Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing poultry parts moving in succession along a path of conveyance. The method provides for an apparatus (1) including at least a conveyor (5) arranged to convey a succession of poultry parts along the path of conveyance downstream of a loading area. The method further includes the step of loading the poultry parts on the conveyor (5) in the loading area, while operating the conveyor to convey the poultry parts in succession. Further the apparatus provided by the method also includes a transfer means (57) in the path of conveyance downstream of the loading area. The transfer means (57) is operated to divide the succession of poultry parts into at least two parallel streams. When coincident with the at least two parallel streams the method performs at least two processing steps in a side-by-side arrangement at a location downstream along the path of conveyance.

Abstract: Meat processing equipment is disclosed that includes a first element having a first face; a second element having a second face. The first and second faces extend parallel to one another and define a common plane between the first and second faces. The first and second elements are relatively movable with respect to one another. Yieldable arresting features are included for yieldably arresting the first and second elements in at least one predetermined position of relative movement, the yieldable arresting features include cooperating first and second permanent magnets, associated with at least one of the first and second elements.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of mechanically deboning animal thighs for separating and collecting meat there from and an apparatus and an alternative apparatus for performing the method, including automated individual processing steps. The processing steps include: grasping a thigh bone of an animal thigh at a hip knuckle with a bone holder; cutting tissue near the hip knuckle; and engaging the thigh bone adjacent the bone holder with a meat stripper. The processing steps further include: moving the bone holder and meat stripper away from one another in a direction substantially coextensive with the longitudinal extend of the thigh bone; allowing the meat stripper to pass over the knee knuckle; and collecting the meat separated from the bone. In particular the method includes and each of the apparatuses perform the process step of cutting tissue adjacent a knee knuckle of the thigh bone, prior to allowing the meat stripper to pass over the knee knuckle.

Abstract: Meat processing equipment is disclosed that includes a first element having a first face; a second element having a second face. The first and second faces extend parallel to one another and define a common plane between the first and second faces. The first and second elements are relatively movable with respect to one another. Yieldable arresting features are included for yieldably arresting the first and second elements in at least one predetermined position of relative movement, the yieldable arresting features include cooperating first and second permanent magnets, associated with at least one of the first and second elements.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for mechanically deboning animal thighs for separating and collecting meat therefrom and an apparatus for performing the method, including automated individual processing steps. The processing steps include: grasping a thigh bone of an animal thigh at a hip knuckle with a bone holder; cutting tissue near the hip knuckle; and engaging the thigh bone adjacent the bone holder with a meat stripper. The processing steps further include: moving the bone holder and meat stripper away from one another in a direction substantially coextensive with the longitudinal extent of the thigh bone; allowing the meat stripper to pass over the knee knuckle; and collecting the meat separated from the bone. In particular the method includes and the apparatus performs the process step of cutting tissue adjacent a knee knuckle of the thigh bone, prior to allowing the meat stripper to pass over the knee knuckle.

Abstract: Meat processing equipment is disclosed that includes a first element having a first face; a second element having a second face. The first and second faces extend parallel to one another and define a common plane between the first and second faces. The first and second elements are relatively movable with respect to one another. Yieldable arresting features are included for yieldably arresting the first and second elements in at least one predetermined position of relative movement, the yieldable arresting features include cooperating first and second permanent magnets, associated with at least one of the first and second elements.

