Means for injecting fluids into food products

A means for injecting fluid into food products is described. The machine comprises a support having a conveyor mounted thereon for conveying the food product from the rearward thereof toward the forward end thereof. A first fluid manifold is movably mounted on the frame above the conveyor and is movable between upper and lower positions wtih respect to the conveyor. A second fluid manifold is movably mounted on the frame above the conveyor rearwardly of the first fluid manifold. A linkage connects the first and second manifolds to a source of power so that the first and second fluid manifolds are 180.degree. out of phase with each other. Each of the first and second fluid manifolds comprises a plurality of smaller individual fluid manifolds which are individually fluidly connected to the source of injection fluid. Each of the individual fluid manifolds includes a stripper plate assembly which not only strips the food product from the needles but which functions as a fluid control valve so that injection fluid is injected into the food product only after the injection needles have moved a predetermined distance into the food product and halts the flow of fluid to the needles at a predetermined depth as the needles are being withdrawn from the food product. The machine includes means for continuously moving the conveyor and for permitting the fluid manifolds to move with the food product as the injection needles are penetrating the food product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a means for injecting fluid into food products 
such as meat, poultry, etc. At the present time, the general accepted 
method of curing meat and other food products is to inject the product, 
through a series of needles, with a pickle or curing solution, and then 
curing the product is a smokehouse. It is extremely desirable that a 
controlled amount of fluid be injected into the product. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,556, applicant disclosed a machine for injecting 
fluid into the meat products and the same has met with considerable 
success. Although the machine of applicant's earlier patent has met with 
considerable success, a problem associated with the same is that the 
weight of the fluid manifold or cross head prevents the same from being 
moved upwardly and downwardly at a rapid rate without creating undue 
vibration in the machine. Further, in applicant's earlier machine, the 
conveyor belt was moved in increments which created inertia problems at 
high production speeds due to the acceleration of the conveyor becoming 
excessive and the inertia force of the meat product overcoming the 
conveying friction with slippage occurring. 
A further shortcoming of the prior art is that ordinarily only a few large 
stripper plates or pads are employed with each of the stripper plates 
controlling the flow of injection fluid through the needles associated 
with those particular stripper plates. Still another disadvantage of the 
prior art is that it has been difficult to precisely control the flow of 
injection fluid so that the needles are allowed to penetrate the product 
before fluid begins to flow as well as halting the flow of fluid before 
the needles leave the meat product. 
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved 
means for injecting fluids into food products such as meat, poultry, etc. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for injecting fluid 
into food products wherein the food product conveyor is moved 
continuously. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for injecting 
fluids into food products wherein a pair of transversely mounted fluid 
manifold assemblies extend across the conveyor with one of the assemblies 
being positioned rearwardly of the other assembly. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine for injecting 
fluids into food products wherein first and second fluid manifolds or 
cross heads are employed with the fluid manifolds being 180.degree. out of 
phase with respect to each other. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine for injecting 
fluids into food products wherein a large number of individual fluid 
manifolds are employed to insure precise metering of the injection fluid 
into the food product. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine for injecting 
fluids into food products wherein the fluid manifolds are reciprocated in 
a generally circular path to permit the fluid manifolds to move with the 
food product as the food product is being conveyed therebeneath. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine for injecting 
fluids into food products which includes means for preventing the flow of 
injection fluid into the food product until after the needles have 
penetrated the food product to a predetermined depth and which stops the 
flow of injection fluid to the needles prior to the needles leaving the 
food product. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine for injecting 
fluids into food products including a plurality of injection needles which 
are yieldably urged downwardly by the pressure of the injection fluid. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine for injecting 
fluid which is durable in use and refined in appearance. 
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A means for injecting fluid into food products is described including a 
frame means having a continuously moving conveyor mounted thereon which 
conveys the food product from the rearward end thereof to the forward end 
thereof. First and second fluid manifolds or cross heads assembled 
180.degree. out of phase are vertically movably mounted on the frame means 
over the conveyor with the second fluid manifold means being mounted 
rearwardly of the first fluid manifold means. Each of the fluid manifold 
means is comprised of a plurality of individual fluid manifolds which 
include stripper plates mounted thereon which are movable therewith to 
engage the upper surface of the food product. A stripper stem extends 
upwardly from the stripper plate through the fluid manifold and functions 
as a valve so that injection fluid is injected into the food product only 
after the needles have penetrated the food product to a predetermined 
depth. The valve also halts the flow of injection fluid to the needles 
prior to the needles leaving the food product. The fluid manifolds are 
vertically movably mounted and pivotally connected to the frame means so 
that they are reciprocated in a generally circular path to enable the 
fluid manifold and needles to move with the food product as the injecting 
needles are penetrating the food product. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED METHOD AND MEANS 
The machine for injecting fluids into food products such as meat, poultry, 
etc. is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. Machine 10 
comprises a wheeled frame means 12 including an endless conveyor 14 which 
is movably mounted thereon to enable the food product 16 to be 
continuously conveyed from the rearward end 18 of the machine to the 
forward end 20 of the machine. The numeral 22 refers to a motor mounted on 
the frame means 12 which is connected to pump 24 having conduit 26 
extending therefrom. Pump 24 is in communication with a source of 
injection fluid. 
