Abstract: A meat skinning device having a clamp and a shoe that holds a blade therebetween, the clamp having at least one groove that extends from one edge of the clamp to the other.

Abstract: A roller assembly for a meat skinning device having a frame, a drive shaft rotatably mounted to the frame and having a female groove, and an elongated roller having a male prong frictionally received within the female groove, a bearing housing secured to the drive shaft, and a seal mounted on the roller and separated from a food zone of the roller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing skin and fat from meat parts, a tooth roll assembly attached to a frame and a trimming blade assembly attached to an adjustable frame where the position of the trimming blade assembly is adjusted in relation to the tooth roll assembly based upon the thickness of a layer of fat of the meat part.

Abstract: A meat skinning device having a clamp and a shoe that holds a blade therebetween, the clamp having at least one groove that extends from one edge of the clamp to the other.

Abstract: A skinning machine having a height adjustment assembly to raise and lower a primary cabinet in relation to the supporting legs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing skin and fat from meat parts, includes a toothroll assembly. The toothroll assembly includes a first section having an outer surface, and a second section having an outer surface. The first section is adapted to rotate at a first surface speed, and the second section is adapted to rotate at a second surface speed independently from the first surface speed.

Abstract: A filtering system used on a meat injection machine that injects pickling into meat products. The filter consists of a tank and a first and second rotary filter. The first rotary filter uses a wedge wire wound cylinder and augers having flutes that rotate to catch and push away solid particles toward the second filter. The second filter then uses more wedge wire in a whirlpool effect to ensure all solid materials and foam are in the outside of the filter. Injector fluid is then taken from the center of the inside volume of the second filter to be used in injection needles.

Abstract: A method of filling a natural hollow elongated casing with meat emulsion involves placing a natural casing on an elongated meat emulsion stuffing tube having a meat emulsion discharge end, closing an extended end of the natural casing over the discharge end of the stuffing tube so that meat emulsion exiting the discharge end will push the natural casing longitudinally by pumping meat emulsion through the stuffing tube for expansive discharge into the natural casing at a sufficient volume and velocity to provide the primary energy within the natural casing to move the natural casing forwardly off of the discharge end of the stuffing tube. The casing is extended through a hollow chuck (100). A resilient brake element (160) in the chuck is extended around the casing to impede its longitudinal movement. A thrust collar (200) is slidably mounted on the stuffing tube and is intermittently manually pushed against the casing to limit the length thereof but is insufficient to create compression pressure thereon.

Abstract: A filtering system used on a meat injection machine that injects pickling into meat products. The filter consists of a tank and a first and second rotary filter. The first rotary filter uses a wedge wire wound cylinder and augers having flutes that rotate to catch and push away solid particles toward the second filter. The second filter then uses more wedge wire in a whirlpool effect to ensure all solid materials and foam are in the outside of the filter. Injector fluid is then taken from the center of the inside volume of the second filter to be used in injection needles.

Abstract: A machine for stuffing natural casings with emulsion, the machine having an emulsion stuffing tube with a first end and a discharge end for extruding emulsion into a casing on an outer surface of the stuffing tube, the stuffing tube extending through a twisting mechanism proximate the discharge end; and a follower having an insert with a central bore that slidably receives the stuffing tube wherein the insert has an outer surface and a receiving chamber with a diameter less than a diameter of the outer surface.

Abstract: A method for filling a natural hollow elongated casing with meat emulsion that involves placing a natural casing on an elongated meat emulsion stuffing tube and longitudinally pumping meat emulsion through the stuffing tube for expansive discharge into the natural casing at a sufficient volume and velocity to provide the primary energy within the natural casing. The method also involves providing a casing hopper that can be pivoted from a forward operating position to a rearward inoperative position.

Abstract: A method for injecting fluid into meat products comprises taking a plurality of hollow fluid injection needles having sharpened discharge ends, and connecting the needles to a source of pressurized liquid; penetrating the sharpened ends of the needles into the product and thence withdrawing the same while discharging fluid into the product and vibrating the needles for a period of time while they are within the product to enlarge the size of a penetration hole within the product caused by the penetration of the needles to a size greater than the size of the needles to create at least a partial space around the needles to permit fluid from the needles to migrate into the spaces around the needles. The needles have a roughened outside surface.

