Fiber orienting technology for a grinding machine

Abstract

An apparatus and method for accelerating food product and decreasing pressure of the product in order to cause the product to be stretched aligning the fibers of the product.

1 . A grinding machine comprising:
 a hopper into which material to be ground is placed;   a grinder portion comprising a grinding head, a mounting ring, a bridge, a barrel and   a collection tube;   a device located in said grinding head to advance material in said hopper through said head;   a knife assembly mounted at end of said device;   said knife assembly rotating with said device and an orifice plate;   a collection cone located downstream of said orifice plate;   said orifice plate comprised of a plurality of grinding apertures and at least one collection passage;   said grinding apertures consisting of a geometry that creates a venturi effect which results in an acceleration of said material with a corresponding pressured drop through said grinding apertures.   
     
     
         2 . The grinding machine of  claim 1  wherein said grinding apertures align fibers of material that has been ground. 
     
     
         3 . The grinding machine of  claim 1  wherein said material to be ground is drawn through said grinding apertures of said orifice plate which stretches said material. 
     
     
         4 . The grinding machine of  claim 1  wherein said venturi effect created by said apertures aligns fibers of said material to be ground through said orifice plate. 
     
     
         5 . The grinding machine of  claim 1  wherein said material to be ground is stretched or aligned and creates a clean cut of said material. 
     
     
         6 . The grinding machine of  claim 1  wherein said ground material has little or no release of actin and myosin. 
     
     
         7 . The grinding machine of  claim 1  wherein said grinding aperture create lowest cross section through the ground material. 
     
     
         8 . The grinding machine of  claim 1  wherein said food to be ground comprises meat. 
     
     
         9 . A grinding machine comprising:
 a hopper into which material to be ground is placed;   a grinder portion for grinding said material;   a device for advancing said material in said hopper through said grinder portion;   a knife assembly mounted at end of said device;   said knife assembly rotating with said device and an orifice plate;   a collection cone located downstream of said orifice plate;   said orifice plate comprised of a plurality of grinding apertures and at least one collection passage;   said grinding apertures consisting of a geometry that creates a venturi effect which results in an acceleration of said material with a corresponding pressured drop through said grinding apertures.   
     
     
         10 . A grinding machine comprising:
 a hopper into which material to be ground is placed;   a grinder portion for grinding said material;   a device for advancing said material in said hopper through said grinder portion;   a knife assembly mounted at end of said device;   said knife assembly rotating with said device and an orifice plate;   a collection cone located downstream of said orifice plate;   said orifice plate comprised of a plurality of grinding apertures and at least one collection passage;   said grinding apertures creating a venturi effect on said material which results in an acceleration of said material with a corresponding pressured drop through said grinding apertures.   
     
     
         11 . A method of grinding material in a grinding machine comprising:
 placing said material to be ground in a hopper;   advancing said material in said hopper through said grinder portion;   creating a venturi effect on said material which results in an acceleration of said material with a corresponding pressure drop through said grinding apertures;   grinding said material;   cutting said material with a knife assembly.