Tyson Holding Company

Tyson Foods, Inc.

Donald Mark Zimmerman

Mark Henry Curry

Bobby Z Haley

John C Haley

Stanley B Andrews

Kelvin Donald Lasse

Stanley Bryan Andrews

Johnny Simpson Breeden

Leland Edward Tollett

Robert L Sanford

An apparatus and method for portioning food items. The inventive apparatus preferably comprises: a carrier structure having a cavity provided therein for receiving a first portion of a food item; a holding device for imparting a force to the food item sufficient to hold the first portion of the food item in the cavity; and a saw or knife having a blade receivable between the carrier structure and the holding structure for cutting the food item into the first portion and a second portion. The holding structure is preferably an upper belt-type conveyor and the apparatus most preferably comprises a series of carrier plates conveyed by a lower conveyor system. Alternatively, the holding structure can be replaced with a vacuum system for generating a vacuum in the plate cavities. The inventive method comprises the steps of: (a) placing a first portion of a food item in a cavity provided in a holding structure; (b) pressing the food item, using a pressing structure, with a force sufficient to hold the first portion in the cavity; and (c) while pressing the food item, receiving a cutting structure between the holding structure and the pressing structure such that the cutting structure cuts the food item into the first portion and a second portion. In an alternative embodiment of the inventive method, the first portion of the food item is held by generating a vacuum in the cavity.

Food portioning apparatus and method

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

Apparatus and method for processing hog stomachs includes a base, an inversion member having a first end insertable through an opening in the stomach, a second end connected to the base, a first end opening in the first end, and a second end opening in the second end, the end openings coinciding with a passageway through the inversion member; and a contact member movably connected to the base and movable between a loading position adjacent the first end of the inversion member and an inverting position in the passageway.

Apparatus and method for processing hog stomachs

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.

Poultry processing method, apparatus, and product

Growing community of inventors

Springdale, AR, United States of America

Donald Mark Zimmerman