Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
FIELD OF INVENTIOi~
This in~ention relates to meat curing machines.
In particular, ~is invention relates to a meat curing
machine in which the operations of pickle injection,
massaging and tenderizing may be carried out. This machine
i5 particularly suitable for use in the curing o meat
such as pork,~eef, lamb and poultry including hc~ms, shoulders
loins, bellies c~ld the like.
PRIOR ART
In my prior United States Patent 4,029,824, dated
June 14, 1977, I have described a method and appasatus
for curing meat in which the meat is tumbled so that it
periodically falls under the influence of gravity onto
a bed of needles, each of w,hich is formed with a longitu-
dinal slot in an outer face theraof, which per~its
fluids located in the curing chamber to move lengthwise
along the needle into the meat.
It has now been discovered that the meat curing
process can be made much more efficient by the dirlect
injection of meat curing fluid in the form o~ pickle into
the meat which is impaled on the needles during the
tumbliny operation. Contrary to general expectations in
the trade, I have found that bythe use of the machine of
the present invention substantially the same amount of
pickle is injected in~o and retained by each ham so that
I am able to obtain a close Standard of Deviation. In the
trade it was felt that it was necessary to use a prelimin-
ary^pickle injection process in order to ensure that a
predetermined quantity o~ pickle is injected into each ham
so that the pickle content of the ham after curing will be
within the permitted tolerances based on the weight of
the ham. It was feared that because of the random nature
in which the hams are tumbled in a meat curing machine of
the type described in prior patent 4,029,824 c~nd as ~
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descri~ed hereinafter, it would not be possible to maintain
a close Standard o Deviation without employing the same
prior pickle injection step. Tests which I have carried
out with the machine o f the present invention have ~ihc)wn
that it is possible to obtain ~ close Standard of Deviation
without the need to p~Dvide a preliminary pickle injection.
Thus, by using the machine of the present invention it is
possible to eliminate the req~irement for a primary pickle
in je ction machine .
When curing fluid is injected into a ham in a
conventional pickle injector, a certain amount of pickle
spills from the injection needles over the product and
this pickle washes away valuable protein together with
flavour. By reason of the ~act that in the machine of the
present invention the pickle is in~ected in~o the hams
in an encl~sed chamber in which the hams are subsequently
tumbled, there is no loss of protein as such proteins
can be reabsorbed during the tumbling and massaging of the
hams in use~ In addition, because the curing chamber is
an enclosed chamber all of the pickle which is injected
through the needles is retained therein and subsequently
absorbed by the ham so that there is no loss of curing
f}uid.
The conventional injection needles which have
been used for'many years in pickle injectors have a
closed end which is pointed. A brine injection passage
extends inwardly from the other end of the needle to a
point adjacent the closed end and a plurality of openings
formed in the wall of the needle extend laterally from the
centrally located brineinjection passage. These needles
have been used for a great many years and considerable
difficulty has been experie~ced because of the tendency
of the discharge passages in these needles to become
clog~ed with meat. The discharge passage tends to fill
with meat as the needle is inserted into the meat and
the injection fluid is required to flush the meat from
these passages in order to permit the pickle to be
injected into the meat product. Because of problems
resulting from clogging, the efficiency with which the
needles inject pickle varies and it is necessary to effect
a regular periodic servicing ~nd checking of the product
to ensure that the required amount of pickle is injected
into the product with the reouired uniformity. It has,
howevex, been a widely held belief that it was essential
to use passages opening laterally from the injection needle
in order to obtain the required brine distribution.
Suryrisingly, therefore, we have discovered that pickle
can be injected through passages which open directly
through the remote end of a ne~dle without requiring supple-
mentary laterally extending passages.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present in~ention, ~
a meat curing machine comprises a housing mounted for
rotation about a tumbling axis, said housing having a
curing chamber formed therein, said curing chamber having
first and second compartments having an inner end opening
toward said tumbling axis and a closed outer end spaced
outwardly from said tumbling axis whereby upon rotation
of said tumbling axis meat located in one of said compart-
ments will be tumbled into the other under the influence
of gravity, vacuum passage means communicating with said
- compartments through which a vacuum is drawn in said
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compartmentS in use, an injecti~n head at the outer
end of said first compartment comprising a plurality
of in~ection needles 2ach having an injection passage
ope~ing longitudinallYthere~hrough~ said injection passage
having an input end and a ~ischarge end, said needles
being mounted at the outer end ~ said first compartment
with their discharge ends directed toward said inner end
of ~aid first compartment whereby meat tumbling from
said second compartment into said first compartment in
I0 response to rotation of said chamber may fall onto and
be impaled on said dischar~e ends of said injection needles,
fluid passage means communicating between the input ends
- of said injection needles and a source of pressurized
curing fluid whereby curing fluid may be transmitted
under pressure from said source t~ said discharge ends
of said needles to be injected into meat impaled thereon
in use.
According to a fùrther aspect of the present
invention an injection needle for use in a pickle injector
comprises an elongated ~ody having a proximal end and a
distal end, the proximal end adapted to be mountedin an
injection head of a pickle injector, the distal end
being angularly inclined across the width of the elongated
body, an injection passage extending longitudinally of
said elongated body, said injection passage opening into
said elongated body at the proximal end thereof and
opening out of said elongated body through the angularly
inclined distal end.
_ The invention will be more clearly understood
after re~erence to the following detailed specification
read in conjunction with the drawings, wherein;
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Fig. 1 is a pictorial view of a meat curing machine
constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the injection head
of the meat curing machine of Fig. 1 taken along the line
2-2 of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional side view of a needle
mounted in the injection head;
Fig. 3a is a sectional side view of a needle constructed
in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side view showing a first
step in the meat curing operation;
Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a second
step in the meat curing operation; and
Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a third
step in the meat curing operation.
With reference to the drawings, the reference numeral
10 refers generally to a meat curing machine constructed
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The meat curing machine comprises a frame 12 upon which a
housing 14 ls mounted for rotation about a tumbling axis
16. The housing 14 consists of first and second tank por-
tions 18 and 20 and a detachable wagon portion 22. A tumbl-
ing chamber 24 is formed within the housing 14. As shown
in Figs. 4, S and 6 of the drawings, the tumbling chamber
24 is formed with a first compartment 26, a second compart-
ment 28 and a third compartment 30 projecting radially
outwardly from the tumbling axis 16. The inner en~s of the
compartments 26, 28 and 30 open toward the tumbling axis
and the outer ends thereof are closed. A vacuum passage 32
opens into the tumbling chamber 24 through one of two support
shafts 34 on which the housing -- ~ ~
-~S~9Y~ '
14 is mounted fvr rotation. The vacuu}n passage 32 i5
conrlected to a suitable vacuum source through a c:onduit
36 .
An injection head, generally identified by the
reference numeral 40, is located at the outer end of ~he
first compartment 26. The injection head 40 ~Fig. 2)
includes an inner wall 42 which has an annular collar 44
adapted $o fit in a ~lose Eitting relationship within
the end of the tubulax side wall 47 of the compartment
lo 26, The end wall 42 also has a radially extending iElange
46 arranged in a Eace-to-face relationship with the
annular ~houlder 50 located at the outer end of the
tubular side wall 47. An annular sealing ring 52 is
located between the flange 46 and the shoulder 50 and
clamp members 54 are provided for releasably clamp.ing the
inner wall 42 wi~h respect to the tubular wall 47. A
pair o~ circular outer walls 56 are secured in an outwardly
overlying relationship with respect to the inner wall 42
by bolts S8. A maniold chamber 60 is located between
the outer wall 56 and the inner wall 42. The outex wall
56 has a plurality of circular concave shaped recesses
62 formed on the inner face thereof. A vent passage 64
opens outwardly from each recess 62. A coupling 66 is
unted in the outer wall 56 and has a through passage
68 opening outwardly from the manifold chamber 60. A
conduit 170 is connected to the coupling 68.
A plurality of injection needles 72 are mounted
on ~e inner wall 42 and project inwardly there:Erom
toward the inner end o the compartment 26. As shown
3Q in Fig~ 3, the needles are of dlfferent lengths and each
.
