Abstract:
A meat preparing machine having two vertically stacked columns of two or more non-sharpened edge stainless steel rollers, or of various other materials such as plastic or aluminum, adjacent to one another in an aluminum or stainless steel frame. The stacked rollers are configured to tenderize, flatten, scrape or cut the meat into strips. Four threaded shafts with numbers connect each corner of the stacked rollers to an adjacent corner of the other stacked rollers to allow for the adjustment of the spacing between the stacked rollers. A first conveyor belt with scraper at the end to discharge meat into the first and second columns is mounted adjacent the top of the rollers for feeding the meat into the rollers. A second conveyor belt with scrapers to discharge meat is mounted adjacent the bottom of the rollers for retrieving the prepared meat from the machine. The second conveyor belt has an adjustable, weighted finisher roller with scraper structured to further reduce the thickness and remove any coarse texture in the product. Removing the motor, conveyor belts and rollers allows the remaining components to be submerged in water for cleaning. A removable cover includes a bump guard to prevent the motor start/stop switch from being accidentally activated. Magnetically operated safety switches prevent activation without the cover and top conveyor in place.

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/122,737, filed Jul. 27, 1998, which has been abandoned. 
    
    
     This invention relates to a meat preparing device, and in particular to a method and apparatus for progressively flattening meat or pressing two or more meats together to become one piece, changing or controlling the shape of the product, repairing holes in damaged product, and displacing a thick portion of meat into a thin portion making consistent thickness throughout. It also relates to making a coarse texture on a product, allowing a greater percentage of bread and batter to adhere to product, and making meat more tender by breaking down muscle fiber. 
     The meat includes veal, poultry, beef, pork, lamb, goat, buffalo, horse, ostrich, venison, fish fillets and various other meats. This machine has two vertical stacked rows of rollers wherein the two stacks are parallel to one another and the meats are passed through the space between the rows. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Basic techniques for preparing meat have generally required butchers and food preparers to handle the meat with their hands. Such handling has inherent sanitation problems and the like. Furthermore, such physical handling does not result in a uniform flatness which can be necessary in order to allow for the meat to have a consistent cooking time for all areas of the meat allowing the meat to be cooked evenly, and a final aesthetic plate appearance. Similar problems exist for preparing chicken, veal, beef, pork, lamb, goat, buffalo, and venison, fish fillets, horse, ostrich and various other meats. 
     Several patents have attempted to tenderize meat in rolling machines but still do not overcome the problems presented above. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 2,135,960 to Campbell; U.S. Pat. No. 2,243,492 to Wilson; U.S. Pat. No. 2,718,028 to Read et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,893 to Vogelsang; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,085,893 to Charron. The tenderizer type machines pierce and penetrate meat and further cause the meat to be chopped up into separate pieces. None of the prior art overcomes the problems presented above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The first objective of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for preparing meat having less contamination and sanitation problems than physical handling. The second object of this invention is to knit or weave two or more pieces of meat together, turning them into one piece of meat. The roller grooves and pressure from rollers will mesh the muscle fibers together without the appearance of being more than one piece. This method can be used for marketing miscuts of meat or small pieces of meat into cutlets. The third object of this invention is to relocate a thicker section of meat into a thinner section of meat, insuring uniform thickness throughout. This method is accomplished by feeding the thicker end of a cutlet into the machine first. The grooves on the rollers and pressure on rollers will break down a thick section of meat and displace it into the thinner section of meat without a radical thickness reduction which results in a faster cooking time and allowing all the meat to be evenly cooked resulting in a more tender and juicy piece of meat. A fourth object of this invention is to control or change the shape of the product by folding the meat over until the proper shape is desired. The grooves on the rollers and pressure on the rollers will reduce the thickness of the folded product and mesh the muscle fibers together resulting in the prepared meat having a better plate appearance. The fifth object of this invention is to repair any holes or imperfections in the product. The product may be over-lapped where the hole or imperfection is and when run through the machine the roller grooves and roller pressure gently mesh muscle fibers together without any indication of imperfection. A sixth object of the invention is to allow bread and batter to better adhere to the product and allow a greater breading percentage on the product. The bottom set of rollers closest to the second conveyor can be replaced with a more textured roller. This roller leaves more deep grooves in the product as the product exits the machine. The seventh object is to break down muscle meat fiber causing the cutlet to become flat, unlike squeezing or stretching method. This method will allow the cutlet to stay flat while cooking. The eighth object is to make meat more tender, this being achieved when muscle fiber is broken down. 
