A mist management system for a processing machine includes a pressure distribution assembly configured to evacuate mist from a portion of the processing machine into a plenum using pressure differences between the portion of the processing machine and the plenum. In one aspect, the system may include a mist directing assembly configured to purposefully direct mist toward the plenum using movement and momentum of the mist.

A poultry breast deboning apparatus and method for guiding a plurality of poultry combinations that have a breast and attached wings, the apparatus including a transport assembly with carts mounted to a drive system. Each of the carts has an opening to receive one of the wings of each combination. Moveable cutters are disposed adjacent the transport assembly for seating against the carts for severing tissue connecting the wings and the breast. Moveable bars are biased to urge the wings into the cart openings.

A Cutting unit and method for cutting meat parts from suspended previously eviscerated poultry carcasses, when the carcasses are each suspended upside-down by their legs from a shackle in an overhead conveyor that transports a succession of shackles through poultry cut-up apparatus. The cutting unit includes at least one cutting element. The cutting unit includes a guiding and positioning member for guiding and positioning a predetermined portion of a poultry carcass in respect of the at least one cutting element. The guiding and positioning member is associated with an auxiliary conveyor adapted to move synchronously with shackles in an overhead conveyor. The auxiliary conveyor has an endless chain articulated about first and second return sprocket. The articulated chain moves in a vertical plane parallel to a vertical plane common to a path of movement of the conveyor shackles.

A poultry breast deboning apparatus and method for guiding a plurality of poultry combinations that have a breast and attached wings, the apparatus including a transport assembly with carts mounted to a drive system. Each of the carts has an opening to receive one of the wings of each combination. Moveable cutters are disposed adjacent the transport assembly for seating against the carts for severing tissue connecting the wings and the breast. Moveable bars are biased to urge the wings into the cart openings.

Method and apparatus for processing poultry parts moving in succession along a path of conveyance. The method provides for an apparatus (1) including at least a conveyor (5) arranged to convey a succession of poultry parts along the path of conveyance downstream of a loading area. The method further includes the step of loading the poultry parts on the conveyor (5) in the loading area, while operating the conveyor to convey the poultry parts in succession. Further the apparatus provided by the method also includes a transfer means (57) in the path of conveyance downstream of the loading area. The transfer means (57) is operated to divide the succession of poultry parts into at least two parallel streams. When coincident with the at least two parallel streams the method performs at least two processing steps in a side-by-side arrangement at a location downstream along the path of conveyance. The processing steps thereby being effective to process each poultry part either identically or differently, while these are divided into the at least two parallel streams of conveyance.

A method of processing a food object while the food object is being conveyed, comprises acquiring image data of the food object, cutting the food object into smaller food pieces, determining, based on the acquired image data, whether the food object contains undesired objects, and in case such undesired objects are detected, identifying which of the smaller food pieces contain the undesired objects.

An apparatus is for cutting into breast fillets that are connected to one another of a carcass of poultry bodies, the breast fillets being cut into along the breastbone. The apparatus includes a transport apparatus for transporting the poultry bodies along a transport path, a holding apparatus arranged on the transport conveyor for holding the poultry bodies, and a knife assembly arranged along the transport path. The knife assembly has a pair of separating knives for cutting the breast fillets along the breastbone, the knives arranged on either side. A centring means is associated with the knife assembly for pre-centring the breastbone, and has two centring elements which are each movable out of a stand-by position positioned outside the transport path, into a centring position positioned on the transport path, and back. The centring elements in their centring position are located at least partly in front of the separating knives.

Wing cutting apparatus for processing poultry carcasses includes a conveying device configured to convey a poultry carcass along a conveying line in transport direction. First and second separating devices are configured to separate wings or wing parts in pairs from one each of the poultry carcasses. The second separating device is offset from said first separating device. A plurality of concurrent pushing elements are configured to run along in the transport direction. At least one of the pushing elements is arranged to be in association with a carrier element and is configured to come into engagement with the wing or wing parts.

A method of estimating weight of food objects, includes training an artificial neural network software module, and using the trained artificial neural network software module to provide a weight correlated data estimate for said food object based on a three-dimensional image of the food object.

A method of separating a poultry leg into its constituent thigh and drumstick includes bending the leg at the knee to impart stress to the tissue surrounding the knee knuckle and urge the end of the drumstick bone away from the end of the thigh bone. Further stress is imparted and the bones are further urged apart by pushing the top of the drumstick in a direction opposite the knee. The tissue above the knee is then pushed up and the tissue below the knee is pushed down to maximize tension in the tissue and move the ends of the bones apart as far as possible without tearing the tissue. The tissue at the knee is then progressively sliced by a rotary cutter. The initial slice relieves tension in the tissue causing it to pull apart and move the ends of the bones further apart. The slice is then completed between the now spaced apart ends of the bones to separate the thigh from the drumstick without producing bone shards and splinters that can contaminate the meat of the thigh and the drumstick. An apparatus for performing the method is disclosed.