# US 11,432,558 B2 · Integrated heating and cooling food processing system

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- Number: US 11,432,558 B2
- Document ID: US11432558B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/716,490
- Filed: 2019-12-16
- Published: 2020-04-16
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-13
- Assignees: HAKUBAI Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: HAKUBAI Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Ikuo Ota; Yoshiyuki Ota
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432558B2

## CPC

- A23B 4/005: Preserving by heating
- A23B 2/42: while they are progressively transported through the apparatus
- A23B 2/425: {in solid state}
- A23B 2/80: Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
- A23B 2/803: {Materials being transported through or in the apparatus, with or without shaping, e.g. in the form of powders, granules or flakes}
- A23B 4/0053: {with gas or liquids, with or without shaping, e.g. in form of powder, granules or flakes}
- A23B 7/0408: {Materials being transported through or in the apparatus with or without shaping, e.g. in the form of powders, granules or flakes (A23B7/05 takes precedence; moving on the spot only A23B7/0425)}
- A23B 7/06: Blanching (machines therefor A23N12/00)
- A23L 5/10: General methods of cooking foods, e.g. by roasting or frying
- A23L 19/00: Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof (marmalades, jams, jellies or the like A23L21/10; treating harvested fruit or vegetables in bulk A23N)
- A23L 19/03: {consisting of whole pieces or fragments without mashing the original pieces}
- A23L 27/16: Onions
- A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES
- A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B)

## Abstract

A food processing system is provided with: a heating unit equipped with a heating mechanism for indirectly heating food; a cooling unit equipped with an air blowing cooler for cooling the food heated by the heating unit; and a conveyor for transferring the food through the heating unit and the cooling unit. The integrated food processing system allows a large amount of sterilized food having a good texture, good taste and long shelf life to be provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A production method of a frozen food item, comprising:
(1) processing food with a food processing system; and
(2) freezing the processed food;
wherein the food processing system comprises:
a heating unit comprising a heating mechanism for indirectly heating food;
a cooling unit comprising an air blowing cooler for cooling the food that has been heated by the heating unit; and
a conveyor for transporting the food through the heating unit and the cooling unit;
wherein the heating mechanism is located only below the conveyor and is configured to release a heat mediating substance downwards, and wherein the heating unit comprises an air blowing heater configured to blow air in a direction that is not towards the conveyor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The production method of claim 1, wherein a temperature at a center of the food after cooling by the cooling unit in step (1) is less than 0° C.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The production method of claim 1, wherein the heating unit comprises a temperature sensor in the vicinity of the conveyor, and driving of the heating mechanism is controlled by the temperature sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The production method of claim 3, wherein the heating mechanism is intermittently driven by the temperature sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The production method of claim 3, wherein the conveyor comprises a through hole.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The production method of claim 3, wherein the heating unit is configured to heat the food to 45° C. to 90° C.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The production method of claim 3, wherein the frozen food item is a frozen cut fruit or a frozen cut vegetable.