Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine (10) is provided having a base (12) and a pivotally mounted lid (14) which cooperatively define a package air evacuation chamber (76) adapted to receive the open end (98) of a filled flexible package (100), thereby allowing evacuation of air from the package (100) and heat sealing of end (98). The machine (10) is characterized by an essentially flat and uninterrupted, easily cleanable base upper wall (28) which eliminates concavities in the like which can lead to unsanitary collection of fluids or solids. The machine (10) also has a vacuum source (16) and a vacuum conduit assembly (18) the latter having conduits within base (12) and lid (14).

Abstract: A dressing device (10,90) for sharpening or conditioning of a blade (18) or the like includes one or more disk pairs (36-40,108), each having a pair of disks (52,54,110,112) respectively presenting a series of circumferentially spaced, projecting teeth (64) with openings (66) therebetween. The disks (52,54,110,112) are oriented in face-to-face relationship with the teeth (64) thereof in meshed, intercalated relationship to thereby create circumferential dressing openings (76,122). The dressing surfaces (74) of the teeth (64) are of arcuate, concave configuration so as to create a desirable gothic-arch edge on a blade (18) or the like.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine (10) is provided having a base (12) and a pivotally mounted lid (14) which cooperatively define a package air evacuation chamber (76) adapted to receive the open end (98) of a filled flexible package (100), thereby allowing evacuation of air from the package (100) and heat sealing of end (98). The machine (10) is characterized by an essentially flat and interrupted, easily cleanable base upper wall (28) which eliminates concavities in the like which can lead to unsanitary collection of fluids or solids. The machine (10) also has a vacuum source (16) and a vacuum conduit assembly (18) the latter having conduits within base (12) and lid (14).

Abstract: A tripe washing and refining apparatus (10) including a base (20), a vessel (14), and a motor (16) is disclosed. The vessel (14) includes a selectively reversible rotatable disc (30) and two baffles (32,34) extending from an annular side wall (24) above the disc (30). Disc projections (40,42,44) extend from an upper surface (38) of the disc (30) and present opposed washing (48) and refining (50) surfaces, wherein the washing surface (48) is substantially smooth and the refining surface (50) is gritted. The baffles (32,34) likewise present opposed washing (60) and refining (62) surfaces. When the rotating disc (30) is rotated in a first direction, the washing surfaces of the disc projections (40,42,44) and the baffles (32,34) engage the tripe to agitate and wash it. When the rotating disc (30) is rotated in a second direction, the refining surfaces of the disc projections (40,42,44) and the baffles (32,34) engage the tripe to remove fat or other components from its exterior.

Abstract: A utensil holder (10) for knives (22) or similar utensils includes an upright, open top housing (12) having a retainer (14) therein. The retainer (14) includes a set (18) of side-by-side, laterally shiftable web members (20) with utensil entrance openings (61) defined between adjacent web members (20). The web member set (18) is held within the housing (12) by a U-shaped keeper (16). When a knife or other implement is inserted into an entrance opening (61), the adjacent web members (20) are slightly laterally separated but resiliently engage the blade (64) of the knife (22).

Abstract: A utensil scabbard (10) for holding knives or similar utensils is provided, including a rigid, walled housing (12) having a utensil-receiving section (52) supporting a utensil retainer (14). The retainer (14) includes a set of side-by-side web members (16) preferably held within the housing (12) by the rigid housing walls (22, 24, 26, 32), lips extending from the housing sidewalls, and inwardly extending tab members (38). The web members are separated laterally when a knife (40) is inserted into the utensil retainer (14), but resiliently and functionally engage the blade (44) of the inserted knife (40). The scabbard housing (12) further contains an attachment section (18) having attachment openings (20) for receiving a belt or chain (52). Additionally, the housing (12) includes a detachable wall (32) which can be slidably disengaged from lips (30) of the housing sidewalls (30), allowing easy disassembly and cleanup.

Abstract: A cutting utensil is disclosed as including a wooden handle and a metal blade projecting outwardly from the handle. The handle includes a blade-receiving slot and an outer edge that circumscribes the slot and extends along the outer surface of the handle. The blade is partly received within the slot, and the outer edge of the handle is spaced from the blade to define a gap therebetween. The gap is filled with a synthetic resin material that bonds to the blade and handle. There consequently is no exposed metal-wood interface on the utensil, thereby eliminating the cracks and cavities normally associated with such an interface.

