Grinder assembly

Abstract

A grinder with independent blades and an apparatus and methods to cause the product to be stretched, aligning the fibers of the product.

Claims

1. A grinding machine comprising: a grinder portion; a feed screw or auger to advance material in the hopper through said head; independent speed control blades attached to a motor that is independent from said feed screw or said auger; said motor providing variable speed control; an orifice plate; said orifice plate having said independent speed control blades on outside of said orifice plate; a collection cone located downstream of said orifice plate; said orifice plate comprised of a plurality of grinding apertures and at least one collection passage; geometry of each of said grinding apertures create a venturi effect; said apertures have a diameter such that ratio of diameter of sphere in said orifice plate to diameter of cylinder of said orifice plate is approximately 1.1 to 2.5.

2. A grinding machine comprising: a grinder portion; a feed screw or auger to advance material in the hopper through said head; independent speed control blades attached to a motor that is independent from said feed screw or said auger; said motor providing variable speed control; an orifice plate; said orifice plate having said independent speed control blades on outside of said orifice plate; a collection cone located downstream of said orifice plate; said orifice plate comprised of a plurality of grinding apertures and at least one collection passage; geometry of each of said grinding apertures create a venturi effect; wherein said apertures of said orifice plate utilize intersection of a sphere with a cylinder in order to create a cross section which represents said venturi orifice.

3. The grinding plate of claim 2 wherein said sphere is shorter in length than said cylinder.

4. A grinding machine comprising: a grinder portion; a feed screw or auger to advance material in the hopper through said head; independent speed control blades attached to a motor that is independent from said feed screw or said auger; said motor providing variable speed control; an orifice plate; said orifice plate having said independent speed control blades on outside of said orifice plate; a collection cone located downstream of said orifice plate; said orifice plate comprised of a plurality of grinding apertures and at least one collection passage; geometry of each of said grinding apertures create a venturi effect; wherein said apertures of said orifice plate change size from a larger to a smaller diameter with vertical or concave sides having a sharp edge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a dissembled view of the grinder outboard knife assembly.

(2) FIG. 2 is an illustration of a prior art venturi design.

(3) FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of an orifice or grinder plate of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a magnified top view of an embodiment of an orifice or grinder plate of the present invention. As shown in this embodiment, the spherical portion is shorter compared to the exit cylinder length.

(5) FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of an embodiment of an orifice or grinder plate of the present invention. As shown in this embodiment, the spherical portion is shorter compared to the exit cylinder length.

(6) FIG. 6 is a magnified cross sectional side view of an embodiment of an orifice or grinder plate of the present invention. As shown in this embodiment, the spherical portion is shorter compared to the exit cylinder length.

(7) FIG. 7 is a top view of a grinder plate of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows a grinder outboard knife assembly 10 comprising a grinder knife 12, which is a device that has multiple legs (or extensions) from a hub, each of which has edges designed to cut fibers by rotating on a flat surface with multiple orifices.

(9) A grinder plate 14 is a flat disc that has multiple orifices. The grinder plate 14 is the surface upon which the grinder knife rotates.

(10) The bone collector tube 16 is a tube which is attached to the center hub of the grinder plate 14. It creates a path for bone matter to travel so that it is separated from the ground meat.

(11) In an embodiment, the bone collector, which usually uses a ball valve for flow control, is replaced with a fixed insert orifice that has the spherical hole design of the present invention. This allows for easy size change, removal and installation of a different sized orifice. This assists in keeping the flow consistent, the acceleration through the orifice would be self-cleaning, and it would reduce the outside profile allowing for better exit of meat from the drum device.

(12) The grinder plate nut 18 holds the grinder plate 14 to the grinder barrel.

(13) The gear box clamp 20 is a circular locking clamp that affixes the external gear box to the end of the grinder, via the nut 18.

(14) Outer knife 22 cuts meat on the downstream side of the grinder plate 14.

(15) Knife push rod 24, is a bar that allows spring forces to be exerted on the knife 12.

(16) O-ring 26 is an elastomer used either for sealing mating surfaces or can provide a cushioning and spring effect.

(17) Gear box mounting flange 28, is the part of the gear box that allows the gear box clamp 20 to hold the gear box to the grinder. Gear box clamp engages both flange 28 and nut 18 to hold the device on the grinder.

(18) Gear box housing 30, is comprised of left and right housings that are fastened by bolts.

(19) Bearing 32 supports rotation against the gear box housing 30.

(20) Input shaft bearing 34, which is also known as the drive sprocket bearing, facilitates the drive shaft rotating the outer knife 22.

(21) Bearing race 36 is the cover on the outer diameter of the bearing 32 that contains the balls (ball bearing) or rollers (roller bearing).

(22) The knife assembly 10 further comprises a drive chain 38 that transmits the motor force to the external knife.

(23) Outer knife drive hub 40 is the sprocket that is directly driven by the external motor.

(24) Input sprocket shaft 42 transmits the forces from the auxiliary motor to the drive chain 38.

(25) Motor input coupling 44 is attached to the front of the auxiliary motor.

(26) Gear box housing 46 is comprised of a left and right housing that is fastened by bolts.

(27) Outer knife pressure tension ring 48 applies pressure to the outer knife 22 to keep it on the surface of the grinder plate 14.

(28) In a further embodiment, the springs of the device will be internal with no outer ring.

(29) Tension spring 50 creates force to maintain contact between the outer knife 22 and grinder plate 14.

(30) Tension adjust screw 52 adjusts tension from the compressing spring.

