1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main body;
a belt unit, mounted to and dismounted from said main body along a first direction of said belt unit, including an endless belt, a plurality of rollers including a first and a second roller configured to stretch said belt, a frame configured to support said rollers, a first engaging portion disposed at an end portion of said first roller with respect to a second direction along a longitudinal direction of said rollers and configured to be fixed to said frame and to position said first roller to said main body, a second engaging portion disposed at an end portion of said second roller with respect to the second direction and configured to be movable to said frame with respect to a third direction intersecting both the first direction and the second direction and to position said second roller to said main body, and a third engaging portion disposed in said frame at a region between said first engaging portion and said second engaging portion as viewed in a direction of axes of said first and second rollers and configured to be fixed to said frame; and
a guide member configured to guide said belt unit, disposed in said main body at a position corresponding to said first engaging portion and said second engaging portion, including a first engaged portion engaged with said first engaging portion, a second engaged portion engaged with said second engaging portion, and a third engaging portion engaged with said third engaging portion, in a state that said belt unit is mounted to said main body.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second roller is configured to stretch said belt and apply a tension to said belt.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a tension applying member, provided between said second engaging portion and said frame, configured to apply the tension to said belt, wherein said second engaging portion is supported by said frame through said tension applying member.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wrapping angle of said first roller is not less than 90\xb0, and where the wrapping angle is defined as a central angle from an upstream edge to a downstream edge of a contact region between said first roller and said belt with respect to a rotation direction of said first roller.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first roller is configured to apply a driving force to said belt.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first roller is provided with a surface rubber member.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame has an elongated configuration having end portions capable of supporting said plurality of rollers, and said guide member has an elongated configuration corresponding to said frame wherein said guide member receives said frame at one end portion and slidingly guides said frame toward the other end portion.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second roller is movable in the first direction with movement thereof in the third direction being limited by engagement between said second engaging portion and said the second engaged portion.
9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an urging member configured to urge said belt unit to said main body in a state that said belt unit is mounted to said main body, and a locking mechanism configured to maintain the mounted state of said belt unit, wherein the position of at least said first roller is regulated and positioned by said urging member.
10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame is provided with a projection, and said guide member is provided with a guiding groove configured to guide said projection when said belt unit is mounted to and dismounted from said main body.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wrapping angle of said second roller is not less than 90\xb0, and where the wrapping angle is defined as a central angle from an upstream edge to a downstream edge of a contact region between said second roller and said belt with respect to a rotation direction of said second roller.
12. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main body;
a belt unit, mounted to and dismounted from said main body along a first direction of said belt unit, including an endless belt, a plurality of rollers including a first and a second roller configured to stretch said belt, a wrapping angle of each of said rollers being not less than 90\xb0, the wrapping angle being defined as a central angle from an upstream edge to a downstream edge of a contact region between each of said rollers and said belt with respect to a rotation direction of said rollers, a frame configured to support said rollers, a first engaging portion disposed at an end portion of said first roller with respect to a second direction along a longitudinal direction of said rollers and configured to be fixed to said frame and to position said first roller to said main body, and a second engaging portion disposed at an end portion of said second roller with respect to the second direction and configured to be movable to said frame with respect to a third direction intersecting both the first direction and the second direction and to position said second roller to said main body; and
a guide member configured to guide said belt unit, disposed in said main body at a position corresponding to said first engaging portion and said second engaging portion, including a first engaged portion engaged with said first engaging portion and a second engaged portion engaged with said second engaging portion in a state that said belt unit is mounted to said main body.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A meat processing apparatus for processing a carcass middle having a rib section, a loin, and a belly with an area of finger lean inbetween, said meat processing apparatus comprising:
a conveyor for carrying a carcass middle having a bottom surface, a top surface, a rib line, and a loin, said conveyor having a surface adapted to grip the bottom surface of the carcass middle;
a chain drive biased towards said conveyor and adapted to engage the carcass middle, said chain drive cooperating with said conveyor to move the carcass middle, said chain drive including a plurality of guide arms biased towards said conveyor and a plurality of guide wheels, each guide wheel carried by one of said plurality of guide arms, said plurality of guide wheels providing a track for a chain, said chain adapted to grip the top surface of the carcass middle;
a scribe saw for cutting through at least a portion of the carcass middle creating a kerf of a selected depth, said scribe saw being horizontally and vertically positionable to control the position and depth of the kerf;
a z-blade having a cutting surface, said z-blade cutting surface positioned to separate the loin from the belly through the finger lean, said z-blade passing through the kerf created by said scribe saw;
a z-blade positioner connected to said z-blade, said z-blade positioner adapted to move said z-blade in at least a horizontal direction;
a j-blade having a cutting surface, said j-blade cutting surface positioned to remove a layer of fatback around said loin;
a j-blade positioner connected to said j-blade, said j-blade positioner adapted to move said j-blade vertically and horizontally;
a primary height sensor adapted to detect an initial surface height of the carcass middle, said primary height sensor producing a first output corresponding to the initial surface height;
a secondary height sensor adapted to detect a surface height of the rib line proximate to said z-blade, said secondary height sensor producing a second output corresponding to the surface height utilized to actuate the exact position of the z-blade enabling the contour following of the rib line; and
a control circuit in communication with said primary height sensor, said secondary height sensor, and said z-blade positioner, said control circuit performing a method comprising the steps of:
actuating said z-blade positioner to move said z-blade to an initial position based upon said first output;
determining a current position of the rib line based upon said second output;
calculating a z-blade height based upon said current position of the rib line; and
actuating said z-blade positioner to move said z-blade to said z-blade height so as to separate the loin from the belly cutting through the finger lean leaving a portion of the finger lean on the loin and a portion of the finger lean on the belly.
