Vibratory conveyor, food processing line and method of processing food products

1 . A method of processing heavy food products, in a food processing line, wherein the heavy food products have a weight of at least 1 kg, and wherein the method comprises:

injecting a liquid into the heavy food products using an injection apparatus,

receiving the heavy food products by a vibratory conveyor from the injection apparatus, wherein the vibratory conveyor comprises at least one transport element that carries the heavy food products and allows draining of the liquid through the at least one transport element, wherein the at least one transport element is arranged horizontally and configured to carry the heavy food products horizontally,

wherein the vibratory conveyor comprises a drip tray arranged below the at least one transport element to receive the liquid draining through the at least one transport element,

wherein an actuator causes vibration of the at least one transport element by generating a stroke with an amplitude in a range of 8 mm to 16 mm, the actuator is configured to generate the stroke in a stroke direction, which is arranged at an angle to a horizontal direction, wherein the angle is in a range of 60° to 80°, and

wherein the actuator causes a vibration of the at least one transport element with a frequency in a range of 10 Hz to 20 Hz, or 14 Hz to 17 Hz.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heavy food products are carried by the at least one transport element of the vibratory conveyor for a residence time in a range of 10 to 90 seconds, or in a range of 20 to 60 seconds, or in a range of 30 to 60 seconds, or in a range of 30 to 45 seconds.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heavy food products, when carried by the vibratory conveyor, receive a number of strokes in a range of 400 to 2000.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is held by a support structure of the vibratory conveyor, the actuator is configured to actuate all transport elements of the vibratory conveyor simultaneously, the support structure extends in the horizontal direction and is parallel to a ground surface, wherein the heavy food products each weigh between 1 kg and 15 kg, and the heavy food products comprise meat having a bone.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the actuator is configured to generate the stroke having the amplitude in the range of 8 mm to 16 mm and the stroke direction arranged at the angle of 60° to 80° relative to the horizontal direction so that the liquid injected into the heavy food products is uniformly distributed and excess liquid is removed from the heavy food products during conveyance of the food products, wherein the actuator is a hydraulic or pneumatic linear actuator.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is held by a support structure of the vibratory conveyor, the actuator is configured to actuate all transport elements of the vibratory conveyor simultaneously, the support structure extends in the horizontal direction and is parallel to a ground surface, wherein the heavy food products each weigh between 1 kg and 15 kg and comprise meat having a bone, the actuator is configured to generate the stroke having the amplitude in the range of 8 mm to 16 mm and the stroke direction arranged at the angle of 60° to 80° relative to the horizontal direction so that the liquid injected into the heavy food products is uniformly distributed and excess liquid is removed from the heavy food products during conveyance of the heavy food products, wherein the actuator is a hydraulic or pneumatic linear actuator.