An animal hide removal apparatus is provided. The apparatus may have a plurality of pulleys and winches that are associated with cables that are selectively connected to a carcass. Operation of the winches moves the cables in opposite directions to remove the hide from the animal.

An end effector of a pelt removal apparatus has a rotatable effector base on which is mounted a pair of elongated gripper bars parallel to a rotation axis of the effector base. One of the gripper bars is fixed in position, while the other one is radially spaced from and freely pivotal about a pivot axis parallel to rotation axis. When rotated in a tightening direction from a start position in which the pelt is located in a transverse gap between the gripper bars, the free gripper bar moves, without dedicated actuation of the free gripper bar, to pinch the pelt between the bars, thus gripping the pelt and allowing removal thereof by the pelt removal apparatus.

An end effector of a pelt removal apparatus has a rotatable effector base on which is mounted a pair of elongated gripper bars parallel to a rotation axis of the effector base. One of the gripper bars is fixed in position, while the other one is radially spaced from and freely pivotal about a pivot axis parallel to rotation axis. When rotated in a tightening direction from a start position in which the pelt is located in a transverse gap between the gripper bars, the free gripper bar moves, without dedicated actuation of the free gripper bar, to pinch the pelt between the bars, thus gripping the pelt and allowing removal thereof by the pelt removal apparatus.

A system and a method are provided for deskinning and/or defatting animal carcass while being conveyed by an overhang rails system carrying the carcass. The method includes: sensing, by a sensing device, an incoming animal carcass, using the resulting sensing data from the sensing device by a control unit in controlling a movement of a first device while deskinning and/or defatting the carcass by the first device. The controlled movement includes: setting the first device to an initial angular position and engaging the skin and/or fat of the incoming animal carcass at an engaging position; moving the first device in a movement direction including a movement direction perpendicular to the conveying direction along the animal carcass while following an outer profile of the surface of the carcass and simultaneously adapting the angular position of the first device to the shape of the carcass for partial removal of skin or fat.

Intervention of contamination of an exposed carcass meat surface during processing of an animal carcass comprises providing a flexible sheet having first and second major surfaces comprising an antimicrobial agent on the first major surface of the flexible sheet, wherein the flexible sheet is food-contact safe; detaching a portion of hide from the carcass, thereby providing an exposed carcass meat surface; and placing the flexible sheet on the exposed carcass meat surface so that the antimicrobial agent contacts the exposed carcass meat surface. The flexible sheet is also described.

A system and a method are provided for deskinning and/or defatting animal carcass while being conveyed by an overhang rails system carrying the carcass. The method includes: sensing, by a sensing device, an incoming animal carcass, using the resulting sensing data from the sensing device by a control unit in controlling a movement of a first device while deskinning and/or defatting the carcass by the first device. The controlled movement includes: setting the first device to an initial angular position and engaging the skin and/or fat of the incoming animal carcass at an engaging position; moving the first device in a movement direction including a movement direction perpendicular to the conveying direction along the animal carcass while following an outer profile of the surface of the carcass and simultaneously adapting the angular position of the first device to the shape of the carcass for partial removal of skin or fat.

A skinning device for removing skin from an animal carcass or carcass parts when conveyed by a conveyor means includes a frame, a housing rotatably mounted on the frame using a rotation mechanism, a motor driven tooth roll mounted on the housing, a support structure mounted on the housing encasing at least a portion of the tooth roll, a cutting blade positioned adjacent to the support structure between the support structure and the tooth roll, and a sensing structure for sensing incoming animal carcass or carcass parts. The rotation mechanism is operably connected to the housing and adapted to execute, in response to a reaction from the sensing structure, a movement of the housing including rotational movement around a longitudinal axis of the tooth roll from a first angular position to a second angular position.

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.