IE74229B1

IE74229B1 - A spreader and use thereof

Info

Publication number: IE74229B1
Application number: IE940315A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Peter Queally; John Queally
Original assignee: Agri Dev Ltd
Priority date: 1994-04-08
Filing date: 1994-04-08
Publication date: 1997-07-16
Also published as: BE1006523A6; IE940315A1; GB9408558D0; GB2288382A; GB2288382B

Abstract

A spreader 1 comprising a mounting frame 2 for rollers 3 and a wheeled support frame 5. The mounting frame 3 is adjustable by mounting posts 20 on the support frame 5. Each of the rollers 3 has a plurality of spaced-apart flights 25 which evenly spread free flowing minced meat evenly across a conveyor 8 without compaction. The flights 25 of adjacent rollers are offset to achieve an even spread.

Description

A Spreader and Use Thereof The invention relates to a spreader for spreading minced meat for cooking and the use thereof.

Cooked minced meat is widely used in preparing pies and the like. The meat is generally minced in two stages and exists the second stage in the form of a plurality of elongate strands of meat lying one on top of the other. These strands must be spread across a belt before entry to a cooker. Various attempts have been made to provide spreaders for spreading the meat, however, to date, the only effective method of spreading prior to cooking is manually. This, however, is not only costly but also produces minced meat of variable quality.

This invention is directed towards providing a spreader and method of use therefor which will overcome these difficulties .

According to the invention there is provided a minced meat spreader for spreading strands of minced meat across a conveyor comprising a framework and at least two rollers rotatably mounted in the framework, the rollers being spaced-apart longitudinally with respect to the direction of travel of a conveyor and each roller having a plurality of spaced-apart flights extending from the roller to engage and spread the strands of meat across the conveyor, the flights of one roller being offset with respect to the flights of an adjacent roller.

In one embodiment of the invention the flights include a pair of oppositely directed flights substantially centrally disposed along the longitudinal axis of at least one of the rollers. - 2 Preferably the spacing between adjacent flights is from 10 mm to 50 mm, most preferably between 20 mm and 30 mm.

In a preferred arrangement the rollers are driven by a common driver motor. Typically the rollers are chain driven.

In one embodiment of the invention the framework comprises a mounting frame in which the rollers are rotatably mounted and a support frame for the mounting frame. Preferably, the mounting frame is adjustably mounted to the support frame. Typically the mounting frame is height adjustable with respect to the support frame.

In a preferred arrangement the support frame includes means for moving the spreader towards and away from a conveyor, on demand. Typically the means for moving the spreader comprises wheels provided on the support frame.

In a preferred embodiment there are at least three, and most preferably, four spaced-apart spreader rollers.

The invention also provides a method of preparing cooked minced meat in a free flowing form comprising the steps of: mincing the meat in a first stage mincer; delivering the minced meat to a second stage mincer; mincing the meat in the second stage mincer; extracting the minced meat from the second stage mincer through an extrusion plate having a plurality of spaced-apart holes; spreading minced meat from the second stage mincer across a conveyor using the spreader according to the invention; cooking the minced meat on the conveyor in a belt cooker; and cooling the cooked mince.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof, given by way of example only in which :Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a spreader according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the spreader of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal side, partially crosssectional view of the spreader; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the spreader in use; and Fig. 5 is a side, partially cross section view of the spreader in use.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a spreader according to the invention and indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The spreader 1 comprises a framework having a mounting frame 2 in which at least two and in this case four rollers 3 are rotatably mounted, and a support frame 5 for the mounting frame 2. The support frame 5 includes four support legs 6, each carrying a castor 7 for moving the spreader towards and away from a conveyor 8 (see Figs. 4 and 5) on demand.

The mounting frame 2 is of generally rectilinear shape and comprises a pair of elongate side members 10 and end cross members 11. Bearings 13 are attached to the side members 10 for supporting the rollers 3. The rollers 3 are simultaneously operated by a chain driven through a motor and gearbox 15.

