Machine for injecting fluids into meat products

Claim 2

A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a support means having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon, said conveyor means adapted to convey the meat product from one end thereof towards the other end thereof, a fluid manifold movably mounted above said conveyor means and being movable between lower and upper positions with respect to the conveyor means, a first power means reciprocatably moving said manifold between its upper and lower positions, said fluid manifold being fluidly connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said fluid manifold having a plurality of injecting needles extending downwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product thereunder when said manifold is in its said lower position, 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, a meat product thickness sensing means adapted to engage the meat product being pierced by said injecting needles, valve control means operatively interconnecting said sensing means and said valve means for selectively opening and closing said valve means responsive to the thickness of said meat product, said sensing means comprising an elongated plate means having opposite ends, the opposite ends of said plate means being vertically movably secured to opposite ends of said fluid manifold, said valve control means comprising a valve actuator rod secured at one end thereof to said plate means and extending therefrom, the other end of said rod being operatively secured to said valve means, said valve means being secured to said fluid manifold for movement therewith, said valve means comprising a valve port and a valve member adapted to open and close said valve port, said valve actuator rod being operatively connected to said valve member.

Claim 3

A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a support means having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon, said conveyor means adapted to convey the meat product from one end thereof towards the other end thereof, a fluid manifold movably mounted above said conveyor means and being movable between lower and upper positions with respect to the conveyor means, a first power means reciprocatably moving said manifold between its upper and lower positions, said fluid manifold being fluidly connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said fluid manifold having a plurality of injecting needles extending downwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product thereunder when said manifold is in its said lower position, 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, a meat product thickness sensing means adapted to engage the meat product being pierced by said injecting needles, valve control means operatively interconnecting said sensing means and said valve means for selectively opening and closing said valve means responsive to the thickness of said meat product, said sensing means comprising an elongated plate means having opposite ends, the opposite ends of said plate means being vertically movably secured to opposite ends of said fLuid manifold, said valve control means comprising a valve actuator rod secured at one end thereof to said plate means and extending therefrom, the other end of said rod being operatively secured to said valve means, said first chamber being defined by a cylindrical wall member, said discharge port being formed in said cylindrical wall member and having a horizontally disposed rectangular configuration, said valve member having an arcuate valve surface which is in movable engagement with said cylindrical wall surface, said machine having rearward and forward ends, a first shaft rigidly secured to said valve member and extending laterally outwardly from said housing, a first crank means rigidly secured to the outer end of said first shaft and extending forwardly therefrom, a second crank means pivotally secured to the forward end of said first crank means, an upstanding arm rigidly connected at its lower end of the forward end of said second crank means, the upper end of said actuator rod being pivotally secured to the forward end of said second crank means, a cam plate means operatively secured to said support means, said cam plate means having a cam slot formed therein, the upper end of said upstanding arm being in operative engagement with said cam slot whereby relative vertical movement of said fluid manifold with respect to said sensing means will selectively cause said upstanding arm to rotate said shaft so that said valve member will move relative to said discharge port.

Claim 4

A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a support means having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon, said conveyor means adapted to convey the meat product from one end thereof towards the other end thereof, a fluid manifold movably mounted above said conveyor means and being movable between lower and upper positions with respect to the conveyor means, a first power means reciprocatably moving said manifold between its upper and lower positions, said fluid manifold being fluidly connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said fluid manifold having a plurality of injecting needles extending downwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product thereunder when said manifold is in its said lower position, 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, a meat product thickness sensing means adapted to engage the meat product being pierced by said injecting needles, valve control means operatively interconnecting said sensing means and said valve means for selectively opening and closing said valve means responsive to the thickness of said meat product, said sensing means comprising an elongated plate means having opposite ends, the opposite ends of said plate means being vertically movably secured to opposite ends of said fLuid manifold, said valve control means comprising a valve actuator rod secured at one end thereof to said plate means and extending therefrom, the other end of said rod being operatively secured to said valve means, said first chamber being defined by a cylindrical wall member, said discharge port being formed in said cylindrical wall member and having a horizontally disposed rectangular configuration, said valve member having an arcuate valve surface which is in movable engagement with said cylindrical wall surface, said machine having rearward and forward ends, a first shaft rigidly secured to said valve member and extending laterally outwardly from said housing, a first crank means rigidly secured to the outer end of said first shaft and extending forwardly therefrom, a second crank means pivotally secured to the forward end of said first crank means, an upstanding arm rigidly connected at its lower end of the forward end of said second crank means, the upper end of said actuator rod being pivotally secured to the forward end of said second crank means, a cam plate means operatively secured to said support means, said cam plate means having a cam slot formed therein, the upper end of said upstanding arm being in operative engagement with said cam slot whereby relative vertical movement of said fluid manifold with respect to said sensing means will selectively cause said upstanding arm to rotate said shaft so that said valve member will move relative to said discharge port.