     A preferred embodiment includes an apparatus and method for preparing meat such as beef, pork, lamb, goat, buffalo, venison, poultry, fish, horse, ostrich and various other meats without piercing or shredding the meat which includes a first conveyor belt for feeding the meat into the apparatus which includes a scraper at the end where meat is discharged into rollers, a feeder slide plate which helps guide the meat into the rollers insuring firm or thick pieces of meat do not extend behind the rear stack of rollers, a first row of stacked stainless steel rollers, a second row of stacked stainless steel rollers spaced from the first row of stacked rollers, and a second conveyor belt for retrieving the flattened meat. The second conveyor belt has a finisher roller that is powered by the same motor as the rollers and conveyors This roller presses the meat against the second conveyor belt reducing the thickness and removing any coarse texture in the product. The finisher roller has screw shafts with numbers allowing the finisher roller to adjust up or down to apply pressure on the product. The finisher roller has a scraper making sure that meat does not stick to the finisher roller. After the meat passes under the finisher roller the scraper on the second conveyor insures accurate discharge of product. Each roller has non-sharpened outer edges and each set of rollers has numbers to enable matching the numbers on rollers with the numbers on the frame. The rollers are supported in an aluminum or stainless steel frame and have four elongated, numbered screw shafts that each attaches a corner of the first row of stacked rollers to a corresponding corner of the second row of stacked rollers. The numbered screw shafts adjust the spacing between the first row of stacked rollers and the second row of stacked rollers to form a substantially V-cross-sectional shape. Each stack of rollers includes at least two rollers and preferably six or more rollers stacked on top of one another. Each roller has rows of generally triangular shaped raised ridges parallel to each roller axis with each triangular ridge having non-sharpened edges. The diameter of the rollers varies from top to bottom with the top rollers being of generally larger diameter than the bottom rollers. Some textured meats will require rollers to be generally smaller in diameter at the top and a larger diameter at the bottom. Likewise, the depth of the grooves between the triangular ridges varies from top to bottom with the top rollers having generally greater groove depth than the bottom rollers. The groove depth ranges generally from between ¼ inch deep to {fraction (1/64)} inch deep. The last set of rollers closest to the second conveyor has smooth slots cut in them allowing finger wipers to make contact on a smooth surface. This will allow meat to discharge onto the second conveyor without sticking to the bottom set of rollers. The frame includes an external cover, an external start and stop switch for activating a removable electric motor in the frame, and a bump guard bar on the cover protecting the external switch from being accidentally activated. A safety switch can activate the start/stop switch only when the cover is on the frame and when the top conveyor is installed into position. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1A is a perspective exterior view of the novel meat preparing invention. 
     FIG. 1B is a side view of the novel meat preparing invention of FIG. 1A along arrow A. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the meat preparing invention of FIG. 1 without the cover. 
     FIG. 2A is a close-up of the main cover. 
     FIGS. 2B and 2C show the finger wipers in changed position relative to the rollers. 
     FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3B is a side-perspective view of the chain drive assembly of FIG.  3 A. 
     FIG. 3C is an exploded view of the finisher roller weight. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the chain drive assemblies of FIG.  3 A. 
     FIG. 4A is a close-up of a lubricated plastic bushing. 
     FIG. 5A is an isolated view of a roller combination. 
     FIG. 5B is an isolated view of a roller combination. 
     FIG. 5C is an isolated view of a roller combination. 
     FIG. 5D is an isolated view of a roller combination. 
     FIG. 5E is an isolated view of a roller combination. 
     FIG. 5F is an isolated view of a roller combination. 
     FIG. 5G is an isolated view of a roller combination. 
     FIG. 5H is a cross-sectional view of the meat preparing invention of FIG. 2 along arrow YI. 
     FIG. 5I is a close-up of the finger wipers. 
     FIG. 5J is a top plan view of the roller showing right side opening while the left side stays closed. 
     FIG. 5K is an isolated view of various roller configurations. 
     FIG. 5L is an isolated view of various roller configurations. 
     FIG. 6 is a rear view of the meat preparing device showing the rear cover. 
     FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the top conveyor. 
     FIG. 7A is a close-up of a slide bolt and bushing. 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of top conveyor. 
     FIG. 8A is a close-up of a roller drive sprocket and locking pin. 
     FIG. 9A is a top perspective view of top conveyor showing the belt installation. 
     FIG. 9B is an exploded view of top conveyor drive roller assembly. 
     FIG. 10A is a top perspective view of the bottom conveyor, in partial section. 
     FIG. 10B is an exploded view of finished roller assembly taken across line B 1  of FIG.  10 A. 
     FIG. 10C is an exploded view of the left side plate and left side slide pocket frame. 
     FIG. 10D is a bottom perspective view of the bottom conveyor showing the bottom conveyor drive assembly. 
     FIG. 10E is an exploded view of the bottom conveyor drive assembly of FIG.  10 D. 
     FIG. 11A is an enlarged view of upper right roller spacing adjustment shaft knob used in meat preparing machine. 
     FIG. 11B is a side view of the front shaft block of FIG. 11A along arrow D. 
     FIG. 11C is a side view of the rear shaft block of FIG. 11A along arrow E. 
     FIG. 12A is an exploded view of a single roller assembly of the invention of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 12B is an exploded view of the left roller shaft bearing with drive block shaft connector. 
     FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the motor. 
     FIG. 14 is a side perspective view of the motor and electric box along line C of FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 15A is a front perspective view of the electrical control box. 
     FIG. 15B is an inside perspective view of the electrical control box. 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the cradle. 
     FIG. 16A is a close-up of a handle fastener for the roller cradle. 
     FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus, taken across the line F 17 —F 17  of FIG. 1A, showing the insertion of the cradle into the meat preparing apparatus. 
     FIG. 18 is an isolated view of the tenderizer roller combination. 
     FIG. 18A is a partial side view of two meshing interweaving rollers. 
     FIG. 18B is a partial perspective view of front and back tenderizing scrapers. 
     FIG. 19 is an isolated view of the tenderizing and flattening roller combination. 
     FIG. 19A is a partial side view of two intermeshing rollers of FIG.  19 . 
     FIG. 20 is an isolated view of a second tenderizing and flattening roller combination. 
     FIG. 21 is an isolated view of a tenderizing, flattening and slicing roller combination. 
