s Depth adjustable crop transport vane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A depth adjustable crop transport vane, crop transport vane assembly, and agricultural combine threshing chambers employing such adjustable crop transport vanes are disclosed. Full Article
s Driver assistance system for agricultural working machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A driver assistance system for an agricultural working machine includes at least one control/regulating unit designed to adjust and monitor working parameters, quality parameters or both, of the agricultural working machine in an automatable manner based on use of a family of characteristics stored in the control/regulating unit. A selectable process implementation strategy is specified in order to automatically monitor or adjust at least one working parameter or quality parameter or both of the agricultural working machine. The driver assistance system suggests that the process implementation strategy be changed at least when the specified setpoint value of one or more of the quality parameters cannot be reached within the preselected process implementation strategy. Full Article
s Biomass conveying and distributing system for a harvester By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A biomass conveying and distributing system for separating and distributing lighter biomass residue from heavier or denser biomass, utilizing available air flow from the cleaning system of the harvester. The harvester will discharge a flow of heavier or denser biomass with an airborne flow of lighter biomass residue. The system includes a conveyor for receiving and conveying the heavier or denser biomass, and residue distributing apparatus disposed above the conveyor in a path of at least a portion of the airborne flow of lighter residue, including at least one deflector configured and operable for redirecting the airborne flow sidewardly away from the conveyor, above a passage through which the conveyor passes carrying the heavier biomass away from the harvester. Full Article
s Combine linear side-shake cleaning control system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A combine side-shaking control system includes a sieve for separating crop material from other materials and configured to move in a fore-aft direction. At least one side-shaking assembly includes a mounting device attached to a combine chassis, a lower plate configured to rotate about a lower plate axis and an upper plate configured to (i) have an upper plate rotational motion and rotate responsive to the rotation of the lower plate and (ii) have an upper plate substantially linear motion in a substantially linear direction. A fixed arm is rotatably coupled to the upper plate and attached to the sieve. An actuation device is configured to rotate the lower plate about the lower plate axis. Responsive to the rotation of the upper plate, the sieve is controlled to move diagonal to the fore-aft direction in the substantially linear direction of the upper plate substantially linear motion. Full Article
s Spreading arrangement and combine harvester with spreading arrangement By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST Example embodiments relate to a combine harvester including a straw chopper having an inlet for unchopped straw, an outlet for chopped straw in an essentially horizontal direction, and a spreader fan, connected downstream of the outlet of the straw chopper and having an essentially horizontal plane of rotation, for spreading the chopped straw over a ground surface. The combine harvester further includes a guide member, which is arranged to deflect at least a part of the stream of chopped straw material to an axial intake of the spreader fan such that a part of chopped straw material meets the blades of the spreader fan in the direction of transport of the chopped straw material through the spreader fan at an acute angle (α) relative to the plane of rotation of the spreader fan. Full Article
s Grain bin extension deployment apparatus for agricultural harvesting machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A grain bin located atop a harvester includes upstanding walls having a substantially continuous upper edge defining an opening. A grain bin extension is deployable between extended and retracted positions to expand the capacity of the grain bin. The extension includes extension panels and a cap overlaying the opening. The cap is supported by a cap frame that is also deployable between extended and retracted positions. An extension deployment apparatus raises and lowers the extension panels. Extension deployment mechanisms located at opposing corners of the grain bin control the deployment of adjacent extension panels. Each extension deployment mechanism has a first rack and a trunnion to drive extension panels in a vertical direction and pivot the panels in an outward direction and a second rack mounted to the trunnion to drive the cap frame in a vertical direction, and a drive gear between the first and second racks. Full Article
s Combine side-shake control system slider joint By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A combine side-shaking control system that includes a sieve for separating crop material from other material, located in a plane having an X dimension and a Y dimension and configured to move in a fore-aft direction in the X dimension, in a side-to-side direction in the Y dimension and in an up-down direction in a Z dimension. The system also includes a side-shaking assembly configured to move the sieve in the side-to-side direction in the Y dimension. The fixed arm is attached to the sieve and configured to move with the sieve in (i) the fore-aft direction in the X dimension, (ii) the side-to-side direction in the Y dimension and (iii) the up-down direction in the Z dimension. The side-shaking coupling portion comprises a moving portion configured to move in a diagonal direction having a fore-aft component in the X dimension and an up-down component in the Z dimension. Full Article
