Apparatus for processing meat material with carbon dioxide

Claim 1

Apparatus for processing meat with carbon dioxide, comprising a mixing vessel of hopper configuration normally closed by a separate, top cover; mixing conveyor screws arranged side-by-side in fixed relationship at the bottom of the vessel for mixing meat introduced into the vessel and for discharging mixed meat from the vessel; means whereby meat may be continuously fed into the closed vessel above said mixing screws; a discharge outlet in a wall of the vessel in substantial alignment with one of the screws at one end thereof, said one screw being arranged to convey meat and to force it through the discharge outlet; means for rotating the screws; and means for continuously feeding carbon dioxide into the vessel near and along the top of the hopper interior of the vessel, said means comprising a plurality of flow passages extending into the vessel from the exterior thereof so that discharge therefrom is located at or near and along the top of said hopper interior of the vessel, said hopper interior of the vessel being open and unobstructed from the location of discharge of said flow passages to said mixing screws, whereby meat introduced into said vessel will fall freely into said mixing screws and carbon dioxide introduced into said vessel through said flow passages will fall freely with and onto said meat as the mixing screws operate below the free-fall hopper interior of said vessel.