Patent GB-1270295-A (GB)
Title: A machine for automatically preparing hamburger-type steaks
IPC: A22C7/00
Filed: 1969-04-28
Abstract: 1,270,295. Moulding Hamburger-like steaks. OFFICINA A.M.B. DI ANTONIO MEZZAQUI TORNERIA MECCANICA. 28 April, 1969 [27 April, 1968], No. 21627/69. Heading B5A. [Also in Division A2] A machine for preparing hamburger-like steaks from minced meat comprises a container for the minced meat, said container having blades which supply and press the minced meat into a cavity in the base of said container, a lever arm comprising a disc for receiving a steak from the cavity of said container, means for placing a protective sheet on the disc before it receives the steak and on the steak after it is placed on the disc, means for pressing the steak when the disc is located in a second container and means for ejecting the steak from the disc on to a conveyer. In the apparatus shown, the parts of the apparatus are operated in the correct sequence by an electrically driven camshaft. The minced meat container 2 has a cavity 19 in its base. Rotating hub 7 carries blades pivotable about a horizontal axis. The blades normally move with only the rear in contact with the base of container 2 so that the minced meat is pushed along, but, in the neighbourhood of cavity 19, the " front " edge of the blade is forced downwards by a cam 16 and compresses minced meat into the cavity. The pressing means comprises a disc 41 mounted in the second container 70 and a pressing member 22 biased into contact with disc 41 by spring 25 and forced out of contact by cam 26 acting on rod 24 on which the pressing member is mounted. The disc 41 is mounted on vertically movable rod 40 and can be raised by cam 38 and pin 37 for ejection of the pressed steak. When the disc 41 is in the raised position the steak is swept from it and into a shoot 74 by a pivoted arm 34 which carries a pinion at its lower end; said pinion engaging an arcuate rack on the end of a lever which is reciprocated by slider 30 of cam 29. The disc 41 and surrounding container 70 can be moved from the position shown to a.position beneath the cavity 19 where a steak is received, by the action of arm 43 which is rigidly connected to pinion 45 and oscillated by cam slider 46. When the disc 41 is not under the cavity 19, a plate 76 is swung thereunder to close the base of the cavity and prevent loss of meat. The protective sheets 73 are stacked and maintained at a constant level by return spring and are picked up by valves 60, 61 connected by pipe 59 and flexible tube 69 to a source of vacuum. The arm 59 can reciprocate about a horizontal axis by the action of cam 65, rod 64, rack 63 and pinion 62 and the assembly can rotate about a vertical axis from the stack to the disc 41 by the action of cam slider 56 and pinion 54. A cam 68 controls a valve 67 in the vacuum line so that the sheets are picked up and deposited at the correct times and places. The operating sequence is as follows. Minced meat in container 2 is forced by the blades into the cavity 19 and is partially pressed therein. At the same time a cellophane sheet is picked up from the container and placed on disc 41. The disc 41 and container 70 are moved under cavity 19 and the next adjacent blade forces meat from the cavity into the container defined by the disc 41 and container 70. The thickness of the steak can be varied by raising or lowering the disc in the cavity by displacement by screwing of sleeve 71. Disc 51 is returned to its original position, the cavity being closed by plate 76 and another cellophane sheet is placed on the meat. Disc 22 is lowered into the cavity and presses the meat and after this disc has been raised the disc 41 is raised to the level of the top of container 70 and arm 35 is actuated to eject the steak into the shoot 74.