Abstract: A method and device for injecting liquid substances such as brine or paste into a piece of meat. During injection, the piece of meat, which is conveyed over a row of spray nozzles, is held in contact with a row of the nozzles, preferably by means of a pressure roller. The rotational shaft of the roller is situated opposite the row of spray nozzles. This allows for deforming the meat to a slab of predetermined thickness and prevents the injection stream from being atomized prematurely, that is, outside the meat. This results in a homogeneous distribution of the brining liquid in the meat.

Abstract: Apparatus in which a food product is cooked by being impaled on a plurality of heated grills that extend substantially therethrough. In this simplified apparatus, an operator rotates a first handle, which causes the elements of a separator to drop under gravity to a position among the grills and which further causes a press to descend to impale the food product onto the grills. The operator pulls and releases a second handle, which causes a container of heated cooking medium to raise and cook the food product, a cooking timer to start, the container to be lowered at the end of a predetermined cooking time, and the separator element to raise from the grills, thereby separating the food product from the grills. All of the above operations may be accomplished without the use of a motor or similar power source.

Abstract: Apparatus for the injection into meat sections of a cold milled particle reduction suspension of finely divided meat pieces in a liquid mixture, and having pump means on a container for pumping the suspension from the container at a constant pressure of a set point between about 30 and about 90 psi, to a plurality of injection needles, a support for supporting at least one meat section in registration with the injection needles; a movement device for reciprocating the needles towards, into, and away from the meat sections, smoothly curved conduits connecting from the needles, and, valves for opening and closing all the conduits simultaneously, the valves being normally closed prior to insertion, and being all openable simultaneously when at least some of the needles enter the meat sections, the pump being operable to pump the suspension of meat pieces through all the valves and all the injection needles at the pre-set pressure, whether the needles are located in a meat section or not, and thereby ejecting sus

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for injecting bacon bellies or the like with a brine solution or other treatment fluid. A parameter of the belly or the like to be injected is determined at a location upstream of the injection site. This parameter is used to vary the amount of brine or the like which is injected into the belly or the like. By this approach, the quantity of fluid injected is tailored to the particular belly being injected, which achieves an improvement in the extent that bellies being processed deviate from a target fluid pickup value.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a food product with a thread-like suspension means comprises a needle for passing the thread loop-like through the food product. Further two gripper means, a cutting means and a connecting device for the thread are provided. Preferably the connecting device comprises an ultrasonic welding head for welding together the ends of a thread section disengaged by the cutting means. The apparatus further comprises curved discs for driving at least some of the operational means.

Abstract: An injection needle assembly for injecting a fluid into a meat product comprises an injection needle which has a proximal end and a distal end and a bore which extends from the proximal end to the distal end. A discharge passage opens through the needle from the bore at the distal end of the needle. A valve member is slidably mounted on the needle for movement relative to the needle between a first position in which it closes the discharge passage to retain fluid within said needle and a second position in which it opens the discharge passage to permit fluid to be discharged therethrough into the meat in use.

Abstract: On a pickling machine different kinds of tools can be connected to a common take-up means (1) at choice. Each kind of tools has a connection head (5) which can be connected to the take-up means (1) and carries the tools (needles (13) and/or knives (14)). All connection heads (5) are formed equal to each other and have openings (25) for the needles (13), through which openings the brine streams. Thereby the pickling machine can be used also as a tenderizer (FIG. 4).

Abstract: An apparatus for injecting soft baked goods or cakes with different fluids includes a manifold defining a pair of spaced supply channels or chambers, a supply valve defining a port and a slide gate valve. The slide gate valve communicates with a passage and suck back chamber. A suck back piston is positioned within the suck back chamber. Secured to the underside of the manifold is a needle plate. A plurality of dual passage injection needles are secured to the plate. The plate defines a plurality of channels which communicate with the injection needles.

Abstract: The device consists substantially of a support for the meat, a holder in which hollow needles are mounted. Each of the needles communicates with an individual dosing chamber which is connected to a common supply conduit for a fluid such as a liquid or a pasty substance or the like which is to be injected into the meat. The device has a dosing chamber in the form of a cylinder which has a movable piston therein for obtaining a constant stroke volume. A driving device is arranged for bringing about relative movement between the piston and the cylinder.

Abstract: Brine, pickle or another liquid is injected into a piece of food through groups of hollow needles, which are plunged into various parts of said piece of food. Different amounts of liquid are injected through said groups of needles in dependency of estimated liquid absorbing characteristics of the respective parts of the piece of food, so as to obtain a substantially uniform distribution of the brine or liquid therein. Pressurized liquid may be supplied to each group of needles from a common source through a liquid valve, and the amount of liquid injected into the various parts of the piece of food may then be controlled by controlling the pressure of the liquid supplied to said group of needles by adjusting the valve. Such adjustment may be controlled by an electronic control device comprising a micro processor.

Abstract: Raw meat having a pickle solution injected thereinto is intermittently fed along the upper surface of a conveyor, and a press block is lowered toward the raw meat on the conveyor each time the raw meat is fed. Accordingly, the raw meat is compressed by the press block to forcibly disperse the pickle solution in the raw meat and uniformly distribute the pickle solution throughout the raw meat.

Abstract: A raw meat processor for injecting a pickle into masses of raw meat and cutting the fibers of the raw meat. The raw meat processor includes a pickle injection needle assembly comprising a number of pickle injection needles. A raw meat feed conveyor extends horizontally for intermittently feeding the masses of raw meat from its one end to the other end through a working station therebetween. The injection needle assembly is installed above the working station of the feed conveyor. The injection needles extend vertically. The injection needles each includes an elongated cylindrical hollow body for directing the pickle and a tip secured to the lower end of the hollow body, the tip of each of the injection needles having a cutting edge.

Abstract: A method of cooling pieces of meat comprises the step of injecting a cooled gaseous medium into the pieces of meat at a plurality of injection sites. The meat curing machine is provided with a system for injecting a cooled gaseous medium through the injection needles thereof into individual pieces of meat in order to cool the meat pieces.

Abstract: Baled animal feed material is improved by being moved onto a vehicle either by a lifting mechanism at the side of the vehicle or by a platform which takes the bale directly from a baler. On the vehicle is firstly mounted a wrapping station in the form of a cradle which rotates the bale about its axis and about an axis at right angles to the bale so that the plastic strip material is wrapped around the bale and around the ends of the bale. A probe is moved forwardly hydraulically to enter the bale along its axis following which anhydrous ammonia from a volumetric measuring device is injected under pressure from a hydraulic supply through the probe into the bale.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for injecting a fluid substance into a portion of meat. In particular, this invention relates to an apparatus for injecting a fluid substance having a paste-like consistency through needles into a portion of meat wherein a uniform dose of fluid is injected through each needle.

Abstract: An improved fluid injection (brine, phosphates, etc.) system for meat pieces which obviates the formation of foam by preventing air from entering the injection needles by two means: First, each multi-orificed needle is constrained to pass through an aligned duct or channel in a meat pressing block wherein is formed a discrete fluid chamber at the upper section of the duct and a close-tolerance needle guide in the bottom section. The fluid chamber is always filled with the substance to be injected, but when any of the needle's orifices are exposed to this chamber under pressure (i.e., not fully penetrated into the meat piece) the fluid chamber overflows the pressing block which triggers the shutdown of the fluid pump or pressurizer.

Abstract: The injecting head comprises any number of needle rows, being every one of these needles connected through its top to a plunger arranged inside a fixed cylinder, integral with the head frame, being connected both ends of this cylinder to the liquid injection circuit at a constant pressure from 7 to 8 kg/sq.cm., acting the cylinder as a hydraulic accumulator that allows the coming back of the needles when they strike on an obstacle, being provided a connection through a calibrated controlling device between the two pipes which are supplying the cylinder in order to avoid over-pressures and being also intercalated in the circuit a hydraulic means which assures the keeping of an effective pressure in the top end of that cylinder. The machine includes two filtering tanks, alternately used, and a grease decantation system.

Abstract: A number n of equal receptacles, the bottom of which is a filtering screen, arranged adjacent to each other making up a circular structure which is rotated through an intermittent travel of 1/n of a full turn, with respect to a horizontal shaft in the center of the structure, in such a way that sequentially and at regular intervals, two of these receptacles, one of them positioned at the top with its mouth upwards and its bottom horizontal and the other inverted in the lower position, are at the same time faced with an unfiltered brine effluent delivered through a nozzle (the upper one) and a pressurized cleaning fluid swept against its bottom external side (the lower).

