Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for trimming back fat off a pork shoulder butt

US4970755A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
8References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 22, 1989
Grant dateNov 20, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 22, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA22C17/12
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The apparatus for trimming a layer of back fat off a pork shoulder butt comprises a frame as well as a flat, flexible and arcuate cutting blade with two ends respectively attached to a pair of blade holders pivotally mounted onto the frame. A conveyor, a set of upper gripper belts, and a rotative roller pass the shoulder butt through the blade to trim off the layer of fat. The rotative roller has a diameter gradually decreasing along its longitudinal axis from each end of the roller toward the center thereof to define an annular, concave outer surface. This roller is mounted onto the frame adjacent the arcuate blade on the outside of the curve this blade defines but with a distance separating the annular surface and the blade to enable passage of the layer of fat between them. The annular outer surface of the roller is formed with teeth to engage the fat whereby rotation of the roller forces the shoulder butt through the blade. The two blade holders are pivoted to adjust the arcuation in the blade and the distance separating the annular concave surface and this blade to an inner profile and a thickness of the layer of fat whereby trimming of the latter layer is optimized.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.