Lyco Manufacturing, Inc.

Steven J Schultz

Daniel D Maupin

David R Zittel

Scott K Weisman

Glenn W Stousland

Jeffery S Zittel

William D Zittel

Jeffrey Scott Zittel

A transfer mechanism for transferring food product from a compartment of a food processing system includes a conduit having a first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge. The pressurized fluid source is operable to propel a fluid through the fluid discharge to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion.

Transfer mechanism for use with a food processing system

A rotary drum blancher/cooler for processing food includes a skinsheet comprised of a plurality of sections, clamps, and structural channels. Each clamp has clamping and release positions, and includes a base, a bail connected to the base, a draw connected to the bail, and at least a portion of a skinsheet clamp bar connected to the draw. The sections are disposed between structural channels, such that the drum is defined by the skinsheet sections alternating with the structural channels. The base is attached to a structural channel, and the draw extends from within to outside the structural channel. The skinsheet clamp bar is outside the structural channel. When the clamp is in the clamping position the clamp bar holds a skinsheet section to the structural channel in an operating position. When the clamp is in the release position configuration the clamp bar allows skinsheet section to move away from the structural channel in cleaning position.

Rotary drum skinsheet clamp

A rotary drum blancher/cooler includes skinsheet sections alternating with structural channels and clamps. The skinsheet sections and channels have sidewalls. Each clamp includes at least a portion of a clamp bar, a bolt, a slot and hole combination, and a nut. The clamp bar holds each skinsheet sidewall between the channel sidewall and the clamp bar. The bolt extends through a hole in the clamp bar. The bolt has a first partially threaded end and a second end with at least one groove. One end is within the channel, and the other outside. A slot and hole combination is located in at least one of a retaining plate, channel sidewall and clamp bar. The bolt can pass through the hole of the slot and hole combination, and the groove(s) in the bolt are disposed within the slot to prevent rotation of the bolt. The nut is on the first end, and may be tightened or loosened to tighten or loosen the skinsheet side wall to the channel sidewall.

Tool assisted rotary drum skinsheet clamp

A cooler including a compartment, a conduit including a first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, food product at a first product temperature entering the first end portion, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with and for supplying fluid through the fluid discharge, the fluid being at a first fluid temperature less than the first product temperature, the pressurized fluid source being operable to propel the fluid through the fluid discharge to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion and to cool the food product to a temperature below the first product temperature.

Cooling mechanism for use with a food processing system

A method and apparatus for changing all or part of the skinsheet of a rotary drum blancher/cooler from being clean in place totally removable is disclosed. The drum includes the skinsheet (in sections) with a plurality of clamps and catches. Each catch is comprised of two catches&#x2014;a clean in place catch and a totally removable catch. Each clamp is attached to a section and has an clamping position and a release position, and includes a bail. When a clamp is in the clamping position and its bail is in either the clean in place catch or the totally removable catch of a corresponding catch on an adjacent second section, the catch and clamp hold the adjacent sections together to form a part of the drum. When the clamp is in the release position and the bail is in the clean in place catch of the adjacent section, the clamp and clean in place catch allow adjacent sections to separate, but do not allow them to be removed.

Rotary drum blancher with skinsheet clamp

A method and apparatus for continuous pressure cooking product includes a pressure cooking section, an isolating chamber, and an output section. A first product and fluid valve is between the pressure cooking section and the isolating chamber. A second product and fluid valve is between the isolating chamber and the output section. A fluid valve is between a source of pressurized fluid and the isolating chamber. Product is provided to the pressure cooking section and cooked. The fluid valve is opened so that the isolating chamber becomes substantially the same pressure as the pressure cooking section. The first controllable product and fluid flow valve is opened and product enters the isolating chamber, and then closed to isolate product in chamber. The second controllable product and fluid valve is opened and product moves from the chamber to the output section. Then the second controllable product and fluid valve is closed.

Growing community of inventors

Beaver Dam, WI, United States of America

Steven J Schultz