Motor 28 is also mounted on frame means 12 and is operatively connected to 
a pulley 30 by means of belt 32. Sprocket 34 is mounted for rotation with 
pulley 30 and has chain 36 extending therearound. Chain 36 extends around 
sprockets 38 and 40 which are mounted on shafts 42 and 44 respectively 
which are suitably rotatably mounted on the frame means 12. Sprocket 46 is 
mounted for rotation with shaft 44 and has chain 48 extending therearound 
which drives sprocket 50 which in turn drives pulley 52 of conveyor 14. 
A fluid manifold supporting frame 54 extends over the conveyor 14 as 
illustrated. A pair of cross heads or fluid manifolds 56 and 56' are 
vertically movably mounted on the frame 54 and are identical except that 
the cross heads 56 and 56' are 180.degree. out of phase with respect to 
each other so that cross head 56 will be in its uppermost position when 
cross head 56' is in its lowermost position and vice versa. 
Inasmuch as cross heads 56 and 56' are identical, only cross head 56 will 
be described in detail with corresponding structure on cross head 56' 
being indicated by "'". Cross head 56 includes a pair of shafts 58 and 60 
which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the upper end of 
frame 54 and which extend downwardly therefrom. Shafts 58 and 60 extend 
through guides 62 and 64 which are mounted on the upper surface of a 
transversely extending bar 66. Shafts 58 and 60 extend through bar 66 and 
extend through brackets 68 and 70 which extend inwardly from plates 72 and 
74 respectively, the upper ends of which are secured by welding or the 
like to the opposite ends of bar 66. Collars 76 and 78 are mounted on the 
lower ends of shafts 58 and 60 below brackets 68 and 70. 
The numerals 80 and 82 refer to connecting rods which are pivotally 
connected to plates 72 and 74 respectively by means of bolts 84 and 86 
respectively extending through the connecting rods 80 and 82 below the 
upper ends thereof. The upper end of connecting rods 80 and 82 are 
pivotally secured to guides 88 and 90 by means of bolts 92 and 94. As seen 
in the drawings, the sides of each of the guides 88 and 90 are provided 
with channels 96 and 98 formed therein. As seen in FIG. 4, the channels 96 
and 98 slidably receive the vertically disposed bars 100 and 102 mounted 
on the frame 54. 
A relatively large number of individual fluid manifolds 104 are secured to 
cross member 106 which is secured to and extends between the lower ends of 
plates 72 and 74. Each of the fluid manifolds 104 is provided with a 
vertically disposed bore 108 extending upwardly therethrough. For purposes 
of description, bore 108 will be described as having a lower end portion 
110, reduced diameter portion or first intermediate bore portion 112 and 
enlarged diameter portion or second intermediate bore portion 114. A seal 
116 is provided at the lower end of reduced diameter portion 112 which 
embraces rod or shaft 118 extending through bore 108 as best seen in FIG. 
7. A horizontally extending bore or passageway 120 is in communication 
with reduced diameter portion 112 above seal 116 and is in communication 
with port or passageway 122 extending through cross member 106. Passageway 
122 is in communication with conduit 124 which is in operative 
communication with the conduit 26. Thus, actuation of the motor 22 
operates pump 24 so that injection fluid is supplied to passageway 122, 
passageway 120 and the bore 108. O-ring 126 is mounted on rod 118 in such 
a manner so that O-ring 126 will be positioned above passageway 120 when 
rod 118 is in its lowermost position as illustrated in FIG. 5. As seen in 
FIG. 5, when rod 118 is in its lowermost position, O-ring 126 sealably 
engages the inside wall surface of reduced diameter portion 112 to prevent 
injection fluid from being supplied to the enlarged diameter portion 114 
of bore 108. The upper end of enlarged diameter portion 114 of bore 108 is 
in communication with the upper ends of a plurality of vertically disposed 
needle bores 128, each of which has an injector needle 130 movably mounted 
therein. Seal 129 embraces the upper end of rod 118 to prevent fluid from 
escaping outwardly therearound. Each of the injector needles 130 has an 
enlarged head portion 132 at its upper end which engages the inside wall 
surface of the bore 128 so that the fluid pressure in bore 128 will cause 
the needle 130 to be yieldably moved downwardly to its lowermost injecting 
position as will be described in more detail hereinafter. 
