Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the application and implantation of starter cultures in products of animal origin for curing same, which comprises: a) introducing one or more starter cultures of Staphylococcus and yeasts in a whole muscle product of animal origin by means of sprinkling, tumbling and massaging; b) subjecting said product after step a) to maturation treatment with heat and humidity to favor starter culture growth; d1) freezing the product after step b), stopping the starter culture biological activity; and d2) cutting or slicing the frozen product; and d3) subjecting cutted or sliced product to a rapid drying process for between 30 and 120 minutes; and e) packing the dried product of animal origin.

Abstract: A needle cleaning system that backflushes an inner passage of needles (40) successively with a cleaning solution, such as caustic soda, pressurized air and a washing liquid. The needle cleaning machine has an airtight container (17) closed at the top by a support base (15) with holes (16) where a group of needles (40) are inserted in a position in which an upper portion of the needles, where an inlet opening is located, is outside the airtight container and a lower portion of the needles, where outlet ports are located, is inside the airtight container (17). The container (17) is connected to ducts (19, 21, 23, 25, 27) provided with valves (20, 24, 26, 28) by which the cleaning solution driven by a pump (29), the pressurized air (23) and the washing liquid (25) are supplied to the containers (17).

Abstract: The forced convection treatment unit has a conveyor device for conveying slices of meat product arranged in a single layer on a permeable support surface along a path inside an enclosure, and an air circulation device with an air moving device associated to an arrangement of conduits provided with a plurality of inlet and outlet ports in communication with the inside of the enclosure and arranged to make two mutually parallel conditioned air currents flow in opposite directions parallel to the support surface and transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor device and pass through two respective regions of the enclosure traversed by the slices along the path.

Abstract: The forced convection treatment unit has a conveyor device for conveying slices of meat product arranged in a single layer on a permeable support surface along a path inside an enclosure, and an air circulation device with an air moving device associated to an arrangement of conduits provided with a plurality of inlet and outlet ports in communication with the inside of the enclosure and arranged to make two mutually parallel conditioned air currents flow in opposite directions parallel to the support surface and transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor device and pass through two respective regions of the enclosure traversed by the slices along the path.

Abstract: A needle cleaning system that backflushes an inner passage of needles (40) successively with a cleaning solution, such as caustic soda, pressurized air and a washing liquid. The needle cleaning machine has an airtight container (17) closed at the top by a support base (15) with holes (16) where a group of needles (40) are inserted in a position in which an upper portion of the needles, where an inlet opening is located, is outside the airtight container and a lower portion of the needles, where outlet ports are located, is inside the airtight container (17). The container (17) is connected to ducts (19, 21, 23, 25, 27) provided with valves (20, 24, 26, 28) by which the cleaning solution driven by a pump (29), the pressurized air (23) and the washing liquid (25) are supplied to the containers (17).

Abstract: A machine for injecting brine into meat pieces includes a conveyor having a support surface for conveying meat pieces in a forward step by step movement, each step having a predetermined length, first and second injection heads consecutively arranged over the conveyor relative to the forward direction, each injection head having an array of injection needles covering a whole width of the conveyor support surface. A length of the conveyor support surface corresponds to the predetermined length of the steps of the conveyor step by step movement, head driving device for alternately reciprocating the injection heads between an upper position, enabling the meat pieces to pass under the injection heads, and a lower position, where the injection needles are stuck into the meat pieces located under the injection heads, and brine supplying device supplying brine to the injection needles at least when the injection heads are at their lower position.

Abstract: The gaseous fluid stream treatment unit for treating a meat product cut into slices includes an enclosure (7) in which there is a conveyor device (1) with two or more vertical translation sections (9, 10) moving the trays (2) loaded with slices of the meat product in alternating opposite vertical directions, and at least one horizontal translation section (11) transferring the trays (2) from a final end of one of the vertical translation sections (9,10) to an initial end of the next vertical translation section (9,10). A gaseous fluid circulation device (8) generates a gaseous fluid stream inside the enclosure (7) in a substantially horizontal direction from a gaseous fluid inlet (12) to a gaseous fluid outlet (13) consecutively traversing the two or more vertical translation sections (9, 10) of the conveyor device (1), subjecting the slices to the action of the gaseous fluid stream.