-- 6 --
9l~
of the n~edle5 72 includes a hollow needle 74 having a
through passage 76. The through passage 76 has aninput
end 78 and an angularly inclined discharge end 80. As
will be descxibed hereinafter the use of a needle having
a;n angu}arly inclined disch~rge end through which the
passage 76 opens provides a surprising improvem~nt in the
injection process. A collar 82 is fixed to the n~edle
74 adjazent and spaced inwardly ~rom the input end 78.
A support sleeve 84 is arranged coaxially with a central
I0 body portion of the needle 74. The support sleeve 84
has a threaded end portion 86 adapted to be threadably
inserted within threaded p~ssages 88 in the inner wall 42.
The input end 78 of the needles 74 project a substantial
distance into the manifold chamber 60. A flexible diaphragm
90 has its outer periphery clamped between the inner wall
42 and the outer wall 56 and its i~ner periphery clamped
between the outer wall 56 and the coupling 66, The
flexible diaphragm 90 is drawn taut between its inner and
outer periphery and, as sho~n in Fig. 3, the input ends
7~ of the needles 74 extend into the manifold chamber 60
an extent sufficient to cause outward deflection of the dia-
phragm 90 into the concave recesses 62 of the outer wall 56.
A stripper plate 95 is supported on a support post 93
which has a head 91 at the outer end thereof. The support
post 93 is slidable in a bush 97 carried by the inner wall
42. The stripper plate 95 has stripper passages 99
aligned with the needles 72.
With referenc~ ~o Figs. 1, 4, 5a~6 of the drawings,
it will be seen that the conduits 170 which are influid
communication with the manifold chamber 60 are connected
.
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through a Y-shaped coupler 172, to a further conduit 174
which is in turn connected through an elbow connection
~7 6 ~o the ~upport shaft 178 which is disposed opposite
the support shaft 34 and also serves to support the housing
14 for rotation about ~e tumbling axis 16. The shaft 178
is hollow so that a fluid communication is provided with
a further conduit 180 which is connected to an injection
cylinder 182. A piston 184 (Fig. 4) is mounted in ~he
injection cylinder 182 and is reciprocally driven by a
10 pneumatic cylinder ~enerally identified by the reference
numeral 186. A one-way ~alve 188 is located in the line
leading to the conduit 180. An intake conduit 190
extends between the injection cylinder 182 and a pickle
storage vat 92 which stores a predetermined quantity of
pickle or curing fluid 94. A one-way valve 96 is located
in the conduit 190.
In use r a plurality of hams 100 are transported
to the meat curiny machine in the wheeled bucket 22 which
is then coupled to the housing 14 as described in U.S.
Patent 3,746,314 and UOS. Patent 4,029,824. A vacuum is
. then drawn in the tumbling chamber through the vacuum
passage 32. The pneumatic cylinder 1~6 is activated to
withdraw the piston 184 to the position shown in Fig. 4
of the drawings, thereby to draw a predetermined quantity
; of curing fluid into the.injection chamber injection
device 182.
The housing 14 is then rotatably driven to the
position shown in Fig. 5, hereby causing the meat 100 to
tumble out of the compartment 30 into the compartment 26
so that a lowermost layer is impaled on the need'Les 72.
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The hydraulic cylinder 186 is then ~ctivated to dxi~e
the p ston 184 ~o the position shown in Fig. 5 of the
drawings. ~he one-way valve g6 prevents the return
of curing fluid to the source 94. The curing fluid is
pumped through one-way valve 188 and the conduits which
are cvnnected to the injection head into ~he manifold
chamber 60 (Fig. 3). A5 the pressure in the manifold
chamber 60 increases toward the injection pressure, the
diaphragm 90 is deflected outwardly away from the input
end of the needle 74 into the valve recesses Ç2 to
assume the position shown in broken lines at 90a iII ~ig.
3. The curing fluid then passes through ~he through passage
76 of the needle 74 to be discharged through the discharge
end 80 into the meat impaled thereon. To ensure a rapid
injection stroke of the piston 184, a vent valve 98 is
provided in the conduit 102 leading from the pneumatic
~ylinder 186. The vent valve 98 permits an unrestricted
movement of the piston of the pneumatio cylinder 186 toward
the injection p~sition.
