US3687058A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine for injecting fluids into meat products
Assignee: Marel Inc
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Filing: 1970-02-12
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Granted: 1972-08-29
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Expires: 1990-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A machine for injecting fluids into meat products comprising a table having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon adapted to convey the meat product from one end to the other. A pair of reciprocating arms are pivotally connected at one end thereof to opposite sides of the table adjacent one end thereof. A power means is provided for causing the reciprocating arms to be moved upwardly and downwardly with respect to the conveyor means. A power means is also provided for coordinating the movement of the conveyor with the movement of the reciprocating arms so that the meat product is successively moved in predetermined increments on the conveyor. A fluid manifold is rigidly secured to the other ends of the reciprocating arms and extends therebetween across the table transverse to the direction of travel of the meat product. The manifold comprises a plurality of vertically movable injector needles mounted in bores formed therein which are adapted to pierce the meat product and inject fluid thereinto when the reciprocating arms are moved downwardly with respect to the conveyor. The manifold has a manifold cover provided thereon which is in communication with a source of the fluid to be injected. Valving and actuating means therefor is provided which is adapted to cause the fluid to be discharged from the injector needles only when the manifold and needles have been lowered with respect to the meat product by the reciprocating arms thereby conserving the fluid. The design of the injector needles is such that the crystallization of salts thereon is prevented thereby preventing plugging of the needles. The bore extending through the injector needles is also designed so as to prevent plugging thereof. An accumulator means is also disclosed to provide a greater volume of fluid to the injector needles in an instantaneous fashion.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray T Townsend
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:09
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B4/00; A23B4/26; A23B4/28; A22; A22C; A22C17/00; A22C17/0053; A22C9/00; A22C9/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
364 words
A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a meat product support means, a fluid manifold movably mounted adjacent said support means, a first power means operatively connected to said fluid manifold for reciprocating said manifold towards or away from a meat product on said support means, said fluid manifold being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, and having a plurality of injecting needles extending outwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat produce adjacent thereto when said manifold is moved towards said meat product, valve means operatively connected to said fluid manifold and said fluid under pressure for selectively supplying said fluid to said injecting needles, said valve means being movable from closed to open positions, said valve means permitting said fluid to be supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its open position, said valve means preventing said fluid from being supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its closed position, and valve control means for selectively opening and closing said valve means, said valve control means only opening said valve means when said manifold is near its position of maximum displacement towards said meat product, said valve control means comprising an actuating rod secured to said support means, said valve means being mounted on said manifold for movement therewith, said valve means comprising a first fluid compartment in fluid communication with the said source of fluid pressure, a second fluid compartment in fluid communication with said needles, a valve seat means between said first and second fluid compartments, a movable valve member adapted to close said valve seat means when in a first position to prevent fluid communication between said first and second fluid compartments, said valve member adapted to open said valve seat means when in a second position to permit fluid communication between said first and second fluid compartments, said valve member being normally positioned in its said first position, said actuating rod operatively engaging said valve member when said manifold and valve means reaches a predetermined position of maximum displacement of said manifold towards said meat product to open said valve member with respect to said valve seat means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
364 words
A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a meat product support means, a fluid manifold movably mounted adjacent said support means, a first power means operatively connected to said fluid manifold for reciprocating said manifold towards or away from a meat product on said support means, said fluid manifold being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, and having a plurality of injecting needles extending outwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat produce adjacent thereto when said manifold is moved towards said meat product, valve means operatively connected to said fluid manifold and said fluid under pressure for selectively supplying said fluid to said injecting needles, said valve means being movable from closed to open positions, said valve means permitting said fluid to be supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its open position, said valve means preventing said fluid from being supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its closed position, and valve control means for selectively opening and closing said valve means, said valve control means only opening said valve means when said manifold is near its position of maximum displacement towards said meat product, said valve control means comprising an actuating rod secured to said support means, said valve means being mounted on said manifold for movement therewith, said valve means comprising a first fluid compartment in fluid communication with the said source of fluid pressure, a second fluid compartment in fluid communication with said needles, a valve seat means between said first and second fluid compartments, a movable valve member adapted to close said valve seat means when in a first position to prevent fluid communication between said first and second fluid compartments, said valve member adapted to open said valve seat means when in a second position to permit fluid communication between said first and second fluid compartments, said valve member being normally positioned in its said first position, said actuating rod operatively engaging said valve member when said manifold and valve means reaches a predetermined position of maximum displacement of said manifold towards said meat product to open said valve member with respect to said valve seat means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said valve member has a shaft secured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom which is engageable by said actuating rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The machine of claim 2 wherein said first shaft movably extends downwardly through a bore in said valve means, said first shaft having seal means thereon engaging said bore to prevent fluid from escaping from said valve means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
