Tyson Foods, Inc.

Tyson Holding Company

Bobby Z Haley

Brandon Casey Haley

William David Royall

Marshall Vanderpool

Donald Mark Zimmerman

Mark Henry Curry

Stanley B Andrews

James Allen Ruff

Kelvin D Lasse

John C Haley

Kelly Lasse

Virendra K Bhumbla

Robert L Sanford

Mark W Moshier

Kelvin Donald Lasse

The invention is a method and apparatus for removing feathers from a carcass, and more specifically is a method and apparatus for removing feathers from the wing tips of poultry. The method and apparatus comprises at least one wing tip puller which further comprises upper and lower wing guides and a pinch roller adjacent said wing guides where the upper and lower wing guides are designed to receive a wing therebetween and the wing guide is further designed to laterally present the wing tip to the pinch roller.

Wing tip feather puller

A method and apparatus for partially cutting hock joints, and letting feet remain attached to the rest of carcass by skin and one or more tendons, exposing the hock joint by folding feet, and hanging the carcasses in the evisceration shackles by hock joints, the method unambiguously ensures that if a carcass is condemned by an Inspector, the feet belonging to that carcass are condemned as well. Furthermore, this invention solves the even more tractable problem of capturing folded feet, separating feet from the carcass while leaving the carcass still hanging in the shackles, transferring feet into an infeed paw cutter wheel, and cutting knuckle portion to produce chicken paws ready for further processing.

Apparatus and method of edible feet harvest and paw production

A method and apparatus for cutting poultry paws. The inventive method comprises the steps of (a) placing the poultry paws in a rotating wheel and (b) cutting the poultry paws as the paws are carried by the rotating wheel. The inventive apparatus comprises: (a) a rotatably drivable wheel having a perimeter and having notches provided in the perimeter wherein the poultry paws are receivable and (b) a blade positioned with respect to the wheel such that the blade will cut the poultry paws as the paws are carried by the wheel.

Apparatus and method for cutting poultry paws

An article, an apparatus, and a method for processing a meat product. The inventive article comprises: a shaft; a spiral conveying channel on the exterior of the shaft; and a cutting member projecting from the shaft and positioned within the conveying channel. The inventive apparatus comprises the inventive article and a driving assembly for rotating the inventive article about its longitudinal axis. The inventive method comprises the step of conveying a meat item through the conveying channel of the inventive article such that the cutting member contacts and forms a cut in the meat item.

Meat processing article, apparatus, and method

A method of freezing a product, a frozen product produced thereby, and a freezing apparatus useful for performing the inventive method. The inventive method comprises the step of compressing a product to be frozen between a cooled first contacting surface and a cooled second contacting surface for a time effective for at least partially freezing the product. The inventive freezing apparatus preferably comprises: a first plate belt comprising a series of first belt freezing plates, each first belt plate having a contacting surface; a second plate belt comprising a series of second belt freezing plates, each second belt plate having a contacting surface; and a driving system for driving the plate belts. The plate belts of the preferred inventive apparatus are positionable adjacent to each other and are operable in a synchronized manner such that an article placed on the contacting surface of any given first belt freezing plate will be compressed and temporarily held between the contacting surface of the first belt freezing plate and the contacting surface of a corresponding second belt freezing plate. The driving system of the preferred inventive apparatus is operable for driving the plate belts in this synchronized manner.

Freezing system

Provided are: (a) a poultry carcass processing method; (b) an apparatus which is ideally suited for use in practicing the inventive method; and (c) a poultry product provided by the inventive processing method. The inventive processing method comprises the steps of (a) pivoting a first poultry carcass section (e.g., a forward carcass section) with respect a second carcass section (e.g., a rearward carcass section) such that the outer side of the backbone structure included in the first section is rotated toward the outer side of the portion of the backbone structure included in the second section and (b) with the sections retained in pivoted relationship, pulling one of the sections directionally away from the other section such that a portion of the meat provided on the outer side of the forward portion of the backbone structure is detached therefrom and is retained in attached relationship to the rearward section of the carcass. The inventive apparatus comprises (a) a pulling structure for pulling the one carcass section directionally away from the other section and (b) a holding device for holding the sections in pivoted relationship while the pulling structure pulls the one section directionally away from the other section such that at least a portion of the meat provided on the outer side of the forward portion of the backbone structure is detached therefrom and is retained in attached relationship to the rearward section of the carcass.

Growing community of inventors

Fayetteville, AR, United States of America

Bobby Z Haley