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 baler has a preservative applicator assembly with an improved nozzle array for applying a volatile crop treating fluid to crop material as the crop material is being formed into a bale. The nozzle has a centrally disposed passageway which has a cross-sectional area greater than the minimum sum of the cross-sectional areas of a plurality of fluid dispensing openings in the end of the nozzle. Each of the openings includes a throat and a lip outwardly diverging from the throat. The nozzle array maintains the fluid under high pressure and aids in dispersing the fluid with a high velocity to enhance the retention of the fluid as a liquid while in the nozzle and to promote wide and uniform dispersing of the fluid throughout the crop material during the application.

Abstract: For supplying a desired amount of ammonia to a straw bale, particularly a large round bale, in order to convert the straw material into a feedstuff, the bale is subjected to an ammonia injection treatment in direct association with the bale being reloaded from a local receiving position to a final storing position by a tractor fitted with a suitable bale carrier implement. The bale carrier implement may comprise carrier spears which are provided with injector for supplying the ammonia to the interior of the bales from an ammonia tank carried by the tractor itself.

Abstract: An automatic pickle injecting apparatus includes a vertically movable tank containing a pickle, the tank being transversely provided with respect to the path along which the meat is conveyed, a plurality of needles suspended from the bottom of the tank, each of the needles having a passageway allowing the pickle in the tank to flow therethrough, the passageway communicating with an opening produced at the terminating end of the needle through which the pickle is discharged, a valve adapted to close and open the opening, the valve being movable along the length of the needle such that when the valve is lowered to its lowermost position, it closes the opening so as not to allow the pickle in the needle to flow therethrough, and with the valve being normally urged to its lowermost position.

Abstract: A system for the delivery of liquids in predetermined amounts, such as in meat tenderization, through a plurality of relatively small conduits includes a manifold chamber communicating with the relatively small conduits, a source of liquid for delivery, and conduit means providing flow communication between the source of liquid and the manifold chamber. Centrifugal pump means are positioned to pump liquid from the source of liquid to the manifold chamber, with the pump being of a capacity sufficient to create and maintain a generally constant liquid pressure in the manifold chamber irrespective of whether one or all of the relatively small conduits are open to permit liquid flow therethrough. The system typically utilizes a series of liquid delivery stations, with a microprocessor system controlling the amount of liquid delivery through each of the relatively small conduits in a manner dependent upon the weight of the object to which the liquid is being delivered.

Abstract: Device for pickling (curing) pieces of meat in a continuous operation with a feeder which leads into the space of two injection needle cylinders which are driven about horizontal axes to pass on the material and stab with their injection needles into the passing-through pieces of meat and in the process inject pickling brine from a piping system provided in the interior of the injection needle cylinders.This device is improved in the respect that the required pickling brine can be injected quickly, and uniformly distributed as far as possible without losses. This is achieved by a special construction for controlling the inflow of the pickling brine from a hollow space between the hollow bodies of the needle cylinders and a stationary tube for feeding the pickling brine to the holes of the needles. The control is constructed so that only those needles which happen to penetrate into a piece of meat are connected to the hollow body which is filled with pickling brine under pressure.

Abstract: This invention relates to a meat curing machine which is capable of performing the functions of pickle injection, massaging and tenderizing of meat. The machine has a curing chamber which has at least two compartments and an injection head is located in one of the compartments. The injection head supports a plurality of injection needles which are hollow and connected to a source of pressurized curing fluid. The housing is rotated to permit the meat to tumble onto the injection needles to be impaled thereon and the curing fluid is injected into the meat when the meat is impaled on the needles. The needles have an injection passage extending longitudinally thereof which opens outwardly at the distal end thereof, the distal end being angularly inclined with respect to the longitudinal extent of the needle.

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: The invention refers to a machine for injecting a treating liquid, particularly brine, into an edible material, particularly meat. The machine comprises a frame in which a conveyor for the material to be treated is positioned which moves the material in horizontal direction so that the material is transported below at least two injection needle sets subsequently. Each injection needle set is resiliently mounted in a needle case which is fixed to an injection frame guided in the machine frame for upward and downward reciprocal movement. To each one of the needle sets a separate treating liquid supply system is associated which comprises a storage tank for the treating liquid, a treating liquid conduit leading from the storage tank to the injection needles and a pump for the treating liquid.