Abstract: A tripes cleaning apparatus having a suspended, rotatable drum that presents an outer cylindrical surface on which the tripes are supported. The drum includes sets of flighting so as to facilitate arrangement of the tripes on each portion thereof in a single-layered helical orientation. A nozzle is associated with each set of flighting so that a low pressure cleaning fluid can be flushed through the tripes as the drum is rotated. Each nozzle is preferably activated to disperse cleaning fluid by bending the nozzle relative to its normally straight configuration, and a J-hook projects from the drum adjacent each nozzle to releasably hold the nozzle in the open, bent configuration and help retain the tripes against the drum. The apparatus further includes a spray bar operable to clean the outside of the tripes.

Abstract: A utensil holder generally includes a case and a utensil-retaining rod assembly. The case presents a utensil-receiving opening, and the rod assembly includes a plurality of elongated, flexible rods. The rods are confined within the utensil-receiving opening in a manner that permits limited flexing movement of the rods, whereby a utensil inserted into the opening causes elastic displacement of adjacent ones of the rods to define a space that at least substantially collapses when the utensil is removed from the opening. This permits the utensil to be supported virtually anywhere within the opening. In addition, the rods are sufficiently packed within the opening to support the utensil in the desired orientation. Moreover, the rods are restricted against lengthwise shifting relative to one another, which permits the rod assembly to be unitarily disassembled from the case, if desired.

Abstract: A hydraulic stunner apparatus for use in slaughtering animals includes a housing that defines a cylinder within which a rear seat is disposed. An elongated stunner element is received in and closes off the front end of the cylinder. The stunner element is movable between a cocked position in which the first end of the element is sealed against the seat, and a fired position in which the first end of the element is unseated and the stunner element is extended relative to the cylinder. Hydraulic fluid under pressure is directed into the cylinder to pressurize the cylinder, and an actuator is provided for unseating the stunner element from the cocked position to initiate movement of the element to the fired position. Preferably, the apparatus also includes a compressible biasing assembly for maintaining the hydraulic pressure within the cylinder upon separation of the stunner element from the seat and movement of the stunner element toward the extended position.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging apparatus is provided for use in evacuating the air in an open-ended package and sealing the evacuated package. The apparatus includes structure defining a chamber sized only for receipt of the open end of the package with the remainder of the package disposed outside of the chamber, and a vacuum pump for evacuating the chamber and the package through the open end. The apparatus also includes a heating element for sealing the open end of the bag. The sealing element includes a seal bar supported for movement within the chamber between a retracted position removed from pressing engagement with the package and an extended position in pressing engagement with the package and a sealing wire supported on and extending across the seal bar. An electrical circuit supplies current to the sealing wire for heating the wire to a temperature sufficient to seal the package when the seal bar is in pressing engagement with the package.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging apparatus is provided for use in evacuating the air in an open package and sealing the evacuated package. The apparatus includes a chamber and a lid movable between an open position exposing the chamber and a closed position sealing the chamber. A sealing assembly is provided for sealing the package after air in the chamber has been evacuated. The sealing assembly includes a seal bar movable between a retracted position removed from pressing engagement with the package and an extended position in pressing engagement with the package. A piston of a piston and cylinder assembly is attached to the seal bar in a manner providing an electrical circuit through a sealing wire extending across the seal bar. The piston and seal bar are connected together in such a way as to permit the seal bar to be detached from the piston and removed from the apparatus.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for a stunning gun has a trigger valve in addition to a second shiftable nose piece valve. In use, the trigger valve is manually depressed to open and the user then moves the stunner such that the nose piece shifts as the animal is engaged, whereupon the second valve opens. The stunner will fire only when both valves are simultaneously open, and thus the possibility of inadvertent actuation is significantly reduced. The pneumatic valve assembly requires very little force to operate, in contrast to mechanical trip actuators.

Abstract: An improved animal stunning device is provided which allows the user a quick, easy and cost effective method to kill animals in a slaughterhouse operation. The animal stunner preferably includes a pneumatically activated stunning gun having a trigger assembly provided with a manually operable safety block shiftably mounted on the trigger; movement of the safety block permits selective actuation of the gun or, alternately, prevents such actuation. The gun includes an elongated, reciprocally mounted stunning element having a bored, concave, stunning tip. An elongated, tubular, protective, support nose passageway is provided for slidably supporting and directing the stunning element during operation. Exhaust ports are advantageously provided in the support nose which communicate the interior of the stunner with the atmosphere for proper pneumatic venting; these ports can be selectively blocked to maintain the desired pneumatic compression within the stunner during operation.