Patent ID: 6213863
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: A22B

Abstract:
A device of the class described, comprising,a frame,a horizontal conveyor on the frame having a forward end,a toothed gripping roll rotatably mounted on the frame and extending across the forward end of the conveyor and being at a level to grip meat products being conveyed on the conveyor towards the forward end of the conveyor,an elongated cutting blade mounted on the frame adjacent a meat product gripping surface of the gripping roll to remove fat or membrane from a meat product gripped by the gripping roll,an elongated flipper plate having top and bottom horizontal edges pivotally mounted along the bottom edge at a location adjacent to and forwardly of a cutting edge of the cutting blade,a pair of parallel arms pivotally secured to the frame adjacent sides of the conveyor and extending forwardly from their pivotal connections to the frame,a hold down roll rotatably mounted between forward ends of the arms,lifting means of the frame connected to the arms for raising and lowering the arms,link means connecting at least one of the arms and the flipper plate so that when arms are raised, the flipper plate is partially erect so as to block the movement of a meat product forwardly over the plate and to allow the meat product to be rotated by the gripper roll and the conveyor on the plate and in contact with the cutting blade so that the cutting blade can remove surface material from a plurality of exterior surfaces on the meat product, and so that the flipper plate will move to a less inclined position when the arms are lowered to permit the meat product to move forwardly over the flipper plate.