Key Technology Corporation

Hans G Haimberger

Timothy J Reardon

James Dale Ruff

Ken McGarvey

Philip L Hoffman

Mike Lemke

D Murphy Carmichael

Rodolfo Sanchez

The present invention is an apparatus and method for sorting foreign material and undesirable articles from a product stream. A mechanical diverter having a concave shape is responsive to an inspection station coupled to the product stream. The mechanical diverter is employed to effectively launch or otherwise redirect undesirable articles in an alternate path. In addition, an air ejector is responsive to the inspection station and is employed to dislodge foreign material from the product stream.

Sorting apparatus and method utilizing a mechanical diverter

A bulk product stabilization conveyor 10 is described having a continuous-length wide belt 30 extending in an upper flight 44 and in a lower flight 46 between an infeed end 32 and an outfeed end 34. The outfeed end 34 is elevationally below the infeed end 32 and the distance between the infeed end 32 and outfeed end 34 is such that the upper flight 44 is slack with the upper flight forming a dynamic catenary profile as it is being driven at a high velocity in excess of 400 feet per minute and preferably between 400-800 feet per minute. The upper flight 44 has an inclined downward and forward section 52 adjacent the infeed end that has an inclination of between 30 and 45 degrees to initially receive a wide swath of articles from an article feeder 14. The upper flight 44 has an intermediate section 54 with a progressively decreasing radius of curvatures to progressively apply an increasing centrifugal force on the articles to stabilize the articles on the high velocity upper flight. The upper flight 44 has an inclined upward section 56 adjacent the outfeed end 34 to propel the articles from the outfeed end to an optical inspection station 36 with an upward and forward trajectory 68.

Bulk product stabilizing belt conveyor

Disclosed is a food product blanching and processing apparatus and method. The apparatus includes a weigh hopper and infeed conveyor having a pivoting infeed chute which can be retracted to prevent contamination of blanched product with incoming raw product. The infeed chute supplies incoming food products to a pressure vessel which is rotatably mounted within an enclosure. The pressure vessel has a lid assembly which allows the food product to be fed thereinto, yet can be tightly closed for pressurization of the interior of the vessel during the blanching and processing operation. The pressure vessel assembly is rotated into a discharge position and the food product is dumped against a discharge chute 18 which is extendable and retractable so that residual product can drain downwardly outside of the outfeed conveyor. The outfeed conveyor includes a hopper and conveyor which moves the blanched and processed food product onto associated food processing equipment. The method includes purging air from the product and vessel and then steam pressurization blanching of the food product inside the pressure vessel for a first predetermined period. The steam supply is terminated and reduction of blanching pressure occurs during a second predetermined period due to heat transfer to the product and from the vessel. The vessel is rotated to assure uniform blanching. The pressure is gradually decompressed to prevent damage to the product.

Method for steam blanching foodstuffs in a pressure vessel

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Milton-Freewater, OR, United States of America

Hans G Haimberger