DE7428209U - Machine for injecting a liquid into a meat product - Google Patents

Description

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Tovneend Engineering Co. Machine for injecting a liquid into a meat

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The invention relates to a machine for injecting a liquid into a meat product. Such Machines are used to introduce liquids such as brine, seasonings, water, etc. into meat products. The brine is used in certain Meat products, e.g. B, pork belly, boned ham, boneless ham, cheeks, sides of bacon and the like injected to prepare them. Other liquids are injected into various meat products for protein modification, flavoring, etc.

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So far v / urde in liquid injector devices in generally a variety of reciprocating injector needles used, which pierce the meat in order to inject the medium into it. Boi known devices the liquid was continuously pumped through the needles, resulting in significant spillage of the liquid resulted when the needles did not penetrate the meat product. An attempt was made to reduce the amount of wasted liquid by collecting the spilled liquid and was brought into circulation again by the liquid pump for the purpose of subsequent use. The buried. Fluid absorbed blood and flesh particles, resulting in particle build-up in the pump and clogging of the needles revealed. Government regulations regarding such; Meat treatment processes require the pumps, hoses, etc. of such devices to be removed after a few hours to be dismantled so that the inside came to be cleaned. to eliminate the possibility of being inside Bacteria and the like.

The beochriebene device in US Patent No. 3,637 O3S represents a considerable technical? Ort ^ d'.rift of as a means for preventing clogging ces d ^ r injector

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needles and a device for injecting the meat products is only provided when the injector needles pierce the meat product.

The meat products that are injected have an irregular thickness, often from one end to the other, which causes a problem as the injector device
such irregular thickness can not feel and one
Inappropriate amount of liquid is injected.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus for injecting liquid into meat products .

Another object of the invention is a device For injecting liquid into meat products that senses the thickness or density of the product.

Another object of the invention is a device for injecting liquid into meat products feels the "average" thickness of the meat product to be squirted.

Another object of the invention is a device for injecting liquid into meat products with an improved stripper plate device.

Another object of the invention is a device which senses the thickness of the meat to be sprayed and automatically sets the time interval in which dia Liquid is injected into the meat according to the thickness of the meat.

Another object of the invention is a device for injecting liquid into meat products, wherein the liquid pressure supplied to the liquid line remains constant.

Another object of the invention is a device for injecting liquid into meat products with a Cam linkage device, which is connected to a line valve during operation, to precisely set the time interval control in which the liquid is fed to the injector needles.

Another object of the invention is a device for injecting liquid into meat products, which economical to manufacture and durable during use is.

Further advantages and objects result from the following Explanation of the invention using exemplary embodiments

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based on the attached drawing.

In the drawing show:

Pig. Figure 1 is a perspective front view of the device, with parts removed, in order to more clearly understand the invention to illustrate

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the device with parts omitted are,

3 shows a sectional view along the line 3 - 3 in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 a sectional view along the line 4 - 4 in FIG. 2,

Fig. 5 is a perspective partial view of the cam linkage device,

6 shows a sectional view along the line 6 - 6 in FIG. 4, FIG. 7 shows a sectional view along the line 7-7 in FIG. 4;

Fig. 8 schematically the various positions of the metering valve during its operation,

9 schematically shows the settings of the liquid injector device for different meat thicknesses.

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The injector device 1o according to the invention is essentially identical to that described in U.S. Patent 3,687,958 Injector device 1o. The apparatus 10 generally comprises a table 11 which has a conveyor thereon 12 for conveying the meat product in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG is. Reciprocating arms 14 and 16 are included their rear ends are articulated on the table 11 for the purpose of pivoting movement about an axis 17. A rod 18 is connected to the drive means for reciprocating the arms.

The drive device for moving the arms back and forth is a driven pulley 19, which is shown schematically 9 and similar to the pulley shown in U.S. Patent 3,687,058 is hinged near the periphery of the pulley 19 and is consequently moved up and down to the arms 14 ,, 16 to pivot about the axis 17.

