prebreaker

English

Etymology

pre- +‎ break +‎ -er

Noun

prebreaker (plural prebreakers)

1. An industrial machine that is used in food processing for the initial grinding or breaking up of large (often frozen) chunks.
   • 1958, Edmond S. Harris, George H. Goldsborough, John William Thompson, Number of Days' Supply of Food and Beverages in Retail Food Stores:

     A hog, basher, hammermill or prebreaker is used to grind the bones, heads, feet, heavy tissues, and whole carcasses into pieces no larger than 2 inches.

   • 1963, Maynard Alexander Joslyn, John Laurence Heid, Food Processing Operations, page 426:

     Prebreakers are used to prebreak or crush cocoa presscakes, fats, large fruit or vegetables, whole fish, bones, etc.

   • 1974, United States. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, Decisions and Orders - Issue 8, page 795:

     The twelve-inch inclined screw conveyor that runs from the prebreaker to the blow tank is exposed adjacent to the discharge chute from the prebreaker;

   • 1988, Feed Management - Volume 39, page 35:

     Ideally, the prebreaker, or first step grinder, would be sized to operate at full load.