Meat press

Claim 2

A press for compressing frozen meat into an elongate compressed body of uniform cross-section throughout its length comprising: a base; a one-piece lower die removably mounted on the base comprising an elongate block having an upwardly opening recess extending from one end thereof to the other, said recess being of uniform cross-section throughout its length corresponding at least in part to part of said body cross-section; means mounted on the base removably engageable in openings in the lower die for removably securing the lower die in place on the base, this last-said means comprising a block on each side of the lower die secured to said base, each said block having a screw threaded therein with the inner end of the screw engageable within a respective opening in the side of said lower die, each screw having means at its outer end for manual operation thereof; vertically movable rods extending up from the base in planes at opposite sides of the lower die; means in the base for moving said rods up and down; a head plate secured to the upper ends of the rods above the lower die; a one-piece upper die cooperable with the lower die comprising an elongate block having a downwardly opening recess extending from one end thereof to the other, and being of uniform crosssection throughout its length corresponding to the remainder of said compressed meat body cross-section, said upper die being adapted to fit within the lower die; means removably mounting said upper die on the bottom of the head plate in alignment with the lower die for movement with the head plate between a raised open position above the lower die and a lowered operative position entered in the lower die; means removably secured to the front face of said upper die closing off the forward ends of the recesses in said upper die and in said lower die when the upper die is in its said lowered operative position; a ram movable forward from a retracted position within said recesses when said upper die is in its said operative position to compress the meat between the ram and said recess closing means uniformly to shape the meat to the cross-section of the cooperable recesses and movable farther forward to eject the shaped meat from the press when said upper die is opened; means for receiving said shaped meat ejected from said press; and means for driving said ram and said means for moving said rods.

Claim 3

A press as set forth in claim 1 having a rigid vertical member at the rearward end of saId lower die secured to said base, said vertical member carrying at least one dowel pin extending into an opening in the rear end of said lower die.

Claim 4

A press as set forth in claim 2 wherein said vertical member carries threaded means engageable with the rear face of said lower die.

Claim 5

A press as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means in said base for moving said rods comprises a yoke, the bottom ends of said rods being secured thereto, a hydraulic cylinder for said yoke having its rod end secured to the bottom of said yoke and a piston rod extending up through an opening in said yoke having its upper end secured to said base.

Claim 6

A press as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for driving the ram comprises a hydraulic cylinder for said ram and mounting means secured to the base having a vertical member adjacent the rear face of said lower die carrying said ram cylinder extending rearward therefrom, and a piston rod extending from a piston in the ram cylinder through an opening in said vertical surface and carrying the ram at its forward end for movement lengthwise within the recesses of said dies.

Claim 7

A press as set forth in claim 6 wherein said driving means further comprises a hydraulic system for selectively supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said yoke cylinder and to said ram cylinder for effecting movement of the upper die between its raised open position and its lowered operative position and for effecting movement of the ram to compress the meat and to subsequently raise the upper die from its lowered operative position to its raised open position, to eject the meat from the press, and to return the ram to its retracted position, said hydraulic system comprising a pair of manual control valves, one for operation by one hand of an operator and the other for operation by the other hand of the operator, each valve having a neutral position, a first operating position, and a second operating position, and each being returned to neutral on release from either operating position, and means operable only in response to movement of both valves to said first operating position for moving the upper die from its raised open position to its lowered operative position and for extending said ram for compressing the meat, and operable only in response to movement of both valves to said second operating position for raising said upper die from its lowered operative position to its raised open position, for extending the ram farther to eject said meat from the dies onto said receiving means and for then retracting said ram, and the last-said means being inoperable when either or both of said valves are in their respective neutral positions.

Claim 8

A press as set forth in claim 6 wherein the pressure in said hydraulic system is increased in response to movement of the upper die to its lowered operative position to permit said yoke cylinder to exert sufficient downward force on the upper die to maintain it in its lowered operative position as the meat is compressed by said ram, and wherein said hydraulic system further includes a sequence valve for directing hydraulic fluid under pressure to said ram cylinder for movement of the ram to compress the meat only after said yoke cylinder has moved the upper die down to its lowered operative position.

