US 6,105,490 A · Apparatus for marinating meat products

Abstract

A vacuum meat marinating machine for products requiring a short vacuum massage cycle, comprising a substantially horizontal cylindrical vessel having a large opening at the top for rapid loading of product, said opening covered by a sealed vacuum cover during operation, and further having a hollow outer wall comprising a jacket for the circulation of liquid refrigerant. A paddle agitator is located within the vessel, having a hollow shaft running longitudinally within the vessel. Affixed at an angle to the shaft are a plurality of hollow triangular-shaped paddles, which paddles push product horizontally during operation. Liquid refrigerant circulates through the hollow wall of the vessel, as well as the hollow agitator shaft and paddles. The agitator shaft is connected to a reversible motor that periodically reverses the direction of rotation, thereby maximizing heat exchange between product and liquid refrigerant.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A meat marinating apparatus comprising:

a generally horizontal vessel having an interior chamber, a sealed end, a discharge end having a discharge opening, a hollow outer wall forming a jacket for the circulation of liquid refrigerant during operation, and an opening at the top of said vessel;
a vacuum sealed discharge door at said discharge end of said vessel so that a full vacuum can be created inside said vessel when in operation;
a sealed vacuum cover for covering said opening at the top of said vessel so that a full vacuum can be created inside said vessel when in operation;
a base for supporting said vessel;
massaging means for mixing and massaging marinating solution into meat product, said massaging means having refrigerated surface areas for cooling meat products when in operation.

2 more elements

A meat marinating apparatus comprising:

a generally horizontal vessel having an interior chamber, a sealed end, a discharge end, a substantially cylindrical inferior portion having a hollow outer wall with an integral baffle system for controlled circulation of refrigerant and a substantially cuboid superior portion thereby giving a keyhole profile when viewed on end, an opening at the top of said superior portion for loading of product, and an opening at said discharge end for removal of product;
a sealed vacuum cover for covering said opening at the top of said superior portion of said vessel so that a full vacuum can be created when in operation;
a vacuum sealed discharge door at said discharge end of said vessel so that a full vacuum can be created during operation;
a base for supporting said vessel;
a rotatable paddle agitator positioned within the interior chamber of said vessel, said agitator having a horizontal hollow agitator shaft rotatably mounted through support bearings located at the approximate longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion of said vessel at each of the ends of the vessel, an inlet port for introduction of liquid refrigerant into said hollow agitator shaft, and an outlet port for discharge of said refrigerant;
a plurality of hollow paddles, said paddles affixed to said hollow agitator shaft in such a manner as to form a continuous unbroken series of channels for directing and controlling the unidirectional flow of liquid refrigerant through said hollow agitator shaft and said paddles;
a reversible motorized drive system connected to said hollow horizontal shaft of said paddle agitator, said drive system alternately rotating the agitator in either direction about its horizontal axis when in operation;
means for introducing liquid refrigerant into said hollow agitator shaft;
and
means for introducing liquid refrigerant into said hollow outer wall of said vessel;
and
a vacuum pump for evacuating air from said vessel during operation.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for marinating meat products

Life of this patent

Apparatus for marinating meat products

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20