Composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure for meat

Abstract

The method comprises forcing a meat product into a netting structure 300 comprising at least two plies of warp-knitted netting, a first inner net N1 is disposed inside a second outer net N2, and tensi

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multi-ply knitted netting structure for encapsulating a meat product, more particularly but not exclusively, to two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting 5 structure having an inner first net and a second outer warp-knitted net. Additional, aspects of the present invention relate to: a method of preparing a meat product for cooking wherein the meat is simultaneously stuffed into an innermost first warp-knitted net and an outermost second warp-knitted net; a method of manufacturing the two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure; and a tube loaded with a shirred quantity of the at least two-ply 10 composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure, the loaded tube being suitable for use in a meat-stuffing assembly. The invention finds advantageous application in the meat processing industry for the preparation of meat-product, that may be pressed or non-pressed and stuffed into multi-ply 15 knitted netting structure and then subsequently cooked, for example, in a broiler, boiler, poacher, smoker and / or steamer; or delivered to a wholesale or retail outlet as a prepared, raw meat product ready for cooking. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION. 20 The global processed meat market is estimated to have an annual value of about $520 billion. Increasing consumer demand for ready-to-eat food products is expected to drive growth in the industry. Whereas frozen and canned meats make up a large part of the industry; a significant proportion of the global processed meat market involves the production and sale of sliced, pre-cooked meat, particularly, sliced cooked hams, sausages and salamis. Pre-cooked, 25 sliced, pre-packaged portions of processed meat are regularly stocked in many supermarkets and smaller conveniences stores. Consumers like the convenience of buying a pre-packaged number of slices of cooked meat at a pre-stated price. Consumers like to use the evenly sliced and consistently formed slices in sandwiches. In addition to sales direct to consumers, such sliced meats are very popular in the ready-made or made-to-order sandwich industry in 30 restaurants, cafes, independent and big chain coffee shops and fast-food outlets such as Costa Coffee®, Starbucks®, Subway®, Pret-a-Manger® and M&S Food®. The UK boxed (ready-made) sandwich industry is estimated to be worth £8 billion a year. Important considerations in the preparation of pre-cooked meat that is either sold for being sliced or sold pre-sliced and pre-packaged, are: 24 04 25 • the texture of the cooked meat (which preferably should be homogenous, having a uniform structure or composition throughout, with good binding of the proteins and minimised air or fat bubbles); • the uniformity of the slice size (diameter); 5 • the uniformity of the slice shape (typically a substantially circular shape); and • the overall yield of slices from a formed and shaped, pre-cooked unit of meat (the yield is reduced by having to cut off meat at either end of the pre-cooked unit of meat because the sizes of the slices at the ends are too small. This is especially so where the unit of meat is more rugby-ball-shaped, rather than 10 cylindrically-shaped). It is widely known to use fibrous, collagen, plastic and similar casings and an outer elasticated netting, and the like to encapsulate meat products such as sausages and joints of beef, hams and pork. Typically, such plastic casings and nets are applied to a raw (uncooked) meat product and are very beneficial in reducing the time involved in butchery and product 15 preparation and further beneficially can improve the appearance and quality of the packaged product. The plastic casing helps to hold the shape of the meat and outer net typically helps to hold the plastic casing in place, usually, both remain on the meat joint or sausage during cooking to retain the shape and integrity during cooking. Elasticated nets and fibrous casing are often used in the preparation and presentation of cooked meat products such as sausages, 20 hams, salamis and frankfurters. Elasticated netting for meat is knitted as a continuous, tubular sleeve which is often wound in a flat condition into a roll or onto a bobbin. In its unstressed, relaxed condition, elasticated tubular outer net is of much smaller diameter than the pieces of meat which it is to enclose. The elasticated net is stretched and expanded and meat is forced into the net so that the 25 elasticated net exerts a compressive force onto the meat which assists in binding the meat, and thus maintaining the integrity of the meat during cooking. The net and any plastic casings are typically removed before the meat is sliced. The use of both a plastic casing and a second outer net to contain a meat product where sliced meat is the ultimate processed meat product being manufactured work well and efficiently. The current process of using plastic casing and 30 knitted net works well and good results in the processed-meat industry have been achieved for many years. In EP2519667, a product known industry wide as Total Control Net®orTCN®, is described. The innovation of TCN® net by the present applicant represented a step-wise improvement in the quality, uniformity and ease of production of processed meat, particularly processed, sliced meat. In Figures 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B the uniform and well-formed shape of 35 meat encapsulated in plastic or collagen casing and an outer TCN® net can be seen, along 24 04 25 with the efficient production of high-quality, sliced cooked meat. The introduction of the TCN® net as an outer elasticated netting but with an inextensible weft thread operating as a control weft thread to truly and fixedly limit the diametral expansion of the net was and still is hugely successful in the industry. 