MLchartDataset catalogue

Patent · US8006613B2 · B2 · US

Transfer mechanism for use with a food processing system

(11) Publication number
US8006613B2
(21) Application number
12/501,649
(22) Filing date
2009-07-13
(30) Priority date
2008-07-16
(43) Publication date
2011-08-30
(45) Date of grant
2011-08-30
(51) IPC
A23L 3/00; A23L 5/10
(52) CPC
  • A23B Preservation of foods, foodstuffs or non-alcoholic beverages; chemical ripening of fruit or vegetables: 2/425, 2/001
  • A23L Foods, foodstuffs or non-alcoholic beverages, not otherwise provided for; preparation or treatment thereof: 5/10
  • A23N Machines or apparatus for treating harvested fruit, vegetables or flower bulbs in bulk, not otherwise provided for; peeling vegetables or fruit in bulk; apparatus for preparing animal feeding- stuffs: 12/04
  • A47J Kitchen equipment; coffee mills; spice mills; apparatus for making beverages: 36/00
  • B65G Transport or storage devices, e.g. conveyors for loading or tipping, shop conveyor systems or pneumatic tube conveyors: 51/01, 53/30
(73) Assignee
Lyco Manufacturing Inc
(72) Inventors
Glenn W. Stousland; David R. Zittel; Daniel D. Maupin; Steve J. Schultz; Scott K. Weisman
(54) Title
Transfer mechanism for use with a food processing system
(57) Abstract

A transfer mechanism for transferring food product from a compartment of a food processing system includes a conduit having a first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge. The pressurized fluid source is operable to propel a fluid through the fluid discharge to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion.

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Claims (9)

  1. A food processing system comprising: a compartment operable to process a food product; and a transfer mechanism for transferring food product from the compartment; the transfer mechanism including: a conduit including a first end portion, including an inlet conduit section, wherein food product enters the transfer mechanism through the inlet conduit section, and wherein the inlet conduit section has a round cross-section and a circumference, the first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment, wherein the first end portion of the conduit is configured to be positioned below a fluid level in the compartment, a main conduit section, wherein the main conduit section has a round cross-section, and a second end portion, wherein the second end portion of the conduit is configured to be positioned above the fluid level in the compartment the inlet conduit section having an inlet end in fluid communication with the compartment and an opposite end with an outer surface, and the main conduit section having a first end with an inner surface, the opposite end of the inlet conduit section being inserted in the first end of the main conduit section; a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, the fluid discharge including a slot at least partially defined between the outer surface of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section and the inner surface of the first end of the main conduit section, wherein the fluid discharge includes a slot at least partially defined between the outer surface of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section and the inner surface of the first end of the main conduit section, the slot extending about the circumference of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section; and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge, the pressurized fluid source operable to propel a fluid through the through the slot to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion.
  2. The food processing system of claim 1, wherein the first end portion of the conduit is configured to be positioned below the fluid level in the compartment, wherein the second end portion of the conduit is configured to be positioned above a fluid level in the compartment, and wherein the conduit includes a substantially vertical portion between the first end portion and the second end portion.
  3. The food processing system of claim 1, wherein the inlet conduit section includes two pairs of opposing walls forming a generally rectangular cross-section, wherein the main conduit section includes two pairs of opposing walls forming a generally rectangular cross-section, wherein the fluid discharge includes a first slot defined between the outer surface of one wall of one pair of opposing walls of the inlet conduit section and the inner surface of one wall of an associated pair of opposing walls of the main conduit section, and an opposing second slot defined between the outer surface of the other wall of the one pair of opposing walls of the inlet conduit section and the inner surface of the other wall of the associate pair of opposing walls of the main conduit section, and wherein the pressurized fluid source is operable to propel a fluid through the first slot and through the second slot to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion.
  4. A transfer mechanism for transferring food product from a compartment of a food processing system, the transfer mec anism comprising: a conduit including a first end portion having an inlet conduit section through which food product can enter the mechanism, and the first end portion is configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, the conduit including the inlet conduit section having an inlet end in fluid communication with the compartment and an opposite end with an outer surface, the inlet conduit section having a round cross-section and a circumference, and a main conduit section having a first end with an inner surface, the main conduit section having a round cross-section, the opposite end of the inlet conduit section being inserted in the first end of the main conduit section; a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, the fluid discharge including a slot at least partially defined between the outer surface of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section and the inner surface of the first end of the main conduit section, the slot extending about the circumference of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section; and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge, the pressurized fluid source operable to propel a fluid through the slot to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion; and wherein the first end portion of the conduit is configured to be positioned below the fluid level in the compartment, and wherein the second end portion of the conduit is configured to be positioned above a fluid level in the compartment.
  5. The transfer mechanism of claim 4, wherein the main conduit section has a conical section at the first end, the opposite end of the inlet conduit section being inserted into the conical section.
  6. The transfer mechanism of claim 5, wherein the opposite end of the inlet conduit section has a diameter, wherein the conical portion of the main conduit section has a first diameter section larger than the diameter of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section and tapers to a second diameter section about equal to the diameter of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section, and wherein the opposite end of the inlet conduit section is inserted to a position between the first diameter section and the second diameter section.
  7. The transfer mechanism of claim 5, wherein the conical section of the main conduit section cooperates with the opposite end of the inlet conduit section to define a chamber upstream of the slot, and wherein the pressurized fluid source supplies fluid to the chamber and through the slot.
  8. The transfer mechanism of claim 4, wherein the conduit includes a substantially vertical portion between the first end portion and the second end portion.
  9. The transfer mechanism of claim 4, and further comprising: a dewatering member in communication with the second end portion of the conduit, wherein the dewatering member receives the food product and the fluid from the conduit and facilitates separating the food product from the fluid; and a convex guide member positioned between the second end portion of the conduit and the dewatering member, wherein the convex guide member directs the food product and the fluid from the conduit into the dewatering member; wherein the conduit has a diameter, wherein the dewatering member has a width greater than the diameter of the conduit, and wherein the convex guide member has a first width substantially equal to the diameter of the conduit and transitions to a second width substantially equal to the width of the dewatering member.