An injector line 2o is at the ends of the arms 14 and attached. The line 2o includes opposite ends 22 and 24, sides 26 and 28, a ceiling 3o and a floor a. The line 2o has a plurality of closely spaced vertical bores 34. the Bores 34 are preferably arranged in rows. Injector needles 36 are arranged in the bores 34 to a

Inject liquid into the meat product 38.

A line cover 4o is on the line 2o by means Bolt 42 attached. For the sake of explanation, the wire cover 4o is described as having a compartment section 44 has. A valve device 46 is fastened to a strut 47 by means of bolts 49. The strut 47 is rigidly arranged on a transverse rod 51 which extends between the arms 14, 16 so that the valve device 46 in rhythm with the arms 14, 16 moved back and forth. the Valve means 46 includes a housing 48 with cylindrical chamber sections 5o and 52. The end of the housing 48 is completed by means of a cover 54. An inlet line stands with the rear side of the chamber section 5 <~ In Connection as shown in FIG. A bypass line 58 '. stands with one end of the chamber portion 52 in Connection, as also shown in FIG. 6.

A piston 6o is slidably disposed in the chamber portion 52. The piston 6o is provided with seals 62 which sealingly engaging the walls which define the chamber portion 52 surrounded. An air line 64 is in communication with the outer end of the camera section 52 for air with a predetermined pressure against one end of the piston 6o

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lead to normally push the piston 60 towards the chamber portion 5o so as to the bypass line to seal.

An elongated horizontally disposed outlet passage 66 is provided in the wall surface 68 of the housing 48. Of the Outlet passage 66 communicates with a drain line 7o which communicates with chamber 44 of the line cover 4o is in communication.

A rotatable valve member 72 is rotatably arranged in the chamber section 5o and has a shaft 76. the is rigidly attached thereto and extends outwardly from the housing as shown in FIG. The valve member has a curved surface 78 which sealingly engages wall 68 for selectively the outlet passage 66 to open and close, as described in detail below. A crank arm 80 is on the attached outer end of the shaft 76 and has a bolt portion 82 attached thereto. The crank arm 86 is a /. to the Bolt 82 hinged. A sleeve 84 is attached to the crank arm 86 by welding or the like. A bolt 87 connects the sleeve 84 is pivotable with the upper end of the loading

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actuating rod 88. An arm 9o is attached to a sleeve 84 by means of Welding or the like. Fixed and extends upward therefrom. A shaft 92 is at the upper end of the arm 9o and has a cam roller 94 which is rotatably disposed at its outer end.

A cam plate 96 is attached to an arm 98 which in turn is attached to a rod 99 which is attached to the Table 11 is arranged. Thus, the cam plate 96 is stationary while the valve housing 48 is in rhythm with the arms 14, 16 moved. The cam plate 96 has an elongated cam slot 1oo. The curve slot 1oo points a lower end portion 1o2 and an upper end portion 1o6. Cam surfaces 1o8 and 11 ο limit the lower one End section 1o2. Limit cam surface 116 and 118 the upper end portion 1o6. The upper end portion 1o6 follows a path that is almost concentric to the pivot axis 17 of the Arms 14, 16 is. The lower end section 1o2 deviates from this concentric way for reasons explained below.

The lower end of the actuating rod 88 is pivotable with the ..- the lower rear portion of an elongated right-angled Stripping plate 12o connected, which has a plurality of openings 122 to open the injector needles 36

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as shown in FIG.

The adjustable length parts 124 and 126 connect the ends of the arms or conduit to the opposite ends of the stripper plate 12o. The member 124 includes a liquid housing 128 with a rod 13o extending slidably downward therefrom. Its sleeve 132 is attached to the lower end of the rod 13o, one end of the stripping plate 12o being arranged thereon so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis. Part 124 is similar to a shock absorber. The valve in the member 124 allows the rod 13o to move upwardly within the housing 128 in response to engagement of the stripper plate 12o which is in unison with the meat on the conveyor 12. The part 126 and a liquid housing 134 having a rod 136 extending downwardly therefrom as shown in FIG. A sleeve 138 is attached to the lower end of the rod 13o and the other end of the wiper plate 12o is hinged thereto, as shown in FIG. Bumpers or one-way shock absorbers I4o and * ■ -2 have rods 144 and ^ 46 which extend upwardly therefrom, respectively. The rod 144 is articulated on the sleeve 132, while the rod 146 on the sleeve 138 angel cr.l ^. is. The shock absorbers 14o and 142 allow movement of the rods 144 and 146, but they resiliently resist one

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Expand the rods as described below dic-s.

