Automated classifier and meat cut fat trimming method and apparatus

An apparatus for classification of a fat to lean interface of a meat cut and trimming the fat therefrom comprising:

• a probe assembly having a plurality of elongated laterally aligned probes operable to sense a fat to lean interface of a meat cut where each of said probes are aligned along one of a plurality of gaps between split conveyor belts and said probe assembly operable to be selectively driven by a drive to effect elevation and lowering of the probe assembly along a circular path for insertion and retraction of the plurality of probes and where said probe assembly is operable to output a plurality of signals from the plurality of probes each characteristic of the fat to lean interface sensed by one of the plurality of probes.

An apparatus for classification of a fat to lean interface of a meat cut and trimming the fat therefrom comprising:

• a probe assembly having a plurality of elongated laterally aligned probes operable to sense a fat to lean interface of a meat cut where each of said probes are aligned along one of a plurality of gaps between split belts and said probe assembly operable to be selectively driven by a drive to effect elevation and lowering of the probe assembly along a circular path for insertion and retraction of the plurality of probes and where said probe assembly is operable to output a plurality of signals from the plurality of probes each characteristic of the fat to lean interface sensed by one of the plurality of probes;
• and
• a blade assembly having a plurality of blade elements laterally aligned and each blade element aligned along one of the plurality of gaps downstream of the probes along a path of conveyance and said blade assembly operable to control a cutting position of the plurality of blades responsive to the plurality of signals from the probe assembly characteristic of the fat to lean interface for trimming fat from the meat cut.