Deboning apparatus and method

Abstract

A deboning apparatus of the type for effecting a separation of boney material from the meat portion of fish, fowl, or other animals, and includes an auger means that is arranged through an adjoining pressure housing and perforated housing, with the auger means being coupled to for direct drive by a motor, for effecting its rotation within the said housing to achieve this meat-bone separation; the auger means includes a motor coupling section that connects directly to the motor, and which section incorporates a thrust bearing for absorbing axial thrust generated during functioning of the apparatus, a pressure auger section that is disposed within the pressure housing, and which includes an infeed section for deposition of the bone laden material therein, and wherein significant pressure is developed upon said boney material prior to its being conducted to a conveying auger section located within the perforated housing of the apparatus, and wherein the bone and meat material are substantially separated, with said auger further including a valved section that cooperates with a valved sleeve for maintaining back pressure for sustaining some of the pressure housing forces generated upon the bone laden material as it is being conveyed along the auger, with all segments of the auger, and the various pressure and perforated housings being supported by a base member that bearing mounts the two approximate ends of the auger for providing total and firm stability for the apparatus throughout its extent.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. In the method of separating meat from bone in a deboning apparatus comprising infeeding bone laden material into the apparatus under the force and pressure of a grinder that reduces the same material to a particle size capable of being accommodated by the said apparatus, exposing the infeed material to the cooperative action of a pressure housing and a directly motor driven pressure auger to substantially increase the compressive forces exerted upon the said material therein to above 10,000 psi, revolving said pressure auger in excess of 500 revolutions per minute during functioning of the said apparatus, transferring the said pressurized material to the vicinity of the cooperative action between a perforated housing and a conveying auger to attain an expressing of meat through the said perforated housing and a transfer of its boney component to and through a valved section of the apparatus while gradually attaining a pressure release from the said material from its prepressurized levels, transferring the said bone laden material along the said auger means without effecting its temperature increase in excess of 3° Fahrenheit, and thereafter passing the said boney component through the valved section of the apparatus for its immediate exposure to blades that achieve its prompt disposal from the said deboning apparatus during its functioning. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 and including agitating the said bone laden material through the cooperative action of the conveying auger section and the perforated housing to effect further separation of meat from bone during functioning of the deboning apparatus. 
     
     
       3. In a deboning apparatus of the type disposing an auger means through pressure and perforated housings, with said pressure housing being of the type having an infeed region for depositing bone laden material therein, conveying the said boney material by means of rotation of said auger means within the pressure housing to achieve its pre-pressurization before its transfer into the perforated housing for therein effecting substantial separation of the bone from the material as said material passes through the perforations of the said housing, and conveying the residue bone from the valved discharge end of the housing, the improvement which comprises a base member fully supporting the said auger means, pressure housing, perforated housing, and valved discharge end, said base member having at least a pair of integral pillow blocks extending therefrom, one of each pillow block arranged for supporting an approximate end of the said auger means, bearing means cooperating with each pillow block for stably supporting the auger means for rotation therein, motor means connecting to said auger means for inducing its direct drive in rotation during functioning of the apparatus, said motor means being capable of inducing auger means rotation of between about 500 rpm to 1800 rpm during functioning of the deboning apparatus, said auger means including an axially aligned motor coupling section, said motor means directly connected to the said motor coupling section, a pressure auger section, a conveying auger section, and a valved section, and said sections being normally secured together for simultaneous rotation to affect the pressurizing, conveying, the back pressuring respectively of the bone laden material during functioning of the said apparatus, and pressure and conveying auger sections of the auger means being separable, with an end of the pressure auger section and an end of the conveyor auger section of the auger means being axially aligned and contiguous when the auger means is installed for functioning within the deboning apparatus, a thrust bearing surrounding said motor coupling section and cooperating with one of the pillow blocks of the base member for cushioning the axial thrust generated in the auger means during functioning of the said apparatus, said pressure housing surrounding the pressure auger section of the auger means, a pair of integral supports extending from the base member and providing for securement of the said pressure housing upon the base member, the infeed region for the deboning apparatus being provided at the location of said pressure housing, and said pressure auger section, conveying auger section, and valved section of the auger means and the perforated housing and valved discharge end of the deboning apparatus being removable to facilitate a cleaning of the deboning apparatus when not in use. 
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said conveying auger and valved sections of the auger means are integral. 
     