5 Despite the satisfaction in the industry of the currently adopted plastic casing and knitted TCN® outer net, the present applicant is always seeking to find further improvements in this field to support industry growth, help increase product yield and to reduce production cost. The applicant has now created an alternative and advantageous encapsulating structure 10 which operates very well but without using plastic casing. This is somewhat surprising since it goes against, very established and satisfactory existing processing techniques where the plastics casings are satisfactorily used. Nevertheless, the applicant’s new innovation offers an increased compression of the encapsulated meat, thus increasing protein binding during cooking - which leads to yet further improvements in the shaping, texture and uniformity of 15 the finished sliced meat product and thus a better quality, higher value product. Additionally, the encapsulating structure of the present invention offers very good yield of usable slices with very low wastage of end trimmings; and a further benefit of a more environmentally friendly encapsulating product. Furthermore, in many applications, the encapsulating structure of the present invention may be more economical to use, in part because it may require less labour 20 and reduced production time compared to currently existing methods. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention for which protection is sought, there is provided a method of preparing a meat product for cooking, the method comprising forcing 25 the meat product into a composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure comprising at least two plies of knitted netting, wherein a first inner warp-knitted net is disposed inside a second outer warp-knitted net, the method including forcing the meat, simultaneously into the at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure until tensioning of elastic threads of the first inner warp-knitted net and the second outer warp-knitted net subjects the 30 meat product to a compressive force; warp and weft threads of the second outer warp-knitted net cross over warp and weft threads of the inner first net such that the composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure comprises a matrix of cross-points whereat each cross point a weft or warp thread of the first net is directly overlaid by a warp or weft thread of the second net such that when the first and second nets are stretched and tensioned upon 35 forcing the meat therein, at the cross-points additional compressive force is imparted on the 24 04 25 meat. Beneficially, the multiplicity of cross-points and thus additional compression points help with the binding of protein in the meat product as it is cooked. This helps to create a uniform texture and helps to reduce, minimise or even alleviate the occurrence of air or fat bubbles, which might otherwise be present and would appear as holes in the final sliced 5 meat Optionally, the first inner warp-knitted net is disposed inside the second outer warp-knitted net, the first and second nets are in direct contact with one another, the first and second nets are not connected to each other and the first and second nets can stretch and expand 10 independently of one another. Optionally, said at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure comprises two plies of net, wherein said first inner warp-knitted net is a tubular knitted net comprising spaced apart warp threads and spaced apart pairings of mutually independent elastic and 15 substantially inextensible weft threads. Optionally, said second net, which contains said first net, comprises elastic warp threads and elastic weft threads, and wherein the method includes forcing the meat into the two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure until straightening of the inextensible weft 20 threads limits the diametral expansion of the first net while tensioning of the elastic weft threads of the first net subjects the meat product to a first compressive force, and while tensioning of the elastic weft threads of the second, outermost warp-knitted net subjects the meat product to an additional compressive force. Advantageously, using a partically elasticated net with a limited diametral expansion (such as TCN® net), innermost and 25 optionally directly in contact with the meat product provides an immediate control of the shape of the pressed or stuffed meat product. According to another aspect of the invention for which protection is sought, there is provided a composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure for use in carrying out the method referred 30 to above, the at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure comprising a first warp-knitted net and a second warp-knitted net, the firs t and second warp-knitted nets each being tubular warp-knitted nets comprising warp and weft threads, wherein at least some of the warp and / or weft threads of the first warp-knitted net and at least some of the warp and / or weft threads of the second warp-knitted net are elastic and can be stretched, 35 wherein the first inner warp-knitted net is disposed inside the second outer warp-knitted net, such that in use, meat can be forced simultaneously into the first and second nets of the at 24 04 25 least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure, the at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure being formed such that upon tensioning of elastic threads of the first inner warp-knitted net and the second outer warp-knitted net additional compressive forces are exerted onto the meat product; warp and weft threads of the second 5 outer warp-knitted net cross over warp and weft threads of the inner first net such that the composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure comprises a matrix of cross-points whereat each cross point a weft or warp thread of the first net is directly overlaid by a warp or weft thread of the second net such that when the first and second nets are stretched and tensioned upon forcing the meat therein, at the cross-points additional compressive force is 10 imparted on the meat. Beneficially, the multiplicity of additional compression points causes improved binding of protein in the meat product as it is cooked. This helps to create a uniform texture and helps to reduce, minimise or even alleviate the occurrence of air or fat bubbles, which might otherwise be present and would appear as holes in the final sliced meat. 15 Optionally, the first inner warp-knitted net is disposed inside the second outer warp-knitted net, the first and second nets are in direct contact with one another, the first and second nets are not connected to each other and the first and second nets can stretch and expand independently of one another. 