Patents by Inventor Juul Floris van den Berg
Juul Floris van den Berg has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11819037Abstract: A system and method for deboning a poultry leg part, including at least one bone and meat surrounding the bone. The system includes a conveying unit arranged for transporting the poultry leg part along a conveying path. The system also includes a deboning unit. The deboning unit includes a gripper arranged for gripping the meat surrounding the bone, the gripper being associated with a first carrier; a gripper actuator arranged for opening and closing the gripper, the gripper actuator being associated with a second carrier; and a gripper tensioner arranged for providing a biasing force for closing the gripper, the gripper tensioner being associated with a third carrier. The first, second and third carriers are arranged for displacement relative to a base member, and the base member is arranged for being transported in horizontal direction along the conveying path.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Foodmate B.V.Inventors: Dirk Cornelis Stooker, Juul Floris Van Den Berg, David Scott Hazenbroek
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Publication number: 20220142188Abstract: A poultry shackle and a method and system for adjusting a height of a poultry shackle. The shackle includes a carrier having a bore, a shaft extending through the bore, wherein the shaft is movable relative to the carrier along an axial direction of the bore, and a retainer, movable relative to the carrier at an angle, such as substantially perpendicular to. the axial direction. The retainer is movable between a first and second position. In the first position the retainer engages the shaft for maintaining the shaft in a predetermined axial position relative to the carrier. In the second position the retainer releases the shaft for allowing axial movement of the shaft relative to the carrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2020Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventors: David Scott Hazenbroek, Juul Floris Van Den Berg
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Publication number: 20220095633Abstract: A system and method for deboning a poultry leg part, including at least one bone and meat surrounding the bone. The system includes a conveying unit arranged for transporting the poultry leg part along a conveying path. The system also includes a deboning unit. The deboning unit includes a gripper arranged for gripping the meat surrounding the bone, the gripper being associated with a first carrier; a gripper actuator arranged for opening and closing the gripper, the gripper actuator being associated with a second carrier; and a gripper tensioner arranged for providing a biasing force for closing the gripper, the gripper tensioner being associated with a third carrier. The first, second and third carriers are arranged for displacement relative to a base member, and the base member is arranged for being transported in horizontal direction along the conveying path.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Dirk Cornelis Stooker, Juul Floris Van Den Berg, David Scott Hazenbroek
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Patent number: 10952445Abstract: A method of, and an apparatus (1) for, continuously harvesting surrounding meat from a successive plurality animal legs having articulated first and second animal bones and an intermediate joint. The method continuously conveys the animal legs through a path of conveyance, and determines a location of the intermediate joint. Based on the determined location of the intermediate joint, adjusting a position of the intermediate joint and a cutting implement relative to one another, and performing cutting of tissue at a location commensurate with the location of the intermediate joint. The step of determining the location of the intermediate joint is performed contactless, and without interrupting continuous conveyance of the animal legs.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2018Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Foodmate, B.V.Inventors: David Scott Hazenbroek, Dirk Cornelis Stooker, Juul Floris van den Berg
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Publication number: 20190387757Abstract: A method of, and an apparatus (1) for, continuously harvesting surrounding meat from a successive plurality animal legs having articulated first and second animal bones and an intermediate joint. The method continuously conveys the animal legs through a path of conveyance, and determines a location of the intermediate joint. Based on the determined location of the intermediate joint, adjusting a position of the intermediate joint and a cutting implement relative to one another, and performing cutting of tissue at a location commensurate with the location of the intermediate joint. The step of determining the location of the intermediate joint is performed contactless, and without interrupting continuous conveyance of the animal legs.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2018Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: David Scott Hazenbroek, Dirk Cornelis Stooker, Juul Floris van den Berg
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Patent number: 10258052Abstract: Method and apparatus (1, 11) for longitudinally cutting poultry legs along a contour defined by an inwardly extending bone structure. The method comprises the steps of, and the apparatus (1, 11) having means (25) for, suspending at least one poultry leg at its ankle joint, and conveying the thus suspended poultry leg along a predefined path of conveyance (21). At least one cutting unit (1) with a directionable knife (73) is provided in the predefined path of conveyance (21). The at least one poultry leg is positioning such that it is lined-up for a longitudinal cutting engagement by the directionable knife (73), and the directionable knife (73) is brought into cutting engagement with the thus positioned poultry leg. During cutting engagement, position and cutting direction of the directionable knife are continuously adjusted to follow the contour defined by the bone structure of the poultry leg, while the positioned poultry leg is conveyed past the directionable knife (73).Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Foodmate B.V.Inventors: Juul Floris van den Berg, David Scott Hazenbroek
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Publication number: 20190037863Abstract: Method and apparatus (1, 11) for longitudinally cutting poultry legs along a contour defined by an inwardly extending bone structure. The method comprises the steps of, and the apparatus (1, 11) having means (25) for, suspending at least one poultry leg at its ankle joint, and conveying the thus suspended poultry leg along a pre-defined path of conveyance (21). At least one cutting unit (1) with a directionable knife (73) is provided in the pre-defined path of conveyance (21). The at least one poultry leg is positioning such that it is lined-up for a longitudinal cutting engagement by the directionable knife (73), and the directionable knife (73) is brought into cutting engagement with the thus positioned poultry leg. During cutting engagement, position and cutting direction of the directionable knife are continuously adjusted to follow the contour defined by the bone structure of the poultry leg, while the positioned poultry leg is conveyed past the directionable knife (73).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2017Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Juul Floris van den Berg, David Scott Hazenbroek
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Patent number: 9351499Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2015Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Foodmate, B.V.Inventors: Juul Floris van den Berg, Mark Thomas Gustaaf den Boer, Jacobus Eliza Hazenbroek
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Publication number: 20150366227Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2015Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: Juul Floris van den Berg, Mark Thomas Gustaaf den Boer, Jacobus Eliza Hazenbroek
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Patent number: 9185918Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Foodmate BVInventors: Juul Floris van den Berg, Mark Thomas Gustaaf den Boer, Jacobus Eliza Hazenbroek
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Patent number: 9146150Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Foodmate BVInventors: Juul Floris van den Berg, Mark Thomas Gustaaf den Boer, Jacobus Eliza Hazenbroek
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Publication number: 20130333956Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Inventors: Juul Floris van den Berg, Mark Thomas Gustaaf den Boer, Jacobus Eliza Hazenbroek
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Patent number: 8267241Abstract: An article support assembly (1) is adapted for movement by a conveyor along a path of conveyance. The article support assembly (1) includes a trolley (5) for engagement by the conveyor and a shackle (3) configured to support an article, and rotatable with respect to the trolley. A turning block (33) is associated with the shackle (3), and rotation of the turning block with respect to the trolley (5) causes corresponding rotation of the shackle relative to the trolley. Yieldable indexing features (23, 27, 29, 31) are operatively arranged between the trolley (5) and the turning block (33) to define at least a first and a second incremental rotational position or orientation for the shackle (3). The yieldable indexing features (23, 27, 29, 31) of the article support assembly (1) are biased into yieldable engagement by magnetic repelling forces.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2011Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Foodmate BVInventors: Mark Thomas Gustaaf den Boer, Juul Floris van den Berg, Arij de Vrij