Claim 9

A press for compressing frozen meat into an elongate compressed body of uniform cross-section throughout its length comprising: a base; a lower die mounted on the base having an upwardly opening recess extending from one end thereof to the other, said recess being of uniform cross-section throughout its length corresponding at least in part to part of said body cross-section; an upper die cooperable with the lower die having a downwardly opening recess extending from one end thereof to the other, and being of uniform cross-section throughout its length corresponding to the remainder of said compressed meat body cross-section; means mounting said upper die for movement between a raised open position above the lower die and a lowered operative position cooperable with the lower die; means for closing off the forward ends of the recesses in said upper die and in said lower die when the upper die is in its said lowered operative position; a ram movable forward from a retracted position within said recesses when said upper die is in its said operative position to compress the meat between the ram and said recess closing means uniformly to shape the meat to the cross-section of the cooperable recesses and movable farther forward to eject the shaped meat from the press when said upper die is opened; means for driving said ram and said means for moving said rods; and means for receiving said shaped meat ejected from said press, said receiving means comprising a delivery chute extending forward of the lower die for receiving said shaped meat as it is ejected from the lower die, said chute being substantially at the level of the lowermost surface of the recess in said lower die, said chute having guard means adjacent the forward end of said dies for preventing a press operator from placing his hand between said dies from the front thereof, said guard means comprising a tunnel enclosing the rear portion of said chute adjacent said dies, said tunnel having a oneway door at its end adjacent the dies opening inwardly of the tunnel, said door being movable between a closed position blocking the tunnel and an open position by the meat as it is ejected from the dies onto the chute, said door being biased to swing closed as the block of meat is moved clear of the tunnel.

Claim 10

A press for compressing frozen meat into an elongate compressed body of uniform cross-section throughout its length comprising: a base; a lower die mounted on the base having an upwardly opening recess extending from one end thereof to the other, said recess being of uniform cross-section throughout its length corresponding at least in part to part of said body cross-section; an upper die cooperable with the lower die having a downwardly opening recess extending from one end thereof to the other, and being of uniform cross-section throughout its length corresponding to the remainder of said compressed meat body cross-section; means mounting said upper die for movement between a raised open position above the lower die and a lowered operative position cooperable with the lower die; means for closing off the forward ends of the recesses in said upper die and in said lower die when the upper die is in its said lowered operative position; a ram movable forward from a retracted position within said recesses when said upper die is in its said operative position to compress the meat between the ram and said recess closing means uniformly to shape the meat to the cross-section of the cooperable recesses and movable farther forward to eject the shaped meat from the press when said upper die is opened; means for driving said ram and said means for moving said rods; and means for receiving said shaped meat ejected from said press, said receiving means comprising a delivery chute extending forward of the lower die for receiving said shaped meat as it is ejected from the lower die, said chute being substantially at the level of the lowermost surface of the recess in said lower die, said chute having guard means adjacent the forward end of said dies for preventing a press operator from placing his hand between said dies from the front thereof, said guard means comprising a tunnel enclosing the rear portion of said chute adjacent said dies, said tunnel having a oneway door at its end adjacent the dies opening inwardly of the tunnel, said door being movable between a closed position blocking the tunnel and an open position by the meat as it is ejected from the dies onto the chute, said door being biased to swing closed as the block of meat is moved clear of the tunnel.

Claim 11

A press as set forth in claim 8 wherein said chute is cantilevered forward from the forward end of said base and is releasably secured thereto.

