Method and apparatus for removing solid particles from a pasty mass

Apparatus for separating solid particles such as bone particles from a fluid mass of paticles such as meat particles comprising means defining at least one slit-shaped channel having an inlet and an outlet and defined by at least one wall in which one or more apertures are provided, and a wall extending in parallel and spaced relation to said wall in which said spacing is of the same order of magnitude as the diameter of said apertures, the size of said apertures and the spacing of said walls being less than the shortest of the long dimension of the solid particles to be removed for orienting the solid particles so that their long dimension extends parallel to said walls, means for advancing the mass to be treated to the inlet of the channel and for its advancement through the channel and for pressurizing the mass for driving the fluid particles through the apertures and advancing the solid particles from the inlet to the outlet, means for receiving the treated mass of fluid particles passing through said apertures, and discharge means communicating with the outlet of the channel for receiving the solid particles.