A stripper plate assembly 134 is secured to the lower end of each of the 
rods 118 and comprises a pair of plates 136 and 138 secured to the rod 
118. Each of the plates 136 and 138 have a plurality of needle openings 
140 formed therein through which the needles 130 extend. Plate 138 has a 
bar 142 secured thereto which extends upwardly therefrom. Collar 144 is 
mounted on the upper end of bar 142 and has a horizontally extending ear 
146 provided thereon which engages the upper end of spring 148 and the 
lower end of spring 150. The lower end of spring 148 is in engagement with 
the upper end of rod 118 while the upper end of spring 150 is in 
engagement with the underside of bar 66. 
A crank arm 152 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the connecting 
rod 80 and is operatively connected to the shaft 44. The lower end of 
connecting rod 80' is pivotally connected to crank arm 152' which is 
operatively connected to shaft 42. As seen in FIG. 3, the crank arms 152 
and 152' are positioned so as to be out of phase 180.degree. with respect 
to each other so that cross head 56 will be in its uppermost position when 
cross head 56' is in its lowermost position and vice versa. 
In operation, the meat or food product to be injected is placed on the 
rearward end of the conveyor 14. The motor 22 is actuated as is the motor 
28. Activation of motor 28 causes conveyor 14 to be activated so that the 
product 16 is conveyed from the rearward end of the conveyor to the 
forward end of the conveyor or from left to right as viewed in FIG. 1. 
Activation of motor 28 also causes shafts 42 and 44 to be rotated. 
Activation of motor 22 causes the pump 24 to supply injection fluid such 
as pickling brine or the like to the cross heads or fluid manifolds 56 and 
56'. 
As the product 16 is moved from the rearward end of the conveyor to the 
forward end of the conveyor in a continuous fashion, the rotation of 
shafts 42 and 44 causes connecting rods 80 and 80' to be moved upwardly 
and downwardly as previously described. The linkage connecting the shaft 
44 to the cross head 56 causes the cross head to be moved in a generally 
circular pattern. For example, cross head 56 is shown in almost its 
uppermost position in FIG. 3. As crank arm 152 moves connecting rod 80 
upwardly, guide 88 slides within bars 100 and 102. The pivotal connection 
of the shafts 58 and 60 to the upper frame 54 causes the cross head 56 to 
be inclined slightly forwardly as the connecting rod 80 moves to its 
uppermost position. As crank rod 152 rotates counterclockwise past its 
upwardly extending position, connecting rod 80 will begin to move 
downwardly which will cause the cross head 56 to be inclined rearwardly 
during the downward stroke of the connecting rod 80. FIG. 3 illustrates 
the cross head 56 in the rearwardly extending position during the downward 
movement of the connecting rod 80. The pivotal connection between the 
connecting rod 80 and the cross head 56 permits the cross head 56 to move 
or pivot forwardly with the food product 16 as the food product is passing 
therebeneath and as the injector needles are penetrating the food product. 
Thus, the linkage connecting the shafts 42 and 44 with the cross heads 
permits the conveyor to be moved in a continuous fashion thereby insuring 
that the food product will remain in frictional engagement with the 
conveyor to achieve the most efficient conveying of the same. 
Although injection fluid is constantly supplied to the individual fluid 
manifolds 104, injection fluid is only supplied to the upper ends of the 
injection needles 130 when the rod 118 has moved upwardly from the upper 
end of reduced diameter portion 112 of bore 108. Thus, when the cross head 
56 is initially lowered with respect to the conveyor, rod 118 remains in 
the position illustrated in FIG. 5 until the plate 136 has engaged the 
upper portion of the product 16 and the individual fluid manifold 104 has 
over-travelled plate 136 or moved downwardly with respect thereto so that 
fluid can pass through port 120, reduced diameter portion 112, enlarged 
diameter portion 114 and into the upper ends of the needle bores 128. It 
can be seen that the needles must therefore penetrate the product a 
predetermined depth before injection fluid is supplied to the needle to 
insure maximum fluid retention within the product. The "lost" motion 
between the stripper plate assembly and the fluid manifold is also present 
as the injector needles are being raised out of engagement with the 
product. The spring 150 yieldably urges the bar 142 downwardly as the 
fluid manifold is being raised relative to the product so that the needles 
are efficiently stripped from the product. As the fluid manifold 104 is 
being raised relative to the stripper plate assembly, fluid will be 
supplied to the needles 130 until O-ring 126 is again located in the 
reduced diameter portion 112 thereby preventing fluid flow to the needles. 
