Importance

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Abstract

An improved automatic machine for sterilization and aseptic packing of meat products such as a piece of ham, shoulder meat or the like. The machine operates in a continuous cycle and includes first, second and third stations. The first station sterilizes an outer surface of a meat piece which is fed, after pasteurization, in a stripped condition into the first station. The first station has a tightly sealable chamber with a grid deck for supporting and then releasing the meat piece. The first station further includes a mechanism for tightly closing the chamber after introduction of the meat piece; a mechanism for opening the chamber after sterilization, and a heating mechanism for heating the inside of the chamber. The second station achieves packing of the meat piece after sterilization and includes a mechanism for removing the meat piece from the first station and for transferring the meat piece onto the second station. The second station also includes a mechanism for sequentially positioning packings from a magazine up to a position close to the second station and mechanisms for opening each packing and transferring the meat piece into the packings, as well as mechanisms for transferring filled packings to the third station where the packings are vacuum sealed. The improvements comprise an arrangement wherein the mechanism for removing the meat piece from the first station is retained in the chamber during sterilization and wherein the meat piece is transferred from the chamber directly into one of the packings.

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First Claim