Abstract: An improved piston-type pump (10) is provided which includes an upstanding, dual-hopper product feeding assembly (22) which increases pump efficiency and lessens required pump floor space. The assembly (22) includes a lower vacuum hopper (42) including a fixed section (46) and a shiftable upper section (48) having a top (52); an upper atmospheric pressure hopper (44) is permanently secured to top (52) and is shiftable with section (48). A passageway (54) is provided between the hoppers (44) and (42). A flow-control valve unit (45) is located adjacent the passageway (54).

Abstract: A dual-piston pump or similar material handling device includes a hopper assembly for storing material that is to be delivered to the device, and a transfer assembly between the hopper assembly and the frame of the device. The hopper assembly is supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between a use position and a cleaning position, and the transfer assembly is supported for axial movement along a vertical axis and for pivotal movement about the axis so that it too may be moved to a cleaning position exposing the material handling device for cleaning.

Abstract: A dual piston device (10) for handling and casing of flowable materials such as whole muscle meat products is provided which eliminates the problem of tailing, or creation of a tail of meat product extending outwardly from a casing adjacent an endmost clip. The device (10) includes a transfer conduit (20) having a slidable transfer piston (26) therein, together with an auxiliary conduit (34) connected to the transfer conduit (20) intermediate the ends thereof. The auxiliary conduit (34) is equipped with a deaerating severing piston (42). The pistons (42, 26) are configured to mate and coact so as to cleanly sever whole muscle meat pieces which may otherwise lie in the open end of a casing in the region thereof to be clipped.

Abstract: A dual piston device (10) for handling and casing of flowable materials such as whole muscle meat products is provided which eliminates the problem of tailing, or creation of a tail of meat product extending outwardly from a casing adjacent an endmost clip. The device (10) includes a transfer conduit (20) having a slidable transfer piston (26) therein, together with an auxiliary conduit (34) connected to the transfer conduit (20) intermediate the ends thereof. The auxiliary conduit (34) is equipped with a deaerating severing piston (42). The pistons (42, 26) are configured to mate and coact so as to cleanly sever whole muscle meat pieces which may otherwise lie in the open end of a casing in the region thereof to be clipped.