Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for producing predetermined quantities of a meat product, inc which the apparatus comprises a twin vane concentric pump with an inlet and an outlet circumferentially spaced from one another, and a pair of independently movable vanes. During operation, one of the vanes is positioned between the inlet and outlet to permit pressurization of meat chunks in a chamber communicating with an outlet opening. The other vane is advanced toward the outlet with the outlet valve closed until a predetermined pressure is reached, at which point the outlet valve is opened to dispense a predetermined quantity of meat product. Similar to single vane meat pumps, the disclosed twin vane pump is capable of handling large meat chunks while causing relatively little damage to the chunks. However, the disclosed twin vane pump provides greater operating efficiency than single vane pumps and also achieves greater pressurization of the meat product than prior art pumps, permitting the meat product to be directly transferred to a stuffing horn without the need for further pressurization.

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First Claim