Abstract: A compound pump mechanism is provided adjacent the inlet ends of concentrically positioned inner and outer stuffing horns or tubes of a meat encasing machine. The first pump mechanism is in communication with a source of conventional meat emulsion, and is powered by a vertically disposed power shaft. This power shaft extends into the housing of a second pump mounted adjacent to, and preferably on top of, the first pump housing. The drive shaft of the first pump housing operates the pump mechanism in the second pump housing.Both pumps have inlet and outlet ports for conveying material to be pumped. The outlet ports of both pumps discharge the pumped material into a block element which slidably receives the ends of two concentrically positioned inner and outer stuffing horns. The pumped material from the second pump housing delivers pumped material into the end of the inner stuffing horn, and the pumped material from the first pump delivers meat emulsion or the like into the the end of the outer stuffing horn.

Abstract: A chuck for a meat encasing machine which has a meat emulsion pump in communication with an elongated stuffing horn, and a chuck housing on the machine adjacent the discharge end of the horn and having a rotatable chuck-receiving bearing means. A chuck member is imposed in the bearing means and includes a body member with a central hollow bore and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the body member adjacent the discharge end of the bore. Each of the rollers has an axis of rotation which dwells in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the bore. Each roller has outer meat encasing contact surface with the rollers being positioned on the body member so that the contact surfaces thereof collectively define a conduit for a meat-filled tubular casing passing through the bore in a direction from the intake end towards the discharge end.

Abstract: A meat skinning machine and method for skinning wherein a shelf means is adjustably positioned between a meat support surface and the cutting edge of a skinning knife just beyond the periphery of the teeth of a gripping roll wherein the meat is supported immediately adjacent the cutting edge of a position radially beyond the periphery of the gripping roll just prior to the time the meat moves into contact with the cutting edge to permit the meat to move in an angular direction towards the roll and into contact with the edge.

Abstract: The encased product of the present invention comprises an elongated flexible casing cylindrically shaped substantially along its length and having opposite end closures. A product material fills the cavity formed by the flexible casing and maintains the casing in a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical casing is formed from an elongated strip of flexible material having opposite side edges, the strip being formed into a plurality of helical revolutions with the side edges of the strip within each one of the helical revolutions frictionally overlapping and engaging the side edges within adjacent helical revolutions of the strip.

Abstract: A linking apparatus is provided for forming links in product-filled casing. The apparatus includes two rotatable pulley assemblies and two belt assemblies rotatably trained about the respective pulley assemblies. The belt assemblies are spaced apart from one another to define a linking station therebetween through which the casing passes. A plurality of pinching members are magnetically attracted into engagement with the belt assemblies for movement therewith. Each of the pinching members on the first belt assembly cooperates with a pinching member on the second belt assembly while passing through the linking station so as to engage and collapse the filled casing such that the casing can be twisted to form links. A control device is positioned in the path of the pinching members to hold and then release the members thereby controlling the spacing between pinching members within the linking station such that the length of links can be regulated.

Abstract: The skinning blade for a meat skinning machine comprises an elongated body member having opposite ends, a top surface, a bottom surface, a leading cutting edge and a trailing edge. The bottom surface includes in cross section a concave surface formed therein, the concave surface having a forward end adjacent the cutting edge and a rearward end spaced forwardly from the trailing edge of the body member. The trailing edge of the cutting blade is adapted to be received by a blade holder, and an extension portion of the cutting blade maintains the holder in spaced relation to the concave surface of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A casing support is provided for supporting a product casing on a stuffing horn of a product encasing machine. The support comprises an elongated hollow tube having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough which is sized for slidable fitting over the stuffing horn of a product encasing machine. The hollow tube has an outer surface which receives the sausage casing thereon, and also includes on its outer surface a chuck which engages the casing to provide rotational movement of the casing. Means are provided for detachably securing the tube to the stuffing horn or an ejection nozzle of a product encasing machine. The method of the present invention comprises sliding an elongated hollow casing over a hollow tube, connecting the tube to a stuffing horn or ejection nozzle of a product encasing machine, engaging the casing with a chuck on the tube so as to cause rotational movement of the casing with the tube when the stuffing horn or ejection nozzle are rotated.

