摘要 |
An apparatus for automatically shearing the leg from a carcass moving along a carcass rail (17) includes arm (14) having a first end pivotally attached to a support structure (15) and a second end attached to a shearing assembly (16). The arm (14) swings the shearing assembly (16) out of a sterilization chamber (40) remote from the carcass rail (17) to a position along the carcass rail to shear the leg from the carcass. In a first embodiment, the shearing assembly (16), shears a carcass leg projecting perpendicular to the carcass rail (17). In a second embodiment, the shearing assembly (106) shears a carcass leg that is parallel to the rail. After the leg is sheared from the carcass, the arm swings the shearing assembly (106), into the sterilization chamber (124) for cleaning. The cleaning process takes place within the remote chamber (124) thereby preventing contamination of carcasses on the carcass rail.
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