20 Optionally, the first inner warp-knitted net is a tubular warp-knitted net comprising spaced apart warp threads and spaced apart pairings of elastic and substantially inextensible weft threads, and the second outer warp-knitted net, containing said first inner warp-knitted net, comprises elastic warp threads and elastic weft threads, the elastic and inextensible weft 25 threads of the first inner warp-knitted net are in an independent relationship, all of the said weft threads of the first inner warp-knitted net are connected to each of the warp threads, and the arrangement is such that when the elastic weft threads are in a relaxed condition the inextensible weft threads are in a slack, unstraightened condition and such that straightening and tensioning of the inextensible weft threads as the elastic weft threads are stretched 30 positively limits the diametral expansion of the first inner warp-knitted net, but has no influence over the stretching of the elastic warp and weft threads of the outer, second warp-knitted net. Accordingly, a powerful outer warp-knitted net that whilst elastic, requires a significant force to stretch it sufficiently to allow the meat-product to be forced thereinto, can be used. The tendency of the stretched, tensioned elastic threads of the powerful, outer, 35 elasticated, warp-knitted net to relax back to their at rest condition imparts a powerful 24 04 25 compressive force onto both the meat within and the inner warp-knitted net within. Where the two nets coincide (the cross-points) the compressive force is even greater. Optionally, in the first inner net, the elastic and inextensible weft threads of each pair are 5 connected at the same points along their lengths to the warp threads, and these are the only connections between the elastic and inextensible weft threads. Optionally, in the first inner net and / or in the second outer net, the weft threads are knitted to the warp threads. 10 Optionally, in the first inner net and / or in the second outer net, the weft threads are laid into the stitches of the warp threads. Optionally, in the first inner net and / or in the second outer net, the elastic weft threads are of 15 bare rubber. Alternatively, in the first inner net and / or in the second outer net, each of the elastic weft threads has a rubber or synthetic rubber core covered by helically wound textile or plastics yarn and wherein the inextensible weft threads are string. Yet a further aspect of the present disclosure for which protection is sought, provides a 20 method of manufacturing the composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure referred to above and a tube loaded on an outside thereof with the composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure, the method comprising: (i) drawing the elastic and the inextensible weft threads from separate bobbins; (ii) knitting them both to, or laying them both into the stitches of, the warp threads of 25 the first inner warp-knitted net such that between the warp threads the elastic and inextensible weft threads are unconnected; (iii) knitting the elastic weft threads and elastic warp threads of the second outer warp-knitted net; (iv) providing a tube having: an outer surface; a first open end; a second open end; 30 and an internal void between the first and second open ends; (v) moving a first open end of the length of first warp-knitted net in a first linear direction; (vi) moving the length of second, outer, warp-knitted-net in a second linear direction, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first linear direction; 35 (vii) changing the direction in which said first open end of the first inner warp-knitted net is moving from said first linear direction to said second linear direction; or 24 04 25 changing the direction in which the length of second outer warp-knitted net is moving from said second linear direction to said first linear direction, such that the first open end of the first inner warp-knitted net and the length of second outer warp-knitted net are moving in the same first or second linear direction; (viii) onto the outer surface of the tube, bringing together the first open-end of the first inner warp-knitted net with either the first or second open-end of the second outer warp-knitted net as the length of first inner warp-knitted net and length of second outer warp-knitted net are moving in said same first or second direction; and (ix) shirring together the length of first inner warp-knitted net and the length of second outer warp-knitted net as the length of first net and length of second net are moving in said same first or second linear direction on the surface of the tube, the loaded tube arrangement being such that: the length of first inner warp-knitted net is disposed directly onto an outer surface of the tube; the length of second outer warp-knitted net is disposed directly on top of the length of first inner warp-knitted net; and the first net and second net are together shirred with the lengths of the first and second warp-knitted nets being significantly longer than an end-to-end length of the tube. Optionally, step (v) comprises: moving the first end of the length of tubular first net into the first open end of the internal void of the tube and moving said length of tubular first net, in said first linear direction, through the internal void therein, and out of the second open end; wherein said step (vi) comprises: changing the direction in which said first open end of the first net is moving from said first linear direction to said second linear direction by moving the first open-end of the length of tubular first net onto the outer surface of the tube, at the second open end of the tube; and wherein said step (vii) comprises: onto the outer surface of the tube, bringing together the first open-end of the first net with the first open-end of the second net as the length of first net and length of second net are moving in said same second linear direction. 24 04 25 Alternatively, said step (v) comprises: moving the first end of the length of tubular first net into a first open end of an internal void of an auxiliary loading tube and moving said length of tubular first net, in said first linear direction, through that internal void therein, and out of a second open end of the auxiliary loading tube; 5 wherein said step (vi) comprises: moving a first open end of the length of second net in the second linear direction on an outer surface of the auxiliary loading tube; wherein said step (vii) comprises: changing the direction in which the length of second net is moving from said second linear direction to said first linear direction, by moving a second open end of the length of second net such that the first open end of the first net and the 10 length of second net are moving in the same first linear direction; and wherein said step (viii) comprises: onto the outer surface of the tube, bringing together the first open-end of the first net with the second open-end of the second net as the length of first net and length of second net are moving in said same first linear direction. 