Method and an apparatus for thawing frozen meat

Abstract

A method of thawing meat frozen in meat blocks for initial separation of the meat block before the meat block is placed in a rotating container is provided. The meat block being subjected to pressure before treated in the rotating container, said pressure initiating a separation process of the meat block into individual pieces. This pressure may be applied over the diagonals of the meat block. The invention also comprises an apparatus for performing the method, said apparatus comprising a number of pistons which either cooperate in pairs or cooperate with a firm opposite face for applying pressure to the meat block. The faces of the pistons may be plane, or they may comprise elevations or depressions as well as adapted to act over at least one of the diagonals of the meat block.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method for thawing a plurality of pieces of meat frozen in meat blocks, comprising:
 receiving a block of meat comprising a plurality of pieces of meat frozen together in combination;   applying pressure to the block from a first piston that is disposed to engage the meat block from a first direction; and   applying pressure to the block from a second piston that is disposed to engage the block from a second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the pressure applied by the block from the first and second pistons is configured to initiate a thawing process of the block.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the steps of applying pressure to the block from each of the first and second pistons is configured to displace some of the plurality of pieces of frozen meat within the block. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of applying pressure to the block from the first piston further comprises the step of applying pressure to the block from the first piston and a third piston, the third piston configured to engage a the block from a third direction opposite from the first direction, and perpendicular to the second direction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and third pistons are configured to move toward and engage opposite sides of the block. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and third pistons are configured to move toward the block as a pair. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of applying pressure to the block from the second piston further comprises the step of applying pressure to the block from the second piston and a fourth piston, the fourth piston being configured to engage the block from a fourth direction that is opposite from the second direction, and wherein the fourth direction is substantially perpendicular to each of the first and third directions. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second and fourth pistons are configured to move toward and engage opposite sides of the block. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second and fourth pistons are configured to move toward the block as a pair. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of applying pressure to the block from the second piston further comprises the step of applying pressure to the block from the second piston and a fourth piston, the fourth piston being configured to engage the block from a fourth direction that is opposite from the second direction, and wherein the fourth direction is substantially perpendicular to each of the first and third directions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second and fourth pistons are configured to move toward and engage opposite sides of the block. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second pistons are each configured to engage corners of the block. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth pistons are configured to grip a corner of the block. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein each of the first and second pistons are arranged to grip a corner of the block. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein one or both of the first and second pistons comprise outwardly inclined elevations at their corners. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of placing the block into a container after the block has been engaged by the first and second pistons, and the step of rotating the container containing the block. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the container comprises a jacket and a plurality of carriers arranged internally within the jacket, wherein the rotation of the container is configured to agitate the block to cause the plurality of pieces of meat within the block to separate. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein continued rotation of the container urges the pieces of meat within the container to thaw. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of changing an inclination of an axis of rotation of the container during the rotation step.