Abstract: The invention relates to an automatically-limiting electric sausage filler and control methods thereof.

Abstract: A guide member for use in separating viscera sets eviscerated from slaughtered poultry comprising a separation support surface having an elongated opening for receiving a viscera set in a manner whereby at least the intestines and the gallbladder are suspended below said guide member and the liver and gizzard are positioned above said guide member. The elongated opening extends away from a front edge of the separation support surface and a distal section of the opening is off-set in relation to a proximal section in a direction substantially parallel to the front edge. A gripping member may be arranged below said guide member for gripping a part of the intestines. In a method according to the invention the guide member is moved into contact with the viscera set whereby the intestines and/or gallbladder enters the elongated opening.

Abstract: A device and method for removing abdominal fat from abdominal skin of a slaughtered bird suspended by the legs. A scraping tool having a first vertically movable part and a second vertically movable part that is tiltable towards the first part, wherein the first part and the second part are arranged to execute a concerted operation in an abdominal cavity of the slaughtered bird for removal of the abdominal fat from the bird.

Abstract: An automated system and method is provided for separating left and right animal carcass cuts from one another. The system includes a conveyor to carry cut meat pieces along a path. A sensor generates a signal corresponding to the left or right cuts, and sends the signal to a processor or controller, which actuates a product diverter, which moves across the conveyor so as to push and remove selected meat pieces from the conveyor for further processing on a separate line. The diverters are pivotal out of the conveyor path if engaged by meat piece intended to continue along the conveyor path.

Abstract: A conveyor line and carrier including a hook or hooks for suspending poultry or poultry parts by the legs. A carriage for moving the carrier with the suspended poultry or poultry parts along a track of the conveyor line. Arranged with at least a first rotatable vertical rod suspended from the carriage, which first rotatable rod is provided with a sideways extending arm for adjusting an orientation of the poultry or poultry parts with reference to the carriage.

Abstract: A shellfish beheading assembly includes a clipper that includes a top jaw and a bottom jaw. The top jaw is hingedly coupled to the bottom jaw. The clipper may have a shellfish positioned between the top jaw and the bottom jaw. The top jaw is selectively urged toward the bottom jaw. A saddle is coupled to the clipper and saddle is configured to have the shellfish positioned therein. A pair of blades is provided. A selected one of the blades is removably coupled to the clipper. Thus, the selected blade beheads the shellfish when the top jaw is urged toward the bottom jaw.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable the efficient conveyance of fish products from one fish processing subsystem or station to another in a particularly reliable and robust form factor. The systems may include a first fish processing subsystem configured to process fish with the fish orientated in a first orientation; a second fish processing subsystem configured to process the fish with the fish orientated in a second orientation different from the first orientation; and a conveyor system that couples the first fish processing subsystem to the second fish processing subsystem with the conveyor system being configured to receive the fish in the first orientation and deliver the fish in the second orientation. Related methods of conveying and processing fish are also provided.

Abstract: A method of processing a jumbo tender of a meat tender or poultry breast into strips having a desired weight and thickness with minimal losses requires two diagonal cuts across and through the jumbo to yield three portions which are substantially the same in weight and thickness.

Abstract: A shrimp deveining machine with adjustable blades. The deveiner has an inclined trough with groups of blades arranged in a zig-zag pattern. The trough is lubricated by water to help shrimps advance along the blades, which slit the shrimps' backs to expose their veins. Blade-height adjusters adjust the height of the blades above the trough. Blade-angle adjusters adjust the angles of the blades relative to the length direction of the trough. Magnets are used to hold the blades in place for easy replacement. A feed tank at the entrance to the trough includes a serpentine path to separate the shrimps.