s Systems for removing plant material from harvested crops By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A system for removing plant material from harvested crops includes a pinch roller conveyor including pairs of rotatable pinch rollers whose longitudinal axes are aligned with a length of the conveyor, the pinch rollers forming nips in which plant material can be caught and pulled down through the conveyor as the pinch rollers rotate, wherein first ends of the pinch rollers are laterally displaceable so that the pinch rollers can laterally separate from each other to facilitate passage of plant material. Full Article
s Agricultural harvesting machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST An agricultural harvesting machine has a measurement device for investigating a crop flow conveyed through the harvesting machine. The measurement device includes at least one optical detection unit disposed at the crop flow for detecting light reflected by the crop and an evaluation unit for evaluating the spectrum of the detected light in order to derive properties of the crop. The evaluation unit is disposed at a position of the harvesting machine that is decoupled from mechanical loading by the crop flow to the greatest extent possible and is connected to the detection unit by way of at least one optical waveguide. Full Article
s System and method for controlling spreader output from a harvester By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A system and method for controlling spreader output from a harvester includes a distribution chamber for receiving an agricultural material removed from a field. The harvester includes a spreader system configured to distribute the agricultural material onto the field, and an opening configured to receive the agricultural material from the distribution chamber. Moreover, the distribution chamber includes a first panel rotatably coupled to a first side of the distribution chamber, and a second panel rotatably coupled to a second side of the distribution chamber. The first and second panels are configured to direct the agricultural material toward the opening of the spreader system. An angle of the first panel is independently adjustable to control a first amount of agricultural material directed toward a first inlet portion. An angle of the second panel is independently adjustable to control a second amount of agricultural material directed toward a second inlet portion. Full Article
s Residue separating feed system for biomass including an impeller By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A feed system for a biomass collection device uses a conveyor for dropping a flow comprising a mixture of denser or heavier biomass to be collected such as cobs, and less dense or lighter biomass residue such as leaf trash, through a space, and rotary feed apparatus below for receiving the flow, operable for propelling the received flow into a collection device, in combination with a fan configured and operable for directing a flow of air along a second path intersecting the first path in a manner to divert at least a substantial portion of the less dense or lighter biomass residue away from the feed apparatus, while allowing substantially all of the denser or heavier biomass to continue along the first path to the feed apparatus for feeding into the collection device. Distribution apparatus along the second path can then be used to spread the diverted biomass. Full Article
s Method and device for harvesting threshed crops By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A method and device for harvesting threshed crops including a threshing assembly (3) arranged downstream of a cutting assembly (2) of a combine harvester (1) for separating the grain-chaff mixture (12) from the straw. A chaffing device (4) is arranged downstream of the threshing assembly (3) for separating the total straw fraction into a first and a second straw fraction (5.1, 5.2). A comminution device (8) is arranged downstream of the chaffing device (5) for comminuting the second straw fraction (5.2). A blower (10) having a suction pipe (9) draws in and mixes the grain-chaff mixture (12) and the second straw fraction (5.2) to form a mixture (18) of grain, chaff, and second straw fraction and conveys the mixture (18) into a silo (14). Full Article
s Agricultural combine harvester with harvesting and winnowing optimization control system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST An agricultural combine has a threshing assembly for threshing a crop to produce chaff and grain, a cleaning assembly for removing the chaff from the grain, and a control system. The threshing assembly and the cleaning assembly operate at threshing and cleaning settings, respectively, for tending to produce a balance between a threshing load applied across the threshing assembly and a cleaning load applied across the cleaning assembly that tends to have a favorable influence on grain loss. The control system is for sensing an imbalance between the threshing load and the cleaning load tending to have an unfavorable influence on grain loss, and for concurrently adjusting the threshing and cleaning settings of the threshing and cleaning assemblies, respectively, for tending to convert the imbalance between the threshing and cleaning loads to a balance between the threshing and cleaning loads tending to have a favorable influence on grain loss. Full Article