15 According to yet and even further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tube loaded with a shirred quantity of the at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure, the loaded tube being suitable for use in a meat-stuffing assembly. Within the scope of this application, it is expressly intended that the various aspects, 20 embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim 25 or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 30 Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1A is a view of a PRIOR ART encapsulated meat product ready for cooking, wherein the meat product has been pressed, squeezed into a plastic casing and forced into a length 35 of Total Control Net® (TCN®). Below, the PRIOR ART encapsulated meat of Figure 1A, a 24 04 25 PRIOR ART cooked product is shown, with part of the casing and net removed, indicating a first, full end of a cooked ham; FIGURE 1B is aviewof a PRIOR ART encapsulated meat product cooked after being pressed, 5 squeezed into a collagen casing and forced into a length of TON®. On the left-side of Figure 1B, part of the net has been removed and a full-slice end of a cooked ham is shown; FIGURE 2A is a perspective view of the production of pre-cooked, pre-sliced, pre-packaged ham in a processed meat production plant; 10 FIGURE 2B is a perspective view of a finished single unit of pre-cooked, pre-sliced, prepackaged ham ready for onward transportation to a supermarket; FIGURE 3A is a perspective view of an encapsulated meat product according to various 15 embodiments of the present disclosure, ready for cooking, wherein the encapsulated meat product has been pressed and squeezed into the two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure according to various embodiments of the present invention; FIGURE 3B is an enlarged view of a portion of the encapsulated meat product in the two-ply 20 composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure, showing the elastic outer second net overlaid on to the innermost warp-knitted elastic and inextensible weft net and illustrating a high-density matrix of cross-points where the weft threads, and to some extent the warp threads, of the stretched, outer second (elastic net) imparts additional compressive forces onto both the meat and the innermost fixed-diameter elastic net, thus increasing the compressive force imparted 25 on the meat product; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view from an outfeed-end and a first side of a PRIOR ART double-stuffer system according to the applicant’s GB Patent No. GB2596106; 30 FIGURE 5 is a perspective view from the front of an apparatus (indicated as 350) capable of automatically carrying out the method disclosed in the applicant’s published patent application GB 2596577 (published 5th January 2022), that is usable in the production of loaded tubes according to various embodiments of the present disclosure and such as that shown in Figure 6; 24 04 25 FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a tube being loaded with a shirred quantity of a two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the loaded tube is suitable for use in a meat-stuffing assembly of Figure 4 and the two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure is for producing meat 5 products such as that shown in Figures 3A, 3B and 7 (see lower most tube); and FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of part of the outfeed end of the double-stuffer system of Figure 4, wherein a first tube (uppermost in Figure 7) comprises only a single TCN® net and the second tube (lowermost in Figure 7) comprises the two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure according to various embodiments of the present invention. 10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structures; net-applicator or net-loading tubes; and methods; of the present invention are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are 15 merely examples of the way in which certain aspects of the invention can be implemented and do not represent an exhaustive list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied. Indeed, it will be understood that the at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structures; net-applicator or net-loading tubes; and methods of the present invention described herein may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The Figures are not necessarily to scale 20 and some features may be exaggerated or minimised to show details of particular components. Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarily described in great detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously 25 employ the invention. Referring to Figure 3A, a perspective view of an encapsulated meat product ‘M’ according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. The encapsulated meat product ‘M’ is ready for cooking, and the meat shown in Figure 3A is raw. The encapsulated meat 30 product ‘M’ has optionally, been pressed and squeezed into a multi-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure 300 according to various embodiments of the present invention. In the illustrated arrangement, the multi-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure 300 comprises two netting plies: a first innermost warp-knitted net ‘NT and a second outermost warp-knitted net W. Optionally, each ply of said multi-ply composite warp-knitted tubular 35 netting structure 300 is a circular, warp-knitted, tubular-form (i.e. generally circular in cross- 24 04 25 section), net ‘NT,‘N2’. The first net ‘NT is disposed within the second net ‘N2’. There is no significant radial spacing between the first inner warp-knitted net ‘NT and the second outer warp-knitted net ‘N2’. As such, the first net ‘NT is disposed in contact with the second net ‘N2’. The first net ‘NT is not connected to the second net ‘N2’ and both nets can move and stretch, 5 at least to some extent, independently of the other. Figure 3B shows an enlarged view of a portion of the encapsulated meat product ‘M’ in the two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure 300. It can be seen that the elastic outer second net ‘N2’ is overlaid onto the innermost first net ‘NT. Optionally the innermost first 10 net ‘NT may be a warp-knitted elastic net with a limited, controlled, fixed maximum outer diameter determined by an inextensible weft thread incorporated therein as provided by the applicant under the brand name Total Control Net®, or TCN® and as described in the applicant’s granted patent EP2519667, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety, by reference. Optionally the outermost second net ‘N2’ may be a knitted elastic net that does not 15 have an inextensible control thread incorporated therein, and which therefore can stretch until the elastic limit of the net is reached. Such nets are widely known and the strength or power of the net - in other words, the force required to stretch the net open from its flat-form relaxed condition to an open state wherein a meat-product can be stuffed inside - is determined by a number of variables, that may include, without limitation: 20 the flat width size of the net; the