Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
  • B01F35/75—Discharge mechanisms
  • B01F35/754—Discharge mechanisms characterised by the means for discharging the components from the mixer
  • B01F35/7544—Discharge mechanisms characterised by the means for discharging the components from the mixer using pumps
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
  • B01F23/50—Mixing liquids with solids
  • B01F23/53—Mixing liquids with solids using driven stirrers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
  • B01F23/50—Mixing liquids with solids
  • B01F23/56—Mixing liquids with solids by introducing solids in liquids, e.g. dispersing or dissolving
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
  • B01F23/80—After-treatment of the mixture
  • B01F23/805—Submitting a mixture to electrical energy fields, e.g. corona discharge
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
  • B01F23/80—After-treatment of the mixture
  • B01F23/811—Heating the mixture
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F25/00—Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
  • B01F25/30—Injector mixers
  • B01F25/31—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows
  • B01F25/314—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows wherein additional components are introduced at the circumference of the conduit
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F27/00—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
  • B01F27/05—Stirrers
  • B01F27/11—Stirrers characterised by the configuration of the stirrers
  • B01F27/112—Stirrers characterised by the configuration of the stirrers with arms, paddles, vanes or blades
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
  • B01F35/71—Feed mechanisms
  • B01F35/717—Feed mechanisms characterised by the means for feeding the components to the mixer
  • B01F35/7176—Feed mechanisms characterised by the means for feeding the components to the mixer using pumps
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23B—PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES
  • A23B2/00—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general
  • A23B2/40—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general by heating loose unpacked materials
  • A23B2/405—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general by heating loose unpacked materials in solid state
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F2101/00—Mixing characterised by the nature of the mixed materials or by the application field
  • B01F2101/06—Mixing of food ingredients

Definitions

• Many food, processing systems may include a processing flow path along which a food composition is transported for processing.
• the food composition may be flowable food composition that is pumped from a mixing system via tubes, pipes, and the like, and through a sterilization system to sterilize the food composition before packaging.
• FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a holding section of the food processing system of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the second processing line of the food processing system of FIG. 1 including a rotary feeder system.
• FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method for processing a food component according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for processing a food component according to another embodiment.
• FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method for processing a food component according to another embodiment
• FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of one form of a mixer tank.
• FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of a rotary feeder.
• FIG. 13 is a side view of one form of a vane for the rotary feeder of FIG. 12.
• the food processing system 100 includes a first process line 102 and a second process line 104.
• the first process line 102 includes a mixer tank 106, a pump 108, a treating section 109 (e.g., sterilization and/ or heating section), a holding section 110, and a packing section 112.
• Various flow paths can be used to interconnect the components and to connect to additional flow paths. For instance, fluid channels or conduits extend between these elements such that one or more food components flow from the mixer tank 106, to the pump 108, to the treating section 109, to the holding section 110, and to the packing section 112.
• the food components flow from the mixer tank 106 to the pump 108 along pipe 113, from the pump 108 to the treating section along pipe 114, from the treating section 109 to the holding section 110 along pipe 117, and from the holding section 110 to the packing section 112 along pipe 119.
• the pipes may be formed of food safe material that is readily cleanable.
• the food processing system 100 may have other configurations, such as those discussed with respect to FIGS. 5-8 below.
• the mixer tank 106 includes a container 116 for receiving a process fluid, such as a food component and/or relatively fine particles to be processed.
• a process fluid such as a food component and/or relatively fine particles to be processed.
• the process fluid in the mixer tank may be a broth, sauce, water, starch slurry, oil, milk, cream, and the like.
• the particles received in the container 116 of the mixer tank 106 may have a maximum dimension (e.g., a diameter) in the range of 3 mm to 25 mm.
• the container 116 may include a lower portion 118 that has a funnel shape and/ or tapers inward toward an outlet 120 connected to the pipe 113 to direct the mixture from the container 116 into the pipe 113.
• the mixture flows from the mixer tank 106 through the pipe 113 to the pump 108.
• the mixture flows from the treating section 109 to the holding section 110 along pipe 117.
• the holding section 110 has an inlet 110A and an outlet 110B.
