Abstract: A bulk processing meat cutlet tenderizing machine is provided with multiple sets of roller cutters between which a meat cutlet is tenderized. The roller cutters of each set are arranged in parallel pairs with rotary tenderizing knives mounted on each roller cutter. The second set of roller cutters are vertically spaced with respect to the roller cutters of the first set to permit a meat cutlet to be engaged and perforated simultaneously by the rotary knives of both first and second sets as the meat cutlet advances through the roller cutter pairs. The cutlets are inverted automatically after passing through a first array of roller cutters. The cutlets then undergo further perforation and enlargement in successive cutter stations.

Abstract: A meat cutlet tenderizing machine having first and second sets of coacting roller cutters between which a meat cutlet is fed is disclosed. The coacting roller cutters of each set are arranged in parallel pairs with rotary tenderizing knives mounted in axially spaced relation on each roller cutter. The second set of roller cutters are vertically spaced with respect to the roller cutters of the first set to permit a meat cutlet to be engaged and perforated simultaneously by the rotary tenderizing knives of both first and second sets as the meat cutlet advances through the coacting roller cutter pairs. The coacting roller cutters are driven by a chain and sprocket assembly in which the drive sprocket coupled to the roller cutters of the second set has a greater number of sprocket teeth than the drive sprocket coupled to the roller cutters of the first set thereby causing the rotary tenderizing knives of the second set to rotate at a faster rate relative to the rotary tenderizing knives of the first set.