1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with an improved hydraulic portioning assembly designed to facilitate precise portioning of fluid or semi-fluid products such as meat in order to deliver successive portions to the filling or packaging device. More particularly, it is concerned with such a portioning assembly making use of hydraulic control means comprising a double-acting piston and cylinder assembly coupled via valve means with a hydraulically powered product dispensing device such that stroke length of the hydraulic control means controls the portions dispensed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the production of meat products such as hamburger or sausage, it is often desirable to deliver precisely metered or portioned quantities to a filling or packaging station. As can be appreciated, if underweight portions are dispensed, the ultimate consumer suffers. By the same token, if portions are overweight, the seller is at a disadvantage. Thus, it is very desirable in automated meat handling operations to provide a portioning assembly which gives precise, repeatable portions.
By the same token, however, modern day automated processing demands a given portioning assembly be adaptable for high speed operation and be extremely reliable in use. These requisites are of course inimical to precision portioning, and thus there has been a real need in the art for a simplified, rugged, yet highly precise portioning assembly useful in conjunction with hydraulic food pumps or similar devices.