Abstract:
A facility that includes a means for forming meat fragments, and a movable support for the meat fragments, which is to convey said meat fragments in a longitudinal direction, through a means for cohesively compacting meat fragments to form a block of compacted meat fragments. The cohesive compaction means includes two movable compaction shoes for compacting the meat fragments between the movable support and said shoes. The shoes are mutually transversely offset relative to the longitudinal direction of conveyance. The shoes are each driven in a vertical alternating movement, such that the pads move relative to one another and out of phase with each other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. National Phase application of PCT Application No. PCT/FR2013/051951 filed Aug. 20, 2013, which claims priority to the French application 1257983 filed on Aug. 24, 2012, which applications are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing a restructured meat element. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Already known from the prior art, in particular from WO 2007/085773, which is equivalent to U. S. Publication No. 2009/0220660 and to U.S. Pat. No. 8,475,861, is a facility for manufacturing a restructured meat element, of the type comprising:
         means for forming fragments of meat, and   a moving support for the fragments of meat designed to convey these fragments of meat in a longitudinal direction, through means for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat to form a block of tamped fragments of meat.       

     It is generally desired that a piece of restructured meat retain, as far as possible, with respect to mastication of the latter by a consumer, properties similar to those of a piece of non-destructured meat. 
     This is obtained in particular by preserving—as well as possible—the structure of the lipocytes and myofibrils of the meat, whose diameter is generally less than 50 micrometers. 
     The means for forming fragments of meat proposed in WO 2007/085773 make it possible to preserve, relatively satisfactorily, the structure of the lipocytes and of the myofibrils, by forming fragments of meat such that each fragment is in the general shape of a sheet having a surface area between 5 and 10 cm 2  and a thickness between 3 and 9 tenths of a mm. 
     The means for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat proposed in WO 2007/085773 comprise two conveyor belts for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat. The two tamping belts are arranged one above the other such that the lower belt extends substantially horizontally and the upper belt is inclined with respect to the lower belt. The two tamping conveyor belts converge from upstream to downstream with respect to the direction of motion of the fragments of meat between these belts so as to cohesively tamp the fragments of meat. 
     The means for forming fragments of meat proposed in WO 2007/085773, which is equivalent to U. S. Publication No. 2009/0220660 and to U.S. Pat. No. 8,475,861, make it possible to preserve, relatively satisfactorily, the structure of the lipocytes and of the myofibrils, by forming fragments of meat such that each fragment is in the general shape of a sheet having a surface area between 5 and 10 cm 2  and a thickness between 3 and 9 tenths of a mm. 
     The means for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat proposed in WO 2007/085773, which is equivalent to U. S. Publication No. 2009/0220660 and to U.S. Pat. No. 8,475,861, comprise two conveyor belts for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat. The two tamping belts are arranged one above the other such that the lower belt extends substantially horizontally and the upper belt is inclined with respect to the lower belt. The two tamping conveyor belts converge from upstream to downstream with respect to the direction of motion of the fragments of meat between these belts so as to cohesively tamp the fragments of meat. 
     The means for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat proposed in WO 2007/085773, which is equivalent to U. S. Publication No. 2009/0220660 and to U.S. Pat. No. 8,475,861, are generally effective. However, there is a desire to further optimize their effectiveness. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention has in particular the object of optimizing the operation of the means for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat. 
     To that end, the invention relates to a facility for manufacturing a restructured meat element, of the type comprising:
         means for forming fragments of meat, and   a moving support for the fragments of meat designed to convey these fragments of meat in a longitudinal direction, through means for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat to form a block of tamped fragments of meat,       

     characterized in that the cohesive tamping means comprise:
         two moving shoe for tamping the fragments of meat between the moving support and these shoe, the shoe being offset with respect to one another transversely with respect to the longitudinal conveying direction, and   means for driving the shoes, each following an alternating vertical movement such that the shoes move out of phase with respect to one another.       

     In the above and below, the vertical direction is that defined by gravity. 
     It will be noted that the cohesive tamping means equipped with the two shoes defined above are relatively effective by virtue of the fact that the shoes act on regions which are offset transversely from the block of tamped fragments of meat being formed, and are out of phase with respect to one another. 
     The out of phase vertical alternating movements of the two shoes transmit, to the block of tamped fragments of meat being formed, adequately distributed tamping forces. 
