Abstract: Conveyor for moving and positioning objects along a conveyor path, the conveyor including: a conveyor rail extending through a predefined conveying path; at least one carriage having a rotatable article support; and a turning block associated with the rotatable article support, to allow rotatable movement of the article support relative to the at least one carriage, wherein the conveyor further includes an aligning station for rotating the article support into a predetermined position, wherein the turning block has first disk with a first perimeter contour and a second disk with a second perimeter contour, and wherein the alignment station has means for engaging the second disk for rotatingly aligning the article support into the predetermined position.

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: A method is disclosed for mechanically deboning animal thighs for separating and collecting meat therefrom and an apparatus (1) 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 (17); cutting tissue near the hip knuckle; and engaging the thigh bone adjacent the bone holder with a meat stripper (165). The processing steps further include: moving the bone holder (17) and meat stripper (165) away from one another in a direction substantially coextensive with the longitudinal extent of the thigh bone; allowing the meat stripper (165) to pass over the knee knuckle; and collecting the meat separated from the bone. In particular the method includes and the apparatus (1) performs the process step of cutting tissue adjacent a knee knuckle of the thigh bone, prior to allowing the meat stripper (165) to pass over the knee knuckle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for mechanically deboning animal thighs for separating and collecting the meat therefrom. The method includes the steps of grasping a thigh bone of an animal thigh at a hip knuckle with a bone holder, cutting tissue adjacent a knee knuckle, cutting tissue near the hip knuckle, and engaging the thigh bone adjacent the bone holder with a meat stripper. The method also includes 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. The apparatus includes a plurality of processing stations for carrying out the individual steps, with the processing stations being arranged along a path of conveyance defined by a conveyor chain moving through a predefined path.

Abstract: A method of automatically removing meat from an animal extremity that includes first and second bones articulated by a joint and surrounded by the meat. The method includes obtaining the animal extremity, holding the first bone at a free end thereof remote from the joint, separating the meat from the first bone while moving the meat lengthwise of the first bone in a direction toward the joint, and moving the meat just short of the joint. The method further includes severing the second bone from the first bone adjacent the joint, collecting the severed second bone with the meat attached thereto, holding the thus collected second bone at a distal end thereof and removing the meat from the second bone longitudinally thereof.

Abstract: An article support is disclosed for movement by a conveyor along a conveying path that has treatment units and turning stations there along. The article support includes a carriage for engagement by a conveyor, and a holder for supporting an article that is rotatably mounted to the carriage. A turning gear is associated with the holder to enable rotation of a supported article about a vertical axis with respect to the carriage. Rotation is effected in response to the article support being moved past a turning station along a conveying path. Indexing arrangements are further operatively arranged between the turning gear and the carriage for indexing at least a first and a second position of incremental rotation. The indexing arrangements include first and second pairs of confronting magnetic elements. The magnetic elements are each positioned in accordance with the relevant first and second incremental rotational positions.

Abstract: Conveyor for moving and positioning objects along a conveyor path, the conveyor including: a conveyor rail extending through a predefined conveying path; at least one carriage having a rotatable article support; and a turning block associated with the rotatable article support, to allow rotatable movement of the article support relative to the at least one carriage, wherein the conveyor further includes an aligning station for rotating the article support into a predetermined position, wherein the turning block has first disk with a first perimeter contour and a second disk with a second perimeter contour, and wherein the alignment station has means for engaging the second disk for rotatingly aligning the article support into the predetermined position.

Abstract: Conveyor for moving and positioning objects along a conveyor path, the conveyor including: a conveyor rail extending through a predefined conveying path; at least one carriage having a rotatable article support; and a turning block associated with the rotatable article support, to allow rotatable movement of the article support relative to the at least one carriage, wherein the conveyor further includes an aligning station for rotating the article support into a predetermined position, wherein the turning block has first disk with a first perimeter contour and a second disk with a second perimeter contour, and wherein the alignment station has means for engaging the second disk for rotatingly aligning the article support into the predetermined position.

Abstract: A method of automatically removing meat from an animal extremity that includes first and second bones articulated by a joint and surrounded by the meat. The method includes obtaining the animal extremity, holding the first bone at a free end thereof remote from the joint, separating the meat from the first bone while moving the meat lengthwise of the first bone in a direction toward the joint, and moving the meat just short of the joint. The method further includes severing the second bone from the first bone adjacent the joint, collecting the severed second bone with the meat attached thereto, holding the thus collected second bone at a distal end thereof and removing the meat from the second bone longitudinally thereof.

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: A conveyor is disclosed for moving and positioning objects along a conveyor path. The conveyor includes a conveyor rail extending along the conveyor path and at least one carriage having a rotatable article support mounted for movement along the conveyor rail. A turning block associated with the rotatable article support facilitates rotatable movement of the article support when the turning block is rotated. The conveyor further includes an aligning station for rotating the article support into a predetermined position when the turning block passes through the aligning station as the article support moves through the aligning station. The turning may be formed with a first disk with a first perimeter contour and a second disk with a second perimeter contour. The alignment station has projections in the form of pins for engaging the second disk as needed for rotating the turning block and article support between indexed orientations until the article support is oriented in a predetermined desired orientation.

