Abstract: An apparatus collects liquid in a vacuum bag for vacuum packaging a product, such as a food product, wherein a vacuum is drawn in the vacuum bag by a vacuum sealer, which also seals the vacuum bag after the vacuum is formed. The liquid collecting apparatus includes a housing configured to be placed in the vacuum bag between the product and an open end of the bag that is configured to be received in the vacuum sealer. The housing includes a side wall defining an interior space and at least one opening that extends through the side wall. The at least one opening is configured so that air drawn out of the vacuum bag can pass through the housing via the at least one opening and exit the vacuum bag through the open end, and liquid can enter the interior of the housing, but is prevented from escaping and thereby captured.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a food processing grinder head with an integrated heatsink is captively retained between two halves of a cooling pack. The heatsink and cooling pack have a circumference that matches the circumference of the grinder head thereby attaching to and in direct thermal communication with the grinder head.

Abstract: A vacuum sealer for vacuum packing products in plastic vacuum bags includes a sealing bar and a lift mechanism configured to raise and lower the sealing bar. In the raised position, the sealing bar is configured to engage and compress the vacuum bag against a compression bar. The vacuum sealer include a vacuum pump that is operated to draw a vacuum in the vacuum bag. The sealing bar includes a heating element that is configured to heat the sealing bar when energized. Once the vacuum is drawn in the vacuum bag, the sealing bar is heated and the heat is applied to the vacuum bag, which seals closed the vacuum bag with the product vacuum packed therein. The lifting mechanism lowers the sealing bar to release the vacuum packed product. The vacuum sealer includes a cooling chamber into which the sealing bar is moved when lowered by the lift mechanism. A cooling fan directs convection air through the cooling chamber and over the sealing bar to cool the sealing bar.

Abstract: An apparatus collects liquid in a vacuum bag for vacuum packaging a product, such as a food product, wherein a vacuum is drawn in the vacuum bag by a vacuum sealer, which also seals the vacuum bag after the vacuum is formed. The liquid collecting apparatus includes a housing configured to be placed in the vacuum bag between the product and an open end of the bag that is configured to be received in the vacuum sealer. The housing includes a side wall defining an interior space and at least one opening that extends through the side wall. The at least one opening is configured so that air drawn out of the vacuum bag can pass through the housing via the at least one opening and exit the vacuum bag through the open end, and liquid can enter the interior of the housing, but is prevented from escaping and thereby captured.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing an auger from a grinder head includes a tool member including an auger engaging portion for receiving a front shaft portion of the auger. The auger engaging portion is adapted to be received in a tool engaging portion of the front shaft to for an interference that permits a removal force applied to the tool member to be transferred to the auger.

Abstract: A process for dehydrating products with a dehydrator that includes a dehydration chamber, a heater for heating air in the dehydration chamber, and a fan for circulating air in the dehydrator includes receiving a set temperature at which to perform the dehydration and a set time for which to perform the dehydration. The process also includes setting the heater to operate in an on condition and setting the fan to run at a low speed until the temperature in the dehydration chamber reaches the set temperature. The process further includes setting the heater to an off condition and setting the fan to run at a high speed when the temperature in the dehydration chamber reaches the set temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a food processing grinder head with an integrated heatsink is captively retained between two halves of a cooling pack. The heatsink and cooling pack have a circumference that matches the circumference of the grinder head thereby attaching to and in direct thermal communication with the grinder head.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming patties from a food product includes a base comprising a cylindrical sidewall defining chamber configured to receive the food product. A paddle includes a paddle blade configured to be installed onto the base to form a bottom wall of the chamber, the paddle further comprising a handle positioned outside the base that can be grasped to remove the paddle from the base. A cover is pivotally attached to the base and can be maneuvered from an open condition providing access to the chamber to a closed condition closing the chamber. The cover when in the closed condition is configured to compress the food product in the chamber and cause the food product to conform to the shape of the chamber to form a patty. The paddle is configured to remove the patty formed in the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for making patties with a ground food product includes a housing including an inlet for receiving the ground food product. A mold plate is positioned at least partially within the housing and includes first and second mold cavities. The mold plate is rotatable about an axis to first and second mold positions. In the first mold position, the first mold cavity is positioned within the housing for receiving the ground food product and the second mold cavity is positioned outside the housing for removing a patty formed therein. In the second mold position, the second mold cavity is positioned within the housing for receiving the ground food product and the first mold cavity is positioned outside the housing for removing a patty formed therein.

Abstract: A meat grinder includes a motor including a stator and a rotor including a motor shaft, a transfer case operatively coupled to the motor shaft, and a grinder head operatively coupled to the transfer case. The grinder head includes an inlet into which a raw meat product can be fed and an outlet through which ground meat can be discharged. Rotation of the motor shaft imparts operation of the grinder head via the transfer case. The motor also includes a housing comprising a generally cylindrical outer wall that is spaced from the stator thereby creating a cooling channel between the stator and the outer wall. The housing further includes a front wall including a plurality of inlet openings and a rear wall including a plurality of outlet openings. The motor also includes a heat sink inside the housing positioned in the cooling channel adjacent the motor stator. The motor further includes a cooling fan coupled to the motor shaft and positioned adjacent the rear wall.

Abstract: An apparatus for making patties with a ground food product includes a housing including an inlet for receiving the ground food product A mold plate is positioned at least partially within the housing and includes first and second mold cavities. The mold plate is rotatable about an axis to first and second mold positions. In the first mold position, the first mold cavity is positioned within the housing for receiving the ground food product and the second mold cavity is positioned outside the housing for removing a patty formed therein. In the second mold position, the second mold cavity is positioned within the housing for receiving the ground food product and the first mold cavity is positioned outside the housing for removing a patty formed therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for slicing food products includes a housing including an inlet, for receiving food products to be sliced and an outlet for discharging the sliced food product. A primary shaft is supported in the housing for rotation about a primary axis. The primary shaft carries a plurality of slicing blades that are rotatable with the primary shaft about the primary axis. A secondary shaft is supported in the housing for rotation about a secondary axis. The secondary shaft carries a plurality of slicing blades that are rotatable with the secondary shaft about the secondary axis. The primary and secondary shafts are positioned in the housing in a spaced and parallel manner so that the slicing blades are arranged in slicing pairs. Each slicing pair includes one slicing blade on the primary shaft and one slicing blade on the secondary shaft. The slicing blades in each slicing pair have peripheral portions that overlap each other.