Abstract: Deboning machines and methods of operating deboning machines are provided. In one aspect, a deboning machine includes a housing, a bearing supported by the housing, a separation chamber supported by the housing and including perforations defined through the separation chamber from an interior surface to an exterior surface, an auger including a shaft and a flute formed about the shaft with the auger extending through the separation chamber and the flute adapted to be positioned a working distance from the interior surface of the separation chamber. The deboning machine also includes a retainer rotatably supported by the bearing with the auger extending through the retainer, a nut rotatably coupled to a threaded portion of the auger and rotation of the moves the flute relative to the separation chamber to establish the working distance between the flute and the interior surface of the separation chamber.

Abstract: A grinding machine for grinding foodstuffs, such as meat or the like, includes an orifice plate at the outlet of a grinding head. The orifice plate has collection passages that discharge a mixture of soft material and hard material through the orifice plate. A separator assembly is located downstream of the orifice plate for separating the soft material from the hard material. The separator assembly includes a tapered, perforated separator chamber that receives the mixture of soft material and hard material, in combination with a rotatable separator screw located within the separator chamber. Rotation of the separator screw functions to separate the soft material from the hard material and force the soft material through the perforations in the separator chamber. An adjustment arrangement enables the axial position of the separator screw to be adjusted within the separator chamber.

Abstract: A grinding machine for grinding foodstuffs, such as meat or the like, includes an orifice plate at the outlet of a grinding head. The orifice plate has collection passages that discharge a mixture of soft material and hard material through the orifice plate. A separator assembly is located downstream of the orifice plate for separating the soft material from the hard material. The separator assembly includes a tapered, perforated separator chamber that receives the mixture of soft material and hard material, in combination with a rotatable separator screw located within the separator chamber. Rotation of the separator screw functions to separate the soft material from the hard material and force the soft material through the perforations in the separator chamber. An adjustment arrangement enables the axial position of the separator screw to be adjusted within the separator chamber.

Abstract: A grinding machine has a shearing chamber that includes one or more edges that provide fulcrum points against which frozen block of material, such as frozen blocks of meat, can be held against during a reduction or shearing process. The edges may be arranged to limit the advancement of reduced blocks of material to provide more control on the size of the ground material that is ultimately output by the grinding machine. The grinding machine may also include an expansion zone into which reduced blocks can be temporarily held to accommodate volume increases during the reduction process. A feed screw advances the frozen blocks through the shearing chamber and includes pressure fighting to help shear material from the frozen blocks. The feed screw may include a knife holder that provides support for a knife held therein against the lateral forces experienced by the knife as the knife shears material adjacent the orifice plate.

Abstract: Separation chambers, deboning machines, and methods of operating the same are provided. In one aspect, a separation chamber for a compression-type deboning machine includes a body defining an internal cavity therein having a frusto-conical shape. A central longitudinal axis of the body extends from a first opening of the cavity near a first end of the body to a second opening of the cavity near a second end of the body. The first opening is larger than the second opening. The separation chamber also includes a plurality of perforations defined through the body from an inner surface of the body to an outer surface of the body. Each perforation includes a perforation axis extending longitudinally through a center of the perforation. The perforation axes of the plurality of perforations are transverse to a radial axis extending perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the body.

Abstract: A grinding machine has a shearing chamber that includes one or more edges that provide fulcrum points against which frozen block of material, such as frozen blocks of meat, can be held against during a reduction or shearing process. The edges may be arranged to limit the advancement of reduced blocks of material to provide more control on the size of the ground material that is ultimately output by the grinding machine. The grinding machine may also include an expansion zone into which reduced blocks can be temporarily held to accommodate volume increases during the reduction process. A feed screw advances the frozen blocks through the shearing chamber and includes pressure fighting to help shear material from the frozen blocks. The feed screw may include a knife holder that provides support for a knife held therein against the lateral forces experienced by the knife as the knife shears material adjacent the orifice plate.

Abstract: Self-correcting plate guards for installation over an orifice plate of a grinding machine are disclosed. Each plate guard has studs that fit into apertures of an orifice plate. The studs and apertures are sized so that the correct guard must be used with a particular orifice plate. Furthermore, the mounting ring that holds the orifice plate in place on the grinding machine cannot be tightened for use of the grinding machine without the plate guard being installed.

Abstract: A grinding machine has a shearing chamber that includes one or more edges that provide fulcrum points against which frozen block of material, such as frozen blocks of meat, can be held against during a reduction or shearing process. The edges may be arranged to limit the advancement of reduced blocks of material to provide more control on the size of the ground material that is ultimately output by the grinding machine. The grinding machine may also include an expansion zone into which reduced blocks can be temporarily held to accommodate volume increases during the reduction process. A feed screw advances the frozen blocks through the shearing chamber and includes pressure flighting to help shear material from the frozen blocks. The feed screw may include a knife holder that provides support for a knife held therein against the lateral forces experienced by the knife as the knife shears material adjacent the orifice plate.

