SE440173B - ROOTABLE DRUM, SPECIAL FOR TREATMENT OF FOOD - Google Patents

Description

8106Ûlæ0-2 10 15 20 25 30 35 2 increase the yield of ham after cooking by 5-7%. Tumbling of beef thigh pieces or turkey breasts results in a condition that allows several pieces to be stuffed into containers or into pre-cooked molds. After cooling, the agglomerated meat can be sliced into thin slices without falling apart. Tumbling or massage also leads to other benefits, such as improved color uniformity, tenderness, suppleness, shrinkage control and reduced cooking losses.

Light, soft meats, such as pork and chicken, are usually massaged, while dark, firm meats, such as beef, sheep and turkey, are tumbled. The tumbling involves the effect of "shock energy" on muscles of the type that would occur if the meat were to fall from the upper part of a rotating drum or if the meat was hit with paddles or baffles.

Massage is a physically less violent process and involves "frictional energy", arising from rubbing one meat surface against another, or against a smooth surface in a container.

Known apparatus for such massage include vertical paddle massagers, described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,038,426 and 3,934,860. a treatment area. The tanks are emptied by tipping the entire unit with hydraulic devices. Such paddle massagers are not suitable for bone-containing ham due to product damage and are almost exclusively for the treatment of boneless ham. Even with such boneless products, the rotating paddles or blades drag the products through the bulk. This results in wear of pieces from the larger pieces of meat.

The vacuum massage devices are of two different types.

One has a drum, which rotates in a horizontal position on driven rollers. Such a unit is internally provided with longitudinal or angularly rotated shelves 10 for lifting and mixing. The drum is loaded from the top while in a vertical position, and then swiveled 900 for tumbling on rollers. Such_massage devices require extensive loading and unloading and unloading operations. An example of such an arrangement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,067.

The second type of vacuum massager is exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,029,824, 4,036,122 and 3,746,316.

This system comprises a Y-shaped container, where one leg of the Y is releasable. The drum rotates about a central axis and tumbles the meat under vacuum from one chamber to the next. The system usually comprises several releasable chambers or round tubes of stainless steel, which are mounted on wheels and are used as product collection and transport containers. Food containers are attached to a transport system for alignment with the Y-drum area. Salt injectors with injection needles may be provided in the two permanent chambers. Due to the height from which pieces of meat fall from chamber to chamber, crushing damage occurs to the meat. If injection needles are used, muscle is also torn.

It is previously known to arrange atmospheric pressure tumblers horizontally, which tumblers are conical at the ends and provided with a manually operated hatch. Internal horizontal shelves provide the necessary lifting of the product. Such porpoises are mainly used for the extraction of the bound protein myosin in the treatment of pre-cooked, cut and shaped beef products.

Vacuum tumble dryer comprises a horizontal drum, which runs on driven rollers and works like a tumble dryer in that it is tipped for emptying. The product is inserted through a foldable chute, located at the center of the drum. The gutter is swung out of the way and a vacuum hatch is placed over the insertion opening during the treatment.

Various other devices developed for other purposes may have been used by the meat processing industry, such as belt mixers with helical paddles mounted on a central shaft of a cylinder used in the chemical industry, and small tipping drums of the concrete mixer type, but none of these devices should have been considered satisfactory as they have not been successful.

In the field of chewing food pieces, there is thus a need for such an apparatus and such a method of food processing, which can bring about a soft, slow rolling or massage of the food pieces.

More specifically, when treating meat, it is necessary to reduce the crushing of the product to a minimum as well as to reduce the situations where static load conditions can cause tearing or separation. In the case of vacuum tumbling or massage of meat, there is also a need to produce high-quality meat products that are uniformly prepared, have a clear color and are free from crush damage, so that the entire meat structure is intact and firm.

Furthermore, there is a need for a meat massage device with high productivity and which enables rapid treatment of slaughtered animal bodies, so that the time during which the muscles contract and rigor mortis sets in is reduced. Thus, there is a need for a massage device that requires shorter wastage time during which the saline solution would penetrate only through osmosis.

There is also a need for a treatment apparatus which can operate as a massaging device and also as one unlike the known devices, such as tumblers, are either tumblers or massage devices. On such a composite unit, the requirement is made to be able to massage at low speed and dynamically tumble at higher speed, where a required physical abrasion is desirable.

There are additional requests with regard to reduced capital costs, energy costs and handling costs, reduced work space and maintenance. Furthermore, you want an appliance that is more self-cleaning than the previously known appliances.

