The present invention relates to a meat press for use in flattening cut slices of meat, such as steaks, chops, or the like.

More particularly, the invention relates to such a meat press of the kind comprising a press bed having an upper substantially horizontal bearing sur¬ face for said meat slices, and a press plate, mounted above the press bed for reciprocating movement in a substantially vertical' direction and having a lower substantially horizontal press surface, and driving means for the press plate, by means of which the press plate may be brought to move from a lifted rest position in a downward direction towards the press bed to press a slice of meat, resting on the press bed below the press plate, between the press surface of the press plate and the bearing surface of the press bed and then to be lifted back to said rest position.

Previously proposed presses of the above kind have not found any substantial use in practice. The reason most probably is that the known presses have been difficult to handle and that they have offered a low production capacity while simultaneously being associated with substantial accident risks. This is a consequence of the fact that, when pressing a slice of meat in said presses, it has been necessary first to place said slice of meat manually in the desired position below the press plate and, later on, to lift the flattened slice of meat away from the press bed, which has been provided in a stationary position below the press plate.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved meat press of the kind initially specified, which has a substantially higher production capacity than the known presses and which permits a rational

production of flattened slices of meat, or the like, in a convenient and practically safe manner.

According to the invention, for the above purpose, there is proposed a meat press, primarily characterized in that the press bed is formed by a generally circular feed table, mounted for rotation around a substantially vertical centre axis and having substantially larger horizontal dimensions than the press plate, which is located eccentrically in relation to said feed table at a stationary working station, situated within a limited sector above the feed table.

By utilizing a rotatable feed table as the required press bed, several advantages over the prior art presses are obtained. Firstly, one or more meat slices to be pressed may be placed on a portion of the feed table located outside the working station and one or more meat slices previously pressed at the working station may be removed from the feed table while another slice of meat is simultaneously subjected to a pressing operation at the working station. Further¬ more, the risk of accidents is strongly reduced as an operator will never need to keep his hands in the vicinity of the press plate. In order to further mini¬ mize the risk of accidents, it is however possible to shield the working station so that it will be practi¬ cally impossible for an operator to insert his fingers below the press plate.

The press plate may advantageously be rotatably mounted on a base by means of a central radial bearing and a number of supporting rollers, distributed along the circumference of the feed table and located at a short distance from the outer peripheral edge of said table, and which carry the feed table resting thereon. By mounting the feed table in the above manner, it is possible to eliminate the need for a central axial bearing for supporting said table.

The feed table may be manually rotatable. Preferably, it may however be controllably rotatable by means of a separate driving motor therefor. This driving motor may suitably be arranged to rotate the feed table by means of a driving roller, provided in frictional engagement with a peripheral lower por¬ tion of the feed table. This driving roller may consti¬ tute one of the previously mentioned supporting rollers, serving to support the feed table. Alternativly, it may however consist of a resiliently mounted roller which is arranged to be resiliently forced in an upward direction into contact with the lower side of the feed table.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the press plate is mounted at the outer end of a supporting arm, at its inner end secured to an upper portion of a substantially vertical supporting column, which is located concentrically in relation to the feed table and extends axially displaceable through a central opening in the feed table, and which, below said table, is connected to driving means, by means of which the supporting column may be subjected to a reciprocating movement in its longitudinal direction. These driving means may preferably comprise a rotary driving motor and an eccentric mechanism, driven by said motor and coupled to the supporting column, By utilizing such a driving arrangement for subjecting the supporting column to the desired reciprocating movement in a vertical direction, it is possible to obtain a favourable movement pattern of the latter.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the press plate is instead supported by a horizontal girder, provided above said plate and, in its turn, supported by two vertical longitudinally displaceable bars, which are connected each to one of two hydraulic cy¬ linders, acting as driving means for the press plate.

Below the invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows a side elevation, in section, of a meat press according to a first embodiment of the invention, selected by way of example,

Figure 2 shows a partial view, in vertical section and on an enlarged scale, illustrating the resilient mounting of a press plate forming part of said press, Figure 3 shows a plan view of a meat press according to a second embodiment of the invention,

Figure 4 shows a side elevation of the latter press, -in section taken along line IV-IV in Figure 3, and Figure 5 shows a partial view, in section taken along line V-V in Figure 3.

