Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method with the following working steps:holding the limb (1) to be boned;severing the center joint (3), including the tendons adhering thereto;severing the end joint portion (5) and/or the end portion (6), including the tendons adhering thereto;clamping the limb (1) between a first pressure plate (10) and a second pressure plate (11),pressing the meat of the limb (1) between the pressure plates (10, 11) and partly pushing out the at least one bone (7, 8, 9) through the pressure plate; andejecting the at least one bone (7, 8, 9) with the aid of a pushing means (12, 13, 14).

Abstract: A press with a base portion (1) having two side walls (15a and 15b), a support plate (3) and an aperture (12) at one end of the support plate and a press portion (16) mounted on the support plate (3) above the base portion (1). The press portion (16) has a handle (7) pivotly mounted on the support plate (3) at an end opposite the aperture (12). A press shaft (9) extends downward from the handle (7). The press shaft (9) has a press cup (10) at its lower end to hold one end of a piece of meat or poultry, such as a chicken drumstick or wing. The bone end of a poultry drumstick, wing or other meat is placed into the aperture (12) and downward pressure is asserted on the handle (7) until the meat is clumped under the press cup (10) above the support plate (3) and the bone (14) is left exposed below the support plate (3). The resulting product is juicier, better tasting and easier to eat.

Abstract: Sinew is stripped from meat by the coaction of a rotatable rotor and a fixed pressure bar which are constructed so as to avoid severe pulverizing and emulsification of edible meat which remains after stripping of the sinew. The edible meat is forced through comparatively large and discrete holes in the rotor, such holes enabling the meat to retain a relatively coarse texture.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining nutritive substances by extraction from bones and meat adhering thereon has a receptacle (2) for receiving bones and an extracting liquid, preferably water. In the receptacle at least one stirring element (7) is provided and the receptacle (2) is tiltable with a horizontal shaft (3) so that is content can be discharged onto a coarse sieve (15) positioned within a trough (14) for separating the bones and the coarse components from the liquid and the fine components. Below the coarse sieve (15) is a gutter which leads to a rotating sieve (23) the sieve openings of which are smaller than those of the coarse sieve (15). At least one stripper engages the rotating sieve (23) and below the rotating sieve (23) there is a collecting container (30) for the liquid, a discharge conduit (34) extending from this container. This results in a space-consuming construction and permits a fractional separation of the useful components of the bones and the meat adhering thereto.

Abstract: The method of producing mincemeat in accordance with the invention by comminution of meat of slaughtered animals is characterized in that immediately after each other pieces of meat from freshly slaughtered and dismembered animals are comminuted, prior to the onset of rigor mortis, in a suitable device such as a bowl cutter and are shock chilled by the addition of a refrigerant until a meat temperature of between -1.6.degree. C. and -10.degree. C., more particularly -8.degree. C., is reached, and further comminution is performed until the desired granule size is reached. Preferably the granulated meat is immediately deep frozen. The product is then placed in portions in packages, the air therein being replaced by a gas if desired, before the packages are sealed. The mincemeat is as a result completely fresh, almost completely free of bacteria and maintains its natural coloration for long periods of time.

Abstract: One known type of machine in use for separating meat from feed material containing sinew-like material and bone particles includes a foraminous cylinder or sleevelike screen in which a conveying auger rotates. Such feed material is introduced into the infeed end of the cylinder/auger combination. The auger conveys the feed material toward the discharge end of the combination. During conveyance, meat is separated by exuding through the foramina. Compacted residue formed primarily of bone particles and sinew-like material discharges through a restricted orifice provided by a valve located at the discharge end of the cylinder/auger combination. Heretofore, the foramina in the screen were arranged in circumferential rows separated from each other by circumferential bands free of foramina. According to the present invention, novel foraminous cylinders or screens are provided in which the foraminous areas do not include circumferential bands which are free of foramina.

