US 5,341,729 A · Discharge for rotating drum blanchers and coolers

Abstract

A discharge chute extends between an auger and the discharge end plate of a perforated cylinder which rotates within a water-filled tank in a food processing apparatus such as a blancher or a cooler. The chute is fixed to the cylinder to rotate with the cylinder and has an inlet within the cylinder and an outlet which communicates with the exterior of the apparatus. A lifting flight extends between the perforated side wall of the cylinder and the discharge chute and is fixed to the discharge chute, such that food product advanced to the discharge end of the tank by an auger fixed to the cylinder, is engaged by the lifting flight and elevated to discharge into the chute discharge opening and then along an inclined surface within the chute to be discharged from the apparatus. The discharge assembly thus avoids any pinching of food product between rotating and nonrotating parts of the apparatus. Food product contained in pouches is protected from rupture at the discharge.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A food processing apparatus, comprising:

a) a tank having an inlet end and a discharge end;
b) a cylinder which has a perforated sidewall, the cylinder being mounted rotatably within the tank so that water contained in the tank will enter the cylinder, the cylinder having an inlet opening near the inlet end of the tank for receiving introduced food product and an outlet opening in a discharge end plate near the discharge end of the tank through which food product which has moved through the cylinder can be discharged from the tank;
c) an auger positioned substantially within the cylinder to rotate with the cylinder, such that food product introduced into the cylinder is advanced by the auger from the inlet end to the discharge end of the tank;
d) a discharge chute which extends between the auger and the discharge end plate and is fixed to the cylinder to rotate with the cylinder, wherein the discharge chute has a discharge opening which communicates with the discharge end plate outlet opening, and a chute inlet opening which is within the cylinder;
e) a lifting flight which extends between the perforated side wall and the discharge chute and which is fixed to the discharge chute, such that food product advanced to the discharge end of the tank by the auger is engaged by the lifting flight and elevated to discharge into the chute discharge opening and then through the end plate outlet opening.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Discharge for rotating drum blanchers and coolers

Life of this patent

Discharge for rotating drum blanchers and coolers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9