An apparatus including a housing; a plurality of prongs connected to the housing so that the prongs are movable with respect to the housing; and a device for holding a food; and wherein the plurality of prongs are configured to be moved from a position outside of the food to a position where the plurality of prongs are inserted into the food; and wherein the plurality of prongs are configured to insert a substance into the food. The substance may be a seasoning. The apparatus may include a device for cleaning the plurality of prongs through a vacuum process and/or a blower process; wherein the device has an input configured to connect to one of the plurality of prongs. The apparatus may include a cook food platform; a sandwich platform; a hot beverage platform; and a cold beverage platform.

An injection machine includes a needle assembly including a plurality of injector needles arranged into a pattern to cover a horizontal injection area, the injector needles include side exit ports located proximally with respect to a tip of the needle. The injection machine also includes a conveyor positioned below the needle assembly. Particularly, the conveyor includes perforations on a top surface of the conveyor, wherein the perforations allow the plurality of injector needles to be lowered to place the side exit ports of the injector needles at or just above the top surface of the conveyor.

An apparatus for introducing dry ice pellets into fresh meat comprises a housing, in which an injection device for introducing dry ice pellets is arranged, and guide channels, which lead to a front face of the housing, for guiding a penetration needle, and a drive device for axially moving the penetration needle. A loading unit can be inserted between a rear portion and a front portion of the housing, which loading unit is provided with feedthroughs, which can be equipped with dry ice pellets and brought into a position in alignment with the guide channels. During operation of the apparatus, penetration channels are first produced, by means of the penetration needles, in a piece of meat to be cooled, into which penetration channels the dry ice pellets are subsequently introduced from the feedthroughs using the penetration needles. The feedthrough enables efficient introduction of dry ice pellets into the meat.

A handheld injector is provided for injecting liquid, such as flavoring or basting material, into meat or poultry. The injector includes a pistol-shaped housing which encloses a battery-powered motor for constant-rate delivery of liquid from a peristaltic pump. The injector also includes a fluid conduit within the housing through which liquid is pumped from a reservoir of liquid to a needle for injection into the meat.

The invention relates to a pickling machine having a detection device for detecting a blocked, damaged and/or broken needle.

A handheld injector is provided for injecting liquid, such as flavoring or basting material, into meat or poultry. The injector includes a pistol-shaped housing which encloses a battery-powered motor for constant-rate delivery of liquid from a peristaltic pump. The injector also includes a fluid conduit within the housing through which liquid is pumped from a reservoir of liquid to a needle for injection into the meat.

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 injectade 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 injectade towards the second end, and the second manifold portion directs the injectade towards the first end of the elongated needleless spray bar. Other implementations are described.

An apparatus and method for separating the leaner portions of meat trimmings and sparse lean from the fattier portions using an automated system that segregates product based on fat content. One implementation of the method and apparatus includes a piston pump that pushes product through a reduction chamber and on through a feed line and nozzle inlet. The nozzle inlet injects a portion of product into a plurality of product chambers positioned at an outer perimeter of a rotating wheel such that as the wheel rotates, the product chambers revolve about a central axis of the wheel. When the product chamber is adjacent the nozzle, product is injected into the chambers and as the wheel continues to rotate. Another implementation is a method and apparatus including a reduction station; a trim sorter station; a storage bin station; and a plurality of conveyor systems including a dispersion conveyor system extending between the reduction station and the trim sorter station and a sorter conveyor system extending between the trim sorter station and the storage bin station.

A protein composition corresponding to that of a natural pork belly is injected into a green pork belly and a standard pork belly curing brine is also injected into the pork belly. The protein composition and curing brine are injected into the pork belly in separate steps. The protein composition can be emulsified to facilitate injection into the pork belly. The injected pork belly can be massaged and then allowed to cure for a certain length of time. Thereafter, the pork belly is smoked in a standard manner and then shaped into a rectangular form for slicing into bacon.

An apparatus including a housing; a plurality of prongs connected to the housing so that the prongs are movable with respect to the housing; and a device for holding a food; and wherein the plurality of prongs are configured to be moved from a position outside of the food to a position where the plurality of prongs are inserted into the food; and wherein the plurality of prongs are configured to insert a substance into the food. The substance may be a seasoning. The apparatus may include a device for cleaning the plurality of prongs through a vacuum process and/or a blower process; wherein the device has an input configured to connect to one of the plurality of prongs. The apparatus may include a cook food platform; a sandwich platform; a hot beverage platform; and a cold beverage platform.