The normal working procedure is as follows:

The device 1o is actuated so that the conveyor 12 conveys the meat product 38 from one end to the other so that it moves under the reciprocating Liquid line moved. The valve device 46 is in connection with the liquid pump 148, so that the appropriate liquid is fed to the valve device 46 at a predetermined pressure Assuming that the arms 14 and 16 are in their upper positions, the stripper plate 12o is spaced above the meat product 38, and the injector needles 36 do not pierce the meat.

When the arms 14 and 16 are in their upper. Are located, the rods 13o and 136 are stretched to the same extent, so that the stripping plate 12o is in a substantially horizontal position. When arms are 14 and 16 in their raised positions, the actuating rod has rotated the valve member 72 within the chamber 5o so that the outlet passage 66 is completely sealed. The cam roller 94 is at this time in the uppermost part of the upper end portion 1o6. With the outlet port sealed

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Passage 66, the liquid enters chamber section 50 through inlet line 56 and through the bypass "?" line 58, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 6. The liquid in the chamber 5o flows through the openings 15o and 152 in wall 154 outward, which rotatably the inner End of the shaft 76, as shown in FIG.

The liquid can return to the bypass line 58 because the liquid pressure in the chamber portion 52 increases the pressure which is exerted on the other end of the piston 6o by means of the air line 64. The fluid pressure in the chamber portion 52 moves the piston 6o to the position shown in Fig. 6 about the inner end of the bypass line 58 open. Through this bypass, a constant liquid pressure is fed to the valve device, since the pressure in the valve means does not build up during the time that the outlet passage 66 is closed is. This feature ensures that the liquid is present in the valve device at a constant pressure to prevent fluctuation of the liquid, which is pushed through the insect needles when the outlet passage 66 is open.

The downward movement of the arms 14 and 16 causes the

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Line and the stripping plate 12o are lowered. the Stripper plate 12o engages the top surface of the meat product as shown in Fig. 3 and adjusts itself along its upper surface. The movable arms 13o and 136 permit the opposite Ends of the stripper plate 12o to optionally adjust to an irregular thickness of the meat product. the Needles 36 penetrate the meat to remove the liquid there inject.

The amount of liquid injected into the meat product depends on the length of time that valve 72 is open, which in turn depends on the position of the stripping plate 12o and the roller 94. This' can best be seen from the schematic representations can be seen in FIG. The column 1 shows the various positions of the roller 94 and of valve 97 during a cycle in which no meat is encountered. The role 94 is at the beginning of the Cycle at the top of slot 100. The stripper plate 12o moves downward until it is approximately 3 inches above the conveyor 12. The role 94 moves within the slot 1oo to a position which shown above in column 1 (Fig. 8). The upper end 1o6 of the slot 1oo is approximately concentric to the pivot

axis 17 of arms 14 and 16, and consequently br Joint angle of the arm 9o and the crank arm 86 (J'ig.5) during the initial downward part of the cycle unchanged \ ,. Accordingly, the valve 72 remains in seir.or £ S-closed Position stationary at the upper end of the stroke, as shown above in column 1, until the stripping plate 12o is approximately 3 inches above the conveyor 12.

At this point, however, the roller 94 moves into the intermediate portion 1o4 of the slot 1oo which deviates from a path which is concentric with the pivot axis of the arms 14 and 16. As a result of this deviation, the articulation angle of the arm 9o and the crank arm 86 changes causing the valve 72 to move counterclockwise as the stripper plate 12o moves from FIG. 7, o cn to the lower end of the stroke. When the stripper plate begins its upward movement, the valve 72 rotates clockwise and reaches its initial position when the stripper plate 12o reaches a height of approximately three inches above the conveyor 12. As the valve 72 moves during the cycle shown in column 1, it is important to note that at all times it is the. Covering passage, which thus remains closed and a penetration

of liquids in the line 4o prevented.

