초록 ▼

It comprises an injection station (10); a maceration station (20), including a massaging rotating drum (22) and several drawn quiescent tanks (24); and a packaging station ( 30). Such stations are linked by an accumulation and loading unit ( 40) to the drum (22) located between the said injection st

It comprises an injection station (10); a maceration station (20), including a massaging rotating drum (22) and several drawn quiescent tanks (24); and a packaging station ( 30). Such stations are linked by an accumulation and loading unit ( 40) to the drum (22) located between the said injection station (10) and the maceration station (20); a reloading unit (50) located between the station (20) and the unit ( 40); and a transferring unit (60) to a feeding hopper ( 62) of the said packaging station (30) including an automatic cleaning unit (70) for the tanks (24). A control center coordinates the operations steps of the stations and units for keeping a non-stop operation, providing a time for cleaning each station, unit or part thereof during such cycle.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. Plant for treating and packaging meat product in a non-stop operation comprising: a brine injection station (10) for the treatment of meat products; a maceration station (20) for the injected meat products including at least a rotating massaging drum (22) for the injected mea

What is claimed is: 1. Plant for treating and packaging meat product in a non-stop operation comprising: a brine injection station (10) for the treatment of meat products; a maceration station (20) for the injected meat products including at least a rotating massaging drum (22) for the injected meat product and a plurality of quiescent tanks (24) for the massaged meat products connected to drawing means for moving the tanks (24) forwards step-to-step along a closed path (26) around such rotating drum (22); and a packaging station (30) for the treated meat products such stations being coupled to each other for a non-stop operation, linked by a unit for accumulating and loading (40) the injected meat product in the rotating drum (22), located between an outlet of such injection station (10) and an inlet of the said maceration station (20), comprising: at least a first and a second hoppers (42, 44); a distributing device (46) for distributing the meat product coming from the injection station (10) alternatively to the said first and second hoppers (42, 44); a reloading unit (50) located between the said maceration station (20) and the said accumulating and loading unit (40) comprising means for newly transferring the massaged-settled meat product coming from the said quiescent tanks (24) to the said second hopper (44) to be reloaded in the said rotating drum ( 22); and a unit for transferring (60) the treated meat product to a feeding hopper (62) of the said packaging station (30), in addition the plant includes a unit for cleaning (70) the quiescent tanks (24) at a point of the path (26) after the unit for transferring (60) and at least a computer control centre being provided for coordinating the steps of such stations and units operation so that at any moment of a plant working cycle at least one of such stations is operating, a time being provided for cleaning each station, unit or part thereof during the said cycle, keeping the plant in non-stop operation characterized in that the plant further comprises an inlet hopper (12) for accumulating lots of meat products to be treated, the said inlet hopper (12) being provided with first means for detecting the weight of the said lots and means (13) for feeding the meat products of each weighed lots to an injection machine (14) of the said injection station (10), means being incorporated at the said computer control centre to determine an amount of brine to be injected to each lot depending on the weight detected. 2. Plant, according to the claim 1, including a conveyor belt (11) for transferring the meat product from the outlet of the said injection machine (14) to the distributing device (46) of the accumulating and loading unit (40) and a tenderizing machine (15) associated to the said conveyor belt (11) to superficially cut the injected meat product before it is accumulated in the first and second hoppers (42, 44) and subsequently loaded in the rotating drum (22), the said conveyor belt (11 ) jointly with the said tenderizing machine (15) are mounted on a moving truck (16) displaceable between a working position and a cleaning position. 3. Plant according to claim 2, characterized in that the said moving truck (16) comprises, at one end, feet (36) provided with wheels and, at the other end, a sliding support (18) which may be movably retained on and be guided by at least one guide (19) horizontally fixed on a supporting structure (45) of the said first and second hoppers (42, 44), the said guide (19 ) has a first end corresponding to the working position and a second end (19a) sidewards protruding beyond the said supporting structure (45) corresponding to the cleaning position. 