Description

The present invention relates to food processing systems and, more particularly, to transfer mechanisms for use with food processing systems.

In mass processing of food product, the food product is often heated by cooking or blanching the food product in a cooker using a hot heat transfer medium into which the food product is immersed. After cooking or blanching, the food product is either transferred out of the food processing system, or is cooled or chilled by immersing the food product in a cool heat transfer medium so that the food product may be packaged, stored, and/or shipped. It is desirable to transfer the food product between these mediums while minimizing, for example, crossover of the hot heat transfer medium into the cool heat transfer medium. In addition, it is desirable to transfer the food product between processing systems or out of a processing system entirely while minimizing loss or waste of the heat transfer mediums.

In one embodiment, the invention may provide a transfer mechanism for transferring food product from a compartment of a food processing system. The transfer mechanism may generally include a conduit having a first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge. The pressurized fluid source is operable to propel a fluid through the fluid discharge to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion.

Citations (39)

  • US1908220A
  • US1992890A
  • US2314871A
  • US2299080A
  • US3731647A
  • US3760714A
  • US4097092A
  • US4183702A
  • US4206555A
  • US4349280A
  • US4451184A
  • US4846608A
  • US4762148A
  • US4711607A
  • US5009150A
  • US4942810A
  • US5092526A
  • US5427016A
  • US5069582A
  • US5755880A
  • US5133982A
  • US5429156A
  • US5568755A
  • US5429041A
  • US5329842A
  • US5802961A
  • US5972413A
  • US5752431A
  • US5931609A
  • US6009798A
  • US6205913B1
  • US7144204B2
  • US6974279B2
  • US7500426B2
  • US20060283333A1
  • US20070044666A1
  • US7735415B2
  • US7311474B1
  • US20100015311A1
Record as JSON 
{
  "publication_number": "US8006613B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Transfer mechanism for use with a food processing system",
  "abstract": "A transfer mechanism for transferring food product from a compartment of a food processing system includes a conduit having a first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge. The pressurized fluid source is operable to propel a fluid through the fluid discharge to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A food processing system comprising: a compartment operable to process a food product; and a transfer mechanism for transferring food product from the compartment; the transfer mechanism including: a conduit including a first end portion, including an inlet conduit section, wherein food product enters the transfer mechanism through the inlet conduit section, and wherein the inlet conduit section has a round cross-section and a circumference, the first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment, wherein the first end portion of the conduit is configured to be positioned below a fluid level in the compartment, a main conduit section, wherein the main conduit section has a round cross-section, and a second end portion, wherein the second end portion of the conduit is configured to be positioned above the fluid level in the compartment the inlet conduit section having an inlet end in fluid communication with the compartment and an opposite end with an outer surface, and the main conduit section having a first end with an inner surface, the opposite end of the inlet conduit section being inserted in the first end of the main conduit section; a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, the fluid discharge including a slot at least partially defined between the outer surface of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section and the inner surface of the first end of the main conduit section, wherein the fluid discharge includes a slot at least partially defined between the outer surface of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section and the inner surface of the first end of the main conduit section, the slot extending about the circumference of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section; and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge, the pressurized fluid source operable to propel a fluid through the through the slot to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion.",
    "2. The food processing system of claim 1, wherein the first end portion of the conduit is configured to be positioned below the fluid level in the compartment, wherein the second end portion of the conduit is configured to be positioned above a fluid level in the compartment, and wherein the conduit includes a substantially vertical portion between the first end portion and the second end portion.",
    "3. The food processing system of claim 1, wherein the inlet conduit section includes two pairs of opposing walls forming a generally rectangular cross-section, wherein the main conduit section includes two pairs of opposing walls forming a generally rectangular cross-section, wherein the fluid discharge includes a first slot defined between the outer surface of one wall of one pair of opposing walls of the inlet conduit section and the inner surface of one wall of an associated pair of opposing walls of the main conduit section, and an opposing second slot defined between the outer surface of the other wall of the one pair of opposing walls of the inlet conduit section and the inner surface of the other wall of the associate pair of opposing walls of the main conduit section, and wherein the pressurized fluid source is operable to propel a fluid through the first slot and through the second slot to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion.",