• the mixture (and particles from the second process line 104) flows into the holding section from the inlet 110A and may be held at a treatment temperature (e.g., a sterilizing temperature) until it reaches the outlet 110B to fully treat the mixture and/or particles.
• the pipe forming the holding section 110 between the inlet 110 A and the outlet 110B may have a long length to increase the length of time the mixture is in the holding section 110 and being treated which is known as the residence time.
• the pipe 117 has a plurality of straight sections 115A connected by U-shaped bends 115B such that the pipe 117 winds back and forth to increase the length of the flow path through the holding section 110 while keeping the holding section relatively compact (e.g., compared to a straight pipe of the same length).
• the mixture and particles flows along the pipe 117 from the holding section 110 to the packing section 112. In the packing section 112, the mixture and/or particles may be dispensed into packaging for storage and/ or distribution.
• the second process line 104 includes a particle feed source such as hopper 130 and a rotary feeder 132.
• a rotary feeder may provide for various advantages for incorporating particles into different flow paths.
• a rotary feeder especially as used with the pipe configurations described herein, may permit particles to be more uniformly distributed .
• the rotar y feeder can be configured to decrease deformation/ crushing of the particles, as will be understood from the below further discussion.
• the rotary feeder may provide for less disturbance in the flow of other process streams as could occur when splitting and/or rejoining streams. Other advantages also permit for increased amounts of particles that can be distributed as less clogging can occur.
• the hopper 130 has walls 136 forming a cavity 137 for receiving the particles.
• the lower portion 136A of the walls 136 form a funnel or taper inward toward an outlet 138 connected to the pipe 134A. Particles received in the hopper 130 are thus directed toward the outlet 138 by gravity and. the tapered lower portion 136A of the hopper 130.
• the particles in the hopper may be rigid and/or semi-rigid.
• the particles may be chunks of food, including, as examples, potatoes, carrots, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, beef, chicken, and the like.
• the particles may also, and/or alternatively, include test particles. For example, alginate particles having RFID or other trackable components may be used, as described in further detail below.
• the hopper 130 may include a stir rod 140 that may be used to stir or move the particles in the hopper 130, for example, to unclog the particles in the hopper 130 and/ or break up particle bridging so that the particles flow through the outlet 138 and into toe pipe 134.
• the stir rod 140 includes a hook 142 at an end portion thereof to aid in moving the particles.
• the stir rod 140 may extend substantially vertically into the hopper 130 and be rotatable such that the hook 142 swivels about an axis to contact and move toe particles.
• the hook 142 is just slightly smaller than an inside diameter of the outlet 138 and pipe 134A.
• the stir rod may have a paddle, flange, or other shape to help move particles.
• the hopper 130 has a lid 144 that is removably attachable to a body of the hopper 130.
• the lid 144 may be removed to fill the cavity 137 of the hopper 130 with the particles.
• the lid 144 may form fluid tight seal with the walls 136 of the hopper 130.
• the lid. 144 allows the hopper 130 to be pressurized to inhibit the mixture flowing through die first process line 102 from flowing upward through the second process line 104 and, for example, overflowing out of the hopper 130.
• a rubber gasket may be positioned between the lid and the hopper 130 to form a fluid, tight seal.
• the lid 144 may be clamped to the hopper 130 with clamps 146 (see FIG.
• this pressure may be about 0.5 bar, 1.0 bar, 1.5 bar, 2.0 bar, 2.5 bar, 3.0 bar, 3.5 bar, or more.
• the hopper 130 and/or lid 144 may include a pressure reducer valve to adjust the pressure of the hopper 130 and or a safety valve in case of pressure build up in the food processing system 100.
• the end portion 135 of the pipe 134B of the second process line 104 connecting to the pipe 114 of the first process line 102 may be curved (see FIG. 4) to direct the particles to flow in the direction of the mixture through the pipe 114 of the first process line 102. Having the end portion 135 of the pipe 134B curved may also aid to inhibit the mixture of the first process line 102 from flowing upward through the pipe 134B.
• a vacuum pump may also be installed downstream of the rotary feeder 132 to aid particles dispensed from the rotary feeder 132 to enter the mixture flowing through the pipe 114.
