Foods and beverages: apparatus – Means to treat food – Automatic control or time means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-28
2002-08-27
Hendricks, Keith (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Means to treat food
Automatic control or time means
C099S532000, C099S535000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06439112
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to equipment and methods for food processing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a needle for injecting substances into food products, including meat, a method of making such needles, and a method of using and cleaning such needles.
Typically, such needles comprise a tubular body having a first pointed end and a second end, an axial duct in the tubular body, and openings located along the length of the tubular body, at least near the first and second ends.
Precooking and prepackaging treatment of food is well known and is used for purposes such as flavoring or tenderizing. Equipment for injecting or infusing food for these or other purposes, including needles, is well known too. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,221 describes a needle for spray injecting brine into meat pieces. Such needles comprise a tubular body provided with an axial duct, with radial holes being distributed along the tubular body of the needle, such holes having a diameter which is apt to assure the spraying of brine under pressure. A holding end portion is connected to one end of the body, and is provided with a fastening zone, with a pointed tip being provided on the other end of the tubular body.
This type of injection needle needs to be frequently cleaned for both mechanical and health reasons. Injection substances for meat, such as brine solution, are passed through the needle and into the meat. These substances may be recycled, and can carry meat micro fibers with them through the needle which can eventually clog the radial holes. Also, bacteria can build up in needles containing residues of the injection substances and meat micro fibers. To clean the needles, air, or other fluid, such as water or other suitable cleaning agent, is circulated through the needle under pressure, using a blow gun or pump to dislodge any loose pieces, and force them out of the needle at the injection end through the radial holes. The fluid is blown into the needle at the entrance hole near the blunt end of the needle and is blown out the other holes. If any of the holes are blocked with pieces that will not exit, the needle is placed in a citric acid solution, typically 5 parts water to 1 part citric acid, for at least 24 hours. The needle is again blown out. If that procedure does not work, mechanical means might be required to clean the needle, such as a small wire or brush.
One problem with typical injection needles is that the needles are hollow from end to end, i.e., from the top extremity to the injection point. The hollow design does not allow for thorough sanitation throughout the needle, because current cleaning techniques do not allow for proper cleaning above the entrance hole located near the blunt end of the tubular body, which may be located up to 2½ from the top, or blunt end, of the needle and the top of the hollow duct. Anything in the hollow duct between the entrance hole and the blunt end of the needle is bypassed by the current cleaning methods, leaving residue and debris. In fact, debris may be pushed into that portion of the hollow duct by the current cleaning process. Once material builds up in that portion of the needle, citric acid may not reach or be corrosive enough to break down the materials. This debris can stay in that portion of the needle indefinitely, and can form a media for bacteria that can cause health hazards.
Thus, there is a need for an injection needle for food that doesn't allow residue and debris to remain in parts of the needle in locations that are not reached by current cleaning processes.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides a needle for injecting substances into food items, particularly meat, and a method of making the same, whereby debris and residue cannot be deposited or accumulated in portions of the needle.
The present invention accomplishes this task by providing an insert, which is inserted into the hollow portion, or axial duct, of the needle filling the area from the blunt end of the needle to the entrance aperture, consequently filling in that section of the hollow portion, so that no debris can be deposited in that area, and all debris and residue can be washed out of the needle, resulting in a clean and sanitary needle.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent and understood with reference to the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
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Becker Drew
Cargill Incorporated
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Hendricks Keith
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