Abstract: A pair of lugs in an opening of a grinding head of a grinding machine and a pair of corresponding openings in an orifice plate of a grinding machine are disclosed to properly orient the plate in the head during assembly. The lugs are preferably of two different sizes so that the orifice plate will only fit into the head in one orientation. The lugs may differ in size such that the person assembling the grinding machine will be able to visualize the correct orientation based on the size of the lugs and corresponding openings.

Abstract: A separation chamber particularly suited for meat processing is configurable to have various feed and discharge end diameters and/or chamber length. The separation chamber may also have configurable cutting perforations.

Abstract: Self-correcting plate guards for installation over an orifice plate of a grinding machine are disclosed. Each plate guard has studs that fit into apertures of an orifice plate. The studs and apertures are sized so that the correct guard must be used with a particular orifice plate. Furthermore, the mounting ring that holds the orifice plate in place on the grinding machine cannot be tightened for use of the grinding machine without the plate guard being installed.

Abstract: A grinding head for a grinding machine is disclosed in which the axial bore of the head is provided with flutes of variable width. The dimension of the flutes from an upstream location to a downstream location of the head is variable to provide different effects in operation of the grinding machine. Flutes may be wider in areas of the head where greater shear is expected or may be narrower in width to decrease backpressure. Flutes may be primarily located adjacent to or along an increased diameter area of the head and may be constructed by casting.

Abstract: An orifice plate with an outer grinding section and an inner grinding section is disclosed. The outer grinding section is the main grinding section leading to the main material collection stream, and an additional grinding section is present in the inner section of the orifice plate to remove useable material from material swept toward the center of the plate by the action of a rotating knife assembly on the plate. The useable material obtained at the inner section is also led to the main material collection stream.

Abstract: A wear distributing arrangement for reduction of wear in parts of a grinding machine is disclosed. The arrangement includes the provision of multiple corresponding projections and recesses at evenly spaced radial locations around the circumference of any two parts in a rotating assembly designed to be disassembled and reassembled. Parts bearing projections are reassembled into parts bearing recesses in a random fashion, so that wear to one portion of a part does not prematurely wear it.

Abstract: An assembly for providing constant force between a knife assembly and an orifice plate of a grinding machine is disclosed. The assembly comprises a stop in the grinding head of the machine past which the orifice plate cannot be inserted and a tensioning device for maintaining a constant tension of the knife assembly against the orifice plate.

Abstract: An orifice plate for a grinding machine is disclosed as having removal slots or relief areas for ease in removal of the plate from the grinding head. The slots may be aligned with recesses in the head that allow easy insertion of a removal tool. A number of embodiments are contemplated, some of which do not require a recess in the head to be present, and others which may require a recess but do not require alignment.

Abstract: A helical discharge flute formed in the sides of a collection cone of a grinding machine is disclosed. The collection cone has a collection area and a discharge area, with a discharge tube at the most downstream end. The helical discharge flute cooperates with an auger located through the bore of the collection discharge area to create a restricted flow of material into the flute. In this manner, only hard particles are removed from the collection cavity of the collection cone and discharged to the discharge tube.

Abstract: Flutes or channels are provided at the ramped entryways of an orifice plate of a grinding machine head. Ramped entryways lead from the grinding surface of the orifice plate to one or more hard material collection passages located toward the center of the plate. Providing flutes at the ramped entryway, rather than a smooth surface, helps control the flow of hard material into the hard material collection passages by creating friction to maintain hard materials in the entryway area once collected there, and by encouraging flow of hard materials toward the collection passage.

Abstract: A separating or deboning machine, for separating soft material such as meat from hard material such as bone, includes a separating chamber through which a flighted auger extends. The separating chamber has a series of perforations in a side wall, through which soft material passes upon rotation of the auger. Pressure is maintained within a flow passage defined by the separating chamber, which forces the soft material through the separations to the exterior of the separating chamber. The separating chamber is preferably formed so as to have a parallel-type wall structure, to provide a high throughput of material. The perforations are in the form of specially configured slots which provide low pressure passages for enabling soft material to pass from the flow passage to the exterior of the separating chamber. The slots are inclined in the direction of auger rotation in an upstream-to-downstream direction.

Abstract: An in-line, guided-microwave spectrometer has an antenna mounting assembly that is particularly useful in sanitary applications, such as food processing systems. The antenna mounting assembly reduces the likelihood of leakage that can corrupt the electrical operation of the system. The mounting assembly includes antenna cover plate which has a recess, and a dielectric antenna window body which has a flange which fits into the recess. The seam between the dielectric window body flange and the recess in the cover plate where adhesive is applied is isolated from an area of high pressure due to this configuration. Also, a back cover is preferably mounted over the back side of the antenna cover plate to protect electrical components on the back side of the cover plate during high pressure wash downs.