Abstract: A link cutter including a support frame and a series of conveyor assemblies for sequentially conveying links to the cutting zone of a knife assembly for severing the twisted casing section between adjacent links. A sensor is positioned upstream from the cutting zone and operates to actuate the knife assembly in response to sensing the twisted casing section. The sensor includes a plurality of roller members rotatably mounted upon a rotatable frame for the successive engagement of the links to the twisted casing sections. A light source on the sensor emits a beam of light which is sensed by a photocell when one of the roller member engages the twisted casing section thereby actuating the knife assembly for cutting the twisted casing section.

Abstract: The skinning machine of the present invention comprises a skinning blade having a knife edge presented in a first direction. A gripping roll is rotatably mounted adjacent the knife edge for grasping the skin layer of the meat and pulling the meat into the blade for separating the skin from the meat. A feed device is provided above the gripping roll and the skinning blade for feeding the meat to be skinned towards the gripping roll. The feed means includes a chute having an upper end spaced above the gripping roll and a lower end in close proximity to the gripping roll. The meat is fed into the chute from behind the skinning blade. As the meat passes downwardly through the chute, its directional movement is reversed so that it is moving toward the operator when it exits from the chute and is grasped by the gripping roll.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for apportioning and cutting a loaf of meat into slices of equal thickness. The apparatus includes a frame, a meat compartment in the frame adapted to receive the loaf of meat, a measuring device on the frame for apportioning the loaf into a predetermined number or thickness of slices to be cut, a cutting blade on the frame to cut the loaf into the plurality of slices, an advancement ram connected to the measuring device for advancing the loaf after each slice is cut, and a control system interconnecting the measuring device and cutting blade so that the cutting blade will sequentially cut the loaf into the plurality of slices of equal thickness. The measuring device includes a first elongated member having calibrations of equal increments for substantially simultaneously apportioning the number and thickness of slices into which the loaf is to be cut.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention provides a metering device for metering the fluid which is injected into meat. The fluid is injected through needles, and the metering device meters the fluid to the precise volume of the cavities formed by the needles. The metering is varied depending upon the depth to which the needles penetrate the meat, and depending upon the thickness of the meat, so that the amount of fluid metered is always equal to the volume of the cavities which the needles form in the meat. The fluid is ejected from the needles as the needles are withdrawn from the meat.

Abstract: A means for injecting fluid into food products is described. The machine comprises a support having a conveyor mounted thereon for conveying the food product from the rearward thereof toward the forward end thereof. A first fluid manifold is movably mounted on the frame above the conveyor and is movable between upper and lower positions wtih respect to the conveyor. A second fluid manifold is movably mounted on the frame above the conveyor rearwardly of the first fluid manifold. A linkage connects the first and second manifolds to a source of power so that the first and second fluid manifolds are 180.degree. out of phase with each other. Each of the first and second fluid manifolds comprises a plurality of smaller individual fluid manifolds which are individually fluidly connected to the source of injection fluid.

Abstract: A link cutter includes a support frame having a cutting zone, a first conveyor on one side of the cutting zone for sequentially conveying a plurality of links interconnected by twisted casing sections, a second conveyor on the opposite side of the cutting zone for receiving links from the first conveyor and stretching the twisted casing sections at the cutting zone. A sensor upstream of the cutting zone includes a source of electromagnetic waves directed across the path of the links and a device for sensing those waves which pass between the links adjacent the twisted casing sections so as to actuate a knife within the cutting zone to sever the sensed twisted casing section upon movement of the same to the cutting zone. The sensor may be a light source and photocell adjustably mounted relative to the cutting zone. A mirror or reflective surface is positioned in the cutting zone to function in combination with the light source and photocell.