     FIG.  21 A and FIG. 21B are a partial side views of the intermeshing rollers of FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 22 is an isolated view of a second tenderizing, flattening and slicing roller combination. 
     FIG. 22A is a partial perspective view of the cutter blade scraper. 
     FIG. 22B is a partial perspective view of the slotted roller scraper, respectively. 
     FIG. 23 is an isolated view of a flattening and slicing roller combination. 
     FIG. 24A is an exploded view of a tenderizing roller. 
     FIG. 24B is an exploded view of a slicing roller. 
     FIG. 25 is an end view of a flattening roller. 
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     FIG. 1A is a perspective exterior view of the novel meat preparing invention  10 . FIG. 1B is a side view of the novel meat preparing invention  10  of FIG. 1A along arrow A. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the meat preparing invention  10  of FIG. 1A without the main cover  20 . Referring to FIGS. 1A,  1 B and  2 , invention  10  includes a cover  20  having top portion  22  with rectangular feed housing  27  and top conveyor  2700  thereon, left side  24 , front side  26  and right side  28 . Cover  20  is held in place through sides  24 ,  28  by screwable knobs  33  (not shown) and  37  that pass through side holes  32 ,  36  (one side shown in FIG. 1B) and into threaded holes  43 ,  45  of vertical flanges  42 ,  44  and is removed from the back cover  40  in the direction of arrow B (shown in FIG.  1 B). 
     Vertical frame cylindrical support legs  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  are attached at one end beneath lower rectangular support frame  50  and at their opposite end to table  1  by bolts and washers  929 ,  930  (shown in FIG.  3 A). Lower rectangular frame  50  includes bottom left outside frame member  52 , bottom front outside frame member  54 , bottom right outside frame member  56  and bottom rear outside frame member  58  (FIG.  3 A). Upper rectangular support frame  60  having members  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68  are similarly attached to one another and to back cover  40  by conventional fasteners such as screws, nuts and the like. Upper rectangular support frame  60  includes top left outside frame member  62 , top front outside frame member  64 , top right outside frame member  66  and top rear outside frame member  68 . Upper rectangular support frame  60  is attached to lower rectangular support frame  50  by left rear shaft block  82 , left front shaft block  84 , right rear shaft block  86  and right front rear shaft block  88 . Top front outside frame member  64  is connected to top rear outside frame member  68  by top left inside frame member  92 , the latter of which is attached to a top portion of left rear shaft block  82  and left front shaft block  84 . Similarly, bottom front outside frame member  54  is connected to bottom rear outside frame member  58  by bottom left inside frame member  94  (more clearly shown in FIG.  3 A), the latter of which is attached to a bottom portion of left rear shaft block  82  and left front shaft block  84 . The twelve removable stainless steel rollers (some are shown in FIG. 2)  410 ,  510 ,  610 ,  710 ,  810 ,  910 ,  1910  are described in greater detail in reference to FIG.  5 A. The top conveyor  2700  is described in FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9 A and  9 B. The bottom conveyor  2600  is described in FIG. 10A and 10D. Guide plate  23  and bracket  23 ′ function to guide meat into the rollers from the top conveyor. 
     FIGS. 2B and 2C show the finger wipers  263  in changed position relative to the rollers  410  and  1410 . In FIG. 2B, the finger wipers  263  are pivoted to a position away from the rollers  410  and  1410  by loosening knobs  25 . In FIG. 2C, the finger wipers  263  are pivoted, by tightening knobs  25 , to a position wherein the wipers  263  contact the rollers and act as scrapers. The finger wipers are also shown in FIG.  5 H. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1A and 2, cover front portion  26  has an opening for allowing on/off switch  102  to protrude therethrough. Attached to the front cover is a U-shaped bumper guard bar  38  which prevents the START button  106  and STOP button  104  from being accidentally activated. A magnetic switch  108  is mounted in the electrical box cover  102  of the motor assembly  100  shown in FIG. 15A. A magnet  262  (FIG. 5H) mounted in the bump guard  38  makes contact with the magnetic switch  108  in the electric box  102 . The machine will not operate unless cover  20  and top conveyor  2700  are mounted on the machine) Referring to FIG. 15B, electrical box  101  is mounted to electrical mounting plate  247  by screws  107 . 
     Feeder guide plate brackets  83 ,  85  are attached to left rear shaft block  82  and right rear shaft block  86 , respectively. Guide plate  23  extends between guide plate brackets  83 ,  85  and guide the meat coming off the top conveyor  2700  between the two sets of parallel rollers, thereby preventing the meat from falling behind the rollers. 
     FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of the removable motor  100  of the meat preparing invention  10  of FIG.  2 . FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the motor  100  of FIG. 13 along arrow C. FIG. 15A is a front perspective view of the electrical control box of the motor. FIG. 15B is an inside perspective view of the electrical control box of the motor. Referring to FIGS. 2,  13 ,  14 ,  15 A and  15 B, motor  100  includes a 120 or 230 Volt DC motor with a typical electrical cord  120 , a bottom electrical cord grip  122 , electric box  101  with START/STOP buttons  106 ,  104 . Top electric box plate  132  is mounted to motor mounting plate  110  by screws  109 . Spacer  103  causes the START/STOP buttons  106 ,  104  to protrude outward from the front surface of the on/off switch assembly box  102 . An electric relay  2799 , mounted to relay spacer  2798  within electric box assembly  128 , allows both magnetic switches  108 ,  2742  to be activated. Motor  100  includes a motor mounting plate  110  with a female prong slot  111  and a side extended portion  112  having a female prong slot  113  for being mateable to the male prongs  211  and  213  on a motor plate  210  mounted on a spacer plate  220  to top left inside frame member  92  and left front shaft block  84 . By separating female slots  111 ,  113  from male prongs  211 ,  213 , the motor  100  can be removed from the rest of the meat preparing invention  10 , via handle  251  in order to allow for the other components such as the frame members and rollers to be placed in a dishwasher or pressure cleaned. Motor  100  is attached to top front outside frame member  64  by screws  192 ,  196  passing through holes  193 ,  197  into threaded openings  194 ,  198 , respectively, on the top of motor mounting plate  110 . Overload switch  2746  will shut down the motor  100  if the motor  100  becomes overloaded or too hot. Hard rubber grommet  258  is used to increase the start up torque when turning on the machine. It also reduces the vibration. 
