Importance

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Abstract

A fluid cleaning system for removing meat particles from a rotating roll of a meat stripping machine with a minimum amount of pressurized fluid and water by sequentially opening and closing individual groups of fixed fluid nozzles located closely adjacent the roll. An air manifold extends longitudinally along the roll and is formed with groups of nozzles, each group being supplied by its own air supply channel. The air supply channels terminate in an annular air distribution chamber which is connected to a source of pressurized air. A disc, formed with at least one opening, is rotated within the chamber for sequentially opening at least one of the supply channels while maintaining the other supply channels closed from the pressurized air source. The roll and disc are driven by the same motor but at different speeds. Since only one group of nozzles is connected to the source of pressurized air at any one time, the supply of pressurized air is less than that required to supply all nozzles at the same time. The nozzle groups produce high velocity, momentary bursts of air longitudinally and circumferentially along and against the rotating roll to dislodge and remove the meat particles from the roll as the roll rotates past the nozzles while stripping skin and particles from a piece of meat. A water supply line also may be connected to each of the air supply channels through a ball check valve to supply a small quantity of water sequentially into the air supply channels for subsequent discharge with the pressurized air against the roll being cleaned.

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First Claim