According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus and method for kneading a plurality of substantially entire food pieces in a rotatable drum with a helical flange assembly mounted around the inner wall between a closed end and an open end of the drum. When the drum is rotated, the food pieces are kneaded by contact with each other, whereby the type and extent of the kneading can be varied by changing the speed and direction of rotation of the drum. Furthermore, according to the invention, a hatch is provided for the open end of the drum, and, in certain preferred embodiments of the invention, a means for vacuum suction in the drum during the treatment.

The invention also takes into account different requirements for the treatment of food products, such as mixing different ingredients for an end product, cooking food products and supplying heat by steam injection or otherwise, adding flavorings to the drum, etc., either under atmospheric pressure, vacuum or overpressure.

In the hatched embodiments of the invention there is a hatch operating mechanism which comprises clamping or gripping means for releasably gripping and releasing a shaft projecting from the side of the hatch. There is an arcuate movable arm mounted around anchoring means, which is hinged on a support placed next to the drum. This is mounted on an extension of the stand of the rotating drum. The clamping member is mounted on the end of the movable arm and is arranged to securely grip the door shaft, until a predetermined vacuum is reached in the drum, which is closed by means of the door. The clamping member can be deactivated, whereby the door and the drum can rotate as a unit without stresses arising on the anchoring member of the door. 8106ÜlfÜ-2 10 l5 20 25 30 35 6 When the vacuum is released and goes to atmospheric pressure, the arm performs an axial movement relative to the axis of rotation of the drum and away from the door. There is thus a delay time before the clamping member again grips the door shaft.

The mechanism comprises a door swing cylinder for actuating the movable arm, and cylinders are arranged for actuating the clamping means. Vacuum sensing switches can be actuated by the cylinders and there is a switching circuit for effecting a predetermined sequential operation of the cylinders of the mechanism relative to the vacuum pressure in the drum.

Adjustment bolts are arranged around the articulated anchorage support, so that the movable member can be adjusted laterally and axially relative to the axis of rotation of the drum. The door can thus be adjusted relative to the mouth of the drum for adaptation to manufacturing tolerances and misalignment which can occur due to wear when the drum rotates on its stand.

The apparatus according to the invention for treating a food product comprises a rotatable drum with a side wall, a closed end and an open end for inserting food pieces into the drum and discharging the food pieces from the drum. The open end is opposite the closed end. A stand for the drum allows drum rotation about a longitudinal axis, which extends between the ends inclined towards the horizontal plane.

The stand is connected to the drum at least around the side wall at a distance from the closed end. A helical flange assembly is mounted on the inside of the side wall of the drum and extends over at least a substantial portion of the length between the closed end and the open end of the drum. There are means for rotationally driving the drum. The helical flange device has such a shape that it causes continuous movement of substantially all the food pieces in the drum during its rotation and a substantial kneading effect is produced on the food. ___._: ...._._...__.._._...___ .. 10 15 20 25 30 35 81Û6Ül + Ü ~ 2 7 the pieces that are kneaded by contact with each other.

In some preferred embodiments of the invention there is a hatch means mounted for movement between a closing position over the open end of the drum and a position at a distance from the open end, which hatch means is arranged to provide an airtight seal of the open end of the drum, in its closed permits.

According to the invention, there is further provided a hatch overhead mechanism for a hatch for the mouth of the drum, the drum being mounted for rotation on a stand about an axis which passes substantially centrally through the mouth of the drum, and the mechanism being arranged for mounting on support means adjacent the drum stand. The mechanism comprises an anchoring means, movable means, extending from the anchoring means and arranged to move the door between a closed position over the mouth of the drum and an open position at a distance from the mouth, wherein clamping means between the door and the movable the means are arranged to release the movable means from the door, when the door is in its closed position over the mouth.

The invention is described in more detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus, illustrating the drum partly in section.

Fig. 2 is an end view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating the drum from the open end with the lid closed at the end. Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view, illustrating details of a first embodiment of the door and further illustrating, in broken lines, the door in the open position. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional side view illustrating the reinforcing flange at the door, which flange lies around the open end of the drum. Fig. S is a sectional end view through the drum taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the open end of the drum. Fig. 6 is a sectional end view through the drum taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the closed end of the drum. Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional end view through a wing of the flange device in the drum i, _._.__...._._.___......... ..., _..... ___. 81060110-2 10 20 20 25 30 35 8 and illustrates the connection of the wing to the side wall of the drum. Pig 8 is a detailed sectional side view illustrating a port in the side wall of the drum. Fig. 9 is an end view of a door operating mechanism in a second embodiment of a door for a rotatable drum, the hinge anchorage of the mechanism being shown in section, and the figure also showing the cylinders for operating the clamping means of the mechanism. Fig. 10 is a side view of the door maneuvering mechanism of Fig. 9 and illustrates a partial view of the door, a door swing cylinder and piston for the movable arm together with solenoid vacuum valves for operating the door swing cylinder and cylinders for the clamping means. Fig. 11 is a top view of the door operating mechanism of Fig. 9 and illustrates a portion of the rotating drum with the door over the mouth of the drum and with the movable arm and door swing cylinder located on the side of support means adjacent to the rotating drum, and the figure also shows in broken lines the door in open position.

