A cutting apparatus for cutting an essentially V-shaped strip from meat products fed in a transport direction has a knife carrier to which two knife units are assigned. Each knife unit has a circular knife and a drive for rotationally driving the circular knife about a central axis of rotation. The two circular knives are set substantially in a V-shape to each other in a position enclosing an angle. An adjustable arrangement of the knife units provides for setting of the size of the angle. The offset of the two central axes of rotation to each other is equal to zero in the transport direction and the two knife units are adjustable exclusively synchronously with each other. A corresponding apparatus and method for cutting an essentially V-shaped strip from meat products fed in transport direction is also provided.

A gripping tool includes first and second arms connected to each other at proximal ends, a first gripping portion having a first gripping surface, and a second gripping portion having a second gripping surface. The first and second gripping surfaces are in planar contact with each other when the first and second arms are pressed toward each other in closing directions. At least one of the first and second gripping portions is an elastic part extending toward the proximal end. When the first and second arms are further pressed in the closing directions from a state in which the first and second gripping surfaces are in planar contact with each other, the elastic part is elastically deformed while maintaining the planar contact between the first gripping surface and the second gripping surface.

A separating machine separates a food source material into first and second food portions. A separating arrangement includes a roller assembly and a belt assembly including a belt to be driven by the roller assembly. The separating arrangement includes a drum assembly arranged proximate to the belt assembly to define a separation area. The separating arrangement includes an inlet assembly configured to receive the food source material and a feeding wheel assembly positioned proximate to or within the inlet assembly and configured to direct the food source material into the separation area. The belt assembly is arranged relative to the belt assembly such that the food source material is pressed by the belt against the outer surface of the drum and the first food portion is pressed through the holes while the second food portion remains outside of the drum interior, thereby separating the first and second food portions.

A separating machine separates a food source material into first and second food portions. A separating arrangement includes a roller assembly and a belt assembly including a belt to be driven by the roller assembly. The separating arrangement includes a drum assembly arranged proximate to the belt assembly to define a separation area. The separating arrangement includes an inlet assembly configured to receive the food source material and a feeding wheel assembly positioned proximate to or within the inlet assembly and configured to direct the food source material into the separation area. The belt assembly is arranged relative to the belt assembly such that the food source material is pressed by the belt against the outer surface of the drum and the first food portion is pressed through the holes while the second food portion remains outside of the drum interior, thereby separating the first and second food portions.

A method of determining a measure of gaping in a fish fillet item, involves the steps of obtaining three-dimensional profile data of a first area of the fish fillet item, obtaining optical imaging data of a second area of the fish fillet item, wherein the first area and the second area are overlapping at least within an overlap area; and determining the measure of gaping in the fish fillet item based on the three-dimensional profile data within the overlap area and the optical imaging data within the overlap area.

A method of determining a measure of gaping in a fish fillet item, involves the steps of obtaining three-dimensional profile data of a first area of the fish fillet item, obtaining optical imaging data of a second area of the fish fillet item, wherein the first area and the second area are overlapping at least within an overlap area; and determining the measure of gaping in the fish fillet item based on the three-dimensional profile data within the overlap area and the optical imaging data within the overlap area.

An apparatus for automatically recovering meat from headed and gutted fish comprises: a transport device for transporting the fish along a transport path in a transport direction; a measuring device for detecting an anatomy of the fish; and a detaching device for detaching the meat from a bone structure of the fish, wherein the detaching device comprises at least two circular knives which are spaced apart from each other on mutually opposing sides of the transport path to form a gap S; wherein: the detaching device comprises a control device to adjust a width of the gap S depending on the anatomy of the fish, the control device is configured to pre-adjust the width of the gap S before the meat is detached from the bone structure and wherein the control device is configured to vary the width of the gap S while the meat is being detached.

An apparatus for automatically recovering meat from headed and gutted fish comprises: a transport device for transporting the fish along a transport path in a transport direction; a measuring device for detecting an anatomy of the fish; and a detaching device for detaching the meat from a bone structure of the fish, wherein the detaching device comprises at least two circular knives which are spaced apart from each other on mutually opposing sides of the transport path to form a gap S; wherein: the detaching device comprises a control device to adjust a width of the gap S depending on the anatomy of the fish, the control device is configured to pre-adjust the width of the gap S before the meat is detached from the bone structure and wherein the control device is configured to vary the width of the gap S while the meat is being detached.

A revolutionized tuna process according to this invention generally comprising the steps of thawing of frozen tuna, de-heading and degutting, fileting, de-skinning, cleaning of the de-skinned tuna filet, pre-cooking, cooling, packing of the cleaned and pre-cooked tuna loin, and sterilizing the packed tuna loin or freezing the tuna loin. Not only does the process according to this invention reduces the energy utilization by half, it also significantly reduces the time required for cooking and cooling. Therefore, the whole processing time is significantly reduced from at least 8.0 hours in the conventional process to less than 30 minutes.

A revolutionized tuna process according to this invention generally comprising the steps of thawing of frozen tuna, de-heading and degutting, fileting, de-skinning, cleaning of the de-skinned tuna filet, pre-cooking, cooling, packing of the cleaned and pre-cooked tuna loin, and sterilizing the packed tuna loin or freezing the tuna loin. Not only does the process according to this invention reduces the energy utilization by half, it also significantly reduces the time required for cooking and cooling. Therefore, the whole processing time is significantly reduced from at least 8.0 hours in the conventional process to less than 30 minutes.