The technology as disclosed herein includes a method and apparatus for deboning a meat item, and more particular for deboning a poultry item including performing an initial shoulder cut for removing boneless breast meat from the poultry carcass or frame. The technology as disclosed and claimed further includes a method and apparatus for removing a tender meat portion from a poultry item. The method and apparatus disclosed and claimed herein is a combination of a robotic arm including an ultrasonic knife implement and/or an annular blade knife implement and a vision system for varying the cut path based on the shape and size of the poultry item. The combination as claimed including the ultrasonic knife can perform a meat cut while penetrating the meat with less force than the typical penetration that occurs when using a traditional knife. The combination as claimed including the annular blade knife implement can remove the tender meat portion for the keel bone and posterior sheath.

A dual waterfall cabinet includes a hollow basin having front and rear openings to allow workpieces to move therethrough. The cabinet also includes waterfall assemblies on either side of the hollow basin that form waterfalls of solution to be applied to the workpieces. To provide thorough interior and exterior coverage, the distance between the waterfalls can vary along a length of the cabinet.

Meat processing equipment is disclosed that includes a first element having a first face; a second element having a second face. The first and second faces extend parallel to one another and define a common plane between the first and second faces. The first and second elements are relatively movable with respect to one another. Yieldable arresting features are included for yieldably arresting the first and second elements in at least one predetermined position of relative movement, the yieldable arresting features include cooperating first and second permanent magnets, associated with at least one of the first and second elements.

Processing apparatus for poultry that may include one or more transfer units placed intermediate and conveying poultry from a first line to a subsequent second line. The transfer means may include at least one magnet for inducing eddy currents in a circulating support that counteracts relative motion between the transfer means and the circulating support. The at least one magnet may be embodied with a series of alternating north-poles (+) and south-poles () facing the circulating support.

System for placement of a supply of poultry front halves in a processing line equipped with a train of movable carriers for the poultry front halves. Exemplary embodiments may include a train of receptacles provided and movable in a conveyor line, wherein the receptacles are equipped to receive the front halves at an input station of the system, and the conveyor line is equipped to move the receptacles with the poultry front halves received therein from the input station towards and along the processing line with the carriers. The receptacles can be equipped to transfer the poultry front halves onto the carriers in the processing line and may be equipped with a breast support plate, a bottom plate and upstanding inserts.

Fowl positioning system, comprising a dosing belt, arranged to receive randomly oriented slaughtered fowl and dose them one by one on a conveyor belt linked to a computer vision system, the belt being arranged to sequentially position the fowl under the computer vision system in order to determine the placement in which each fowl is found on said conveyor belt, and a robotic arm with a gripper on the end, arranged to sequentially grasp each fowl from the conveyor belt and thread them one by one in a predefined position on one of the supports located in a fowl processing line, the robotic arm being linked to the computer vision system such that it determines the position for the gripper to clamp and release the fowl.

The invention relates to a method for cutting open a slaughtered animal, in particular fowl, which is suspended with its legs from a suspension hook of a conveyor, in particular, but not limited to, making an incision in the belly of a slaughtered bird, wherein the method comprises the step of making a first incision in the skin of the slaughtered animal, which first incision extends substantially in a first direction of the slaughtered animal.

A game dressing system for a bird includes a vertical tube, rotatably coupled to a hitch tube with a support gusset. A dressing rod is attached to the vertical tube and adapted to receive the bird. A carrying handle is attached to the vertical tube. Folding the vertical tube against the hitch tube enables a user to carry the game dressing system by the carrying handle.

A bone removal device for a chicken bonjiri includes a rotating conveyor mechanism that moves a plurality of receivers which are arrayed in a circumferential direction about a center of a disc taken as a support shaft, intermittently at a constant speed in a horizontal direction and rotates; a holder of a stamping punch mechanism that stamps and removes a coccyx in each of the bonjiris, which are mounted on the receivers, from the bonjiri in a state where this rotating conveyor mechanism is stopped; and an arm of a processed meat delivery mechanism that carries the bonjiri, from which such a bone is removed, out to the device by reversing each of the receivers.

A system for inspecting poultry slaughter products, includes a supply transport line, having successive first product carriers; a discharge transport line, including successive second product carriers; at least two inspection lines, each comprising successive inspection product carriers; each of the first, second and inspection product carriers being configured to carry and transport a respective one of the products. The system has an inspection station along each of the inspection lines, with each inspection station being arranged for inspecting products passing the inspection station while being transported by the associated inspection line during use; and, a first product transfer system for successively transferring products from first product carriers to respective inspection product carriers while distributing the products over all of the at least two inspection lines; a second product transfer system for successively transferring products from inspection product carriers to respective second product carriers of the discharge transport line.