Patents by Inventor Lawrence D. Boody
Lawrence D. Boody has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9247755Abstract: An apparatus for processing a carcass middle portion of an animal includes a working surface onto which the carcass middle is positioned, the working surface supported by a frame above a support surface. A loin knife assembly for separating a loin portion from the carcass middle is disposed at a first selected location on the frame. A skinner assembly is disposed at a second selected location on the frame for skinning skin and fatback from the loin portion. A conveyor conveys the carcass middle past the first selected location to engage the loin knife assembly and past the second selected location to engage the skinner assembly. In preferred embodiments, the skinner assembly includes a contoured blade using a tooth roll assembly having tooth rolls of varying diameters driven by drive rolls having varying diameters based on the tooth roll diameters.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2014Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: Acraloc CorporationInventors: Scott Andre, Harrison A. Ailey, Jr., Lawrence D. Boody, E. Scott Pierce
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Patent number: 7207880Abstract: A contour-following loin puller for separating the loin from the belly through the finger lean. The contour-following loin puller follows the contour of the surface rib line through at least one rib height sensor and positions the z-blade relative to the surface rib line. The contour-following loin puller offers the ability to greatly increase yield by automating the separation of the loin and the belly to produce finger lean even on thin, soft or nearly frozen product which is very difficult to manipulate manually.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Acraloc CorporationInventors: Richard S. Bruce, Scott E. Andre, Lawrence D. Boody
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Patent number: 6547658Abstract: An apparatus for positioning an animal carcass middle and for separating a loin and fatback portion from the carcass middle including a dual blade loin knife assembly for making appropriate cuts to separate the loin and fatback portion. The dual blade loin knife assembly includes a z-blade and a j-blade in which the z-blade separates the loin portion from the belly portion while leaving about a 2 inch to about a 2⅝ inch shelf on the belly portion incorporating an amount of “finger” lean while leaving a portion of finger lean on loin portion and the j-blade separates a selected depth of fatback from the loin portion based on the desired profile. The j-blade is positioned proximate the z-blade such that the carcass middle engages the j-blade subsequent to engagement of the z-blade. The dual blade loin knife assembly increases the useable size of a shelf cut on the belly portion of the carcass middle.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Acraloc CorporationInventors: Lawrence D. Boody, David L. Chappell
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Publication number: 20020019208Abstract: An apparatus for positioning an animal carcass middle and for separating a loin and fatback portion from the carcass middle including a dual blade loin knife assembly for making appropriate cuts to separate the loin and fatback portion. The dual blade loin knife assembly includes a z-blade and a j-blade in which the z-blade separates the loin portion from the belly portion while leaving about a 2 inch to about a 2⅝ inch shelf on the belly portion incorporating an amount of “finger” lean while leaving a portion of finger lean on loin portion and the j-blade separates a selected depth of fatback from the loin portion based on the desired profile. The j-blade is positioned proximate the z-blade such that the carcass middle engages the j-blade subsequent to engagement of the z-blade. The dual blade loin knife assembly increases the useable size of a shelf cut on the belly portion of the carcass middle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2001Publication date: February 14, 2002Inventors: Lawrence D. Boody, David L. Chappell
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Patent number: 6089968Abstract: An improved loin knife for a loin puller apparatus having a scribe saw with an associated decelerator and depth gauge immediately in advance of the loin knife for the purpose of cutting through the ribs of the carcass middle. The loin knife has a bight region that is positioned and configured so as to extend through the fatback and to pull the loin portion with the fatback, and in pork carcasses the skin, intact. The bight has a substantially horizontal region that cuts through virtually the entire length of the fingers of lean, which include portions of the serratus dorsalis muscle. To assist in orienting a carcass middle with regard to the scribe saw and loin knife, the apparatus is provided with a load bar that engages the chine and provides for a more uniform alignment of the carcass middle with the loin knife in relation to the position of the chine.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1998Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Acraloc CorporationInventors: Scott E. Andre, David L. Chappel, Lawrence D. Boody
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Patent number: 6027405Abstract: A carcass splitting apparatus 10 splits the carcass of an animal suspended by a suspension mechanism from an overhead conveyor. The apparatus includes a frame and a carriage assembly for moving along the frame. A drive mechanism moves the carriage along the frame and a saw is connected to the carriage for general vertical movement to split the carcass. A suspension member pusher is connected to the assembly for controlling movement of the carcass independent of the overhead conveyor. The apparatus includes a plurality of hydraulic cylinders and transducers to monitor the locations of the various components of the carcass splitting apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1998Date of Patent: February 22, 2000Assignee: Hormel Foods, LLCInventors: Lyndon R. Leining, Lawrence D. Boody
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Patent number: 5882252Abstract: A loin puller apparatus that incorporates a scribe saw with an associated decelerator and depth gauge immediately in advance of the loin knife for the purpose of cutting through the ribs of the carcass middle. To assist in orienting a carcass middle with regard to the scribe saw and loin knife, the apparatus is provided with a load bar that engages the chine and provides for a more uniform alignment of the carcass middle with the loin knife in relation to the position of the chine. Also, a guide bar that is in substantial alignment with the load bar is provided to assist in the initial alignment of the carcass middle as the carcass middle is loaded into the loin puller. A laterally driven impeller is provided to force the chine portion of the carcass middle into the load bar, thus straightening the chine against the load bar. The impeller is also rotatably driven to assist in driving the carcass middle toward the loin knife.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1997Date of Patent: March 16, 1999Assignee: Acraloc CorporationInventors: Lawrence D. Boody, David L. Chappell, James K. Kirkpatrick