     FIG. 11A is an enlarged view of upper right roller spacing adjustment shaft knob  220  used in meat preparing machine  10  with rear shaft block  86  and front shaft block  88 . FIG. 11B is a side view of the front shaft block  88  of FIG. 11A along arrow D. FIG. 11C is a side view of the rear shaft block  86  of FIG. 11A along arrow E. Referring to FIGS. 11A-11C, front shaft block  88  is fixably mounted by fasteners  302 , such as bolts, to top right outside frame member  66 . Adjustment shaft  224  is mounted in a shaft guide  223  and loosely passes through side-hole  303  of front shaft block  88 , which can likewise have a threaded block  226  imbedded in a cavity therein for receiving the threaded shaft portion  225  of the adjustment shaft  224 . Threaded block lid  297 , secured in place by screws  298 , is structured to prevent the threaded block  226  from rotating within the cavity. The adjustment  224  also includes an enlarged bulbous end  229  which is inserted into a chamber  233  in the rear shaft block  86  and secured therein by an adjustment block  235 , adjustment block lid  237 , and adjustment block screw  239 . 
     Adjustment knob  220 , rotatable along the direction of arrow R 1 , moves rear shaft  86  along the direction of arrow S 1 , adjusting the spacing distance between the rollers mounted in through-holes  305 ,  310  (to be discussed in a greater detail later). The spacing S 1  between shaft blocks  86 ,  88  can be set by the metering numbers 0-16 on adjustment shaft  221  which slides on bushing  228  inside of adjustment shaft guide slide  222 . Adjustment shaft threads  225  are mateable with threads inside the threaded block  226  in through-hole  303 . Knob  299  is used to secure the adjustment shaft  224  in place, thereby preventing the settings from changing upon vibration of the meat preparing machine  10 . Adjustment shaft guide slide  222 , secured to shaft guide  223  by set screw  227 , may be slid longitudinally through the shaft guide  223  around the end of the adjustment shaft  221  to properly calibrate the shaft. After it is calibrated, set screw  227  will secure adjustment shaft guide slide  222  in place. The numbered section of adjustment shaft  221  slides on bushing  228  inside of adjustment shaft guide slide  222 . 
     FIG. 12A is an exploded view of a single roller assembly  900  of the invention of FIG.  2 . FIG. 12B is an exploded view of the left roller shaft bearing  850  with drive block shaft connector  852 , which is also shown in FIGS. 3-4. Referring to FIG. 12A, roller assembly  900  includes front shaft block  88  perpendicularly mounted to top right outside frame member  66  by fasteners  322 , such as screws, and left front shaft block  84  perpendicularly mounted to top left inside frame member  92  by fasteners, such as screws (not shown). Stainless steel roller  910  has exterior grooves  912  between raised rectangular ridges that can be approximately {fraction (1/64)}-¼ inches deep. The rollers will be further described in reference to FIGS. 5A-5J. 
     Roller  910  has a right side cylindrical opening  915  for receiving a plastic lubricated bearing  920 , which receives pin portion  931  of pin shaft assembly  930 . Pin portion  931  has a disc shaft base  932  with a curved oblong slot  934  for passing over a locking head screw  922  on front shaft block  88 . Gripping end  936  allows a user to manipulate the pin portion  931  in the direction of arrow X 1  through side opening  924  of front shaft block  88 . Locking head screw  922  passes through curved slot  934 . Finally, gripping end  936  and disc shaft base  932  are rotated in the direction of R 2 , locking the pin shaft assembly  930  and roller  910  to front shaft block  88 . 
     Left roller drive shaft spacer  950  of roller  910  has a left side cylindrical pin socket  976  with a horizontal member  977  dividing the socket  976  down its middle. Shaft bearing  958  includes smaller side  959 , which fits into side through-hole  969  of left front shaft block  84 . A forked shaped end  962  of roller pin  960  inserts through shaft bearing  958  in the direction of arrow X 2  and slides over horizontal member  977 . The opposite end of roller pin  960  is secured to end drive sprockets  956 ,  954  by shaft spacer  972 . Shaft spacer  972  is secured on the drive shaft  960  with bendable locking nut  974 . Bendable locking nut  997  secures the shaft bearing  958  on the drive shaft  960 . 
     Shaft bearing assembly  1000  of top conveyor  2700  includes conveyor drive shaft  1002 , which is inserted through recessed spacer  1004  and plastic lubricated bearing  1006  in upper side through hole  1008  of left front shaft block  84 , and secured to end drive sprocket  1056 . Shaft spacer  1072  is secured on the drive shaft  1002  with bendable locking nut  1074 . Conveyor chain guard  1080  secured in place by screws  1080 ′, protects the operators fingers from the top conveyor drive chain  2500  (See FIG. 4) and conveyor drive sprocket  1056  and guides the chain  2500  on the conveyor drive sprocket  1056  during operation. Key  998  secured in place by screw  999 , locks the sprocket and shaft together. 
