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US 2024/0130404 A1Published application
Contact members for packaged articles heated with radio frequency energy
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.
Claims8
A process for sterilizing or pasteurizing packaged articles using radio frequency (RF) energy, said process comprising:
- (a) providing at least one article to be treated in said RF heating system, wherein said article comprises an ingestible substance in a sealed package;
- (b) determining at least one of an average dielectric constant and an average dielectric loss factor for said ingestible substance;
- (c) making an article contact member for said article, wherein said making includes forming an energy absorptive component of said article contact member, wherein said energy absorptive component has a dielectric constant within 50 percent of the average dielectric constant of said ingestible substance and a dielectric loss factor within 50 percent of the average dielectric loss factor of said ingestible substance;
- (d) at least partially surrounding said article with said contact member;
- and
- (e) while said article is at least partially surrounded by said contact member, heating said ingestible substance and said energy absorptive component with RF energy in an RF heating zone, wherein said heating increases the temperature of the coldest portion of said ingestible substance by at least 20° C.
3 more elements
A process for sterilizing or pasteurizing packaged articles using radio frequency (RF) energy, said process comprising:
- (a) heating a plurality of first articles in an RF heating zone while transporting said first articles through said RF heating zone on a convey line having a first configuration, wherein said convey line having said first configuration comprises a continuous drive member and a plurality of article supporting members for supporting said first articles;
- (b) replacing at least a portion of said plurality of first article supporting members with a plurality of second article supporting members to thereby provide a convey line having a second configuration;
- and
- (c) heating a plurality of second articles in said RF heating zone while transporting said second articles through said RF heating zone via said convey line having said second configuration,
- wherein said first and second articles have different dimensional and/or dielectric characteristics,
- wherein said first and second article supporting members are differently configured to account for the different characteristics of said first and second articles.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.