Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing predetermined quantities of a meat product, inc which the apparatus comprises a twin vane concentric pump with an inlet and an outlet circumferentially spaced from one another, and a pair of independently movable vanes. During operation, one of the vanes is positioned between the inlet and outlet to permit pressurization of meat chunks in a chamber communicating with an outlet opening. The other vane is advanced toward the outlet with the outlet valve closed until a predetermined pressure is reached, at which point the outlet valve is opened to dispense a predetermined quantity of meat product. Similar to single vane meat pumps, the disclosed twin vane pump is capable of handling large meat chunks while causing relatively little damage to the chunks.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a thin liquid coat to muscle meat comprises a conduit of generally constant cross-section along which the muscle meat is forced under pressure. The conduit has an entry port for the introduction of the liquid, and fixed structure is provided for promoting the relative movement of the meat chunks within the conduit to cause the liquid material to be smeared over the surface of the meat chunks. Suitably the fixed structure comprises at least one zone wherein the cross-section differs from that of the conduit. The cross-section of the zone may be characterized by one or more of an increased cross-section area, or by a decreased cross-sectional area, or by a different aspect ratio. The liquid may be one part of a two part settable adhesive; the other part of which is applied to the meat separately from the one part.

Abstract: A shuttle for advancing the free end of a flat sleeve of casing onto a stuffing horn includes a bore therethrough and a vacuum manifold which causes the casing to expand into gripping relationship with the bore, to permit the shuttle and casing end to be advanced onto the horn. When vacuum is released from the manifold, the casing is released from the gripping relation with the shuttle bore and moves towards a gripping relation with the horn, which is increased by reducing the pressure in the horn. This permits the shuttle to be withdrawn at least sufficiently to apply a casing brake to lock the casing to the horn. The shuttle is also used to consolidate meat stuffed into the casing by locking the casing to the shuttle with the vacuum manifold and moving the shuttle away from a restricting orifice surrounding the casing.