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US 11,612,177 B2Granted
Application of radio frequency energy to packaged articles
OwnerHarold Dail Kimrey, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Heating systems utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy and methods for using the same to rapidly and uniformly heat packaged articles moving through the system on one or more convey lines. These systems may be useful for a variety of processes, including the pasteurization or sterilization of packaged foodstuffs.
Claims21
A process for sterilizing or pasteurizing articles using radio frequency (RF) energy, said process comprising:
- (a) passing a plurality of said articles through a pressure vessel on at least one convey line while said articles are submerged in liquid, wherein said convey line comprises an RF conveyor having a continuous drive member and plurality of convey arms for engaging, supporting, and moving said articles;
- (b) producing RF energy in an RF generator;
- (c) transmitting RF energy from said RF generator to at least one RF applicator via an RF energy transmission system, wherein said RF energy transmission system comprises at least one waveguide that penetrates a wall of said pressure vessel to provide RF energy to at least one RF applicator received in said pressure vessel, wherein said RF applicator is spaced inwardly from the walls of said pressure vessel, and wherein said waveguide, said RF applicator, and said pressure vessel are filled with liquid;
- (d) discharging RF energy into an RF heating zone defined within said RF applicator, wherein said RF applicator includes at least one opening that is in communication with the interior of said pressure vessel;
- and
- (e) heating said articles with RF energy in said RF heating zone as said articles are passed through said RF heating zone on said convey line and are submerged in liquid,
- wherein at least a portion of said convey arms extend through and move within said at least one opening of said RF applicator during said heating of step (e), wherein each of said convey arms has a connected end coupled to said continuous drive member and a free end opposite said connected end, wherein said free end of each convey arm is configured to be supported on an arm support member as said convey arm moves through the RF heating zone and not to be supported on said arm support member as said convey arm moves through said pressure vessel outside said RF heating zone.
4 more elements
A system for heating a plurality of articles using radio frequency (RF) energy, said system comprising:
- a pressure vessel;
- a convey line for transporting said articles through said pressure vessel;
- at least one RF applicator received in said pressure vessel and defining an RF heating zone therein, wherein said RF applicator includes at least one opening that is in communication with the interior of said pressure vessel;
- an RF generator for producing RF energy;
- and
- an RF energy transmission system configured to transmit RF energy from said RF generator to said RF applicator,
- wherein said RF energy transmission system comprises at least one waveguide that penetrates at least one wall of said pressure vessel to provide RF energy to said RF applicator in said pressure vessel, wherein said RF applicator is spaced inwardly from the walls of said pressure vessel, and wherein said waveguide, said RF applicator, and said pressure vessel are configured to be filled with liquid,
- wherein said convey line comprises an RF zone conveyor for transporting said articles through said RF heating zone, wherein said RF zone conveyor comprises a continuous drive member and a plurality of convey arms configured to engage and transport said articles through said RF heating zone, wherein said convey arms are configured to extend through and move within said at least one opening of said RF applicator as said articles are transported through said RF heating zone, and
- wherein each of said convey arms has a connected end coupled to said continuous drive member and a free end opposite said connected end, wherein said free end of each convey arm is configured to be supported on an arm support member as said convey arm moves through said RF heating zone and not to be supported on said arm support member as said convey arm moves through said pressure vessel outside said RF heating zone.
6 more elements
A system for heating a plurality of articles using radio frequency (RF) energy, said system comprising:
- a split applicator configured to provide a resonant cavity for RF energy, wherein said split applicator comprises an upper section and a lower section and at least one opening defined between said upper and lower sections;
- at least one RF waveguide configured to propagate RF energy toward said split applicator;
- an RF conveyor configured to transport a plurality of said articles through said split applicator, wherein said RF conveyor comprises a continuous drive member and a plurality of convey arms extending through and configured to move within said opening in said split applicator and configured to engage and transport said articles through said split applicator,
- a pressure vessel within which said split applicator is received, wherein said split applicator is spaced inwardly from the walls of said pressure vessel, further comprising upper and lower RF waveguides penetrating the walls of said pressure vessel at respective upper and lower locations of said pressure vessel, wherein said upper and lower waveguides are configured to transmit RF energy toward said upper and lower sections, respectively, of said split applicator, and
- wherein each of said convey arms has a connected end coupled to said continuous drive member and a free end opposite said connected end, wherein said free end of each of said convey arms is configured to be supported on an arm support member as said convey arm moves through said RF heating zone and not to be supported on said arm support member as said convey arm moves through said pressure vessel outside said RF heating zone, and
- wherein said RF waveguides, said split applicator, and said pressure vessel are configured to be filled with liquid.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.