US 12,219,965 B2
Automated chicken deboner system and method
Andrew C. Estes, Russellville, AR (US); and Jeremy B. Estes, Russellville, AR (US)
Assigned to ACE Specialties, Inc., Russellville, AR (US)
Filed by ACE, LLC, Russellville, AR (US)
Filed on Nov. 27, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/105,884.
Prior Publication US 2022/0167635 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. A22C 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC A22C 21/0069 (2013.01) [A22C 21/0023 (2013.01); A22C 21/003 (2013.01); A22C 21/0053 (2013.01); A22C 21/0092 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated chicken deboner system comprising:
a continuous conveyor belt, wherein at least one support is mounted to said conveyor belt;
a loading station at a first position along said conveyor belt, wherein said support is operable to receive an interior of a front-half of a chicken at said loading station;
a press station at a second position along said conveyor belt, wherein said press station is operable to align said front-half of said chicken on said support;
a wing cutter station at a third position along said conveyor belt, wherein said wing cutter station is operable to remove a wing from said front-half of said chicken;
a scapula cutter station at a fourth position along said conveyor belt, wherein said scapula cutter station is operable to separate at least some breast meat of said front-half of said chicken from a scapula of said front-half of said chicken;
a wishbone cutter station at a fifth position along said conveyor belt, wherein said wishbone cutter station is operable to separate at least some of said breast meat of said front-half of said chicken from a wishbone of said front-half of said chicken;
a breast plow station at a sixth position along said conveyor belt, wherein said breast plow station is operable to separate at least some of said breast meat of said front-half of said chicken from a rib of said front-half of said chicken;
a wishbone paddle station at a seventh position along said conveyor belt, wherein said wishbone paddle station is operable to separate at least some of said breast meat of said front-half of said chicken from said wishbone of said front-half of said chicken;
a breast removal station at an eighth position along said conveyor belt, wherein said breast removal station is operable to remove at least some of said breast meat from said front-half of said chicken; and
a tender cutter station at a ninth position along said conveyor belt, wherein said tender cutter station is operable to remove a tender of said front-half of said chicken, wherein said tender cutter station comprises a tender spreader configured to slide under said wishbone of said front-half of said chicken to push said tender out from underneath said wishbone of said front-half of said chicken.