If the stripper plate 12o encounters meat during this down cycle, there will be a differential movement of the valve 72. In column 2 it is shown what occurs when a piece of meat 2.5 cm thick is encountered. The cycle is identical to that in column 1 until the stripper plate 12o reaches a height of 2.5 cm above the conveyor 12. At this point the stripper plate 12o engages the surface of the meat and stops moving downward. As a result, the roller also ends its 3ewigung in the slot 1oo. However, the valve housing 48 continues to move downwardly in rhythm with the conduit 20 and arms 14, 16. Shortly after the stripper plate 12o engages the meat, the needles 36 begin to pierce the meat. The relative movement between the rod 88 (which stationary j.st) and the valve housing 48 (which moves down) is absorbed by the arm 9o and the crank arm 86, so that the Venti "is ¹ 72 rotated in a clockwise direction (as shown in Fig. 4), opening the outlet through _t "; ang 66 and supplying fluid under pressure to the interior of the fluid line.

The valve 72 begins to move in a clockwise direction so-

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soon the stripper plate 12o engages the upper surface of the meat. For meat 7 »6 cm thick (Column 4, Fig. 8) the valve 72 remains stationary, b: ■ the stripping plate 12o is in engagement with the meat. However If the meat is 2.5 or 5.0 cm thick (corresponding to columns 3 and 2), the valve moves a short distance against it clockwise before the stripper plate 12o touches the meat. The positions of valve 72 at the time of contact with flesh are 3, 5, 8, and 2.5 cm thick correspondingly in column 4, row 1; Column 3, Row 2 and Column Row 3 are shown. As can be seen from these drawings, valve 72 will continue to rotate counterclockwise at a point of contact with meat having a thickness of Displaced 2.5 cm than at the point of contact with a flesh 5, o8 or 7.6 cm thick.

The effect of this shift for a thinner meat is to delay the time between contacts with the meat and opening the outlet passage 66.

The importance of the setup delay is shown in FIG. The movement of the needles 36 is controlled by the eccentric Movement of the rod 18 around the pulley 19 is controlled. Points A and D show the locations of the round end of the rod

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when the needles are 36 3 inches above the conveyor. Points B and E show the position at a needle height of 5.08 cm, and points C and F show the position at a needle height of 2.5 cm.

Because of the arcuate path of the lower end of the bar is the time interval in which the needles 36 are below 2.5 cm are not proportional to the time interval that the needles 36 are above 3 inches. That is, the needles 36 are below 2.5 cm v / uring a time interval which is greater than 1/3 of the time during which they are under 3 inches (3 inches).

If the valve 72 were moved to an open position immediately at the time the needles 36 were engaged with the meat, a greater proportional amount of liquid would be introduced into 2.5 cm thick meat than into 7.6 cm thick meat injected. The cam slot 10c corrects for this disproportionate time interval so that a 7.6 cm thick meat is exposed and a 5.08 cm thick meat is exposed to approximately 2/3 the liquid of a 7.6 cm thick meat. Points B 'and C (FIG. 9) show the position of the needles 36 when the valve opens and closes for meat of 5.08 cm thick. The points C and F ¹ indicate where the needles 36 are,

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when the valve 72 opens for an F '''' sch before: 2.5 cm thick and. closes. The arc length between the points is equivalent to the time when the pulley 19 is moving at a substantially constant speed of rotation. Thus the arc CF 'is 1/3 of the arc A D. The arc B' D 'is 2 / Z of the arc A D.

Adjustment of valve 72 can be done by replacing the cam plate 96 by a different cam plate with a different one Nockens ^ hlitz 1oo set or changed will. The position of the cam plate 96 with respect to the Cam roller 94 set by means of bolts 97 to a To create fine adjustment of the valve 72.

The stripper plate 12o feels the "average thickness" of the Meat because of the fact that the rod 58 is connected to a appropriate center of the stripping plate 12o is connected.

The position of the roller 9A- in the cam slot 1oo thus depends from the height of the center of the stripping plate 12o.

