Abstract: An apparatus for continuously processing fish flesh comprising a first continuous force-out feeder in which dewatered fish flesh is continuously fed from the rear end thereof so that the fish flesh is further dewatered and thereafter continuously extruded in a pressurized state from the front end thereof; a continuous kneader connected to the front end of the first continuous force-out feeder, in which the dewatered fish flesh is kneaded and incorporated with a mixture of auxiliary ingredients such as sugar and sorbitol in predetermined quantities to obtain surimi paste and from which the surimi paste is continuously discharged; an auxilliary ingredient pressure adding device for adding the mixture to the continuous kneader; a second continuous force-out feeder connected to the kneader for continuously forcing out the continuously discharged surimi paste and thereafter extruding the surimi paste as a continuum from the front end thereof; a continuous packer for continuously packing surimi blocks after cutting

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously forming a stuffed product characterized by tube means for feeding a pliable product into a casing; conveyor means for carrying the encased product from the tube means; pincher means for squeezing the encased product at intervals to form twisted links; means for cutting the twists between the links; and means for transferring the links from the conveyor means to a package receptacle.

Abstract: Apparatus for stuffing meat into a casing mounted on a horn comprising a pair of plates mounted in facing relationship, on one of which plates the horn is mounted, and on the other a meat supply conduit, together with a ram. The plates are relatively movable between a first station at which the conduit and horn are in communication, and a second station at which the ram and conduit are in communication, the ram serving to extrude meat contained in the horn into the casing. A knife is inlaid into one or both plates to sever meat bridging the horn and conduit when the plates are relatively moved. In the preferred embodiment the plates are mounted on an elongated shaft for rotary movement, and the shaft is itself mounted so as to be axially movable, so as to transmit a clamping pressure to retain the plates together. When the clamping pressure is released the plates can be relatively moved along the shaft for cleaning and maintenance purposes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting debris from the flange area of a can includes directing a pressurized jet onto the flange area while rotating the can about its longitudinal axis. A plunger carries an anvil which is inserted into the can and shields its contents from the spray of the water jet while providing a back up for the cutting action.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for canning meat, tuna fish and the like and in particular a device for cutting and shaping the slices as well as their insertion in cans. The device comprises essentially means for feeding the meat vertically to a horizontal shaping channel wherein the meat is pressed by a compactor against a suitably lobed end of the channel, each lobe being provided with a passage bore inside which runs a die that cuts a cylindrical pellet of meat which is pushed into a can lying underneath, through a gate placed under said bore, by a piston running inside the die. The empty cans are brought under the passage bore by a rotating horizontal star shaped plate which simultaneously discharges the filled cans laterally.

Abstract: A conveyor belt of medium-soft thick material is advanced, and a film of polymer material is laid thereon to advance therewith. A moldable material, usually a food material, is extruded onto the advancing base film. A portion-forming wheel having portion cavities around the periphery thereof is positioned with its portion cavities facing the conveyor belt. A cover film is fed onto the portion-forming wheel and is preferably drawn into the portion cavities. As the conveyor belt advances, the portion cavities cut the extrusion of moldable material into individual portions which are enclosed by the two films as the conveyor belt advances. The portion cavities have portion-cutting walls therebetween, and a ramped area around the cavity squeezes all of the moldable material into the portion cavities.

Abstract: A meat packaging apparatus comprises a horn having an inlet thereto intermediate the ends thereof. A knife is located adjacent the inlet for severing meat locating partly in the horn, and a ram locates normally in the rearward part of the horn for extruding meat in the horn into a casing therefor mounted on the forward portion of the horn.

Abstract: A method for the preparation and packing of food products, in particular fish products of long keeping quality, includes disintegrating and sterilizing the fish and allowing the sterilized fish mass to coagulate under pressure in a forming and filling pipe. An inside cross-section of the filling pipe corresponds to the cross-section of the packing container wherein the product is to be packed. The forming and filling pipe is provided, moreover, with cut-off elements and flaplike shut-off elements to make possible the separation and feeding out of the product from the forming and filling pipe to the packing containers.

