Method and apparatus for increased product throughput capacity, improved quality and enhanced treatment and product packaging flexibility in a continuous sterilizing system

A method for processing foodstuff products packaged in a foodstuff product container, the processing occurring within a continuous heating and cooling system, the system having a heating stage, a sterilization stage, and a cooling stage, the method comprising:

• removably coupling product carriers to a conveyor for traveling through at least one of the heating stage, the sterilization stage, and the cooling stage, the product carriers capable of holding foodstuff product containers of differing materials, shapes, and sizes;
• positioning rotator protrusions on a strip within the heating, sterilization, and cooling stage(s) through which the product carriers are conveyed;
• coupling a rotator apparatus having protruding arms to the product carriers;
• differentially selecting one or more individual stages of the continuous heating and cooling system for processing the foodstuff products;
• conveying the product carriers through the selected stages;
• rotating the product carriers about an axis as the product carriers are conveyed through the at least one of the heating, sterilization and cooling stage(s) by the conveyor by engaging the protruding arms with the rotator protrusions positioned within heating, sterilization and cooling stage(s) through which the product carriers are conveyed;
• orienting the foodstuff product container within the product carriers in a manner that exposes the surface area of the foodstuff product container to facilitate thermal energy transfer from a thermal transfer media to the foodstuff products;
• controlling the rotation frequency of the product carrier during conveyance through the selected stage(s) of the continuous heating and cooling system by altering the number of engagements of the protruding arms of the rotator apparatus with the rotator protrusions within the selected stage(s) of the continuous heating and cooling system;
• and
• controlling the rotation amplitude of the product carrier during conveyance through the selected stage(s) of the continuous heating and cooling system by altering the distance between the strip and the axis, thereby altering a contact time of the protruding arms of the rotator apparatus with the rotator protrusions within the selected stage(s) of the continuous heating and cooling system,
• wherein the foodstuff products within the foodstuff product container are processed to facilitate the foodstuff products reaching a predetermined level of product stabilization, product quality, and microbial safety without modification to the stages of the continuous heating and cooling system.