     Referring to FIG.  12 A and FIGS. 9A-9B, conveyor alignment rods  1007 , protruding from left front shaft block  84 , are inserted into conveyor alignment bushings  1107  on the side of top conveyor  2700  to secure the top conveyor  2700  in place during operation. Set screws  1010  secure the alignment rods  1007  in place. Likewise set screws  1110  secure alignment bushings  1107  in place. End paddle  1003  of conveyor drive shaft  1002  is inserted between drive pins  1102  in drive block  1104  and through bushing  1112  into conveyor drive roller  1120  causing conveyor drive roller  1120  to turn. Drive pins  1102  lock into drive pin holes  1122  in conveyor drive roller  1120  to prevent slippage during operation. Drive block screws  1105  secure drive block  1104  to conveyor drive roller  1120 . 
     FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the top conveyor  2700 . Referring to FIGS.  7  and  9 A- 9 B, conveyor belt  1130  may be released and removed by pivoting the small end  1150  of top conveyor  2700  upward so that slide bolt  1140  slides upward in slide notch  1142  in the direction of arrow P 1 . Bushing  1141  allows bolt  1140 ′ to be tightened without pressing against the portion that slides up and down to release the conveyor belt  1130 . Conveyor belt  1130  includes a v-notch strip  1160  which mates with v-notch slot  1162  on top conveyor  2700  and also mates with notch on conveyor drive roller  9000  and conveyer idler  9001  to ensure proper tracking when belt  1130  is turning. Conveyor belt  1130  extends over short plate  1166  of the small end  1150  and long plate  1164  of the large end (also shown in FIG.  5 H). In operation, drive roller  1120  rotates causing belt  1130  and idler roller  1180  to move. The bottom conveyor  2600  operates similar to the top conveyor  2700 . 
     Scraper  2710  includes scraper blade  2711  and scraper frame  2712  which insert into notches  2720  in side panels  2730  of top conveyor  2700 . Scraper knobs  2714  screw through the ends of the side panels  2730  and into recesses  2732  in scraper frame  2712 , thereby securing the scraper  2710  in place. In operation, scraper  2710  scrapes the meat off of the top conveyor belt  1130  and feeds it into the rollers. Safety magnet  2740  connects to magnetic switch  2742 , secured within motor assembly gooseneck  2744  by set screw  2743 , when top conveyor  2700  and motor  100  are installed in meat preparing apparatus  10 . When top conveyor  2700  is removed from the meat preparing apparatus  10 , magnetic switch  2742  disengages from safety magnet  2740 , thereby shutting down or preventing the apparatus  10  from operating. The top conveyor belt  1130  may be tightened or loosened by adjusting the belt adjustment screws  2734 . 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of top conveyor  2700 . Top conveyor  2700  is aligned with the drive system by adjusting leveling screws  2770  up or down, as necessary, and then securing leveling screws  2770  in place with set screws  2772 . Conveyor support rods  2780  provide structural stability and support to the conveyor frame. 
     FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional side view of the meat preparing invention  10  of FIG. 2 along arrow Y 2 . FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of the chain drive assembly of FIG.  3 A. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view, in partial section, of the chain drive assembly of FIG.  3 A. Referring to FIGS. 3A,  3 B and  4 , motor drive block  152  (shown in FIG. 13) mateably connects to shaft drive block  852  causing the latter to rotate in the direction of arrow Z 1 . The rotating of drive sprocket  854  causes main drive chain  2100  to, in effect, rotate drive sprockets  1956  and  1856  respectively. A vertical pair of idler block sprockets  2110 ,  2120  and chain guide  2130  further support main drive chain  2100  in place. Idler block sprockets  2110 ,  2120  are mounted over lubricated plastic bushings  2111  and mounted to idler block  2400   a , which pivots about pivot point  2450 . Lubricated plastic bushings  2111  allow for rotation of idler block sprockets  2110 ,  2120  thereover. A screw with locking nut  2470  tightens against bolt  2410  inside of idler block  2400   a , determining the relative position of block  2400  and, in effect, can tighten or loosen chain  2100 . 
     The rotating of drive sprocket  854  causes adjacent drive sprockets  856  and  856 ′ and first chains  2300  and  2301  to rotate and, correspondingly, effect the rotation of drive sprockets  956 ,  756 ,  756 ′,  656 ,  656 ′  556 ,  556 ′ and  456  via chains  2302 ,  2303  and  2304 . Likewise, the rotating of drive sprockets  1856  and  1956  causes second chain  2200  to rotate and effect the rotation of drive sprockets  1756 ,  1756 ′,  1656 ,  1656 ′,  1556 ,  1446 ′ via chains  2201 ,  2202 ,  2203  and  2204 . The rotating of these drive sprockets directly cause their respective attached rollers to rotate. The rotating of drive sprocket  956  also causes attached drive sprocket  954  and top conveyor drive chain  2500  to rotate, thereby causing top conveyor drive sprocket  1056  and conveyor drive roller  1120  to rotate. Likewise, the rotating of drive sprocket  456  causes attached drive sprocket  454  and bottom conveyor drive chain  2400  to rotate, thereby causing bottom conveyor drive sprocket  1056  and conveyor drive roller  1220  to rotate. Top conveyor knobs  1108  insert through mounting brackets  2724 ,  2725 , which are secured to top conveyor  2700  by screws  2726 , to hold top conveyor  2700  in place on top surface  22  (mounting brackets  2724 ,  2725  shown in FIGS.  7 - 8 ). 