The housing 14 is then further rotated ~ the
position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. As the housing
continues to rotate from the position shown in Fig. 6
to return to the position shown in Fig. 4, the head 91
of the support post 9~ of the stripper plate 95 engages
a control cam which moves the stripper plate outwardly
to remove meat impaled on the needles 72. The housing
14 i5 rotated several times in order to repeat this cycle
and may then be permutted to retain stationary in the
position shown in Fig. 4 for a predetermined holding
period and thereafter $he injection cycle may be repeated
several times un$il all of the predetermined ql~antity of
curing fluid contained within the reservoir 94 is injec~ed
_ g _
~5~9E~
into the meat. A cam 81 is mounted for rotation on the
shaft 178 and operates a pair of microswitches 83 and
85 which regulate ~he operation of ~he vent valve 98
and the pneum~tic cylinder 186 respectively to control
the timing of the operation of the injection s~ep in
relation to the angular position of the housing 14.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that
the apparatus of the present invention permits the so-called
"pickle injection" to be carried out in a machine which
is also capable of performing the vacuum massage, tenderizing
and pickle injection in the 5ame apparatus. As a result,
it is possible to dispense entirely with the need for a
separate machine for effecting the preliminary pickle
injection. Tests have indicated that th~ machine of the
present invention will provide a 2% increase in yield of
product while staying within USDA Regulations. There is
also a sa~ing of from 30 to 5~% in the amount of curing
or pickle fluid because there are no losses due to spilling.
The fact that the preliminary pickle injection step is no
`20 longer required reduces the amount of handling to which
the product is subjected and this serves to minimize
bacterial growth and the amount of trucking of the meat
which is required within the processing plant.
As previously indicated not all of the needles
72 are of the same length. By providing needles which
extend into the compartment 26 to a different length
adjacent needles may penetrate meat falling thereon to
a different level, thus improving the dispersal of curing
; fluid through the body of meat. This feature, althou~h
not essential is believed to be of considerable prac~ical
imporf ance.
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~il 5~
A further important featuxe of the needles 72 of
the present invention is that the discharge end 80 is angularly
inclined from one side to the other at an angle which is
pre~erably about 60 to the longitudinal extent of the needle.
By angularly inclining the end face of the needle and per-
mitting the through passage 80 to open directly therefrom,
it has been found that the needles do not tend to clog~ In
the conventional ne~dle which has a centrally located point
and injection passages opening laterally through the side
walls of the needle, the injection passages tend to become
clogged with pieces of meat which are driven into these
passages as the needle is inserted and cannot be flushed
out of these passages during the fluid injectiDn process
because of the tortuous path established between the side
opening passages and the central injection passac3e. In
contrast the straight through passage of the needles of the
present invention permits any meat which is driven into the
passage during insertion to be flushed from the passage by
the pressure of the injection fluid. This serves to reduce
the amount of down time required in order to main~ain the
efficient operation of the apparatus. It has also been
; found that the angularly inclined end 80 appears to simpli~y
the withdrawal of the needle from the meat. The angularly
inclined needle of the present invention can be withdrawn
~rom meat products more easily than the conventional
laterally opening needle and this again is believed to be
related to the fact that the injection passage opens directly
through the inclined discharge end 80.
In Fig. 3a o~ the drawing, an alternative needle
construction is illustrated. In this construction the needle
. .
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: .
74a is sharpened to provide a frusto-conical shaped end 80a
which tapers toward the through passage 76a to provide a sharp
edge 81a. Surprisingly~ it has been found that a needle of
this construction, tapering at an angle of 1~ to the longi-
tudinal axis and having a 4 mm external diameter and a 2 mm
bore diameter, can be inserted into and withdrawn from meat
products during the curing operation without significantly
damaging the structure of the meat.
Various modifications of the apparatus of the present
lQ invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
For example, an additional injection head may be pro~ided
in the chamber 28. Alternatively, an additional needle
head without the provision of an injection system may be
provided in the chamber 28 for the purposes of increasing
the tenderizing without increasing the amount of fluid
injected into the meat. In this respect, ho~ever, it should
be noted that care should be taken to avoid a situation where
the meat i~ subjected to an excessive amount of tenderizing.
In yet another modification, the housing may ha~e the con-
figuration illustrated in Fig. 1 of U.S. Patent No. 4,029,824
in which it has only one chamber in addition to the chamher
formed by the detachable meat transporting walgon 22.
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