Device for removing meat hangers from meat

A device for removing meat hangers from meat such as bacon or the like, said meat hangers consisting of a body portion having a suspension hook at one end thereof and a plurality of meat penetrating needles at the other end thereof, the meat penetrating needles being inclined with respect to the body portion in a penetrating direction towards said suspension hook, said device comprising:

• (a) a frame having a stripping station located therein, a stripping path extending through said stripping station,
• (b) a platform mounted on said frame and having a front edge in said stripping station adjacent and at one side of said stripping path,
• (c) mounting means on said frame and spaced outwardly from said front edge of said platform on the opposite side of said stripping path, said mounting means being adapted to support a suspension hook of a hanger to locate a hanger in a first position in said station with its needles located in said stripping path and its associated meat resting on said platform,
• (d) a stripper member mounted for movement with respect to said frame to extend into said stripper station to engage a meat hanger and drive its associated needles along said stripper path and out of said meat,
• (e) drive means for driving said stripper member with respect to said frame.

A device for removing meat hangers from meat such as bacon or the like, said meat hangers comprising a body portion having a suspension hook at one end thereof and a plurality of meat penetrating needles at the other end thereof, the meat penetrating needles being inclined with respect to the body portion in a penetrating direction towards said suspension hook, said device comprising:

• (a) a frame having a stripping station located thereon, a stripping path extending through said stripping station,
• (b) a platform mounted on said frame and having a front edge located at one side of said stripping path, said platform having a support surface which is inclined downwardly away from said front edge thereof.
• (c) a mounting finger on said frame and disposed outwardly from said front edge of said platform at the opposite side of said stripping path and above said platform, said mounting finger extending downwardly and rearwardly from said frame in an arcuate path and having a free end directed away from said stripping station over which suspension hooks of meat hangers may be removed to withdraw the meat hangers from the stripping station,
• (d) said platform and mounting finger cooperating with one another to support a hanger and its associated meat in the plane of said platform with the needles of the hanger directed upwardly in a second plane which extends through said stripping station,
• (e) a stripper member mounted above said stripping station to reciprocate with respect to said frame into and out of said stripping station in a third plane which extends parallel to said second plane to engage said hanger and push the needles out of the meat as it moves into said stripping station in said third plane,
• (f) stop means mounted on said frame and disposed below said first plane to receive said other end of said hanger and limit its downward movement,
• (g) drive means mounted on said frame for reciprocally driving said stripper member with respect to said frame.