thickness and / or elasticity of the elasticated or rubber threads used within the net; the number of elastic / rubber threads; the strength, density and rigidity of any covering threads helically wound around the elastic / rubber threads; and 25 the mesh-size of the knitted net. Optionally, in the presently illustrated arrangement, the inner warp-knitted net ‘NT and outermost warp-knitted second net ‘N2’ may both be high-power warp knitted nettings which provide a high number of intersecting pressure points (as can be seen in Figures 3A and 3B) 30 are dramatically increased giving much better pressure. Optionally, in the presently illustrated arrangement, the inner warp-knitted net ‘NT and outermost warp-knitted second net ‘N2’ may both be square-mesh nets. However, in other embodiments it is envisaged that the mesh size and shape of the inner warp-knitted net ‘NT 35 may be a different to the mesh size and shape of the outermost second warp-knitted net ‘N2’. The first net ‘NT is knitted separately to the second net ‘N2’. Accordingly, the flat width, weft 24 04 25 and warp thread thicknesses and materials of each of the nets ‘N? and ‘N2 can be independently selected. The first net ‘Ni is disposed inside, but is not connected to the second net ‘N2’. Accordingly, to some extent at least, the nets ‘N? and ‘N2 can independently stretch and expand about a meat product forced into the composite warp-knitted tubular netting 5 structure 300. The first and second nets ‘Ni‘N2’, are not strictly aligned. In other words, the warp and weft threads of the first net ‘Ni’ are not disposed strictly in parallel with the warp and weft threads of the second net ‘N2’. The meshes of the first and second nets ‘Ni’, ‘N2’ are offset and a new knitted netting matrix is advantageously thereby created. 10 In Figure 3A the high-density matrix of cross-points where the weft threads, and to some extent the warp threads, of the stretched, outer, second, elastic, net N2’ cross-over and create locations where they are disposed directly on top of the weft threads, and to some extent the warp threads, of the limited-stretch, inner, first, warp-knitted control net ‘N? can be seen. By using two separate warp-knitted nets, with one disposed inside the other to form the composite 15 warp-knitted netting structure 300 into which meat is forced such that the inner and outer warp-knitted nets ‘Ni’, ‘N2’, simultaneously operate on the meat, creates a new high-density matrix of cross-points where the composite warp-knitted netting structure 300 imparts additional compressive force on the meat. Optionally the inner and outer warp-knitted nets ‘Ni’, W are similarly sized (optionally determined by their relaxed flat widths or by their maximum fully 20 stretched diameter). In other arrangements, the inner and outer warp-knitted nets ‘Ni’, ‘N2’ are different types of net and / or have a different size to one another. In the present illustrated arrangements, the first net ‘Ni’ is a partially elastic warp-knitted net with a limited diametral expansion, such as the TON® offered by the applicant. The second 25 outer warp-knitted net ‘N2’ may be a fully elasticated second net. In some arrangements, the inner net may not be aTCN®-type of net. Either the first inner warp-knitted Ni or second outer warp-knitted net ‘N2’ may be an elastic net without limited expansion (i.e. without a fixed maximum stretch-width controlled by an inextensible weft thread). However, it may now be appreciated that particular benefit is gained when the first innermost warp-knitted net is a 30 TCN® style net. In Figure 4, there is shown a perspective view from an outfeed-end ‘O’ and a first side of a double-stuffer system 100 according to the applicant’s GB Patent No. GB2596106. The system 100 is a stuffing system 100 that is capable of producing the encapsulated meat 35 product ‘M’ according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In Figure 3A, the encapsulated meat product ‘M’ is shown ready for cooking, having been pressed by stuffing 24 04 25 system 100 and squeezed into a two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure 300 according to various embodiments of the present invention and as shown in Figures 3A, 3B and 7 (see lower tube). The meat-product ‘M’ referred to herein may be a joint of meat or processed or reformed meat and in some embodiments, the meat-product may actually 5 comprise meat-substitute. In the system 100 of Figure 4, a rolled or cut piece of meat is manually or automatically loaded into a chamber 20 and is automatically stuffed, by action of a reciprocating piston (not shown), into and through first and second meat-loading chambers in order to force (stuff) meat product 10 (when disposed within the first and second chamber-housings 14a, 14b) out of the chamber and into a tube 16a, 16b. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, when used to put the present invention into effect, an outer surface of a tube 16a, 16b will have shirred lengths of the two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure 300 disposed thereon (see Figures 6 and 7) so that as meat-product ‘M’ exits a tube 16a, 16b it is stuffed, 15 simultaneously into an (inner) first TCN® net ‘N? and (outer) second net N2’. For stuffing, a piston from piston housing 10 can be driven through an aperture 19b, in the direction indicated by ‘O’. The cylindrical stuffer piston is preferably dimensioned such that it can be driven smoothly and precisely and drive all meat-content loaded in the chamber 20 20 into and through the tube 16b for shaping the meat product and stuffing the meat product into the two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure 300 already disposed (partly in a shirred 310 state and partly in an unravelled state 320) on the outer surface of the tube 16a, 16b. 25 Whereas in the present disclosure a specific system 100 is described and illustrated it will be recognised that equivalent components may be substituted to perform the equivalent function without departing from the inventive essence disclosed herein. For example, whereas a double-stuffing system 100 has been described, the tubes and method of loading a tube according to the disclosure may be used with a variety of meat, meat substitute, meat 30 emulsion, and sausage filling machines. Referring to Figure 5, there is shown a perspective view from the front of an apparatus (indicated as 350) capable of automatically carrying out the method disclosed in the applicant’s published patent application GB 2596577 (published 5th January 2022). Without necessarily 35 imparting any limitation on the method of producing the two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure 300 of the present invention, it is hereby introduced, that the apparatus 350 24 04 25 is fully suitable and optionally is