Automatic animal brisket cutting.

摘要

An apparatus for automatically processing an animal carcass, the apparatus being characterised by carcass locating means (186) for locating and holding the rib cage and brisket (20) of a carcass (183) against substantial movement, brisket shearing means (21) for cutting the brisket (20) with a shearing action, the shearing means (21) comprising a shearing blade (189) and a reaction member (188) which cooperates with the shearing blade (189) to create the shearing action as the shearing blade (189) is moved relatively towards and away from the reaction member (188), drive means for advancing the shearing means (21) relative to the carcass (183) so that the shearing blade (189) and the reaction member (188) are located on opposite sides of the brisket (20), the drive means further advancing the shearing means (21) in use along the brisket (20) in the general longitudinal direction of the carcass (183) and moving the shearing blade (189) relatively towards and away from the reaction member (188) to shear the brisket (20) and the covering tissues. <IMAGE>