Abstract: In a larding needle comprising a hollow shank for receiving a strip of bacon and for piercing the meat, a longitudinally displaceable pusher arm within the shank rides up a ramp at the front of the needle to eject a leading end of the strip of bacon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel method and apparatus to precipitate and preserve protein from the juice expressed from green leafy plants by coagulating the protein in the juice through an anaerobic fermentation process and apparatus. In addition part of the carbohydrate and non-protein nitrogen in the juice is converted into bacterial protein which increases the amount of protein obtained from the juice and particularly prevents oxidative destruction of cystine and methionine and thereby increases these limiting amino acids in the obtained protein.

Abstract: An apparatus for thawing of frozen food products is provided which includes a tank member having an open top which is provided with a specially constructed cover member which insures sanitary conditions during the thawing while at the same time minimizing the quantity of liquid utilized to thaw the frozen food. The cover member is constructed so as to define a reservoir chamber for the liquid used in thawing and is further provided with a plurality of inwardly facing openings so as to spray the liquid over the frozen food in the tank. Drain means are provided so that the food being thawed is never immersed in liquid but rather has a flowing thin film of liquid over its surface. Low temperatures are utilized thereby decreasing the rate of bacterial activity within the product being thawed.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying ingredients to an edible product, comprising a stepwise advancing conveyor band, work stations arranged along the conveyor band and at which there are applied the ingredients. One of the work stations is equipped with a carriage mounted to be displaceable transversely with respect to the conveyor band. The carriage, when in a first terminal position, is located over the conveyor band and, in a second terminal position, adjacent such conveyor band and over a discharge slide or chute of a receiving container for the ingredients. The carriage is provided with a number of individual suction heads which can be switched-on and switched-off. These suction heads engage into the chute in the second terminal position of the carriage.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing a snack food whose raw material is fruitage or vegetables, comprising a vacuum tank into which a material of fruit or vegetable subjected to preprocessing such as cleaning, peeling, seasoning and drying is fed and within which the operation of frying the material and the operation of cooling and solidifying the fried material can be continuously carried out.

Abstract: A conditioning machine for chocolate masses wherein a pump forces the mass through a stack of cooling stages forming a cylinder, each having cooled top and bottom walls connected to a coolant recirculating system, each stage containing scrapers revolving about the cylinder axis for continuously detaching the mass from the cooling surfaces, each stage having two scrapers axially urged apart by an interposed spring.

Abstract: A mixing device comprising a vessel and an agitator extending into the vessel in which the vessel is hermetically sealed from the atmosphere by a flexible member detachably connected with the wall and the agitator shaft. Means are provided to maintain the agitator shaft in a fixed angular position during the stirring operation.

Abstract: A device for mixing viscous fluids with water comprising a rectangular block containing a pre-mixing chamber, a center section fitted with a bevelled double acting valve capable of restricting fluid flow in two distinct directions, an outlet chamber and recycling means for thoroughly mixing the viscous fluids with the water. The mixing device is able to balance both low and high back pressures, eliminate cavitation and deliver a mixture of viscous fluid and water without serious degradation of the components of the viscous fluids.

Abstract: Immersion vibrator of the type employed for consolidating poured concrete and employing an unbalanced rotor, characterized by a gerotor type motor, operated by hydraulic pressure, for rotating the rotor. It is of particular utility as an accessory to certain paving machines having an engine driven hydraulic circulating pump.

Abstract: A handy, light weight tool that is used to automatically shell a hard boiled egg. The egg shell is punctured at both ends, and the complete egg is inserted about half of its length into the tool. When either water or air pressure is then applied to the tool the egg is squirted out of its shell and the open end of the tool.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for processing shelled corn cobs. The cobs are graded, aspirated, and crushed for reducing the length of the cobs to between 1/2 inch and 3 inches. A second aspirator removes any remaining husks and hammer mills reduce the corn cobs into 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch pieces. The pieces are graded and oversized pieces are returned to a hammer mill while the remaining pieces are dried in a drier to reduce their moisture content. After grading, a portion of the pieces are sent through an attrition mill to further reduce the size of the pieces. After aspirating, the pieces are processed through roller mills to further reduce the size of the pieces and then passed through an attrition mill and graded into final product sizes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cheese vat comprising a cylindrical vessel and a planetary stirrer. The cheese vat is preferably an enclosed vessel and the base of the vessel forms an endless trough, the lowermost portion of which, in the position of use, being concentric with the center of the base.

