US 5,752,431 A · Blancher with multiple cooling zones

Abstract

A blancher having multiple cooling zones formed by a tank having multiple compartments for receiving a heating liquid in one compartment and a coolant in at least two other compartments. In a preferred embodiment, the tank has a sidewall with an end wall at its inlet end, an end wall at its discharge end, and a pair of dividing baffles which separate the tank into compartments. Received within the tank is a food transport mechanism that preferably is a helical auger having a portion in each compartment to urge food product toward the discharge end. Preferably, a liquid hot enough to cook or blanch food product is received in the inlet end compartment and a liquid cold enough to cool the food product is received in the discharge end compartment. To precool the food product after it has been heated, a precooling liquid preferably is received in a compartment between the inlet end and outlet end compartments. Preferably, water at a temperature of between 55.degree. Fahrenheit and 75.degree. Fahrenheit is received in the precooling compartment and water at a temperature of between 32.degree. Fahrenheit and 55.degree. Fahrenheit is received in the cooling compartment. Preferably, each of the cooling compartments can be constructed having cooling water inlets and outlets that produce a coolant flow opposite the direction of food product flow creating a counterflow heat exchanging arrangement. Preferably, at least some of the coolant supplied to the precooling compartment is well or ground water for saving energy and money.

Claims54

Dependent claims

A food processing apparatus for heating and cooling food product comprising:

(a) a tank for receiving food product therein and having an inlet end and a discharge end;
(b) at least two dividing baffles received in the tank for dividing the tank into at least three tank compartments;
(c) a hot liquid received in at least one of the tank compartments;
(d) a cooling liquid received in at least two of the remaining tank compartments, with the cooling liquid having a temperature colder than the hot liquid;
and
(e) a food transport mechanism received in the tank for urging food product received in the tank toward the discharge end.

3 more elements

A food processing apparatus comprising:

(a) a tank having an inlet end and a discharge end;
(b) a first baffle which divides the tank into a heated compartment and a cooled compartment;
(c) a second baffle which divides the cooled compartment into a first cooled compartment and a second cooled compartment;
(d) a perforated drum mounted rotatably within the tank so that water contained in the tank will enter the cylinder, the cylinder having (1) an inlet opening near the inlet end of the tank for receiving food product and (2) a discharge opening near the discharge end of the tank where food product that has moved through the drum can be discharged from the drum, wherein the drum is divided into (1) a first segment which is received in the heated compartment of the tank, (2) a second segment which is received in the first cooled compartment of the tank, and (3) a third segment which is received in the second cooled compartment of the tank;
(e) an auger positioned substantially within the perforated drum to rotate with the drum, the auger having portions with flights which define a generally helical food product urging surface, wherein a portion of the auger extends axially within the first segment of the drum, a portion of the auger extends axially within the second segment of the drum, and a portion of the auger extends axially within a third portion of the drum;
(f) a first chute which extends between the heated compartment and the first cooled compartment of the tank;
(g) a second chute which extends between the first cooled compartment and second cooled compartment of the tank;
(h) at least one lifting flight located within the drum first segment and rotatable with the first segment to elevate food product from within the heated compartment to deposit the food product in the first chute to be discharged into the first cooled compartment of the tank, at least one lifting flight located in the drum second segment and rotatable with the second segment to elevate food product from within the first cooled compartment to deposit the food product on the second chute to be discharged into the second cooled compartment of the tank, and wherein food product introduced at the tank inlet will traverse the tank and be subjected to heating, a first stage of cooling and a second stage of cooling;
(i) water having a temperature of between about 55.degree. Fahrenheit and about 75.degree. Fahrenheit received in the first cooled tank compartment to cool food product in the second drum segment;
and
(j) water having a temperature of between about 32.degree. Fahrenheit and about 55.degree. Fahrenheit received in the second cooled tank compartment to further cool food product received in the third drum segment.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Blancher with multiple cooling zones

Life of this patent

Blancher with multiple cooling zones

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims54