Abstract: A plant for producing plastic curd cheeses such as mozzarella, caciocavallo and the like, comprising at least one device for chopping the curd, at least one kneading device for kneading the chopped curd with an aqueous liquid, at least one plasticizing device with mechanical implements for plasticizing the kneaded curd to obtain plastic curd, an extruder fed with plastic curd and feeding the plastic curd into a tubular sheath, and an apparatus for cutting and closing predetermined sections of tubular sheath filled with plastic curd.

Abstract: A technique for producing sliced, shredded and/or diced cheese of the pasta filata type. The technique utilizes a plurality of rollers which reduce an extruded strand of cheese to a ribbon of the desired thickness. The rollers are heated and a spray of warm water is applied to the cheese to keep the ribbon plastic and pliable. The edges of the sheet are trimmed, and then the sheet is run through a brine tank or sprayed with a brine mixture to salt the sheet for the desired amount of time. Thereafter, the sheet is cooled and cut into any desired shaped to create an end product of controlled size and weight. The trimmings are returned to the extruder, reheated, and reused.

Abstract: A walkway for a liquid heat transfer cabinet for food products to preclude contamination of the liquid heat transfer medium so that an operator can manually load and unload the cabinet with product to be subjected to a heat transfer operation. The walkway includes a fixed channel-shaped member mounted above the floor so that the liquid level cannot enter the fixed member and a swingable channel-shaped member functioning as a cover to the fixed member and also disposable in open position to define a walkway area like the fixed member and above the liquid level. In closed position the cover member prevents liquid from entering the area of the fixed channel-shaped member.

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: A vacuum processing apparatus having a chamber, defining an open bottom, and having a closed top, the size of such chamber being sufficient to receive a processing container, and the height of such chamber being sufficient to fit completely over such container, and stirring means extending downwardly within the chamber to extend into the container, when enclosed within said chamber, and having power operated rotating means and sealing means around the open bottom of the chamber, for forming a good air-tight seal, means for raising and lowering the chamber and means for evacuating air from said chamber.Also disclosed is a method of processing the contents of a container, in which the contents are first stirred in a container by a stirrer at atmospheric pressure and are then further stirred, in the same container under vacuum, by means of a stirrer located in a vacuum chamber.

Abstract: An equipment for massaging meat has a frame which is provided with a supporting member for a container, being separable from the frame, for the meat to be massaged. The container is axially symmetric, preferably cylindrical, in shape and has at its one front end a bottom provided with a chassis and at its other front end a charging opening which can be closed by a cover. The container is introduced into the supporting member in upright position which is then tilted by means of a tilting device around a horizontal tilting axis normally extending to the container axis until the container assumes a lying position. The supporting member is provided with bearing pulleys for the container on which the container rests in its lying position. At least one bearing pulley can be driven, so that the container can be rotated in its lying position, whereby the meat contained within the container is massaged.

Abstract: Apparatus for kneading food pieces includes a rotatable drum mounted on an inclined axis. There are spiral flights along the side wall of the drum. Charging and discharging the drum is effected through an open end and the drum includes a door for airtight sealing of the drum. A vacuum can be drawn inside the drum for different types of food processing. The processor can be used for blending constituents for food products. The kneading action can be applied to massaging or tumbling meat chunks, and treatment liquids can be added to the drum and/or the food pieces for processing.

Abstract: An enclosed floor track system for use with wheeled hand trucks or the like in sanitary liquid treatment chambers. An elongate wheel channel into which the wheels of the truck are disposed includes a cover comprising either a cover plate or inflatable elastomer seals to prevent liquid from entering the contaminated wheel channel. In the cover plate embodiment the wheel channel includes an elongate side slot to accommodate the wheel axle structure. The inflatable seal is split to slidably receive a wheel axle structure.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing meat sections under atmospheric pressure and under a high vacuum, and having, a container of generally square cross-section and having an open top, reinforcing members attached at spaced apart intervals on the exterior of each of the side walls and further reinforcing members on the exterior of the bottom wall, a closure for the top to hermetically seal it, a stirring shaft and arms supported on the closure and a stirring motor with a shaft extending through the closure to the stirring shaft, reinforcing bars extending across the upper surface of the closure, and a hose connection on the closure for connection to a suitable vacuum pump.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device to aid in the preparation of foodstuffs that combines the functions of a breader, a marinator and a preparation unit in a single apparatus. This device is comprised of a tiltable mixing head supported by a mobile service cart disposed with a variety of catch basins depending upon the function being performed by the device.

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 meat processor having a drum which rotates about an axis perpendicular to its longitudinal axis and shakes while keeping the meat being processed in the drum refrigerated and under a vacuum.

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 device for handling, like massage or mix, meat portions, provided with a wheeled container having a closing lid, for receiving a meat portion and stirring means operative in said container and beared in said lid wherein the inclination of the rotary axis of the stirring means is adjustable and the quantity of meat moved by the stirring means per rotation, is determined, and therefore the rate of massage, said stirring means being provided with at least one conduit for a cooling fluid to retain the meat temperature at a desired level.

Abstract: A process for treating meat to raise myosin protein to the surface of the meat and to increase the absorption of fluid or additives by first crushing and mashing the meat and then simultaneously shaking and tumbling the meat in a preferred manner while keeping the meat refrigerated and under a vacuum.

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: A method and apparatus is provided for preparing pasta filata cheese for brining and cutting. The warm mixed cheese is extruded in a continuous ribbon which is discharged into a channel filled with cold brine. The brine and ribbon flow together through the channel, and the ribbon is mechanically removed therefrom on a continuous basis. After removal from the brine channel, the ribbon can be cut into long lengths for brining, and thereafter into the final size for packaging.

