The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 05, 2016
Filed:
Apr. 26, 2012
Zbigniew Stanislaw Borkiewicz, Sun Prairie, WI (US);
Thomas W. Kleckner, McFarland, WI (US);
Timothy Dale Schnell, DeForest, WI (US);
Zbigniew Stanislaw Borkiewicz, Sun Prairie, WI (US);
Thomas W. Kleckner, McFarland, WI (US);
Timothy Dale Schnell, DeForest, WI (US);
Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for macerating raw meat pieces includes two sets of rotating arbors, each having a different primary function. More particularly, the first arbor set is primarily configured to flatten and roughly tenderize the meat. The second arbor set is primarily configured to increase the surface area and tenderness of the meat without breaking the meat apart, though the second arbor set may also further reduce the thickness of the meat pieces. The second arbor set is positioned downstream of the first arbor set by a conveyor such that the meat pieces advancing through the macerator are only macerated by one of the arbor sets at any give time. Each arbor set has a pair of counter rotating shafts.