Claim 12

A press for compressing frozen meat into an elongate compressed body of uniform cross-section throughout its length comprising; a base; a lower die mounted on said base having an upwardly opening recess extending from one end thereof to the other, said recess being of uniform cross-section throughout its length corresponding at least in part to part of said body cross-section; vertically movable rods extending up from the base in planes at opposite sides of the lower die; a head plate secured to the upper ends of the rods above the lower die; an upper die secured to the bottom of the head plate cooperable with the lower die having a downwardly opening recess extending from one end thereof to the other, and being of uniform cross-section throughout its length corresponding to the remainder of said compressed meat body cross-section; means including a first hydraulic cylinder in the base for moving said rods to move said head plate and said upper die between a raised open position above the lower die and a lowered operative position; means closing off the forward ends of the recesses in said upper die and in said lower die when the upper die is in its lowered operative position; a ram movable forward from a retracted position within said recesses when said upper die is in its said operative position to compress the meat between the ram and said recess closing means uniformly to shape the meat to the cross-section of the cooperable recesses, and movable farther forward to eject the meat from the press when the upper die is opened, and then movable back to its retracted position; a second hydraulic cylinder for driving the ram; and a hydraulic system for selectively supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said first and second cylinders for effecting movement of the upper die between its raised open position and its lowered operative position and for effecting movement of the ram to compress the meat; and to subsequently raise the upper die from its lowered closed position to its raised open position, to eject the meat from the press, and to return the ram to its retracted position, said hydraulic system comprising a pair of manual control valves, one for oPeration by one hand of an operator and the other for operation by the other hand of the operator, each valve having a neutral position, a first operating position, and a second operating position, and each being returned to neutral on release from either operating position, and means operable only in response to movement of both valves to said first operating position for moving the upper die from its raised open position to its lowered operative position and for extending said ram for compressing the meat, and operable only in response to movement of both valves to said second operating position for raising said upper die from its lowered operative position to its raised open position, for extending the ram farther to eject said meat from the dies and for then retracting said ram, and being inoperable when either or both of said valves are in their respective neutral positions.

Claim 13

A press for compressing frozen meat into an elongate compressed body of uniform cross-section throughout its length comprising; a base; a lower die mounted on said base having an upwardly opening recess extending from one end thereof to the other, said recess being of uniform cross-section throughout its length corresponding at least in part to part of said body cross-section; vertically movable rods extending up from the base in planes at opposite sides of the lower die; a head plate secured to the upper ends of the rods above the lower die; an upper die secured to the bottom of the head plate cooperable with the lower die having a downwardly opening recess extending from one end thereof to the other, and being of uniform cross-section throughout its length corresponding to the remainder of said compressed meat body cross-section; means including a first hydraulic cylinder in the base for moving said rods to move said head plate and said upper die between a raised open position above the lower die and a lowered operative position; means closing off the forward ends of the recesses in said upper die and in said lower die when the upper die is in its lowered operative position; a ram movable forward from a retracted position within said recesses when said upper die is in its said operative position to compress the meat between the ram and said recess closing means uniformly to shape the meat to the cross-section of the cooperable recesses, and movable farther forward to eject the meat from the press when the upper die is opened, and then movable back to its retracted position; a second hydraulic cylinder for driving the ram; and a hydraulic system for selectively supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said first and second cylinders for effecting movement of the upper die between its raised open position and its lowered operative position and for effecting movement of the ram to compress the meat; and to subsequently raise the upper die from its lowered closed position to its raised open position, to eject the meat from the press, and to return the ram to its retracted position, said hydraulic system comprising a pair of manual control valves, one for oPeration by one hand of an operator and the other for operation by the other hand of the operator, each valve having a neutral position, a first operating position, and a second operating position, and each being returned to neutral on release from either operating position, and means operable only in response to movement of both valves to said first operating position for moving the upper die from its raised open position to its lowered operative position and for extending said ram for compressing the meat, and operable only in response to movement of both valves to said second operating position for raising said upper die from its lowered operative position to its raised open position, for extending the ram farther to eject said meat from the dies and for then retracting said ram, and being inoperable when either or both of said valves are in their respective neutral positions.

Claim 14

A press as set forth in claim 10 wherein the pressure in said hydraulic system is increased in response to movement of the upper die to its lowered operative position to permit said first cylinder to exert sufficient dwnward force on the upper die to maintain it in its lowered operative position as the meat is compressed by the ram, and wherein said hydraulic system includes a sequence valve for directing hydraulic fluid under pressure to said second cylinder for movement of the ram to compress the meat only after said first cylinder has moved the upper die to its lowered operative position.