(31) Gear box motor flange 54 is a flange to which the motor is attached.

(32) Motor clamp 56 is a clamp that holds the motor 60 to the gear box.

(33) Motor mount flange 58 is the flange attached to the gear box.

(34) Adjustable speed motor 60 is an electric motor with an inverter drive.

(35) In an embodiment, the grinder knife is installed into the end of the grinder auger. The grinder plate has a plurality of holes that have a spherical component and a cylindrical component. The grinder plate and the grinder knife are assembled to the end of the grinder by a grinder plate nut. The grinder plate nut is assembled to the grinder by a screw thread. The outer knife is assembled to three knife push rods. The gear box mounting flange is assembled to the LH gear box housing. An O-ring is inserted into the gear mounting nut flange to prevent meat leakage.

(36) The bearing and the bearing race are assembled to the outer diameter of the outer drive hub. The outer drive hub has sprocket teeth to accept the drive chain. There is a second bearing and bearing race that fit over the outer knife drive hub and into the gear box housing RH.

(37) There are two input shaft bearings that are assembled to the gear box assembly. The input sprocket shaft is aligned to the outer knife drive hub. The motor input coupling facilitates the motor to drive the assembly. After the gear box assembly is finished then the outer knife with the 3 knife push rods is pushed through the gear box assembly. The three tension springs, one for each rod, are assembled to holes in the gear box housing assembly. The outer knife pressure tension ring is assembled with the tension adjusting screw to provide for tension adjustment.

(38) The entire assembly is affixed to the grinder plate nut by an attachment flange on the nut and a similar flange on the gear box mounting flange. These are attached by the gear box clamp. The gear box motor flange is assembled via three bolts. The motor flange is assembled to the front of the motor.

(39) The motor is affixed to the gear box by the motor clamp that is similar in function to the gear box clamp. The motor is electrically connected to a speed control device.

(40) The bone collector tube is affixed to a hub on the grinder plate.

(41) FIG. 2 shows a prior art venturi 100 comprising a diameter 102, angle transition 104, throat length 106 and discharge 108.

(42) FIG. 3 shows an orifice plate 200 having apertures 210.

(43) FIG. 4 shows a magnified view of the orifice plate 200 showing the apertures 210.

(44) FIG. 5 shows the orifice plate 200 having the apertures 210. The apertures comprising a sphere section 212 and a cylinder section 214.

(45) FIG. 6 shows a magnified view of the apertures 210 having a spherical section 212 and a cylinder section 214.

(46) FIG. 7 shows a grinder plate 250 having a bone collection slots 252, and orifices 254 which are comprised of a spherical diameter 256 and a cylindrical diameter 258. The arrow 260 shows the direction of the meat flow.

(47) The present invention relates to fiber orientation technology. The fiber orientation technology drops pressure across the grinder plate, aligns the fibers of meat so that the contraction of the muscle fiber that does take place is in a direction of choice controlling both bite and shrinkage. The fiber orientation technology provides a lower resistance to product flow.

(48) The fiber orientation technology provides a better shear surface for a cleaner cut. The fiber orientation technology aligns the fibers in the grinder plate so the shearing action disrupts as few muscle cells as possible. The fiber orientation technology decreases the total area of grinder plate blocking the meat flow resulting in less direction change to the product which works the meat. The fiber orientation technology pulls the meat fiber through the apertures of the grinder plate instead of pushing using the principles of the venturi/choke plate.

(49) All of these characteristics of fiber orientation technology reduce the release and mixing of myosin with actin, the net effect is a controlled orientation of the fiber, less myosin activity resulting in a better bite/bind and control over the final cook shape. Spherical geometry in apertures of the grinder plate creates venturi effects.

(50) The grinder plate has a multiplicity of fill orifices distributed in a predetermined pattern. The orifices consist of spherical intersections or a curved structure intersecting a cylindrical section. The spherical section or curved structure has a diameter no greater than the choke flow for the liquid gas or solid used and is no less than the diameter of the connected cylindrical portion. By a reduction in the cross-sectional area a venturi condition is created. By using spherical sections or a curved structure, intersections between cylinder and spheres or curved structures create transitions which can be manufactured whose geometry approaches a venturi style system. It is preferred to have a sharper edge from the edge to the hole. To get a perfect edge it is preferred to sharpen with a grinder. In a preferred embodiment, the grinder plate is chrome coated.

(51) Using conservation of mass and conservation of energy principles the volume rate of flow must be equal at all points in the systems. (.sub.1A.sub.1V.sub.1)=(.sub.2A.sub.2V.sub.2). Since is a constant, velocity is inversely proportional to cross sectional area. Also, a venturi requires a ramp of some finite distance and a throat which also has a finite distance.

(52) A spherical geometry feeding into a circular cross section which creates a product velocity increased while maintaining more consistent pressure on the meat. A sphere has the following properties: All points on a sphere are the same distance from a fixed point. Contours and plane sections of spheres are circles. Spheres have the same width and girth. Spheres have maximum volume with minimum surface area. These properties allow meat to flow with minimum interruptions. There are no static or dead zones. No matter what angle the cylinder intersects the sphere; the cross section is always a perfect circle. Pressure inside of a sphere is uniform in all directions.

(53) When meat is passed through a circular cross section of a sphere, the fact that pressure is uniform in a sphere creates forces which will be coaxial with the sphere. The reduction in area accelerates the meat through the cylindrical section of the fill plate. The acceleration has been shown empirically to align fibers in the primary direct of flow. Hence, there is fiber orientation.