Abstract: A product line is provided for forming a sheet product composed of products such as bacon slices resting on a pre-cut thin substrate such as a sheet of paper. The substrate sheets are pre-cut to a predetermined length, and a flow of individual products and a flow of pre-cut sheets are coordinated such that the products deposit onto the pre-cut sheets in a predetermined pattern. The line may also include an assembly for reducing the flow rate of the thus formed sheet products, after which the reduced flow is conveyed to a stacking assembly for forming stacks of sheet products of a preselected size.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously producing fish meat processed food which is produced by preparing fine filaments from paste-like fish meat and bundling a number of said filaments. The continuously producing apparatus comprises a solidification device for solidifying paste-like fish meat into thin web-like fish meat, a first cutting device for cutting the solidified fish meat lengthwise to form fine filament-like fish meat, a collection device for collecting the filament-like fish meat while transporting the same, a bundling device for successively urging and fixing filaments of the collected fish meat while transporting the same into the desired diameter, a packaging device for packaging the bundled fish meat with a packaging film, and a second cutting device for cutting the packaged fish meat into the desired axial length.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing encased meat or the like and meat or the like for encasing, one of the methods disclosed comprises the steps of: conveying the meat or the like along a linear path and maintaining the linear path from a first point where the meat is dispensed from a stuffer or the like to a second point where the meat is in a form for encasing. The apparatus also serves as a portioner for providing uniform portions of the meat or the like being handled, the apparatus further including adjustment means for controlling the length of the portions produced.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for simultaneously transferring a plurality of stacks of sliced or bulk food product from a holding station, such as the output of a slicing and stacking machine, to a receiving station, or the like, for loading and packaging of the food product. The device includes a rapidly and continuously operating accumulating conveyor for transferring a plurality of stacks from the holding station to a transfer station, and a shuttle-like, product-engaging member mounted proximate the transfer station for rapid, reciprocating movement transverse to the conveyor for transferring the plurality of stacks from the transfer station to a loading station. The product-engaging member has a plurality of concave portions, each formed to receive one stack of the plurality of stacks of product.

Abstract: A machine for making meat patties comprises a machine frame defining an inclined slideway including a bed at an output end thereof. A feed funnel is mounted on the machine frame at an upper input of the slideway and receives ground meat at an inlet and discharges a layer of the ground meat to the input of the slideway which gravity-feeds the layer to the bed. A sensing element projects into the slideway at the output end thereof and is arranged to sense a forward edge of the gravity-fed layer of ground meat. On contact with the forward edge, the sensing element emits a control signal and an electronically controlled knife assembly operates in response to the control signal. The assembly includes a knife movable into the slideway to cut the layer of ground meat in response to the control signal and an electromagnet controlling the knife movement.

Abstract: An automatic meat arranging device is adapted to send meat slices sequentially cut by an automatic meat cutting machine and regularly overlappingly arrange the meat slices on a meat tray which are sent by a meat slice conveying means and meat tray conveying means.

Abstract: A machine for automatically filling cans, especially flat cans with substantially rectangular contour, with goods of elongated configuration which, in a filling station, are manually laid into a horizontally continuous row of receptacles open at their adjacent ends and mounted on the links of an endless conveyor chain. The machine includes a cutting device for dividing the piece of goods between the adjacent ends of each receptacle, for supplying the cans with their facing downward in continuous row to a location where the conveyor chain initiates a downward movement around a sprocketwheel. As the conveyor chain rotates about the sprocketwheel, the distance between the individual receptacles is increased enabling a can supplied by the guide device to be placed over and surrounding each receptacle, the contents of which falls down in the can at the bottom of the sprocketwheel.

Abstract: Sausages or other articles having initial lengths several times longer than their final, packaged lengths are automatically severed to their proper dimensions, accumulated into multisausage clusters and then inserted into awaiting containers, all automatically. Each long initial length of material is initially severed into separate lengths, then gathered into side-by-side relationship with other severed lengths, then severed a second time into the final length. The final lengths are then arranged into generally cylindrically configured clusters for axial packing into the awaiting containers. Special handling techniques are used throughout the process so as to render the system fully automated without damaging the materials or failing to pack the prescribed number of materials into each container.

Abstract: An automatic meat arranging device is adapted to send meat slices sequentially cut by an automatic meat cutting machine and regularly overlappingly arrange the meat slices on a meat tray which are sent by a meat slice conveying means and meat tray conveying means.

Abstract: A fish-canning machine having two adjacent parallel rotary turrets each having a fish-receiving pocket in the periphery thereof. The turrets are positioned to align the pockets with each other to form a single combined pocket which is then filled with fish from a corresponding large size feed chute of increasing cross-sectional area. The fish in the pockets is severed between the turrets and the turrets are rotated by different amounts to move the filled pockets laterally out of alignment with each other. The fish in both filled pockets is formed into the shape of a can and ejected endwise from the pockets into two separate cans.