     FIG. 6 is a rear view of the meat preparing device showing the back cover  40 , attached to the back of the top frame  60  and the back of the bottom frame  50  by bolts  48  and washers  49 , and the bottom conveyor mounting frame  55 . The bottom conveyor  2600  is secured to the mounting frame  55  by the mounting knobs  57 . A plurality of cooling vents  47  are provided in the back cover  40  to allow heat generated by the motor  100  to escape and outside ambient air to enter and circulate around the motor  100 , thereby maintaining the motor  100  at a safe operating temperature. 
     FIG. 10A is a top perspective view of the bottom conveyor  2600 . FIG. 10B is an exploded view of finished roller assembly  2650  taken across line B 1  of FIG.  10 A. FIG. 10C is an exploded view of left side plate  2654  and finished roller drive assembly  2651 . Referring to FIGS. 10A,  10 B and  10 C, finished roller  2660 , wiper frame  2653  with attached wiper  2652 , bearings  2661 ,  2663  and bearing shaft  2680  are mounted longitudinally between and secured to right side plate  2654  and left side plate  2655  by bracket  2683  and mounting knobs  2681 ,  2682 . Alignment pins  2684  and alignment holes  2685  and recessed scraper pocket  2653 ′ are provided to ensure proper alignment and installation of the finished roller assembly  2650 . Wiper frame  2653  is secured to right side and left side plates  2654 ,  2655  by knobs  2662 ,  2663 . Finished roller adjustment knobs  2670 ,  2672  allow a user to manipulate the externally threaded finished roller adjustment shafts  2674 ,  2676  to raise or lower the height of the finished roller  2660  off of the bottom conveyor belt. Screw  2696  maintains finished roller adjustment shafts  2674 ,  2676  in place, thereby preventing setting changes caused by vibration of machine  10 . Finished roller adjustment shafts  2674 ,  2676  mate with internally threaded blocks  2675 ,  2677 , which are secured to right side  2654  and left side plates  2655 , respectively, by screws  2781 . Plastic cap  2698  allows finished roller adjustment shafts  2674 ,  2676  to turn freely without scratching conveyor  2601 . Right side and left side plates  2654 ,  2655  are seated in right side and left side slide pockets  2656 ,  2657  of right side and left side slide pocket frames  2658 ,  2659 , respectively. Slide plates  2692 ,  2693  are secured to left side slide pocket  2659  by screws  2694  to prevent the bottom conveyor drive assembly  2651  from binding during adjustments. Bottom conveyor scraper frame  2686  and attached scraper blade  2687  are secured to the bottom conveyor  2600  by scraper knobs  2688 , which screw into the slots  2690  in bottom conveyor flanges  2689  and into recesses  2691  in scraper frame  2686 . Scraper blade  2687  prevents the flattened meat from sticking to the bottom conveyor belt  2601 . Safety guard  2695  prevents fingers from getting caught in chain  2760  and its associated sprockets. Rigid rub pads  3310  are mounted beneath the conveyor belt  2601  directly below the finisher roller  2660  and is structured to prevent premature wearing of the conveyor belt  2601  and bottom conveyor system  2600 . Rub pads  3310  are preferably constructed of stainless steel or some other hardened, substantially smooth material. 
     FIG. 10D is a bottom perspective view of the bottom conveyor  2600  showing the finished roller drive assembly  2651 . FIG. 10E is an exploded view of the several views of the finished roller drive assembly  2651  of FIG.  10 D. Referring to FIGS. 3A,  10 C,  10 D and  10 E, the finished roller drive assembly  2651  includes first idler sprocket  2804 , drive sprocket  2806 , drive gear  2811 , second idler sprocket  2814  and idler gear  2815 . Idler sprocket  2804  rotates about the longitudinal axis of stripper bolt  2807  and is mounted to the inside face of bottom conveyor sidewall  2899  by stripper bolt  2807  and washer  2808 . Drive gear  2811  and drive sprocket  2806  interlock into each other causing both drive gear and drive sprocket to rotate together. Lubricated bushings  2807 ′,  2813 ′ and  2810 ′ allow sprockets  2804 ,  2814  and  2806  and gears  2815  and  2811  to rotate freely. Drive gear  2811  and idler gear  2815  are disposed in interlocking relation with one another so that rotation of drive gear  2811  causes a corresponding rotation of idler gear  2815 . Connecting plate  2816  maintains the proper positioning of drive shaft  2810  relative to idler shaft  2813  and prevents drive gear  2811  and idler gear  2815  from disengaging from one another. Drive sprocket  2806  and drive gear  2811  rotate about fixed drive shaft  2810  and are secured in place by bendable locking nut  2812 . Likewise, idler sprocket  2814  and idler gear  2815  rotate about fixed idler shaft  2813  and are secured in place by bendable locking nut  2817 . Additionally, idler sprocket  2814  and idler gear  2815  are secured to one another by pins  2818 . A T-shaped chain guide  2850  is positioned between the bottom conveyor large drive chain  2803  and mounted to the inside face of bottom conveyor sidewall  2899  by bolt  2851 ′ so as to guide the bottom conveyor secondary drive chain  2803  onto the idler sprocket  2804 . The rotating of bottom conveyor drive roller  1220  causes a corresponding rotation of bottom conveyor drive pulley shaft  2801 , sprocket  2802 , bottom conveyor secondary drive chain  2803 , first idler sprocket  2804 , drive sprocket  2806  and drive gear  2811  and second idler sprocket  2814  and idler gear  2815 . A notched portion  2801 ′ in sprocket  2802  mates with a correspondingly shaped notched portion (not shown) in drive pulley shaft  2801  to secure sprocket  2802  to drive pulley shaft  2801  so that they rotate together. Pins  2802 ′ pass through notched portion  2801 ′ to lock sprocket  2802  and drive pulley shaft  2801  to bottom conveyor drive pulley. Drive chain guide  2854 , secured by screws  2854 ′, acts to guide the bottom conveyor large drive chain  2803  onto the drive sprocket and prevent skipping. The slack in the bottom conveyor large drive chain  2803  is adjusted by pivoting the generally rectangular shaped chain adjusting block  2852  about screw  2853 . Bump stop  2851  prevents the bottom conveyor  2600  from being inserted too far into the meat preparing machine  10 . 
