Abstract: A method and apparatus for harvesting livers and hearts from a giblet package comprising an infeed pinch roller assembly, a slide assembly, an indexer assembly, an intestine pull down and a liver and heart separator assembly, for harvesting livers and hearts with an increased yield. The steps of the process include loading a load viscera pack into a feed chute that channels the pack to a pair of counter rollers. The viscera pack is captured by infeed pinch rollers thereby forcing the package into and between the rollers with only the gizzard remaining on top of the roller body. The liver and heart is isolated and separated by a pull down stripper assembly and a stripper arm assembly.

Abstract: A whole muscle slicer and separator that solves the product separation problem and other problems found with an ordinary slicer. The invention is where one embodiment includes a special peel out finger bar comb that peels out every other product piece onto a conveyor and a final comb that peels out the remaining product pieces onto a second conveyor. This can be accomplished by tilting the cutting assembly to about approximately a 45 degree angle off vertical. There can be an upper and lower combs arranged in a interfacing relationship with the cutter for separating the product. Another embodiment includes a single finger bar comb having two sets of fingers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating an intestine from a gizzard comprising an infeed overhead rail indexing conveyor assembly, and a dual blade cutter assembly, which teaches a novel method and apparatus for separating a substantial portion of the intestine from a gizzard with an increased yield. The steps of the process can include feeding a viscera pack into a feed end of the overhead rail system; capturing and conveying the pack with a conveyor belt or chain having indexing members along a path to engage the dual blade cutter assembly. A substantial portion of the intestine and the separated gizzard with a small portion of the intestine remaining are allowed to separate after being severed by the dual blade and fall along separate chutes for further processing.

Abstract: Mechanical assembly comprising a roller chain mounted on multiple sprockets attached via shafts and bearings to a frame. Multiple unloader shackles are attached to the roller chain such that all shackles are aligned in a consistent manner. The roller chain assembly is mounted in such a way as to align it longitudinally with an overhead shackle-line. It is mounted in such a way as to allow the individual unloader shackles to align directly opposite the individual overhead shackles at a specific offset distance and travel in the same direction as the overhead shackles. It is also mounted in such a way as to allow the attached shackles to rise in elevation from beneath the overhead shackles as they travel in the same direction as the overhead shackles. The chain is driven at a rate which synchronizes the attached unloader shackles with the overhead shackle-line to which it is aligned in order to transfer a carcass such as a leg quarter.

Abstract: Mechanical assembly comprising a roller chain mounted on multiple sprockets attached via shafts and bearings to a frame. Multiple unloader shackles are attached to the roller chain such that all shackles are aligned in a consistent manner. The roller chain assembly is mounted in such a way as to align it longitudinally with an overhead shackle-line. It is mounted in such a way as to allow the individual unloader shackles to align directly opposite the individual overhead shackles at a specific offset distance and travel in the same direction as the overhead shackles. It is also mounted in such a way as to allow the attached shackles to rise in elevation from beneath the overhead shackles as they travel in the same direction as the overhead shackles. The chain is driven at a rate which synchronizes the attached unloader shackles with the overhead shackle-line to which it is aligned in order to transfer a carcass such as a leg quarter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for harvesting livers and hearts from a giblet package comprising an infeed pinch roller assembly, a slide assembly, an indexer assembly, an intestine pull down and a liver and heart separator assembly, which teaches a novel method and apparatus for harvesting livers and hearts with an increased yield. The steps of the process include loading a load viscera pack into a feed chute that channels the pack to a pair of counter rollers. The viscera pack is captured by infeed pinch rollers thereby forcing the package into and between the rollers with only the gizzard remaining on top of the roller body. The liver and heart is isolated and separated by a pull down stripper assembly and a stripper arm assembly.

Abstract: A whole muscle slicer and separator that solves the product separation problem and other problems found with an ordinary slicer. The invention is where one embodiment includes a special peel out finger bar comb that peels out every other product piece onto a conveyor and a final comb that peels out the remaining product pieces onto a second conveyor. This can be accomplished by tilting the cutting assembly to about approximately a 45 degree angle off vertical. There can be an upper and lower combs arranged in a dovetail interfacing relationship with the cutter for separating the product. Another embodiment includes a single finger bar comb having two sets of fingers.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning poultry, meat, or fish product pieces on a conveyor and a system and method which utilize the inventive apparatus. The inventive apparatus comprises an array of side-by-side upwardly arched product channels and a plurality of catch members mounted for rotating through the product channels such that they lift and pull the product pieces through the upwardly arched product channels and then release the product pieces onto the conveyor.