Apparatus for grading pieces of meat

Claim 1

Apparatus for separating relatively fat and relatively lean pieces of meat comprising an elongate receptacle, means for supplying liquid of particular density to one end portion of said receptacle, means for withdrawing the liquid from the other end portion of said receptacle and recirculating it back to the first end portion, whereby pieces of meat supplied to said receptacle near said liquid supply means tend to move along with the liquid toward the other end portion, first rotatable-engaging means for picking up and removing relatively fat pieces of meat located at an upper level in the liquid, said first rotatable-engaging means comprising a shaft, a plurality of fingers mounted in spaced, fixed relationship on said shaft and having first portions extending outwardly therefrom, said fingers also having second, generally circumferentially-extending portions at the ends of said first portions and extending toward said one end portion of said receptacle when immersed in the liquid, said second portions being of sufficient length to pick up and remove from the liquid the relatively fat pieces of meat engaged thereby, second rotatable-engaging means near said other end portion of said receptacle for picking up and removing relatively lean pieces of meat located at a lower level in the liquid, a plurality of rods located adjacent said first rotatable means and staggered with respect to said fingers, said rods being slanted to receive the pieces of meat picked up by the fingers and to direct the pieces away from said first rotatable means.