4. Plant according to claim 3, characterized in that, in the said working position, a first end (11a) of the conveyor belt (11) is located under the said outlet of the injection machine (14) and a second end (11b) of the conveyor belt (11) is located on an inlet of the said tenderizing machine (15), which is fixed to the moving truck (16) and an outlet from which it is located on the said distributing device (46) while at the said cleaning position, as well the conveyor belt (11) as the injection machine (14) are far away other components and structures and are fully accessible. 5. Plant, according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the said first and second hoppers (42, 44) of the accumulating and loading unit (40) have associated second weight detecting means and second control means incorporated to the said computer control centre for controlling the said distributing device ( 46) for distributing the meat product between the first and the second hoppers (42, 44) depending on a weight sought for each lot of injected meat product to be loaded subsequently in the said rotating drum (22). 6. Plant for treating and packaging meat product in a non-stop operation comprising: a brine injection station (10) for injection brine to the meat product to be treated; a maceration station (20) for the injected meat product including: a rotating massaging drum (22) for the injected meat product provided with a loading/unloading mouth (23) and means for tilting the said drum (22) in order to unload it through the said loading/unloading mouth (23); a plurality of quiescent tanks (24) for the massaged meat product connected to drawing means for moving the tanks (24) forwards step-to-step along a closed path (26) around such rotating drum (22); and a packaging station (30) for the treated meat products, wherein such stations are coupled to each other for a non-stop operation, linked by a unit for accumulating and loading (40) the injected meat product in the rotating drum (22), located between the outlet of such injection station (10) and the inlet of the said maceration station (20), comprising: at least a first and a second hoppers (42, 44); a distributing device (46) for distributing the meat product coming from the injection station (10 ) alternatively to the said first and second hoppers (42, 44 ); and transferring means (42a) for selectively transferring the load from the first and second hoppers (42, 44) into the rotating drum (22) of the maceration station ( 20), a reloading unit (50) located between the said maceration station (20) and the said accumulating and loading unit (40) comprising means for newly transferring the massaged-settled meat product coming from the said quiescent tanks (24) to the said second hopper (44) to be reloaded in the said rotating drum ( 22); and a unit for transferring (60) the treated meat product to a feeding hopper (62) of the said packaging station (30), located between a given point of the said path (26) of the maceration station (20) and the packaging station (30), including in addition a unit for cleaning (70) the quiescent tanks (24) at a point of the path (26) after the unit for transferring (60) and at least a computer control centre being provided for coordinating the steps of such stations and units operation so that at any moment of a plant working cycle at least one of such stations is operating, a time being provided for cleaning each station, unit or part thereof during the said cycle, keeping the plant non-stop operation characterized in that it comprises first loading and second massaging alternative automatic operation tops (21, 28) for such loading/unloading mouth (23) of such rotating drum (22) , such tops (21, 28) having different characteristics for performing different functions depending on the steps in the working cycle: The first loading top (21) connected to a hose ( 25) directing the meat product coming from the said transfer means to the accumulating and loading unit (40) and mounted on a first moving arm (27) driven to switch over the said loading top ( 21) between an idle position, withdrawn from the said loading/unloading mouth (23) and a working position coupled to the loading/unloading mouth (23), when the drum (22) is stopped, to proceed to load by sucking due to a depression created by a vacuum pump within the drum (22) through a duct located at a blind axial end of the drum (22), opposed to the loading/unloading mouth ( 23); and The second massaging top (28) is mounted on a support (95) fixed on the free end of a second moving arm (29) driven to switch over the said second top (28) between an idle position, withdrawn from the said loading/unloading mouth (23), and a working position coupled to the loading/unloading mouth (23) either when the drum is stopped or rotating during a massaging sub-cycle, the said support (95) includes means to allow the massaging top (28) to rotate around a shaft (86) integral with it and to absorb small circular translations of the said shaft (86) when rotating jointly with the drum (22), due to possible misalignments between the shaft (86) and an actual spin axis of the drum ( 22). 