Food product surface sterilization apparatus and method

Inactive Publication Date: 2004-03-18
C & S EQUIP COMPANY
View PDF38 Cites 107 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0051] In another aspect of the invention, frozen foodstuff processed according to an embodiment of the present invention can be processed in such a manner so as to not substantially increase the temperature or thaw the frozen foodstuff. In particular, air of an appropriate temperature may be circulated through the rotational component to prevent the warming of frozen foodstuffs being thereby contacted. Moreover, embodiments of the surface sterilizer may be insul

Problems solved by technology

However, the chemicals used are costly and may leave a residue, which can be ingested by the consumer.
Moreover, such chemical treatments are not always effective in view of the numerous instances of live and dead insects and mold still encountered in packaged dry foodstuff products.
In the freezing and packaging processes, the probability of surface re-contamination of the foodstuff exists.
This apparatus is limited to products, which have a shape that is round or spherical, and smooth.
This apparatus has the disadvantage of the potential of shadowing, which reduces the probability that all surface areas are exposed to the UVC germicidal light source.
This apparatus has the disadvantage of not continuously tumbling and turning the product to be sterilized, thus reducing the probability of exposing all surfaces to the ultraviolet light energy.
Such radiation penetrates packaging film relatively easily but may not be very effective at impairing or killing microorganisms.
Moreover, such irradiation may have deleterious effects on meat quality, e.g. associated with photochemical oxidation of lipids and/or pigments.
That is, Tanka's technique of trea

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Food product surface sterilization apparatus and method
  • Food product surface sterilization apparatus and method
  • Food product surface sterilization apparatus and method

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

French Fried Frozen Potatoes in a Rotary Drum

[0178] Frozen, partially fried, shoestring French fried potato strips are to be surface sterilized prior to being provided to a multiple select scale unit, which is circular from a plan or overhead view. Since this food product is to be introduced to the center of the scale unit, an embodiment of the sterilizer 181 which is supported from above (as in FIG. 7) is selected to facilitate the drum 111 being above the multiple select scale. Assuming the potato strips are frozen, and are being sterilized in an unconditioned ambient atmosphere, the drum 111 may be insulated to prevent condensation on the exterior of the drum, wherein the condensation could drip onto the potato strips on the multiple select scale. The flow rate of the potato strips through the drum 111 is limited by the scale to no more than 50 weighments per minute of 6.5 pounds per weighment, or a flow rate of 325 pounds of potato strips per minute (50 weighments / minute*6.5 lbs...

example 2

Raw Potatoes to a Potato Storage in a Rotating Drum

[0180] Raw potatoes are to be surface sterilized after being harvested from an agricultural field, and prior to being provided to a storage building. Since the potatoes are delivered with a truck, an embodiment of the sterilizer 181 which is supported from the floor or ground level (as in FIG. 1A) is selected. Since the potatoes are harvested as a root crop from underground in an agricultural field, an embodiment with a perforated drum 111 is selected to separate any loose dirt from the potatoes. Attenuating baffles 1191 are installed around the entire sterilizer 181 to contain the UVC light used with the perforated drum 111. The sterilizer 181 is to be integrated into an existing series of equipment, which receives the potatoes from the transport truck, removes dirt and vines, and conveys the potatoes into a bulk storage building. The potato flow rate for unloading transport trucks into the storage building is limited to no more th...

second embodiment

[0182] the surface sterilizer 181 will now be described with reference to the FIGS. 14 through 16.

[0183] FIG. 14 is a isometric view of a screw conveyor embodiment of the surface sterilizer 181 (denoted herein as screw conveyor sterilizer 1600) having a trough 1604 with an auger assembly 1608 therein. The auger assembly 1608 includes an auger shaft 1612, a plurality of auger flights 1616, and a plurality of lifting tumblers 1620 (that perform substantially the functions within the screw conveyor sterilizer 1600 as the tumblers 191 perform in the drum surface sterilizer 181 embodiments described above). The auger shaft 1612 has a longitudinal extent that traverses substantially the entire length of the trough 1604 (also denoted as a "transport" in, e.g., the Summary section above) from a food product infeed device 1624 to a food product discharge device 1628. Each of the auger flights 1616 spans substantially an entire cross sectional extent of the trough 1604 (such cross sectional e...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to view more

PUM

No PUM Login to view more

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for the micro-organism surface sterilization of foods using, a "germicidal" such as light waves (e.g., ultraviolet), and in some cases in combination with (or replaced by) one or more of sound waves and ozone. The surface sterilizer apparatus may include a plurality of germicidal (e.g., ultraviolet) emitters for surface sterilization of foods that are, e.g., rotated in a drum or rotated via a screw auger. Assemblies of emitters for the germicidal may be constructed to be watertight (i.e., withstand a high pressure, heated water spray), and movable relative to the drum or screw conveyor for easy cleaning and maintenance. The apparatus may also include a controller (e.g., programmable logic controller) for controlling the sterilization process so that the apparatus does not endanger personnel nearby, and so that the food is properly sterilized. The controller may vary the amount of germicidal used, the rate that food traverses the apparatus, the inclination of the apparatus, and terminate sterilization processing when an unsafe condition is detected. The apparatus may be used in-line with other food processing equipment for the real-time sterilization of food. The controller may also communicate with food processing components upstream of the apparatus for controlling the flow of food to the surface sterilizer

Description

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of, and incorporates fully by reference, each the following: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 393,792 filed Jul. 3, 2002; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 393,363 filed Jul. 3, 2002; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 449,725 filed Feb. 24, 20034.RELATED FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of sterilization equipment, and, more specifically, to a device for surface sterilization of foodstuffs of various regular or irregular shapes, this device includes a combination of germicidal radiation, ozone and a device for rotating and conveying the foodstuffs such as (a) a rotating drum that lifts, tumbles, and advances the foodstuff within the drum in the presence of the germicidal radiation, and (b) a screw conveyor that lifts, tumbles, and advances the foodstuff within the screw conveyor in the presence of the germicidal radiation and / or ozone...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to view more

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to view more
IPC IPC(8): A23L3/00A23L3/18A23L3/26A23L3/28
CPCA23L3/003A23L3/28A23L3/26A23L3/185
Inventor SHUMAN, RANDAL L.CALVIN, NATEDUPRAY, DENNIS J.
Owner C & S EQUIP COMPANY
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Try Eureka
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap