Patent ID: 8047902

Claim:
A massaging device for massaging meat products comprising: a. a frame; b. a first massaging section and a second massaging section, each massaging section comprising: i. a drum that rotates about a first axis and comprises opposed first and second walls and a peripheral wall extending between the first and second walls, wherein the first wall comprises an inlet opening for entry of meat products into the drum and the second wall comprises an outlet opening for discharge of meat products from the drum, wherein the inlet opening and outlet opening are substantially aligned along the first axis; ii. at least one massaging element located within the drum for mechanically massaging the meat products; and iii. a discharge member adapted to discharge meat products through the outlet opening of the second wall of the drum, the discharge member being displaceable along or about a second axis different from the first axis between an active discharge position and an inactive position, wherein: (a) in the active discharge position, the discharge member is at least partially located within the drum and guides meat products that have been treated in the drum through the outlet opening of the second wall to discharge the meat products from the drum; and (b) in the inactive position, the meat products remain in the drum, wherein the drum of the first massaging section is positioned adjacent the drum of the second massaging section and wherein the discharge member of the first massaging section, when in the active discharge position, is adapted to discharge meat products from the drum of the first massaging section and into the drum of the second massaging section; c. at least one drive motor for driving rotation of the drum of the first and second massaging sections; d. at least one discharge member actuating device for displacing the discharge member of the first and second massaging sections between the active discharge position and the inactive position, wherein displacement of the discharge member of the first and second massaging sections is independent from driving rotation of the drum of the first and second massaging sections; and e. a control device connected to (i) the at least one discharge member actuating device for controlling operation of the at least one discharge member actuating device and (ii) the at least one drive motor for controlling operation of the at least one drive motor, wherein the control device controls operation of the at least one discharge member actuating device and of the at least one drive motor independently with respect to each other.