The invention is first described with reference to the embodiment in Figures 1-8.

The apparatus for kneading a plurality of substantially whole, cohesive food pieces, such as pieces of meat, comprises a rotatable stainless steel drum 10, which has a glass bead-blasted finish and is mounted on a sloping shaft supported by stands l1 and l2. segment l3a, The drum has a side wall 13 consisting of four l3b, l3c and l3d, the segment l3a widening from a closed end 14 to a larger diameter central section l3b and then tapers at segments l3c and l3d gradually towards a smaller The conical diameter of the drum 10 at an open end of the drum 10. closed end 14 has a centrally located, inner, housing l5. This housing 15 is formed by a portion 16 of the end wall 14, a conical inner wall 17 and by a central circular segment 18 within the drum 10. The conical housing 15 defines an area through which a relatively conventional hydrostatic direct drive means 19 can drive Is bonded to the closed end 14 of the drum 10. The drive member 19 is itself mounted on the frame 11 and forms the drum mounting bearing axially at the closed end 14 of the drum 10.

The frame 12 is placed around the side wall 13 at a distance from the closed end 14 and thereby forms a further storage device for the drum 10. At the top of the frame 12 there are rollers 20, on which a groove 21 on the side wall 13d runs. In this way, the drum is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, which is inclined to the horizontal plane by about 10-150, preferably 120.

The drum 10 has an open end 22, which is closable by means of a door 23. Flange means are mounted on the inside of the side wall 13 and extend substantially the entire length of the drum 10, between the closed end 14 and the open end 22. The flange means are defined by two helical wings 24, which are 1800 phase-shifted relative to each other and are mounted on the inside of the side wall 13 of the drum 10. The angle of inclination of the wing 24 is so determined relative to the side wall segments 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d, the pieces or food product 25 in the drum 10 a first direction food towards the closed end 14 of the drum 10. Rotation in the opposite direction causes a control of the contents 25 towards the open end 22, and when the door 23 is open, out through the open end of the drum 10. The pitch angle in the central areas 13b and 13c of the drum 10 is about 260 and is slightly smaller at the emptying section 13d of the side wall 13 due to the decreasing diameter of the side wall 13. the wings 24 meet the conical wall 17 at the closed end 14 at substantially right angles, and this is achieved by means of lips 26 which are substantially perpendicular to the normal plane section 27 of the wings 24. Such a rectangular meeting between the wings 24 and the wall 17 ensures that the food pieces 25 are not wedged in customer a .1 ';:. = rn.1lr1.1n happen if the wing sections 27 gradually slid into engagement.

The edge 28 of the wings 24 has a thickening 29 to reduce the adverse effect on the food pieces during the rotation of the drum 10 to a minimum. Such an effect could be disintegration of pieces of meat or undesired detachment of pieces of meat from the larger pieces 25. The thickened part 29 is formed by welding a tube 29 on top of the wings 24.

The door 23 is defined by a cup-shaped plate 30.

Centrally through the plate 30 is a port 31 which is connected to a tube 32. Between the port 31 and the interior of the drum 10 there is a screen 33 which prevents the passage of particles from the food pieces to the port 31 and the tube 32. Around the bowl plate 30 there is a circular provided with a circular Flange 34 reinforcing flange 34, channel 35, in which there is a sealing ring 36. has an inwardly beveled edge surface 37, which is arranged to abut against a beveled edge surface 38 on a circular reinforcing flange 39, which is welded to the segment 13d at its end 40, more specifically the open end 22 of the drum 10. The mating chambers 37 and 38 facilitate automatic alignment of the door 23 with the open end 22 so that an airtight seal can be provided together with the sealing ring 36, which engages with the chamfer 38.

