Patent ID: 6244950
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: A22C

Abstract:
An automatic skin removal and fat trimming device for meat products comprises:a frame having forward and rearward ends;an entry conveyor belt means having forward and rearward ends mounted on said frame adjacent said forward end of the frame for receiving a meat product thereon and transporting it into said device;an upper pressing conveyor belt means having forward and rearward sections, said upper pressing conveyor belt means mounted on said frame above said entry conveyor belt means, said forward section of said upper pressing conveyor belt means angled relative to said entry conveyor belt means such that when a meat product on said entry conveyor belt means is transported into said device, the meat product is compressed between said entry conveyor belt means and said forward section of said upper pressing conveyor belt means;a rotating ridged cylinder mounted on said frame adjacent said rearward end of said entry conveyor belt means, said cylinder operative to frictionally engage the skin of the meat product to further direct the meat product through the device;a skin removal blade mounted on said frame adjacent said rearward end of said entry conveyor belt means slightly above the plane of said entry conveyor belt means such that as the meat product is moved past said skin removal blade, the skin on the meat product is removed and separated from the remainder of the meat product;a curved fat trimming blade having opposite ends, said curved fat trimming blade mounted on said frame and positioned above said skin trimming blade and spaced therefrom to engage, cut and remove the fat lining surrounding the meat on the meat product, said fat trimming blade including an arcuate section interposed between said opposite ends, said arcuate section operative to allow said fat trimming blade to more accurately remove fat from meat products;a meat removing conveyor belt means mounted rearwardly of said skin removal and fat trimming blades operative to engage the meat product and pull the meat product towards the rearward end of the frame thereby removing the meat product from the trimming device;said rearward section of said upper pressing conveyor belt means cooperating with said meat removing conveyor belt means to compress and pull the meat product through and out of said device; anda drive device operatively connected to said entry conveyor belt means, said upper pressing conveyor belt means, said meat removing conveyor belt means and said rotating ridged cylinder to drive each of said conveyor belts and said cylinder to pull the meat product through the device and efficiently separate the skin and fat from the meat product.