     
       5. The invention of claim 3 wherein the contiguous ends of said sections are pinned together. 
     
     
       6. The invention of claim 5 wherein each contiguous end of said sections are provided with at least a bore therein, and pin means inserted into each bore across the contiguous ends of said sections for pinning the same together. 
     
     
       7. The invention of claim 3 wherein said pressure auger section and motor coupling section of the auger means are separable. 
     
     
       8. The invention of claim 7 wherein an end of the pressure auger section and an end of the motor coupling section of the auger means are axially aligned and contiguous when the auger means is installed for functioning within the deboning apparatus. 
     
     
       9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the contiguous end of the pressure auger section is threadedly connected to the contiguous end of the motor coupling section. 
     
     
       10. The invention of claim 3 and including a flexible coupling connecting the said motor coupling section directly to the motor means. 
     
     
       11. The invention of claim 3 wherein said thrust bearing includes a bearing portion stationarily mounted against the said pillow block, a thrust collar securing to the said motor coupling section, said collar disposed for riding against the bearing portion of the thrust bearing during functioning of the deboning apparatus. 
     
     
       12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said thrust collar is preloaded in its disposition against the bearing portion of the thrust bearing. 
     
     
       13. The invention of claim 3 and including a grinder communicating with the infeed of the pressure housing and providing for the pressure injection of boney material into the pressure housing during functioning of the deboning apparatus. 
     
     
       14. The invention of claim 3 wherein said infeed region includes a sleeve disposed through the said pressure housing and allowing for the injection of the boney material into the said housing during functioning of the deboning apparatus. 
     
     
       15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said infeed sleeve is pivotal with respect to the pressure housing and can be pivoted into different radial dispositions with respect to said housing for providing injection of the boney material from different angular positions into the pressure housing. 
     
     
       16. The invention of claim 15 wherein said pressure housing includes a slot arranged partially around its circumference and providing the clearance for the pivotal shifting of the infeed sleeve during adjustment of the said infeed region of the deboning apparatus. 
     
     
       17. The invention of claim 16 and including a second sleeve disposed concentrically within the pressure housing proximate the inner surface of the said housing, said infeed sleeve being integrally secured approximately perpendicularly to the said second sleeve and communicating interiorly therewith, said infeed sleeve and the integral second sleeve being pivotal with respect to the said pressure housing to provide adjustment in the disposition of the infeed region with respect to the deboning apparatus. 
     
     
       18. The invention of claim 3 wherein said conveying auger section comprises a shaft extending from the pressure auger section to the valved section of the auger means, a continuous rib secured to the surface of the said shaft and extending helically approximately from the said pressure auger section to the valved section of the auger means, wherein the pressurized bone laden material is carried by the conveying auger section against the interior of the perforated housing for effecting separation of the bone from the material. 
     
     
       19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said shaft has an increasing diameter from its pressure auger section connecting end to the valved section end of the conveying auger section. 
     
     
       20. The invention of claim 18 wherein said base member includes an opening beneath the perforated housing to thereby allow for the free fall of the material exuding through the housing after its separation of the boney material being conveyed therethrough. 
     
     
       21. The invention of claim 20 and including a pair of integral supports extending from the base member approximately at either end of its opening, and said perforated housing being supported by the said integral supports. 
     
     
       22. The invention of claim 21 wherein one of said supports is disposed proximate the securement of the pressure auger section with the conveying auger section, and the other of said supports is disposed proximate the juncture of the conveying auger section with the valved section of the auger means. 
     
     
       23. The invention of claim 22 wherein the support proximate the juncture of the conveying auger section and the valved section of the auger means is adjustably mounted upon the base member. 
     
     
       24. The invention of claim 23 and including at least one rod means securing between said supports and useful for holding the perforated housing stationarily in place upon the base member. 
     
     
       25. The invention of claim 24 wherein the removal of the rod means and axial shift in one direction of the adjustable support frees the perforated housing for its removal from the base member. 
     
     
       26. The invention of claim 25 and including a sleeve being held by the said adjustable support, said sleeve having internal threads, a valve sleeve engaging with the threads of the said sleeve, said valve sleeve arranged for adjustment into contiguity with the valved section of the auger means for maintaining a back pressure against the bone laden material being conveyed intermediate the perforated housing and the conveying auger section of the auger means during functioning of the deboning apparatus. 
     
