Poultry breast meat apportioning method
OwnerJeffrey P. Smithinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for apportioning larger poultry breast wherein the forward region of the breast is compressed to a flat uniform thickness, t1. The rearward tapering portion of the breast is compressed to a uniform thickness t2. Compression of these portions of the breast is undertaken in conjunction with containment walls. Following such compression, the breast portions are peripherally trimmed to provide a defined shape. Then, the breast forward portion at thickness t1 is horizontally slit to provide at least two meat products.
Claims14
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;
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- (g) horizontally cutting said severed breast forward portion in a manner effective to derive at least two peripherally and thickness defined said meat products.
The method of apportioning poultry breast into meat products said breast having a forward portion tapering to a thinner rearward portion and a whole breast weight equal to or greater than about 16 ounces, comprising the steps of:
- (a) compressing said breast forward portion against a containment wall defining at least a portion of the periphery of a forward said meat product, said compression establishing substantially flat upper and lower meat surfaces spaced apart a substantially uniform forward thickness, t1;
- (b) compressing said breast rearward portion against a containment wall defining at least a portion of the periphery of a rear said meat product, said compression establishing substantially flat upper and lower meat surfaces spaced apart a substantially uniform rear thickness, t2, less than said forward thickness, t1;
- (c) severing said compressed breast forward portion from said compressed breast rearward portion;
- (d) trimming said compressed breast forward portion to define a forward periphery of a meat product exhibiting said thickness, t1;
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- (e) horizontally severing said compressed and trimmed breast forward portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.