preferably used in the production of the two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure 300 of the present invention. In particular, the apparatus 350 which provides a somewhat unique and highly suitable option for carrying out the patentpending dual casing and net shirring method disclosed in GB 2596577; happens to also 5 provide a somewhat unique and highly suitable option for the production of the two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure 300 of the present invention. Given the teaching of GB 2596577 (the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference), it will be understood that in one optional embodiment, a tube 316, can be loaded with lengths 10 of first net ‘N? and second net ‘N2’. In Figure 5, a loaded tube loaded with only a single net (as per the PRIOR ART) is shown. In Figure 5, the loaded tube is not shown with a plastic casing (as described in GB 2596577) and is not shown with an additional net (as described and introduced now in the present invention). In Figure 6 however, a loaded tube 316 according to the present invention is loaded, optionally using an adaptation of the method described in GB 15 2596577. The loaded tube 316 shown in Figure 6 is suitable for use in a meat-stuffing assembly such as that depicted in Figure 4, or similar. In general, a method according to the present disclosure comprises providing a tube 316 having an outer surface, which may be generally 20 cylindrical, smooth, optionally tapered slightly and optionally having opening fingers disposed at an end thereof. The tube 316 may also comprise a first open end; a second open end; and an internal void between the first and second open ends. The general method also comprises moving a first end (optionally a first open-end) of the length of first net ‘N? in a first linear direction. The length of second net W is (before, during or after movement of the first net 25 ‘Ni’), moved in a second linear direction. The second direction is opposite to the first linear direction D1 ’. To continue to arrange the first net ‘N? and second net ‘N2’ to enable simultaneous stuffing of the second net ‘N2’ and first net ‘Ni’; the method may further comprise changing the direction in which the first open end of the first net ‘Ni’ is moving, from the first linear direction to the second linear direction. Alternatively, the method may comprise 30 changing the direction in which the length of second net *N2’ is moving from the second linear direction to the first linear direction. In this way, the first open end of the first net ‘N? and the length of second net ‘N2’ are manipulated so that they are being moved in the same direction, either the first linear direction or the second linear direction. 35 Once the first net Ni’ and second net W are heading in the same direction, then they can be brought onto the outer surface of the tube. The method therefore comprises bringing together 24 04 25 the first open-end of the first net ‘N? with either a first open-end of the second net ‘N2’ or a second open-end of the second net as the length of first net and length of second net are moving in said same first direction or second direction. 5 As greater and greater amounts of the lengths of first net and second net are together moved onto the outer surface of the tube 316, the lengths of first net and second net are shirred together. See 310 in Figure 6. In other words, as the length of first net ‘N? and the length of second net ‘N2’ are being moved in said same first or second linear direction on the surface of the tube 316, they are gathered, rucked, folded or otherwise wrinkled up together. The 10 resulting loaded tube arrangement being such that: the length of first net ‘N1’ is disposed directly onto an outer surface of the tube 316; the length of second net ‘N2’ is disposed directly on top of the length of first net ‘N? to form a two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure 300; and the first net and second net ‘N1’, ‘N2’, are together, shirred (gathered) with the length 15 of first net and the length of second net ‘N1’, ‘N2’ each being significantly longer than an end-to-end length of the tube 316. The tube 316 can then be utilised in the apparatus 100 (see Figure 4) and meat M’ can be formed and stuffed into the tube 316 and forced into the composite warp-knitted tubular netting 20 structure 300. In Figure 7, meat ‘M’ is show exiting the lowermost tube 316 depicted therein. It can be seen that the meat ‘M’ is forced into the unshirred 320 composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure 300. Furthermore, the matrix of cross-points that the two-ply netting structure 300 comprises can be seen. In contrast, the uppermost tube in Figure 7 shows a single knitted net, unshirred and ready for receiving meat as is known in the prior art. The contrast between 25 the two can be seen. The two-ply netting structure 300 comprises a high-density matrix of cross-points that serve to evenly distribute additional compressive force all over the formed meat and lead to the production of a uniform, homogenous, well bound, well-shaped, substantially cylindrical meat unit that has a high-yield. Further advantageously, the surprising use of a TCN® as a knitted first inner layer inside another knitted net, rather than as an outer 30 layer on the outside of a plastic casing, may in many applications beneficially mean that the plastic casing is not required; thus avoiding the use of a single-use plastic. In some tailored applications however, a plastics casing may be disposed inside a two-ply composite knitted netting structure of the present invention, thus forming a three-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure 300 having a thurd inner plastics ply. In such an embodiment, the first 35 and second nets may both be elastic nets and / or one of them may still be a TCN® net. It can be appreciated that various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention. It will be recognised that whilst the system 100 is particularly applicable to the meat- 5 processing industry, it may have advantageous application in other areas of the food industry where other types of food-product may be stuffed into a second net, or pressed and stuffed into a (collagen) first net and second net. In the foregoing description reference to “meat” and “meat-product” is not necessarily limited to an animal food product but may also refer to a meat-substitute or plant-based product. For example, the term “meat” may include 10 animal products and may also include, vegetarian, and vegan products, for example mycoprotein-based products such as those sold by Quorn®; plant-based meat-free products such as: “Deli Slices” sold by Tofurky®; and sausages sold by Linda McCartney®, and the Meatless Farm Co® as examples. 24 04 25 24 04 25