Abstract: A boning process and apparatus for separating meat and bone, particularly ribs, in an animal carcass. The spine (12) is restrained relative to the ribs (16) and which are moved in an arc (A) so as to dislocate the joints (17) and to sever connective tissue. This exposes the ribs (16) at the dislocated joints (17) and the exposed ends (16a) are moved along a line (B or C) to progressively extend the exposed portions (16a) so as to separate a major part of each rib (16) from tissues (20) remaining attached to the spine (12). Cuts (21, 22) are formed in the tissues adjacent to the spine (12) and adjacent to the joint (17) to assist in exposing the ribs (16).

Abstract: A novel composite belt for an desinewing apparatus that uses a belt in combination with a perforated drum. The three layer composite has a monofilament woven polyester carcass between layers of USDA food approved urethane strengthened by adding 10% by weight of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The life expectancy of the invention is expected to double that of currently available belts used in such machinery.

Abstract: Poultry leg and thigh deboner comprising a deboning module (37) carried by a conveyor mechanism along a processing path. The deboning module comprises an upright fixed thigh bone support block (61) and a movable leg bone support block (62). A pair of stripper jaws (73) are provided for grasping the distal end of the leg bone (44) and pushing the meat of the leg bone toward the joint (46) between the leg and thigh bone (42). A slot (68) is provided along the upper edge of the thigh bone support block (61) for holding the thigh bone (49) and pushing the meat of the thigh toward the joint (46) as the thigh bone is pushed through the slot. A hollow meat cutter tube (93) is provided for moving around the leg bone and cutting the meat from the joint (46) after the meat has been pushed to the joint.

Abstract: A machine is designed for trussing-up flesh and/or skin over a bone or a bone stump.The machine comprises an axially aligned set of a pusher device (11), a holder device (9) and movable jaws forming a cone (44).The machine is adapted for the industrial preparation of ready-to-cook chicken wings.

Abstract: An improved motor coupling and bearing housing are disclosed for a meat deboning machine and the like wherein the motor coupling includes an axially fixed coupling between a drive motor shaft and an auger which accommodates axial movement during thermal expansion to reduce bearing and other parts failure, and allow the drive motor to operate at its magnetic center. A thrust bearing operates between the coupling and is pre-loaded by a biasing force exerted between the coupling and the drive motor shaft which also loads the coupling as it floats over the drive motor shaft. A twist lock connection is made between the coupling and the auger which allows for quick assembly and disassembly while maintaining a good drive connection. An idler housing in conjunction with the motor coupling accommodates thermal expansion of the auger clearance in the motor coupling accommodates small amounts of angular misalignment without placing large forces on the bearings.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and a method for the mechanical removal of whole-tissue meat from the region of the vertebrae of an animal carcass including a support for support at least a part of the carcass. A cutting mechanism makes a longitudinal cut in the meat along the line of the vertical dorsal protrusions of the vertebrae. There is also provided a substantially rigid clearing mechanism having a substantially fixed shape and causing relative movement between the support and the clearing mechanisms such that the clearing mechanism is able to move longitudinally along at least part of the carcass to force the meat away from the vertical and lateral protrusions of the vertebrae and, if present, at least part of the length of the ribs extending from the vertebrae.

Abstract: An apparatus for deboning a chicken leg includes a conveyor for holding the leg by the hock, a plunge knife device for severing the knee joint and pulling the femur from the thigh meat, a cutting device for severing the tendons at the hock of the leg, and a scraper for pulling the drumstick meat along the tibia and fibia toward the knee. The scraping mechanism includes a laterally movable carriage supporting at least one pair of jaws having notches along their edges to clear the leg bones, a first air cylinder for closing and opening the jaws, and a second air cylinder for moving the carriage away from the hock-restraining conveyor.