     According to other optional features of the invention:
         each shoe has a contact surface with the fragments of meat, which surface is formed so as to tamp in the direction of a reduction in the transverse dimensions of the block of tamped fragments of meat being formed;   the contact surface with the fragments of meat is substantially curved about an axis parallel to the longitudinal conveying direction;   the shoes are aligned transversely from the longitudinal conveying direction;   the means for alternating the vertical movement of the shoes comprise fluid actuator means, for example two actuators respectively connected to the two tamping shoes;   the cohesive tamping means comprise means for leveling the block of tamped fragments of meat being formed, arranged upstream of the tamping shoes with respect to a moving direction of the fragments of meat through the means for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat, these leveling means comprising a leveling member designed to engage with the upper side of the block of tamped fragments of meat being formed, and means for driving the leveling member following an oscillating rocking motion;   the leveling member is in the general shape of a rake equipped with tines comprising free ends designed to engage with the upper side of the block of tamped fragments of meat being formed;   the means for driving the leveling member comprise a rotary drive motor and means for transforming the rotary motion of the motor into a rocking motion of the leveling member, these motion transforming means comprising a crank equipped with a first end connected to a rotary shaft of the drive motor and with a second end connected to a crank pin designed to slide in a straight rail connected to a rocking shaft of the leveling member;   the moving support for fragments of meat comprises a conveyor belt;   the cohesive tamping means comprise two conveyor belts for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat converging from upstream to downstream with respect to the motion direction of the fragments of meat through the means for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat, the two tamping belts being arranged one above the other, the lower tamping belt being formed by the moving support for fragments of meat.       

     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood upon reading the following purely exemplary description with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a facility for manufacturing a restructured meat element according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a detail perspective view, seen according to the arrow II of  FIG. 1 , showing the moving shoes of the cohesive tamping means of the facility of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a hydraulic actuator of the displacement means of one of the shoes; and 
         FIG. 4  is a detail perspective view, seen according to the arrow IV of  FIG. 1 , showing the leveling member of the facility of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a facility for manufacturing a restructured meat element, according to the invention, designated by the general reference  10 . 
     This facility  10  comprises various means, which will be described hereafter, creating a route for the meat from an upstream end, where the fragments of destructured meat are produced, to a downstream end, where the elements of restructured meat are collected. The left-right direction of  FIG. 1  corresponds to the upstream-downstream direction of the route taken by the meat. 
     The elements of restructured meat have for example a generally cylindrical shape. Of course, the base of the generally cylindrical shape is not necessarily circular and may in particular be ovoid. The elements of restructured meat, which are not shown in the figures, are of the classic type, for example as described in WO 2007/085773. 
     The facility  10  comprises, from upstream to downstream, means  12  for forming fragments of meat and means for transforming these fragments into elements of restructured meat. These transforming means comprise means  14  for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat, to form a block of tamped fragments of meat, as well as other conventional means which are described for example in WO 2007/085773. The cohesive tamping means  14  are borne by a frame  15 . 
     The means  12  for forming fragments of meat are of the classic type and comprise means known per se for cooling and slicing pieces of meat obtained by butchering animals. 
     In the example shown, the means  12  form fragments of meat (not shown) such that each fragment is in the general shape of a sheet having a surface area between 5 and 10 cm 2  and a thickness between 3 and 9 tenths of a mm. 
     The fragments of meat are transported, using conventional means, from the forming means  12  to an upper opening of a receiver  16  into which the fragments of meat fall by gravity. The receiver  16 , borne by the frame  15 , is delimited in particular by two longitudinal vertical walls  17 , only one of which being shown in  FIG. 1  for reasons of clarity. 
     The frame  15  also bears a moving support for the fragments of meat. This moving support, which is shown in  FIG. 1  and which will be described in more detail below, is designed to convey the fragments of meat in a longitudinal direction D, from the receiver  16  to the cohesive tamping means  14 , to form a block of tamped fragments of meat. 
       FIGS. 1, 2 and 4  show a block of tamped fragments of meat being formed, designated by the reference  18 . 
     The means  14  for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat comprise means  19  with conveyor belts comprising two conveyor belts  20 ,  22  for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat. The two tamping belts  20 ,  22  are arranged one above the other such that the lower belt  20  extends substantially horizontally and the upper belt  22  is inclined with respect to the lower belt  20 . 
     The two tamping belts  20 ,  22  converge from upstream to downstream with respect to the motion direction of the fragments of meat between these belts  20 ,  22  so as to enhance the cohesive tamping of the fragments of meat. 
     The means  19  with conveyor belts preferably also comprise two other conveyor belts  24 ,  26  for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat, arranged laterally on the left and the right of a space delimited by the two conveyor belts  20 ,  22 . The two lateral tamping conveyor belts  24 ,  26  converge from upstream to downstream with respect to the motion direction of the fragments of meat between these belts  24 ,  26  so as to enhance the cohesive tamping of the fragments of meat. 
     It is to be noted that the lower belt  20  forms the bottom of the receiver  16  and bears the fragments of meat so as to transport them, parallel to the longitudinal conveying direction D, from this receiver  16  to a space between the four tamping conveyor belts  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 . The above-mentioned moving support for fragments of meat is thus formed by the lower tamping belt  20 . 