s Combine harvester grain cleaning apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A combine harvester comprises a separating apparatus arranged to receive a threshed crop stream and convey rearwardly. The separating apparatus comprises a grate for allowing grain and chaff to fall onto an underlying separator pan, the separator pan being driven in an oscillating manner to convey a grain/chaff stream forwardly for delivery to a cleaning unit. The separator pan comprises a first portion and a second portion disposed forwardly of the first portion. A rear edge of the second portion is releasably attached to a front edge of the first portion, the second portion being pivotable around a forward mounting around a transverse axis between an operating position in which the second portion is attached to the first portion forming a continuous pan surface, and a lowered position in which the second portion is detached from the first portion giving maintenance access to the underside of the separating apparatus. Full Article
s Helical auger flight assemblies and thresher formed therewith By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A helical auger flight has an inner edge, an outer edge, an inner face, an outer face, and a leading extremity that includes a prominence and a leading edge that extends from the outer edge to the prominence. The prominence extends outward from the leading edge of the leading extremity to an outer end having an upturned jut. A wear plate is releasably connected to the inner face of the helical auger flight. The wear plate extends from the outer edge of the helical auger flight to the prominence. A front extremity of the wear plate extends forwardly of the leading edge of the helical auger flight so as to be in a shielding relationship with respect to the leading edge of the helical auger flight, and a nose of the front extremity of the wear plated is seated in direct contact against a contact surface of the jut. Full Article
s Harvester bin sensor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A harvester grain bin monitoring system is disclosed. The system includes a sensor that monitors the perimeter of the bin proximate to the top rim to provide a warning to an operator when the grain level reaches approaches the bin rim. The sensor may be optical or mechanical. Full Article
s Windrow door assembly for an agricultural combine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A windrow door assembly for controlling a direction of flow of crop residue expelled from a combine is disclosed. The window door assembly may generally include a door panel extending between a first end and a second end. The door panel may be moveable between a closed position, wherein the crop residue being expelled from the combine is directed along the door panel into a spreader of the combine, and an opened position, wherein the crop residue is directed along the door panel towards a rear opening of the combine. In addition, the windrow door assembly may include a deflector panel rotatably coupled to the door panel. The deflector panel may be configured to alter the direction of flow of the crop residue when the door panel is in the opened position. Full Article
s Air diverter for a cleaning system of a combine harvester By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cleaning system for a combine harvester that includes a cleaning shoe having a sieve, a cleaning fan, an air plenum and a pair of air diverters is provided. The cleaning fan is rotatably driven for generating a flow of air and positioned within the air plenum. The air plenum extends across the entire length of the cleaning fan and includes an inlet for the intake of air, an outlet downstream the inlet for directing the flow of air in a first direction, lateral walls forming a portion of the outlet, and a bottom wall extending between the lateral walls. The pair of air diverters extends inwardly from the lateral walls. Each air diverter is configured substantially as a pyramid having a rounded corner that extends inwardly from the lateral wall and upwardly from the bottom wall. Full Article
s Biomass feed system using an air blanket for improved distribution within a collection device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A biomass feed system includes a device to propel an airborne flow of the biomass along a trajectory within a collection device. At least one air flow port is disposed and operable in cooperation with at least one fan for discharging a flow of air for creating a blanket of pressurized air within the interior cavity beneath the trajectory for supporting and extending a distance of travel of the biomass within the collection device. The collection device can include an air flow outlet adjacent to a terminal end of the trajectory, to and through which the pressurized air will flow, in a manner for lifting and carrying at least some of the airborne biomass farther into the interior cavity. And, vanes or other elements can be provided to used to achieve better sideward distribution. Full Article
s Meat tenderization methods and systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST Methods and systems for extending or stretching muscles on an animal carcass by separating a hip joint of the carcass. Hip joint separation may be carried out while the carcass is suspended from a conveyor system as part of a commercial meat processing operation. Full Article
s Transportation device with star wheels By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST The present invention relates to a transportation device for transporting sausage-shaped products with suspension elements from a clipping machine to a handling device. The transportation device comprises a conveying unit, a catching unit for catching the suspension element attached to one end of the sausage-shaped product, and a guide unit for guiding the suspension element caught by the catching unit to said handling device comprising a longitudinally extending guide element and supports for supporting the guide element, wherein the supports provide a passage way for the suspension element to be guided along the guide element. The supports include gear wheels arranged rotatably about an at least substantially horizontally aligned axis engaging the guide element. Moreover, there are provided ratchets for engaging the gear wheels adapted to position a gap between two subsequent teeth of said gear wheels in the passage way of said suspension element. Full Article