In the side wall 13 of the drum 10 there are two ports 54 and 55. These are mutually offset in the side and longitudinal directions. Each port 54 and 55 includes an opening 56 in the side wall 13 and a lid 57, which is arranged to move to and from engagement with the opening 56, in an axial direction, so that effective sealing of the openings 56 can be made. A sealing ring 58 abuts adjacent the mouth 59 around the opening 56. A knob 60 and a cross bar 62 are provided for operating the lids 57.

Mounted around the open end 22 of the drum 10 is a screen 61, which covers the storage rollers 20 and the groove 21 and effectively shields the opening 22 from the parts of the drum and the drive mechanisms 19 and 14 which lie behind the screen 61 in towards the open end 14 of the drum 10.

Attached to the screen 61 is a dispensing hopper 62, so that food pieces 25 discharged from the drum 10 can be conveniently fed to a removal device.

Vacuum can be created in the interior of the drum 10 via the tube 32 I by means of a vacuum pump 41, which is mounted on the frame 42 below the drum 10. The tube 32 has a supply section 43, which is connected to the port 31, and a rotating coupling 44, and a knee piece 45, which is connected to a flexible vacuum hose 46 or the like. A valve may be provided in the tube 32 at any convenient location so that the vacuum pump 41 and the drum 10 may be isolated from or connected to each other as desired. In some cases, the coupling 44 may be removed and, after a suitable vacuum has been drawn through the pipe 32, the valve closed. The vacuum pump 41 is thus isolated from the door 23 and the drum 10.

The door 23 is connected to an arm 47 which projects from and around the conduit section 43 of the tube 32 to a mounting device 48 which is laterally spaced from the side wall 12 of the drum 10. The mounting device 48 for the arm 47 forms a hinge 49 around which the door 23 is movable. By arranging the hinge 49 at a distance from the cup-shaped plate 30, the door 23 is given sufficient flexibility, so that automatic alignment of the door 23 and the open end 22 is facilitated. Extending from the mounting device 48 is a flap 50 which is connected to a piston rod 51 which has an associated cylinder 52. Such a piston / cylinder arrangement can be driven pneumatically by means of supply lines 53 for opening and closing the door 23. For operation of the apparatus, the door 23 is opened and pieces of meat 25 are inserted into the drum 10. If desired, a preparation liquid or the like 63 can also be introduced into the drum to the required level. Alternatively, the cooking liquid 63 can be injected into the pieces of meat 25, before these are inserted in the set direction, l2 in the drum 10.

The door 23 is then closed and the drum is rotated in a first direction, so that a force directed in the direction of the closed end 14 is generated. This massages the pieces of meat 25, until these pieces get the desired properties. The drum can also be rotated in it, whereby, with the door closed, a different and opposite force is exerted on the pieces of meat 25, which are thereby given different properties. In some processes, the drum can be kept still for desired periods of time, thereby imparting further properties to the pieces of meat 25 in the drum 10.

To remove the pieces of meat 25, the door 23 is opened and the drum 10 is rotated in the correct direction so that the pieces of meat 25 are moved upwards towards the open end 22, from which they fall into the funnel 62 and are removed.

In another application of the invention, with the door 23 closed, a suitable vacuum is applied to the drum, which may be up to about 1 atm, by activating the vacuum pump 41. A pressure gauge 64 measures the vacuum in the drum 10. With the rotary coupling 44, the vacuum pump 41 remains connected to the drum 10. In other cases, the vacuum hose 46 can be disengaged from the cover 23. The vacuum improves the properties imparted to the pieces of meat 25 and also increases with which these improved speed is added to the meat. Different treatment methods - different vacuum and pressure levels in the drum, the properties that may require l0.

The apparatus can be supplied, for example, with 800-900 g / l in the drum 10. for meat intended for massage, with and without bones. The pieces 25 are injected with up to 40% preparation saline 63. Apart from seeping in injected saline and a small amount of free saline there is a small amount of floating material in the load. During the massage, all free moisture is absorbed by the meat 25. After the process, the load is more viscous but remains smooth and easy to handle.

U1 10 l5 20 25 30 35 cheese. a1o6o4o ~ 2 13 The appliance can be used for kneading and processing other pieces of food. Examples are massage of citrus products, whereby the fruit is softened before pressing or mashing. Another example is the massage of cheese wheels to bring about homogeneous conditions in Another application is the mixing of food products and various components for food products. The drum can also be used for cooking food products, such as wheat kernels, under pressure, generated by a pressure pump, or under vacuum or atmospheric pressure. Heat can be supplied by steam injection or otherwise. Flavoring additives can also be introduced.

