Patent ID: 7662031
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: A22C

Abstract:
1. An automated poultry product defatting apparatus comprising, in combination: a) a housing mounted to a base and provided with a product feed inlet and a product discharge outlet; b) discharge outlet and having at least one pair of substantially circular, cylindrical lower peel rollers, each lower peel roller aligned in a substantially parallel orientation and in a close-clearance relationship to the adjacent lower peel rollers, the lower peel rollers rotating in a cooperative manner to pinch external fat on the lower side of a piece of poultry product placed thereon between the lower peel rollers and pull the fat off the product; and c) a conveyor mounted to said housing and aligned to engage an upper surface of the piece of poultry product delivered to the feed inlet and direct the product in a path along, and in firm engagement with, the lower peeling member toward the discharge opening, the conveyor being mounted for selected movement of at least a first end of the conveyor in response to the size of the piece of poultry product; and d) an upper peeling member mounted to the base above and at an angle relative to the lower peeling member to form a crotch near the juncture of the peeling members, the upper peeling member having at least one pair of substantially circular, cylindrical upper peel rollers, each upper peel roller aligned in a substantially parallel orientation and in a close-clearance relationship to the adjacent upper peel rollers, the upper peel rollers rotating in a cooperative manner to pinch external fat on the upper side of the piece of poultry product and to pull the fat off the poultry product, a lower run of the conveyor being angled to direct the poultry product toward the crotch and to maintain firm engagement between the upper surface of the product and the upper peeling member.