Multi-conveyor processing system
AssigneeKnud Simonsen Industries Limited
InventorGuy E. Buller-Colthurst
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process ing system for processing batches of different products in the same process conditions, and having chamber means having zones, processing conditions means for each zone, to procure uniform process conditions within each zone, including water treatment means in at least one zone, first and second separate side by side conveyors passing through the chamber, batch supports maovable on respective first and second conveyors, for carrying batches of products, conveyor movement means for moving said separate batch supports at different timings, to procure different transit and dwell times of different products within the same zones of the chamber, and, control means connected to the conveyor, and a method of processing products in such a system.
Claims15
A processing system for the processing of separate batches of meat products in the same processing conditions, such batches being processed for predetermined transit and dwell times, said system comprising:
- chamber means defining a plurality of processing zones through which said batches of products are transported;
- process conditioning means for each one of said zones, whereby to procure uniform processing conditions within each one of said zones, for all batches of products passing through each one of said zones, said process conditioning means including water shower treatment means in at least one of said zones for establishing a uniform temperature condition in said one of said zones;
- first and second separate side by side conveyor means passing through each one of said zones of said chamber means, along which said batches of products are transported side by side;
- support means movable on respective first and second conveyor means, for carrying one of said batches of products on said first conveyor means and another of said batches of products on the second said conveyor means;
- first step-wise movement means selectively operable at predetermined time intervals for moving one of said support means with one of said batches of products on said first conveyor means operable to cause step-wise movement, and stopping, of said one support means whereby to procure dwells of said one of said batches of products in each one of said zones for predetermined dwell times, for processing under predetermined conditions in each one of said zones;
- second step-wise movement means selectively operable at predetermined time intervals for moving another of said support means with another of said batches of products on said second conveyor means, operable to cause step-wise movement, and stopping, of said another of said support means, whereby to procure dwells of said another of said batches of products in each one of said zones for proessing therein under conditions identical to those for said one of said batches of products for predetermined dwell times, and,
- control means connected to said first and second movement means, and operable to procure separate automatic timed operation thereof whereby said first movement means is operated to move and to stop in a first timed sequence to procure movement and stopping of each of said batches of products on said first conveyor means, and dwelling thereof in each of said zones for a series of predetermined first time limits, and whereby said second movement means is operated to move and stop in timed sequence to procure movement and stopping of each said batch of product on said second conveyor means and dwelling thereof in each of said zones for a series of predetermined second time limits, different from said first time limits.
A method of processing first and second meat products under identical process conditions, said first and second meat products being suitable for processing under the same conditions, one of said first and second products being processed at different timings than the other of said first and second products, and comprising:
- assembling batches of said first product and batches of said second product on separate batch support means;
- introducing a batch of said first product into a processing chamber defining at least two sequential zones, along a first conveyor path passing through said zones;
- introducing a batch of said second product into the same said processing chamber along a second conveyor path parallel to and spaced from said first conveyor path, and passing the same through each of said zones of said chamber;
- in a first one of said zones continuously flowing streams of water at an elevated temperature downwardly through said first one of said zones thereby establishing a first processing condition in said first one of said zones;
- establishing a second processing condition in a second one of said zones;
- moving said batch of said first product in steps through said zones of said chamber and stopping same for processing at predetermined time intervals, whereby to procure first predetermined dwell times of said batch of said first product in each of said zones, and,
- moving said batch of second product in steps through each of said zones and stopping same for processing under conditions identical to those processing said batch of said first product at a predetermined second series of timed intervals whereby to procure second dwell times in each of said zones different from said first dwell times of said batch of said first product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.