Claim 5

A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a support means having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon, said conveyor means adapted to convey the meat product from one end thereof towards the other end thereof, a fluid manifold movably mounted above said conveyor means and being movable between lower and upper positions with respect to the conveyor means, a first power means reciprocatably moving said manifold between its upper and lower positions, said fluid manifold being fluidly connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said fluid manifold having a plurality of injecting needles extending downwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product thereunder when said manifold is in its said lower position, 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, a meat product thickness sensing means adapted to engage the meat product being pierced by said injecting needles, valve control means operatively interconnecting said sensing means and said valve means for selectively opening and closing said valve means responsive to the thickness of said meat product, said sensing means comprising an elongated plate means having opposite ends, the opposite ends of said plate means being vertically movably secured to opposite ends of said fluid manifold, said valve control means comprising a valve actuator rod secured at one end thereof to said plate means and extending therefrom, the other end of said rod being operatively secured to said valve means, said one end of said valve actuator rod being pivotally secured to said stripper plate means intermediate the ends thereof.

Claim 6

A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a support means having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon, said conveyor means adapted to convey the meat product from one end thereof towards the other end thereof, a fluid manifold movably mounted above said conveyor means and being movable between lower and upper positions with respect to the conveyor means, a first power means reciprocatably moving said manifold between its upper and lower positions, said fluid manifold being fluidly connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said fluid manifold having a plurality of injecting needles extending downwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product thereunder when said manifold is in its said lower position, 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, a meat product thickness sensing means adapted to engage the meat product being pierced by said injecting needles, valve control means operatively interconnecting said sensing means and said valve means for selectively opening and closing said valve means responsive to the thickness of said meat product, said sensing means comprising an elongated plate means having opposite ends, the opposite ends of said plate means being vertically movably secured to opposite ends of said fluid manifold, said valve control means comprising a valve actuator rod secured at one end thereof to said plate means and extending therefrom, the other end of said rod being operatively secured to said valve means, said one end of said valve actuator rod being pivotally secured to said stripper plate means intermediate the ends thereof.

Claim 7

A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a support means having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon, said conveyor means adapted to convey the meat product from one end thereof toward the other end thereof, a fluid manifold movably mounted above said conveyor means and being movable between lower and upper positions with respect to the conveyor means, a first power means reciprocAtably moving said manifold between its upper and lower positions, said fluid manifold being fluidly connected to a source of fluid under pressure said fluid manifold having a plurality of injecting needles extending downwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product thereunder when said manifold is in its said lower position, 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, a meat product thickness sensing means adapted to engage the meat product being pierced by said injecting needles, valve control means operatively interconnecting said sensing means and said valve means for selectively opening and colsing said valve means responsive to the thickness of said meat product, said sensing means comprising an elongated plate means having opposite ends, the opposite ends of said plate means being vertically movably secured to opposite ends of said fluid manifold, said valve control means comprising a valve actuator rod secured at one end thereof to said plate means and extending therefrom, the other end of said rod being operatively secured to said valve means, wherein said valve means comprises a housing having a first chamber formed therein, said first chamber having an inlet port and a discharge port formed therein, said inlet port being in fluid communication with said source of fluid under pressure, said discharge port being in fluid communication with said fluid manifold, a valve member rotatably mounted in said first chamber adapted to open and close said discharge port, said valve actuator rod being operatively secured at its said other end to said valve member to cause the rotation thereof responsive to the movement of said plate means, a second chamber provided in said housing, said chamber having opposite ends, a fluid bypass line in fluid communication with one end of said second chamber and in fluid communication with said source of fluid under pressure, said housing having a fluid passageway formed therein which provides fluid communication between said inlet port and said bypass line, a piston slidably mounted in said chamber movable between first and second positions therein, said piston preventing fluid communication between said inlet port and said bypass line when in its first position and permitting fluid communication between said inlet port and said bypass line when in its second position, and means yieldably urging said piston towards its said first position.