7. Plant, according to claim 6, characterized in that adjacent to an outlet of the first and the second hoppers (42, 44) of the accumulating and loading unit (40) are located respective flow valves (42a, 44a), driven by respective fluid dynamic cylinders (47), the said flow valves ( 42a, 44a) are provided with departing respective hoses (49a, 49b) which are joined in a collector which offers a single common outlet mouth (49) connected to the said hose (25), means having being provided incorporated in the said computer control centre to selectively drive the said flow valves (42a, 44a) and controlling the said first moving arm (27) and vacuum pump to load the contents of either the first or the second hoppers (42, 44) in the rotating drum (22). 8. Plant according to claim 7 wherein a duct for conducting water and a hose for conducting detergent, supported on the said first moving arm (27) are connected to respective inlets of water and detergent (84, 85) of the said first loading top (21) for automatically cleaning the inside of the drum (22). 9. Plant according to claim 7, characterized in that the said first moving arm (27) comprises a structure of stiff bars ( 90) which form an arcuate shape along which remains delimited and protected an internal space through which is passing and supported a hose (25), such structure of stiff bars (90) is hinged by a first end (90a) distal from the said first loading top ( 21) to a supporting structure (45) of the said first and second hoppers (42, 44), and linked by a medium area ( 90b) with a fluid dynamic cylinder rod (91) a head of which is linked to such supporting structure (45), the said fluid dynamic cylinder (91) drives such first arm (27) to carry out such switching over between the said working and idle positions of the first loading top (21). 10. Plant according to claim 6, characterized in that the said shaft (86) integral with the massaging top (28) outwardly protrudes from it and is substantially aligned with the spin axis of the drum (22) when the massaging top (28) is in such working position, such shaft (86) being supported and guided by at least a bearing (87) housed in a bearing-holder (88) mounted on elastic bearing means (89) built in the said support (95) of the second moving arm (29), so that when the massaging top (28) rotates jointly with the drum (22) the said shaft (86) can rotate and make the said small circular translations with respect to the said second arm (28) against the strength of the said elastic means (89). 11. Plant according to claim 10, characterized in that the said elastic means comprise a plurality of helical springs (89) star-shaped radially arranged in housings of the said support (95) of the said free end of the second arm (29), external ends of the helical springs (89) being supported on adjustable depth bottoms (96) of the said housings and their internal ends being supported against the said bearing-holder (88), the strength of such springs (89) being adjustable by adjusting the depth of the related bottom (96) of the housing. 12. Plant, according to claim 10, characterized in that the said second moving arm (29) comprises at its ends distal from the massaging top (28) a hinge (29a) with respect to a tiltable supporting structure (92) of the said rotating drum ( 22) and a fluid dynamic cylinder (94) has a rod thereof linked to a cranked handle (93) integral with the hinge pin (29 a) and a head linked to the said tiltable structure (92) the fluid dynamic cylinder (94) of which drives such second arm ( 29) to carry out the said switch over between the said working and idle positions of the second massaging top (21). 13. Plant for treating and packaging meat product in a non-stop operation of the kind comprising: a brine injection station (10) for injecting brine to the meat products to be treated; a maceration station (20) for the injected meat product including: a rotating massaging drum (22) for the injected meat product; a plurality of quiescent tanks (24) for the massaged meat products coming from the said rotating drum (22); drawing means to move the quiescent tanks (24) forwards step-to-step along a closed path (26) around such rotating drum (22), with a stop under the loading/unloading mouth (23) for receiving meat product from the said drum (22) and keep it settling during a predetermined time, the tanks (24), the tanks adapted to be unhooked off such drawing means at least in some predetermined stop positions; and a packaging station (30) for the treated meat products such stations are coupled to each other for a non-stop operation, linked by a unit for accumulating and loading (40) the injected meat product in the rotating drum (22), located between the outlet of such injection