Means of conveying plastic material through a conduit

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said means adjacent said conveying means comprises an annular channel means extending around the intake end of said conveying passageway whereby said film of liquid is introduced continuously around the entire inner perimeter of said conveying passageway.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said conveying passageway is rotatable about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means adjacent said conveying passageway includes a filter means through which said liquid flows into said passageway.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said filter means is of a sintered metal material.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said filter means is a porus material.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means adjacent said conveying passageway includes a metering means through which said liquid flows into said passageway.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means adjacent said conveying passageway includes a restriction means through which said liquid flows into said passageway.

Claim 10

In a meat product encasing apparatus, a support means, a stuffing tube means having intake and discharge ends and a substantially continuous interior wall extending between said intake and discharge ends, said stuffing tube means being mounted on said support means and having its intake end in communication with a source of meat product under pressure and its discharge end in operative communication with a casing means whereby the meat product will be moved through said stuffing tube means into said casing means, means communicating with a source of liquid under pressure and said stuffing tube means at said intake end thereof, for creating a film of liquid in intimate contact with substantially the entire length of said interior wall of said stuffing tube means and the meat product moving therethrough so that said film of liquid will serve as a lubricant between said meat product and said interior wall.

Claim 11

In a meat product encasing apparatus, a support means, a stuffing tube means having intake and discharge ends and a substantially continuous interior wall extending between said intake and discharge ends, said stuffing tube means being mounted on said support means and having its intake end in communication with a source of meat product under pressure and its discharge end in operative communication with a casing means whereby the meat product will be moved through said stuffing tube means into said casing means, means communicating with a source of liquid under pressure and said stuffing tube means at said intake end thereof, for creating a film of liquid in intimate contact with substantially the entire length of said interior wall of said stuffing tube means and the meat product moving therethrough so that said film of liquid will serve as a lubricant between said meat product and said interior wall.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a support member embraces the intake end of said stuffing tube means and has a first end positioned adjacent the intake end of said stuffing tube means, a conduit means embracing said first end of said support member, said meat product being moved through said conduit means into the intake end of said stuffing tube means, said liquid passageway adapted to supply the liquid to the said first end of said support member.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said liquid passageway comprises an annular channel formed at the surface of said support member spaced from its said one end and a communicating passageway extending from said channel to said one end of said support member, said conduit means having a bore formed therein which is in communication with the source of liquid and said channel.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said one end of said support member has a funnel-like configuration, said intake end of said stuffing tube means having a beveled end which is in alignment with said funnel-like one end of said support member.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said liquid passageway comprises a plurality of spaced apart, radially extending openings formed in said support member which communicate at their inner ends with said stuffing tube means adjacent the intake end thereof, said conduit means having an annular channel formed therein which communicates with said openings and with said source of liquid.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said one end of said support member has a funnel-like configuration.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein means is provided on said conduit means for directing the flow of liquid over the said one end of said support member and into said stuffing tube means.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for directing the flow of liquid comprises an annular shoulder means in communication with said liquid passageway.

Claim 19

In a meat product encasing apparatus, a support means, a stuffing tube means having intake and discharge ends and a substantially continuous interior wall, said stuffing tube means being mounted on said support means and having its intake end in communication with a source of meat product under pressure and its discharge end in operative communication with a casing means whereby the meat product will be moved through said stuffing tube means into said casing means, a liquid passageway means in communication with a source of liquid under pressure and said stuffing tube means adjacent the intake end thereof, whereby said liquid will create a film of liquid in intimate contact with said interior wall of said stuffing tube means and the meat product moving thereghrough so that said film of liquid will serve as a lubricant between said meat product and said interior wall, said stuffing tube means being rotatably mounted on said support means.

Claim 20

In a meat product encasing apparatus, a support means, a stuffing tube means having intake and discharge ends and a substantially continuous interior wall, said stuffing tube means being mounted on said support means and having its intake end in communication with a source of meat product under pressure and its discharge end in operative communication with a casing means whereby the meat product will be moved through said stuffing tube means into said casing means, a liquid passageway means in communication with a source of liquid under pressure and said stuffing tube means adjacent the intake end thereof, whereby said liquid will create a film of liquid in intimate contact with said interior wall of said stuffing tube means and the meat product moving thereghrough so that said film of liquid will serve as a lubricant between said meat product and said interior wall, said stuffing tube means being rotatably mounted on said support means.

