Device for massaging products

Abstract

A device for treating products, in particular massaging meat products, comprises at least one treatment section with a space for receiving the products. Said space comprises a treatment device for treating the products. A discharge device is provided for discharging the products from the space of the treatment section. The discharge device can be brought into an active and an inactive operating state with the aid of an actuating device.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for treating products, in particular massaging meat products, comprising: 
 at least one treatment section having a space for accommodating the products, which space comprises a treatment device for treating the products; and    a discharge device for discharging the products from the space of the treatment section,    wherein the discharge device can be brought into an active and an inactive operating state.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge device can be moved between an active and an inactive position with the aid of an actuating device.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein each treatment section is provided with its own actuating device.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuating device is common to a plurality of treatment sections.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuating device comprises a rod which can be actuated from outside the device.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuating device comprises a piston-cylinder unit.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuating device comprises a cam track mechanism.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuating device is designed to generate a control signal after the discharge device of the treatment section has been moved into the active position.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 2 , comprising at least two treatment sections through which the products are to pass in succession, the actuating device being designed to move the discharge device of the second treatment section into an active position in order for the second treatment section to be emptied before moving the discharge device of the first treatment section into its active position.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 2 , comprising at least two treatment sections through which the products are to pass in succession, the actuating device being designed to move the discharge device of the first and the second treatment section into an active position essentially at the same time in order for the first and the second treatment section to be emptied.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment device comprises at least one massaging element, the discharge device interacting with the at least one massaging element in order to reach the active and the inactive position.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment device is designed to be set in motion with the aid of a drive.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , comprising at least two treatment sections, and wherein the movement of the different treatment devices of the different treatment sections differs.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the treatment device is designed to be rotated.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , comprising at least two treatment sections, the different treatment devices of the different treatment sections having a common bearing.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the bearing comprises a ring, along the circumference of which ring a number of wheels coupled to the treatment device are movable.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the different treatment devices of the different treatment sections are mounted on the same shaft.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the rotation takes place relative to an essentially horizontal axis of rotation.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the treatment device comprises at least one surface which is oriented at an angle to the direction of movement thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the treatment device comprises a number of surfaces which are at an angle to one another and, as seen in cross section, form one or more points.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the vertex angle of the points is at least approx. 45°.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the points are arranged at a distance from one another.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the points are formed asymmetrically.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the dimensions of the points differ from one another.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the surfaces are integral with a wall of the treatment section.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one surface is movable along a stationary wall of the treatment section.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein an edge of the at least one surface, the edge facing the wall, is situated at a distance from the wall.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one surface is arranged hingedly, the hinge axis being essentially parallel to said axis of rotation.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein at least one spring member is provided for biasing the at least one surface to a predetermined hinge position.  
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment device comprises a massaging-substance feed device, which is arranged in the space of the treatment section, for supplying a massaging substance.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a peripheral wall of the space of the treatment section is provided with perforations, a chamber, which is open at least on the side of peripheral wall, being formed outside the space, adjacent to the peripheral wall, in order to supply or discharge a treatment medium to or from the space via the perforations.  
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment device comprises a device for the transfer of heat via a peripheral wall of the space of the treatment section.  
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment device comprises needles which project into the space of the treatment section.  
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the needles can be moved in a controllable manner in their longitudinal direction.  
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment section comprises a rotatable drum which defines the said space, which drum has an axis of rotation and a direction of rotation.  
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the treatment device comprises a series of blades which are arranged in the space and operate so as to cut products in the space in the direction of rotation.  
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the treatment device comprises a rotatable roller which is arranged in the space and the axis of rotation of which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum, which roller acts so as to massage deformable products.  
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the roller is provided with grooves on its outer surface.  
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge device comprises a product-guiding part, a discharge end of which is located outside the treatment section.  
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the product-guiding part is in the form of a gutter.  
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge device is designed, in its active operating state, to discharge both the products and the liquid and/or solid massaging substance located in the corresponding treatment section.  
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge device is designed, in its active operating state, to discharge the products and to return the liquid and/or solid massaging substance located in the corresponding treatment section to this treatment section.  
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein the discharge device is provided with perforations.  
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge device is designed, in its active operating state, to discharge the products, the liquid and/or solid massaging substance located in the corresponding treatment section not being discharged.  
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of a surface of the space of each treatment section is provided with a profile.  
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein different treatment sections are formed in a common space, provision being made for a removable treatment device and removable partitions between the different treatment sections.  
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one treatment section has a wall which is at least partly removable.