Patent US3744089A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3744089A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Meat tenderizer
Assignee: Bettcher Industries Inc
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Filing: 1972-02-04
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1992-02-04
Abstract
Abstract As a meat product travels intermittently along a horizontal conveyor belt by fixed increments, a plurality of downwardly directed tenderizing knives having cylindrical shanks and wide, flat, pointed blades at the lower end having inclined side cutting edges carried by a vertically reciprocating ram carriage are moved from a position above the meat downwardly through the meat and then withdrawn upwardly. A stripper carriage associated with the ram carriage follows the latter during its downward stroke leaving a stripper frame resting on top of the meat. The stripper frame is locked in that position until the tenderizing knives move upwardly out of the meat, at which time the stripper frame is unlocked and moves upwardly propelled by the ram carriage. Timing means causes said conveyor belt to move only when said blades are clear of said meat. Means is provided for varying the increment of conveyor belt travel while the machine is running.
Inventors
- 👤 F Fetzer
- 👤 R Miranda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:56
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C9/00; A22C9/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
326 words
In a meat tenderizer, a main frame, a conveyor on said frame having a generally horizontal run for moving said meat, a ram carriage, means mounted on said frame operatively associated with said carriage for guiding the latter for vertical reciprocation toward and away from said conveyor run, means at the upper end of said ram carriage mounting a plurality of downwardly directed meat tenderizing knives having round shanks terminating in thin flat spear-like blades having side cutting edges along the entire length of each of their sides diverging upwardly from their points, means for moving said conveyor to carry a piece of meat on said run thereof to a position beneath said knives, an anvil beneath said conveyor and said knives to support a piece of meat on said conveyor for penetration by said knives, means effective to move said ram carriage downward and to cause said knives to pierce a piece of meat on said conveyor below said knives, said last-named means being effective thereafter to move said ram carriage upward and to withdraw said knives above the meat, a stripper carriage constructed and arranged to move downwardly and upwardly in coordination with like movements of said ram carriage and in the same zone of movement, a stripper plate on said stripper carriage and arranged to provide clear passage of the blades of said knives through it, said stripper plate being positioned to rest upon the upper surface of a piece of meat in position to be pierced by said knives, means for locking said stripper plate relative to said main frame as said knives are withdrawn upwardly by said ram carriage and for releasing said locking means when said blades are clear of the meat, and means timing said conveyor moving means for advancing a piece of meat on said horizontal run thereof a predetermined distance only when said knives are raised to a position clear of said meat by said ram carriage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
326 words
In a meat tenderizer, a main frame, a conveyor on said frame having a generally horizontal run for moving said meat, a ram carriage, means mounted on said frame operatively associated with said carriage for guiding the latter for vertical reciprocation toward and away from said conveyor run, means at the upper end of said ram carriage mounting a plurality of downwardly directed meat tenderizing knives having round shanks terminating in thin flat spear-like blades having side cutting edges along the entire length of each of their sides diverging upwardly from their points, means for moving said conveyor to carry a piece of meat on said run thereof to a position beneath said knives, an anvil beneath said conveyor and said knives to support a piece of meat on said conveyor for penetration by said knives, means effective to move said ram carriage downward and to cause said knives to pierce a piece of meat on said conveyor below said knives, said last-named means being effective thereafter to move said ram carriage upward and to withdraw said knives above the meat, a stripper carriage constructed and arranged to move downwardly and upwardly in coordination with like movements of said ram carriage and in the same zone of movement, a stripper plate on said stripper carriage and arranged to provide clear passage of the blades of said knives through it, said stripper plate being positioned to rest upon the upper surface of a piece of meat in position to be pierced by said knives, means for locking said stripper plate relative to said main frame as said knives are withdrawn upwardly by said ram carriage and for releasing said locking means when said blades are clear of the meat, and means timing said conveyor moving means for advancing a piece of meat on said horizontal run thereof a predetermined distance only when said knives are raised to a position clear of said meat by said ram carriage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a meat tenderizer having a ram movable toward and from a piece of meat to be tenderized, a tenderizing knife to be carried by the ram for piercing a piece of meat, said knife comprising a cylindrical shank for attachment to the ram and a relatively wide flat thin spear-like pointed blade provided with cutting edges along the entire length of their two sides diverging from the point in the direction of the shank at one end of said shank, the length of said blade being less than that of said cylindrical shank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a meat tenderizer having a ram movable toward and from a piece of meat to be tenderized, a tenderizing knife to be carried by the ram for piercing a piece of meat, said knife comprising a cylindrical shank for attachment to the ram and a relatively wide flat thin spear-like pointed blade provided with cutting edges along the entire length of their two sides diverging from the point in the direction of the shank at one end of said shank, the length of said blade being less than that of said cylindrical shank.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |