Systems and methods for providing food intervention, pumping up, and tenderization are discussed. While such systems and methods can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include an injectate reservoir, a filter, a first pump configured to force injectate from the injectate reservoir and through the filter, a nozzle configured to inject injectate into a food product without having the nozzle contact the food, and a valve that is configured to selectively open and close to regulate when and how much of the injectate that passes through the filter is forced out of the nozzle. In some cases, the described systems further include a chiller configured to cool injectate in the reservoir, a sensor configured to determine a distance between the nozzle and food item, an actuator configured to move the nozzle, and/or a computer processor that controls an amount of injectate sprayed from the nozzle. Other implementations are described.

The present disclosure describes methods and systems for processing meat products via mechanical tenderization and high-pressure pasteurization in a manner that improves the texture and extends the shelf life of the processed meat. Methods of meat processing may involve mechanically tenderizing the cuts of meat and slicing the cuts of meat into meat products. Methods may also involve packaging the meat products and pasteurizing the meat products under a high pressure. The meat products produced may have an extended shelf life compared to other meat products not mechanically tenderized and pasteurized under high pressure. The high pressure pasteurization, in addition to inactivating microorganisms, may further tenderize the meat products. Methods may also involve marinating the cuts of meat, which can be performed by injecting liquid marinate into the meat via mechanically operated injection needs in some examples. The liquid marinate may include natural enzymes that further tenderize the meat.

A vibratory conveyor for shaking food products and conveying the food products in a horizontal direction, the conveyor includes at least one transport element configured to carry the food products and to allow draining of liquid through the at least one transport element, an actuator configured to cause a vibration of the at least one transport element, the actuator is configured to generate a stroke with an amplitude in a range of 8 mm to 16 mm, and a drip tray arranged below the at least one transport element and configured to receive the liquid draining through the at least one transport element.

A needle cleaning system that backflushes an inner passage of needles (40) successively with a cleaning solution, such as caustic soda, pressurized air and a washing liquid. The needle cleaning machine has an airtight container (17) closed at the top by a support base (15) with holes (16) where a group of needles (40) are inserted in a position in which an upper portion of the needles, where an inlet opening is located, is outside the airtight container and a lower portion of the needles, where outlet ports are located, is inside the airtight container (17). The container (17) is connected to ducts (19, 21, 23, 25, 27) provided with valves (20, 24, 26, 28) by which the cleaning solution driven by a pump (29), the pressurized air (23) and the washing liquid (25) are supplied to the containers (17).

A machine for injecting brine into meat pieces includes a conveyor having a support surface for conveying meat pieces in a forward step by step movement, each step having a predetermined length, first and second injection heads consecutively arranged over the conveyor relative to the forward direction, each injection head having an array of injection needles covering a whole width of the conveyor support surface. A length of the conveyor support surface corresponds to the predetermined length of the steps of the conveyor step by step movement, head driving device for alternately reciprocating the injection heads between an upper position, enabling the meat pieces to pass under the injection heads, and a lower position, where the injection needles are stuck into the meat pieces located under the injection heads, and brine supplying device supplying brine to the injection needles at least when the injection heads are at their lower position.

A process that includes receiving, by a trimmer via a conveyor system, a foodstuff, automatically trimming, by the trimmer and based on trimming instructions, the foodstuff that results in trimmings and a trimmed foodstuff. The process also includes advancing, via the conveyor system, the trimmings of the foodstuff to a trimmings collector, and advancing, via the conveyor system, the trimmed foodstuff out of the trimmer. The trimmer is provided on the conveyor system prior to an injector such that the trimmer performs the automatic trimming of the foodstuff prior to injecting the foodstuff with a liquid solution by the injector.

A process that includes receiving, by a trimmer via a conveyor system, a foodstuff, automatically trimming, by the trimmer and based on trimming instructions, the foodstuff that results in trimmings and a trimmed foodstuff. The process also includes advancing, via the conveyor system, the trimmings of the foodstuff to a trimmings collector, and advancing, via the conveyor system, the trimmed foodstuff out of the trimmer. The trimmer is provided on the conveyor system prior to an injector such that the trimmer performs the automatic trimming of the foodstuff prior to injecting the foodstuff with a liquid solution by the injector.

A modular device for introducing an edible fluid to a food product includes a dispenser body having a cartridge receiving cavity associated therewith. A dispenser base is coupled or coupleable to the dispenser body, and a dispenser tip is coupled or coupleable to the dispenser base and is in fluid communication with the cartridge receiving cavity when in place. An actuatable piston is operably coupled to the dispenser body in communication with the cartridge receiving cavity. An insertable and removable cartridge is carriable by the dispenser body in the cartridge receiving cavity, and is positionable so as to be in communication with the actuatable piston. An edible fluid is carried by the cartridge, the edible fluid being dispensable to a food product through the dispenser tip when in place as the actuatable piston is actuated to cause the edible fluid to be expelled from the cartridge through the dispensing tip.

An injection device for injecting a liquid into meat includes a housing, a conveyor, and a modular needle bridge arranged above and across an endless belt conveying surface of the conveyor. A drive system is provided to move the conveying surface in at least two opposite conveying directions. The needle bridge has vertically stacked needle bridge blocks with aligning means, and needle head cavities of a non-circular cross-section for receiving correspondingly shaped needle heads with hollow injection needles that can move vertically in the needle head cavities. The needle head cavities are arranged in rows to form a continuous regular injection pattern.

Systems and methods for providing food intervention, pumping up, and tenderization are discussed. While such systems can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include a needleless spray nozzle head that injects injectate into food without requiring the head to contact the food. In some cases, the head comprises an elongated needleless spray bar that defines multiple internal fluid channels that extend from a first end to a second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the head comprises a manifold system with a first manifold portion at the first end and a second manifold portion at the second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the first manifold portion directs the injectate towards the second end, and the second manifold portion directs the injectate towards the first end of the elongated needleless spray bar. Other implementations are described.