Patent ID: 7001261
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: A22C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for classification of a fat to lean interface of a meat cut and trimming the fat therefrom comprising: a split multi-belt conveyor powered by a conveyor drive and operable for conveying a meat cut, said conveyor having a plurality of proximately spaced conveyor belts extending in parallel and coplanar along a path of conveyance having a plurality of uniform gaps between the plurality of belts; a probe assembly having a plurality of elongated laterally aligned probes operable to sense a fat to lean interface of the meat cut where each of said probes are aligned along one of the gaps and the probe assembly is selectively driven by a drive to effect elevation and lowering of the probes and effect travel along a circular path for insertion and retraction of the probes and where said probe assembly is operable to output a plurality of signals each characteristic of the fat to lean interface sensed by one of the plurality of probes; and a meat cut hold down assembly positioned above the multi-belt conveyor and having an endless hold down track powered by a hold down drive and operable to hold down and convey the meat cut along the path of conveyance during probing.