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Patent number: 5407384Abstract: An apparatus for separating a loin and ribs from a carcass half that incorporates a scribe saw assembly immediately in advance of a loin knife for the purpose of cutting through the ribs of the carcass. This scribe saw assembly is mounted from the lever arm of a roller, the roller being biased against the surface of a carcass and moving vertically with response to that surface. Thus, the scribe saw assembly also moves vertically in unison with the roller. The scribe saw blade creates a kerf for passage of a portion of the blade of the loin puller. Provision is made so that the lateral orientation of the blade of the saw corresponds to the lateral orientation of the portion of the loin knife that is to pass through the cut ribs. When the position of the loin knife is changed, the lateral position of the saw blade is changed accordingly. The apparatus also provides for the flattening of remaining ribs and the separation of these flattened ribs from the rib fat of the carcass half after the removal of the loin.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1994Date of Patent: April 18, 1995Assignee: Acraloc CorporationInventors: Lawrence D. Boody, Harrison A. Ailey, David L. Chappell, Bradford L. Brewster
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Patent number: 5295898Abstract: An improved loin puller (10) for trimming the back fat (34) from a loin (32) and from a rib portion (37) which are attached to a carcass half (3o) by using an automated system having a variable width and depth of cut. A frame (12) is provided to support the individual components of the improved loin puller (10) a selected distance above a support surface (38). A conveyor belt (50) is provided for conveying the carcass half (30) toward a cutting blade (76). Loin and rib engagement chains (56, 57) are provided for pulling the loin (32), ribs (37), and associated back fat (34) toward and across the cutting blades (76,158) which are provided for separating the loin (32) and ribs (37) from the back fat (34). selectively controlling the depth of cut. A cutting width adjustor (22) is provided for selectively varying the width of the cut without substantially varying the depth of the cut.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1992Date of Patent: March 22, 1994Assignee: Acraloc CorporationInventors: L. George Andre, Lawrence D. Boody, David R. Chappell, Joseph C. Gundlach
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Patent number: 5234371Abstract: An improved loin puller (10) for trimming the back fat (34) from a loin (32) which is attached to a carcass half (30) by using an automated system having a variable width and depth of cut. A frame (12) is provided to support the individual components of the improved loin puller (10) a selected distance above a support surface (38). A conveyor belt (50) is provided for conveying the carcass half (30) toward a cutting blade (76). Loin engagement chains (56) are provided for pulling the loin (32) and associated back fat (34) toward and across the cutting blade (76). The cutting blade (76) is provided for separating the loin (32) from the back fat (34). A cutting depth adjuster (20) is provided for selectively controlling the depth of cut. A cutting width adjustor (22) is provided for selectively varying the width of the cut without substantially varying the depth of the cut.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1992Date of Patent: August 10, 1993Assignee: Acraloc CorporationInventors: L. George Andre, Lawrence D. Boody, David R. Chappell, Joseph C. Gundlach
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Patent number: 4580602Abstract: An improved control valve (20) for selectively connecting one or more inlet ports with one or more outlet ports to establish fluid communication there between is provided. This control valve (20) includes a housing (26) having a wall which defines at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port. A moveable rotor (25) is positioned within a chamber (30) defined within the housing (26). This rotor (25) includes at least one groove (33) having a configuration such that fluid communication can be established between a selected inlet port and a selected outlet port upon movement of the rotor groove (33) into alignment with the ports between which fluid communication is desired. Means are provided for driving or moving the rotor to the desired positions for establishing fluid communication between selected ports.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1983Date of Patent: April 8, 1986Assignee: Acraloc, Inc.Inventor: Lawrence D. Boody
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Patent number: 4578928Abstract: A high speed evacuation chamber packaging machine (10) and method is provided. The machine (10) includes a frame (12) which carries a plurality of stations (18). Each station (18) includes a platen (32) which faces upwardly and carries the bagged product during the evacuation operations. A hood (34) is associated with each platen and is selectively operable between an open position for loading and unloading the bag product and a closed position which defines an evacuation chamber (34) with the platen. Means are provided for selectively evacuating and reducing the vacuum level within the chamber (36) containing the bagged product and for selectively evacuating the bag itself to a preselected level which has a lower pressure than the pressure within the chamber. A device (84) for sealing and trimming the bag subsequent to the evacuation is also provided and carried along a path of travel similar to the travel of the bag position on a station platen.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1983Date of Patent: April 1, 1986Assignees: Acraloc Corporation, Tipper Tie, Inc.Inventors: L. George Andre, Lawrence D. Boody, Charles M. Heard, Harrison A. Ailey, Jr.
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Patent number: D316220Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1988Date of Patent: April 16, 1991Assignee: Acraloc CorporationInventors: Harrison A. Ailey, Jr., Lester H. Sirois, Lawrence D. Boody