Abstract: A method of removing a sleeve of meat (D) from an animal part having a bone with a first knuckle (B) on one of two opposite ends of an elongate bone shaft (A) and a second knuckle (C) on another of the two opposite ends. The method includes the steps of engaging the bone of the animal part with a part of a meat stripper (13) between its first knuckle (B) and the sleeve of meat (D) and engaging the bone by a knuckle gripper (71) between the part of the meat stripper (13) and the first knuckle (B). The method continues with moving the meat stripper (13) and the knuckle gripper (71) away from one another, while stripping and gathering the sleeve of meat (D) towards the second knuckle (C). In a subsequent step the method discontinues moving away the meat stripper (13) and knuckle gripper (71) from one another upon the part of the meat stripper (13) engaging the second knuckle (C).

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: Meat processing method and apparatus for automatically cutting individual poultry or fowl carcasses into various meat products, including conveying at least one previously eviscerated individual carcass along a path of conveyance and through a freezing unit arranged for allowing at least a portion of the at least one carcass to become frozen and conveying the at least one carcass, upon its exit from the freezing unit, to a cutting station downstream of the freezing unit for performing at least one partial cut through a frozen portion of the at least one carcass.

Abstract: A poultry wing cutter is configured to receive poultry carcasses breast first, align the carcasses, and stretch the wings of the carcasses away from the body until the shoulder joints dislocate and separate. In the process, a portion of the breast meat is pulled outwardly with the wings and a pair of rotary knives slices off the wings. The blades begin their cuts part way into the breast meat of the bird so that a piece of breast meat remains attached to the severed wings to form a “new style” or “silver dollar” or “fast food style” wing depending upon how the wing cutter is adjusted. Feeding the birds breast first through the wing cutter results in wings with a consistent cut and weight from wing-to-wing, which is desired by consumers. Thus, the resulting wings are more in demand and therefore more valuable.

Abstract: An article support assembly includes a carriage for riding along a conveyor and a holder and turning block depending from and rotatable together relative to the carriage for supporting an article. Rotation of an article is effected in response to the article support and turning block moving past a turning station along a conveying path. Position stops are operatively arranged between the turning block and the carriage for holding the turning block and holder yieldably in at least one predetermined indexed orientation relative to the carriage. The position stops include at least one pair of confronting magnetic elements associated with the carriage and the turning block and located to align with each other when the turning block and holder are in the predetermined indexed orientation.

Abstract: A poultry wing cutter is configured to receive poultry carcasses breast first, align the carcasses, and stretch the wings of the carcasses away from the body until the shoulder joints dislocate and separate. In the process, a portion of the breast meat is pulled outwardly with the wings and a pair of rotary knives slices off the wings. The blades begin their cuts part way into the breast meat of the bird so that a piece of breast meat remains attached to the severed wings to form a “new style” or “silver dollar” or “fast food style” wing depending upon how the wing cutter is adjusted. Feeding the birds breast first through the wing cutter results in wings with a consistent cut and weight from wing-to-wing, which is desired by consumers. Thus, the resulting wings are more in demand and therefore more valuable.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for mechanically deboning animal thighs for separating and collecting meat therefrom and an apparatus (1) 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 (17); cutting tissue near the hip knuckle; and engaging the thigh bone adjacent the bone holder with a meat stripper (165). The processing steps further include: moving the bone holder (17) and meat stripper (165) away from one another in a direction substantially coextensive with the longitudinal extent of the thigh bone; allowing the meat stripper (165) to pass over the knee knuckle; and collecting the meat separated from the bone. In particular the method includes and the apparatus (1) performs the process step of cutting tissue adjacent a knee knuckle of the thigh bone, prior to allowing the meat stripper (165) to pass over the knee knuckle.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for mechanically collecting meat from animal parts having an elongated bone extending through a sleeve of meat. The device includes a deboning unit adapted to be associated with a supporting tray for supporting one of the animal parts, a stripper diaphragm on one end of the supporting tray, when associated with the deboning unit, and a movable bone pusher rod and a movable tubular knife on an opposite end of the supporting tray, when associated with the deboning unit. The bone pusher rod and the tubular knife are arranged concentrically about one another. A mechanism is provided for advancing and retracting the bone pusher rod and the tubular knife between first positions, allowing loading of the animal part, and second positions, in which the meat is collected against the stripper diaphragm and the bone is pushed partly through the diaphragm.

Abstract: An article support assembly is disclosed for movement by a conveyor along a conveying path that has processing stations and turning stations therealong. The article support includes a carriage for riding along the conveyor and a holder depending from the carriage for supporting an article. The holder is rotatably mounted with respect to the carriage. A turning block is associated with and rotates with the holder to enable rotation of a supported article when the turning block is rotated. Rotation is effected in response to the article support, and particularly the turning block, being moved past a turning station along a conveying path. Position stops are operatively arranged between the turning block and the carriage for holding the turning block and thus the holder yieldably in at least one predetermined indexed orientation relative to the carriage.