The press shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a base, generally designated 10, having the shape of a cylindrical drum comprising a circular bottom plate 11, an upright cylindrical side wall 12 and an upper circular plate 13, located near the upper end of said side wall. In order to permit access to the interior of the base, side wall 12 may suitably be composed of two opposite stationary sections, con- necting bottom plate 11 and upper plate 13 permanently to each other, and two removable sections placed in the spaces between said two stationary sections. Each one of said four sections of the side wall may extend along a quarter of the circumference of said wall. In addition to the above mantioned parts, the base also comprises a horizontal mounting plate 14 located about midway between the two plates 11 and 13. Moreover, at its lower side, bottom plate 11 is provided with a number of feets 15 by means of which the base may be placed resting on a floor.

Reference numeral 16 designates a plane circular

horizontal feed table which is rotatably mounted on base 10 by means of a central radial bearing 12 and a number of supporting rollers 18, located at a short distance from the outer peripheral edge of the feed table, and a driving roller 25, said rollers carrying together feed table 16 resting thereon. Along its periphery, feed table 16 is provided with a short downwardly projecting edge flange 19, overlapping the space between the lower side of the feed table and the upper edge of side wall 12 of the base.

Radial bearing 17 is formed by a tubular sliding bearing member which is mounted on a sleeve-like bearing mounting 21, secured in a central opening 20 in the upper base plate 13, and which extends in an upward direction through a central opening 22 in feed table

10 to cooperate with the surrounding inner edge surface of the latter.

For controllable rotation of feed table 16, there is provided an electric driving motor 23 which, through a worm gear 24, may drive the above mentioned driving roller 25, against which the feed table rests with its lower side. In order to secure a firm frictional engagement between driving roller 25 and feed table 16, a peripheral coating of any suitable material may be permanently provided on said roller. However, in the illustrated embodiment, driving roller 25 is instead formed as a grooved pulley, on which a V-belt 26 is freely suspended to secure the desired frictional engagement with the feed table. Reference numeral 27 designates a circular horizontal press plate which is located above feed table 16 in eccentric relation thereto within a working station 28, situated within a limited sector above the feed table. At its lower side, press plate 27 has a plane press surface 29 by which it may be brought into contact under pressure against a slice of meat 30,

supported on the feed table below the press plate, in order to provide a flattening operation on said slice of meat by pressing it between said press surface and the underlying bearing surface 31 of feed table 16, which serves as a press bed.

Supporting rollers 18 are located within or in the vicinity of said sector in order to offer a firm support for feed table 16 at the working station. The supporting rollers may preferably consist of the outer ball races of radial ball bearings having their inner ball races rigidly connected to the upper base plate 13.

Press plate 27 is provided with a cylindrical shank 32 which projects in an upward direction there- from and by means of which, in a manner to be described more in detail below, the press plate is resiliently mounted for limited movement in a vertical direction in a tubular sleeve 33 (Figure 2), acting as a holder for the press plate, which is mounted in said sleeve through the intermediary of a bearing bushing 34, consisting for instance of a ball bearing bushing. Sleeve 33, in its turn, is rigidly secured to the outer end of a horizontal supporting arm 35, which extends in a radial direction in relation to feed table 16 and has its inner end rigidly secured to the upper end of a vertical tubular supporting column 36. This supporting column is disposed concentrically in relation to feed table 16 and extends through bearing mounting 21, in which it is journalled for axial dis- placement by means of a bushing 37, consisting for instance of a roller bearing bushing. Additionally, through the intermediary of a bushing 39, the lower end portion of supporting post 36 is journalled for axial displacement in a bearing mounting 38, secured to mounting plate 14.

