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US 2019/0116838 A1Published application
Compact radio frequency heating of 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.
Claims29
A process for sterilizing or pasteurizing articles using radio frequency (RF) energy, said process comprising:
- (a) passing a plurality of articles through a liquid contact zone of an RF heating system on at least one convey line while maintaining said articles in contact with a liquid during at least a portion of said passing, wherein said liquid contact zone includes an initial thermal regulation zone, an RF heating zone, and a subsequent thermal regulation zone;
- (b) regulating the temperature of said articles on said convey line in said initial thermal regulation zone to promote temperature uniformity of said articles;
- (c) subsequent to said regulating of step (b), heating said articles on said convey line with RF energy in said RF heating zone to thereby increase the average temperature at the geometric center of said articles by at least 20° C.;
- and
- (d) subsequent to said heating of step (c), regulating the temperature of said articles on said convey line to thereby decrease the average temperature at the geometric center of said articles by at least 10° C.,
- wherein the average residence time of said articles in said RF heating zone is not more than 10 percent of the average residence time of said articles in said liquid contact zone.
3 more elements
A process for sterilizing or pasteurizing articles using radio frequency (RF) energy, said process comprising:
- (a) passing a plurality of articles through a liquid contact zone of an RF heating system on at least one convey line while maintaining said articles in contact with a liquid during at least a portion of said passing, wherein said liquid contact zone includes an initial thermal regulation zone, an RF heating zone, and a subsequent thermal regulation zone;
- (b) regulating the temperature of said articles on said convey line in said initial thermal regulation zone to promote temperature uniformity of said articles;
- (c) subsequent to said regulating of step (b), heating said articles on said convey line with RF energy in said RF heating zone to thereby increase the average temperature at the geometric center of said articles by at least 20° C.;
- and
- (d) subsequent to said heating of step (c), regulating the temperature of said articles on said convey line to thereby decrease the average temperature at the geometric center of said articles by at least 10° C.,
- wherein said articles travel through said liquid contact zone on a nonlinear travel path having a total length that is at least 10 times greater than the linear distance between the locations where said articles enter and exit said liquid contact zone.
3 more elements
A system for sterilizing or pasteurizing articles using radio frequency (RF) energy, said system comprising:
- (a) an initial thermal regulation zone for promoting temperature uniformity of said articles;
- (b) an RF heating zone for heating said articles with RF energy;
- (c) a subsequent thermal regulation zone for cooling said articles;
- and
- (d) at least one convey line for transporting said articles along a non-linear article travel path through said initial thermal regulation, RF heating, and subsequent thermal regulation zones,
- wherein said initial thermal regulation zone comprises an inlet for receiving said articles and said final thermal regulation zone comprises an outlet for discharging said articles,
- wherein said convey line is configured such that the total length of said article travel path from said inlet to said outlet is at least 10 times greater than the linear distance between said inlet and said outlet.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.