s Double function, hand operated meat tenderizer with quick release clip By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A double function, hand operated meat tenderizer includes a handle with a blade segment clamped inside said handle; a generally flat plate attached to said handle by at least one slidably moving cylinder attached to a compressed spring, comprising at least one seat including a releasably attached spigot of the cylinder, wherein an end face of said plate is provided with a plurality of projections and flow-through slots aligned in evenly spaced relation, parallel to the spring axis, and wherein in a position of rest, ends of said blades are retracted in said flow-through slots. Full Article
s Crab shelling machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A crab shelling machine includes first and second transfer mechanisms for conveying crabs, a cutting mechanism for sectioning the crabs and a separating mechanism for separating crab meat and/or crab roe from crab shells. The cutting mechanism includes a frame body, a pair of transmitting apparatuses positioned above the frame body, and a cutter vertically extending into a slot formed by the pair of transmitting apparatuses. The slot is adapted for the crabs to be conveyed therethrough. Each transmitting apparatus includes two transport wheels and a transport belt associated to the transport wheels. The separating mechanism includes a storage box located above the second transfer mechanism, a suction tube fixed to the storage box for separating the crab meat and/or the crab roe, and a driving apparatus for driving the suction tube. Full Article
s Separation of the spinal column from a carcass middle part By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A method and a system for separating the spinal column from a carcass middle part, comprising the steps of providing a digital representation of an outer surface of the carcass middle on the basis of, e.g., an optical scan, determining a cutting path (1c) for a cutting device for the separation of the spinal column from the carcass middle on the basis of digital processing of the scan, and subsequently separating the spinal column from the carcass middle by causing a relative movement between the middle and the cutting device and simultaneously causing the cutting device to engage the carcass middle, wherein the relative movement between the middle and the cutting device during the spinal column separation to achieve a cut along the predetermined cutting path (1c). Full Article
s Portable game carcass hanger By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A portable portable game carcass hanger including two mounting strap with fastening devices to secure to a vertical support beam such as a tree trunk. A mounting bracket with a first leg, a second leg perpendicular to the first leg and support member are provided. A first hook is disposed on the second leg. There is a triangular hanger with an apex and a bottom end opposite the apex. The apex removably engages the second leg first hook. The bottom end of the triangular hanger has at least one second hook provided to hang at least one game carcass thereon. Full Article
s Stuffing tube centering device and method for centering a stuffing tube By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A stuffing tube centering device for concentric alignment of the stuffing tube to a casing stick and a corresponding method, and where two oppositely disposed centering members movable towards each other between which the stuffing tube can be held and centered. Full Article
s Method and apparatus for mechanically processing an organ or organs taken out from slaughtered poultry By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST Method and apparatus are provided for mechanically processing an organ or organs taken out from slaughtered poultry in a processing device or processing line, which organ or organs form part of an organ package and wherein the organ or organs are separated from the organ package. The organ package is spatially oriented by the processing device without notably breaking tissue connections in the package, and in a preselected order so as to cause the harvesting of organs from the package to occur in a preselected sequence that depends on the location of the organ package in the processing device or processing line. Full Article
s Poultry euthanasia device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A method and apparatus for euthanizing poultry by rapidly impacting the spinal column of the bird. Full Article
s Transportation assembly with separation device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST The present invention relates to a transportation assembly for transporting sausage shaped products out of a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products in a transportation direction to a rod-like storing element. Each sausage-shaped product comprises a filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing closed on at least one end by a closing means and a suspension element attached to the end closed by said closure means, the transportation assembly comprises a guiding device having a bar-shaped guiding element along which the sausage-shaped product is guided by its suspension element, and a transportation device for transporting the sausage-shaped product along the guiding element by engaging the suspension element of the sausage-shaped product. The suspension element is held in an open configuration by the weight of the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing. A separation device is provided at the guide element, for removing a suspension element from the guiding element. Full Article