Abstract: A wheeled vehicle includes a vehicle frame having at least one wheel at one end of the frame and a hinged parallelogram frame mounted on the other end of the vehicle frame and having a pair of spaced wheels mounted on opposite sides thereof. The parallelogram frame will pivot laterally in first or second opposite lateral directions when the frame leans laterally away from a position of equilibrium in the first or second lateral direction. A sensing device is connected to the vehicle frame and a power source is connected to the sensing means and parallelogram frame whereby initial leaning movement of the parallelogram frame in one direction (caused by conditions of unequilibrium) will cause the sensing device and power source to pivot the parallelogram frame in the opposite direction thereby to laterally pivot the vehicle frame to a position of equilibrium.

Abstract: A link cutter includes a support frame having a cutting zero, a first conveyor on one side of the cutting zone for sequentially conveying a plurality of links interconnected by twisted casing sections, a second conveyor on the opposite side of the cutting zone for receiving links from the first conveyor and stretching the twisted casing sections at the cutting zone. A sensor upstream of the cutting zone includes a source of electromagnetic waves directed across the path of the links and a device for sensing those waves which pass between the links adjacent the twisted casing sections so as to actuate a knife within the cutting zone to sever the sensed twisted casing section upon movement of the same to the cutting zone. The sensor may be a light source and photocell adjustably mounted relative to the cutting zone.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention provides a metering device for metering the fluid which is injected into meat. The fluid is injected through needles, and the metering device meters the fluid to the precise volume of the cavities formed by the needles. The metering is varied depending upon the depth to which the needles penetrate the meat, and depending upon the thickness of the meat, so that the amount of fluid metered is always equal to the volume of the cavities which the needles form in the meat. The fluid is ejected from the needles as the needles are withdrawn from the meat.

Abstract: A membrane skinning machine comprising a frame with a conveyor mounted thereon, and gripping roll rotatably mounted across one end of the conveyor to receive the product to be skinned. A concave shoe with a cutting blade is mounted generally concentrically with the gripping roll. A skin stripper roll is mounted on the frame adjacent the gripper roll. The gripper roll has a plurality of parallel helical serrations or grooves on its outer surface.

Abstract: A plurality of needles is injected into a food product to create a plurality of cavity voids in said product, and a metered quantity of fluid is injected through said needles into said cavity voids while said needles are within said food product, said quantity of fluid being metered to be equal substantially to the volume of said cavity voids.

Abstract: An airplane angle of attack and direction of flight indicator includes a vane on the outside of the fuselage which is pivotally movable in response to changes in the airplane's angle of attack. A group of optical fibers are supported within the airplane with one end positioned for exposure to a light source. A light shield is movable into and out of blocking relation between the light source and optical fibers in response to pivotal movement of the vane. With the opposite ends of the optical fibers arranged in an indicator in the airplane cockpit, the illumination of fibers at the indicator affords a ready indication of the airplane's angle of attack. With the opposite ends of the fiber arranged in vertically spaced relation, a sighting device may be interposed between the pilot and indicator for establishing a line of sight along the actual direction of flight.

Abstract: A method and machine for injecting fluids into meat products or the like. The machine comprises a table having a conveyor mounted thereon adapted to convey the meat product from one end to the other. A pair of reciprocating arms are pivotally connected at one end thereof to opposite sides of the table. An electric motor is operatively connected to the reciprocating arms to move the reciprocating arms upwardly and downwardly with respect to the conveyor. A fluid manifold apparatus comprised of a plurality of fluid manifolds is rigidly secured to the other ends of the reciprocating arms and extends therebetween across the table transversely to the direction of travel of the meat product. Each of the manifolds has a plurality of injector needles extending downwardly therefrom which are adapted to pierce the product and inject fluid thereinto while the needles are embedded within the product.