     Finished roller drive sprocket  2770  is secured to finished roller drive sprocket shaft  2771  by inserting locking pin  2772  (FIG. 10C) into holes  2773  and  2774 , respectively. The drive sprocket shaft  2771 , in turn, is secured to left side plate  2655  by drive sprocket plastic lubricated bushing  2775 , washer  2776  and screw  2777 . Rotating of idler gear  2815  causes finished roller drive chain  2760 , finished roller drive sprocket and, correspondingly, finished roller  2660  to rotate. 
     FIG. 12B is an exploded view of a single roller assembly having drive block shaft end  852  which mates to the drive block motor mount  152  shown in FIG.  13 . Drive block  852 , drive sprocket  856 ,  856 ′ and  854  and shaft spacer  872  are installed onto drive shaft  860  with forked shaped end  862 . These components are installed and operate similar to the like components in left roller shaft bearing assembly  950 . The operation of drive block shaft end  852  is described in greater detail in reference to FIGS. 3-4. 
     FIG. 3C is an exploded view of the finisher roller weight  3210 . Handle  3220  is secured to the finisher roller weight  3210  by brackets  3230  and bolts  3240 . The finisher roller weight  3210  is structured and disposed to apply pressure to the finisher roller  2660 , thereby insuring maximum thickness reduction and a smooth texture of the meat. Guide pins  3250 , secured to finisher roller  2660  by set screws  3260 , insure proper placement of the finisher roller weight  3210  on the upper surface of finisher roller  2660  and prevent movement during operation. 
     FIG. 5H is a cross-sectional view of the meat preparing invention of FIG. 2 along arrow Y 1 . Lip edge  21  on the rear of the top cover portion  22  can snap in place behind a longitudinal groove  69  in top rear outside frame member  68  (shown more clearly in FIG.  2 ). Upper left roller spacing adjustment shaft knob  260  with threaded shaft with numbers  261  and lower right roller spacing adjustment knob  280  with threaded shaft  281  move left rear shaft block  82  in the direction of arrow S 1  up to position  82 ′. Upper right roller spacing adjustment shaft knob  220 , lower right roller spacing adjustment knob  240 , upper left roller spacing adjustment shaft knob  260  and lower left roller spacing adjustment shaft knob  280  can be manipulated to form an overall spacing S 6  between the two vertical rows of rollers having a V-cross-sectional shape in order to optimize the meat preparing action therebetween. Cover magnet  262  activates the switch on the motor  100 . The motor  100  will only operate when magnet  262  is in contact with the switch. 
     FIG. 5J is a top view of the rollers of FIG. 2 showing the movement of the rollers and the various spacing that can be achieved therebetween to accommodate different meats of differing thicknesses (roller configurations and spacing are further discussed in FIGS.  5 A-G). The specific configuration in FIG. 5J shows the right side rollers in the open position and the left side rollers in the closed position and may be used to control the shape of the meat by spreading the meat from the left side into the right side. Similarly, the rollers may be configured with the left side rollers in the open position and the right side rollers in the closed position. 
     Due to the intermeshing relationship of the adjacent rollers comprising the various different roller combinations (the different roller combinations are discussed further below), it may be necessary to install, and remove, all of the rollers simultaneously, Referring now to FIGS. 16-17, a roller cradle  3610  is utilized to accomplish such simultaneous insertion and removal of the rollers. The roller cradle  3610  includes a number of pockets  3620  equal to the number of rollers to be utilized in the particular machine  10 . In use, the rollers constituting the desired functional combination are inserted into the pockets  3620  in the proper order and configuration. Using handle  3630 , the roller cradle  3610  is inserted into the machine  10  from the top. Slide plates  3650  are utilized to support the roller cradle  3610  on the machine and knobs  3640  are utilized to lower the roller cradle  3610  into the machine  10  and release the rollers from the pockets  3620 . The rollers are then locked in place and secured to the corresponding drive shaft by pins  3660 . After the rollers have been released from the pockets  3620 , the roller cradle  3610  may be removed from the top of the machine  10   
     FIGS. 18-23 illustrate different roller combinations that may be used depending upon the type of meat being prepared, its temperature, texture, moisture and size and whether it is to be flattened, tenderized, pierced, cut into strips or combined with another piece of meat. FIG. 18 illustrates a particular roller combination structured to tenderize meat in one pass, as opposed to conventional tenderizer rollers that require five or more passes to properly tenderize the meat. This configuration is also useful for knitting/weaving two or more pieces of meat together to form one piece, changing the configuration of the meat or repairing damaged meat. The interweaving relationship of the rollers  3810 ,  3820  enables the meat to be scraped out of the rollers by the roller immediately beneath it. Front and back tenderizer scrapers  3830 ,  3840  guide the meat out of the machine without getting caught in the rollers. 