Claim 8

A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a support means having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon, said conveyor means adapted to convey the meat product from one end thereof toward the other end thereof, a fluid manifold movably mounted above said conveyor means and being movable between lower and upper positions with respect to the conveyor means, a first power means reciprocAtably moving said manifold between its upper and lower positions, said fluid manifold being fluidly connected to a source of fluid under pressure said fluid manifold having a plurality of injecting needles extending downwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product thereunder when said manifold is in its said lower position, 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, a meat product thickness sensing means adapted to engage the meat product being pierced by said injecting needles, valve control means operatively interconnecting said sensing means and said valve means for selectively opening and colsing said valve means responsive to the thickness of said meat product, said sensing means comprising an elongated plate means having opposite ends, the opposite ends of said plate means being vertically movably secured to opposite ends of said fluid manifold, said valve control means comprising a valve actuator rod secured at one end thereof to said plate means and extending therefrom, the other end of said rod being operatively secured to said valve means, wherein said valve means comprises a housing having a first chamber formed therein, said first chamber having an inlet port and a discharge port formed therein, said inlet port being in fluid communication with said source of fluid under pressure, said discharge port being in fluid communication with said fluid manifold, a valve member rotatably mounted in said first chamber adapted to open and close said discharge port, said valve actuator rod being operatively secured at its said other end to said valve member to cause the rotation thereof responsive to the movement of said plate means, a second chamber provided in said housing, said chamber having opposite ends, a fluid bypass line in fluid communication with one end of said second chamber and in fluid communication with said source of fluid under pressure, said housing having a fluid passageway formed therein which provides fluid communication between said inlet port and said bypass line, a piston slidably mounted in said chamber movable between first and second positions therein, said piston preventing fluid communication between said inlet port and said bypass line when in its first position and permitting fluid communication between said inlet port and said bypass line when in its second position, and means yieldably urging said piston towards its said first position.

Claim 9

A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a support means having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon, said conveyor means adapted to convey the meat product from one end thereof towards the other end thereof, a fluid manifold movably mounted above said conveyor means and being movable between lower and upper positions with respect to the conveyor means, a first power means reciprocatably moving said manifold between its upper and lower positions, said fluid manifold being fluidly connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said fluid manifold having a plurality of injecting needles extending downwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product thereunder when said manifold is in its said lower position, 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, a meat product thickness sensing means adapted to engage the meat product being pierced by said injecting needles, valve control means operatively interconnecting said sensing means and said valve means for selectively opening and closing said valve means responsive to the thickness of said meat product, said sensing means comprising an elongated plate means having opposite ends, the opposite ends of said plate means being vertically movably secured to opposite ends of said fluid manifold, said valve control means comprising a valve actuator rod secured at one end thereof to said plate means and extending therefrom, the other end of said rod being operatively secured to said valve means, said plate means comprising a stripper plate means having a plurality of openings formed therein for receiving said needles, a first length adjustable member secured to one end of said fluid manifold and extending downwardly therefrom, a second length adjustable member secured to the outer end of said fluid manifold and extending downwardly therefrom, the opposite ends of said stripper plate means being pivotally secured to the lower ends of said length adjustable members permitting the opposite ends of said stripper plate means to individually vertically move with respect to said support means when said stripper plate means engages a meat product having an irregular thickness.

Claim 10

A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a support means having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon, said conveyor means adapted to convey the meat product from one end thereof towards the other end thereof, a fluid manifold movably mounted above said conveyor means and being movable between lower and upper positions with respect to the conveyor means, a first power means reciprocatably moving said manifold between its upper and lower positions, said fluid manifold being fluidly connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said fluid manifold having a plurality of injecting needles extending downwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product thereunder when said manifold is in its said lower position, 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, a meat product thickness sensing means adapted to engage the meat product being pierced by said injecting needles, valve control means operatively interconnecting said sensing means and said valve means for selectively opening and closing said valve means responsive to the thickness of said meat product, said sensing means comprising an elongated plate means having opposite ends, the opposite ends of said plate means being vertically movably secured to opposite ends of said fluid manifold, said valve control means comprising a valve actuator rod secured at one end thereof to said plate means and extending therefrom, the other end of said rod being operatively secured to said valve means, said plate means comprising a stripper plate means having a plurality of openings formed therein for receiving said needles, a first length adjustable member secured to one end of said fluid manifold and extending downwardly therefrom, a second length adjustable member secured to the outer end of said fluid manifold and extending downwardly therefrom, the opposite ends of said stripper plate means being pivotally secured to the lower ends of said length adjustable members permitting the opposite ends of said stripper plate means to individually vertically move with respect to said support means when said stripper plate means engages a meat product having an irregular thickness.

Claim 11

A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a support means having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon, said conveyor means adapted to convey the meat product from one end thereof towards the other end thereof, a fluid manifold movably mounted above said conveyor means and being movable between lower and upper positions with respect to the conveyor means, a first power means reciprocatably moving said manifold between its upper and lower positions, said fluid manifold being fluidly connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said fluid manifold having a plurality of injecting needles extending downwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product thereunder when said manifold is in its said lower position, 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, a meat product thickness sensing means adapted to engage the meat product being pierced by said injecting needles, said sensing means comprising an elongated plate means having opposite ends, the opposite ends of said plate means being independently vertically movably secured to the opposite ends of said fluid manifold respectively, said valve control means comprising a valve actuator rod secured at one end thereof to said plate means intermediate the ends thereof and extending therefrom, the other end of said rod being operatively secured to said valve means for selectively opening and closing said valve means responsive to the average thickness of said meat product as sensed by said plate means.

