A METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC CUTTING OF HAMS, AND AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC CUTTING OF HAMS

摘要

In a method and an apparatus for automatic cutting of hams (4, 5), the hams are conveyed on a first conveyor (18) inwards below and to engagement with a carrier (19) for the pubic bone (22a) of the ham, which is held by the carrier. The ham (4, 5) is conveyed further on by a second conveyor and an overhead conveyor for the carrier with the rind side lying on the second conveyor, where the pubic bone (22a) is pressed by a spring force against and is held by the carrier in a predetermined, vertical position. Cutting devices (13, 27, 28, 29, 48) for the cutting of the hams are arranged at these conveyors. Hereby, it is possible to position the hams precisely relative to the cutting tools which are to process tailbone, groin meat, groin fat and fat edge, irrespective of the sizes of the hams, owing to the engagement of the pubic bone with the carrier.