A system and method for removing a bone from a primal or sub primal meat cut that includes a conveyance system having a continuous conveyor extending along a path of conveyance from an upstream point at the loading end to a downstream point at the discharge. The system includes a pair of opposing support surfaces projecting vertically upward from a first position of the continuous conveyor along the path of conveyance whereby each of the opposing support surfaces of the pair inwardly extend one toward the other, from an upper level downward vertically to a lower level. Each opposing support surface of the pair has a downward slope and each opposing surface of the pair converges at a recessed valley at the lower level.

A tray conveyor comprising ice-coated magnetic trays driven by a linear-motor stator along a rail track. The ice coating is applied to the trays to provide a product-bearing ice surface. After the product is processed and transferred off the tray, the top layer of the contaminated ice coating is removed and the tray with the remaining ice coating reused.

A meat processing apparatus has an automated analysis stage for analysing meat parts with penetrating radiation. Data is generated for sue in both feedforward and feedback information, and may be used for robotic control of trimming and boning operations. There is a radiation-shielded chamber within which there is a tomography scanner with a scanner controller, arranged to perform analysis of meat parts. A port is used for entry and exit of meat parts placed in carriers into and out of the chamber for analysis by the scanner, and a handling system performs automated movement of the carriers between the port and the scanner. The port has an interlock chamber, having an inner door and an outer door and a controller to ensure that while the scanner is operating only one door can open. The meat parts are inspected automatically by an inspection station and a controller of the inspection station feeds forward data which is used by the scanner controller to control scanner operation according to meat part physical attributes.

A method for forming aggregates of food pieces by arranging a plurality of food pieces such that the food pieces at least partially overlap one another is provided. The method automatically changes the number of food pieces forming each aggregate and a pitch at which the food pieces are arranged so as to limit the weights of the aggregates within a predetermined permissible range and to form each aggregate such that the total length of the aggregate is a preset length. The method also automatically changes the number of food pieces forming each aggregate and the pitch at which the food pieces are arranged according to the length of the food piece in the arrangement direction.

A system for processing food products comprises a slicing apparatus that is configured to cut off slices from food products and to form part portions having one or more slices in a portioning section. A transport device adjoining the portioning section is provided and the portioning section comprises a conveying device that transfers the part portions to the transport device. The system comprises a stacking apparatus that is configured to form a food portion comprising a plurality of part portions. The transport device is configured to transport the part portions onto a product support of the stacking apparatus, wherein the transport device and/or the stacking apparatus has/have a scale for measuring the weight of the part portions and/or of the food portion.

A cutting apparatus for cutting a food object where inlet and outlet conveyors are arranged in an end-to-end arrangement. A moving mechanism is provided for adjusting the relative position between the ends of the inlet and outlet conveyors, a cutting device is provided having a cutting plane extending between the inlet and outlet conveyors, a detection mechanism is provided for detecting at least one characteristics related to the food object, and a control device is provided for controlling the moving mechanism and the cutting device. Controlling the moving mechanism includes utilizing the at least one detected characteristics in determining a target width of an opening between the ends of the inlet and outlet conveyors, and controlling the cutting device includes subsequently cutting the food object into smaller food pieces. The target width of the opening is selected such that it allows smaller food pieces to fall through the opening.

A system for processing meat pieces includes a radiation inspection apparatus configured to receive a primary stream of meat pieces conveyed by a conveyor and to detect trim products containing undesired objects; a reject device; a control unit configured to operate the reject device using the detected undesired objects as an operation parameter such that the meat pieces containing the undesired objects are separated from the primary stream of trim products; an object remover configured to remove the undesired objects from the meat pieces separated from the primary stream of trim products; and a recirculation apparatus configured to receive the meat pieces after undergoing the object remover and recirculate it as a secondary stream into the radiation inspection apparatus. The secondary stream is separated from the primary stream, and the radiation inspection is configured to detect whether any remaining undesired objects are in the secondary stream.

Disclosed is a conveyor system including a first conveyor leading to an inspection point, the first conveyor including a diversion mechanism configured to divert an object based on failing to meet an inspection parameter. The system includes a second conveyor configured to transport a container configured to receive the object from the diversion mechanism. A control module is configured to co-register an image of the object captured at the inspection point with container ID data of the container.

A method is described for unhooking a portion of meat from a support element to which the portion of meat is hooked, the support element including a plurality of hooks by means of which the portion of meat is hooked to the support element, a bar to which the hooks are rigidly connected by a connection body comprising a first face, from which the hooks rise, and a second face facing in the opposite direction to the first face, and a grasping appendage rising from the second face at least in a direction away from the first face and from the second face. The method includes pulling the grasping appendage in a predetermined extraction direction, and holding the portion of meat, or pushing the portion of meat in a direction opposite to the predetermined extraction direction, at the same time as the step of pulling the grasping appendage in the predetermined extraction direction, completely pulling the hooks off the portion of meat.

A carcass stabilization system for a meat processing plant having carcasses transported along a processing line is provided. The system includes a stabilizer installed proximate the processing line and having a carcass engagement component and a shock absorbing device coupled to the carcass engagement component adapted to absorb at least some of the forces resulting from the carcasses impacting the carcass engagement component. The system also includes a stabilizing surface extending along the processing line opposite the stabilizer such that the carcasses are transported along the processing line between the stabilizing surface and the stabilizer, where the carcass engagement component is adapted to engage and bias the carcasses against the stabilizing surface.