Claim 12

A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a support means having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon, said conveyor means adapted to convey the meat product from one end thereof towards the other end thereof, a fluid manifold movably mounted above said conveyor means and being movable between lower and upper positions with respect to the conveyor means, a first power means reciprocatably moving said manifold between its upper and lower positions, said fluid manifold being fluidly connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said fluid manifold having a plurality of injecting needles extending downwardly therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product thereunder when said manifold is in its said lower position, 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, a meat product thickness sensing means adapted to engage the meat product being pierced by said injecting needles, said sensing means comprising an elongated plate means having opposite ends, the opposite ends of said plate means being independently vertically movably secured to the opposite ends of said fluid manifold respectively, said valve control means comprising a valve actuator rod secured at one end thereof to said plate means intermediate the ends thereof and extending therefrom, the other end of said rod being operatively secured to said valve means for selectively opening and closing said valve means responsive to the average thickness of said meat product as sensed by said plate means.

Claim 13

A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a support means having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon, said conveyor means adapted to convey the meat product from one end thereof towards the other end thereof, a fluid manifold movably mounted above said conveyor means and being movable between first and second positions with respect to the conveyor means, a first power means reciprocatably moving said manifold between its second and first positions, said fluid manifold being fluidly connected to a source of fluid under pressuRe, said fluid manifold having a plurality of injecting needles extending therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product when said manifold is in its said first position, valve means opperatively 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, a meat product thickness sensing means adapted to engage the meat product being pierced by said injecting needles, means mounting said sensing means relative to said fluid manifold whereby said sensing means senses the average thickness of said meat product, and valve control means operatively interconnecting said sensing means and said valve means for selectively opening and closing said valve means responsive to the average thickness of said meat product as sensed by said sensing means.

Claim 14

A machine for injecting fluids into meat products and the like, comprising, a support means having a conveyor means movably mounted thereon, said conveyor means adapted to convey the meat product from one end thereof towards the other end thereof, a fluid manifold movably mounted above said conveyor means and being movable between first and second positions with respect to the conveyor means, a first power means reciprocatably moving said manifold between its second and first positions, said fluid manifold being fluidly connected to a source of fluid under pressuRe, said fluid manifold having a plurality of injecting needles extending therefrom adapted to pierce the meat product when said manifold is in its said first position, valve means opperatively 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, a meat product thickness sensing means adapted to engage the meat product being pierced by said injecting needles, means mounting said sensing means relative to said fluid manifold whereby said sensing means senses the average thickness of said meat product, and valve control means operatively interconnecting said sensing means and said valve means for selectively opening and closing said valve means responsive to the average thickness of said meat product as sensed by said sensing means.

Claim 15

The machine of claim 7 wherein said valve control means includes means for opening said valve means a predetermined delayed time after said sensing means engages said meat product.

Claim 16

The machine of claim 6 wherein said valve means comprises a housing having a first chamber formed therein, said first chamber having an inlet port and a discharge port formed therein, said inlet port being in fluid communication with said source of fluid under pressure, said discharge port being in fluid communication with said fluid manifold, a valve member rotatably mounted in said first chamber adapted to open and close said discharge port, said valve actuator rod being operatively secured at its said other end to said valve member to cause the rotation thereof responsive to the movement of said plate means.

Claim 17

The machine of claim 9 wherein said first chamber is defined by a cylindrical wall member, said discharge port being formed in said cylindrical wall member and having a horizontally disposed rectangular configuration, said valve member having an arcuate valve surface which is in movable engagement with said cylindrical wall surface.

Claim 18

The machine of claim 2 wherein said cam slot comprises lower, intermediate and upper slot portions, a roller means operatively secured to the upper end of said upstanding arm and being received by said cam slot, said roller means moving downwardly in said slot in response to downward movement of said stripper plate; said first and second crank means cooperating to open said valve member when said fluid manifold continues downward movement below the point where said stripper plate engages a piece of meat on said conveyor means.

Claim 19

The machine of claim 11 wherein said intermediate and lower slot portions are angularly disposed to cause said valve member to open a predetermined delayed time after said stripper plate engages said meat.

Claim 20

The machine of claim 4 wherein said means yieldably urging said piston towards its said first position comprises a source of air under predetermined pressure.

Claim 21

The machine of claim 13 wherein said piston is normally in its said first position when said discharge port is open.

Claim 22

The machine of claim 5 wherein said length adjustable members each comprise shock absorber means.

Claim 23

The machine of claim 5 wherein a dash pot means is secured to said stripper plate means to yieldably resist the upward movement of said stripper plate means away from said meat product.