• the second process line 104 including the rotary feeder 132 to dispense solid, particles to the mixture of the first process line 102 has been found to address problems with prior approaches. More specifically, the second process line 104 is able to dispense the solid, particles in a controlled manner such that the solid particles are sufficiently spaced from one another when added to the mixture in the first process line 102 with mitigates clogging of the solid particles in the pipe 114. Controlling the distribution of the particles in the mixture also permits the ratio of the solid particles to the mixture to be controlled as desired (e.g., a ratio of potatoes to broth).
• the RFID readers 180 were mounted at the inlet 110A and outlet 110B of the holding section 110 to monitor the period of time the alginate particle was in the holding section 110 which corresponds to residence time particles are treated at the holding section 110.
• the RFID readers 180 may also be mounted at various portions of the pipe 114 internal to the holding section 110.
• the RFID readers 180 may continuously transmit radio frequency waves which activate the RFID tags of the alginate particles as they pass the RFID reader 180 which causes the RFID tag to send, a signal back to the RFID reader 180 identifying the RFID tag.
• the RFID reader 180 may include a signal generator which sends the RF signal to the RFID tags, a receiver to receive the feedback signal from the RFID tags, and a microcontroller to process the information.
• the RFID tag may be an active, passive, or semi-passive RFID tag.
• the RFID tags may include a transponder which receives and sends signals to the RFID readers 180 and a rectifier circuit which uses the radio waves from the RFID reader 180 to store energy in a capacitor and to power a controller and a memory unit of the RFID tag.
• the RFID readers 180 were used to determine the period of time each alginate particle was in the holding section 110 to determine whether the alginate particle resided in the holding section for a minimum period of time to properly treat (e.g., sterilize) the particles. Additionally, through such testing, it was determined that use of the rotary feeder 132 to dispense solid particles into the mixture stream flowing through the pipe 114 of the first process line 102 was advantageous over prior systems. For instance, due to the degree of control over the solid particles being dispensed into the pipe 114 with the rotary feeder 132, the solid particles were able to be spaced apart from one another uniformly. As a result; it was found that using the rotary feeder 132 a greater number of solid particles are able to be dispensed into the first process line 102 without clogging the pipe 114 as the particles traveled therethrough.
• a process 250 is provided for processing a food component according to another embodiment.
• the process 250 may be similar in many respec ts to Hie processes discussed above with the primary difference being that the particles are injected 252 with the other ingredients of the food component and mixed 254 together with the other ingredients.
• the particles may be dispensed into the mixer tank 106 and mixed in with the other ingredients by the mixer 122.
• One or more rotary feeders 132 may be used to dose a controlled amount of the particles into the mixer tank 106 with other ingredients of the food component.
• the particles may be fine enough to pass through the pump 108 without causing damage to the pump and/ or the particles.
• the mixture may be pumped 256 from the mixer tank 106 to be packaged 258.
• the steps of heating, holding, and/or cooling discussed, above may also be applied to the mixture before the step of packaging 258.
• rotary feeders 132 may be used to inject solid particles at multiple points along the food processing system.
• the food component may include two or more different types of solid particles that are injected, at different points of the process.
• one type of solid particle may need to be sterilized and be added before the heat and holding step while another solid particle is pre-sterilized and added to the mixture after the heat and holding steps.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
• Food Preservation Except Freezing, Refrigeration, And Drying (AREA)
• General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Air Transport Of Granular Materials (AREA)
• Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
• Accessories For Mixers (AREA)
• Mixers With Rotating Receptacles And Mixers With Vibration Mechanisms (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Polymers & Plastics (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=90275659

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2023
  • 2023-09-14 EP EP23866190.4A patent/EP4587350A1/de active Pending
  • 2023-09-14 CN CN202380066652.2A patent/CN119894792A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-09-14 CA CA3267490A patent/CA3267490A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-09-14 AU AU2023340906A patent/AU2023340906A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-09-14 KR KR1020257011142A patent/KR20250067844A/ko active Pending
  • 2023-09-14 JP JP2025515842A patent/JP2025532046A/ja active Pending
  • 2023-09-14 WO PCT/US2023/032738 patent/WO2024059196A1/en not_active Ceased
• 2025
  • 2025-03-13 MX MX2025003013A patent/MX2025003013A/es unknown

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events