The present invention relates to a method of producing gelatine, the method comprising the steps of: providing animal material containing collagen; cutting the animal material with at least one fluid cutting jet to form animal material sections; hydrolysing the collagen in the animal material sections to form gelatine; and isolating the gelatine. The invention also relates to a fluid jet cutting device and to the use of a fluid jet cutting device in the production of gelatine. The invention is particularly useful in the production of gelatine from pig skin and/or cow hides and/or fish skin.

Disclosed is a food product formed from the leg of a fowl comprising: a) a central leg bone having a foot end and a thigh end, said leg bone preferably being substantially without at least a foot knuckle; and b) a first portion of natural meat originally located around a portion of the foot-end of said bone and displaced from said foot end toward said thigh-end such that at least a portion of said foot-end bone is exposed and such that said displaced portion of meat remains indirectly attached to the bone.

A scribe saw assembly is provided for a loin puller and has substantially reduced wear and increased life of the assembly components. A pinion assembly includes a double keyway and opposing cutouts on the pinion shaft, with dual needle bearings. A bevel gear assembly includes pins for holding the scribe saw blade and dual bearings on the bevel gear shaft to eliminate shaft flex and blade wear. The standard is mounted to the motor housing with load bearing pins to prevent loosening of the mounting bolts. An adjustable ski is provided on the standard to control the cutting depth of the scribe saw blade.

An automated system and method is provided for separating left and right animal carcass cuts from one another. The system includes a conveyor to carry cut meat pieces along a path. A sensor generates a signal corresponding to the left or right cuts, and sends the signal to a processor or controller, which actuates a product diverter, which moves across the conveyor so as to push and remove selected meat pieces from the conveyor for further processing on a separate line. The diverters are pivotal out of the conveyor path if engaged by meat piece intended to continue along the conveyor path.

A system for measuring physical properties of a workpiece in motion which includes a conveyance assembly for conveying the workpiece, a scanning assembly for scanning the workpiece, and a measurement assembly for measuring at least one physical property of the workpiece while the workpiece is in motion.

A system for processing carcass parts includes an overhead conveyor and a saw module comprising supporting means for interacting with a lower end portion of each incoming carcass part, the supporting means adjusting an angular position of the carcass parts as a result of the carcass parts resting at least partly on the supporting means while being conveyed by the overhead conveyor. A positioning conveyor having a plurality of spaced-apart positioning pair structures arranged below the overhead conveyor and adjacent to the supporting means receives the carcass parts from the supporting means. Each carcass part is guided into a predetermined position within the positioning pair structures and cut at a predetermined position, e.g. defined by a 360 cut through skin and muscle structures of each of the carcass parts.

An input conveyor, output conveyor, and knife assembly with a blade between the input and output conveyors all reciprocate back and forth as a blade moves perpendicular to the conveyors to cut portioned sized of product, such as ground meat. The cut cycle allows the product feed to keep moving in a continuous manner on conveyors. For ground meat, this system can allow production rates of 150 pieces or more per minute per conveyor line and can improve the accuracy of portioning. The blade is actuated by a profiled cam set that pulls the blade down, and then returns it with a spring to an upper position. The knife assembly can accelerate just after cutting to reduce the potential for sticking to the cut product.

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.

This disclosure relates generally to cutting processes, composite blades, blade systems, and manufacturing and use thereof. In various aspects, a composite blade system includes a plurality of blade segments, where each blade segment includes a body having top edge, a bottom edge, and opposing side edges extending therebetween. The blade segments also include a projection on a first side edge of the body, a slot on a second side edge of the body opposite the first side edge, and a void disposed near the bottom edge of the body. The composite blade system may additionally include a hub connectable to each of the plurality of blade segments via the void and a locking plate connectable to the hub.