Apparatus and method for separating meat from bone
An apparatus and method for separating meat from bone. Meat-laden bones are fed to a compression screw rotating within a barrel. The compression screw and the barrel cooperate to progressively compress the meat-laden bones to force the meat-laden bones radially outward against an inner wall of the barrel as the meat-laden bones move axially along the compression screw. At least a portion of the meat is separated from the meat-laden bones by forcing the meat through apertures in the barrel while inhibiting the meat-laden bones from co-rotating along within the barrel with the compression screw. In one embodiment, inhibiting the meat-laden bones from co-rotating within the barrel along with the compression screw is accomplished by cooperation of guide channels extending axially along an inner surface of the barrel with curved fillets extending between a root of the compression screw and screw flights of the compression screw.
1 . A method of separating meat from bone, comprising:
feeding meat-laden bones to a compression screw rotating within a barrel;
wherein the compression screw and the barrel cooperate to progressively compress the meat-laden bones to force the meat-laden bones radially outward against an inner wall of the barrel as the meat-laden bones move axially along the compression screw; and
separating at least a portion of the meat from the meat-laden bones by forcing the meat through apertures in the barrel while inhibiting the meat-laden bones from co-rotating within the barrel along with the compression screw.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein inhibiting the meat-laden bones from co-rotating within the barrel along with the compression screw is accomplished by cooperation of:
guide channels extending axially along an inner surface of the barrel; with
curved fillets extending between a root of the compression screw and screw flights of the compression screw.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising feeding the meat forced through the apertures to a second stage separator.