The mounting frame 2 is adjustably mounted on the support frame 5 on four screw threaded corner support posts 20. The mounting frame 2 may, for example, be canted as illustrated in Fig. 5 from a high leading end to a lower trailing end for efficient spreading.

Each of the rollers 3 is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart flights 25 which extend outwardly from the rollers to engage and spread strands of minced meat 30 across the conveyor 8. Typically the flights are longitudinally spaced-apart for a distance of between 10 and 50 mm, most preferably approximately 20 to 30 mm. It will be noted that the flights 25 of one roller are offset with respect to the flights of an adjacent roller for efficient spreading of the minced meat 30. It will also be noted that the flights 25 include a pair of oppositely directed flight 29 substantially centrally disposed along the longitudinal axis of at least one and in this case all of the rollers 3.

In use, meat is minced in first and second stage mincers and exits the second stage through an extrusion plate having a plurality of spaced-apart holes in the form of a mound 30 of elongate tubes of minced meat. The motor 15 is operated to drive the rollers 3 positioned over the mound 30 on the conveyor 8. The flights 25, 28 engage the minced meat and evenly spread it across the conveyor 8 which feeds a belt cooker 40 in which the meat is evenly cooked. After cooking the cooked minced meat is chilled in a chiller 45.

The invention provides an apparatus and process for spreading free flowing minced meat in an even layer across the belt of a continuous cooker without compacting the meat. The spread is achieved in a high efficient manner at low capital cost without the necessity for manual intervention. The quality and yield of the cooked free flowing mince is greatly improved because the mince is evenly spread the cooking and chilling takes place uniformly.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying ]5 drawings.

Claims

1. A minced meat spreader for spreading strands of minced meat across a conveyor comprising a framework and at least two rollers rotatably mounted in the framework, the rollers being spaced-apart longitudinally with respect to the direction of travel of a conveyor and each roller having a plurality of spaced-apart flights extending from the roller to engage and spread the strands of meat across the conveyor, the flights of one roller being offset with respect to the flights of an adjacent roller.

2. A spreader as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flights include a pair of oppositely directed flights substantially centrally disposed along the longitudinal axis of at least one of the rollers.

3. A spreader as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the spacing between adjacent flights is from 10 mm to 50 mm.

4. A spreader as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the spacing between adjacent flights is from 20 mm to 30 mm.

5. A spreader as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rollers are driven by a common drive motor. ς

6. A spreader as claimed in claim 5 wherein the rollers are chain driven.

7. A spreader as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the framework comprises a mounting frame

8.

9.

10.

11. 13. 14. 15. in which the rollers are rotatably mounted and a support frame for the mounting frame. A spreader as claimed in claim 7 wherein the mounting frame is adjustably mounted to the support frame. A spreader as claimed in claim 8 wherein the mounting frame is height adjustable with respect to the support frame. A spreader as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the support frame includes means for moving the spreader towards and away from a conveyor, on demand. A spreader as claimed in claim 10 wherein the means for moving the spreader comprises wheels provided on the support frame. A spreader as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there are at least three spaced-apart spreader rollers. A spreader as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there are four spaced-apart spreader rollers. A spreader substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A method of preparing cooked minced meat in a free flowing form comprising the steps of: mincing the meat in a first stage mincer; delivering the minced meat to a second stage mincer; mincing the meat in the second stage mincer; extracting the minced meat from the second 5 stage mincer through an extrusion plate having a plurality of spaced-apart holes; spreading the minced meat from the second stage mincer across a conveyor using the spreader as claimed in claims 1 to 4; 10 cooking the minced meat on the conveyor in a belt cooker; and cooling the cooked mince. 16. A method of preparing cooked minced meat substantially as hereinbefore described with

12. 15 reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. 17. Cooked minced meat whenever prepared using the spreader of any of claims 1 to 14 or using the method of claim 15 or 16.