Marlen International, Inc.

Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc.

Paul Hardenburger

Richard G Powers

Adam E Anderson

A system () is provided for the production of elongated comestible products such as hot dogs, without the use of traditional casings. The system () includes a circular pattern of arrays () of elongated, open-ended, extruded synthetic resin cooking tubes () within a rotatable cylindrical heating drum or housing (). The tube housing () and arrays () are incrementally rotated and at each stop position certain of the tubes () are filled with portions of meat emulsion () and alternating plugs (), while previously filled tubes () containing cooked product are unloaded, and other unfilled tubes are internally coated with a lubricant (e.g., a mixture of lecithin and vegetable oil). Energy exchange media such as hot water and/ or steam are used within the housing to continuously cook the emulsion portions within the tubes () to the desired extent.

Method and apparatus for production of elongated meat products without casings

Smokehouses () or other similar thermal processing cabinets or houses are provided with improved floor assemblies () which eliminate fluid collection and provide a high degree of structural integrity. The smokehouses () include upright walls () supported on the floor assemblies (). Each floor assembly () has one or more weldment frame assemblies () including a peripheral frame assembly () with opposed wall receiving channel segments () and frame elements (). Drainage structure such as one or more tubular drain units () are also preferably secured to the weldment frame assemblies () and are positioned to effect proper liquid drainage. Tread plates () are secured to the weldment frame assemblies (). In order to construct a floor assembly (), an appropriately sized recess () is formed and the weldment frame assemblies () and drain units () are installed. A monolithic pour of concrete () is then placed within the weldment frame assemblies () and allowed to cure. The tread plates () are then installed to complete the construction.

Thermal processing cabinet with monolithic floor

A system () is provided for the production of elongated comestible products such as hot dogs, without the use of traditional casings. The system () includes a circular pattern of arrays () of elongated, open-ended, extruded synthetic resin cooking tubes () within a rotatable cylindrical heating drum or housing (). The tube housing () and arrays () are incrementally rotated and at each stop position certain of the tubes () are filled with portions of meat emulsion () and alternating plugs (), while previously filled tubes () containing cooked product are unloaded, and other unfilled tubes are internally coated with a lubricant (e.g., a mixture of lecithin and vegetable oil). Energy exchange media such as hot water and/or steam are used within the housing to continuously cook the emulsion portions within the tubes () to the desired extent.

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Hutchinson, KS, United States of America

Paul Hardenburger