Apparatus for heating or cooling product containers
AssigneeFMC Corporation
InventorRobert A. Garrett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for transferring heat between a heat transfer liquid and a plurality of moving containers of food product. The containers are conveyed by a perforated conveyor at least partially submerged in a pool of the heat transfer liquid and are showered at the same time with the heat transfer liquid. The pool of heat transfer liquid continuously drains and recirculates through either a heater or a chiller. A vibrator unit vibrates the pool of heat transfer liquid, the conveyor and the containers during the heat transfer operation.
Claims27
Apparatus for transferring heat between a heat transfer liquid and a plurality of product containers, the apparatus comprising:
- a perforated conveyor having a conveying surface for supporting and transferring the containers;
- a conveyor pan receiving the conveying surface of the perforated conveyor and including an open top portion and at least one drain, the conveyor pan being adapted to hold a continuously recirculating pool of the heat transfer liquid at a level disposed above the conveying surface of the perforated conveyor;
- a heat transfer liquid distributor spaced above the perforated conveyor and operative to shower the containers on the conveying surface with the heat transfer liquid by directing the heat transfer liquid through the open top portion of the conveyor pan;
- and
- a vibrator unit operatively connected with the conveyor pan and operating to vibrate the conveyor pan, the perforated conveyor, the pool of heat transfer liquid and the containers as the containers are moved by the perforated conveyor to thereby uniformly and efficiently transfer heat between the heat transfer liquid and the product in said containers.
Apparatus for transferring heat between a heat transfer liquid and a plurality of product containers, the apparatus comprising:
- a perforated conveyor having a conveying surface for supporting and transferring the containers;
- a conveyor pan receiving the conveying surface of the perforated conveyor and including an open top portion and a perforated bottom wall, the conveyor pan being adapted to hold a continuously recirculating pool of the heat transfer liquid at a level disposed above the conveying surface of the perforated conveyor;
- a heat transfer liquid distributor pan mounted above said perforated conveyor and having an interior and a perforated lower surface spaced above the perforated conveyor, said liquid distributor pan adapted to hold a supply of said heat transfer liquid in the interior and the perforated lower surface operating to shower the containers on the conveying surface with the heat transfer liquid by directing the heat transfer liquid through the open top portion of the conveyor pan;
- a liquid supply conduit in fluid communication with the interior of the liquid distributor pan;
- and
- a vibrator unit operatively connected with the conveyor pan for vibrating the conveyor pan, the perforated conveyor, the pool of heat transfer liquid and the containers as the containers are moved by the perforated conveyor to thereby uniformly and efficiently transfer heat between the heat transfer liquid and the product in said containers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.