bone
holder turning protrusion 93 which causes the sprocket to
rotate in a~counter-clockwise direction, leaving the bone
carrier 87 oriented with the opening or gap 92 aligned
with arrow B. After the receiving yoke 89 has been
turned in~ the direction oP B, the rotary bone holder
assembly engages a second cutting station 54, as
indicate;d in Fiqs. 1 and 6. Second cutting station 54
operates to cut the skin of the thi~h 106 above the plane
of the receivinq yoke 89. This is made possible by
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notches 85 in the lower portion of the upright stem 88,
at the point where the stem attaches to the receiving
yoke 89, providing clearance for the cutting blades 113
and 114 to cut the skin while avoiding contact with the
stem 88. Shortly after engaging the second cutting
station 54, the deboning module 31 engages another bone
holder sprocket turning protrusion 93 which causes the
bone holder sprocket 83 to rotate in a clockwise
direction, leaving the receiving yoke 89 facing out in
the direction of A. As the module approaches position P2
the poultry thigh 106 engages as pair of strips or ramps
116 and 117, which work to force or push the meat 107 of
the thigh down and away from the receiving yoke 89,
providing a space for the stripper blades to engage the
poultry thigh 106. (See Fig. 7)
As the deboning module approaches position P3, the
stripper assembly 51 continues to approach the rotary
bone holder assembly 50. The flrst cam surface 44 begins
to allow the cam follower 70 to close the stripper blades
2065 and 66 in the directions indicated by arrows 118, l1g
of Figs. 3 and 10. This action continues until the
: stripper assembly 51 reaches its zenith as indicated in
: position P4 of Fiq. 11 At this juncture, the stripper
blades 65 and 66 are closed upon the poultry thigh 106.
25As best seen in ~ig. 17, the blades 65:and 66 will be
~ substantially closed around the bone 105~ of the poultry
: thigh 106, in a position ~ust below the bone carrier B7.
~Referring now~:to Figs. 12 and 13, as the deboning
module moves towards position P6,~the~second cam surface
: : 30 45 urges ~the cam follower 70 upwardly, thereby working
to close the stripper bla:des 65 and ~66 about the poultry
thigh 106 and to keep them closed. The compliance
provided by spring 47 allows cam surface 45 to close the
:blades about the thigh while avoiding fragmentin~ the
35- bone~ As-~the module moves from position -P5 toward
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position P6, the cam track 43 causes the stripper
assembly 51 to descend in the direction indicated by
arrows 99 by forcing the cam roller 62 downwardly. This
downward motion causes the stripper blades 65 and 66 to
begin to pull the meat 107 off of the thigh bone 105,
exerting forces on the blades which tends to cause them
to open. This opening of the blades is prevented by the
second cam surface 45 acting upon the cam follower 70, as
noted above. At the same time the bone holder sprocket
83 engages a series o~ sprocket turning protrusions 93,
which cause the bone holder sprocket to rotate in a
counter-clockwise direction indicated at arrow so. (See
Figs. 12 and 18). This rotation continues while the
stripper assembly descends and the blades 65 and 66
continue to pull the meat 107 off of the bone 105.
As best seen in Fig. 19, as the stripper blades 65
and 66 engage the lower knuckle 104, which is of la~ger
diameter than the intermediate portion o~ the thigh bone
105, the spring 79 of Fig. 2 ~permits the stripping
blades 65 and 66 to move away from each other slightly as
indicated by the arrows 109 and 110, and then back toward
each other, so tha~ th~ downward movemen~ of the
stripping blades as indicated by arrows 99 ~is not
impeded.
With the stripping blades 65 and 66 moved beyond the
lower knuckle 104 of the thigh bone 105,~the meat 107 of
the thigh is substantially stripped from the thigh bone,
with a small portion of meat and tissue extending from
the lower knuckle to the stripper blades~ As the module
31 approaches position P7, it engages a rotary disk
cutting station indicated at 57 (See Fig. 1 and Fig. 14).
A rotary disk cutting blade 123 is positioned in the path
B o~ the poultry thigh at a level just beneath the lower
knuckle 104 of th~ bone 105 and cuts any portion of the
meat 107 that remains cl~nging ~o the bone ~05. This
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completely separates the meat from the bone of the
poultry thigh. The meat 107 is then permitted to drop
onto a waiting collector, such as a belt conveyor, and
the meat is transported away from the revolving poultry
thigh deboner. Any meat which remains attached to the
stripper blades 65 and 66 is then swept off of the
stripper blades by meat sweeping member 124 as the
deboning module moves past. (See Fig. 15). This is
accomplished by opening up the stripper blades 65 and 66
by the artion of the third cam surface 45, which allows
the meat then to begin to fall and to be engaged by the
meat sweeping member 124 which acts similar to a plow.
Between positions P5 and P6 the rotary bone holder
is rotated one full revolution plu5 90 degrees counter-
clockwise, with the result that the yoke 89 of the rotarybone holder is facing in the direction of B when the
rotary bone holder approaches positions P7 and P8.
Between positions P~ and P9 the bone holder sprocket 83
is once again turned 90 degrees slockwise to orient the
receiving yoke 89 to be facing out in the direction of A
as indicated in Fig. 16. As the module progre~ses
through po~ition P9, a pair of ~tationary bone engagement
rods 126 and 127 enyage the poultry thigh bone 105 and
remove it from the receiving yoke 89 of the bone carrier
87. The bones 105 can then be collected and transported
away from the revolving poultry thigh deboner.
The bones o~ poultry thighs are curved, and each
thigh is supported in the rotary bone holder assembly 50
with their bones 105 in a substantially upright attitude.
The bones are each rotated abou~ their length as the
stripper blades 65 and 66 engage the poultry thigh and
move along the length of the bone. This combined
scraping and turn~ing aation about ~he bone tends to
ef~ectively remove the meat from the bone even though
35~ the bone is curved.
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Although the invention has been disclosed as a
system and apparatus for deboning poultry thighs, it will
be understood that the invention will be useful in the
deboning of other fowl and animal products.
It will be understood that the foregoing relates
only to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
and that numerous changes and modifications may be made
therein without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention as set forth in the following claims:
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