     
       27. The invention of claim 26 wherein the valve sleeve is adjustable with respect to the valved section of the auger means to thereby allow discharge of the bones separated from the material through the cooperation of the conveying auger section and the perforated housing during functioning of the deboning apparatus. 
     
     
       28. The invention of claim 26 wherein the valved section projects into without extending through the said valve sleeve. 
     
     
       29. The invention of claim 27 and including blades integrally connecting with the valved section of the auger means and providing for discharging of the bones passing by the said valved section of the auger means. 
     
     
       30. The invention of claim 3 wherein said auger means further includes an axial shaft, said shaft extending into the auger means for securing the pressure auger section, conveying auger section, and valved section axially together, and said shaft being supported by the bearinged pillow block arranged at this proximate end of the auger means. 
     
     
       31. The invention of claim 30 wherein the removal of said shaft from the auger means allows for the separation and removal of the conveying auger section with respect to the pressure auger section. 
     
     
       32. The invention of claim 30 wherein said shaft includes an integral shoulder and wherein said shoulder biases against the end of the valved section of the auger means to secure the said sections together in assembly of the auger means during operation of the deboning apparatus. .Iadd. 
     
     
       33.  In a de-boning machine having an auger, a barrel in which said auger is rotatable and having a rear feed inlet end and a front discharge end, rigid support means for mounting said barrel and supporting said barrel at least adjacent both said rear feed inlet and said front discharge end, bearings, supporting said auger for substantially vibration-free co-axial high speed rotation within said barrel when driven at speeds of at least about 550 rpm, power means connected in driving relationship with said auger for rotating the same at speeds of at least about 500 rpm, means for feeding material to be de-boned into said rear feed inlet end of said barrel, and valve means providing a restricted annular discharge orifice for de-meated bone material adjacent said front discharge end, said barrel comprising an imperforate cylindrical section extending forwardly from said inlet end thereof and a perforated cylindrical section extending forwardly from said imperforate cylindrical section to said discharge end, the perforations in said perforated cylindrical section being small enough to prevent passage therethrough of bone particles of appreciable size,   said auger having a pressurizing section housed within said imperforate cylindrical section and a conveying section housed within said perforated cylindrical section, said pressurizing section having a helical vane or flight the radial depth of which decreases substantially from adjacent said rear feed inlet end of said imperforate cylindrical section to the front end thereof, and said conveying section having a helical vane or flight the radial depth of which ranges from substantial uniformity to a slight decrease toward said front discharge end of said perforated cylindrical section, and   said valve means comprising a valve sleeve and means for supporting said sleeve co-axially juxtaposed in front of said perforated cylindrical section with a space between the front end of said auger conveying section and the rear inlet end of said valve sleeve providing said restricted annular discharge orifice,   there being a radial clearance of at least about 0.005 inch between the outside diameter of the vane or flight on said conveying section of said auger and the interior of said perforated cylindrical section of said barrel, and in operation   the boney content of the material being agitated and ground together as it is conveyed through said perforated cylindrical section of said barrel thereby releasing meat therefrom and said restricted annular orifice furnishing back pressure upon the boney material conveyed thereto..Iaddend. .Iadd.34. The method of separating meat from bone in a deboning apparatus comprising feeding bone laden material into the rear inlet end of an imperforate cylindrical section of a rigidly mounted barrel rigidly supported at least adjacent opposite ends in which a co-axial auger is rotating without appreciable vibration at a speed of at least about 550 rpm, pressurizing said material within said imperforate cylindrical section sufficiently as the result of the decreasing radial depth of the vane or flight on the portion of the auger therein to deliver said pressurized material from the front end of said imperforate cylindrical section into the rear inlet end of a perforated cylindrical section of said barrel in which a conveying section of said auger rotates the outer diameter of the vane or flight on which has a clearance of at least about 0.005 inch with respect to the interior of said perforated section, separating the meat component from the bone component of said bone laden material as it is conveyed from the rear inlet end to the front discharge end of said perforated cylindrical section such separation in part resulting from agitation of the bone component, allowing the separated meat component to escape through the perforations in said perforated cylindrical section, and restricting the discharge of the de-meated bone component through an annular discharge orifice adjacent the discharge end of said perforated cylindrical section sufficiently to create a back pressure on the bone laden material..Iaddend.