Abstract: A method and device for deboning leg pieces of slaughtered animals such as turkeys, cattle, sheep, pigs other poultry and livestock, said method comprising the following steps:fixedly holding the leg piece at a bone end thereof,spatially orienting the holder and the leg piece fixedly held therein to obtain a suitable position for,exerting a force on the meat piece or portion thereof for removing the meat or meat portion in lengthwise direction of the leg piece, whereas said device for fixedly holding a meat piece comprises a carrier, which carrier carries a sleeve part enclosing the end portion of the leg piece, and wherein pressure means are arranged in the sleeve part for clamping the end portion of the meat piece, in order to position the leg piece in any desired position during processing steps of said method.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for processing extrudable materials in such a way as to apply a controlled and predetermined degree of shear force to the materials. Typically, an extruder apparatus includes a housing having first and second screws mounted therein for rotation on a common axis, the arrangement being such that longitudinal thrust forces exerted by the first screw are at least partially compensated by corresponding forces generated by the second screw, inlet means for introducing material to be processed into the housing and a shear generating device located between said screws, said device including a restriction through which material is forced from said housing to exit from said housing. The restriction is preferably an annular gap formed by a sleeve fixed relatively to the housing and a shaft portion which extends into the sleeve.

Abstract: A method for preparing a pig's head for mechanical boning including making a transverse cut in the snout from the underside of the head so that the transverse cut separates the greater part of the rostral bone from the greater part of the jaw-bone, and apparatus for carrying out the method which includes a support structure for upside down placing thereon of the pig's head for preparing and cutting a member movable toward the support structure in direction inclining relative to the support structure and adapted for making a transverse cut in the snout from the underside of the head.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluid bed conditioning apparatus (especially a dryer) which comprises a plurality of connected treatment zones, each zone having an apertured base and means for supplying a fluidized gas through said apertured base to each zone to cause material therein to be fluidized. The apparatus includes means for vibrating each apertured base and the zones are separated by movable partitions which are operable in conjunction with transfer means for urging material from one zone to an adjacent zone whereby the contents of a first treatment zone can be transferred to the adjacent zone after a desired treatment time in the first zone.

Abstract: A device for injecting food products with a liquid, includes a support for the food pieces, a needle carrier placed above the support and movable in a vertical direction, injection needles fixed to the needle carrier and extending downward, feed means for supplying the liquid to each of the injection needles and at least one drive mechanism for driving the needle carrier in the vertical direction. In order to obtain uniform distribution of the liquid in the food pieces, the drive mechanism, which converts a rotational drive into a linear movement, has a number of freely selectable variables so that during the downward stroke the speed of the needle carrier is a constant as possible. This is achieved by equipping the drive mechanism with a planetary gear wheel system. Preferably, the planetary gear wheel system includes a sun-wheel and a planet wheel which have the same diameter and the same number of teeth.

Abstract: A method for deboning halves of slaughtered animals such as pork, lamb or beef halves wherein the animal is halved beforehand along the central longitudinal plane through the spine, wherein the half is set down onto a supporting surface anda) fixedly holding the spine in straightened position,b) arranging a cut at a predetermined first angle through the spine ends of the ribs according to a line parallel to the spine,c) rotating the group of ribs with adhering meat and the straightened spine relative to each other,d) and arranging at least one subsequent cut along the spine at the same or in each case another angle in order to remove the spine.

Abstract: A method and device for injecting liquid substances such as brine or paste into a piece of meat. During injection, the piece of meat, which is conveyed over a row of spray nozzles, is held in contact with a row of the nozzles, preferably by means of a pressure roller. The rotational shaft of the roller is situated opposite the row of spray nozzles. This allows for deforming the meat to a slab of predetermined thickness and prevents the injection stream from being atomized prematurely, that is, outside the meat. This results in a homogeneous distribution of the brining liquid in the meat.

