Mitec, Inc.

Brian T Dalziel

Steven E Koenck

Stan V Lyons

Janette J Kewley

Douglas C White

Von Kennedy

A method of providing extended shelf life fresh meat products involves irradiating the meat products in a first controlled atmosphere and packaging the irradiated meat products in a second controlled atmosphere. The packaged irradiated meat products are then distributed to a retail store. In an exemplary embodiment, the first controlled atmosphere excludes oxygen and the second controlled atmosphere is high in oxygen. In one particular embodiment of the present invention, an antioxidant is added to the meat products either prior to or following the step of irradiating the meat products in the first controlled atmosphere, to extend the color-life of the meat products.

Method of providing extended shelf life fresh meat products

A bulk material irradiation system includes an input for inserting bulk material. A bulk material tube is connected to the input, forming a path for bulk material flow. A pressurizing assembly is connected to the bulk material tube for forcing the bulk material to flow through the bulk material tube. An irradiation assembly provides ionizing radiation to irradiate the bulk material passing adjacent to the irradiation assembly in the bulk material tube. Irradiated bulk material exits the bulk material tube through an output.

Bulk material irradiation system and method

An irradiation assembly is effective to irradiate large articles, up to about 48 inches thick in an exemplary embodiment. The assembly provides radiation to an article from all sides in a 360 degree exposure range, and includes at least one irradiating subsystem that provides x-ray radiation in a portion of the 360 degree exposure range. A conveying system carries the article through the at least one irradiating subsystem in a number of passes appropriate to provide x-ray radiation to the article in the full 360 degree exposure range. Each irradiating subsystem is configured to direct radiation toward a center point of the article being irradiated. An accelerator generates an electron beam, and a magnet assembly shapes and deflects the electron beam in a sweep path through a scan horn. A compound bending magnet directs the electron beam toward a center point of the article being irradiated along the entire sweep path. An x-ray conversion plate converts the electron beam into an x-ray radiation beam.

System and method for irradiating large articles

An irradiation system includes a conveying system for moving material to be irradiated through a processing area. An irradiation source applies radiation to material in the processing area. The conveying system is enclosed by a sealed conduit in at least the processing area, providing the capability to control the atmosphere inside the sealed conduit and to clean the interior of the sealed conduit according to industrial sanitation methods.

Irradiation system and method

An irradiation system includes a radiation source for providing a radiation beam at a controlled power level. A product location system provides product so that the radiation beam impinges on the product. A sensor system measures an intensity of the radiation beam that passes through the product, and a control system adjusts the power level of the radiation beam based on the intensity of the radiation beam that passes through the product.

An irradiation system includes a radiation source providing radiation in a localized radiation exposure area and a shielding structure around the radiation source. A conveyance system transports product into the shielding structure, through the radiation exposure region and out of the shielding structure. The conveyance system includes an input portion for carrying the product into the shielding structure at a first elevation. A first elevator moves the product from the first elevation to a second elevation different from the first elevation. A processing portion of the conveyance system carries the product at the second elevation through the radiation exposure region. A second elevator moves the product from the second elevation to a third elevation different from the second elevation. An output portion of the conveyance system carries the product out of the shielding structure at the third elevation.

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Marion, IA, United States of America

Brian T Dalziel