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US4348787A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for treating meat products prior to packaging

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-09-18
•
Granted: 1982-09-14
•
Expires: 1998-09-18
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Abstract

Abstract This apparatus is used to compress previously treated meat products prior to packaging. The compression is accomplished by passing square or rectangular portions of meat such as hams along a continuous conveyor and compressing the portions between a pair of rollers having a plurality of blunt teeth above the conveyor and corresponding spring loaded tension plates pressing against the underside of the conveyor.

Inventors

  • 👤 Guenter G. Wolff

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 00:15
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C9/00; A22C9/004

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 239 words
An apparatus for treating meat products comprising: a conveyor frame having an input end, an output end and a midportion, a first conveyor support roller mounted for rotation at said input end, a second conveyor support roller mounted for rotation at said output end, an endless foraminous metal conveyor passing around and frictionally engaging said conveyor support rollers for transporting said meat products, and having an upper band with an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper band transported from said input end to said output end, a first roller having a plurality of blunt teeth mounted for rotation on said frame above said upper surface for beginning treatment of said meat products, and positioned short of said midportion, a second roller having a plurality of blunt teeth mounted for rotation on said frame above said upper surface and positioned beyond said midportion in a direction of said upper band transport for finishing treatment of said meat products, a first tension plate mounted on said frame below said first roller having a plurality of blunt teeth in pressing relationship with said lower surface comprising said meat products into said first roller having a plurality of blunt teeth and a second tension plate mounted on said frame below said second roller having a plurality of blunt teeth in pressing relationship with said lower surface for compressing said meat products into said second roller having a plurality of blunt teeth.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 239 words
An apparatus for treating meat products comprising: a conveyor frame having an input end, an output end and a midportion, a first conveyor support roller mounted for rotation at said input end, a second conveyor support roller mounted for rotation at said output end, an endless foraminous metal conveyor passing around and frictionally engaging said conveyor support rollers for transporting said meat products, and having an upper band with an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper band transported from said input end to said output end, a first roller having a plurality of blunt teeth mounted for rotation on said frame above said upper surface for beginning treatment of said meat products, and positioned short of said midportion, a second roller having a plurality of blunt teeth mounted for rotation on said frame above said upper surface and positioned beyond said midportion in a direction of said upper band transport for finishing treatment of said meat products, a first tension plate mounted on said frame below said first roller having a plurality of blunt teeth in pressing relationship with said lower surface comprising said meat products into said first roller having a plurality of blunt teeth and a second tension plate mounted on said frame below said second roller having a plurality of blunt teeth in pressing relationship with said lower surface for compressing said meat products into said second roller having a plurality of blunt teeth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of springs under compression applied to the undersides of said tension plates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising first and second guides mounted on said frame behind said rollers having a plurality of blunt teeth respectively in said direction of band transport.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 57 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising first and second drive sprockets at one end of each of said rollers having a plurality of blunt teeth, a motor for driving said rollers having a plurality of blunt teeth and means for transmitting power of rotation from said motor to said rollers having a plurality of blunt teeth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 53 words
The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a third drive sprocket at one end of at least one of said conveyor rollers, a second motor for driving at least one of said conveyor rollers and means for transmitting power of rotation from said second motor to at least one of said conveyor rollers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of steel fingers projecting from said guides and engaging said blunt teeth for removing said meat products therefrom.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US386226A Cited
US470258A Cited
US2279071A Cited
US3644125A Cited
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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) 1985-09-13 1986-03-15 1986-09-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-09-13 1990-03-15 1990-09-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-09-13 1994-03-15 1994-09-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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