A food product-carrying unit (10) for transferring food product from an in-feed section to an out-feed section of a small-scale, variable retention time (VRT) food storage system comprises a pair of opposing side portions (11, 12) joined by a pair of opposing end portions (13, 14) to form an open rectangular frame section (15). The side portions (11, 12) have formations (16, 17; 18, 19), respectively, thereon, which formations (16, 17; 18, 19) are adapted to reversibly link the food product-carrying unit (10) to corresponding formations on neighbouring food product-carrying units in the food storage system. A wheel (20, 21) is mounted at ends (22, 23), respectively, of end portion (13). Corresponding wheels (24) (only one wheel shown) are mounted at ends (25, 26), respectively, of end portion (14). The and each wheel (20, 21, 24) has an axle with a plastics wear part, and the wheels (20, 21, 24) are aligned such that, in use, the food product-carrying unit (10) is movable forwards and backwards on the wheels (20, 21, 24) in a straight line through the food storage system. The food product-carrying unit (10) also has a wear pad (27, 28; and 29) mounted on the and each end portion (13, 14), respectively, to the outside (31) of the frame section (15).

A method and a system provide a feedback data indicating quality of a food processing performed by an operator. The method and system involve acquiring at least one image data of a food product from an operator; and processing the acquired image data. The processing includes detecting whether undesired objects are present in the food product, obtaining, in case undesired objects are detected, position data of the undesired objects within the food product, and utilizing the position data in issuing a feedback indicator indicating a position where the detected undesired objects are present within the food product processed by the operator.

The invention relates to an automated station for salting meat pieces in a predetermined manner, enabling a method for salting poultry meat pieces to be automated, thus increasing productivity and thereby improving safety conditions. The station comprises motorised supply means for supplying meat pieces (P) in a forward direction, handling means for handling meat pieces in order to handle the meat piece coming from the supply means, salt supply means configured to provide salt on an inner and outer area of the meat piece (P), as well as a retrieval system for retrieving salt coming from the salt supply means.

A system 10 for analyzing and trimming irregularly shaped food products which are to be subsequently pressed into a three-dimensional shape (volume) and optionally thereafter sliced or otherwise portioned so as to achieve an optimum harvest, includes a conveyor 12 for carrying the workpieces (WP) to be trimmed past a scanning system 14 for scanning the workpiece (WP) to ascertain the physical characteristics of the workpiece (WP), including, for example, its three-dimensional shape, as well as its position on the conveyor 12, and then past a cutting station 26 for trimming the workpiece (WP) into a desired two-dimensional shape which represents an optimum shape for the workpiece for pressing the workpiece into a desired three-dimensional shape having at least one fixed or specified dimension or other physical specification. Thereafter, the workpiece can be transferred to a slicing station utilizing high speed cutters or slicers for portioning/slicing the workpiece.

A clamping device for a bone-in limb meat according to an embodiment includes: a pair of clamp pieces for holding the bone-in limb meat; a support portion openably/closably supporting the pair of clamp pieces in respective base portions of the clamp pieces; and rotation suppressing portions for suppressing a rotation of the bone-in limb meat, the rotation suppressing portions being respectively disposed so as to protrude from surfaces of the pair of clamp pieces along a direction perpendicular to a plane including opening/closing directions of the pair of clamp pieces. In an opened state of the pair of clamp pieces, the pair of clamp pieces respectively have tip portions at positions closer to a center line between the pair of clamp pieces than the rotation suppressing portions and positions farther away from the support portion than the rotation suppressing portions in a direction along the center line.

A method of removing a foreign object from a food piece detects the location of a foreign object in a food piece (10); conveys the food piece to a cutting tool (42); and operates the cutting tool to cut around the detected location of the foreign object and subsequently to engage and eject the foreign object from the food piece.

Disclosed are various embodiments of either self-contained, separate or combinations thereof of modular units for the processing of comestible products. The modular unit is configured with sections to create hygienic zoning of food to be processed. The modular unit is can contain components to process food from a raw state, such as an animal carcass or freshly harvested produce, through primary and (optionally) secondary processing. The modular unit can be utilized to process various types of food, and, therefore, the modular unit is provided in various embodiments depending on the food to be processed therein, and the types of processing that are desired. The modular unit is constructed and the sections therein are configured such that as the food undergoes processing, it flows through the sections of the modular unit in an orderly manner, which helps to minimize or prevent food safety problems, such as cross contamination.

A method and apparatus for use in the field processing of downed big game animals, without removing the entrails of the animal. The procedure may be implemented by one or more persons with the use of a multi-purpose tool that is portable, relatively light weight and suitable to fit into or on to a backpack when collapsed. The multi-purpose tool has features making it suitable for various outdoor activities; but it is especially adapted to form a sturdy tripod stand having telescoping legs and a rope locking mechanism on its head. When assembled as a tripod stand, rope is used to temporarily lift and hold each leg of the animal individually until each quarter and portion is skinned and removed from the carcass in the field.

The present invention relates to a method and a vibration separator system for conveying and separating meat pieces and comprising a frame assembly having support columns, a supporting screen box being supported by the frame assembly on elastic suspension elements mounted between the frame assembly and the supporting screen box, a supply trough having an outlet and serving to receive the meat pieces, a vibration motor and a controller. The vibration motor is supported by and connected to the supporting screen box for reciprocating the supporting screen box. The controller is connected to the vibration motor for controlling the reciprocating movement of the supporting screen box. The supporting screen box comprises a first conveying sector for alignment of the meat pieces into a single row and a second conveying sector comprising a chicane for elongating the conveying path of travel as compared to the first conveying sector.

A clamping device for a bone-in limb meat according to an embodiment includes: a pair of clamp pieces for holding the bone-in limb meat; a support portion openably/closably supporting the pair of clamp pieces in respective base portions of the clamp pieces; and rotation suppressing portions for suppressing a rotation of the bone-in limb meat, the rotation suppressing portions being respectively disposed so as to protrude from surfaces of the pair of clamp pieces along a direction perpendicular to a plane including opening/closing directions of the pair of clamp pieces. In an opened state of the pair of clamp pieces, the pair of clamp pieces respectively have tip portions at positions closer to a center line between the pair of clamp pieces than the rotation suppressing portions and positions farther away from the support portion than the rotation suppressing portions in a direction along the center line.