A piping structure (1A) comprises a first pipe (10) to which food (H) is supplied, a plurality of second pipes (20) provided downstream of the first pipe (10) and connected to the first pipe (10), and a plurality of third pipes (30) provided downstream of the second pipes (20), a number of the plurality of third pipes being connected to each of the second pipes (20).

A system includes a food dispenser, a cooking surface, and an arm assembly. The arm assembly is configured to receive a food product from the food dispenser and transport the food product to the cooking surface. The arm assembly includes an arm portion, an actuator, a cylinder, and a piston. The actuator drives rotation of the arm portion about a first rotational axis. The cylinder is attached to the arm portion and is rotatable relative to the arm portion about a second rotational axis. The piston is axially movable within the cylinder. The piston includes multiple stages. At least one of the stages is movable axially relative to another of the stages between a first position and a second position.

A system includes a food dispenser, a cooking surface, and an arm assembly. The arm assembly is configured to receive a food product from the food dispenser and transport the food product to the cooking surface. The arm assembly includes an arm portion, an actuator, a cylinder, and a piston. The actuator drives rotation of the arm portion about a first rotational axis. The cylinder is attached to the arm portion and is rotatable relative to the arm portion about a second rotational axis. The piston is axially movable within the cylinder. The piston includes multiple stages. At least one of the stages is movable axially relative to another of the stages between a first position and a second position.

A shredder device including a feed hopper, a screw conveyor and a shredder module, wherein the screw conveyor includes a screw conveyor shaft driven by a screw conveyor motor unit and having a screw conveyor flight formed thereon, and the shredder module includes a cutting drum having cutting openings formed therein, and a main screw rotatably arranged in the shredder module and having a main screw shaft, which is driven by a main screw motor unit, and a main screw flight which is formed thereon and passes over the cutting openings. The shredder device enables a higher cutting capacity. The main screw shaft is coaxially enclosed by the screw conveyor shaft inside the feed hopper up to the shredder module.

A shredder device including a feed hopper, a screw conveyor and a shredder module, wherein the screw conveyor includes a screw conveyor shaft driven by a screw conveyor motor unit and having a screw conveyor flight formed thereon, and the shredder module includes a cutting drum having cutting openings formed therein, and a main screw rotatably arranged in the shredder module and having a main screw shaft, which is driven by a main screw motor unit, and a main screw flight which is formed thereon and passes over the cutting openings. The shredder device enables a higher cutting capacity. The main screw shaft is coaxially enclosed by the screw conveyor shaft inside the feed hopper up to the shredder module.

Methods and devices heat or cool viscous materials, such as meat emulsions useful for producing food and other products. The devices include a heat exchanger including a first plate, a second plate attached to the first plate, and a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate, the second plate, the first spacer, and the second spacer define at least one temperature controlled passaged for a product to pass through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can be used in a system including one or more of a grinder, a mixing tank, an emulsifier device, a positive displacement pump, or a cutting device.

Methods and devices heat or cool viscous materials, such as meat emulsions useful for producing food and other products. The devices include a heat exchanger including a first plate, a second plate attached to the first plate, and a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate, the second plate, the first spacer, and the second spacer define at least one temperature controlled passaged for a product to pass through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can be used in a system including one or more of a grinder, a mixing tank, an emulsifier device, a positive displacement pump, or a cutting device.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an auger dip apparatus for the application of antimicrobial solution to raw food. Embodiments of the present disclosure may use an auger as a single moving part to move the food work pieces through the application area for antimicrobial solution. Embodiments of the present disclosure are simple with only one moving auger part to move the food pieces, and the bearing for the moving part, supporting the shaft of the auger, may be configured to be outside of the cabinet with the reservoir of the antimicrobial solution, so that the bearing is not in contact with the antimicrobial solution. This provides for less maintenance and downtime, particularly unscheduled downtime, than a system using more complicated exposed parts. The present disclosure also permits a more compact and lighter configuration for an assembled application unit.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an auger dip apparatus for the application of antimicrobial solution to raw food. Embodiments of the present disclosure may use an auger as a single moving part to move the food work pieces through the application area for antimicrobial solution. Embodiments of the present disclosure are simple with only one moving auger part to move the food pieces, and the bearing for the moving part, supporting the shaft of the auger, may be configured to be outside of the cabinet with the reservoir of the antimicrobial solution, so that the bearing is not in contact with the antimicrobial solution. This provides for less maintenance and downtime, particularly unscheduled downtime, than a system using more complicated exposed parts. The present disclosure also permits a more compact and lighter configuration for an assembled application unit.

A system includes a grinder to obtain a ground meat; a mixer to add fat to the ground meat; a payload bay to receive the ground meat; a plurality of evaporators coupled to the payload bay; a pump to force coolant flowing through the evaporators; and means for adding fat to the chopped meat product and then chopping the fat and adding liquid nitrogen to maintain the temperature of the chopped meat product and fat being chopped between 1° C. and 10° C. to obtain a chopped meat and fat product.