Inspection of the contents of the drum 10 can be performed through the ports 54 and 55. Because these ports are offset on the drum, as shown, different areas of the drum can be inspected. The ports also facilitate flushing of the drum during cleaning, adding a cleaning fluid to the drum, and the ports 54 and 55, as well as the door 23, are closed and the drum is rotated in either or both directions. Thereafter, flushing and emptying takes place through the ports 54 and 55 or through the open end 22, when the drum 10 is rotated in the opposite direction.

Because the ring 36 is mounted in the flange 34 on the door 23, it is possible to remove the ring 36, as a result of which the cleaning of the groove 35 is facilitated and the hygiene requirements are more easily met.

A suitable feed tray is arranged on castors for feeding food pieces 25, such as pieces of meat, into the drum 10, it being convenient for the funnel to have a gutter leading to the open end 22 of the drum 10, thereby avoiding spillage of liquid. which has a high protein content and losses in the final product.

The vacuum pump 41 can be mounted separately from the frame 42. Automatic, programmed operation of the vacuum pump 41 and the hydrostatic drive 19 can be arranged so that suitable operating cycles can be followed. 81060læ0-2 10 20 25 35 'grazing under 14 The advantages of the device include increased productivity with less equipment than previously known devices have for the same productivity. For example, an apparatus according to the invention with 6810 kg capacity is equivalent to nine massage devices with vertical paddle and 770 kg capacity each. While the apparatus of the invention requires vacuum only a 6-7 hour cycle time, a vertical paddle device requires three times as long for the same massaged end product. A system with vacuum tumblers of the Langen type initially described would require two systems to provide the same production capacity.

Under atmospheric pressure, massage takes place for a period of about 18-24 hours. The rotational speed during the massage is normally about 2-4 revolutions / min. Preliminary experiments with the invention have shown that a rapid massage of pieces of meat is possible at about 10 rpm without the product being adversely affected.

The apparatus according to the invention, which works with a soft, slow rolling action or with a faster massage, provides a superior product with minimal damage, regardless of whether it works under vacuum or under atmospheric pressure.

Furthermore, the massager can also tumble around meat or other food pieces at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum at a speed of up to 12 rpm, and this capability and the versatility of the invention is a further significant advantage which contributes to the technology in the field.

Initial capital costs are significantly reduced - costs. which with the invention, as well as the labor and the costs for cleaning the apparatus are reduced, can be done at a rotational speed of about 10-12 rpm.

In various embodiments of the invention, it is possible to vary the pitch angle of the wing 24 in the central areas 13b and 13c of the drum 10 between 200 and 450.

The most desirable angles should be in the vicinity of 250 to 300. A factor which determines the appropriate pitch angle is the inclination of the drum from the horizontal plane, which is also variable according to specific product requirements.

In another embodiment of the invention, it is possible to arrange the ports 54 and 55 only longitudinally or only laterally offset from each other.

The ports 54 and 55 may be in one of the sections 13a, 13b, 13c or 13d of the side wall 13 and they may be located midway between the wings 24.

Instead of maneuvering the door 23 by means of the pneumatic piston / cylinder arrangement 51 and 52, maneuvering can take place hydraulically or by means of some other suitable maneuvering device.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the sealing arrangement between the door 23 and the open end 22 is different. The door 23 is provided with a surface, instead of a flange 34, which engages with the perimeter of the open end 22, and there is a seal 36 between said surface and the perimeter.

In some embodiments of the apparatus, the door is mounted on a support structure which is part of the stand of the drum. Despite the correct alignment between the drum and the door when the appliance is new, it has been found that wear, for example of the rollers on which the drum is supported, or manufacturing tolerances can cause displacement between the drum mouth and the door used to close the drum mouth.

It is essential that this closure is tight so that a vacuum can be created. However, it has been found that the operation of the drum according to the first embodiment (Figs. 1-8) is not always as efficient as desired. As a result of said misalignment, inappropriate stresses can be applied to the mounting mechanism of the drum, and in particular to the hinge of the hatch operating mechanism, which is an extended do] of stntivut, on which the drum rests. 8106M04 10 15 20 25 30 16 In the second embodiment, which is now described with reference to Figs. 9 - 11, there is a door operating mechanism, in which a movable container and the door of the container mouth are aligned so that misalignment due to wear or normal manufacturing tolerances are reduced to a minimum, and distortion is prevented - by the hinge hinge support and other detrimental effects on the hanger operating mechanism suspension device. There are further means for adjusting the position of the door on the drum, so that effective sealing of the door over the mouth of the drum can be achieved.