2. The meat processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said secondary height sensor is a linear transducer adapted to engage the carcass middle proximate to said z-blade.
3. The meat processing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a stop carried by said scribe saw, said stop limiting movement of said scribe saw relative to the top surface of the carcass middle, said stop sliding along the contour of the top surface of the carcass middle.
4. The meat processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control circuit is in communication with said j-blade positioner, said method performed by said control circuit further comprising the step of actuating said j-blade positioner to move said j-blade to remove a layer of fatback from said loin.
5. The meat processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control circuit includes a motion controller moving said z-blade at fixed offset relative to said second output from said secondary height sensor.
6. The meat processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said primary height sensor and said secondary height sensor is selected from group consisting of an internal linear transducer, an external linear transducer, a laser distance sensor, an ultrasonic distance sensor, and an optical distance sensor.
7. A meat processing apparatus for processing a carcass middle having a rib section, a loin, and a belly with an area of finger lean inbetween, said meat processing apparatus comprising:
a conveyor for carrying a carcass middle having a surface rib line and a loin, said conveyor having a surface adapted to grip the carcass middle;
a drive engaging an upper surface of the carcass middle, said drive cooperating with said conveyor to move the carcass middle, said chain drive including a plurality of guide arms biased towards said conveyor and a plurality of guide wheels, each guide wheel carried by one of said plurality of guide arms, said plurality of guide wheels providing a track for a gripping member,
a scribe saw for cutting through at least a portion of the carcass middle creating a kerf of a selected depth, said scribe saw being horizontally and vertically positionable to control the position and depth of the kerf;
a z-blade having a cutting surface, said z-blade cutting surface positioned to separate the loin from the belly through the finger lean, said z-blade passing through the kerf created by said scribe saw;
a z-blade positioner connected to said z-blade, said z-blade positioner adapted to move said z-blade vertically and horizontally;
a primary height sensor adapted to detect an initial surface height of the carcass middle, said primary height sensor producing a first output corresponding to the initial surface height;
a secondary height sensor following a surface height of the carcass middle along said rib line proximate to said z-blade, said secondary height sensor producing a second output corresponding to the surface height;
a control circuit in communication with said primary height sensor, said secondary height sensor, and said z-blade positioner, said control circuit positioning said z-blade based upon inputs from said primary height sensor and said secondary height sensor such the loin is separated from the belly by cutting through the finger lean and leaving a portion of the finger lean on the loin and a portion of the finger lean on the belly.
8. The meat processing apparatus of claim 7 wherein said scribe saw includes a stop for limiting movement of the scribe saw relative to a top surface of the carcass middle, said stop sliding along the contour of the top surface of the carcass middle.
9. The meat processing apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said primary height sensor and said secondary height sensor is selected from group consisting of an internal linear transducer, an external linear transducer, a laser distance sensor, an ultrasonic distance sensor, and an optical distance sensor.
10. The meat processing apparatus of claim 7 wherein said control circuit includes a motion controller moving said z-blade at a fixed offset relative to said second output.
11. The meat processing apparatus of claim 7 wherein said control circuit sets an initial entry position of said z-blade based upon an input from said primary height sensor.
12. The meat processing apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:
a j-blade having a cutting surface, said j-blade cutting surface positioned to remove a layer of fatback around said loin; and
a j-blade positioner connected to said j-blade, said j-blade positioner adapted to move said j-blade vertically and horizontally, said j-blade positioner responsive to said control circuit.
13. A meat processing apparatus for processing a carcass middle having a rib section, a loin, and a belly with an area of finger lean inbetween, said meat processing apparatus comprising:
a conveyor for carrying a carcass middle having a surface rib line and a loin, said conveyor having a surface adapted to grip the carcass middle;
a scribe saw for cutting through at least a portion of the rib section of the carcass middle creating a kerf of a selected depth, said scribe saw being horizontally and vertically positionable to control the position and depth of the kerf;
a z-blade having a cutting surface, said z-blade cutting surface positioned to separate the loin from the belly through the finger lean, said passing through the kerf created by said scribe saw;
a z-blade positioner connected to said z-blade, said z-blade positioner adapted to move said z-blade vertically and horizontally;
a contour height sensor adapted to detect a surface height of the rib line proximate to said z-blade; and
a control circuit in communication with said contour height sensor and said z-blade positioner, said control circuit positioning said z-blade based upon inputs from said contour height sensor allowing the loin to be separated from the belly through the finger lean and leaving a portion of the finger lean on the loin and a portion of the finger lean on the belly.
14. The meat processing apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a drive engaging an upper surface of the carcass middle, said drive cooperating with said conveyor to move the carcass middle.
15. The meat processing apparatus of claim 13 wherein said scribe saw includes a stop for limiting movement of the scribe saw relative to a top surface of the carcass middle, said stop sliding along the contour of the top surface of the carcass middle.
16. The meat processing apparatus of claim 13 wherein said contour height sensor is selected from group consisting of an internal linear transducer, an external linear transducer, a laser distance sensor, an ultrasonic distance sensor, and an optical distance sensor.
17. The meat processing apparatus of claim 13 wherein said control circuit includes a motion controller moving said z-blade at fixed offset relative to said contour height sensor.
18. The meat processing apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:
a j-blade having a cutting surface, said j-blade cutting surface positioned to remove a layer of fatback around said loin; and
a j-blade positioner connected to said j-blade, said j-blade positioner adapted to move said j-blade vertically and horizontally, said j-blade positioner controlled by said control circuit.
19. The meat processing apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a primary height sensor adapted to detect an initial surface height of the carcass middle, said control circuit being responsive to said primary height sensor to set an initial entry position for z-blade.