Abstract: A dehider includes an elongated handle having side-by-side circular disks, one of which is stationary and the other is rotary. A pinion gear is power-driven to rotate the rotary disk.

Abstract: A dehider tool has first and second blades arranged in contact with each other that rotate in opposite directions on a common blade axis. A drive assembly having a pneumatic motor and respective drive belts drives the blades in opposite directions about the common blade axis. The blades each have an outer cutting edge in the shape of a regular convex polygon, such as a decagon. The blades have an inner opening for coupling with a blade holder of the drive assembly. The inner opening has the shape of a regular convex polygon, such as a pentagon. The blades are covered with a hard surface coating to extend their service life.

Abstract: A rotary knife includes a handle, a rotatable annular blade, and a blade carrier assembly. The blade carrier assembly includes an expandable blade housing operably coupled to the handle and configured to removably support the blade. The blade housing is movable relative to the handle between a blade-securing condition, in which the blade housing securely supports the blade for rotational operation, and a relatively expanded blade-releasing condition, in which the blade housing permits removal and installation of the blade relative to the blade housing. The carrier assembly includes a lever mechanism shiftably mounted relative to the handle and configured when shifted to expand the blade housing from the blade-securing condition to the blade-releasing condition.

Abstract: A power operated knife comprises a blade supporting structure supporting an annular blade for rotation about a central axis. The blade and blade supporting structure are engagable along bearing contact locations that are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the axis so that the blade is stabilized both radially and axially as the knife operates. The blade supporting structure comprises a split blade housing member that is radially expandable and contractible to receive the blade. The split blade housing member and blade engage along relatively short lines of bearing contact that serve to minimize friction and blade heating when the knife operates. The bearing locations are spaced apart both circumferentially around the blade perimeter and in the direction of the axis so that the blade position is stabilized during operation of the knife.

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife having a large diameter, annular rotary knife blade and interfitting blade housing wherein the rotary knife blade includes notched bearing race providing for an enhanced or enlarged area of bearing contact between the blade bearing race and the corresponding blade housing bearing structure. The enhanced area of bearing contact is offset radially inwardly of and axially from a radial outer surface of a drive gear region of the blade thereby reducing wear on the radial outer surface of the blade drive gear region.

Abstract: A power operated knife comprises a blade supporting structure supporting an annular blade for rotation about a central axis. The blade and blade supporting structure are engagable along bearing contact locations that are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the axis so that the blade is stabilized both radially and axially as the knife operates. The blade supporting structure comprises a split blade housing member that is radially expandible and contractible to receive the blade. The split blade housing member and blade engage along relatively short lines of bearing contact that serve to minimize friction and blade heating when the knife operates. The bearing locations are spaced apart both circumferentially around the blade perimeter and in the direction of the axis so that the blade position is stabilized during operation of the knife.

Abstract: A dehider includes a pneumatic motor driving a pair of disk blades in opposed cutting oscillations and a governor that controls the speed of the motor. Governor balls, acting as centrifugal weights, spin with the motor and push against an inclined flange on a valve head to move the valve head towards a valve seat. The motion of the valve head compresses a biasing spring and restricts the flow of pressurized air as the desired speed is exceeded. As speed decreases, centrifugal force decreases and the biasing spring opens the valve to provide additional power to the motor. The disk blades are provided with a cylindrical central lip that substantially increases the area of the central bearing that the blades turn on and produces significantly longer blade life.

Abstract: A dehider includes a pneumatic motor driving a pair of disk blades in opposed cutting oscillations and a governor that controls the speed of the motor. Governor balls, acting as centrifugal weights, spin with the motor and push against an inclined flange on a valve head to move the valve head towards a valve seat. The motion of the valve head compresses a biasing spring and restricts the flow of pressurized air as the desired speed is exceeded. As speed decreases, centrifugal force decreases and the biasing spring opens the valve to provide additional power to the motor. The disk blades are provided with a cylindrical central lip that substantially increases the area of the central bearing that the blades turn on and produces significantly longer blade life.

Abstract: A dehider includes a pneumatic motor driving a pair of disk blades in opposed cutting oscillations and a governor that controls the speed of the motor. Governor balls, acting as centrifugal weights, spin with the motor and push against an inclined flange on a valve head to move the valve head towards a valve seat. The motion of the valve head compresses a biasing spring and restricts the flow of pressurized air as the desired speed is exceeded. As speed decreases, centrifugal force decreases and the biasing spring opens the valve to provide additional power to the motor. The disk blades are provided with a cylindrical central lip that substantially increases the area of the central bearing that the blades turn on and produces significantly longer blade life.

