Patent Application
20090258589
1. Field of the Art
The present embodiments relate generally to a knife assembly, and more particularly to a knife assembly that can be mounted and used to remove the casing of a sausage.
2. Description of Related Art
Sausages for human consumption come in a variety of compositions and sizes but are generally elongated and cylindrical in shape. Sausages are typically made by stuffing ingredients—predominately meat products—into a casing, which may be made of natural ingredients or artificial ingredients.
The sausage production cycle generally includes the steps of grinding, blending, stuffing, and packaging. Sometimes a product that has partially or fully completed the production cycle is not sellable but is still wholesome, and can be used for food. For example, the casing of some sausages may split during the cooking or smoking cycle, may be misshapen, or may have an inadequate amount of contents. Manufacturers are allowed to reuse the edible but unsalable products by removing the casing and recycling the contents back to the grinding step for inclusion in another run of the same product. This “rework” is common practice in the industry.
To rework a sausage, operators typically take out an unsalable sausage from the production line and fully remove its casing in order to recycle its contents. To do this, operators typically use hand-held knives to manually remove the casings. A significant and common problem with operators using hand-held knives to remove casings is that it often results in operator injury. Because the sausages are difficult to grasp firmly in only one hand while trying to manipulate an exposed blade in the other hand, operators are frequently injured. In many cases, such injuries are non-superficial and can lead to recordable injuries, resulting in missed time. Another significant problem is that removing the casings using conventional hand-held knives can be time consuming and slow down the overall process. Casing removal mechanisms are not used because they too cumbersome, expensive, and inefficient for this limited purpose.
The description herein of certain advantages and disadvantages of known devices and methods, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments. Indeed, the embodiments may include some or all of devices and methods described above without suffering from the same disadvantages.
In view of the foregoing, the present embodiments provide a simple, safe, and effective cutting device for removing meat casings. One embodiment provides a knife assembly for removing a meat casing, the assembly comprising a base member adapted to be mounted to a support structure, the base member comprising a cutting assembly mounting portion having a first opening located on a surface of the base member and a slot, the slot extending from the first opening toward another surface of the base member; a cutting assembly comprising a mounting arm configured to engage the slot to couple the cutting assembly to the base member; a cutting blade portion adapted to hold a blade, wherein at least a portion of a sharp edge of the blade is exposed.
Another embodiment provides a knife assembly for removing a meat casing, the assembly comprising a base member comprising a mounting portion adapted to mount to a support structure and a cutting assembly mounting portion; and a cutting assembly adapted to mount to the cutting assembly mounting portion, the cutting assembly comprising a blade, wherein at least a portion of a sharp edge of the blade is exposed.
Another embodiment provides a knife assembly for removing a meat casing, the assembly comprising a base member adapted to be mounted to a support structure, the base member comprising a cutting assembly mounting portion; a cutting assembly comprising a mounting arm configured to engage the cutting assembly mounting portion; a cutting blade portion adapted to hold a blade; and wherein the mounting arm and cutting blade portion are joined at an angle to allow the cutting blade portion to reside atop the base member when the cutting assembly is coupled to the base member.
Purposes and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description together with the appended drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like elements:
Various embodiments described herein provide a knife assembly that can be used to remove meat casings. For purposes of clarity and illustration only, the devices and methods of the exemplary embodiments are generally described herein in relation to removal of a sausage casing. However, the devices and methods of the present embodiments can be used with alternative processes.
The exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some, but not all, exemplary embodiments are illustrated. In the drawings, like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements.
Various means for configuring and operating the knife assembly 100 are described below.
In the various exemplary embodiments, the base member 200 may be configured to attach the knife assembly 100 to a support structure, such as a planar working surface. The base member 200 may provide a substantially stable mounting base for the cutting assembly 300 to be mounted therein. The base member 200 may be of any size or shape suitable for this purpose. For example, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
The base member 200 may have a front surface 202, a back surface 206, a top surface 204, two side surfaces 208, and a bottom surface 210. In the various exemplary embodiments, the base member 200 may further have a structure-mounting portion 220, and a cutting-assembly mounting portion 250. The structure-mounting portion 220 may be configured generally to mount the knife assembly 100 to a support structure, such as a table or other work surface. The structure-mounting portion 220 can be adapted to secure to the support surface using one or more of various suitable means, including mechanical, adhesive, magnetic, or other suitable means of attachment.
Referring to the exemplary embodiments in
In various embodiments, the upper surface 224 or the lower surface 226 or both may have one or more surface features that assist in the receiving, positioning, or securing of the base member 200 to the mounting surface. For example, in various embodiments, the upper surface 224 or the lower surface 226 or both may have at least one concave portion 230 that curves away from the mounting surface. The curved portion 230 may be have a continuous curved surface, or have a combination of surfaces that, in aggregate, form a generally curved surface. The curved portion may extend horizontally along the entire length of the opening 222. The curved portion 230 may assist in mounting of the base 200 by reducing the friction between a support structure, and the upper or lower surfaces 224, 226 in the curved portion 230, or by increasing the mounting force in the non-curved portions of upper or lower surfaces 224, 226. In various exemplary embodiments, the upper or lower surfaces 224, 226, may have gripping surface features on a portion of the surfaces 224, 226, which improve the gripping ability of the base member 200.