station (10) and the inlet of the said maceration station (20), comprising: at least a first and a second hoppers (42, 44); and transferring means for selectively transferring the load of the first and second hoppers (42, 44) to the rotating drum (22) of the maceration station ( 20), a reloading unit (50) located between the said maceration station (20) and the said accumulating and loading unit (40) comprising means for newly transferring the massaged-settled meat product coming from the said quiescent tanks (24) to the said second hopper (44) to be reloaded in the said rotating drum ( 22); and a unit for transferring (60) the treated meat product to a feeding hopper (62) of the said packaging station (30), located between a given point of the said path (26) of the maceration station (20) and the packaging station (30), including in addition a unit for cleaning (70) the quiescent tanks (24) at a point of the path (26) after the unit for transferring (60) at least a computer control centre being provided for coordinating the steps of such stations and units operation so that at any moment of a plant working cycle at least one of such stations is operating, a time being provided for cleaning each station, unit or part thereof during the said cycle, keeping the plant non-stop operation characterized in that such quiescent tanks (24) are provided with wheels (100) and can rotate on a track (103) arranged around the said rotating drum (22), each quiescent tank (24) is provided in addition with fastening means for releasably fasten a related drawing truck (101) guided along a rail ( 102) fixed on the floor, such rail (102) defining such closed cycle path (26) along such track (103) all such drawing trucks (101) being linked to each other by means of hinged bars (105) forming an endless flexible transmitting element along the said rail (102) driving, coupling and guiding means (106, 107, 108, 109) being provided for successively coupling each of such drawing trucks (101) when it is located in a predetermined position and moving it, drawing the rest of the drawing trucks (101) together with all the quiescent tanks (24) one step until the following drawing truck (101) occupies such predetermined stop position and then disconnect such drawing truck ( 101) and newly coming backwards to the predetermined position. 14. Plant, according to claim 13, characterized in that the said rail (102) comprises a flat faced handrail fixed on the floor having a cross sectional bigger size upright and the drawing truck ( 101) comprises at least supporting wheels (117) which rotates on the top face of the said handrail (102) and guiding wheels ( 118, 119), facing each other by pairs, with a wheel of each pair rotating on opposite sides of the handrail (102), one of the wheels (119) of each pair being mounted on a eccentric shaft ( 120) to facilitate its mounting adjustment. 15. Plant, according to claim 13, characterized in that the said driving, coupling and guiding means (106, 107, 108, 109) act on a length of the said path (26) in which the rail (102) defines a circumference arc (102 a) with the beginning at the said predetermined position and comprise an arm (106), angularly moving, hinged at one end with respect to a vertical shaft (106a) located at the centre of the said circumference arc (102a) and guided by the opposite end ( 106b) with respect to a curved guide (107) parallel to the circumference arc (102a), a first fluid dynamic cylinder (108), having a long run, with its head hinged at a fixed point (108a) with respect to the floor and at the end of its rod linked to the said opposite end (106b) of the arm (106) and a second fluid dynamic cylinder (109), having a short run, fixed on the said opposite end (106b) of the arm (106), such second fluid dynamic cylinder (109) comprises, fixed at the end of its rod, a coupling element (110) which can be connected/disconnected in a complementary anchoring element (111) integral to each drawing truck (101) due to the said fluid dynamic cylinder rod (109) extending/retracting. 16. Plant, according to claim 15, characterized in that, at another point of the path (26) a locking element (116) is fixed to the end of the rod of another fluid dynamic cylinder (121) having a short run, which is in a fixed position and is driven for coupling the said locking element (116) with the said anchoring element (111) of a drawing truck (101) stopped in front of it in order to lock the assembly of quiescent tanks (24) during the periods in which they are stopped. 17. Plant, according to claim 13, characterized in that the said fastening means for releasably fastening a quiescent tank (24) on a related drawing truck (101) comprises a pair of upright stubs (112) integral with outwardly protruding platforms ( 113) in each drawing truck (101), such stubs (112) are socketed in holes (114) located in plates (115) horizontally protruding from a side of each quiescent tank (24) at a suitable height, means (55, 56, 59, 61) being provided for lifting the said quiescent tanks (24) sufficiently to disconnect the said holes (114) from the said stubs (112) and withdraw the quiescent tanks (24) from the said path (26) in the said predetermined stop positions. 