Device for stuffing meat products and related method

A device for stuffing meat with a length of food stuffing, the device comprising:

• a cylindrical tube with a passage extending completely therethrough and opening on opposite ends of the tube, the passage sized to receive the length of foodstuffing therein;
• a slot extending longitudinal between the ends of the tube and in communication with the passage;
• a penetrating cone removably attached to one of the ends of the tube;
• a ram sized to be slidably received in the passage of the tube, the ram having an outer wall adjacent to and opposing the inner wall of the tube;
• a stop extending radially outwardly from the ram, the stop sized to be received in and slidable relative to the slot of the tube;
• and
• a bed adapted to receive the food product thereon, the bed having walls facing the opposite sides of the food product when placed thereon, the bed defining a longitudinal channel extending from the ends of the food product when said product is placed in the bed;
• and
• a pair of sleds for sliding in the longitudinal channel toward corresponding ends of the food product, the sleds having upper attachment surfaces;
• and
• a blade secured to each of the attachment surfaces of the sleds, the blades extending longitudinally toward the food product when the sleds and the food product are in the bed, the attachment surfaces of the sleds positions above the channel at a height to place the blades in position to enter the ends of the food product in respective opposite directions, and at medial locations in the ends of the food product.

A method of stuffing a food product with a continuous length of food stuffing, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting the continuous length of foodstuffing inside a tube with a slot defined therein, the tube having two ends with a pointed cap at one of the ends;
• penetrating a selected point on the exterior of the food product with the pointed cap;
• advancing the tube relative to the food product until the cap exits the food product at a location substantially opposite the selected point of penetration;
• removing the cap from the end of the tube;
• providing a ram with a stop extending radially outwardly;
• inserting the ram into one of the ends of the tube with the stop received in the slot of the tube;
• abutting the stop against the food product at the selected location of penetration;
• withdrawing the tube from the food product in the direction of the ram;
• the stop travelling in the slot as the tube is withdrawn;
• maintaining the length of foodstuffing in position within the food product by abutting the foodstuffing with the ram as the tube is withdrawn;
• placing the food product on a bed with walled sides and substantially open ends to define a longitudinal channel for receiving the food product therein, the longitudinal channel communicating with the opposite ends of the food product placed in the bed;
• providing a pair of sleds with blades extending longitudinally outwardly therefrom;
• positioning the sleds in the bed at respective ends of the food product and with the blades pointed toward corresponding ends of the food product;
• and
• sliding the sleds toward the food product to penetrate the ends of the food product with the blades.