Apparatus and methods for deheading and peeling shrimp hydraulically using the Venturi Effect. A shrimp-laden fluid is pumped through a conduit system including one or more venturi tubes. The acceleration of the fluid through the venturis detaches the heads and loosens or detaches the shells from the shrimp. The venturis may be used in conjunction with a roller peeler to increase peeling quality. An inspection station receives shrimp from the roller peeler and directs incompletely peeled shrimp back to the peeler or one or more of the venturis.

Methods for separating lean and fat from beef or other meats and the separation apparatus are disclosed. The methods use microbiocidal fluids to reduce or eliminate possible sources of contamination.

Methods for separating lean and fat from beef or other meats and the separation apparatus are disclosed. The methods use microbiocidal fluids to reduce or eliminate possible sources of contamination.

A cutting device adapted to be placed above a gap extending across a carrying surface of a conveyor system with the cutting plane of the cutting device extending through the gap. The cutting device cuts food items into smaller food items via rotational movement of the cutting device while the food items conveyed by the conveyor system pass the gap. The cutting device includes an arm and a cutting blade mounted to one end of the arm. The opposite end of the arm is adapted to be mounted to a driving unit for supplying rotational movement of the arm and thus the cutting blade. A cutting edge side of the cutting blade engages with the food item under an angle such that the cutting blade exerts with a downwardly facing force onto the food item and towards the carrying surface of the conveyor system during the cutting.

A cutting device adapted to be placed above a gap extending across a carrying surface of a conveyor system with the cutting plane of the cutting device extending through the gap. The cutting device cuts food items into smaller food items via rotational movement of the cutting device while the food items conveyed by the conveyor system pass the gap. The cutting device includes an arm and a cutting blade mounted to one end of the arm. The opposite end of the arm is adapted to be mounted to a driving unit for supplying rotational movement of the arm and thus the cutting blade. A cutting edge side of the cutting blade engages with the food item under an angle such that the cutting blade exerts with a downwardly facing force onto the food item and towards the carrying surface of the conveyor system during the cutting.

This disclosure concerns methods for processing and grading food articles including x-raying the food articles a first time and taking a 3D image of the food articles.

A method of processing fish portions determines at a control unit a target weight of a cut fish portion; inspects a fish portion using an inspection unit to determine a mass distribution of said fish portion and providing said mass distribution to the control unit; calculates a cutting plan of the poultry fish portion based on the target weight and the mass distribution using the control unit; uses a mechanical gripper so as to grip the fish portion and arrange said poultry fish portion for execution of the cutting plan; and cuts the fish portion using a cutting unit in accordance with the cutting plan so as to produce a cut fish portion in accordance with the target weight. A system for processing fish portions is configured to perform the foregoing method, among others.

A slicing machine for slicing meat strands that have a cross section that varies over a longitudinal extension in large numbers and as quickly as possible into weight precise slices. In one embodiment, two meat strands are received adjacent to each other in a respective form tube and pushed against a respective separately adjustable stop plate independently from each other by a controlled longitudinal press plunger and compressed in the longitudinal direction. In addition, a cross section of the form tubes may be reduced in a first transversal direction jointly and in a second transversal direction independently from each other and thus the respective meat strand is transversally compressed to a constant cross section prior to slicing.

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.

In an embodiment, an apparatus for flattening a meat product is provided. The apparatus includes a conveyor, a first stamp disposed parallel to and over the conveyor, the first stamp configured to move vertically towards and away from the conveyor, a second stamp disposed perpendicular to and over the conveyor, and a plate disposed perpendicular to the conveyor, the plate disposed parallel to the second stamp, the second stamp being configured to move horizontally towards and away from the plate.