    "4. A transfer mechanism for transferring food product from a compartment of a food processing system, the transfer mec anism comprising: a conduit including a first end portion having an inlet conduit section through which food product can enter the mechanism, and the first end portion is configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, the conduit including the inlet conduit section having an inlet end in fluid communication with the compartment and an opposite end with an outer surface, the inlet conduit section having a round cross-section and a circumference, and a main conduit section having a first end with an inner surface, the main conduit section having a round cross-section, the opposite end of the inlet conduit section being inserted in the first end of the main conduit section; a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, the fluid discharge including a slot at least partially defined between the outer surface of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section and the inner surface of the first end of the main conduit section, the slot extending about the circumference of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section; and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge, the pressurized fluid source operable to propel a fluid through the slot to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion; and wherein the first end portion of the conduit is configured to be positioned below the fluid level in the compartment, and wherein the second end portion of the conduit is configured to be positioned above a fluid level in the compartment.",
    "5. The transfer mechanism of claim 4, wherein the main conduit section has a conical section at the first end, the opposite end of the inlet conduit section being inserted into the conical section.",
    "6. The transfer mechanism of claim 5, wherein the opposite end of the inlet conduit section has a diameter, wherein the conical portion of the main conduit section has a first diameter section larger than the diameter of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section and tapers to a second diameter section about equal to the diameter of the opposite end of the inlet conduit section, and wherein the opposite end of the inlet conduit section is inserted to a position between the first diameter section and the second diameter section.",
    "7. The transfer mechanism of claim 5, wherein the conical section of the main conduit section cooperates with the opposite end of the inlet conduit section to define a chamber upstream of the slot, and wherein the pressurized fluid source supplies fluid to the chamber and through the slot.",
    "8. The transfer mechanism of claim 4, wherein the conduit includes a substantially vertical portion between the first end portion and the second end portion.",
    "9. The transfer mechanism of claim 4, and further comprising: a dewatering member in communication with the second end portion of the conduit, wherein the dewatering member receives the food product and the fluid from the conduit and facilitates separating the food product from the fluid; and a convex guide member positioned between the second end portion of the conduit and the dewatering member, wherein the convex guide member directs the food product and the fluid from the conduit into the dewatering member; wherein the conduit has a diameter, wherein the dewatering member has a width greater than the diameter of the conduit, and wherein the convex guide member has a first width substantially equal to the diameter of the conduit and transitions to a second width substantially equal to the width of the dewatering member."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to food processing systems and, more particularly, to transfer mechanisms for use with food processing systems.\n\nIn mass processing of food product, the food product is often heated by cooking or blanching the food product in a cooker using a hot heat transfer medium into which the food product is immersed. After cooking or blanching, the food product is either transferred out of the food processing system, or is cooled or chilled by immersing the food product in a cool heat transfer medium so that the food product may be packaged, stored, and/or shipped. It is desirable to transfer the food product between these mediums while minimizing, for example, crossover of the hot heat transfer medium into the cool heat transfer medium. In addition, it is desirable to transfer the food product between processing systems or out of a processing system entirely while minimizing loss or waste of the heat transfer mediums.\n\nIn one embodiment, the invention may provide a transfer mechanism for transferring food product from a compartment of a food processing system. The transfer mechanism may generally include a conduit having a first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge. The pressurized fluid source is operable to propel a fluid through the fluid discharge to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion.",
  "cpc": [
    "A23B 2/425",
    "A23B 2/001",
    "A23L 5/10",
    "A23N 12/04",
    "A47J 36/00",
    "B65G 51/01",
    "B65G 53/30"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A23L 3/00",
    "A23L 5/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Lyco Manufacturing Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Glenn W. Stousland",
    "David R. Zittel",
    "Daniel D. Maupin",
    "Steve J. Schultz",
    "Scott K. Weisman"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2009-07-13",
  "publication_date": "2011-08-30",
  "grant_date": "2011-08-30",
  "priority_date": "2008-07-16",
  "application_number": "US-50164909-A",
  "family_id": "41211887",
  "cited_by_count": 12,
  "citations": [
    "US1908220A",
    "US1992890A",
    "US2314871A",
    "US2299080A",
    "US3731647A",
    "US3760714A",
    "US4097092A",
    "US4183702A",
    "US4206555A",
    "US4349280A",
    "US4451184A",
    "US4846608A",
    "US4762148A",
    "US4711607A",
    "US5009150A",
    "US4942810A",
    "US5092526A",
    "US5427016A",
    "US5069582A",
    "US5755880A",
    "US5133982A",
    "US5429156A",
    "US5568755A",
    "US5429041A",
    "US5329842A",
    "US5802961A",
    "US5972413A",
    "US5752431A",
    "US5931609A",
    "US6009798A",
    "US6205913B1",
    "US7144204B2",
    "US6974279B2",
    "US7500426B2",
    "US20060283333A1",
    "US20070044666A1",
    "US7735415B2",
    "US7311474B1",
    "US20100015311A1"
  ]
}

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