Claim 21

In a meat product encasing apparatus, a support means, a stuffing tube means having intake and discharge ends and a substantially continuous interior wall, said stuffing tube means being mounted on said support means and having its intake end in communication with a source of meat product under pressure and its discharge end in operative communication with a casing means whereby the meat product will be moved through said stuffing tube means into said casing means, a liquid passageway means in communication with a source of liquid under pressure and said stuffing tube means adjacent the intake end thereof, whereby said liquid will create a film of liquid in intimate contact with said interior wall of said stuffing tube means and the meat product moving therethrough so that said film of liquid will serve as a lubricant between said meat product and said interior wall, a support member embracing the intake end of said stuffing tube means and having a first end positioned adjacent the intake end of said stuffing tube means, a conduit means embracing said first end of said support member, said meat product being moved through said conduit means into the intake end of said stuffing tube means, said liquid passageway adapted to supply the liquid to the said first end of said support member, said liquid passageway comprising an annular channel formed at the surface of said support member spaced from its said one end and a communicating passageway extending from said channel to said one end of said support member, said conduit means having a bore formed therein which is in communication with the source of liquid and said channel, said support member being rotatably mounted in said conduit means, said stuffing tube being rotatable with said support member.

Claim 22

In a meat product encasing apparatus, a support means, a stuffing tube means having intake and discharge ends and a substantially continuous interior wall, said stuffing tube means being mounted on said support means and having its intake end in communication with a source of meat product under pressure and its discharge end in operative communication with a casing means whereby the meat product will be moved through said stuffing tube means into said casing means, a liquid passageway means in communication with a source of liquid under pressure and said stuffing tube means adjacent the intake end thereof, whereby said liquid will create a film of liquid in intimate contact with said interior wall of said stuffing tube means and the meat product moving therethrough so that said film of liquid will serve as a lubricant between said meat product and said interior wall, a support member embracing the intake end of said stuffing tube means and having a first end positioned adjacent the intake end of said stuffing tube means, a conduit means embracing said first end of said support member, said meat product being moved through said conduit means into the intake end of said stuffing tube means, said liquid passageway adapted to supply the liquid to the said first end of said support member, said liquid passageway comprising an annular channel formed at the surface of said support member spaced from its said one end and a communicating passageway extending from said channel to said one end of said support member, said conduit means having a bore formed therein which is in communication with the source of liquid and said channel, said support member being rotatably mounted in said conduit means, said stuffing tube being rotatable with said support member.

Claim 23

In a meat product encasing apparatus, a support means, a stuffing tube means having intake and discharge ends and a substantially continuous interior wall, said stuffing tube means being mounted on said support means and having its intake end in communication with a source of meAt product under pressure and its discharge end in operative communication with a casing means whereby the meat product will be moved through said stuffing tube means said casing means, a liquid passageway means in communication with a source of liquid under pressure and said stuffing tube means adjacent the intake end thereof, whereby said liquid will create a film of liquid in intimate contact with said interior wall of said stuffing tube means and the meat product moving therethrough so that said film of liquid will serve as a lubricant between said meat product and said interior wall, a support member embracing the intake end of said stuffing tube means and having a first end positioned adjacent the intake end of said stuffing tube means, a conduit means embracing said first end of said support member, said meat product being moved through said conduit means into the intake end of said stuffing tube means, said liquid passageway adapted to supply the liquid to the said first end of said support member, said liquid passageway comprising an annular channel formed at the surface of said support member spaced from its said one end and a communicating passageway extending from said channel to said one end of said support member, said conduit means having a bore formed therein which is in communication with the source of liquid and said channel, said liquid passageway comprising a plurality of spaced apart, radially extending openings formed in said support member which communicate at their inner ends with said stuffing tube means adjacent the intake end thereof, said conduit means having an annular channel formed therein which communicates with said openings and with said source of liquid, said support member being rotatably mounted in said conduit means, said stuffing tube means being rotatable with said support member.

Claim 24

In a meat product encasing apparatus, a support means, a stuffing tube means having intake and discharge ends and a substantially continuous interior wall, said stuffing tube means being mounted on said support means and having its intake end in communication with a source of meAt product under pressure and its discharge end in operative communication with a casing means whereby the meat product will be moved through said stuffing tube means said casing means, a liquid passageway means in communication with a source of liquid under pressure and said stuffing tube means adjacent the intake end thereof, whereby said liquid will create a film of liquid in intimate contact with said interior wall of said stuffing tube means and the meat product moving therethrough so that said film of liquid will serve as a lubricant between said meat product and said interior wall, a support member embracing the intake end of said stuffing tube means and having a first end positioned adjacent the intake end of said stuffing tube means, a conduit means embracing said first end of said support member, said meat product being moved through said conduit means into the intake end of said stuffing tube means, said liquid passageway adapted to supply the liquid to the said first end of said support member, said liquid passageway comprising an annular channel formed at the surface of said support member spaced from its said one end and a communicating passageway extending from said channel to said one end of said support member, said conduit means having a bore formed therein which is in communication with the source of liquid and said channel, said liquid passageway comprising a plurality of spaced apart, radially extending openings formed in said support member which communicate at their inner ends with said stuffing tube means adjacent the intake end thereof, said conduit means having an annular channel formed therein which communicates with said openings and with said source of liquid, said support member being rotatably mounted in said conduit means, said stuffing tube means being rotatable with said support member.