A door locking mechanism for a door 310 for the mouth 311 of a rotatable drum 312 comprises a clamping device 313. This has a pair of articulated elements 314, which at their one ends form a pair of jaws 315. The jaws 315 are arranged to receive a hollow shaft 316. 312. At a distance through which a vacuum can be created in the drum from the jaws 315, the lever elements 314 have a common pivot point on the end of an extension 318 on an arm 319, which forms part of a movable member 320 for guiding the door 310 from a position , where it closes the mouth 311 of the rotatable drum 312, to a position where it is spaced from the mouth 311.

Between the arm 319 and the extension 318 there is a mounting plate 321, to which a pair of pneumatic cylinders 322 are attached. Extending through the end of the cylinder 322 are pistons 323, which are connected to the free ends 324 of the lever elements 314. The opposite ends 325 of the cylinders 322 are connected to a pneumatic source of power via the hose 326, which are connected to a T-piece 327. The hose 328 is connected to a pressurized gas source via a solenoid valve 329 and a hose 330, as will be discussed later.

The second end 331 of the arm 319, located at a longer distance from the anchoring member 313, is attached to a pipe piece 332, which forms a hinged anchoring member 333 for the door 310. The pipe piece 332 is pivotally mounted around a central hinge pin 334, rotatable about an axis of rotation 335 with the rotation of the drum 312 substantially perpendicular to the axis.

The pin 334 is held in position by means of two sets of four adjusting bolts 336 on the top and four adjusting bolts 336 on the bottom of the pin 334. The bolts 336 are arranged at approximately 900 mutual distances around the pin 334.

The bolts 336 are screwed into a circular support ring 337 and by adjusting the nuts 338 the degree of projection of the bolts 336 in the interior of the pipe piece 332 can be adjusted. The pin 334 in the articulated anchoring member 333 can be moved laterally and axially relative to the axis of rotation 335 of the drum 312. In this way, the direction of the door 310 with the orifice 311 on the drum 312 can be ensured and adjusted according to manufacturing tolerances and wear during drum 312 operation.

The pipe piece 332 together with bushings 339, spacer plates 340 and ring bearing 341 form a composite housing for the articulated mounting anchoring device 333. A bracket arm 342 is attached to a post 344 by means of bolts 343, belonging to the frame 345 of the door operating mechanism. The post 344 forms a part of the frame 345, on which the rotatable drum 312 is mounted. Between the drum 312 and the stand 345 there are rollers and grooves on which the drum 312 can rotate.

Under the anchoring device 333 a bracket 200 is supported, on which the solenoid valve 329 and a solenoid valve 346 are mounted. A hose 347 is connected by means of an angle pipe piece 348 to a door opening port 349 of a door swing cylinder 350. The hose 351 is also connected to the angle pipe piece 348 and is connected to a door closing port 352 on the door door cylinder 350.

The bracket 342 has an end wall 353, in which there is a hole for passing through a shaft 354, which constitutes an extension of the end 355 of the door pivot cylinder 350. The shaft 354 is mounted on tongues 356, attached to the end 355.

Nuts 357 on both sides of the end wall 353 are for t. 810601404. adjusting the position of the shaft 354 and thus for adjusting the relative position of the door swing cylinder 350 relative to the movable arm 320. On this In this way, the limits of movement of the piston 358 are adjustable. As a result, the movement or pressure of the door 310 at the mouth 311 of the drum 312 can be varied as desired.

The end of the coil 358 has an eye 359, through which passes a bolt 360 for holding a pair of tongues 361.

The bolt 360 is fixed by a nut 362. The tongues 361 extend from the side wall or pipe member 332 of the anchoring device 333, and as the piston 358 of the door swing cylinder 350 moves forward and backward, the arm 319 is caused to move between the position where the door 310 closes the mouth 311 on the drum 312 and the position where the door is removed from the mouth 311.

Around the circumference 201 of the door 310 there are separate tongues 202 which fit around the mouth 311 of the drum 312. These tongues 202 help to align the door 310 with the mouth 311, so that if great skew or wear has occurred, collision will occur between the tongues 202 and the outside 201 of the drum 312 wall 364.