s Paw cutter system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A paw cutting system for removing a poultry paw from a shackle conveyed along a shackle conveyor line and then cutting the leg of the paw to remove the knuckle is provided. The paw cutter has a guide bar substantially aligned with the shackle conveyor line that urges the paw to a central cavity of the shackle. The paw is discharged from the central cavity into a lateral notch formed in two opposed discs positioned adjacent to an end of the guide bar. The two opposed discs are rotatable and move the paw from the guide bar to a blade. As the paw is moved to the blade, the two discs stretch the paw so that the blade can cleanly cut the paw. The cut paw product can be placed onto a belt or other device in an ordered manner. Full Article
s Method for filling sausages with a paste-like substance and filling machine for performing this method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A method for filling sausages with a paste-like substance by means of a filling machine and to a filling machine for performing this method, including a sensor unit capable of determining at least one parameter that varies differently for different paste-like substances as a function of time. Depending on the at least one determined parameter, a controller determines whether a measure to be implemented on one or more wearing parts is necessary, the wearing parts wearing out at different times depending on the different paste-like substances. Full Article
s Field dressing knife By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A knife includes a body that includes a handle section, a substantially circular blade housing section, and a blade including a cutting edge having substantially the same radius of curvature of the blade housing. The substantially circular blade housing section extends substantially perpendicular from the handle section. The blade extends longitudinally out of the blade housing at a position substantially 180° away from the position of the handle section along the circumference of the blade housing and terminates in a sharp point. The width of the blade at the portion immediately adjacent to the blade housing and opposite the blade point is substantially equal to the diameter of the blade housing. Full Article
s Deboning machine auger mount assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST Deboning machines and methods of operating deboning machines are provided. In one aspect, a deboning machine includes a housing, a bearing supported by the housing, a separation chamber supported by the housing and including perforations defined through the separation chamber from an interior surface to an exterior surface, an auger including a shaft and a flute formed about the shaft with the auger extending through the separation chamber and the flute adapted to be positioned a working distance from the interior surface of the separation chamber. The deboning machine also includes a retainer rotatably supported by the bearing with the auger extending through the retainer, a nut rotatably coupled to a threaded portion of the auger and rotation of the moves the flute relative to the separation chamber to establish the working distance between the flute and the interior surface of the separation chamber. Full Article
s Casing brake assembly with rotatable member By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A casing brake assembly for applying a frictional force to a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing arranged on a filling tube of an apparatus used for filling and closing said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and for limiting the movement of said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing at least while being filled, wherein the filling tube has a circular cross-section, the casing brake assembly comprising a housing and at least a first brake body and at least a second brake body, wherein at least the second brake body is reversibly movable relative to the first brake body between a releasing position and a braking position about said common central axis wherein, in releasing position, the brake bodies are forming a ring, which has an open segment, wherein the filling tube is pivotable through the open segment, and wherein, in braking position, the brake bodies are forming a substantially closed ring. Full Article
s Method for removing blood released during filleting from the backbone of fish, and device for removing such blood By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST In a method for removing blood released during filleting from the backbone and the indentations therein in the region of the vertebrae of fish that are conveyed in a row with the head forwards and the belly downwards, the removal of blood is carried out at the same time and in the same place as the cutting of the backbone. The backbone, which is freed of ray bones and rib bones, is guided through a cutting gap and is cut clear on the belly side of the fish over the entire length of the fish as far as the root of the dorsal fin to leave a backbone stump. The fish fillet flesh is covered by covering surfaces which converge at the cutting gap and of which at least two covering surfaces form the cutting gap. Pressurized cleaning fluid is sprayed onto the backbone that is guided between the covering surfaces through the cutting gap during cutting. A device for removing said released blood comprises a backbone cutting device having two backbone cutting circular blades, which are arranged obliquely in an inverted V shape and form the covering surfaces, and having fish guiding means forming covering surfaces that cover the fish fillet flesh. A cleaning device comprises at least one cleaning nozzle aligned with the cutting gap. An actuating device actuates the cleaning device and the backbone cutting device simultaneously. The covering surfaces protect the fish fillet flesh from being sprayed with the cleaning fluid. Full Article
