Patent ID: 7097553
Filing Date: 2006-08-29
Classification: A22C

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for forming a shaped meat product from a meat component of given peripheral and volumetric shape, comprising: a female die assembly with an outward side and an inward side with one or more cavities having inwardly disposed peripheral wall portions and having slots defining said meat product shape with said peripheral wall portions, first ones of said slots being configured for receiving a meat cutting blade from said outward side, and second ones of said slots being configured for receiving a meat cutting blade at said inward side; a male die assembly with an outward side and an inward side, having slots defining said meat product shape, third ones of said slots being configured for receiving a meat cutting blade from said outward side and corresponding with said second ones of said slots, and forth ones of said slots being configured for receiving a meat cutting blade from said inward side and corresponding with said first ones of said slots; a die transport assembly actuable to move said female die assembly into a loading station at which a said meat component is received upon said one or more cavities; subsequently actuable to move said female die assembly and said male die assembly into die defining mutual registry generally urging said meat component into adjacency with said peripheral wall portions; actuable to move said die to a cutting region; and actuable to separate said female die assembly and said male die assembly at an exit region; a first blade mount assembly at said cutting region moveable between one or more first non-cutting position and a first cutting position adjacent a said female die assembly located at said cutting region; one or more dynamically actuable first blades supported by said first blade mount assembly and movable therewith to said first cutting position wherein said first blades move into cutting relationship with a said meat component from said female die assembly outward side through said first and fourth ones of said slots, and further movable therewith into a said first non-cutting position removing said first blades from said first and fourth ones of said slots; a second blade mount assembly at said cutting region moveable between one or more second non-cutting positions and a second cutting position adjacent said male die assembly located at said cutting region; one or more dynamically actuable second blades supported by said second blade mount assembly and moveable therewith to said second cutting position and wherein said second blades move into cutting relationship with said meat component from said male die assembly outward side through said second and third ones of said slots, and further moveable therewith into a said second non-cutting position removing said second blades out of said second and third ones of said slots; a transport actuator configured to actuate said die transport assembly; a blade mount positioning actuator configured to effect said movement of said first and second blade mount assemblies; and a blade drive actuator configured to actuate said first and second blades.