Abstract: Parts of animals and edible fowl, such as poultry thighs (26) are deboned by loading the parts onto a series of carrier trays (55), with the thigh bones (27) extending transversely to the direction of movement of the carrier trays (55) along a processing path (43). Compound pusher assemblies (52) each engage one end of the thigh bones (27) and urge the thigh bones (27) longitudinally through apertures (64) formed in stripper discs (63) positioned adjacent the rear edges (57) of the carrier trays (55). As the thigh bones (27) pass through the apertures (64), the thigh bones (27) are engaged by stripper edges (66), which scrape the thigh meat (31) from the thigh bones (27) as the thigh bones (27) are progressively urged through the apertures (64) of the stripper discs (63).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a meat deboning machine are disclosed of the type which includes a drive motor with a motor shaft, an auger for conveying meat and bone material product, and a motor coupling for coupling the auger to the drive motor shaft. A housing surrounds the auger which includes a feed can having an inlet into which the product is fed to an entry end of the auger, and a sieve screen through which the meat passes radially to separate from the bone material. The auger includes two sections consisting of a feed auger and a compression auger which have a continuous taper and flights when coupled together as a single auger. The flights have an increased depth, to receive more product with reduced cavitation and pressure. The inlet of the feed can feeds only a single entry flight of the auger so that product does not back up into the feed opening. The root of the auger has a taper of about 9.degree.

Abstract: A device for removing an elongated bone from a piece of meat comprising means for conveying the piece of meat in succession through; one or more processing stations where the meat is scraped away from the bone, at right angles to the lengthwise direction of the bone, until a certain part of the bone surface is exposed, apart from a narrow connection between the meat and the bone, while the meat removed is guided away from the bone; a processing station where the above-mentioned narrow connection is broken. In a first processing station a separation may be made along the length of the bone through the meat up to the bone. Preferably a second and a third processing station each comprise two first helical rollers provided with ribs with opposite pitch and rotating in opposite directions to each other, the helical rollers being disposed parallel to and on either side of the path of the bone.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating the meat from a meat carrying bone of an animal, wherein said bone is characterized by being elongated with a longitudinal axis and first and second opposite ends.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing meat from the drumsticks of poultry, such as turkeys and chickens, utilizes aligned, tandem cylinders, the first of which urges the second along a guided path, the second carrying a centering cone pusher thereon for receiving the meat end of the drumstick axially thereinto. Transversely moving gates engage the drumstick about the hock knuckle end and the centering cone, upon moving forward under the force exerted by the first cylinder against the second cylinder, pushes the hock knuckle end through and past the closed gates. This places extreme tension on the tendons between the gates and where they are attached to the hock knuckle, causing the tendons to break while the meat is formed into a gatered mass in and adjacent the centering cone. The gates are withdrawn and the second cylinder is activated, causing a rod to project axially through the meat mass and against the meat end of the bone, urging the bone through a guide passageway and normally expelling it from the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides an animal carcass injection system that is particularly suitable for injecting carbon dioxide between muscle and bone within an animal carcass to balloon the muscle away from the bone. Such ballooning aids in boning the animal carcass. In accordance with the present invention, a hollow needle is provided having a pointed distal end to puncture the animal carcass and at least one, but preferably four, circumferentially spaced apertures to allow the pressurized gas to escape from the needle upon blockage of the pointed distal end. The aperture(s) act to prevent possible injury arising from an accidental escape of pressurized gas from the pointed distal end of the needle near or against operators of the injection system. The use of four apertures act to more efficiently distribute gas within the animal carcass upon injection of the pressurized gas.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removing meat and other soft tissue from bones by pumping a separating material over the surfaces of the bones under a desired separating pressure. The pressure exerted on the surfaces of the bones by the separating material combined with the movement of the separating material across the bone surfaces tears away any soft tissue attached to the bones. The apparatus includes a separator housing, a series of screen openings formed in the separator housing and an arrangement for injecting a suitable separating material into the housing. The separating material and any removed soft tissue exit the housing through the screen openings while the bones are preferably conveyed to an outlet end of the separator housing where they are removed without interfering with the flow separating material out of the separator housing through the screen openings.

Abstract: A device for boning pieces of meat, such as shoulders, hams and the like, which device consists substantially of at least one set of first and second matrices (3, 4) with separating means to be carried towards one another for separating the meat from the piece of bone and a replaceable stamp (5, 6) arranged in one of each matrix, of which the elongate, if necessary folding pressure surface coming into contact with the piece of bone displays a relief, wherein in cross section the relief of the pressure surface is raised at least along the edge zones thereof, and the raising increases in those cross sections at the edge portions having a comparatively small radius of curvature, so ensuring that during pressing the piece of bone remains enclosed an even undergoes a pressure force directed lengthwise of the piece of bone.