Device for making textured portions of food products

Abstract

A device that makes it possible to produce end products having a textured aspect identical to that of the initial food product introduced into the pump, and particularly in the case of meat, keeping the fibrous aspect of the initial pieces of meat. The device according to the invention may be used for producing portions from any type of food product in pieces, such as meat in muscle, filleted fish, and vegetables in pieces such as carrots for example.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A device for producing portions of a food product in pieces, the device comprising:
 a tubular distribution duct receiving therein a substantially constant flow of food product fed by delivering means, the tubular distribution duct being ended horizontally by a discharge orifice;   cutting and shaping means acting on the food product outside the tubular distribution duct in order to form portions of the food product, the cutting and shaping means including a knife able to cut the food product, a transport belt to recover the cuts formed by said knife, and, along said transport belt, lateral and vertical shaping means to shape the contour of said portions; and   wherein the knife comprises a rotating blade which is disposed outside the tubular distribution duct, at the location of said discharge orifice, to cut transversally and vertically in slices the food product exiting the discharge orifice.   
     
     
         19 . A device for producing portions of a food product in pieces, the device comprising:
 a tubular distribution duct receiving therein a substantially constant flow of food product fed by delivering means, the tubular distribution duct having an horizontal discharge orifice, and   cutting and shaping means acting on the food product outside the tubular distribution duct in order to form portions of the food product, the cutting and shaping means including a knife able to cut the food product, a transport belt to recover the cuts formed by said knife, and, along said transport belt, lateral and vertical shaping means to shape the contour of said portions,   wherein the knife comprises a flat blade having a curved cutting edge to cut vertically in slices the food product at said discharge orifice.   
     
     
         20 . A device for producing portions of a food product in pieces, the device comprising:
 a tubular distribution duct receiving therein a substantially constant flow of food product fed by delivering means, the tubular distribution duct having an axis and a discharge orifice on said axis ending the tubular distribution duct;   cutting and shaping means acting on the food product outside the tubular distribution duct in order to form portions of the food product, the cutting and shaping means including a knife able to cut the food product, a transport belt to recover the cuts formed by said knife, and, along said transport belt, lateral shaping means to shape the contour of said portions and vertical shaping means to confer a desired thickness to said portions; and   wherein the knife comprises a blade which rotates on itself around an axis parallel to the discharge orifice axis, to cut in slices the food product exiting the discharge orifice.