System and method for reducing physiological material on surfaces of cut meat

Abstract

A system and method for reducing physiological material on surfaces of meat cut transferred to surfaces of cut meat by an endless band saw blade is disclosed. The system includes a water jet manifold positioned adjacent the saw blade and having a first and second nozzle orifices formed therein, the first and second orifices operable to be placed in fluid communication with a source of water. The first nozzle orifice is operable to direct a first water jet substantially across and into a first side surface of the saw blade and a second nozzle orifice is operable to direct a second water jet substantially across and into a second side surface of the saw blade. Together, the first and second water jets direct a sufficient volume of water onto the saw blade to remove residual physiological material and to deposit a layer of water onto the first and second side surfaces of the saw blade, which layer of water acts as a lubricant to reduce the residual physiological material that adheres to the saw blade and thereby reduces the residual physiological material transferred to the surfaces of cut meat by the saw blade.

1 . A system for reducing residual physiological material transferred to surfaces of cut meat by an endless band saw blade, comprising:
 a manifold positioned adjacent the saw blade and having a first and second nozzle orifices formed therein, the first and second orifices operable to be placed in fluid communication with a source of water;   the first nozzle orifice operable to direct a first water jet substantially across and into a first side surface of the saw blade; and   a second nozzle orifice operable to direct a second water jet substantially across and into a second side surface of the saw blade, wherein the first and second water jets direct a sufficient volume of water onto the saw blade to remove residual physiological material and to deposit a layer of water onto the first and second side surfaces of the saw blade, the layer of water acting as a lubricant to reduce the residual physiological material that adheres to the saw blade, thereby reducing the residual physiological material transferred to the surfaces of cut meat by the saw blade.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second water jets are controlled to a temperature that cools the saw blade sufficiently to reduce denaturing of physiological material on the surface of the cut meat proximate to the saw blade. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second nozzle orifices are formed into a front face of a manifold block. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second nozzle orifices are positioned to direct the first and second jets of water respectively at a downward angle that is approximately an angle of teeth on the saw blade relative to a normal that is orthogonal to the saw blade's direction of travel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second nozzle orifices are positioned to direct the first and second jets of water respectively at a downward angle ranging from about 5 degrees to about 45 degrees relative to a normal that is orthogonal to the saw blade's direction of travel. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second nozzle orifices are positioned to direct the first and second jets of water respectively at an inward angle ranging from about 5 degrees to about 45 degrees with respect to the first and second side surfaces of the saw blade. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a waste receiver located adjacent the saw blade and opposite the first and second nozzle orifices to receive the water emitted from the first and second nozzle orifices and direct the water into a drain. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the manifold is located behind the saw blade and the waste receiver is located in front of the saw blade. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the manifold is located in front of the saw blade and the waste receiver is located behind the saw blade. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the waste receiver is located at a sufficient distance from the saw blade that residual material emitted when meat is cut with the band saw is redirected by the first and second water jets into the waste receiver. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the endless band saw blade is a knife blade. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the endless band saw blade is a bone saw blade. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a scrapper for stripping off a portion of the layer of water from the first and second side surfaces to control the volume of the layer of water on the saw blade. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one blade guide operable to guide the saw blade, the at least one blade guide having at least one water channel formed therein to enable at least a portion of the layer of water to pass through the at least one blade guide. 
     
     
         15 . A system for reducing residual physiological material transferred to surfaces of cut meat by an endless band saw blade, the system comprising:
 a manifold block located adjacent the saw blade and having a front face with first and second nozzle orifices formed therein, the first and second nozzle orifices operable to be placed in fluid communication with a source of water;   the first nozzle orifice operable to direct a first water jet substantially across and into a first side surface of the saw blade;   the second nozzle orifice operable to direct a second water jet substantially across and into a second side surface of the saw blade, to remove residual physiological material and to deposit a layer of water onto first and second side surfaces of the saw blade; and   a scraper for stripping off a portion of the layer of water from the first and second side surfaces to control the volume of the layer of water on the saw blade.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the scraper further comprises:
 a first scrapper plate having a plurality of scrapper fingers operable to remove a portion of the layer of water from the first side surface of the saw blade; and   a second scrapper plate having a plurality of scrapper fingers operable to remove a portion of the layer of water from the second side surface of the saw blade.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a waste receiver located adjacent the saw blade and opposite the manifold block to receive the water emitted from the first and second nozzle orifices and direct the water into a drain. 
     
     
         18 . A method for reducing residual physiological material transferred to surfaces of cut meat by an endless band saw blade, comprising:
 positioning a manifold having a first and second nozzle orifices formed therein adjacent the saw blade;   emitting a first jet of water from the first nozzle orifice directed substantially across and into a first side surface of the saw blade;   emitting a second jet of water from the second nozzle orifice directed substantially across and into a second side surface of the saw blade, the first and second water jets being operable to remove residual physiological material and to deposit a layer of water onto first and second side surfaces of the saw blade; and   receiving the first and second jets of water into a waste receiver located adjacent the band saw blade and opposite the manifold.   
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 18 , further comprising emitting the first and second jets from the first and second nozzle orifices at a downward angle substantially similar to an angle of teeth on the blade. 
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 18 , further comprising removing a portion of the layer of water from the first and second side surfaces to control the volume of the layer of water.