244 words
A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a meat product support means, a fluid manifold movably mounted adjacent said support means, a first power means opEratively connected to said fluid manifold for reciprocating said manifold towards or away from a meat product on said support means, said fluid manifold being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, and having a plurality of injecting needles extending outwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product adjacent thereto when said manifold is moved towards said meat product, valve means operatively connected to said fluid manifold and said fluid under pressure for selectively supplying said fluid to said injecting needles, said valve means being movable from closed to open positions, said valve means permitting said fluid to be supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its open position, said valve means preventing said fluid from being supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its closed position, and valve control means for selectively opening and closing said valve means, said valve control means only opening said valve means when said manifold is near its position of maximum displacement towards said meat product, each of said needles including opposite ends and a fluid bore extending therethrough, said fluid bore having a fluid intake orifice at one end and a fluid discharge opening at its other end, said intake orifice having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said fluid bore.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
244 words
A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a meat product support means, a fluid manifold movably mounted adjacent said support means, a first power means opEratively connected to said fluid manifold for reciprocating said manifold towards or away from a meat product on said support means, said fluid manifold being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, and having a plurality of injecting needles extending outwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product adjacent thereto when said manifold is moved towards said meat product, valve means operatively connected to said fluid manifold and said fluid under pressure for selectively supplying said fluid to said injecting needles, said valve means being movable from closed to open positions, said valve means permitting said fluid to be supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its open position, said valve means preventing said fluid from being supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its closed position, and valve control means for selectively opening and closing said valve means, said valve control means only opening said valve means when said manifold is near its position of maximum displacement towards said meat product, each of said needles including opposite ends and a fluid bore extending therethrough, said fluid bore having a fluid intake orifice at one end and a fluid discharge opening at its other end, said intake orifice having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said fluid bore.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The machine of claim 4 wherein each of said needles includes a tapered bore portion extending from said intake orifice to said fluid bore, said tapered bore portion increasingly tapering outwardly from the diameter of said intake orifice to the diameter of said fluid bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The machine of claim 4 wherein said fluid intake orifice has a diameter substantially that of said one end of said needle to prevent salt crystallization on said one end of said needle around said intake orifice.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said first compartment is fluidly connected to a check-valve means by a first fluid conduit, said check-valve means being fluidly connected to a fluid reservoir by a second fluid conduit, said fluid reservoir being fluidly connected to a fluid pump by a third fluid conduit, said fluid pump being fluidly connected to said first compartment of said valve means by a fourth conduit, said fluid being recirculated to said reservoir through said check-valve means when said valve member is closed, said fluid being supplied to said manifold when said valve member is open.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said valve means includes a first surge chamber formed therein having first and second ends, a piston movably mounted in said first surge chamber, one of said surge chamber ends being in communication with said first fluid compartment, the other of said ends of said surge chamber being in communication with a source of air having a predetermined pressure, said piston being moved towards said other end against the air pressure therein by fluid pressure in said first fluid compartment when said valve member is closed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
90 words
The machine of claim 8 wherein a check valve means is in communication with said first fluid compartment and said source of fluid pressure, said check valve means being normally positioned to cause fluid to be supplied to said first fluid compartment, said check valve means being movable to a second position upon the fluid pressure in said first fluid compartment reaching a predetermined level to cause the fluid to be recirculated to said source of fluid pressure when said predetermined fluid pressure is attained in said first fluid compartment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
154 words
