The present invention relates to a system for picking up, conveying, and delivering a foodstuff product to a processing machine which preferably has an upright magazine tube, said system including: a handling device, a gripping device releasably attachable to the handling device, a transporting apparatus, and a control unit; wherein the transporting apparatus has a transporting portion on which the foodstuff product that is to be picked up by the gripping device may be positioned in a pick-up position allowing the foodstuff product to be picked up by the gripping device, and the control unit is connected at least to the handling device of the gripping device and to the transporting apparatus; wherein the control unit is configured for detecting when the foodstuff product to be picked up has reached the pick-up position.

In an embodiment, an apparatus for processing meat product and a method of using same is provided. A first station includes a flattener which is configured to flatten a meat product, and a scanner which is configured to scan features of the meat product after flattening. A second station is configured to dock front and rear ends of the meat product in accordance with information received from the scan of the features.

In order to damage structure of a loaf as little as possible when pressing it, a change in length of the loaf that occurs during pressing should be limited to a specified target change in length. For this purpose, a crossposition of a crosspress stamp to be set for pressing may automatically be determined and set from basic data of the loaf determined before pressing, in particular its length and volume or weight.

In order to be able to insert loafs, which are pre-frozen for slicing into slices, at least lightly frozen, into a form cavity of a form tube without any problems or to manage with smaller form tube cross-sections, it is proposed, according to the disclosure, to carry out the first part of the forming of the loaf already before freezing, i.e., when inserting it into a preform. The loaf is frozen in this state, compressed in the preform, together with the preform in a freezer, then removed and fed to the final pressing in the form tube to the final pressed state.

A pressing device for pressing meat products, in particular frozen and/or partly frozen meat products, preferably fresh meat products and/or bacon, comprises a pressing chamber which extends along a longitudinal axis and into which a product to be pressed can be inserted, wherein the pressing chamber comprises at least one counter-element and at least one contact element, which is movable in the direction of the counter-element, that cooperate such that the product inserted into the pressing chamber can be compressed between the at least one counter-element and the at least one contact element; and wherein the pressing device comprises at least one servomotor that is configured to move the at least one contact element.

In a method of pressing and processing meat products, in particular frozen and/or partly frozen meat products, preferably fresh meat products and/or bacon, the products are inserted into a pressing chamber of a pressing device and are pressed in the pressing chamber by at least one displaceable contact element, with the contact element being moved by means of a servomotor.

A movable contact element for a pressing device for pressing meat products, in particular frozen and/or partly frozen meat products, preferably fresh meat products and/or bacon, comprises a base part; an attachment part; a transverse sliding part; and a height part that are connected to one another at respective connection points and that form a contact surface for a product at one side of the contact element during the pressing. The contact surface has an effective length along a first direction of extent and an effective width along a second direction of extent perpendicular to the first direction of extent, with the effective length and the effective width of the contact surface being variable.

A method of preparing frozen breaded poultry meat in which the poultry meat is compressed into a solid form, frozen, formed into portions, batter-breaded while frozen, and par-fried. The par-fried breaded poultry meat portions may then be cooked for consuming. The method enables the control of portion size independent of the shape, and provides a frozen breaded poultry meat portion that when cooked, has the appearance and the texture of whole muscle meat, independent of trimmings content.

In an embodiment, an apparatus for processing meat product and a method of using same is provided. A first station includes a scanner which scans features of a meat product. A second station side straps the meat product in accordance with information received from the scan of the features. The second station includes a support, and spaced-apart knifes disposed on opposite sides of the support. Each knife has an axis of rotation that is normal to the longitudinal axis of the support. A position of each knife relative to the support in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis can be varied. A controller is programmed to control movement of each knife in accordance with the information received from the scanner.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure relates a food processing machine utilizing components using a variety of servo motors. The combination of the servo motors provides for a food processing machine without the need for complex hydraulics or gearboxes such that durability and compactness can be realized.