Abstract: A combinational weighing machine has weigh hoppers for weighing articles, a dispersion feeder for dispersing articles to be weighed, supply troughs for supplying articles from the dispersion feeder to the weigh hoppers and a control unit for controlling overall operations of the machine inclusive of combining weight values outputted from the weigh hoppers and discharging articles from selected ones of these weigh hoppers. The weighing machine is placed inside a washing device which forms a closed chamber inside and covers the weighing machine from all its four sides as well as from above. Nozzles for emitting warm water and a cleaning liquid are provided inside this chamber such that the liquids are prevented from splashing the work areas around the machine. The washing device may be lifted and kept away from the weighing machine during a normal mode of operation of the latter.

Abstract: A body of a butchered animal suspended at its hind legs by suspension conveying means is conveyed by means of a conveying table to a station for splitting the body into two halves along the spine, where the body and the conveying table become stationary and the body is turned through 90 degrees in a splitting position between body supporting means and pusher means which is indexed with the conveying table, so that the back of the body will face the body supporting means. Then, sensing means senses the presence of the body in the splitting position and actuates the body supporting means to bring it to an operative position to support the body, while the pusher means is also actuated to urge push rods extending through the conveying table into contact with the body to clamp it tightly to the body supporting means.

Abstract: An apparatus for skinning an animal is disclosed which apparatus permits skinning to be performed mechanically and comprises a roller table supporting the body of an animal and capable of moving in both elevational and tilting movements, a transfer and support table disposed adjacent the roller table, a guide roller disposed adjacent the transfer table, a cutter head mounting a cutter and juxtaposed against the guide roller for movement toward and away from the guide roller, and a pair of opposed rollers or two sets of endless chains disposed in a region beneath the line of contact between the cutter and the guide roller for pulling the skin stripped from the body of the animal by the cutter.