Tyson Foods, Inc.
Apparatus and method for lean recovery

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for separating the leaner portions of meat trimmings and sparse lean from the fattier portions using an automated system that segregates product based on fat content. One implementation of the method and apparatus includes a piston pump that pushes product through a reduction chamber and on through a feed line and nozzle inlet. The nozzle inlet injects a portion of product into a plurality of product chambers positioned at an outer perimeter of a rotating wheel such that as the wheel rotates, the product chambers revolve about a central axis of the wheel. When the product chamber is adjacent the nozzle, product is injected into the chambers and as the wheel continues to rotate. Another implementation is a method and apparatus including a reduction station; a trim sorter station; a storage bin station; and a plurality of conveyor systems including a dispersion conveyor system extending between the reduction station and the trim sorter station and a sorter conveyor system extending between the trim sorter station and the storage bin station.