Abstract: The brine filtering device includes a pre-filtering unit having first and second pre-filtration drums arranged to rotate coaxially about a horizontal axis and a safety filtering unit having a safety filter sleeve submerged in a tank and connected to an outlet. The first and second pre-filtration drums have their lower regions submerged in brine contained in a tub. An inlet hopper receives brine to be filtered and forces it into the first pre-filtration drum through an upper region of its filtering wall. Brine exits a lower region of the first pre-filtration drum and is collected in the tub. Brine enters into the second pre-filtration drum through a lower region of its filtering wall. Brine is poured into tank through an open side wall of the second pre-filtration drum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the application and implantation of starter cultures in products of animal origin for curing same, which comprises: a) introducing one or more starter cultures of Staphylococcus and yeasts in a whole muscle product of animal origin by means of sprinkling, tumbling and massaging; b) subjecting said product after step a) to maturation treatment with heat and humidity to favor starter culture growth; d1) freezing the product after step b), stopping the starter culture biological activity; and d2) cutting or slicing the frozen product; and d3) subjecting cutted or sliced product to a rapid drying process for between 30 and 120 minutes; and e) packing the dried product of animal origin.

Abstract: A machine for processing a meat mass that includes a rotary drum (10) for containing a meat mass with an open front end (14) with a lid (40) for loading and unloading, a closed rear end (13), inner blades for driving and turning over the meat mass during rotation, a support chassis (20) supporting the rotary drum such that it can rotate about a rotational shaft, a support base (30) to which the support chassis is articulated by a shaft perpendicular to the rotational shaft and close to the front end (14) of the rotary drum, adjustable inclination mechanism for moving the rear end of the support chassis height-wise in order to change the inclination of the rotary drum, and a vibration damper associated with a rear part of the support chassis adjacent to the rear end (13) of the rotary drum.

Abstract: The gaseous fluid stream treatment unit for treating a meat product cut into slices comprises an enclosure (7) in which there is a conveyor device (1) with two or more vertical translation sections (9, 10) moving the trays (2) loaded with slices of the meat product in alternating opposite vertical directions, and at least one horizontal translation section (11) transferring the trays (2) from a final end of one of said vertical translation sections (9, 10) to an initial end of the next vertical translation section (9, 10). A gaseous fluid circulation device (8) generates a gaseous fluid stream inside the enclosure (7) in a substantially horizontal direction from a gaseous fluid inlet (12) to a gaseous fluid outlet (13) consecutively traversing said two or more vertical translation sections (9, 10) of the conveyor device (1), subjecting the slices to the action of the gaseous fluid stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine for processing a meat mass comprising a rotary drum (10) for containing a meat mass with an open front end (14) with a lid (40) for loading and unloading, a closed rear end (13), and inner blades for driving and turning over the meat mass during rotation, a support chassis (20) supporting the rotary drum such that it can rotate about an rotational shaft by operating means, a support base (30) to which the support chassis is articulated by a shaft perpendicular to the rotational shaft and close to the front end (14) of the rotary drum, adjustable inclination means for moving the rear end of the support chassis heightwise in order to change the inclination of the rotary drum, and vibration damping means associated with a rear part of the support chassis adjacent to the rear end (13) of the rotary drum.

Abstract: The brine filtering device includes a pre-filtering unit having first and second pre-filtration drums arranged to rotate coaxially about a horizontal axis and a safety filtering unit having a safety filter sleeve submerged in a tank and connected to an outlet. The first and second pre-filtration drums have their lower regions submerged in brine contained in a tub. An inlet hopper receives brine to be filtered and forces it into the first pre-filtration drum through an upper region of its filtering wall. Brine exits a lower region of the first pre-filtration drum and is collected in the tub. Brine enters into the second pre-filtration drum through a lower region of its filtering wall. Brine is poured into tank through an open side wall of the second pre-filtration drum.

Abstract: A machine for injecting brine into meat pieces includes a conveyor having a support surface for conveying meat pieces in a forward step by step movement, each step having a predetermined length, first and second injection heads consecutively arranged over the conveyor relative to the forward direction, each injection head having an array of injection needles covering a whole width of the conveyor support surface. A length of the conveyor support surface corresponds to the predetermined length of the steps of the conveyor step by step movement, head driving device for alternately reciprocating the injection heads between an upper position, enabling the meat pieces to pass under the injection heads, and a lower position, where the injection needles are stuck into the meat pieces located under the injection heads, and brine supplying device supplying brine to the injection needles at least when the injection heads are at their lower position.