The hollow shaft 316 is fixed to the outside 203 of the door 310 by means of a mounting plate 365, which is formed in the door side 203 substantially centrally about the axis of rotation 335 of the drum 312. The end of the hollow shaft 316, arranged for placement on the mounting plate 365, has a matching plate 366 which is secured to the hatch side 203 by means of bolts 367. The opposite end 368 of the hollow shaft 306 has threads 369 for connecting a vacuum generating device. Inside the threads 369 there is a collar 370, between which and a second collar 300 on the shaft 316 there is a space for receiving the jaws 315 between the ends 204 and 205 of the lever elements 314, which grip the hub shaft 316. As shown in Fig. 11 there is there is a small gap 371 of about 6.3 mm between the end of the collar 370 and the end portion 372 of the jaws 315. This gap 371 is present when the door 310 is closed over the mouth door by means of the operating mechanism. And the arm 319 extends to its outermost position, projecting from the piston 358. In this position, the jaws 315 are out of engagement with the outside of the hollow shaft 316.

At the beginning of the operation of the door operating mechanism, the jaws 315 engage the hollow shaft 316 and the door is open. After the drum 312 has been loaded, the vacuum in the drum 312, created by the vacuum pump, reaches the predetermined level of 102 mm Hg, closes, the jaws 315 of the elements 314 leave the shaft 316 under the action of the pistons 323 of the cylinders 322, which forms a unit with the rotatable drum 312. On the vibration The drum shaft 316 can now rotate as well as this way the force, the movement and on the shaft 316 and the hinge mechanism in the anchoring device 333 on the post 344 over the arm 319 are reduced to a minimum. Effective sealing of the drum at the mouth 311 and the door 310 is maintained in this way at a minimum of wear on the shaft 316 and the anchoring device 333. the relief 350, the shaft 316, the arm 319 pivots further inwards A residual pressure remains in the door pivot cycle so that after releasing the jaws 315 from towards the door side 203 under the influence of the residual pressure in the door swing cylinder 350. This creates the 6.3 mm gap between the end 372 of the jaws 315 and the collar 370.

In the event of a malfunction in the vacuum creation in the drum 312, the collar 370 ensures that the jaws 315 are retained around the shaft 316 so that the fixed shaft 316 is not prevented from rotating, the collar 370 and the jaws 315 prevent the shaft 316 and the door 310 from being separated from the arm 319.

If the rotatable drum wears during operation, all necessary adjustments as to the position of the door 310 relative to the rotatable drum 312 can be made by displacing the adjusting bolts 336 on the anchoring device 333, so that the door can be displaced laterally or axially relative to the rotatable shaft 335.

When the treatment is completed, the vacuum is lifted and at about 102 mm Hg the door pivot piston 215 causes the arm 319 to pivot and the ends 372 of the jaws 315 to engage the collar 370. After a second delay, the cylinders 322 are activated to effect gripping of the hollow shaft 316 by the jaws 315, and when the pressure in the rotatable drum has been reduced to substantially atmospheric pressure, the arm 319, under the influence of the drum pivot piston 350, pulls the door 310 from the mouth 311 of the drum.

Between the door 310 and the drum mouth 311 there is an O-ring, which provides sealing of the closed drum.

The drum 312 has on the inside 205 of its casing wall 364 helical wings or flanges, which provide treatment of the contents of the drum, which may be food pieces such as pieces of meat. The shaft 335 of the drum 312 is in this embodiment of the invention inclined in relation to the horizontal plane, so that the rotation of the drum takes place in an inclined position. The other end of the drum 312 relative to the other end of the mouth 311 is a closed end.

Although in the described embodiment of the invention the shaft 316 is hollow and used for creation, it is possible to make the shaft 312 at a suitable central location on the shaft at the drum closed by vacuum in the drum 312, 316 compact and to create vacuum in the drum end. Instead of a shaft 316 for receiving the clamping means 313, an alternative receiving means on the door can be arranged for engagement with the clamping means 313. Although a time period of one second is described above between the movement of the jaws 315 for abutment against the collar 370 and the time between the jaws 315 and the shaft 316, certain operating intervals can be provided for different operating intervals prior to the operation.

In an alternative embodiment, where the drum operates under atmospheric pressure or overpressure, a suitable locking device can be used to keep the door open from mounting means free of drum.

The field of application of the hatch mechanism according to the invention also includes drums other than food treatment drums.