Still referring to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in
In other exemplary embodiments, the fastener 240 may include the bolt 242, which extends through the hole 244 in the lower surface 226, and further into a hole (not illustrated) in the upper surface 224 of the surface-mounting portion. In use, the bolt 242 may be screwed into the base member 200, so as to bring the upper surface 224 and lower surface 226 toward each other, thereby constricting the opening 222. In one embodiment, there may be more than one bolt 242, one of which secures from the top and the other from the bottom. In another embodiment, there may be only one bolt 242 that secures from the top. When a support surface is inserted into the opening 222, the upper and lower surfaces 224, 226, may compress the support surface, fastening the base member 200 to the surface. The fastener 240 may include one or more additional features to assist in tightening and/or securing the fastener, such as a finger screw or wingnut.
It will be appreciated that the structure-mounting portion 220 of the base member 200 may be configured to secure to a support structure in a number of alternative ways. For example, the structure-mounting portion 220 may be adapted to snap on to a surface, adhesively secure to a surface, magnetically secure to a surface, and so on.
Referring back to
In various embodiments, the base member 200 and its components may generally be made of plastic material, e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene. In various exemplary embodiments, the base member 200 and its components may generally be made from extruded and machined plastic. For example, a suitable extrusion process allows the unfinished parts to be made relatively economically and efficiently. Moreover, a suitable extrusion process enables the production of the base member 200 having critical surfaces and details that can be finished or machined to required tolerances. In other exemplary embodiments, some or all of the base member 200 and its components may be made from other suitable materials, such as stainless steel. These and other variations will be understood in view of the present disclosure. It will also be understood that the base member 200 shown in the embodiments is not limited to any particular size or shape. Further variations of the features described herein may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art.
As illustrated in
In various embodiments, the cutting blade portion 320 is adapted to rigidly hold a cutting blade 322. In exemplary embodiments, cutting blade 322 may be a relatively flat blade. In exemplary embodiments, the cutting blade portion 320 may comprise a first half 332, and a second half 334 that cooperate to hold the blade 322 therebetween. For example, the blade 322 may be inserted between the first and second half 332, 334. In various exemplary embodiments, the first and second half 332, 334 are removable so that the cutting blade 322 may be inserted, removed, or replaced.
In exemplary embodiments, when the blade 322 is assembled in the cutting blade portion 320, an edge of the cutting blade 322 may be exposed, as best illustrated in
In various embodiments, the cutting assembly 300 and its components may generally be made of any material suitable for supporting and holding a blade. In exemplary embodiments, the components may be made of a plastic material, e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene. In various exemplary embodiments, the components may generally be made from extruded and machined plastic. In other exemplary embodiments, the components may be made from other suitable materials, such as stainless steel. These and other variations will be understood in view of the present disclosure.
In various embodiments, the cutting blade 322 may generally be made of any materials suitable for providing a sharp cutting edge. In exemplary embodiments, the cutting blade 322 is made of a durable material that holds its edge for a substantial period of time without sharpening. In various embodiments, the cutting blade 322 is made of a material that is relatively inexpensive, so that it may be disposable. It will be understood that further variations of the features described herein may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art.
In exemplary embodiments, the mounting portion 310 is adapted to be joined with or coupled with the cutting-assembly mounting portion 250 of the base member 200. Referring
In various embodiments, the mounting arm 310 of the cutting assembly 300 may have one or more features that are adapted to couple or engage with corresponding parts of the cutting-assembly mounting portion 250 of the base member 200. For example, as illustrated in
It will be appreciated that, while the mounting features are described above in reference to bosses and slots, other suitable mounting features may be provided to one or more of the parts, to mechanically, adhesively, or otherwise join or couple the cutting assembly 300 with the base member 200. When the base member 200 and cutting assembly 300 are joined or coupled together, they provide a stable knife assembly.
In various embodiments, the mounting arm 310 of cutting assembly 300 and its components may generally be made of any suitable material. In exemplary embodiments, the mounting arm 310 may be made of a plastic material, e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene. In various exemplary embodiments, the mounting arm 310 and its components may generally be made from extruded and machined plastic. In other exemplary embodiments, some or all of the mounting arm 310 and its components may be made from other suitable materials, such as stainless steel. These and other variations will be understood in view of the present disclosure.
Again referring to
In various embodiments, the slot 254 may be open at the top 204 of the base member 200. Thus, when the cutting assembly 300 is inserted into the slot 254 until the one or more bosses 312 abut against a terminating end of the slot 254, the cutting blade portion 320 may be exposed above the base member 200 with the cutting blade 322 facing the front 202 of the base member 200.
In various embodiments, to use the knife assembly 100, the cutting assembly 300 may be mounted to the base member 200, as described above. The base member 200 may then be mounted to a support structure, such as a planar surface. With the cutting blade 322 facing outward, a user may run a sausage across an exposed edge of the cutting blade 322, thereby removing its casing.
In the preceding specification, various preferred exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional exemplary embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the embodiments as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.
