Abstract: In a band saw (10) particularly adapted for cutting meat, blade scrapers (25, 26) remove debris from the band saw blade (18) and throw it laterally and forward of the blade (18) into an enclosure (40), which can be removed without the use of tools for cleaning and for disposing of the collected debris. The location of the blade scrapers (25, 26) is slaved to the location of the saw blade (18) to automatically maintain the proper relationship for most efficient debris removal without adjustment.

Abstract: Rapid and accurate determination of the fat, moisture, and protein content of meat products such as beef or the like is obtained by exposing a sample to microwave energy for a period of time sufficient to achieve a relatively constant chemical analysis in the residue. During heating on a weighing device, a substantial portion of the moisture in the sample is vaporized and a substantial portion of the fat is melted and collected in a separate container which is maintained below the sample but off of the weighing device. By monitoring the time rate of change of weight loss in the sample until it reaches a predetermined value and terminating cooking, a relatively constant chemical analysis of the residue is achieved. Collection of rendered fat off of the weighing device avoids erratic fluctuations in weight readings caused by spattering, dripping, and explosions of the melted fat in the collection container.

Abstract: A unitary package rest member for use on a wrap station is comprised of a central section (42) which can be mounted in at least two different positions to the wrap station, and first and second shelves (44, 45) extending from the central section parallel to each other, spaced apart, and of substantially different area in order to provide to the operator a selection of mounting the rest member with either the smaller or larger shelf in the active operating rest position. The shelf parts extend in opposite directions from the central section, such that the rest shelf not in use projects inwardly under the top section of the wrap station, out of the way of the operator. The rest member can be formed by bending a unitary blank of sheet metal such that the shelf parts are parallel to each other, extending in opposite directions, and the sides of the blank are so dimensioned, in symmetrical fashion, that the blanks may be struck from a strip or sheet of the material with minimum waste.

Abstract: Water is first introduced into a warewasher in a static fill, statically heated to an effective washing temperature, and then circulated and sprayed onto the food ware items to precondition them and the warewasher for effective soil removal.

Abstract: A steam generator includes a tank with a water inlet valve, a steam outlet, an electric immersion heater in said tank, and a normally closed drain valve. A water level control, connected to the inlet valve and the heater, is arranged to apply power to the heater only when it is immersed, and to admit make up water into the tank as steam is used. A drain valve control is connected to said drain valve and operates to open the drain valve to flush the tank only upon starting the generator after completion of a generator cooling period sufficient to condense residual steam in the tank which follows shut down of the generator. The completion of such a cooling period is sensed by either a pressure sensitive or a temperature sensitive switch which responds to conditions in the generator. The switch is connected to the drain valve control to prevent opening of that valve should the generator not be cooled to ambient temperature.

Abstract: A chemically sanitizing rinse solution is prepared in batches of variable sizes, but with a preselected substantially constant proportion of water and chemical sanitizing agent, in a rinse solution mixing tank, for demand consumption on a continuous duty basis, by delivering the sanitizing agent to, and by admitting fresh water into, the mixing tank in response to predetermined level changes of the solution therein.

Abstract: A liquid collection pan in the wash compartment below the opening thereinto from the prewash compartment has a shielded slot directed toward the opening which captures and returns liquid entering the wash compartment from the prewash compartment.

Abstract: A magnetic coupling between the sample support shaft and the internal weighing mechanism of a weighing balance assembly is provided which permits transverse movement of the shaft when it or a sample supported by it are bumped or jarred. Generally, the internal weighing mechanism of a weighing balance is quite sensitive to the unavoidable bumping and jarring which occurs during the loading and unloading of a sample. Because the magnetic coupling permits movement of the shaft, no damaging forces or torques are transmitted to the weighing mechanism. The magnetic attraction between the shaft and coupling is sufficient to insure that the shaft remains in an upright position during normal operation.

Abstract: The accurate determination of the fat, moisture, and protein content of salt added meats by means of thermal extraction is complicated by the enhanced fat and moisture binding capability that salt gives to meat proteins. This effect is counteracted by the addition of a controlled amount of acid to a salted meat sample which lowers the pH of the meat proteins below their isoelectric points. In a preferred embodiment, citric acid is mixed with a salted meat sample and the sample is then exposed to microwave energy for a time sufficient to achieve a relatively constant chemical analysis in the residue which is related to the amount of fat and moisture rendered from the sample.

Abstract: A water heating and dispensing device includes a tank which forms the main hot water container, a heating device in the tank which is thermostatically controlled in order to maintain the temperature of the water at the desired level, inlet and outlet conduits associated with the tank and a valve associated with the inlet conduit for controlling water flow into the tank and dispensing of water from the outlet conduit. A separate reservoir is connected to the inlet conduit between the valve and the tank through a venturi nozzle which permits water to flow into and out of the reservoir. The reservoir has collapsible wall portions which collapse to provide for a decrease in volume in the reservoir as water is drawn from it through the venturi nozzle during dispensing of water, and which is expandable to an expanded maximum completely filled condition after dispensing has ceased, as a result of water flowing back from the main hot water container through the venturi nozzle.