Abstract: A liquid basting injector for poultry or the like has a reservoir of liquid basting material connected by a conduit to a hollow cylindrical dispensing chamber in which a dispensing piston and rod are mounted for reciprocation; power cylinder means has a power rod connected to the dispensing piston and rod for reciprocating same to draw a measured amount of basting material into the chamber and then dispense it through an injector needle connected to the chamber by a flexible hose. An adjustable stop is positioned to be engaged by the upper end of the power rod of the power cylinder for limiting the extent of movement of the power cylinder and the dispensing piston to adjust the amount of liquid basting material drawn into the dispensing chamber in accordance with a predetermined value dependent upon the weight of the poultry into which the liquid basting material is to be injected.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an insertable article for altering the cure rate and chemical composition of an object thus pierced which includes an elongated shaft, preferably formed from heat conductive material, and recesses extending along the length of the shaft provided with areas around the recess for the disposition of chemicals therein. The shaft has a terminus which is pointed for ease in insertion into the object, and the support areas and recesses are so disposed on an outer face of the shaft that the cure rate of the article and its chemical configuration is altered by a gradual leaching outwardly of the chemicals and a cure rate pattern altered by the heat conductive shaft.

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: An appliance for domestic use in pre-basting, seasoning and tenderizing meat and poultry. The appliance comprises in a single hand held unit, one or more hollow needles through which liquid such as baste or tenderizer is injected into the meat or poultry, a reservoir which accommodates the liquid, and a pump, which pumps the liquid from the reservoir through the injection needles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preparing a salted cheese curd loaf is provided which includes means for continuously separating and recovering a solid cheese curd from whey in a curd/whey mixture to remove the preponderance of the whey, means for continuously blending salt into the separated curd, means for further dewheying the salted curd and continuously forming a compacted curd column of predetermined diameter, a means for forming a loaf of predetermined size from the curd column and means for placing the cheese curd loaf in forms preparatory to pressing and brining. An improved method of preparing and brining of curd loafs for certain hard cheeses is also provided.

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: Apparatus for treating meat comprises introducing pieces of meat into a tumbling drum rotatable about a horizontal axis and which contains circumferentially spaced rods on the inside of the drum adjacent to its periphery and parallel to the axis of rotation. The rods contain teeth so that upon rotation of the drum the meat is tumbled causing the teeth to produce a mass of small cuts in the surface of the meat. The drum is sealed by a watertight door that is readily opened and closed, as needed. The tumbling process takes approximately 20 minutes. The tumbling in combination with the formation of small cuts in the surface of the meat increases the exposure of myosin protein at the meat surface and also improves color uniformity and dispersion of pickling solution in the meat.

Abstract: A conveyor mechanism for automatically removing articles, such as cheeses, floating in a liquid includes a horizontal section adapted to be positioned below the surface of the liquid and an integral upwardly inclined section. Articles that float upon the horizontal section are moved to the inclined section which lifts them out of the liquid and delivers them to an elevated point. The articles are prevented from jamming the conveyor by moving stepped walls located on either side of the horizontal section at the location where jamming is likely to occur. The stepped walls move longitudinally back and forth 180.degree. out of phase with one another to gently bump and align the articles. In the preferred embodiment, a single motor drives the conveyor and rotates cam wheels which move the stepped walls.

Abstract: An upper tank half provided with a manway and a lower tank half provided with a sump are each formed of thermosetting resin reinforced with chopped glass fiber strands and then secured together with several plys of resin-impregnated glass mat applied around the circumference at the joint inside and outside of the tank. Each tank half is flared adjacent the joint to provide half of a tank strengthening rib for the completed tank, which has a diameter larger than its height. Two semicircular perforated olive retaining plates are removably mounted in the upper tank half adjacent the lower end of the manway. Aboveground and underground embodiments of the tank are provided.

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 reconstituted pimiento strip useful for stuffing olives using automatic equipment is prepared by employing a forming apparatus comprising a pair of opposed, continuous belts, the lower belt being recessed on its mating surface to define a trough into which a mixture of pimiento and binder is introduced. The orientation of the belts relative the horizontal is such that both belts dip into a calcium chloride setting bath at a point intermediate their ends. The apparatus further includes discharge nozzle means to introduce the pimiento/binder mix onto the recessed area of the lower belt, the leading nip between the upper and lower belts being downstream of said nozzle means.

Abstract: A system for treating dry protein material in brine solutions comprises a tank for receiving the protein material and brine solution a container having a screened bottom end an agitator inserted through its open upper end for creating a vortex mixing action in the brine solution in which the container is immersed in the brine holding tank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for purifying bacterially-contaminated brine overflow from a bacon curing machine. The contaminated brine is collected in a collecting tank, passed through a filter and mixed with fresh brine which is directed on to the back of the filter to back-wash the filter. The mixture of brines is passed through a series of ultra-violet liquid purifying devices and then through a second filter.

Abstract: Cheese manufacturing operations of demolding and brine soaking are carried out by a method and with an apparatus wherein the operations are automated and carried out in a continuous manner starting with placing cheese molds on a conveyer on which they are moved to a demolding station where cheese is ejected from the molds, and continuing with movement of the cheese blocks from the demolding station to the brine soaking tank. These blocks are introduced into the brine soaking tank in regular rows, with the rows being advanced from one end of the tank to the other.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for adding salt or seasonings to food being cooked in a steam cooker cooking vessel having a cooking chamber. The apparatus includes a separate collecting vessel for accommodating a salt or seasoning solution, a supply line attached to the collecting vessel for connecting the collecting vessel to the cooking vessel, and a conveying and turnover pump for conveying the salt or seasoning solution from the collecting vessel to the food in the cooking chamber through the supply line.

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.