Food processing method and apparatus
OwnerMark Terryinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Processing apparatus and method for animal products include multiple successive immersions in sanitizing solutions at different successive temperatures within controlled environments including at fluid pressures different from ambient pressure to reduce resident microbial contaminants in preparation for packaging and retail distribution.
Claims27
Apparatus for processing fish or poultry or meat products, comprising:
- a plurality of process stations, each including an immersion chamber and ingress and egress for product, one of the process stations including a vessel containing sanitizing liquid at about 70°-105° F. for receiving product therein and another of the process stations including a vessel containing sanitizing liquid at about 32°-35° F. for receiving product therein;
- and
- a transport system for transferring product between process stations.
Apparatus for processing fish or poultry or meat products, comprising:
- a plurality of work stations including at least two immersion chambers operating at different temperatures, each work station including ingress and egress for product transfers;
- a transport system communicating with an ingress or egress for at least one work station for transferring product thereby, said transport system operating within an environment including ambient air;
- and
- a structure associated with the environment for circulating ambient air therethrough to remove particulate material from the ambient air.
Product encapsulating material comprising:
- a first flexible layer of polypropylene, and integrated therewith,
- a second flexible layer of polyethylene to form a composite flexible sheet material exhibiting selected gas permeability characteristics for wrapping about processed product as an encapsulating barrier to control gas transfers through the composite flexible sheet material relative to processed product encapsulated thereby.
Apparatus for processing animal products comprising a plurality of process stations each including a chamber disposed to operate at pressure different from ambient pressure and including ports selectively operable between open and fluid-tight closed conditions for controlling ingress and egress of product;
- and
- a transport system for transferring product from an egress port of one chamber to the ingress port of a successive chamber.
A method for processing animal products, comprising:
- immersing the product in a sanitizing solution at approximately 32°-35° F. and at a selected pressure for not more than about 3 minutes of a first time interval;
- after the first time interval, immersing the product in a sanitizing solution at approximately 70°-105° F. and at a selected pressure for about 3-5 minutes of a second time interval;
- after the second time interval, immersing the product in a sanitizing solution at approximately 33°-35° and at a selected pressure for about 3-5 minutes of a third time interval;
- and
- after the third time interval, preparing the product for distribution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.