Abstract: Worm pump for thick media and/or media containing lumps, e.g., meat in pieces, of the kind comprising a tubular housing with an inlet and an outlet, a worm rotor rotatably supported in the housing, and a worm-gate assembly comprising a number of gate members adapted during the rotation of the worm to protrude into and follow the latter's convolutions and thus prevent the medium being pumped from following the rotation of the worm rotor. The worm-gate assembly comprises a number of loose gate members slidingly supported in an endless track of which a substantially rectilinear portion extends alongside and parallel to the worm rotor.

Abstract: Instead of using injection needles, that have to be inserted into and withdrawn from the meat with the latter substantially stationary relative to the needles, the method and apparatus of the invention use high-pressure nozzles (11) directing powerful jets of liquid penetrating into the meat to the requisite depth, preferably while the meat is being conveyed through a set of conduits, including a unit (7) containing said nozzles (11), preferably also a vibration-massage unit (8) and a deformation-massage unit (9), before being delivered through an outlet unit (10).