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US 6,186,059 B1Granted
Method of grading pork bellies
AssigneeSara Lee Corporation
InventorsFrank C. Mello, Jeffrey A. Williams, Kenneth M. Ware
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of grading pork bellies which involves flattening the bellies to a pre-selected thickness with a pressure roller. The bellies are measured at a number of locations to establish an average thickness and thereafter selectively directed to collecting areas based on their thickness and surface area. The collected bellies are then given final grades based on their leanness and quality and moved on for further processing.
Claims12
A method of grading pork bellies comprising:
- directing a continuous supply of pork bellies along a predetermined line of travel;
- flattening the pork bellies;
- classifying each moving pork belly according to thickness by measuring the pork belly thickness at a plurality of locations to establish an average thickness;
- selectively directing the measured pork bellies to collecting areas based on the average thickness and surface area of the pork bellies;
- and
- designating grades for the pork bellies based on the average thickness and surface area to establish leanness and quality.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.