Method and apparatus for scalping food pieces

An apparatus for processing food pieces between two processing stations of a production facility comprising:

• a transport bed defining a platform having a first end portion, adapted to receive food pieces from a first processing station, leading to a second end portion where food pieces are to be delivered to a second processing station;
• a discharge chute provided at the second end portion of the transport bed;
• a screen unit provided at the second end portion of the transport bed, said screen unit including a base section including a plurality of spaced openings through which individual food pieces are adapted to pass prior to being delivered to the second processing station;
• and
• a deflector member extending above the platform between the first end portion of the transport bed and each of the screen unit and the discharge chute, said deflector member being adapted to divert food pieces traveling along the transport bed onto the screen unit and away from the discharge chute.

An apparatus for processing food pieces between two processing stations of a production facility comprising:

• a transport bed defining a platform having a first end portion, adapted to receive food pieces from a first processing station, leading to a second end portion where food pieces are to be delivered to a second processing station;
• a discharge chute provided at the second end portion of the transport bed;
• a screen unit provided at the second end portion of the transport bed, said screen unit including a base section and an angled section sloping upwardly from the base section in a direction away from the first end portion of the transport bed, said screen unit including a plurality of spaced openings through which individual food pieces are adapted to pass prior to being delivered to the second processing station;
• a shaker mechanism adapted to vibrate the transport bed in order to cause the food product to flow from the first end portion onto the screen unit and to cause scalping of at least some of the food pieces on the screen unit to either separate multiple attached food pieces or remove clumping from food pieces, thereby enabling the food pieces to pass through the screen unit;
• and
• a deflector member extending above the platform between the first end portion of the transport bed and each of the screen unit and the discharge chute, said deflector member being adapted to divert food pieces traveling along the transport bed onto the screen unit and away from the discharge chute.

A method of scalping a food product to form individual, discretely sized food pieces comprising:

• delivering food product onto a transport bed;
• conveying the food product along the transport bed onto a screen unit including a base section and an angled section sloping upwardly from the base section in a direction away from the transport bed, both the base section and the angled section including a plurality of spaced holes;
• and
• scalping the food product on the screen unit until individual food pieces, sized to fall through the holes formed in the screen unit, are formed.