The fluid pressure within the bores 128 cause the needles 130 to be in 
their lowermost injection position due to the pressure exerting downward 
force on the head 132 of the needles 130. If the needles 130 should strike 
an obstruction such as a bone or the like in the product, the needles 130 
will move upwardly within their respective bores to prevent breakage to 
the needle or needles. 
It has also been found that more efficient fluid injection is obtained by 
providing a large number of the fluid manifolds 104 and the individual 
stripping plate assemblies as previously described. 
A great deal of vibration is also eliminated in the machine of this 
invention due to the fact that the cross heads 56 and 56' are 180.degree. 
out of phase with each other so that one cross head is being raised while 
the other cross head is being lowered so that the inertia of one 
neutralizes the inertia of the other to cause a smooth operation, even at 
a comparatively fast rpm. 
FIGS. 9-12 show an alternate embodiment of the meat injection means. The 
main body of the machine, including the machine frame, fluid manifold 
supporting frame, connecting rods, and conveyer means, is identical to 
that previously described. Alternate means for transferring the injection 
fluid from the source to the needle is shown in FIGS. 9-12. 
The fluid manifolds 104 have a vertically disposed bore 108 having a lower 
bore portion 110, and intermediate reduced bore portion 112 and an 
enlarged bore portion 114. Bore 108 also has a first annular groove 160 in 
communication with horizontal bore 120 and a second annular groove 162 
which may have a bevelled edge 163. Second annular groove 162 is in 
communication with vertical needle bores 128 by way of passageways 164. 
Passageways 164 terminate in reservoirs 165, which in turn are in 
communication with vertical needle bores 128. 
Shaft 118 extends through bore 108 and has a slidable collar 166 having an 
annular groove 168 with bevelled edges 170. Collar 166 of shaft 118 
comprises an enlarged diameter portion 172 and a reduced diameter portion 
174. 
Fixed by pin 176 to shaft 118 above the fluid manifold 104 is a second 
collar 178 which releasably maintains collar 166 of shaft 118 in a 
lowermost position when plate 180 of fluid manifold 104 engages second 
collar 178. A compressed spring 182 extending through first collar 166 of 
shaft 118 and having its lower end abutting the lower end of reduced bore 
portion 112 and its upper end abutting reduced diameter portion 174 of 
collar 166 upwardly urges collar 166 of shaft 118 to an uppermost position 
in contact with plate 180 mounted on fluid manifold 104. When collar 166 
of shaft 118 is in its uppermost position annular groove 168 of collar 166 
is in fluid communication with first and second annular grooves 160 and 
162, respectively, of fluid manifold 104. When collar 166 of shaft 118 is 
in its lowermost position, a first O-ring 184 located on collar 166 
prevents fluid from dripping down along bore 108 from annular groove 168 
of collar 166. A second O-ring 186 located on fluid manifold 104 prevents 
fluid from passing directly from first annular groove 160 of fluid 
manifold 104 to second annular groove 162 of fluid manifold 104 when 
annular groove 168 is not in communication therebetween. A third O-ring 
188 located on fluid manifold 104 prevents fluid from escaping second 
annular groove 162 and passing into bore 108. 
In operation, when fluid manifold 104 moves downward, plate 136 contacts 
the meat product and the upper end of reduced diameter portion 174 of 
collar 166 of shaft 118 moves out of retentive engagement with second 
collar 178. Accordingly, spring 182 urges collar 166 upward so that 
annular groove 168 of collar 166 is in communication with both first and 
second annular grooves 160 and 162 of fluid manifold 104. Fluid passes 
from horizontal bore 120 into annular grooves 160, 168, and 162 
respectively. The fluid then passes into passageways 164 which terminate 
in reservoirs 165, which in turn are in communication with vertical needle 
bores 128. When fluid manifold 104 moves upwardly so that needles 130 are 
withdrawn from the meat product, second collar 178 contacts reduced 
diameter portion 174 of collar 166 of shaft 118 so that collar 166 is 
forced downward, thus compressing spring 182 and moving annular groove 168 
of collar 166 out of communication with first and second annular grooves 
160 and 162 of fluid manifold 104. 
Thus, it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its 
stated objectives.