Abstract: An animal part holder has first and second gripper plates between which an animal part can be slid. A mechanism coupled to the gripper plates for yieldably biasing the gripper plates toward one another so that the gripper plates engage and grip an animal part disposed between the gripper plates. In addition, the mechanism is configured to cause the gripper plates to tighten their grip on the animal part in response to a pulling force tending to pull the animal part out of the grip of the holder. A method of gripping the bone of an animal part includes disposing the bone between gripper plates and applying a biasing force to the gripper plates to cause the gripper plates to bear against the bone with a force. The method may further include applying a force to the gripper plates greater than the biasing force in response to a pulling force applied to the animal part to cause the gripper plates to grip the bone tighter.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of mechanically deboning animal thighs for separating and collecting meat there from and an apparatus and an alternative apparatus for performing the method, including automated individual processing steps. The processing steps include: grasping a thigh bone of an animal thigh at a hip knuckle with a bone holder; cutting tissue near the hip knuckle; and engaging the thigh bone adjacent the bone holder with a meat stripper. The processing steps further include: moving the bone holder and meat stripper away from one another in a direction substantially coextensive with the longitudinal extend of the thigh bone; allowing the meat stripper to pass over the knee knuckle; and collecting the meat separated from the bone. In particular the method includes and each of the apparatuses perform the process step of cutting tissue adjacent a knee knuckle of the thigh bone, prior to allowing the meat stripper to pass over the knee knuckle.

Abstract: A meat stripper is disclosed for stripping meat from the bone of an animal part. The meat stripper includes a slide block and a first stripper plate assembly including an arm pivotally mounted to the slide block and having a first stripper plate at an opposite end. A second stripper plate assembly including an arm is pivotally mounted to the slide block and has a second stripper plate at an opposite end with the second stripper plate opposing the first stripper plate. The first and second stripper plates move away from each other to open the meat stripper when the arms are pivoted apart and move toward each other to surround the bone when the arms are pivoted together. A mechanism is disclosed for moving the stripper plates along the length of the bone to strip meat from the bone.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of mechanically deboning animal thighs for separating and collecting meat there from and an apparatus and an alternative apparatus for performing the method, including automated individual processing steps. The processing steps include: grasping a thigh bone of an animal thigh at a hip knuckle with a bone holder; cutting tissue near the hip knuckle; and engaging the thigh bone adjacent the bone holder with a meat stripper. The processing steps further include: moving the bone holder and meat stripper away from one another in a direction substantially coextensive with the longitudinal extend of the thigh bone; allowing the meat stripper to pass over the knee knuckle; and collecting the meat separated from the bone. In particular the method includes and each of the apparatuses perform the process step of cutting tissue adjacent a knee knuckle of the thigh bone, prior to allowing the meat stripper to pass over the knee knuckle.

Abstract: Meat processing equipment is disclosed that includes a first element having a first face; a second element having a second face. The first and second faces extend parallel to one another and define a common plane between the first and second faces. The first and second elements are relatively movable with respect to one another. Yieldable arresting features are included for yieldably arresting the first and second elements in at least one predetermined position of relative movement, the yieldable arresting features include cooperating first and second permanent magnets, associated with at least one of the first and second elements.

Abstract: Meat processing equipment is disclosed that includes a first element having a first face; a second element having a second face. The first and second faces extend parallel to one another and define a common plane between the first and second faces. The first and second elements are relatively movable with respect to one another. Yieldable arresting features are included for yieldably arresting the first and second elements in at least one predetermined position of relative movement, the yieldable arresting features include cooperating first and second permanent magnets, associated with at least one of the first and second elements.

Abstract: Method of and system for automatically deboning poultry breast caps containing meat and a skeletal structure to obtain breast fillets. The method includes providing a mandrel with a plane of symmetry in a vertical orientation and supporting a breast cap with its skeletal structure including a keel bone on top of the mandrel. The breast cap being held to the mandrel with the keel bone aligned with the plane of symmetry. By moving the mandrel through a conveying path extending through a substantially horizontal plane in a direction of travel it passes a cutting implement of a breast cutter engaging the meat along the keel bone. The cutting implement causes at least one incision along the area where the meat is attached to the keel bone and a breast fillet remover downstream of the breast cutter engages between the skeletal structure and the meat and separates the meat as a pair of single fillets from the skeletal structure.

Abstract: An animal part holder has first and second gripper plates between which an animal part can be slid. A mechanism coupled to the gripper plates for yieldably biasing the gripper plates toward one another so that the gripper plates engage and grip an animal part disposed between the gripper plates. In addition, the mechanism is configured to cause the gripper plates to tighten their grip on the animal part in response to a pulling force tending to pull the animal part out of the grip of the holder. A method of gripping the bone of an animal part includes disposing the bone between gripper plates and applying a biasing force to the gripper plates to cause the gripper plates to bear against the bone with a force. The method may further include applying a force to the gripper plates greater than the biasing force in response to a pulling force applied to the animal part to cause the gripper plates to grip the bone tighter.