     The means  14  for cohesively tamping the fragments of meat also comprise means  30  with tamping shoes, arranged upstream of the means  19  with conveyor belts, and leveling means  32 , arranged upstream of the shoe means  30  with. 
     The shoe means  30  comprise two moving tamping shoes  34 , shown in more detail in  FIG. 2 , designed to tamp the fragments of meat between the lower conveyor belt  20  (moving support) and these shoes  34 . 
     The tamping shoes  34  are offset with respect to one another, transversely from respect to the longitudinal conveying direction of the fragments of meat through the cohesive tamping means  14 . 
     The shoes  34  are preferably aligned transversely from the longitudinal conveying direction as is shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 . 
     As shown in particular in  FIG. 2 , each shoe  34  has a contact surface  36  with the fragments of meat, which surface is formed so as to tamp in the direction of a reduction in the transverse dimensions of the block  18  of tamped fragments of meat being formed. Thus, in the example shown, the contact surface  36  with the fragments of meat is substantially curved about an axis parallel to the longitudinal conveying direction. 
     The tamping shoes  34  are driven, with the aid of means  38 , following an alternating vertical movement such that the shoes  34  move out of phase with respect to one another, preferably in phase opposition with respect to one another. 
     In the example shown, the drive means  38  comprise two substantially identical fluid actuators  40 , more particularly pneumatic actuators, respectively connected to the tamping shoes  34 . One actuator  40  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 3 . Each actuator  40  comprises a fixed body  42  in which a stem  44  is mounted such that it can move in vertical translation. The free end  46  of the stem  44  is connected in a manner known per se to a corresponding shoe  34 . 
     The bodies  42  of the two actuators  40  are connected, in a manner known per se, to a fixed portal  48 , shown in  FIG. 1 , which is secured to the frame  15 . 
     The actuators  40  are controlled, with the aid of means known per se, so as to execute the phase-shifted alternating vertical movements of the two tamping shoes  34 . 
     As a variant, the drive means  38  could comprise, instead of the actuators  40 , a crankshaft causing the out of phase alternating movement of the shoes  34 . 
     The leveling means  32  comprise a leveling member  50  designed to engage with the top of the block of tamped fragments of meat being formed. The leveling member  50  is preferably in the general shape of a rake, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , equipped with tines  52 . The free ends  54  of the tines  52  are designed to engage with the top of the block of tamped fragments of meat being formed. 
     The leveling member  50  is borne by a shaft  56  whose axis is substantially transverse to the longitudinal conveying direction and which is mounted so as to be able to rock on two flanges  58  which are secured to the frame  15 . The leveling member  50  is driven following an oscillating rocking motion with the aid of means  60  shown in more detail in  FIG. 4 . 
     In the example shown, the drive means  60  comprise a rotary drive motor  62  and means for transforming the rotary motion of a shaft of the motor into a rocking motion of the leveling member  50 . 
     The motion transforming means comprise a crank  64  equipped with a first end connected to a rotary shaft  66  (shown dash-dotted in  FIG. 4 ) of the motor  62  and with a second end connected to a crank pin  68 . This crank pin  68  is designed to slide in a channel forming a straight rail  70  connected to the rocking shaft  56  of the leveling member  50 . 
     The rail  70  extends substantially radially from one end of the rocking shaft  56 . The end of the rail  70  which is closest to the rocking shaft  56  is open such that it is possible, if necessary, to remove the crank pin  68  from the rail  70  or to engage the crank pin  68  in the rail  70 . 
     The leveling member  50  is balanced about the axis created by the rocking shaft  56 , for example with the aid of means  72  forming a counterweight to the tines  52 . 
     In operation, the lower conveyor belt  20  transports the fragments of meat from the receptacle  16  through the cohesive tamping means  14 . 
     First, the leveling member  50  levels, by virtue of its oscillating rocking motion, the upper surface of the block  18  of tamped fragments of meat being formed. 
     Then, the shoes  34  produce, by virtue of their out of phase alternating vertical movement, a tamping effect which reduces the transverse dimensions of the block  18  of tamped fragments of meat being formed. 
     Finally, the means  19  with conveyor belts complete the tamping of the block  18  of tamped fragments of meat. 
     The block  18  of tamped fragments of meat obtained with the above-described tamping means has a very satisfactory structure in which the mass of meat is adequately distributed, the shape of the block  18  of meat being relatively homogeneous. 
     Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. In particular, the leveling means  32  could if necessary be omitted. Moreover, the means  19  with conveyor belts could be replaced with successive pairs of tamping shoes  34 , wherein the surfaces of the shoes  34  in contact with the fragments of meat could have profiles scalable from upstream to downstream in the facility  10 . 
     While the system, apparatus, process and method herein described constitute preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise system, apparatus, process and method, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.