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 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: As a carcass moves down the conveyor in a meat processing plant, it may carry contaminants from an earlier processing step. The carcass surface is sterilized, and the contaminants are removed by bringing a cleaning wand to the carcass surface. The wand has a vacuum mouth, an internal hot water spray and an external steam spray. The wand sprays a sterilizing hot water spray onto the surface within the confines of the mouth of the wand. The wand sprays steam onto the carcass surface adjacent the wand. The wand vacuums away the water, steam and contaminants.

Abstract: The hog's head, in the upside-down position, is moved jaw first across a table where a jaw removal bar engages under the lower jaw. The snout has been previously loosened by a slash on each side behind the snout. The loosened snout gravitates through a snout slot in the table. Below the snout slot, a snout puller clamp engages the snout. At the same time, the jaw removal bar swings the lower jaw up and back. The snout puller swings away beneath the table to pull off the snout and attached faceplate tissue. The snout is released, and the snout puller returns for the next cycle.

Abstract: The apparatus includes two stations in the processing of an animal head in a meat processing line. The first station is for templing where the station has a cup for receiving the jaw and a spindle to engage the skull. Both the spindle and cup are rotatable and are moved toward each other to engage an animal head on the work surface. The spindle and cup rise to raise the head above the work surface for templing both sides of the head without manually lifting the head. The next station holds the head in a jawbone up position. The head is retained by a cup holding the nose and a pin engaging the skull and pushing the nose into the cup. At this station, a power assisted chisel is provided to chisel the meat away from the skull. In addition, a bar engages the lower jaw and, when chiseling is complete, the bar is raised to separate the jaw. The jaw and remaining skull move further along the processing line for separation of the meat and further processing.

Abstract: As a carcass moves down the conveyor in a meat processing plant, it may carry contaminants from an earlier processing step. The surface is sterilized, and the contaminants are removed by simultaneous delivery of steam to the surface and vacuuming away of the steam. A sterilizing hot water spray is controlled by a valve so that the operator may deliver it to particular spots that need more cleaning.

Abstract: The head-separating tool is a pair of pivoted blades, each having two sections. The section closest to the pivot comprises a wedge on each blade positioned so that the wedges come together in nearly point-to-point contact to engage in the beef neck's Atlas joint to separate the joint. The portions of the blade farther from the pivot are shears which overlap when closing to cut the soft neck tissue below the Atlas bone. The blades are power-actuated to disjoint at the Atlas joint with substantially no bone chipping.

Abstract: An improved leg shear for use in slaughterhouses includes a movable blade supported in opposed tracks throughout its travel, such movable blade having flat "stop" portions at opposite ends of its cutting edge which, at the end of the travel of the movable blade in its cutting direction, engages an adjustably fixed spacer plate carried in the frame to provide a positive stop for the movable blade, the shear including, in addition, a fixed blade supported by the frame of the shear and sloped with respect to the movable blade to provide a scissorlike shearing of the object to be cut.

Abstract: A stunning gun having a relatively massive cylindrical piston with annular recesses, such piston forming a slip fit with its containing cylinder and riding on an air bearing, is provided with a springless valving system which relies on differential air pressures to keep the valves closed and permits a massive air influx into the containing cylinder when one of the sources of air pressure acting on one of the valves is cut off by the manual opening of another valve in the system.

Abstract: By increasing the mass and reducing the surface friction of the piston driving a penetrating bolt in an animal stunning gun and providing that bolt with a conically-shaped recess at its tip, maximum penetrating force with minimum gun complexity is achieved. The control valve releases the piston driving fluid, e.g. compressed air, very rapidly for the maximum surge effect on the piston driving the bolt. Further simplification of the gun without the sacrifice of any performance is achieved by utilizing magnetic or mechanical retention means for the bolt prior to the firing of the gun.