Apparatus and method for making citrus juice from frozen bodies

Abstract

An apparatus for making citrus juice preferably includes a supply of relatively small frozen bodies comprising at least one of citrus juice and pulp, a heating section for adding heat to the frozen bodies to thaw the frozen bodies, and a filling section downstream from the heating section for filling juice containers with citrus juice. The relatively small frozen bodies may have at least one dimension less than about 1.5 inches. The apparatus may also include a pasteurizing section upstream from the filling section. In one embodiment, the supply comprises a plurality of portable containers each containing a plurality of frozen bodies. The heating section preferably comprises a heat transfer tank, a heat transfer fluid in the heat transfer tank, a heater for the heat transfer fluid, and a conveyor for advancing the containers of frozen bodies through the heat transfer fluid. Each portable container may comprise a flexible bag, for example. In accordance with another advantageous feature of the invention, the apparatus may include at least one other supply of liquid citrus juice. A blending tank may be provided between the heating section and the filling section and connected to the at least one other supply of liquid citrus juice. The blending tank permits blending of different citrus juices, and/or for blending with concentrated juices, for example.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.