18. Plant for treating and packaging meat product in a non-stop operation comprising: a brine injection station (10) for injecting brine to the meat product to be treated; a maceration station (20) for the injected meat products including a rotating massaging drum (22) for the injected meat product; a plurality of quiescent tanks (24) for the massaged meat product coming from such rotating drum (22); drawing means to make such quiescent tanks (24) move forwards step-to-step along a closed path (26) around such rotating drum (22), with a stop under the loading/unloading mouth (23) for receiving meat product from the said drum (22) and keep it settling during a predetermined time, the tanks (24) adapted to be hooked off such drawing means at least in some predetermined stop positions; and a packaging station (30) for the treated meat products, such stations are coupled to each other for a non-stop operation, linked by a unit for accumulating and loading (40) the injected meat product in the rotating drum (22), located between the outlet of such injection station (10) and the inlet of the said maceration station (20), comprising at least a first and a second hoppers (42, 44); and transferring means for selectively transferring the load of the first and second hoppers (42, 44) to the rotating drum (22) of the maceration station ( 20), a reloading unit (50) located between the said maceration station (20) and the said accumulating and loading unit (40) comprising means for newly transferring the massaged-settled meat product coming from the said quiescent tanks (24) to the said second hopper (44) to be reloaded in the said rotating drum ( 22); and a unit for transferring (60) the treated meat product to a feeding hopper (62) of the said packaging station (30), located between a given point of the said path (26) of the maceration station (20) and the packaging station (30), including in addition a unit for cleaning (70) the quiescent tanks (24) at a point of the path (26) after the transfer unit (60) and where the said accumulating and loading (40) and transferring (60) units include lifting-tippling apparatuses ( 52,64) provided with means for taking one of the quiescent tanks (24), filled, from a related stop position from the path ( 26), lifting and tippling it to transfer its contents to the said second hopper (44) of the accumulating and loading unit (40) or to the said hopper (62) of the transfer unit (60), respectively, and bring it back, empty, to the related stop position of the path (26), at least one computer control centre being arranged for coordinating the operation steps of the said stations and units so that at any moment of a working cycle of the plant at least one of the stations is operating, a time being provided for cleaning each station, unit or part thereof during the said cycle, keeping the non-stop operation of the plant, characterized in that, each of the said lifting-tippling apparatuses (52,64) comprises: a structure (51), having a suitable height, open by one of its side faces leaning on the path (26), such structure ( 51) incorporating an unloading ramp (53) at the top end of another of its side faces; means (55,56,59,61) for lifting one of such quiescent tanks (24) sufficiently to disconnect holes (114) located in plates (115) horizontally protruding from a side of the quiescent tank (24) from upright stubs (112) integral with platforms (113) associated to a corresponding drawing truck (101) of the quiescent tanks along the path ( 26) and transfer such quiescent tank (24) hooked off the path (26) to the inside of the structure bottom (51); and means for fastening and uprightly lifting the quiescent tank (24) inside the said structure (51) and tippling it on the said unloading ramp (53) at the top end of the structure (51 ). 19. Plant, according to claim 18, characterized in that such means for lifting, disconnecting and transferring such quiescent tanks (24) from the path (26) to the inside of the structure bottom (51) comprise: rails (54) horizontally extending from inside the structure bottom (51) through the said open side face until crossing the said track (103) of the path (26) such rails (54) have interruptions at the passing areas for the said wheels (100) of the quiescent tanks (24); a displacing truck (55) driven by a fluid dynamic cylinder (56) having a long run to horizontally move on the said rails (54) between a first position to a stop position of the quiescent tanks (24) on the path (26) and a second position inside the structure (51), such displacing truck (55) provided with at least three wheels (58) at each side arranged for rolling on the rails (54) so that when one of the said wheels ( 58) is located on one of such interruptions of the rails (54) at least two other wheels (58) are supported on the said rails ( 54); an uprightly moving platform (59) mounted on the said displacing truck (55) and connected to the ends of the rods of fluid dynamic cylinders (61) uprightly fastened on the displacing truck (55) and driven for lifting the said moving platform ( 59) together with a quiescent tank (24) located on it, up to the said sufficient height, the said means (55, 56, 59, 61) being also capable of the opposite operation, consisting of a transferring a quiescent tank (24) emptied, at a slightly lifted position, from the fastening means inside the structure (51) bottom to the path (26), and going down the quiescent tank (24) for hooking it to the related drawing truck (101). 