Abstract: A dehider includes a pneumatic motor driving a pair of disk blades in opposed cutting oscillations and a governor that controls the speed of the motor. Governor balls, acting as centrifugal weights, spin with the motor and push against an inclined flange on a valve head to move the valve head towards a valve seat. The motion of the valve head compresses a biasing spring and restricts the flow of pressurized air as the desired speed is exceeded. As speed decreases, centrifugal force decreases and the biasing spring opens the valve to provide additional power to the motor. The disk blades are provided with a cylindrical central lip that substantially increases the area of the central bearing that the blades turn on and produces significantly longer blade life.

Abstract: A dehider includes a pneumatic motor driving a pair of disk blades in opposed cutting oscillations and a governor that controls the speed of the motor. Governor balls, acting as centrifugal weights, spin with the motor and push against an inclined flange on a valve head to move the valve head towards a valve seat. The motion of the valve head compresses a biasing spring and restricts the flow of pressurized air as the desired speed is exceeded. As speed decreases, centrifugal force decreases and the biasing spring opens the valve to provide additional power to the motor. The disk blades are provided with a cylindrical central lip that substantially increases the area of the central bearing that the blades turn on and produces significantly longer blade life.

Abstract: A method for trimming an undesirable portion of a metatarsal pad of a chicken paw using a power operated rotary knife. The steps of the method include: a) providing a power operated rotary knife including an annular knife blade rotatable about a central axis and defining a central open area; moving one of the rotary knife and the chicken paw with respect to the other to position the rotary knife with respect to a bottom of the chicken paw such that the undesirable portion of the metatarsal pad is within the central open area of the blade and the cutting edge of the blade is proximate to a periphery of the undesirable portion; and moving one of the rotary knife and the chicken paw such that the cutting edge of the blade slices a layer of the metatarsal pad thereby removing at least part of the undesirable portion.

Abstract: A power operated knife comprises a blade supporting structure supporting an annular blade for rotation about a central axis. The blade and blade supporting structure are engagable along bearing contact locations that are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the axis so that the blade is stabilized both radially and axially as the knife operates. The blade supporting structure comprises a split blade housing member that is radially expandible and contractible to receive the blade. The split blade housing member and blade engage along relatively short lines of bearing contact that serve to minimize friction and blade heating when the knife operates. The bearing locations are spaced apart both circumferentially around the blade perimeter and in the direction of the axis so that the blade position is stabilized during operation of the knife.

Abstract: A dehider includes a pneumatic motor driving a pair of disk blades in opposed cutting oscillations and a governor that controls the speed of the motor. Governor balls, acting as centrifugal weights, spin with the motor and push against an inclined flange on a valve head to move the valve head towards a valve seat. The motion of the valve head compresses a biasing spring and restricts the flow of pressurized air as the desired speed is exceeded. As speed decreases, centrifugal force decreases and the biasing spring opens the valve to provide additional power to the motor. The disk blades are provided with a cylindrical central lip that substantially increases the area of the central bearing that the blades turn on and produces significantly longer blade life.

Abstract: A rotary knife having a ring blade that defines a closed loop cutting surface for cutting material which the ring blade contacts during rotation. Materials cut using the blade such as meat cut from a carcass or trimmed from a piece of meat are suctioned away from the blade. The material is drawn into a blade housing which supports the ring blade. A housing body has a wall that defines a housing interior into which material separated by the cutting surface of the ring blade moves as it is cut. The blade housing body defines a bearing surface that is defined by a wall of the housing body that supports the ring blade and allows the ring blade to rotate with respect to the blade housing. Alternate coupling designed of the housing body allow the blade housing to be coupled to a suction tube for withdrawing meat from the interior of the blade housing.

Abstract: A power operated knife comprises a blade supporting structure supporting an annular blade for rotation about a central axis. The blade and blade supporting structure are engagable along bearing contact locations that are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the axis so that the blade is stabilized both radially and axially as the knife operates. The blade supporting structure comprises a split blade housing member that is radially expandible and contractible to receive the blade. The split blade housing member and blade engage along relatively short lines of bearing contact that serve to minimize friction and blade heating when the knife operates. The bearing locations are spaced apart both circumferentially around the blade perimeter and in the direction of the axis so that the blade position is stabilized during operation of the knife.