s Poultry front half processing apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A poultry front half processing module is shown and described. The module includes a rotatable wing bracket for securely engaging the wings of the front half to allow more accurate processing and easier deboning and transfer operations. Full Article
s Selective tendon cutter and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A method is disclosed for cutting tendons within the drumstick of a poultry leg while leaving the fibula of the drumstick intact. The drumstick has first and second opposing sides where no fibula extends and opposing third and fourth sides along one of which the fibula extends. The method includes suspending the drumstick from its ankle joint, moving the suspended drumstick in a downstream processing direction, cutting the meat and tendons extending along the first side of the drumstick, cutting the meat and tendons extending along the second side of the drumstick, pushing and stretching the meat and tendons of the drumstick to form a bulge projecting in the direction of the third side of the drumstick, cutting through the meat and tendons within the bulge while insuring that the cut is not made completely to the tibia, orienting the suspended drumstick so that its fourth side faces in the direction of a knife blade, pushing and stretching the meat and tendons of the drumstick to form a bulge projecting in the direction of the fourth side of the drumstick, and cutting through the meat and tendons within the bulge while insuring that the cut is not made completely to the tibia. An apparatus for carrying out the method also is disclosed. Full Article
s Device and method for processing meat, particularly fish By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST The invention concerns an apparatus for processing meat, in particular fish, comprising a processing tool, an actuating unit associated with the processing tool for moving the processing tool out of a starting position into a processing position and vice versa, and a control device which is operatively connected to the processing tool or actuating unit for control of the processing tool, which is distinguished in that the actuating unit comprises a cylinder unit having two pressure cylinders which are arranged one behind the other and connected to each other, wherein the processing tool is arranged on one of the two pressure cylinders of the cylinder unit and the two pressure cylinders can be controlled independently of each other. Furthermore, the invention concerns a corresponding method. Full Article
s Automated poultry hanging system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST This invention relates to automated systems and methods for hanging live poultry for further processing. The system has an alignment conveyor, an alignment stunner, a hanging box, and a shackle. The alignment conveyor conveys poultry from an input point to the alignment stunner. The alignment stunner urges the poultry to move to a desired position on the alignment conveyor and stuns the poultry. The hanging box grasps the stunned poultry and places the poultry into the shackle for further processing. A computer and at least one sensor control operation of the system so that human intervention is minimized. Full Article
s Filleting device and method for harvesting fillets By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A filleting device and method for harvesting fillets from poultry carcasses that are moved in a conveyer-line supported on carriers is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the first guide rails are provided to guide at least a part of the fillets so as to increase this part's distance from the carcass and break the tissue connections that connect the fillet or fillets in their natural position to the keel-bone of the carcass. Flexible elements are provided that complete the harvesting of the fillets by peeling the fillets entirely loose from the keel-bone. Full Article
s Meat cutting cabinet using laser beams By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The meat cutting cabinet provides an apparatus for automatically cutting and slicing meat using laser beams. The cabinet includes a motor disposed in the interior top thereof. The motor is connected to a winch or spool that pays out or reels in a steel cable. A steel hanger adapted for holding meat is suspended from the steel cable. Interior sidewalls of the cabinet have elongate standards extending from the upper portion to a lower portion proximate the cutting area of the cabinet. The steel hanger is slidably attached to the elongate members via channels formed in the standards. A laser carrier is disposed along an interior periphery of the cabinet and holds laser heads that can move via translation inside the carrier. This laser arrangement forms the cutting area through which the suspended meat can travel under control of a control panel connected to the spool motor. Full Article
s ***WITHDRAWN PATENT AS PER THE LATEST USPTO WITHDRAWN LIST***Work hanging apparatus and work hanging method for hanging work on hanger through movement of work under correction By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A work hanging apparatus includes a hanger line continuously conveying hangers each having a hook, a robot that has a hand with which a work having a hole is held and transfers the held work to a hanging location set in the hanger line, a controller controlling a movement of the hand to catch the hook of one of the hangers with the hole of the held work at the hanging location, a hole deviation detector that detects a positional deviation of the hole of the work, an attitude deviation detector that detects an attitudinal deviation of the hanger, and a corrector that corrects the movement of the hand according to the positional and attitudinal deviations. Full Article
