According to this feature point recognition system (1), data of a feature point of a first group obtained by a first algorithm calculation unit (12) with no mask processing is compared with data of a feature point of a second group detected by a third algorithm calculation unit (16) obtained through mask processing performed by a second algorithm calculation unit (14), whether the data is abnormal is determined, and thereby feature points of a subject P can be recognized more accurately and stably than in the related art.

The technology as disclosed herein includes a method and apparatus for deboning a meat item, and more particular for deboning a poultry item including performing an initial shoulder cut for removing boneless breast meat from the poultry carcass or frame. The method and apparatus disclosed and claimed herein is a combination of a robotic arm including an ultrasonic knife implement and a vision system for varying the cut path based on the shape and size of the poultry item. The combination as claimed including the ultrasonic knife can perform a meat cut while penetrating the meat with less force than the typical penetration that occurs when using a traditional knife.

A treatment device or method for preparing a poultry carcass, as provided herein, may serve to remove a portion of the carcass's keel bone on a conveyor line. The treatment device may include a blade carriage and bone blade. The blade carriage may be disposed at a preharvest station on a conveyor path of the conveyor line. The bone blade may be mechanically linked to the blade carriage at the preharvest station to remove a tip of the keel bone. The bone blade may be aligned with the keel bone between a pair of fillets of the carcass within the preharvest station. The bone blade may also be spaced apart from a sternum of the carcass.

An apparatus and method for removing a keel from a poultry carcass that is conveyed at a predetermined speed along a path. Planar members extend radially outwardly from a continuous loop driven adjacent the path at the predetermined speed. A keel-receiving gap is configured between a pair of planar members. At least one blade is disposed between the path and the continuous loop for severing the keel from the carcass. A ramp above the path has a downwardly-facing surface angled to the path for contacting the poultry carcass and adjusting its vertical position relative to the blade. A keel guide spaced from the plurality of planar members may contact the keel to adjust the keel relative to the blade.

An apparatus for the moving-along tool positioning of linearly conveyed articles includes a conveyor device forming a conveying line, a processing station arranged along the conveying line and having a processing tool, and a positioning unit having a transverse slide and a longitudinal slide for positioning the tools. An assembly for removing the wishbone from poultry carcasses has such an apparatus and utilizes corresponding methods.

A poultry meat product and method of producing the same. The meat product has breast meat divisible into a first portion attached to a wishbone and separated from a second portion. The first portion remains attached to the wishbone and has a width having a dimension of between 1.0 and 1.5 times a first distance between tips of the wishbone and having a length having a dimension of between 0.5 and 1.5 times a length of the wishbone. A shaped blade may be inserted into a bird carcass for cutting the breast fillets. A V-shaped cut has a first segment approximately parallel to a first wishbone leg and a second segment approximately parallel to a second wishbone leg. The cut defines a portion of the breast fillets that remain attached to the wishbone. The wishbone remains intact within the attached portion of breast fillet for producing a unique meat product.

A cartilage cutting device for a bone-in meat according to an embodiment includes a cutting blade disposed on a conveying path for a bone-in meat and an elastic support portion for elastically supporting the cutting blade so that the cutting blade can recede by a reaction force applied to the cutting blade when cutting the bone-in meat. The elastic support portion is configured such that an elastic supporting force of the elastic support portion is switchable between a first elastic supporting force and a second elastic supporting force. The first elastic supporting force is capable of cutting a cartilage adhering to a bone part of the bone-in meat. The second elastic supporting force is smaller than the first elastic supporting force and is incapable of cutting the cartilage.

A method is used in the production of principal products conveyed in plurality along a processing line, consisting of fish, poultry or other meat which contains, in addition to the principal products to be obtained, inedible components to be removed (removal components) and also contains edible by-products remaining on said removal components. The edible by-products remain on the removal components after removal. The method includes: loading a separating device with a batch of fish, poultry or other meat; separating the principal products of this batch from the removal components, comprising by-products, of said batch; separating the by-products from the removal components; producing a by-product brine from the by-products by comminuting the by-products and mixing with water and stabiliser; and injecting a defined quantity of the by-product brine into the principal products, wherein principal products and the by-products contained in the by-product brine come from the same batch.

A system and method for deboning a poultry leg part, including at least one bone and meat surrounding the bone. The system includes a conveying unit arranged for transporting the poultry leg part along a conveying path. The system also includes a deboning unit. The deboning unit includes a gripper arranged for gripping the meat surrounding the bone, the gripper being associated with a first carrier; a gripper actuator arranged for opening and closing the gripper, the gripper actuator being associated with a second carrier; and a gripper tensioner arranged for providing a biasing force for closing the gripper, the gripper tensioner being associated with a third carrier. The first, second and third carriers are arranged for displacement relative to a base member, and the base member is arranged for being transported in horizontal direction along the conveying path.

A support for carrying a front-half of a chicken through a deboning process, including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a base for attaching to a conveyor belt. The upper portion includes a first shelf and a second shelf for resting under the shoulder knuckles of the front-half of the chicken and a protrusion positioned between the first shelf and the second shelf for spreading the shoulder knuckles. The lower portion of the support has two sections for resting under the breast meat of the front-half of the chicken. The first section of the lower portion of the support slopes downward and outward from the upper portion, while the second section of the lower portion slopes downward and inward from the first section.