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.

A power operated rotary knife (100) including: an annular rotary knife blade (300) including a knife blade bearing surface (319); a blade housing (400) defining a blade housing bearing surface (459); and a blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) disposed between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459). The blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) includes a rolling bearing strip (502) having a plurality of rolling bearings (506), such as ball bearings, disposed in spaced apart relation in a flexible separator cage (508). The rolling bearing strip (502) traverses through an annular passageway (504) defined between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459) to secure the knife blade (300) to the blade housing (400) and support the knife blade for rotation about a central axis (R) with respect to the blade housing (400).

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.

An automatic skinning assembly having a loading station, a first device, and a conveyor assembly extending between the first skinning device and the second skinning device.

An automatic skinning assembly having a loading station, a first device, and a conveyor assembly extending between the first skinning device and the second skinning device.

A system for skin removal from defeathered whole leg or drumstick poultry products, includes a poultry products conveyor including a track including a circle arc track portion, and a series of poultry product carriers which are spaced apart from one another in the direction of the track and which are movable along said track. Each poultry product carrier is adapted to hold at least one defeathered whole leg or drumstick poultry product at the ankle joint thereof such that the poultry product is conveyed hanging from said carrier. A carousel skin removal device is arranged along the track of the poultry products conveyor at the circle arc track portion and adapted to remove skin from whole leg or drumstick poultry products held and conveyed by the poultry products conveyor.

A system for skin removal from defeathered whole leg or drumstick poultry products, includes a poultry products conveyor including a track including a circle arc track portion, and a series of poultry product carriers which are spaced apart from one another in the direction of the track and which are movable along said track. Each poultry product carrier is adapted to hold at least one defeathered whole leg or drumstick poultry product at the ankle joint thereof such that the poultry product is conveyed hanging from said carrier. A carousel skin removal device is arranged along the track of the poultry products conveyor at the circle arc track portion and adapted to remove skin from whole leg or drumstick poultry products held and conveyed by the poultry products conveyor.

A skinning knife includes a handle, a blade carrier coupled to the handle, the blade carrier including a mount having a mounting surface, a boss extending outward from the mounting surface, and a spring including a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion, the front portion secured to the mount, the middle portion bent outward from the front portion and the rear portion, and the rear portion including a free end of the spring movable relative to the mount, and a blade including a sharpened edge, a body, a slot formed through the body, and the slot includes a narrow portion and a wide portion, The blade is releasably secured to the blade carrier by interaction between the boss and the spring of the blade carrier and the slot of the blade.

A two-part rotary knife blade (2300, 3300) for a power operated rotary knife. The knife blade (2300) includes a carrier portion (2302, 3302) and a blade portion (2350, 3350), the blade portion configured to be received in a nested relationship by the carrier portion and being releasably secured to the carrier portion by an attachment structure (2370, 3370). The attachment structure (2370, 3370) including a plurality of projections (2372, 3372) extending from one of an outer wall (2354, 3354) of the blade portion (2350, 3350) and the inner wall (2304, 3304) of the carrier portion and a plurality of sockets (2374, 3374) disposed in the other of the outer wall of the blade portion and the inner wall of the carrier portion, each of the plurality of projections being received in a respective different one of the plurality of sockets to releasably secure the blade portion to the carrier portion.

A pressure shoe assembly for a skinner includes a back plate that is demountably received within a groove in a mount assembly. Ends of the back plate have extensions presenting an oblique contact surface for engagement of a retention member. The angle of the contact surface secures the back plate I the mount limiting vertical movement of the pressure shoe when in use. The mount assembly includes a ledge for supporting the assembly when removed for cleaning. A lift assist mechanism aids in moving the assembly between the groove and ledge.