The machine of claim 9 wherein said check valve means comprises body portion having first and second ends with a bore extending therebetween, a plunger movably mounted in said bore and being movable from first to second positions, said plunger being yieldably maintained in said first position, one end of said bore being in communication with said source of fluid pressure and with said first fluid compartment, said body portion having a conduit Means in communication with said bore between the ends thereof, said conduit means being in operative communication with the upstream side of said source of fluid pressure, said plunger moving to its said second position upon the fluid pressure in said first fluid compartment reaching said predetermined level so that the conduit means is in operative communication with said one end of said bore to permit the fluid to be recirculated to the upstream side of said source of fluid pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The machine of claim 10 wherein said second other end of said bore is in communication with a source of predetermined air pressure which normally maintains said plunger in its said first position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
217 words
A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a meat product support means, a fluid manifold movably mounted adjacent said support means, a first power means operatively connected to said fluid manifold for reciprocating said manifold towards or away from a meat product on said support means, said fluid manifold being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, and having a plurality of injecting needles extending outwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product adjacent thereto when said manifold is moved towards said meat product, valve means operatively connected to said fluid manifold and said fluid under pressure for selectively supplying said fluid to said injecting needles, said valve means being movable from closed to open positions, said valve means permitting said fluid to be supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its open position, said valve means preventing said fluid from being supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its closed position, and valve control means for selectively opening and closing said valve means, said valve control means only opening said valve means when said manifold is near its position of maximum displacement towards said meat product, said fluid manifold having a one-way air relief valve connected thereto for relieving air in said manifold to the atmosphere.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
217 words
A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a meat product support means, a fluid manifold movably mounted adjacent said support means, a first power means operatively connected to said fluid manifold for reciprocating said manifold towards or away from a meat product on said support means, said fluid manifold being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, and having a plurality of injecting needles extending outwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product adjacent thereto when said manifold is moved towards said meat product, valve means operatively connected to said fluid manifold and said fluid under pressure for selectively supplying said fluid to said injecting needles, said valve means being movable from closed to open positions, said valve means permitting said fluid to be supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its open position, said valve means preventing said fluid from being supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its closed position, and valve control means for selectively opening and closing said valve means, said valve control means only opening said valve means when said manifold is near its position of maximum displacement towards said meat product, said fluid manifold having a one-way air relief valve connected thereto for relieving air in said manifold to the atmosphere.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
268 words
A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a meat product support means, a fluid manifold movably mounted adjacent said support means, a first power means operatively connected to said fluid manifold for reciprocating said manifold towards or away from a meat product on said support means, said fluid manifold being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, and having a plurality of injecting needles extending outwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product adjacent thereto when said manifold is moved towards said meat product, valve means operatively connected to said fluid manifold and said fluid under pressure for selectively supplying said fluid to said injecting needles, said valve means being movable from closed to open positions, said valve means permitting said fluid to be supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its open position, said valve means preventing said fluid from being supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its closed position, and valve control means for selectively opening and closing said valve means, said valve control means only opening said valve means when said manifold is near its position of maximum displacement towards said meat product, each of said injecting needles being slidably mounted in a bore formed in said fluid manifold, said injecting needles normally being maintained in an extended position, with respect to said fluid manifold, by the fluid pressure in said fluid manifold when said valve means is in its open position, said needles being slidably movable inwardly in said bores upon engagement with a hard object in said meat to prevent damage thereto.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
268 words
A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a meat product support means, a fluid manifold movably mounted adjacent said support means, a first power means operatively connected to said fluid manifold for reciprocating said manifold towards or away from a meat product on said support means, said fluid manifold being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, and having a plurality of injecting needles extending outwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product adjacent thereto when said manifold is moved towards said meat product, valve means operatively connected to said fluid manifold and said fluid under pressure for selectively supplying said fluid to said injecting needles, said valve means being movable from closed to open positions, said valve means permitting said fluid to be supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its open position, said valve means preventing said fluid from being supplied under pressure to said injecting needles when in its closed position, and valve control means for selectively opening and closing said valve means, said valve control means only opening said valve means when said manifold is near its position of maximum displacement towards said meat product, each of said injecting needles being slidably mounted in a bore formed in said fluid manifold, said injecting needles normally being maintained in an extended position, with respect to said fluid manifold, by the fluid pressure in said fluid manifold when said valve means is in its open position, said needles being slidably movable inwardly in said bores upon engagement with a hard object in said meat to prevent damage thereto.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |