Importance

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Abstract

An improved fluid injection (brine, phosphates, etc.) system for meat pieces which obviates the formation of foam by preventing air from entering the injection needles by two means: First, each multi-orificed needle is constrained to pass through an aligned duct or channel in a meat pressing block wherein is formed a discrete fluid chamber at the upper section of the duct and a close-tolerance needle guide in the bottom section. The fluid chamber is always filled with the substance to be injected, but when any of the needle's orifices are exposed to this chamber under pressure (i.e., not fully penetrated into the meat piece) the fluid chamber overflows the pressing block which triggers the shutdown of the fluid pump or pressurizer. Secondly, an 'inverted-V' pipe is fixed to the movable injection head assembly so as to feed fluid to all needles through a common manifold either under pressure or through gravity-assisted drainage (between injection phases), thus always ensuring a positive flow of pure liquid through each needle. Additionally, a dual-plate sliding mechanism is provided to facilitate locking in or removing needles from the head assembly. A meat-gripping conveyor also cooperates with the injection head.

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First Claim