Patent ID: 6688961
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: A22C,B26D,B26F

Abstract:
The method for apportioning poultry breast into meat products, said breast having a forward portion of first general thickness tapering to a rearward portion of second general thickness less than said first general thickness, comprising the steps of:(a) providing at least one platen having a support surface, a forward containment wall defining the peripheral shape of a portion of a forward product formed of said breast meat forward portion, said wall extending between forward wall termini, a severance boundary extending from said wall termini and having a medial portion which defines, at least in part, with said forward containment wall a forward region corresponding with said forward product peripheral shape, said severance boundary having a rearward portion defining at least a portion of a rear region corresponding with the periphery of a rearward product formed from said breast rearward portion; (b) providing a die assembly having a severance component exhibiting a peripheral pattern configured to be coextensive with said severance boundary, said die assembly being movable between a retracted and an advanced position moving said severance component into severing engagement with said platen severance boundary; (c) providing a first conformance paddle assembly having a compression surface generally aligned with said platen forward region, said first conformance paddle being movable between a retracted and a first compression position located in spaced adjacency from said platen support surface; (d) placing a said breast upon said platen support surface in an orientation wherein said breast forward portion is located at said platen forward region and said breast rearward portion is located at said platen rear region; (e) moving said first conformance paddle assembly compression surface from said retracted position into a said first compression position effective to cause said breast forward portion to assume a substantially uniform thickness, t1, and effecting the periphery defining engagement of a peripheral extent of said breast forward portion with said forward containment wall and extension of a trim component across the said medial portion of said severance receiver boundary; (f) moving said die assembly from said retracted to said advanced position effective to vertically sever said breast forward portion from said breast rearward portion along said severance boundary and deriving at least one peripherally defined said rearward product from said breast rearward portion; and (g) horizontally cutting said severed breast forward portion in a manner effective to derive at least two peripherally and thickness defined said meat products.