s Fish processing system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable cutting of the fish and removal of the viscera without damage to either the viscera or the remaining fish product. The systems may include a gutting device to severe a gullet of the fish from the fish body and to gather and remove the viscera without significant damage to the viscera or the remaining fish product. Extractors for severing the connection between the gullet and the fish with one or more underlying cutting members are also provided to assist in removal of the viscera. Full Article
s Method and apparatus for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook is provided. The method and apparatus allow the quality of the poultry to be classified and graded in a simpler and more effective manner to realize higher yields or an extra added value. In one exemplary embodiment, a processing apparatus for a foot of the poultry is provided that includes a foot pad inspection apparatus. Full Article
s Picking row for a poultry defeathering apparatus and such an apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a poultry defeathering apparatus and to a picking row for use in such an apparatus. The picking row comprises an elongate support part with a front side surface, a back side surface, a two interconnecting side surfaces interconnecting the front and back side surfaces. Said side surfaces extends in parallel to a length axis of the support part and a plurality of picking heads are arranged on the front side surface. At least one of the interconnecting side surfaces is convex, preferably being curved with a radius of curvature corresponding to half the height of the support part. In the apparatus, two or more picking rows are arranged side-by-side with the picking heads facing in substantially the same direction such that interconnecting side surfaces of neighboring picking rows face each other. In such a pair of interconnecting surfaces, at least one of them is convex. Full Article
s Method and an apparatus for removing fat from meat cuts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for removing fat from one face of a meat cut, where a knife tool cuts a layer of fat and possibly skin from the face. The knife tool is adapted to cut across the entire width of said meat cut along a desired trimming interface. The knife tool includes at least two controllable blade parts, each having a cutting edge, the blade parts extending between the first face and a fat-to-lean interface without intersecting said first face. The position of said cutting edges and the angle of the blade parts are continuously adapted, by controlling the at least two controllable blade parts, to cut following the desired trimming interface, whereby the fat and possible skin is trimmed from the lean in one single piece of fat. Full Article
s Device and method for processing carcasses of livestock By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a device for processing carcasses of livestock such as cattle, pigs and sheep, comprising: at least two dressing tools for performing a dressing process on livestock carcasses, and a robot arm carrying the dressing tool. The invention also relates to a method for processing carcasses of livestock using such a device. Full Article
s Poultry processing apparatus having one or more transfer units By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A processing apparatus for poultry is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes one or more transfer units placed intermediate of, conveying poultry from, a first line to a subsequent second line, wherein both the first line and the second line are selected from the group including a slaughtering line, an evisceration line, a chilling line, a sorting line and a cutup line. Each transfer unit is embodied with a circulating support that includes material that is magnetically conductive and transfer devices are provided with at least one magnet so as to induce eddy currents in the circulating support that counteracts relative motion between the transfer devices and the circulating support. Full Article
s Knife with hook for skinning and methods of using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A knife having a hook incorporated into the blade for skinning, wherein the hook is a belly hook that is positioned on the belly side or under side of the knife opposite a finger guard area. Methods of the using the knife include steps for using the cutting edge to cut and using the hook to cut by pressure applied away from the user's body. Full Article
s Device and method for removing shoulder blade of bone-in meat and deboning system of bone-in meat including the device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A shoulder blade removal device of bone-in meat includes: a bottom holder which is configured to be in contact with a lower side of the bone-in meat such that the lower side of the bone-in meat is lifted upward and moved in a horizontal direction; a support member for bending the bone-in meat in cooperation with the bottom holder such that an end of the shoulder blade; and a chuck unit attached to a robot arm and gripping the tip part of the shoulder blade in cooperation with the robot arm. The chuck unit includes: a base member fixed to the robot arm; a grip member; and a lock member supported by the base member such that the lock member can be advanced or retracted toward or away from the lateral plate part, the lock member pinching the shoulder blade in cooperation with the lateral plate part. Full Article