At a location between the two bearing mountings

21 and 38, supporting column 36 is provided with a radially projecting arm 40 which is rigidly secured to said column and has its outer end connected to a driving arrangement by which the supporting column may be subjected to a reciprocating movement in a vertical direction. This driving arrangement comprises a rotary electric driving motor 41 which, through a worm gear 42, may drive an eccentric mechanism con¬ sisting of two crank arms 43, which are provided each on one side of the worm gear and operate in synchronism with each other, and which are connected to arm 40 each by one connecting rod 44. Hereby, by means of motor 41, press plate 27 may be brought to perform a downward working stroke from a lifted rest position and then an upward return stroke during which it is returned to its rest position.

As shown in Figure 2, shank 32 of press plate 27 is mounted for resilient movement in sleeve 33, carried by supporting arm 35. By means of a stack of Belleville springs 45, shank 32 is subjected to a down¬ ward spring force, which tends to maintain press plate 27 in a lower end position in relation to the supporting arm but permits the press plate to move a limited distance in an upward direction from said position when it is subjected to an outer upward force, exceeding said spring force. At its lower end, said stack of Belleville springs rests through an axial bearing 47 on the bottom of a central bore 46, provided in shank 32, while, at its upper end, it bears against the lower side of a washer 48. By means of a number of break bolts 49, indicated in dash-dotted lines, said washer is secured to a cup nut 50, mounted on an upper threaded portion of sleeve 33. Belleville springs 45 are maintained in contact with bearing 47 by means of a rod 51, which is anchored in the lower central portion of shank 32 at its lower end, while, at its

upper end, it is provided with a nut 52, threaded thereon and resting on washer 48 through the inter¬ mediary of another axial bearing 53.

The above-described arrangement makes it possible to adjust the spring force applied on press plate 27 by Belleville springs 45 by means of nut 52 and to adjust the lower end position of the press plate in relation to supporting arm 35 by means of cup nut 50. When the spring force is changed through an adjustment of nut 52, a certain change will also occur in respect of the lower end position of the press plate. However, if required, this change may easily be compensated by a separate adjustment of said position by means of cup nut 50. Reference numeral 54 designates a stationary tubular post which extends through supporting column 36 and has its lower end rigidly secured to mounting plate 14 by means of a socket 55. At its upper end, this post supports an electric control and operating unit 56 for the press. Since post 54 has a tubular shape, the required electrical connections to unit 56 may be placed within said post.

When using the above press, each slice of meat to be pressed is placed on feed table 16 at a portion thereof located outside working station 28. By means of motor 23, the feed table is then rotated to a posi¬ tion such as to locate the slice of meat in question beneath press plate 27 which is located in its lifted rest position. Hereupon, motor 41 is energized to cause the press plate to perform a downward working stroke and a subsequent return stroke. The meat slice hereby flattened is then conveyed away from working station 28 through a renewed rotation of feed table 16 by means of motor 23, whereupon it may be unobstruc- tedly removed from the feed table. The latter rotation of the feed table may be utilized to feed a new slice

of meat, to be pressed, into position beneath press plate 27 simultaneously with the conveyance of the pressed meat slice away from the working station.

The rotation of feed table 16 by means of motor 23 may be controlled in any suitable manner. For instance, it is possible to utilize electrooptical sensors, capable of interrupting the rotation of the feed table as soon as a new slice of meat has reached the pressing position at working station 28. Alterna- tively, the rotation of the feed table may take place in predetermined steps.

The meat slices may be placed on the feed table and removed therefrom automatically by means of any suitable auxiliary equipment, if so desired. In order to completely eliminate the risk for accidents, working station 28 should be kept screened by means of any suitable screening means, not shown in the drawings.

The meat press shown in Figures 3 - 5 comprises a base 60 having the general shape of a rectangulr box, including a frame structure 61, which is provided with cover plates 62 at its sides and supports a hori¬ zontal rectangular plate 63 at its upper end. In a central circular opening therein, said plate 63 is provided with an insert consisting of a circular hori¬ zontal bottom plate 64 and a tubular flange 65, connec¬ ted to said bottom plate and projecting a short distance above plate 63.