Claims

1. A method of preparing a meat product for cooking, the method comprising forcing the meat product into a composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure comprising at least two plies of warp-knitted netting, wherein a first inner warp-knitted net is disposed inside a second outer warp-knitted net, the method including forcing the meat, simultaneously into the at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure until tensioning of elastic warp threads of the first inner warp-knitted net and the second outer warp-knitted net subjects the meat product to a compressive force, wherein warp and weft threads of the second outer warp-knitted net cross over warp and weft threads of the first inner warp-knitted net such that the composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure comprises a matrix of cross-points whereat each cross point a weft or warp thread of the first inner warp-knitted net is directly overlaid by a warp or weft thread of the second outer warp-knitted net such that when the first and second warp-knitted nets are stretched and tensioned upon forcing the meat therein, at the cross-points additional compressive force is imparted on the meat.

2. A method of preparing a meat product for cooking according to claim 1, wherein the first inner warp-knitted net is disposed inside the second outer warp-knitted net, the first and second nets are in direct contact with one another, the first and second nets are not connected to each other and the first and second nets can stretch and expand independently of one another.

3. A method of preparing a meat product for cooking according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure comprises two plies of warp-knitted net, wherein said first inner warp-knitted net is a tubular warp-knitted net comprising spaced apart warp threads and spaced apart pairings of mutually independent elastic and substantially inextensible weft threads.

4. A method of preparing a meat product for cooking according to claim 3, wherein said second warp-knitted net, which contains said first warp-knitted net, comprises elastic warp threads and elastic weft threads, and wherein the method includes forcing the meat into the two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure until straightening of the inextensible weft threads limits the diametral expansion of the first warp-knitted net while tensioning of the elastic weft threads of the first warp-knitted net, subjects the meat product to a first compressive force, and while tensioning of the elastic weft threads of24 04 25the second, outermost warp-knitted net subjects the meat product to an additional compressive force.

5. A composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure for use in carrying out the method claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, the at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure comprising a first warp-knitted net and a second warp-knitted net, the first and second warp-knitted nets each being tubular warp-knitted nets comprising warp and weft threads, wherein at least some of the warp and / or weft threads of the first warp-knitted net and at least some of the warp and / or weft threads of the second warp-knitted net are elastic and can be stretched, wherein the first inner warp-knitted net is disposed inside the second outer warp-knitted net, such that in use, meat can be forced simultaneously into the first and second warp-knitted nets of the at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure, the at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure being formed such that upon tensioning of elastic threads of the first warp-knitted inner net and the second warp-knitted outer warp-knitted net a compressive force can be exerted onto the meat product, wherein warp and weft threads of the second outer warp-knitted net cross over warp and weft threads of the inner first net such that the composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure comprises a matrix of cross-points whereat each cross point a weft or warp thread of the first net is directly overlaid by a warp or weft thread of the second net such that when the first and second nets are stretched and tensioned upon forcing the meat therein, at the cross-points additional compressive force is imparted on the meat.

