Pasteurization unit and methods of using the same

A pasteurization unit for pasteurizing a product, comprising:

• a cartridge for receiving product to be pasteurized the cartridge having a least one opening;
• a first chamber arranged downstream of and in fluid communication with the cartridge, wherein the first chamber comprises:
• a first chamber product inlet in fluid communication with the at least one opening of the cartridge,
• a first chamber product outlet,
• a top assembly disposed between the cartridge and the first chamber, wherein the top assembly comprises:
• a top assembly opening arranged such that it is fluid communication with the at least one opening of the cartridge and the first chamber product inlet, and
• one or more panels that shift between a closed position in which the top assembly opening is covered by the one or more panels such that the cartridge is sealed from the first chamber, and an open position in which the top assembly opening is exposed and product is capable of flowing through the at least one opening of the cartridge into the first chamber product inlet;
• a second chamber arranged downstream of and in fluid communication with the first chamber, wherein the second chamber comprises:
• a second chamber product inlet in fluid communication with the first chamber product outlet,
• a second chamber product outlet, and
• a middle assembly disposed between the first chamber product outlet and the second chamber product inlet, the middle assembly comprising:
• a middle assembly opening arranged such that it is fluid communication with the first chamber product outlet and the second chamber product inlet, and
• one or more panels that shift between a closed position in which the middle assembly opening is covered by the one or more panels such that the first chamber is sealed from the second chamber, and an open position in which the middle assembly opening is exposed and product is capable of flowing through the first chamber product outlet into the second chamber product inlet;
• a bottom assembly disposed at the second chamber product outlet, the bottom assembly comprising:
• a bottom assembly opening arranged such that it is in fluid communication with the second chamber product outlet, and
• one or more panels that that shift between a closed position in which the bottom assembly opening is covered by the one or more panels such that the second chamber product outlet is sealed, and an open position in which the bottom assembly opening is exposed and product is capable of flowing out of the pasteurization unit through the second chamber product outlet, wherein:
• one or more of the top assembly, the first chamber, and the middle assembly comprises one or more heaters for heating the first chamber through one or more of conduction, convection, and microwave heat or one or more heaters is arranged on an interior or exterior surface of the first chamber,
• one or more of the top assembly, the first chamber, and the middle assembly comprises one or more vapor inputs for introduction of vapor into the first chamber;
• one or more of the second chamber, the middle assembly, and the bottom assembly comprises one or more inlets for introduction of cryogenic fluid for rapid cooling of product in the second chamber.

A vibratory feeding and bagging system, comprising:

• a vibratory feeding unit comprising:
• a first vibratory feeder stacked on top of a second vibratory feeder,
• a screen interposed between the first and second vibratory feeders such that product having a size smaller than a mesh size of the screen can pass from the first vibratory feeder into the second vibratory feeder,
• first and second bulk dribble systems disposed at an outlet end of the first and second vibratory feeders, respectively, and
• one or more gassing units arranged to direct a flow of inert gas over the product in the first and second vibratory feeders;
• and
• a bagging unit in fluid communication with the vibratory feeding unit and adapted to receive product from the first and/or second vibratory feeder for filling a package with the product, the bagging unit comprising one or more gassing unit arranged to direct a flow of inert gas over the package and product being packaged.

A pasteurization unit for sterilizing a product, comprising:

• a cartridge for receiving product to be pasteurized the cartridge having a least one opening;
• a heating/cooling chamber arranged downstream of and in fluid communication with the cartridge, wherein the heating/cooling chamber comprises:
• a chamber product inlet in fluid communication with the at least one opening of the cartridge, and
• a chamber product outlet,
• a top assembly disposed between the cartridge and the heating/cooling chamber, wherein the top assembly comprises:
• a top assembly opening arranged such that it is fluid communication with the at least one opening of the cartridge and the chamber product inlet, and
• one or more panels that shift between a closed position in which the top assembly opening is covered by the one or more panels such that the cartridge is sealed from the heating/cooling chamber, and an open position in which the top assembly opening is exposed and product is capable of flowing through the at least one opening of the cartridge into the chamber product inlet;
• a bottom assembly disposed at the chamber product outlet, the bottom assembly comprising:
• a bottom assembly opening arranged such that it is in fluid communication with the chamber product outlet, and
• one or more panels that that shift between a closed position in which the bottom assembly opening is covered by the one or more panels such that the chamber product outlet is sealed, and an open position in which the bottom assembly opening is exposed and product is capable of flowing out of the pasteurization unit through the chamber product outlet, wherein:
• one or more of the top assembly, the heating/cooling chamber, and the bottom assembly comprises one or more heaters for heating the heating/cooling chamber through one or more of conduction, convection, and microwave heat,
• one or more of the top assembly, the heating/cooling chamber, and the bottom assembly comprises one or more vapor inputs for introduction of vapor into the heating/cooling chamber;
• and
• one or more of the heating/cooling chamber, the top assembly, and the bottom assembly comprises one or more inlets for introduction of liquefied gas for rapid cooling of product in the second chamber.