Tyson Holding Company

Stanley B Andrews

Bobby Z Haley

Donald Mark Zimmerman

Mark Henry Curry

John C Haley

Robert L Sanford

Mark W Moshier

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.

Poultry processing method, apparatus, and product

Growing community of inventors

Springdale, AR, United States of America

Stanley B Andrews