Patent ID: 11889842
Assignee: TYSON FOODS, INC.
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 19:
20. A volumetric portioning apparatus comprising:
a first, a second, and a third valve assembly each operable in a respective first position and a respective second position;
the first valve assembly allowing a food product to flow from a first input port into a first portioning assembly when in the first position and allowing the food product to flow from the first portioning assembly to a first output receiver when in the second position;
the second valve assembly allowing the food product to flow from a second input port into a second portioning assembly when in the first position and allowing the food product to flow from the second portioning assembly to a second output receiver when in the second position;
the third valve assembly allowing the food product to flow from an input hopper to the first input port when in the first position and allowing the food product to flow from the input hopper to the second input port when in the second position;
an actuator coupled to the first, the second, and the third valve assemblies and operable to move the first, second, and third valve assemblies simultaneously from the respective first positions to the respective second positions; and
a first, a second, and a third knife element operable to automatically cut the food product to prevent the food product from limiting movement of the first, the second, and the third valve assemblies, respectively, from the respective first positions to the respective second positions.