APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING MEAT FROM POULTRY BONES

Apparatus for removing meat from the drumsticks of poultry, such as turkeys and chickens, utilizes aligned, tandem cylinders, the first of which urges the second along a guided path, the second carrying a centering cone pusher thereon for receiving the meat end of the drumstick axially thereinto. Transversely moving gates engage the drumstick about the hock knuckle end and the centering cone, upon moving forward under the force exerted by the first cylinder against the second cylinder, pushes the hock knuckle end through and past the closed gates. This places extreme tension on the tendons between the gates and where they are attached to the hock knuckle, causing the tendons to break while the meat is formed into a gathered mass in and adjacent the centering cone. The gates are withdrawn and the second cylinder is activated, causing a rod to project axially through the meat mass and against the meat end of the bone, urging the bone through a guide passageway and normally expelling it from the apparatus. The withdrawal of the projecting rod and centering cone leaves an open area where the deboned meat mass may be easily removed for repeating the cycle.