Patent · US Expired

Automated classifier and meat cut fat trimming method and apparatus

US6929540B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by
23References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 14, 2004
Grant dateAug 16, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 14, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA22C17/008
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus and method for a meat cut classification and fat trimming for sensing the thickness of a layer of fat of a cut of meat and the various contours thereof as it travels along a conveyance and providing the fat thickness or classification information to a downstream system for performing a fat trimming operation. The meat cut classification system comprises a split/multi-belt conveyor having split/multi-belts proximately spaced apart extending in the same direction and having a uniform equidistant gap there between and said conveyor having a drive for conveying the meat cut through the classification system and a multi-probe mechanism assembly.

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