Abstract: The method consists of forcing a cleaning solution, such as caustic soda, through an inner passage of the needles (40), then injecting pressurized air into said needles, and afterwards flushing pressurized water through the inside of the needles. The machine comprises upper and lower compartments (2, 3) separated by a tray (6), and a tank (4) for the cleaning solution. The tray (6) supports the needles to be cleaned, such that a lower portion thereof is inside a number of containers (17) from which said needles (40) receive said cleaning solution driven by a pump (29), the pressurized air (23) and the washing water (25), through ducts (19, 21, 23, 25, 27) provided with valves (20, 24, 26, 28) in communication with the containers (17). The tray (6) collects the fluids coming out of the upper holes of the needles (40).

Abstract: The apparatus includes a slicing machine (1) for cutting rows of slices (A) from several pieces of food product, and a loading unit (2) comprising a set of array-forming conveyor belts (7a, 7b, 7c) arranged in parallel, a device for aligning each of the array-forming conveyor belts (7a, 7b, 7c) with the slicing machine (1) for receiving successive rows of slices (A) arranged in a direction transverse to the forward movement direction while the array-forming conveyor belt is made to move forward synchronously with the operation of the slicing machine (1) until forming a partial array of slices (A) on each array-forming conveyor belt, and a transfer device for transferring a complete array of slices (A) formed by the partial arrays from the array-forming conveyor belts (7a, 7b, 7c) to a moving conveying surface.

Abstract: The process for preparing a meat product comprises arranging slices of a raw stuffed meat product in a single layer on a permeable support surface, conveying the slices thus arranged along a path inside an enclosure of a forced convection treatment unit, creating a first thermal gradient across a first region of the enclosure along a first portion of the path by making a first conditioned air current flow parallel to the permeable support surface and transverse to the path from a first side to an opposite second side of the enclosure, and creating a second opposite thermal gradient across a second region of the enclosure along a second portion of the path by making a second conditioned air current flow parallel to the permeable support surface and transverse to the path from the second side to the first side of the enclosure.

Abstract: A valve device for a pasty food product volumetric metering apparatus, and to a volumetric metering apparatus. Both apparatuses have a valve body (1) with a cavity (2) having a first radial opening (3) connected to an inlet conduit (6), a second axial opening (4) connected to a metering chamber (7), and a third radial opening (5) connected to an outlet conduit (8), a plug (9) rotatably arranged inside said cavity (2), and a driver (10, 11) for moving the plug (9) between first and second positions. The plug (9) has an outer surface (12) and an oblique surface (13). In the first position, the oblique surface (13) faces the first and second openings (3, 4) and the outer surface (12) shuts the third opening (5), and in the second position, the oblique surface (13) faces the second and third openings (4, 5) and the outer surface (12) shuts the first opening (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a tenderizing machine for tenderizing pieces of meat, the machine comprising a first tenderizing roller (1) rotating about a first axis (3) supported in a fixed position in a structure (51), a second tenderizing roller (2) rotating about a second axis (4) parallel to said first axis (3) and movably supported in said structure (51) with the possibility of being separated from the first axis (3) against the force of antagonist means due to the effect of the passage of the pieces of meat between said first and second tenderizing rollers (1, 2), and drive means for rotating the first and second tenderizing rollers (1, 2) in opposite directions comprising a first motor (5) operatively connected by means of a first mechanical transmission (7) to rotate the first tenderizing roller (1), and a second motor (6) operatively connected by means of a second mechanical transmission (8) to rotate the second tenderizing roller (2).

Abstract: Injecting machine includes a conveyor having a surface for conveying meat pieces in a forward direction; first and second injection heads consecutively arranged over the conveyor relative to the forward direction and with the second injection head installed at a higher level over the surface than the first injection head; a plurality of needles mounted on each injection head, each needle having a longitudinal inner passage, at least one inlet opening in communication with the inner passage and a plurality of outlet openings in communication with the inner passage; head driving device for alternately reciprocating the first and second injection heads between an upper position, enabling the meat pieces to pass, and a lower position, in which the lower needle portions are stuck into the meat pieces; and brine supplying device for supplying brine to the needles when the injection heads are in the lower position.