Abstract: A method for injecting fluid into meat products comprises taking a plurality of hollow fluid injection needles having sharpened discharge ends, and connecting the needles to a source of pressurized liquid; penetrating the sharpened ends of the needles into the product and thence withdrawing the same while discharging fluid into the product and vibrating the needles for a period of time while they are within the product to enlarge the size of a penetration hole within the product caused by the penetration of the needles to a size greater than the size of the needles to create at least a partial space around the needles to permit fluid from the needles to migrate into the spaces around the needles. The needles have a roughened outside surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evacuating pockets of injected fluid in meat products involves the structure and use of a machine which has a longitudinal movable conveyor surface on the machine; a fluid injection station on the machine for injecting fluid into a meat product on the conveyor surface; a second station on the machine downstream of the fluid injection station; the second station comprising an assembly for applying compressive pressure to the injected meat and penetrating the meat with a plurality of projecting elements to create a plurality of fluid conduits in the injected meat wherein the compressive pressure will force fluid out of the injected meat through the fluid conduits when the projecting elements penetrate the pockets of fluid.

Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves placing a textured continuous belt transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of a stuffing tube. The textured belt engages with the natural casing on the stuffing tube and distributes a compressive force on the outer surface of the casing. The textured belt then rotates to advance the natural casing into engagement with a twisting mechanism, which is downstream of the stuffing tube and prepares the casing for linking. The textured belt ensures that the natural casing is evenly fed into the twisting mechanism. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish the method.

Abstract: A filtering system used on a meat injection machine that injects pickling into meat products. The filter consists of a tank and a first and second rotary filter. The first rotary filter uses a wedge wire wound cylinder and augers having flutes that rotate to catch and push away solid particles toward the second filter. The second filter then uses more wedge wire in a whirlpool effect to ensure all solid materials and foam are in the outside of the filter. Injector fluid is then taken from the center of the inside volume of the second filter to be used in injection needles.

Abstract: A machine and method for encasing sausages by having a stuffing tube that is vertically disposed in order to allow gravity to help in the sausage making process. A conical shaped restricting device is attached to the stuffing tube to help facilitate the movement of the casing into a twisting mechanism and to ensure bunching in the casing is reduced. The casing is then fed through the twisting mechanism and into a linker.

Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves placing a follower against an upstream end of the natural casing to slide the natural casing forwardly along a hollow meat stuffing tube. The follower is mounted on the stuffing tube and advances the natural casing towards a discharge end of the stuffing tube, where sausage emulsion is injected into the natural casing. The follower pushes the filled casing through a hollow conical-shaped restricting device adjacent the discharge end which limits the outer diameter of the filled natural casing to ensure the uniform shape of the casing as it enters the twisting mechanism. The follower is connected to a longitudinally movable shaft that is parallel to the stuffing tube. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish this method.

Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves placing a follower against an upstream end of the natural casing to slide the natural casing forwardly along a hollow meat stuffing tube. The follower is mounted on the stuffing tube and advances the natural casing towards a discharge end of the stuffing tube, where sausage emulsion is injected into the natural casing. The follower pushes the filled casing through a hollow conical-shaped restricting device adjacent the discharge end which limits the outer diameter of the filled natural casing to ensure the uniform shape of the casing as it enters the twisting mechanism. The follower is connected to a longitudinally movable shaft that is parallel to the stuffing tube. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish this method.

Abstract: A method of filling a natural hollow elongated casing with meat emulsion involves placing a natural casing on an elongated meat emulsion stuffing tube having a meat emulsion discharge end, closing an extended end of the natural casing over the discharge end of the stuffing tube so that meat emulsion exiting the discharge end will push the natural casing longitudinally by pumping meat emulsion through the stuffing tube for expansive discharge into the natural casing at a sufficient volume and velocity to provide the primary energy within the natural casing to move the natural casing forwardly off of the discharge end of the stuffing tube. The casing is extended through a hollow chuck. A resilient brake element in the chuck is extended around the casing to impede its longitudinal movement. A thrust collar is slidably mounted on the stuffing tube and is intermittently manually pushed against the casing to limit the length thereof but is insufficient to create compression pressure thereon.