Abstract: A liquid stirrer for containerized liquids and particularly paint comprises a spanner bar having lips on each end thereof to engage between a container rim and lid, and a preferably semi-flexible blade structure depending from the spanner bar and extending into the liquid container such that reciprocating rotation of the paint can effects stirring of the liquid therein.

Abstract: A spiral meat slicer is provided which will form a continuous spiral slice on a piece of meat such as a ham which has a center bone structure which includes a crooked bone of non-uniform diameter. The spiral meat slicer includes an improved reciprocating knife structure.

Abstract: In the case, where fruits, which are relatively soft and liable to be bruised upon contact or collision with another object such as particularly in the case of white peaches, are to be separated into flesh and pit automatically, apparatus for assuring a high efficiency and a high yield is provided for separating and taking out flesh from the fruits without brusing the flesh as much as possible.

Abstract: A mixing device comprising a plurality of mixing elements, each consisting of at least two passages which are arranged parallel, in a row, and are provided with spiral vanes therein, and through which fluid to be mixed passes, and a collecting and dividing chamber which is common to the passages, in which the fluid to be mixed is collected and then divided in subsequent passage, the elements being arranged in series in such a way that a line extending between the centers of the passages in one element intersects the corresponding line of an adjacent element. The elements of the device are also covered.

Abstract: Apparatus for the high-speed mixing and degasification of viscous materials, especially synthetic resins with and without fillers, wherein two or more reactive components are mixed in an upright container having a downwardly converging portion extending over the lower one third of the vessel, by mixing vanes rotated along the frustoconical wall and carried by a worm or screw extending vertically through a sleeve or mixing tube orbited by the vanes. The screw carries the material to be mixed continuously upwardly through the tube and dispenses it along a downwardly and outwardly diverging apron in a thin layer. The continuous path is heated in sections and the vessel is evacuated.

Abstract: The shaking machine comprises a frame in the form of a base in which there is mounted a driving motor which rotates two vertically oriented shafts on which at least two supports are mounted in vertically spaced relation. Each support has two bearing bodies, each having a central bore receiving an eccentric member rotatable with a respective shaft so that, as the shafts are rotated, all points of each support execute horizontal circular movements at mutually equal velocities along paths having mutually equal radii. In one embodiment of the invention, a respective sector shape balance body is mounted for rotation, about a vertical axis at the center of gravity of the support. The eccentric secured to one shaft is in the form of a gear which is connected by a gear belt to a gear secured to rotate with the balance body. In another embodiment of the invention, each shaft has secured thereto, with respect to each support, a respective sector shape balance body.

Abstract: A continuous flow expander for expanding particulate material, more specifically for grain or cattle fodder, is provided whereby material to be expanded is transported in a substantially continuous manner through a pressurized region wherein it is heated, steamed and pressurized by a counterflow of dry steam created from available city water by a recirculating steam boiler. The material is then ejected by another flow of dry steam created from available water into a lower pressure region for expansion. Enthalpy in the ejection region is automatically maintained within a predetermined range, for grain or cattle fodder from 450 to 750 BTU per pound of moisture being ejected, regardless of the moisture content of the material, by varying steam boiler output and, if necessary, material flow rate. An expanded product requiring no further drying prior to use or storage is thereby provided with minimum energy use.

Abstract: A machine is provided for splitting a pear which has been previously cored and peeled into two or more segments. The machine comprising a first spindle upon which the pear is cored and peeled after which the pear is pushed by a pusher means on to a second coaxial movable spindle which pivots away from the axis of the first spindle and into alignment with a stationary knife where a second pusher pushes the pear off of the second spindle and through the knife thereby cutting the pear into segments while the first spindle is accepting a second pear.