Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for tenderizing a comestible product, such as meat, comprising an intermittently advanced conveyor for conveying a product to be processed underneath a set of thin knives supported for vertical reciprocation toward and away from the conveyor by a knife carrier or carriage having three horizontal plate-like members fixed in vertical spaced relation to one another having a multiplicity of closely spaced vertically aligned apertures and discrete blade or knife assemblies each comprising a rod member slidable in each of the aligned apertures of the upper plate-like members and extending to opposite sides thereof. The rod members each having a flange at the upper side of the intermediate plate-like member normally engaging the same. A discrete compression spring surrounding each of the rod members and interposed between the flange thereon and the under side of the upper plate-like member which is adjustable towards and from the intermediate plate-like member. A further horizontal plate-like member below the lower plate-like member supported by the knife carrier for limited movement towards and from the knife carrier and having apertures therein through each of which an individual knife extends. A product stripper plate arranged to move downwardly and upwardly in coordination with like movements of the knife carrier and to rest upon the upper surface of the product being pierced and to be locked in said position while the knives are withdrawn from the product. The aforementioned further horizontal plate reduces the length of knife shank which would otherwise be unsupported against bending during operation on a product.

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First Claim