     FIG. 19 illustrates a particular roller combination structured to tenderize and then flatten the meat. This configuration is also useful for knitting/weaving two or more pieces of meat together to form one piece, changing the configuration of the meat or repairing damaged meat. In this configuration, the top rollers  3910  include deep grooves for tenderizing. The next lower rollers  3920  include much smaller slots  3925  and are structured to scrape the meat from the tenderizer rollers  3910  as the blades from the tenderizer rollers  3910  pass through the slots  3925  of the scraper rollers  3920 . The remaining four rollers  3930  are structured to flatten the meat. A scraper  3940  is provided at the bottom to remove the meat from the bottom roller. The configuration shown in FIG. 20 is similar to that shown in FIG. 19 except that the top two rollers  4010 ,  4020  include deep grooves structured to tenderize the meat. The next lower rollers  4030  are then structured to scrape the meat from the tenderizer rollers immediately above them and the remaining rollers  4040  are structured to flatten the meat. 
     FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate roller configurations structured to tenderize, flatten and cut meat into strips. These configurations include either one (FIG. 21) or two (FIG. 22) tenderizing rollers  4110  at the top, a scraper roller  4120  immediately beneath the bottom tenderizing roller  4110  and one or two rows or preparing rollers  4130  beneath the scraper rollers  4120 . A cutter blade roller  4140  is positioned in the bottom front roller position and is structured to cut the meat into strips. A cutter blade clearance roller  4150  is structured and disposed to mate with the cutter blade roller  4140  from above and a cutter blade slotted roller  4160  is structured and disposed to mate with the cutter blade roller  4140  from the same row and the slotted roller scraper  4170  below. A cutter blade scraper  4180  is positioned below the cutter blade roller  4140  and is structured to scrape the meat off the cutter blade roller  4140 . 
     FIG. 23 illustrates yet another roller configuration. This configuration is structured to flatten the meat and then cut the meat into strips. It is also useful for knitting/weaving two or more pieces of meat together to form one piece, changing the configuration of the meat or repairing damaged meat. In this configuration, the top four rows of rollers  4210  are structured to flatten the meat. The bottom two rows of rollers include the cutter blade roller  4140 , cutter blade clearance roller  4150  and cutter blade slotted roller  4160  described in relation to FIGS. 21 and 22 above. The slotted roller scraper  4170  and cutter blade scraper  4180  described above are also provided to scrape the meat off the cutter blade roller  4140 . 
     It must be appreciated that various different roller combinations can be utilized to prepare the meat in the desired manner. FIGS. 5A-5G illustrate a few of the possible alternative roller combinations. 
     FIGS. 24A and 24B present exploded views of a tenderizer roller  4110  and cutter blade roller  4140 , respectively. The tenderizer roller  4110  includes a shaft  4112 , a plurality of blades  4111 , each having a plurality of generally flat topped teeth  4114  with v-shaped grooves  4113  therebetween, a spacer  4116  between each blade  4111  and an externally threaded locking cap  4117  on each end of shaft  4112  to secure the blades  4111  and spacers  4116  thereon. Locking pin  4118  is used to lock locking cap  4117  onto the shaft  4112  on the drive side of the roller  4110 . A bushing  4119  is inserted into a recessed cavity  4115  in the end of the locking cap  4117  on the non-drive side of the roller  4110  to enable the roller  4110  to freely rotate. 
     Like the tenderizer roller  4110 , the cutter blade roller  4140  also includes a shaft  4142 , a spacer  4146  between each blade  4141  and an externally threaded locking cap  4147  having a locking pin  4148  on the drive side of the roller  4140  and a bushing  4149  on the non-drive side of the roller  4140 . The strip cutting blade  4141  on the cutter blade roller  4140  is circular with sharpened cutting edges. 
     FIG. 25 illustrates the preferred flattening roller configuration. In this configuration, the roller includes a plurality of generally c-shaped grooves  4510 . FIGS. 5J-5K illustrate alternative flattening roller configurations comprising a plurality of non-sharpened, triangular shaped teeth. 
     The basic frame members can be formed from aluminum while the remaining components, such as the rollers, blades and fasteners can be stainless steel and the like. 
     The preferred embodiment describes the invention as preparing meat. For the purposes of this invention, meat includes beef, poultry, veal, pork, lamb, goat, buffalo, venison and fish filets, horse, ostrich, and various other meats. 
     Although the preferred embodiment describes using six rollers on each side of the apparatus, the invention can be used with two stacked rollers on each side, three stacked rollers on each side, four stacked rollers on each side, five stacked rollers on each side or seven or more stacked rollers on each side. 
     Although, the V-cross-sectional shape of the rollers can be formed by the adjustable spacing between the rows, the V-cross-sectional shape can be formed in other ways. The top rollers can have a smaller diameter than the bottom rollers in each row, or the top rollers can have more coarse or deep grooved surface patterns than the bottom rollers. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications, which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved, especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.