Abstract: According to a first embodiment, an apparatus for shielding a movable articulated structure such as robot arm to be protected from a hard working environment comprises one or more shielding sections forming with the outer surface of the robot arm a cavity which is filled with pressurized air. Adjacent portions of the shielding sections are coupled through a rotary joint allowing escape of the pressurized air out of the cavity while maintaining within the cavity a positive pressure relative to the ambient environment pressure which is sufficient to substantially prevent contamination of the robot arm from the working environment. According to a second embodiment, the apparatus comprises a shielding cover comprised of one or more cover sections forming with the outer surface of the robot arm a cavity which is filled with pressurized air.

Abstract: The apparatus for automatically removing ribs portion from belly of a beast flank, such as pork flank, comprises a conveyor provided with gripping hooks for holding the flank in position on the conveyor during ribs portion removing, a camera disposed over flank top surface showing ribs for generating image electrical signals representing an image of the flank top surface, a laser triangulation unit for generating surface profile data characterizing the flank top surface, a pair of lateral cameras for generating ribs thickness data for the ribs and analyzing device such as computer for receiving the image electrical signals, surface profile data and ribs thickness data for deriving therefrom a programmed cut profile according to a predetermined meat thickness to be left under the ribs.