Abstract: A tool device for rotary knives of the type that comprises a handle associated with a tool supporting assembly and an actuation for the rotary actuation of the tool with respect to the tool supporting assembly, the tool comprising a substantially tubular coupling body that is associable with the tool supporting assembly and being provided with a coupling to the actuation, and a cutter that is rigidly associated with the body and is arranged so as to protrude substantially radially with respect to the body.

Abstract: A power operated knife including a blade supporting structure supporting an annular blade for rotation about a central axis. The blade and blade supporting structure are engagable along bearing contact locations that are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the axis so that the blade is stabilized both radially and axially as the knife operates. The blade supporting structure comprises a split blade housing member that is radially expandible and contractible to receive the blade. The split blade housing member and blade engage along relatively short lines of bearing contact that serve to minimize friction and blade heating when the knife operates. The bearing locations are spaced apart both circumferentially around the blade perimeter and in the direction of the axis so that the blade position is stabilized during operation of the knife.

Abstract: A rotary knife comprising, an annular blade having a central axis, a blade supporting head assembly supporting the blade for rotation about the axis, a manually grippable handle assembly connected to the head assembly, and a flex shaft drive transmission for driving the blade about the axis. The handle assembly comprises a core, a hand grip surrounding the core, and a connector unit that secures the hand grip to the core. The core has a first end region rigidly fixed with respect to the head assembly and a second end region spaced from the bead assembly. The core defines a drive transmission guiding channel leading toward the blade. The hand grip has a first end region proximal the blade support assembly and a second end region proximal the second core end region. The connector detachably secures the hand grip in fixed relationship with the core. The connector engages the second end regions and is detachable for enabling hand grip removal and replacement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for processing non-homogeneous bodies. In exemplary embodiments, the present invention may be employed for aseptically slaughtering and processing animals for food, food products, chemicals, or hides. The methods and apparatus of the present invention require little or no human interaction with the animal carcass during slaughter and processing thereby reducing the possibility of injury to workers and contamination of the carcass through human contact.

Abstract: A rotary knife having a handle having a head section, a blade housing that comprises a split, ring-like member supported by the head section and defining a circumferentially extending groove, an annular blade supported in the blade housing groove for rotation about a central axis. The blade housing comprises a ring-like member having an annularly extending blade supporting groove that opens radially inwardly and in which the blade is rotatably disposed. The groove peripheral wall defines a plurality of blade engaging bearing faces spaced apart throughout the blade housing periphery and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart fat receiving recesses. The blade housing also defines a plurality of fat directing channels each communicating with a fat receiving recess for directing fat from the recess out of the blade housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for aseptically separating and removing the hide of an animal from its carcass wherein the hide is separated from the carcass prior to marking of the hide using at least one cutting implement inserted between the hide and the carcass for cutting the connecting tissue attaching the hide and carcass. The hide, once separated, is then marked and removed from the carcass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a de-rinding tool for pork, with a knife part and a driven roller as well as with a stripper. According to the invention a fixed stripper as well as a movable stripper are provided, each of these being assigned an output gap by means of which a rind output in vertical and horizontal de-rinding direction can be obtained with easy tool operation so that the exiting rind does not interfere with the de-rinding tool or its operation.

Abstract: A heavy-duty game hoist for suspending large game, such as deer, or other animals for processing in a stable, non-rotating manner. The preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates a hoist configured to be affixed to a pole, tree, or the like, the hoist including a first vertical support member which engages the pole or tree, the first vertical support member engaging a frame which includes a laterally emanating horizontal support member having first and second ends, the first end engaging the first vertical support member, the second end distal from the first vertical support member, the second end of the horizontal support member supporting a second vertical support member. In the preferred embodiment, the second vertical support member has a square or other configured conduit formed longitudinally therethrough, and is configured to telescopically engage a vertical boom member which includes a gambrel for engaging and supporting the game.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method and apparatus for removing tough, inedible skin and underlying fat from a frozen fish such as tuna, marlin, shark, and swordfish. The apparatus includes a high speed, contoured rotary cutter disposed in a housing with a tailored aperture through which is exposed a limited sector portion of the cutter. The apparatus is manually applied to the frozen fish and traversed across the fish in a series of passes to effectively and efficiently denude the fish of substantially all of the skin and fat. A depth of cut guide precludes burrowing of the cutter into the comestible flesh thereby maintaining high yield.