20. Plant, according to claim 18, characterized in that the said fastening and uprightly lifting and tippling means of the quiescent tank (24) comprise: a lifting truck (63) located inside the said structure (51) and uprightly guided along guides (68) fixed on the said side face of the structure (51) ending in the said unloading ramp (53), the said lifting truck (63) adapted for going up and down on the said guides (68) driven by a chain mechanism ( 71) and a fluid dynamic cylinder (73); a tippler (65) for a quiescent tank (24), such tippler being linked to a top part of the said lifting truck (63) by means of a substantially horizontal hinge (66) and linked by a point relatively far away from the said hinge (66) to the end of the fluid dynamic cylinder rod (67) the head of which is linked to a lower part of the lifting truck (63), when driving the said fluid dynamic cylinder (67) this causes that the quiescent tank (24) is tippled fastened on the said tippler (65) around the hinge (66) to empty its contents on the unloading ramp ( 53). 21. Plant, according to claim 20, characterized in that the said tippler (65) comprises a top part (72) having guides horizontally arranged and adapted for receiving frames (69) provided at the top part of the quiescent tanks (24) when a quiescent tank (24) is introduced inside the structure (51) by the said displacing truck (55) and a side supporting wall ( 74) which is extending downwards from the said top part (72) and which cooperates with such guides (57) for supporting the quiescent tank (24) when it is tippled about the hinge (66). 22. Plant, according to claim 18, characterized in that the said side face of the structure (51) ended by the said unloading ramp (53) and along which the guides (68) are fixed is facing the said open face of the structure (51) and perpendicular to the said rails (54), so that the said hinge (66) with respect to which the quiescent tanks (24) are tippled is substantially tangent to the path (26) and is useful for the unit (60) transferring to the feeding hopper (62) in the cases that the availability of space allows to place such hopper (62) far away the path (26). 23. Plant, according to claim 19, characterized in that the said face of the structure (51) ending by the said unloading ramp (53) and along which the guides (68) are fixed is a face contiguous to the said open face of the structure (51) and parallel to the said rails (54), so that such hinge (66) with respect to which tippling the quiescent tanks (24) is carried out is substantially perpendicular to the path (26) and is useful for the reloading unit (50), because of the relative positions of the second hopper (44) and rotating drum (22) as required, or from the transferring unit (60) to the feeding hopper (62 ) in the cases that a scarce availability of space requires that the said hopper (62) is placed very close to the path (26). 24. Plant, according to claim 22, characterized that the said hopper (62) of the transferring unit (60) comprises a single outlet (31) connected to a distributing device from which are starting a plurality of hoses (33) connected to an equal plurality of packaging machines (32, 34), which have sucking means for sucking the treated meat product from the said hopper (62) according to an inherent rating. 25. Plant according to claim 18, characterized in that the said cleaning unit comprises an automatic cleaning cabinet (77) arranged adjacent to a track (103) of the path (26) through which are moving the quiescent tanks (24) and a pivoting arm ( 76) hinged to the bottom of the said cabinet (77) such arm ( 76) having a lifting end with a concealable bottom frame on a portion of the said track (103) and a side supporting wall close to the said bottom frame, the said pivoting arm 76 being capable to rotate with respect to its hinge driven by a fluid dynamic cylinder for taking a quiescent tank (24) stopped on the said bottom frame and lift it unhooking it from its related drawing truck (101), on a circular path until introducing it laying on the said side supporting wall inside the automatic cleaning cabinet (77) for cleaning and subsequent returning of the cleaned quiescent tank to the path (26) and for newly hooking it to the drawing truck (101).