CONTINUOUS MEAT FORMING APPARATUS

• US 3,851,355 A
• Filed: 02/28/1973
• Issued: 12/03/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alvin W. Hughes
• Original Assignee: Alvin W. Hughes
• Inventors: Hughes, Alvin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Application Number:
  US05/336,637
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 17/32 425/444
• US Class Current: 425/556
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 7/0069 Pressing and moulding by means of a drum
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 7/0092 with worms or other rotary mounted members A22C7/0007 takes precedence

Abstract

A meat forming apparatus of the rotatable wheel type including a plurality of cavities disposed about its peripheral surface, wherein freely movable piston means are disposed in each of the cavities, each cavity being generally T-shaped in cross section having an enlarged pocket portion adjacent the peripheral surface of the wheel and a radially extending bore. The pistons also being correspondingly, generally T-shaped in cross section including an enlarged head and a tubular shank are constrained within the cavities yet free to move between the outer and inner positions by means of arm members extending transversely through elongated openings in the wheel. Trip arms disposed outboard of the wheel present cam surfaces which engage the outwardly projecting arms when the wheel rotates to urge the pistons radially outward to reject a molded meat product.

Claims

1. In a meat forming apparatus having a rotatable wheel carried by a central shaft and mounted on an upright framework, said wheel having a plurality of cavities disposed radially about its peripheral surface, piston means disposed in each of said cavities, an arcuate guide having an inlet conduit therein positioned adjacent the peripheral surface of said wheel, a continuous source of meat product connected to said guide inlet for supplying the meat product thereto and means for rotating the wheel, the improvement comprising, the wheel cavities each being generally T-shaped in cross section including an enlarged pocket portion adjacent the peripheral surface of the wheel and a radially extending bore, means defining at least one transverse elongated opening passing through the wheel and intercepting each said bore, said pistons each being correspondingly, generally Tshaped in cross section including an enlarged head and a tubular shank, said shank having a threaded opening therein positioned adjacent to said transverse elongated opening, an arm member having a threaded end disposed in said elongated opening and threadably attached to the piston shank, said arm projecting axially, outwardly from said wheel, means including a trip arm carried by the framework adjacent one side of the wheel and having a cam surface thereon adapted to be engaged by said outwardly projecting arms when the wheel rotates thereby urging the pistons connected to said arms radially outward to eject a molded meat product from said mold cavities.

2. A meat forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wheel includes a second elongated opening opposite said other elongated transverse opening for each cavity and a second arm member and trip arm are disposed on the other side of said wheel.

3. A meat forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said central shaft is journably mounted on the upright framework with split pillow boxes, said split pillow boxes having removable upper portions for installing and removing the wheel with respect to the remaining portion of the pillow boxes.

4. A meat forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the Guide includes one end fixably supported to the frame, a generally U-shaped bracket connected to said frame adjacent the other end of said guide and adjustment means connected to said bracket bearing against said other end of the guide for varying the clearance between the guide and the wheel periphery.