Abstract: Apparatus for the separation of sausages from a string by a scissor structure moving with the string, of which structure the scissors (5, 6) constrict and separate the string. In the zone of separation of the sausages these are present on a stationary inclined guide surface (10), leading to a moving conveying surface (12). Above the guide surface (10) and to the sides of the sausages blowing means (15) are provided, blowing air from the side onto the sausages, so that they are displaced sideways on the guide surface (10) directly at separation from the string. Thus the sausages form rows one to the side of the other on the conveying surface (12), in which either exclusively blowing takes place, alternatingly to one and the other side, or there is no blowing for each third sausage from the string, so that either two or three rows can be formed.

Abstract: In a device for pumping meat-containing products, such as pieces of meat, meat paste and meat pulp (dough), it is aimed at avoiding problems of the meat forming bridges in a feed space, of meat remaining in the device during a too long time, of too much churning up of the meat and to provide a simple device adapted to discharge at will a continuous meat discharge flow under constant pressure or at a constant flow rate. Thereto, there is a feed space with means for feeding the meat under pressure to one of a number of cylinders with reciprocating pistons or the like, acting in parallel, with a controlled valve in the delivery line between each piston and a common discharge duct. Several feed means are proposed, depending on the application of the devices for pieces of meat on the one hand or for paste or pulp.

Abstract: A deboning press has a roller with a number of pressing stations around its periphery. It is rotated stepwise to bring each station in turn under a pressing element. Pieces of meat with at least one bone therein are brought in a station when it is not under the pressing element and are then, when the roller has rotated to the corresponding position, pressed by the pressing element so that the meat is pressed away sideways and the bone remains between the pressing surfaces. A sliding ejector removes the meat from the press. The pressing bodies may be hard-elastic and there may be a bone remover with movable hooks to remove the bones remaining in the stations of the roller.

Abstract: A method and a device for deboning meat such as hams and shoulders, by bringing them under pressure in a press while allowing sideways escape for the meat transversely to the pressing direction, so that by the pressure the meat is loosened from the bones and moves sideways while the bones are retained between the opposite cooperating pressing surfaces at least one of said cooperating pressing surfaces (9) having means (10) conforming in shape to the shape of the bones.

Abstract: For measuring the fat content of meat it is known to determine the specific gravity of the meat, which at a given temperature and for a given type of meat is a measure for the fat content. This invention provides a novel way to realize this easily and rapidly in the factory, e.g. in a production line. Thereto, meat portions are weighed and compressed in a closed space, of which the volume in compressed condition of the meat is determined, so that the ratio of weight and volume gives the specific gravity. The weighing device is mounted to the side of an upstanding cylinder press with its top at the level of the weighing surface or of an immediately adjacent table surface, an easily movable cover to open and close the cylinder and a bottom being a press platen piston movable up and down to compress the meat with closed cover and to move it further upwards to above the cylinder with open cover.

Abstract: A press for putting under pressure therein animal meat with bones in order to bring the meat into a paste-like condition and thus to have it flow out of the space within the press, comprises a slide valve adapted to open and close a large opening in the front face of the space within the press in order to allow, after opening thereof, discharge of the bones remaining in said space after pressing by moving the movable pressing body further in the pressing direction with respect to the press cylinder, a number of fine openings for allowing passage of meat in a paste-like condition so located as to open into a surface perpendicular to the direction of movement of the pressing body, said openings give communication to a discharge of such meat paste from the space within the press, said openings being movable in such a way that their entries bordering the space within the press will slide along another metal part of the structure when the slide valve is moved.

Abstract: A press for separating flesh from bones in which a charge of bones with flesh attached is received in a chamber and a plunger moveable axially in the chamber compresses the bones and flesh to liberate from the bones flesh in the form of a paste which flows through restricted size passages to exit the chamber. Bones retained in the chamber during compression are discharged thereafer through a passage in a cover on the chamber which passage is selectively opened and closed by a valve associated with a cover.

Abstract: A meat deboning device includes opposed pressing surfaces at least one surface having a recess to conform to the shape of the bones, the surfaces being of elastically deformable material, the recess being surrounded by a portion that applys a compressive force to the meat without crushing the bone thereby shearing the meat from the bone.