6. A composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure according to claim 5 wherein the first inner warp-knitted net is disposed inside the second outer warp-knitted net, the first and second nets are in direct contact with one another, the first and second nets are not connected to each other and the first and second nets can stretch and expand independently of one another.

7. A composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure according to claim 6 wherein the first inner warp-knitted net is a tubular knitted net comprising spaced apart warp threads and spaced apart pairings of elastic and substantially inextensible weft threads, and the second net, containing said first net, comprising elastic warp threads and elastic weft threads, the elastic and inextensible weft threads of the first net being in an independent relationship, all of the said weft threads of the first net being connected to each of the warp threads, and the arrangement being such that when the elastic weft threads are in24 04 25a relaxed condition the inextensible weft threadbare in a slack, unstraightened condition and such that straightening and tensioning of the inextensible weft threads as the elastic weft threads are stretched positively limits the diametral expansion of the first inner warp-knitted net, and has no influence over the stretching of the elastic warp and weft threads of the outer, second net.

8. A composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the elastic and inextensible weft threads of each pair are connected at the same points along their lengths to the warp threads, these being the only connections between the elastic and inextensible weft threads.

9. A composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, characterised in that the weft threads are knitted to the warp threads.

10. A composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, characterised in that the weft threads are laid into the stitches of the warp threads.

11. A composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 10 characterised in that the elastic weft threads are of bare rubber.

12. A composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure as claimed in any one of claims 7 to11, characterised in that each of the elastic weft threads has a rubber or synthetic rubber core covered by helically wound textile or plastics yarn and wherein the inextensible weft threads are string.

13. A method of manufacturing the composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure claimed in any one of claims 7 to 12 and a tube loaded on an outside thereof with the composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure claimed in any one of claims 5 to 12, the method comprising:(i) drawing the elastic and the inextensible weft threads from separate bobbins;(ii) knitting them both to, or laying them both into the stitches of, the warp threads of the first inner net such that between the warp threads the elastic and inextensible weft threads are unconnected;(iii) knitting the elastic weft threads and elastic warp threads of the second outer warp-knitted net;24 04 25(iv) providing a tube having: an outer surface; a first open end; a second open end; and an internal void between the first and second open ends;(v) moving a first open end of the length of first net in a first linear direction;(vi) moving the length of second net in a second linear direction, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first linear direction;(vii) changing the direction in which said first open end of the first net is moving from said first linear direction to said second linear direction; or changing the direction in which the length of second net is moving from said second linear direction to said first linear direction, such that the first open end of the first net and the length of second net are moving in the same first or second linear direction;(viii) onto the outer surface of the tube, bringing together the first open-end of the first net with either the first open-end of the second net or a second open-end of the second net as the length of first net and length of second net are moving in said same first or second direction; and(ix) shirring together the length of first net and the length of second net as the length of first net and length of second net are moving in said same first or second linear direction on the surface of the tube,the loaded tube arrangement being such that:the length of first net is disposed directly onto an outer surface of the tube;the length of second net is disposed directly on top of the length of first net; and the first net and second net are together shirred with the length of first net and the length of second net each being significantly longer than an end-to-end length of the tube.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said step (v) comprises:moving the first end of the length of tubular first net into the first open end of the internal void of the tube and moving said length of tubular first net, in said first linear direction, through the internal void therein, and out of the second open end;wherein said step (vii) comprises:changing the direction in which said first open end of the first net is moving from said first linear direction to said second linear direction by moving the first open-end of the length of tubular first net onto the outer surface of the tube, at the second open end of the tube; andwherein said step (vii) comprises:24 04 25onto the outer surface of the tube, bringing together the first open-end of the first net with the first open-end of the second net as the length of first net and length of second net are moving in said same second linear direction.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein said step (v) comprises: moving the first end of the length of tubular first net into a first open end of an internal void of an auxiliary loading tube and moving said length of tubular first net, in said first linear direction, through that internal void therein, and out of a second open end of the auxiliary loading tube; wherein said step (vi) comprises: moving a first open end of the length of second net in the second linear direction on an outer surface of the auxiliary loading tube;wherein said step (vii) comprises: changing the direction in which the length of second net is moving from said second linear direction to said first linear direction, by moving a second open end of the length of second net such that the first open end of the first net and the length of second net are moving in the same first linear direction; andwherein said step (viii) comprises: onto the outer surface of the tube, bringing together the first open-end of the first net with the second open-end of the second net as the length of first net and length of second net are moving in said same first linear direction.

16. A tube loaded with a shirred quantity of the at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure according to any of claims 5 to 12, the loaded tube being suitable for use in a meat-stuffing assembly.

17. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 for preparing a meat product for cooking characterised in that it comprises layering or rolling the meat and forcing it through a tube such as the tube of claim 16 and a nozzle, into the at least two-ply composite warp-knitted tubular netting structure according to any of claims 5 to 12 and separating chosen lengths of the extruded, netted meat product prior to cooking the same.

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