Inclined automatic meat trimmer apparatus and method

An automatic trimmer for removing a layer of material from a meat product comprising:

• a base frame;
• trimming means mounted on said base frame for trimming unwanted material from said meat product;
• feed means situated forwardly of said trimming means for transporting said meat product to said trimming means;
• feed roller means mounted on said base frame adjacent said trimming means to receive said meat product transported by said feed means;
• means for rotating said feed roller means in a direction to advance said meat product into trimming engagement with said trimming means;
• a press roller means mounted on said base frame adjacent said trimming means, said press roller means, said feed roller means and said trimming means forming a "V" shaped trough for receiving the meat product therein;
• and
• means for reversibly rotating said press roller means in the same direction as said feed roller means wherein the forward edge of said press roller means is operative to engage and roll said meat product in a generally stationary position in said "V" shaped trough and in trimming engagement with said trimming means for circumferential trimming of a layer of material therefrom, and in an opposite direction to said feed roller means wherein said press roller means and feed means cooperate to advance said meat product rearwardly past said trimming means.

An improvement in an automatic trimmer for removing a layer of material from a meat product, the trimmer having;

• a base frame;
• trimming means mounted on said base frame for trimming unwanted material from said meat product;
• feed means situated forwardly of said trimming means for transporting said meat product to said trimming means, the improvement comprising:
• feed roller means mounted on said base frame adjacent said trimming means to receive said meat product transported by said feed means;
• means for rotating said feed roller means in a direction to advance said meat product into trimming engagement with said trimming means;
• a press roller means mounted on said base frame adjacent said trimming means wherein said feed roller means, said trimming means, and said press roller means all form a "V" shaped orientation with said trimming means forming the apex of said "V" shaped trough and wherein said "V" shaped trough is adapted to receive said meat product therein;
• and
• means for reversibly rotating said press roller means in the same direction as said feed roller means wherein the forward edge of said press roller means is operative to engage and roll said meat product in a generally stationary position in said "V" shaped trough and in trimming engagement with said trimming means for circumferential trimming of a layer of material therefrom, and in an opposite direction to said feed roller means wherein said press roller means and feed means cooperate to advance said meat product rearwardly past said trimming means, and
• means for reciprocally moving said press roller means from said working position wherein the forward edge thereof is operative to engage and roll said meat product in a generally stationary position in said "V" shaped trough and in trimming engagement with said trimming means for circumferential trimming of a layer of material therefrom, to said discharge position wherein said press roller means and feed means cooperate to advance said meat product forwardly past said trimming means to said discharge means.

A method of trimming a layer of material from a meat product comprising:

• providing an automatic trimmer comprising a feed means, a feed roller means press roller mean, and a trimming blade wherein said feed means, said feed roller and said trimming blade all form a "V" shaped trough for receiving said meat product;
• placing a meat product to be trimmed on said feed means;
• advancing said meat product on said feed means to said feed roller means;
• rotating said feed roller means in a direction to engage said meat product and advancing said meat product into said "V" shaped trough such that it achieves trimming engagement with said trimming blade and frictional engagement with said press roller means;
• rolling said meat product in a generally stationary position in said "V" shaped trough and in trimming engagement with said trimming means by rotating said press roller in the same direction as said feed roller thereby engaging said meat product and flipping it forwardly over itself and thereby circumferentially trimming of a layer of material therefrom;
• and discharging said trimmed meat product from said skinner.