Fourth toe processing apparatus and methods for the processing the fourth toes of a bird are disclosed.

Fourth toe processing apparatus and methods for the processing the fourth toes of a bird are disclosed. The fourth toe processing apparatus includes a shield, a non-contact energy source emitting energy towards the shield, a shank restraint structure receiving a shank of a bird located proximate the second side of the shield, and a fourth toe aperture extending through the first side and the second side of the shield. Energy emitted towards the shield by the energy source passes through the fourth toe aperture so that a fourth toe of a bird having its shank positioned in the fourth toe aperture is exposed to the energy.

A paw selector for maintaining poultry paws in an ordered, indexed manner so that each paw can be matched with the carcass from which it was removed is provided. The paw selector has a tray coupled to a rotatable shaft. Rotation of the shaft causes the walls of the tray to rotate, thereby urging paws on the tray over a stationary tray bottom. Upon reaching a void in the tray bottom, the paws drop through the void onto a lower tray or into a predetermined receptacle for further processing. At least on sensor can maintain correlation between the paw and the carcass from which it was removed for disposal of any rejected paws.

Method and system for the automatic monitoring of the process for the industrial cutting up and deboning of slaughtered animal bodies with respect to leaving the smallest fraction as possible of meat remaining behind on the bones extracted in the cutting process. For this purpose, images of segments that are detached during the cutting up of large pieces of the slaughtered animal body are recorded by an image recording device on at least one conveyor belt serving for transporting them away. Based on their different colors, images of these segments are differentiated from the conveyor belt, and bone, fat, and meat remaining on the bone of the images within the segments are also differentiated. By determining a quotient between a geometric quantity of the portions identified as meat for one or a plurality of segments and a geometric quantity of the same type determined overall for the same segment or the same segments, the fraction of meat in the separated segments is then determined. Finally, the result is visualized, for example, directly on a display, or/and is further processed for creating reports or for the output of warning signals.

Method and system for the automatic monitoring of the process for the industrial cutting up and deboning of slaughtered animal bodies with respect to leaving the smallest fraction as possible of meat remaining behind on the bones extracted in the cutting process. For this purpose, images of segments that are detached during the cutting up of large pieces of the slaughtered animal body are recorded by an image recording device on at least one conveyor belt serving for transporting them away. Based on their different colors, images of these segments are differentiated from the conveyor belt, and bone, fat, and meat remaining on the bone of the images within the segments are also differentiated. By determining a quotient between a geometric quantity of the portions identified as meat for one or a plurality of segments and a geometric quantity of the same type determined overall for the same segment or the same segments, the fraction of meat in the separated segments is then determined. Finally, the result is visualized, for example, directly on a display, or/and is further processed for creating reports or for the output of warning signals.

The invention relates to methods and equipment for treating industrial vapor and liquid waste streams to remove certain compounds and concentrate those compounds to produce a chemical product. Specifically, the invention related to methods and equipment for condensing vapor waste streams and combining those streams with other liquid waste streams, and processing those combined streams to separate certain compounds for further processing into a chemical product, such as a fertilizer, and to thereby to reduce pollution, odor, and nutrient loading to air and water resources and wastewater processing systems.

The invention relates to methods and equipment for treating industrial vapor and liquid waste streams to remove certain compounds and concentrate those compounds to produce a chemical product. Specifically, the invention related to methods and equipment for condensing vapor waste streams and combining those streams with other liquid waste streams, and processing those combined streams to separate certain compounds for further processing into a chemical product, such as a fertilizer, and to thereby to reduce pollution, odor, and nutrient loading to air and water resources and wastewater processing systems.

A method of processing a jumbo tender of a meat tender or poultry breast into strips having a desired weight and thickness with minimal losses requires two diagonal cuts across and through the jumbo to yield three portions which are substantially the same in weight and thickness.

A process that includes receiving, by a trimmer via a conveyor system, a foodstuff, automatically trimming, by the trimmer and based on trimming instructions, the foodstuff that results in trimmings and a trimmed foodstuff. The process also includes advancing, via the conveyor system, the trimmings of the foodstuff to a trimmings collector, and advancing, via the conveyor system, the trimmed foodstuff out of the trimmer. The trimmer is provided on the conveyor system prior to an injector such that the trimmer performs the automatic trimming of the foodstuff prior to injecting the foodstuff with a liquid solution by the injector.

A process that includes receiving, by a trimmer via a conveyor system, a foodstuff, automatically trimming, by the trimmer and based on trimming instructions, the foodstuff that results in trimmings and a trimmed foodstuff. The process also includes advancing, via the conveyor system, the trimmings of the foodstuff to a trimmings collector, and advancing, via the conveyor system, the trimmed foodstuff out of the trimmer. The trimmer is provided on the conveyor system prior to an injector such that the trimmer performs the automatic trimming of the foodstuff prior to injecting the foodstuff with a liquid solution by the injector.