Claims (29)

8106Ûlæ0-2 10 15 20 25 30, 22 -PÅTENTKRAV Apparatus for treating a plurality of pieces of a piece of food product, characterized by a) a rotatable drum (10) having a side wall (13), a closed end (14), and an open end for inserting the food pieces in the drum and for discharging the food pieces from the drum, which open end is opposite the closed end, b) a stand (ll) for the drum arranged to allow rotation of the drum about a longitudinal axis extending between the ends of the drum inclined towards the horizontal plane, which stand is connected to the drum at least around its side wall (13d) at a distance from the closed end, c) a helical flange device (24) mounted on the inside of the side wall of the drum and extending over at least a substantial part of the length between the closed end and the open end of the drum and d) a device (19) for rotationally driving the drum, which flange device has such a design, Z that it causes continuous movement of essential n Ä all the food pieces in the drum during rotation, i and a significant kneading effect is achieved on the food pieces which are kneaded by contact with each other. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by a door (23) mounted for movement between a closing position over the open end of the drum and a position away from the open end. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized by a movable arm (320), arranged for connection to the door so that it can be closed and opened, which arm has a clamping device (313). 81060læD-2 23 for selective coupling and disengagement of the door with or from the movable arm, which clamping device is selectively operable for coupling with or disengagement from the door, when the door is in the closed position, so that the door and the drum can form a from the movable arm substantially free unit and the door can rotate substantially freely, together with the drum. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the clamping device is arranged to be coupled to the door, when this is in the closed position and there is then a vacuum in the drum which is below a predetermined vacuum level, and which clamping device is arranged to is released from the door, when the vacuum is above said predetermined vacuum level. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by a port (31) for the interior of the drum, which port is arranged to allow a change in pressure in the drum in relation to the atmospheric pressure and is connected to a pipe ( 43) for connection to a vacuum or overpressure pump (41). Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the door is arranged in the door. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 and 6, characterized by a valve in the pipe (43) for enabling the door to be opened and closed. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 - 7, characterized by a rotary coupling (44) in the pipe for enabling continuous connection of the pump to the port during the rotation of the drum. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 - 8, characterized in that the pressure change is in the range up to substantially 1 atm. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 - 9, characterized in that the door has a cup-shaped plate (30) extending outwards from the drum and is arranged to form an airtight seal with the open end of the drum, when this is closed. 81Û60læ0-2 10 15 20 25 30 35 24 11. ll. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 - 9, characterized by a chute (35) around the edge of the door, which chute contains a sealing ring (36) for matching attachment to the edge of the open end of the drum. _ Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the edge of the door, which contains the gutter (35), is bevelled relative to the plane of the door and that the mounting edge on the open end of the door has a matching bevel, whereby alignment of the door with the drum open end is facilitated. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized by a sieve (33) mounted on the door, which is located inside the door ~ in the door and arranged to prevent the passage of food from the drum to the pipe (43). ' Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the movable arm projects from the door and connects it to a bracket (48) located laterally from the drum side wall, which forms a hinge (49) for the door. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 - 5 and 14, characterized by a driven actuator (52), which activates the movable arm of the door for door movement between closed and open positions. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized by at least one port (55) located in the side wall of the drum. Apparatus according to claim 16, chained by at least two n (e, k) n ports (54, 55) located in the side wall of the drum, which are offset relative to each other. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 - 17, wherein the flange device in relation to the feature (24) comprises at least two, mutually offset wings (24). Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the lateral edge (29) of the wings relative to the side wall of the drum is thickened, thereby reducing the harmful effect of the wings on the food pieces or product to a minimum. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 - 18, characterized in that the flange device has a lip section (26) which extends substantially perpendicular to the normal direction of the flange device and which meets the closed end of the drum at a substantially right angle. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the product being treated comprises pieces of meat (25) which are massaged by kneading effect. ' Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized by means for supplying heat to the drum during food processing. 23. A method of treating a plurality of pieces of a piece-shaped food product, characterized in that a) the food pieces are inserted into a rotatable drum, which is mounted with an inclined shaft and has a helical flange device on its inner surface, b) the drum rotated in a first direction about the axis, whereby the food pieces contact each other, the rotation of the drum and the action of the flange device tending to pull the food pieces inwards into the drum and exerting a continuous kneading effect on substantially all the food pieces over the whole drum, and reversed, for discharging the food pieces from the drum under the influence of the helical flange device. 24. A method according to claim 23, k n a n e t e c k - n a t thereof, 25. Add some of it to the atmospheric pressure. that the drum is closed with a door. according to claim 24, characterized in that the pressure in the drum changes in relation to MÛGOIefO-Z 10 - 26. 26. A method according to claim 24, characterized in that the pressure is reduced to a level below the atmospheric pressure. 27. A method according to any one of claims 23 - 26, characterized in that a treatment liquid is added to the food thickeners, 28. A method according to any one of claims 23-27, characterized in that the drum is supplied with heat during the food processing. 29. A method according to any one of claims 23-27, characterized in that the food pieces comprise pieces of meat.