Abstract: A system is provided for injecting slaughtered animal carcasses with tenderizing solution. The carcasses to be injected are weighed and are conveyed to a plurality of sequential injection stations. A number of injection headers are energized for calculated energization time periods. Each carcass is injected by each injection header with solution that flows automatically for a calculated time period that is directly proportional to the carcass weight. A microprocessor is utilized to provide a separate data storage location for each injection station. Data is provided to each storage location in proper sequence as the side to be injected is conveyed to sequential injection stations. A separate timing means is provided for each injection station, and data from the storage location is transferred to the timing means in sequence as the carcass to be injected is conveyed to sequential injection stations.

Abstract: A hollow needle is mechanically inserted into a piece of meat prior to admission of pulverulent salt into its interior. The leading end of the axial passage in the needle is sealed by a retractible plunger during introduction of the needle. The plunger is thereupon retracted and a first valve is opened to admit pulverulent salt which trickles into the needle from above by gravity flow. The admission of salt into the needle is promoted by a vibrator which agitates the magazine for salt and/or the needle. A second valve is opened simultaneously with or subsequent to opening of the first valve to admit into the needle compressed gas at a pressure slightly exceeding atmospheric pressure whereby the gas urges the column of pulverulent salt into the hole, which has been formed by the needle, while the needle is being extracted from meat. The pressure of gas is less than that pressure at which salt would be expelled into and would expand the piece of meat in inserted condition of the needle.

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: 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.

Abstract: The heat exchanger is provided with a plurality of recirculating needles each having an outer tube having one end thereof terminated in a closed needle point and an inner tube disposed within the outer tube having one end thereof spaced from the needle point and providing a predetermined clearance along its length between the outer wall of the inner tube and the inner wall of the outer tube. The clearance of each needle is in communication with a pressurized heat transferring medium supply manifold and the inner tube is in communication with a discharge and return manifold. The clearance and inner tube of each needle provides a needle that circulates the pressurized heat transferring medium therethrough. The pressurized heat transferring medium may be hot to heat the meat into which the needles are inserted, or the pressurized heat transferring medium may be cold to chill the meat into which the needles are inserted.

Abstract: Nozzles are mounted on the face of the plunger of a conventional hay baler for injecting a fluid into the mass of hay as it is compacted. The nozzles are connected to a tank holding the fluid through control valves and a metering chamber which serve to limit the period of injection to the compression stroke of the plunger and to limit the quantity of fluid injected.

Abstract: A machine for injecting fluids into meat products or the like comprising 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.

Abstract: A method of denaturing food products not intended for human consumption including the steps of propelling such products in a flowable comminuted form in a stream, injecting a denaturing agent which is immiscible with the product into the stream so that the agent is distributed longitudinally along the stream, and thereafter accumulating the stream in a striped, striated or marbled mass; an apparatus for such purpose having a conduit, a pump for propelling such products through the conduit, a duct connected to the conduit, and a second pump for propelling the denaturing agent through the duct and into products flowing through the conduit; and the resultant improved denatured product.

Abstract: A dressed raw poultry carcass, with its front portion engaging an abutment, is pressed from the rear to clamp the carcass against the abutment, and side rails carry arms rearwardly to engage the knees of the bird, thus positioning the carcass firmly for fluid injection or other treatment.

Abstract: A apparatus for treating meat. In the apparatus meat is tenderized, brought into contact with pickle or brine or the like, and massaged, characterized in that the meat is brought into a tumbling movement together with a pickle or brine bath, in such a manner that massaging forces are exerted on the meat by the action of gravity, while at the same time, also by the action of gravity on the meat, a number of nicking means guiding brine out of the bath is repeatedly introduced into the meat and removed therefrom.

Abstract: An improved meat tenderizing system is provided in which a pair of oppositely positioned carriage assemblies, each carrying a number of needle manifolds, is operated to align injection needles with a carcass that is conveyed in a longitudinal path intermediate the carriage assemblies. At least some of the needles are pivotable so as to direct the injection needles into the carcass at a desirable angle.A metered amount of tenderizing solution is automatically fed to the needle manifolds when the needles enter the carcass. After the metered amount of solution has been injected, the needles are automatically withdrawn and the carcass is conveyed for further processing.