Dec International, Inc.

Alkar-rapidpak, Inc.

David L Brethorst

Min-Nan Huang

Min N Huang

Dennis Conohan

Robert E Hanson

Seth T Pulsfus

Glenn L Leach

Dennis P Roelke

Thomas J Betley

Brian G Sandberg

Peter G Senn

Richard E Ryan

Christopher D McLinn

A food processing system circulates a processing medium along a circulation path having first and second segments perpendicular to food product travel along a horizontal conveyor. In another aspect, desired sequencing is provided including reversal of orientation order of return and supply path segments of the circulating processing medium.

Food processor with circulation system and method

A system for intermittently advancing floor-supported vehicles through a food product processing system employs beam members mounted adjacent the floor which are reciprocably movable back and forth, preferably in response to extension and retraction of the rod of a cylinder. Engagement members, preferably in the form of upstanding trip dogs provided on the beams, engage the underside of the vehicles for drawing the vehicles through the cabinets of the processing system. A system is provided for transferring the vehicles from one walking beam assembly to another.

Floor mounted walking beam system for advancing a vehicle

A food processor (20), such as a smokehouse, cooker, dryer or the like, includes a food receiving chamber (22) having left and right ports (24 and 26) closed and opened by air flow control means provided by pivoted perforated louvers (44 and 46). For rightward horizontal air flow across flat-lying food products, the left set of louvers is closed such that air flow is restricted to passage only through the perforations or orifices (48) as an input port. The right set of louvers are open to provide lower resistance to and a higher volume of output air flow. This enables the discharge of the extra volume of water vapor due to moisture evaporating from the food in the chamber and in turn enables uniform air flow circulation and food processing without the accumulation of water vapor and consequent increased humidity in the chamber which would otherwise retard drying.

Side air flow food processing method

A walkway for a liquid heat transfer cabinet for food products to preclude contamination of the liquid heat transfer medium so that an operator can manually load and unload the cabinet with product to be subjected to a heat transfer operation. The walkway includes a fixed channel-shaped member mounted above the floor so that the liquid level cannot enter the fixed member and a swingable channel-shaped member functioning as a cover to the fixed member and also disposable in open position to define a walkway area like the fixed member and above the liquid level. In closed position the cover member prevents liquid from entering the area of the fixed channel-shaped member.

Walkway for a liquid heat transfer cabinet

A food processor (20), such as a smokehouse, cooker, dryer or the like, includes a food receiving chamber (22) having left and right ports (24 and 26) closed and opened by air flow control means provided by pivoted perforated louvers (44 and 46). For rightward horizontal air flow across flat-lying food products, the left set of louvers is closed such that air flow is restricted to passage only through the perforations or orifices (48) as an input port. The right set of louvers are open to provide lower resistance to and a higher volume of output air flow. This enables the discharge of th extra volume of water vapor due to moisture evaporating from the food in the chamber and in turn enables uniform air flow circulation and food processing without the accumulation of water vapor and consequent increased humidity in the chamber which would otherwise retard drying.

Side air flow food processor

An enclosed floor track system for use with wheeled hand trucks or the like in sanitary liquid treatment chambers. An elongate wheel channel into which the wheels of the truck are disposed includes a cover comprising either a cover plate or inflatable elastomer seals to prevent liquid from entering the contaminated wheel channel. In the cover plate embodiment the wheel channel includes an elongate side slot to accommodate the wheel axle structure. The inflatable seal is split to slidably receive a wheel axle structure.

Growing community of inventors

Lodi, WI, United States of America

David L Brethorst