Abstract: A vacuum sealer for vacuum packing products in plastic vacuum bags includes a sealing bar and a lift mechanism configured to raise and lower the sealing bar. In the raised position, the sealing bar is configured to engage and compress the vacuum bag against a compression bar. The vacuum sealer include a vacuum pump that is operated to draw a vacuum in the vacuum bag. The sealing bar includes a heating element that is configured to heat the sealing bar when energized. Once the vacuum is drawn in the vacuum bag, the sealing bar is heated and the heat is applied to the vacuum bag, which seals closed the vacuum bag with the product vacuum packed therein. The lifting mechanism lowers the sealing bar to release the vacuum packed product. The vacuum sealer includes a cooling chamber into which the sealing bar is moved when lowered by the lift mechanism. A cooling fan directs convection air through the cooling chamber and over the sealing bar to cool the sealing bar.

Abstract: A meat grinder safety cover attachment for a meat grinder grinding head that prevents an operator of the meat grinder from entering hand or fingers into the inlet throat of the grinder where a turning auger starts the grinding of meat. The grinder safety cover has two functional states: a normally closed state and an actuated open state. Moving from the normally closed state to the actuated open state is initiated by applying a linear force by depressing a slide plunger pin that engages the slide covers covering the grinder head inlet throat. The slide plunger pin and slide covers are configured to convert the linear motion of the slide plunger pin to rotational motion of the slide covers, opening the slide covers and uncovering the inlet throat of the grinder head. Removing the depression force on the slide plunger pin, the torsion spring attached to the slide covers and a return spring in the slide plunger pin then return the safety cover to its normally closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus collects liquid in a vacuum bag for vacuum packaging a product, such as a food product, wherein a vacuum is drawn in the vacuum bag by a vacuum sealer, which also seals the vacuum bag after the vacuum is formed. The liquid collecting apparatus includes a housing configured to be placed in the vacuum bag between the product and an open end of the bag that is configured to be received in the vacuum sealer. The housing includes a side wall defining an interior space and at least one opening that extends through the side wall. The at least one opening is configured so that air drawn out of the vacuum bag can pass through the housing via the at least one opening and exit the vacuum bag through the open end, and liquid can enter the interior of the housing, but is prevented from escaping and thereby captured.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a food processing grinder head with an integrated heatsink is captively retained between two halves of a cooling pack. The heatsink and cooling pack have a circumference that matches the circumference of the grinder head thereby attaching to and in direct thermal communication with the grinder head.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing an auger from a grinder head includes a tool member including an auger engaging portion for receiving a front shaft portion of the auger. The auger engaging portion is adapted to be received in a tool engaging portion of the front shaft to for an interference that permits a removal force applied to the tool member to be transferred to the auger.

Abstract: A process for dehydrating products with a dehydrator that includes a dehydration chamber, a heater for heating air in the dehydration chamber, and a fan for circulating air in the dehydrator includes receiving a set temperature at which to perform the dehydration and a set time for which to perform the dehydration. The process also includes setting the heater to operate in an on condition and setting the fan to run at a low speed until the temperature in the dehydration chamber reaches the set temperature. The process further includes setting the heater to an off condition and setting the fan to run at a high speed when the temperature in the dehydration chamber reaches the set temperature.