The stripping plate 12o not only senses the through-inclined thickness and opens the outlet slack So for a moderate length of time, but also strips the? Le-3chprodul; -c from the needles, since the shock absorbers I4o and 142 of the Abv / arrtcb.-

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movement of opposite ends of the stripping plate yields counteract. In other words, the ... stripping plate rushes slightly after the injector needles during their upward movement, so that the needles can be pulled or stripped from the meat product. As described above, caused the downward movement of the arms 14, 16 that the outlet passage 66 in turn closes so that the liquid is not supplied to the injector needles if the injectors do not penetrate or puncture the meat product.

Thus, there is an improved apparatus for injecting Liquid created in meat products, which ensures that the appropriate amount of liquid is added to the meat product in response to its average thickness

is fed. The valve device described also ensures that a constant liquid pressure is supplied to the liquid line in order to prevent fluctuating liquid from being supplied to the injector needles. Thus, by means of the proposal according to the invention, all of the stated objects are achieved.

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Claims (1)

D * 8 H "* nc; t» n 22 fcünoW / den ^2iJ ^ «975 T 37 ^ a J yet. ^ ca 46 Tel. (Ο & «> 2ü £ .1 26 G 7fr? 8 2Q9.JP_ Townsend Engineering Co. Protection claims 1, machine injecting liquid into a meat product with a conveyor belt for the meat product, an injection head movably arranged above the conveyor belt *, up and down with a multitude of injection needles, a drive device for moving the injection head, a valve arrangement in the Injection head, which only connects the injection needles to a pressurized source of liquid when the injection needles pierce the meat product in a lowered position, and a stripping plate above the meat product, characterized by a sensor (12O) for the thickness of the injection needles (36) pierced meat product (38) and a control linkage (88-118) connecting the sensor to the valve arrangement (72). Dr. Hk / sch f 7428208 12.OR / 5 2 »machine according to claim 1, characterized in that daö the sensor (12O) is designed as a stripping plate » the ends of which are guided vertically movable independently of one another on both sides of the conveyor belt (12) for the meat product, and that one end of the linkage (88) between the ends of the stripping plate (12O) is attached to the same. 3 · Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the valve arrangement is one with the upper end IGO) of the control linkage connected valve member (72) contains, the one passage opening (66) for the pressurized injection »liquid more or can open and close less. H. Machine according to claim 3 »characterized in that the valve member (72) consists of a rotatable vane arranged in a valve chamber (50) and that the passage opening (66) is formed in the wall (68) of the valve chamber. 5 «Machine according to claim k _t, characterized in that the inner wall (68) of the valve chamber is cylindrical and has a rectangular passage, and that the valve member (72) with its curved surface (78) rests sealingly on the wall of the valve chamber. - ■ • ψΛΛ tog. 6th D-8 ^ ti Widenmayerstraße 46 TeL (QSS) 29 5125 G Th 28 209.0 - ³ - ^ .3.1975 6. Machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the axis (76) of the valve member (72) a crank arm (8O) carries the end «articulated with a further crank arm (86) is connected, about whose axis (84) the upper end (87) of the actuating rod (88) is freely rotatable, and that with the axis (84) a further crank arm (90) is firmly connected, which at its free end (92) carries a cam roller (94) engaging in a fixed cam slot (100). 7 · Machine according to claim 6, characterized in, that the curve slot (IOO) has several sections (106, 108,110) with different horizontal distances from the upper end (87) of the operating rod (88) and that in those positions of the valve chamber (50) arranged in the injection head (2O), in which the injection needles (36) are located below the stripping plate (12O), the valve member (7?) Is in the open part. 8 · Machine according to claim 6, characterized in, that in the positions of the cam roller (9 * 0 in middle and lower slot section (1O8, IIO) the starting position of the crank arm (80) of the valve member (72) in the sense of a closure of the same is twisted. Dr. Hk / sch 7428209 12.0R75 - 9 · Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a valve chamber (50) built-on pressure regulator (60) for the injection liquid. 10. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ends of the stripping plate (12Ο) on vertically arranged shock absorbers (12Ί, 126) are attached *, which counteract the upward movement of the stripping plate. 7426209 12.0E75