Abstract: A revolving blade skinning device is provided with a pair of housing shells, a drive motor mounted within the housing shells, a blade support mounted to the housing shells, a blade mounted on the blade support for rotation relative to the housing shells, and a gear drive situated in the housing shells and connected to the motor and the blade support. The gear drive includes a drive wheel driven by the drive motor and a belt situated between the drive wheel and the blade support. The belt imparts motion from the drive wheel to the blade support. The axis of rotation of the drive motor lies in the plane defined by the blade.

Abstract: A revolving blade skinning device and blade is described, in which a revolving blade is rotatably arranged between two covers, and wherein the revolving blade is embodied such that cutting edge areas with constant cutting edge radii alternate with notches. In accordance with the present invention it is provided that the notches are embodied V-shaped and as cutting edges, that they respectively take up an angle of 10.degree. to 20.degree. and the cutting edge areas respectively an angle of 25.degree. to 35.degree., and that furthermore the revolving blade projects past the covers in such a way, that in the process the cutting edge radius of the revolving blade is maximally greater by 1.5 mm than the covers.

Abstract: A de-hiding tool includes a handle section with a long blade cover, a pair of counter-rotating and oscillating cutting disks mounted face-to-face and driven by eccentrically mounted drive arms operated by a self-contained air motor, a short blade cover mounted to a side of the cutting disks opposite from the long blade cover, and an adjustable blade support which includes an adjustment shaft extending through the blade covers and providing a means for adjusting the spacing between the blade covers from the outside of the tool housing. The blade adjustment system includes an insert with threads accessible from the outside of the housing to adjust the size of a gap between the blades by corresponding movement of a spacer inside the cover. This controls the face-to-face pressure on the blades to make them cut more efficiently and to compensate for the blades being ground thinner when resharpening the blades.

Abstract: The invention relates to a de-rinding device for pork having a de-rinding knife (7) at one free end and, at a distance from same corresponding to the rind thickness, a contact surface. As a relative movement is carried out between a meat area to be de-rinded and the knife passing with the contact surface, the rind (5) is separated. A drive unit (10) is provided for the knife. According to the invention the knife and the drive unit constitute a manual de-rinding device (3) which is portable in operation and is equipped with at least one handle (16) on a device housing (9). The de-rinding knife (3) is suitable to de-rind whole or half hogs in strips before cutting them into pieces, in particular in a suspended position. A simple, safe and low-cost de-rinding process is thus afforded.

Abstract: A power skinning knife with a drive mechanism that may be easily removed for cleaning and a high efficiency pneumatic motor. The main drive gear is located on the same side of the pinion gear as the drive mechanism cover plate permitting removal of the drive mechanism without removing the drive motor. Other improvements include a replaceable main bearing plate in case of bearing failure damage, a combined drive mechanism cover and barrier plate manufactured of a different material than the remained of the housing to increase wear resistance, hollow drive pins to reduce the oscillating mass and operating vibration, and a spring mounting for the motor to assure accurate alignment of the motor and gearing system after each disassembly of the tool.

Abstract: A method and system for dressing cattle in which, after kill, the carcass is suspended in a generally horizontal position by at least one foreleg and one hind leg, with the legs uppermost, and transported while so suspended along a dressing line. In such position, the hide is partially cut longitudinally in the chin, neck and upper brisket area to form a longitudinal cut line. Thereafter, portions of the hide around the foreleg are grasped and pulled downwardly away from the skin to separate the hide from the skin on the forelegs, brisket and chin and form a gap between the underside of the hide and skin on the back of the neck. The carcass is then repositioned with the head up and tail down by suspension from at least one foreleg, the hide cut to form a cut line in the belly region from the brisket to the tail, and the edges of the hide along the cut line gripped and pulled back to separate the hide from the carcass.

Abstract: A hand-held, power-driven trimming device, especially useful in trimming excess carcass fat, includes a cylindrical housing having a hollow interior, a rotary-driven cutter blade assembly with multiple helical cutting blades mounted for rotation in the housing, and a handle on the housing for holding the trimming device during use. The helical cutter blade assembly is mounted along the axis of the housing through a cantilever mount inside a sealed lubrication chamber in one end of the housing. The blade assembly is preferably driven from a remote power source, such as an electric motor, coupled to a flexible drive shaft passing through the handle. The flexible drive shaft powers a worm or helix gear supported by bearings inside the chamber. The worm or helix gear drives a helix gear supported in the sealed lubrication chamber by bearings on the cantilevered drive shaft for the rotary blade assembly.