Abstract: An automatic stuffing machine for food products, which comprises a base framework that supports at least one forming die of the product to be stuffed and a pusher adapted to cause the translation of the formed product through a stuffing tube; the machine has at least one tube changer body that supports at least two stuffing tubes and is actuated to move in order to bring, in each instance, one of the stuffing tubes to a working position, in which it is located substantially at the area of action of the pusher; furthermore elements are provided for removable joining between the forming die and the stuffing tube in the working position which are adapted to pass from an active condition, in which they provide a connection between the forming die and the stuffing tube in the working position, to an inactive condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fish processing machine (1) including a mouth access providing instrument (2) enabling that a fish (3) can be processed through the mouth (4) of the fish (3). The mouth access providing instrument (2) includes a mouth penetrating instrument (5) for penetrating the mouth (4) of the fish (3) and a displacement instrument (6) for displacing the mouth penetrating instrument (5) or the fish (3) in relation to each other to place the mouth penetrating instrument (5) in the mouth (4) of the fish (3). The mouth access providing instrument (2) also includes a sensor (7) for detecting the location of the mouth (4) of the fish (3) and an adjustment instrument (8) for adjusting the position of the mouth penetrating instrument (5) or the fish (3) in relation to output from the sensor (7). A method for enabling that fish (3) can be processed through the mouth (4) is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems using a vision system to process shrimp. The in-line or off-line vision system captures images of samples of shrimps. The processor produces a digital image of the shrimps in the samples. Shrimps exiting a peeler are imaged to determine the number of tail segments in or the percentage of full weight of each. The shrimps are classified by the number of intact segments, and quality, yield, and throughput computed from the classification results. The processor can control operational settings of the peeler based on the classification results. In a larger system including other shrimp-processing equipment besides the peeler, other points along the processing path can be imaged by camera or sensed by other sensors to determine processing quality and to make automatic operational adjustments to the equipment.

Abstract: A dehider includes an elongated handle having side-by-side circular disks, one of which is stationary and the other is rotary. A pinion gear is power-driven to rotate the rotary disk.

Abstract: A meat stripper is disclosed for stripping meat from the bone of an animal part. The meat stripper includes a slide block and a first stripper plate assembly including an arm pivotally mounted to the slide block and having a first stripper plate at an opposite end. A second stripper plate assembly including an arm is pivotally mounted to the slide block and has a second stripper plate at an opposite end with the second stripper plate opposing the first stripper plate. The first and second stripper plates move away from each other to open the meat stripper when the arms are pivoted apart and move toward each other to surround the bone when the arms are pivoted together. A mechanism is disclosed for moving the stripper plates along the length of the bone to strip meat from the bone.

Abstract: The invention provides a combination of a conveying device for slaughter animals and a removing device (15). The conveying device comprises a guide (2) extending along a transport path, product carriers (3) for the slaughter animals, which are movable in a direction of movement along the guide, each product carrier comprising at least one groove inclined according to a direction of inclination for holding at least one held part of a slaughter animal therein. The at least one groove has an open upper end and a lower end. The removing device comprises a pusher element, which is movable to and fro between a passive position and an active position for pushing the at least one held part out of the at least one groove. The removing device comprises a further pusher element which is movable to and fro between a further passive position and a further active position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clipping machine and a method for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, by filing a flowable filling material into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and closing said packaging casing by a closure means, like a closure clip. The clipping machine comprises a filling tube for feeding the filling material into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing stored on the filling tube and being closed at its first end, gathering means for gathering the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, the gathering means includes a first displacer unit and a second displacer unit, and a clipping device having a first and a second closing tool being reversibly movable between an opened position and a closed position, for applying at least one closure means to the plait-like portion and closing said closure means when the closing tools are in their closed position.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for processing sea cucumbers having stages for orienting/aligning, cutting, splitting, flattening, eviscerating and cleaning the sea cucumber, and for collecting the eviscerated innards. A method for the automated splitting and evisceration of sea cucumbers using the apparatus of the present disclosure. A flattening plate and trough during the orienting/aligning step relax the sea cucumber and discourage its defence mechanisms. A wedge shaped flattening plate splits and flattens the sea cucumber immediately after the incision. Pronged discs maintain positioning of the sea cucumber during an aggressive wash and brush cleaning cycle, which may be repeated. Optionally, a vacuum may suction off a portion of the innards prior to cleaning.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for removal of pin bones from fish meat, preferably from a fillet of white fish, comprising a frame for supporting a drive device and a rotatably driven member driven by drive device, the rotatably driven member being provided with engagement means, and a counter pressure element for providing a clamping function between the counter pressure element and the rotatably driven element. The rotatably driven member has a curved convex engagement surface directed towards the fillet and adapted to match the shape of said fillet where the pin bones are located when the fillet is lying on a flat surface.

Abstract: A massaging press roller for tenderizing a food product includes a shaft and at least one roller element disposed on the shaft. The at least one roller element is configured to impart a pulsating pounding action on a food product.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, sheared casing and/or netting. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo-motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly.