Abstract: The technology as disclosed herein includes a method and apparatus for deboning a meat item, and more particular for deboning a poultry item including performing an initial shoulder cut for removing boneless breast meat from the poultry carcass or frame. The method and apparatus disclosed and claimed herein is a combination of a robotic arm including an ultrasonic knife implement and a vision system for varying the cut path based on the shape and size of the poultry item. The combination as claimed including the ultrasonic knife can perform a meat cut while penetrating the meat with less force than the typical penetration that occurs when using a traditional knife.

Abstract: A fish stunning apparatus comprises a fish feed-in device, a fish receiving space, which is loadable with fish in the head first position, a fish positioning means, which engages on the fish head and, for the purpose of stunning the fish, defines a releasable temporary stop position of the fish, said apparatus also comprises a stunning means for acting on the fish head, a trigger device for determining the stop position and for activating the stunning means, and further comprises a control device for controlling operation. Locations on the fish head which come to rest in the fish receiving space, depending on the size of the head and/or body of the fish, should be positioned optimally for the purpose of stunning.

Abstract: A fish filleting mat is provided. In an implementation, an example fish filleting mat has a pattern of pegs on a working surface to grip and immobilize the fish during cleaning and filleting. The pegs hold the fish and also the byproducts of cleaning and filleting in place during cleaning and filleting, even when the fish filleting mat is tilted to drain liquids. The fish filleting mat, including pegs, may be made of materials that are easy to clean and stain-resistant, and which do not retain fish odors.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for quicker, easier and more injury-free skinning of small to medium size game utilizing a dual fish skinner in conjunction with game skinning attachment, whose spike provides support and accessibility.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are shown for fileting fish. The apparatus includes a retaining pan and a pair of support elements capable of spanning the width of the pan interior by attachment to the opposing outer edges of the pan. The support elements have retaining elements which are used to securely affix a cutting board to the support elements. Once assembled, the cutting board creates an ideal location to filet a fish while allowing the fluids discharged from the fish to flow over the edges of the board and collect into the surrounding retaining pan.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fixation device (1) and a method for fixating a carcass, e.g. during processing the carcass at a slaughterhouse, such as a carcass hanging head-down from a gambrel, wherein the device (1) comprises mouth-engaging fixation means.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing both whole and portioned food products along a processing line for part cut-up and deboning in a mass production system. The apparatus consists of numerous food carriers, evenly spaced over a subscribed distance, connected by means of a mounting block, which is connected to a thermal plastic chain or a stainless steel chain by means of locking pins. The apparatus also includes food product take-away conveyors for the meat portions and scraps removed from the carcass. The carrier conveyance and the take-away conveyance have been incorporated into a common support frame. The apparatus will allow interchangeable food carriers for the type of process desired. Each food carrier is unique to the type of process being performed along the processing line. The chain is designed in such a manner as to allow vertical movement within a specified elevation change. Each food carrier is attached to a mounting block, which becomes an attachment to the chain.

Abstract: A fish skinner for removing the skin from a fish filet that includes a cutting block in connection with a pivoting cover plate wherein the cutting block has a recess for receiving the skin of the fish filet and the pivoting cover plate is used to hold the fish filet in place while a filet knife is drawn across the top edge of the cutting block to cut the filet free from the fish skin.

Abstract: Fish, such as salmon, are caused to move along a predetermined path until the leading part of the fish hits a lever to initiate a cycle of operations comprising: a) holding the fish by releasable holding means, b) stunning the fish, c) killing the fish in such manner as to effect exsanguination thereof, and d) releasing the killed fish.

Abstract: A fish cleaning device that first kills the fish instantly and humanely and then stabilizes the fish for cleaning. The piercing member used to kill the fish is vertically and horizontally movable. In addition, the piercing member is pivotally and rotatably mounted. In this way the fish can be rotated for skinning and held firmly for gutting by the same piercing member. The device is equipped with a mounting assembly by which it can be firmly and removably mounted to the trunk of a tree, to the ground, or to a worktable or other surface.

Abstract: A fish cleaning apparatus is disclosed for securely holding a fish during cleaning and filleting thereof. The apparatus includes a supporting frame having a first and a second end wall and a first and a second side wall, the frame having a top and a bottom. A first and a second cleaning board are supported by the frame, the boards being disposed angularly relative to each other for defining there between a drain. The arrangement is such that when the fish is being cleaned, parts removed from the fish drain along the boards through the drain. A rod is rotatably supported by the frame and disposed adjacent to the drain, the rod having a first and a second extremity. A holder has a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being secured to the rod, the fish being impaled on the distal end of the holder.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for stabilizing a poultry breast for deboning thereof. The device comprising a mandrel adapted to conform to the shape of the underside of a poultry breast. The device further comprises two prongs mounted on the mandrel which are adapted to engage a V joint between a severed wing bone and a breast bone of a poultry breast.

Abstract: The present invention shows a fish cleaning device comprising a cleaning board member with a work surface upon which a fish to be cleaned may be disposed during cleaning. The board is provided with a means to grip the fish during the cleaning operation. A knife slot is also provided to keep a knife in a convenient location for use. In addition, the board is also provided with a knife holder, to store the knife during transportation and storage. The fish cleaning device is also provided with a refuse collection member, which may be mounted and demounted on the cleaning board, and which may have a refuse collection bag attached, into which the refuse of a fish cleaning operation may be conveyed.

Abstract: Fish to be processed are moved through succesive fish processing stations located along a predetermined path of movement. The path of movement is defined by a pair of transversely spaced guide rails (4) and the free end parts of the guide rails or pins are inserted through the head of the fish. The free end of the guide rails may, for example, be inserted through the eyes and through the tongue of the fish, beneath the lower jaw bone of the head of the fish and out through the mouth of the fish, through the thin skin of the cheeks along the tongue and through the lower jaw of the fish, through the mouth beneath the tongue and out behind the tongue, through the cheeks and out through the mouth of the fish or through the mouth and out behind the tongue and across square bones of the fish.

Abstract: An improvement to the type of poultry processing machinery in which a poultry carcass is placed upon a cone shaped mandrel carried past various processing stations by a conveyor. The improvement comprises a pin with a piercing point carried by the mandrel such that the pin pierces the keel bone of the poultry carcass to more firmly fix the poultry carcass in position upon the mandrel. In one embodiment the pin is mechanically retractable and extendable. In another embodiment, the pin is fixed in position upon the mandrel.

Abstract: A holder usable to hold various food items, such as ham, chicken, etc., but particularly efficacious as a combined catfish killer and holder for skinning. The device includes a longitudinally extended, base platform (1); an upwardly extended, fish positioning, holding plate (2) at one end of the platform having a "V" shaped opening into which the fish's head is positioned; a killing spike (4) carried by a sleeve (5), which is carried by a laterally extending, "floating" top bar (6) slidingly mounted on the exterior sides of the diverging "V" legs (21); a laterally extended, stop railing (7) provided at the other end of the platform extending below its bottom (11); and a lateral trough (8) across the top (12) of the platform.

Abstract: A portable fish holder for convenient, safe cleaning and filleting of a fish. The invention is comprised of one rectangular base panel, two panel support walls, one affixed transversely at each end of the base, and two positionable rectangular fish support panels. Both fish support panels have outwardly extending hinge pins at each end which are movably held in specifically structured grooves in the inward facing surface of each of the panel support walls. The shape of the grooves allows variable positioning of both fish support panels. A locked V-shape arrangement of both fish support panels is useful for holding a fish in a supine position for cleaning. Both fish support panels are also positionable parallel to the surface of the base. A tail securing clamp is provided on the backside of one support panel for use in securing the fish while scaling and filleting. A knife holder is also provided on the side of one fish support panel.