Abstract: Deboning machines of the type in which an auger conveys ground meat and bone materials through a perforated conduit from one end thereof while exerting pressure on said materials to force meat components out of the conduit through the perforations thereof at the same time that bone components are being conveyed to discharge at the other end of the conduit through and adjustable valve ring which surrounds an extension of the auger and is adapted to control pressure within the conduit, are improved by constructing the valve ring with an internal, circumferential series of indentations confronting the auger extension and extending axially so as to be open to discharge for positively expelling bone components. Preferably, the indentations are of scallop formation and the confronting face of the auger extension passing through the valve ring is provided with a circumferential series of axially extending recesses that cooperate with the indentation of the valve ring in facilitating discharge of bone components.

Abstract: A food grinder has an upstanding base unit within which is included an electric motor. A worm-driven gear linkage serves to deliver motion from the motor. Defined in one side of the base unit is a receptacle within which is received a cassette. The cassette includes a food grinding mechanism which receives motion from the linkage so as to operate that mechanism.

Abstract: In known processes and known apparatus for mechanical separation of a combination of meat and bone into useful fractions, the combination is conveyed as by a screw through a screen, which constitutes a portion of an elongated cylindrical conduit, and softer components are expressed through the screen, while harder components are contained by the screen.

Abstract: A flesh and skin separating device for fruit and vegetable products utilizing a rotating pneumatic tire bearing against the circumference of a perforated drum and driving the flesh of such products, previously doctored upon the drum surface, through the perforations of the drum while the skins thereof remain upon the exterior surface of the drum. Means is provided for adjusting the distance between the parallel axes of the drum and tire. Means is also provided for adjusting the pneumatic pressure of the tire while it is rotating.

Abstract: A waste treatment system which is capable of handling materials of widely different physical characteristics such as glass, metal, and fibrous and plastic waste, incorporates a rotor rotatably mounted in a waste receiving vessel, the rotor being adapted to fracture brittle material, compact malleable material, and otherwise pulverize the frangible waste to a particulate form small enough to be extracted through a perforated plate. The rotor also circulates the material in a slurry form within the vessel in a vortical pattern so that the waste is repeatedly treated until it is ejected from the vessel. A series of space attrition bars are mounted outwardly of the rotor to provide an annularly shaped, discontinuous attrition surface, and hammers or flails are pivotally mounted on the rotor to reduce into smaller pieces materials which are flung upon or between the attrition bars by the rotor.