Reference numeral 66 designates a plane circular feed table, which is rotatably mounted on base 60 by means of a central radial bearing 67, two supporting rollers 68 and a driving roller 69, said rollers car¬ rying feed table 66 resting thereon. At the peripheral edge of the feed table, there is provided a downwardly directed edge flange 70. Radial bearing 67 consists of a bearing bushing, which is inserted into a central

opening in feed table 60 and serves to journal the feed table on a stub axle 71, mounted in a central position on plate 64.

In order to facilitate rotation of feed table 66 by means of driving roller 69, said roller is mounted on the output shaft 72 of a hydraulic driving motor 73, carried by a motor mounting 74. Driving roller 69 has the shape of a grooved pulley provided with a frictional coating formed by a V-belt 75 glued in the wedge-shaped groove of said pulley.

Reference numeral 76 designates a sector-shaped horizontal press plate, which is provided above feed table 66 at a working station 77, located above a limited rear portion of said table. Press plate 76 is secured to the lower side of a girder, formed by two parallel flat bars 78, through the intermediary of a plate 79, which is welded to the lower side of said bars and connects them rigidly to each other. The girder formed by bars 78 is carried for rising and falling movement by means of two hydraulic cylinders 81, which are located below plate 63 and which are secured to said plate each by means of a tubular mounting 80. The piston rods 82 of said cylinders are connected to the girder by means of extension rods which are journalled for axial displacement within mountings 80 by means of bearing bushings 84, consisting for instance of ball bearing bushings.

Hereby, press plate 76, which has been shown in its lower end position in Figure 4, may be brought to perform a reciprocating movement in a vertical direction in the same manner as press plate 27 in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. Both the downward working stroke and the subsequent upward return stroke will take place under the action of hydraulic cylinders 81.

When a slice of meat to be pressed has been

placed on feed table 66 at a location outside working station 77, said slice of meat may be fed to the working station 77 by rotating the feed table by means of motor 73 through the required angle to have the meat slice placed beneath press plate 76. The press plate, which before has been located in a lifted rest position, is then caused to perform a downward working stroke and a subsequent return stroke by means of hydraulic cylinders 81, whereupon the flattened slice of meat may be conveyed away from working station 77 through a further rotation of feed table 66. In Figure 4, the lower press surface of press plate 76 has been designated 58 while the bearing surface of feed table 66 located below said press surface has been designated 59. In view of the fact that the downward force on press plate 76, generated by hydraulic cylinders 81 and transmitted from the press plate to the feed table through the meat slice, may assume very high values, the two supporting rollers 68 and driving roller 69 are resiliently depressable a short distance in order to reduce the stress on the press during a pressing operation. This resilient mobility has been obtained by mounting each supporting roller 68 on a holder 85, which is supported by a stack of Belleville springs 87, threaded on a guide pin 86, which extends through holder 85 and on the upper end of which a nut 88 is threaded to determine the upper end position of holder 85. The resilient mobility of driving roller 69, in its turn, has been obtained by securing motor mounting 74 to lower plate 64 by means of spring-loaded bolts 89 and 90 which permit the motor mounting to be swung through a limited small angle in a downward direction around the inner end of its upper horizontal leg. In order to limit the vertical mobility of feed table 66, there is provided on the one hand a number of vertical pins 91, which are mounted in plate

64 and act as rear stops, and on the other hand two normally passive supporting rollers 92, which are located under a front portion of the feed table and which are mounted on holders 93, supported in stationary vertical positions on supporting pins 94. As may be seen from Figure 3, holders 85 for supporting rollers 68 are mounted on two rear arms of a spider 95, on the two front arms of which holders 93 for supporting rollers 92 are mounted. Spider 95 is freely mounted on stub shaft 71 by means of a central hub portion 96. Reference numeral 97 designates a control and operating unit supported by two tubular posts 98.

Also in the embodiment according to Figures 3 - 5, suitable screen means or the like may be pro- vided to prevent an operator from being injured by unintentionally inserting a hand under the press plate.

The invention is not restricted to the two embodiments above described and shown in the drawings. Instead, many alternative embodiments are feasible within the scope of the invention.