Abstract: Meat processing equipment is disclosed that includes a first element having a first face; a second element having a second face. The first and second faces extend parallel to one another and define a common plane between the first and second faces. The first and second elements are relatively movable with respect to one another. Yieldable arresting features are included for yieldably arresting the first and second elements in at least one predetermined position of relative movement, the yieldable arresting features include cooperating first and second permanent magnets, associated with at least one of the first and second elements.

Abstract: Meat processing equipment is disclosed that includes a first element having a first face; a second element having a second face. The first and second faces extend parallel to one another and define a common plane between the first and second faces. The first and second elements are relatively movable with respect to one another. Yieldable arresting features are included for yieldably arresting the first and second elements in at least one predetermined position of relative movement, the yieldable arresting features include cooperating first and second permanent magnets associated with at least one of the first and second elements.

Abstract: Method of mechanically removing skin from animal parts that have a bone part extending therein, including: obtaining at least one bone holder (16) depending from an overhead conveyor for movement through a given path; obtaining an animal part; holding the animal part from the at least one bone holder (16) by engagement of its bone part; moving the animal part through the given path; engaging an outer surface of the animal part, when moving through the given path, with a perimeter surface (44) of a rotating gripper (38); maintaining a downward force on the animal part on the rotating gripper; entrapping a portion of skin of the animal part between the perimeter surface (44) of the rotating gripper (38) and a fixed knife blade (40); and pulling the skin away from underlying meat of the animal part.

Abstract: Method of and system for automatically deboning poultry breast caps containing meat and a skeletal structure to obtain breast fillets. The method includes providing a mandrel (25) with a plane of symmetry in a vertical orientation and supporting a breast cap having a neck end and a tail end with its skeletal structure including a keel bone on top of the mandrel (25). The breast cap being held to the mandrel (25) with the keel bone aligned with the plane of symmetry. By moving the mandrel (25) through a conveying path extending through a substantially horizontal plane in a direction of travel (27) it passes a cutting implement (145) of a breast cutter (113) engaging the meat along the keel bone. The cutting implement (145) causes at least one incision along the area where the meat is attached to the keel bone and a breast fillet remover (115) downstream of the breast cutter (113) engages between the skeletal structure and the meat and separates the meat as a pair of single fillets from the skeletal structure.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of, as well as an apparatus for, weighing items of poultry, such as poultry or chicken carcasses, in conjunction with a meat processing systems (5, 7). The method includes: a first step of providing a weighing bridge (1) having force measuring means (25) with two load cells; a second step of conveying a suspended item of poultry in a predefined path extending over the weighing bridge (1); a third step of transferring substantially the weight of the suspended item of poultry onto the weighing bridge; and a fourth step of reading out values detected by the load cells of the force measuring means (25); and calculating an actual weight using an average of the detected force values over a predetermined period of time. The apparatus includes components for carrying out the method.

Abstract: Method of and system for automatically deboning poultry breast caps containing meat and a skeletal structure to obtain breast fillets. The method includes providing a mandrel (25) with a plane of symmetry in a vertical orientation and supporting a breast cap having a neck end and a tail end with its skeletal structure including a keel bone on top of the mandrel (25). The breast cap being held to the mandrel (25) with the keel bone aligned with the plane of symmetry. By moving the mandrel (25) through a conveying path extending through a substantially horizontal plane in a direction of travel (27) it passes a cutting implement (145) of a breast cutter (113) engaging the meat along the keel bone. The cutting implement (145) causes at least one incision along the area where the meat is attached to the keel bone and a breast fillet remover (115) downstream of the breast cutter (113) engages between the skeletal structure and the meat and separates the meat as a pair of single fillets from the skeletal structure.