Abstract: An automatic crimping mechanism is provided for knitting together multi-layered proteinaceous patty products while those products are being conveyed along a pathway generally beneath the automatic crimping mechanism. By operation of the crimping mechanism, a plurality of pins enter the proteinaceous patties to thereby knit them together. An automatic washing assembly can be included whereby the crimping head assemblies are automatically cycled between a crimping orientation and a washing orientation.

Abstract: Deformable products (that is, resizable products) which are within preformed packages are resized by the application of mechanical forces so that the products substantially conform to the size and shape of the inside surface of the package. Such resizing is accomplished by an apparatus and method utilizing a pressure generating member to apply a preselected force to the product in cooperation with a restrained cavity concept, whereby the force applied is directed and restrained to resize the product to substantially the same size and shape as the inside surface of the package. Such apparatus and method may be useful before, during or after closing the package.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for neatening stacks of thin products, such as sliced luncheon meat, within a processing and packaging operation. The neatening apparatus receives an uneven stack of foodstuff slices that are generally horizontally oriented, and the apparatus reorients the stack of foodstuff slices by rotating them through a generally vertical orientation and to a generally horizontal outfeed orientation. A tamping assembly is adjacent to the reorienting assembly, and the tamping assembly contacts the peripheral edges of the foodstuff slices in order to tamp and shake same to a neatened condition. A generally horizontally oriented outfeed assembly receives the thus neatened stack at the location of generally horizontal outfeed orientation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for simultaneously loading and unloading food packages into and from a package-forming machine. A pusher and puller are mounted on opposite directions, toward and away from the machine, whereby packages can be inserted into the machine at the same time packages are withdrawn. In a preferred embodiment, the pusher and puller include package gripping jaws slidably mounted for reciprocal movement. A shuttle which mounts the jaws may also include a bellcrank and latch system for controlling opening and closing of the jaws.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for receiving products, such as stacks of sliced luncheon meat, in an intermittent flow pattern, for conveying the products in two generally parallel paths at two different flow rates, and for merging the two generally parallel paths into a single path through which the products flow on a non-intermittent basis. The two generally parallel paths have a fill mode during which an intermittent grouping of products are received onto the conveyor path, as well as a feed mode during which the intermittent grouping of products are fed in a continuous flow to a merging device. When one of the conveyor paths is in its fill mode, the other conveyor path is in its feed mode, and vice versa. The speed of each conveyor path during its fill mode is greater than that during its feed mode.

Abstract: Deformable products (that is, resizable products) which are within preformed packages are resized by the application of mechanical forces so that the products substantially conform to the size and shape of the inside surface of the package. Such resizing is accomplished by an apparatus and method utilizing a pressure generating member to apply a preselected force to the product in cooperation with a restrained cavity concept, whereby the force applied is directed and restrained to resize the product to substantially the same size and shape as the inside surface of the package. Such apparatus and method may be useful before, during or after closing the package.

Abstract: A method for stuffing meat material into loaf molds for processing in a continuous loaf processing system where the loaf is open at one end and closed at the other end, and which includes the steps of moving the mold onto a stuffing horn until the stuffing horn is positioned at the closed end of the mold, discharging pressurized meat material from the stuffing horn and causing the mold to be filled and to be moved off the stuffing horn, controlling the return of movement of the mold off the stuffing horn, and ending the discharge of the meat material from the stuffing horn when the mold is filled. The apparatus includes a stuffing platform having a mold supporting carriage movable therealong, a stationary stuffing horn, control means for initiating and ending discharge of meat material from the stuffing horn, and means for controlling the rate of stuffing.