Deboning screen

Abstract

One known type of machine in use for separating meat from feed material containing sinew-like material and bone particles includes a foraminous cylinder or sleevelike screen in which a conveying auger rotates. Such feed material is introduced into the infeed end of the cylinder/auger combination. The auger conveys the feed material toward the discharge end of the combination. During conveyance, meat is separated by exuding through the foramina. Compacted residue formed primarily of bone particles and sinew-like material discharges through a restricted orifice provided by a valve located at the discharge end of the cylinder/auger combination. Heretofore, the foramina in the screen were arranged in circumferential rows separated from each other by circumferential bands free of foramina. According to the present invention, novel foraminous cylinders or screens are provided in which the foraminous areas do not include circumferential bands which are free of foramina. Instead, the foramina or holes are arranged in circumferential rows with the holes in each row of adjacent rows being tangent on one side to a common circumferential line. By eliminating foramina-free bands, the number or concentration of the foramina can be substantially increased. The novel foraminous cylinders improve the operation of the meat separating machines by substantially reducing the temperature rise in the exuded meat (e.g. by 15.degree. to 20.degree. F.) and substantially increasing the throughput (e.g. by 30 to 40%).