Abstract: A liquid sanitizing agent is drawn into a capillary conduit section of defined volume, then separated from the supply thereof by opening an atmospheric back pressure vent at the lower end of the capillary section at substantially the same time said capillary section is filled. The sanitizing agent in the capillary section is then pumped as a liquid plug of defined volume into the sanitizing system of the warewasher.

Abstract: The pusher plate which pushes foodstuffs through the chute to the food processor in a vegetable slicer is divided, each portion being separately operable and having divider walls for selectively reducing the effective capacity of the chute to expedite handling of small and odd-sized foodstuffs.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided to control the moisture content of pulp which is discharged from a press. During operation of the press, slurry containing the pulp enters the press and engages a screw which is rotated to feed the pulp upwardly in the press. As the wet pulp moves upwardly, water is removed from the pulp. In order to further reduce the moisture content of the pulp, a restrictor member or cone in the press outlet is effective to compress the pulp against helical flighting of the screw. In order to maintain the moisture content of the discharged pulp substantially constant with variations in wet pulp consistency and to prevent overloading of the press drive motor, the restrictor cone is movable axially along the screw drive shaft to vary the extent to which it restricts the press outlet. The restrictor cone is moved along the screw drive shaft under the influence of forces applied against the outer surface of the cone by the wet pulp.

Abstract: A rapidly moving air stream transports an air unstable sanitizing agent such as sodium hypochlorite from a liquid supply thereof directly to a tank containing water, such as the wash chamber of a dishwasher. The air is driven through a venturi powered aspirator which injects the sanitizing agent into the air stream and transports it to the warewasher for mixture with the water to provide an effective bactericide. Contact of the aspirated agent with air is preferably kept to a minimum by transporting it through a short hose interconnecting the aspirator and tank.

Abstract: The section modulus of elasticity of the body portions of the scraper blades in a meat scraping machine decrease substantially uniformly outwardly along each blade. The blades have flat, transversely flexible scraping edges on the ends opposite a common series of circular hubs. Each hub is slightly rotated with respect to the adjacent hub to provide a series of spiraling blade-like edges for engaging and scraping accumulated residues from the sawed surface of a piece of meat. An adjustable doctor blade removes the residue from the scraper blades. The uniformly decreasing section modulus of elasticity of each blade encourages uniform flexing along the length of each blade to distribute stresses and fatigue uniformly throughout the blade material. The blades are pre-flexed on the hubs to reduce the effective diameter of the blade structure and to reduce the flexing of the blades when encountering the meat and the doctor blade.

Abstract: A low wash and rinse temperature (120.degree.-140.degree. F.) warewasher accomplishes the same general washing and rinsing effectiveness as a conventional high temperature (150.degree. F. minimum wash, 180.degree. F. minimum rinse) warewasher without loss of productivity resulting from time lost between completion of washing and commencement of rinsing a given load of ware, through use of independent, dedicated wash and rinse systems, the latter of which includes a holding tank which enables independent batching of a predetermined volume of rinse solution from properly-proportioned fresh water and sanitizing agent while washing a given load of ware. The sanitizing agent is introduced independently into the holding tank and independently of the fresh water line, and is therefore unaffected by a great range of water line pressures and the mineral conditions of the water.

Abstract: A low wash and rinse temperature (120.degree.-140.degree. F.) warewasher accomplishes the same general washing and rinsing effectiveness as a conventional high temperature (150.degree. F. minimum wash, 180.degree. F. minimum rinse) warewasher without loss of productivity resulting from time lost between completion of washing and commencement of rinsing a given load of ware, through use of independent, dedicated wash and rinse systems, the latter of which includes a holding tank which enables independent batching of a predetermined volume of rinse solution from properly-proportioned fresh water and sanitizing agent while washing a given load of ware. The sanitizing agent is introduced independently into the holding tank and independently of the fresh water line, and is therefore unaffected by a great range of water line pressures and the mineral conditions of the water.

Abstract: The lid support member for the lid of a high speed food processing apparatus supports a mixing baffle blade through the center of the lid. The mixing baffle blade drive shaft is hollow for introducing liquids into the mixing bowl directly over the food processing blades.

Abstract: A pressure vessel such as a steam cooker has a novel variably sloped cam arrangement for sealing a warped access door against the inside of an access opening. Such access openings are typically of circular configuration, and the access doors are warped about one axis for insertion therethrough. The latching mechanism of this invention enables the door to be swung from an open position into a first position inside the pressure vessel and then to be moved rapidly into a second position in engagement with an inside rim of the access opening. This rapid movement is accomplished by rotation of an operating handle through a relatively small angle. Thereafter continued rotation of the handle stresses the access door, removing the warp therefrom and sealing the door against the inside rim of the access opening. The latter door stressing rotation produces relatively little motion of the door for a relatively large angular rotation of the operating handle.