Abstract: An apparatus for deboning a piece of meat having an elongate bone portion, such as a loin piece provided with a spine portion, comprises an elongate support mounted on a frame for receiving the loin its spine portion being substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis defined by the support, and a plurality of press devices mounted on the frame for maintaining the piece of meat in a predetermined cutting position on the support. A first embodiment makes use of a cutting tool including an elongate shearing knife having a base portion pivotally mounted on the frame and an inwardly arcuate section defining a longitudinally extending cutting edge.

Abstract: A new ultrasonic transmission imaging apparatus is disclosed, which uses a new imaging method providing image focusing capability. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic emitter producing substantially continuous coherent ultrasonic waves toward an object to be inspected. The apparatus further comprises an ultrasonic detectors array comprising a plurality of ultrasonic detectors receiving the object traversing ultrasonic waves to produce a plurality of series of electrical signals coming from the ultrasonic detectors, the electrical signals characterizing transmission of the ultrasonic waves through the object and being associated with series of image elements. The apparatus further comprises a signal vector components detector detecting signal vector components for each of the electrical signals. The apparatus further comprises a computer for controlling the apparatus and for receiving pairs of first and second signal vector component digital signals coming from the signal vector components detector.