An automatic skinning assembly having a loading station, a first device, and a conveyor assembly extending between the first skinning device and the second skinning device.

A shaping or cutting machine, especially a skinner, at which an operator hand-feeds material to be cut or shaped toward a blade. Hand proximity detection devices are provided for operator safety; machine-vision across a surveilled volume before the blade, and conduction sensing devices. The blade is mounted on a rapidly retractable frame. Power from release of a spring physically moves the blade to a safe position if a hand is sensed. A gripping roller is driven by a rapidly stoppable motor.

An automatic skinning mechanism having an inlet conveyor, a take away conveyor, a skinning mechanism and a hold down mechanism that removes pressure form a food product as the skinning mechanism begins skinning food product.

A pressure shoe assembly for a skinner includes a back plate that is demountably received within a groove in a mount assembly. Ends of the back plate have extensions presenting an oblique contact surface for engagement of a retention member. The angle of the contact surface secures the back plate I the mount limiting vertical movement of the pressure shoe when in use. The mount assembly includes a ledge for supporting the assembly when removed for cleaning. A lift assist mechanism aids in moving the assembly between the groove and ledge.

A slaughtered pig part processing plant including a conveyor with at least one retaining assembly for a pig part and a pig part deskinner below the conveyor. The deskinner including a knife and a skin gripper, wherein the said conveyor is configured for advancing the retaining assembly in a machine direction (T) past the deskinner. A deskinner carrier structure including one or more actuators for moving the deskinner between an upper position and a lower position. The knife and the skin gripper configured for engaging in the upper position skin (S) of the pig part suspended from the retaining assembly advanced to the deskinner by the conveyor, and to progressively cut off and remove the skin (S) when moved to the lower position.

A trimming device for trimming a carcass part having a skin and/or fat side, including a blade having a cutting edge facing a front face of the carcass part, and a blade holder for holding the blade. The blade holder has a tiltable blade holder segment and a non-tiltable blade holder segment rotatably coupled to the non-tiltable blade holder segment around an axis of rotation parallel to a conveying direction along which the carcass part is transported to the trimming device, and an actuator configured to tilt the tiltable blade holder segment relative to the non-tiltable blade holder segment based on information concerning a profile of the skin and/or fat side. A geometry of the cutting edge changes when the tiltable blade holder segment is tilted relative to the non-tiltable blade holder segment by the actuator to trim the skin and/or fat side into a predetermined shape.