Apparatus and method for exposing comminuted foodstuff to a processing fluid

• US 20030017252A1
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empirical Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Freezing Machines, Inc.
• Inventors: Roth, Eldon
• Granted Patent: US 7,322,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/623
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/16 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/18 in the form of liquids or solids apparatus therefor A23B4/26, A23B4/32
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/26 Apparatus for preserving using liquids ; Methods therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/0012 with introduction or production of gas or under vacuum; Whipping; Manufacture of cellular mass
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/0221 with introduction or production of gas or under vacuum; Whipping; Manufacture of cellular mass
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/20 the products being mixed with gas, e.g. soft-ice
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 13/432 Addition of inorganic compounds, e.g. minerals; oligo-elements
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 13/60 Comminuted or emulsified meat products, e.g. sausages; Reformed meat from comminuted meat product
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 13/67 Reformed meat products other than sausages
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3409 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3454 in the form of liquids or solids

Abstract

A contactor apparatus is adapted to expose a comminuted foodstuff such as comminuted meat to a processing fluid such as gaseous or aqueous ammonia or carbon dioxide gas. The contactor apparatus facilitates an even and consistent exposure to the processing fluid throughout the comminuted foodstuff as the foodstuff is pumped through a conduit. In order to produce this desired exposure to the processing fluid, the apparatus shapes the comminuted foodstuff into a relatively thin sheet of material flowing through a contact passage. The processing fluid is then applied to this relatively thin sheet of comminuted material from a processing fluid chamber. A fluid communication arrangement between the fluid chamber and the contact passage allows the flow of processing fluid into the contact passage and into contact with the sheet of foodstuff flowing through the contact passage.

Claims

1. An apparatus for exposing comminuted foodstuffs to a fluid, the apparatus including:

(a) a contactor body including a foodstuff flow passage extending from a contactor body inlet end to a contactor body outlet end;

(b) a foodstuff inlet comprising a portion of the foodstuff flow passage through the contactor body, the foodstuff inlet defining an inlet flow area;

(c) a contact passage comprising a portion of the foodstuff flow passage through the contactor body, the contact passage defining a contact flow area having a minimum transverse dimension smaller than a minimum transverse dimension of the inlet flow area;

(d) a fluid chamber associated with the contactor body; and

(e) a fluid communication arrangement providing fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the contact passage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid chamber is located within the foodstuff flow passage and the contact passage comprises an annular area defined between a fluid chamber outer wall and a contact passage inner wall.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid chamber is located outside of the contact passage and the contact passage is defined between two substantially planar and parallel contact passage walls.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the fluid communication arrangement provides fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the contact passage through both of the substantially planar contact passage walls.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid communication arrangement comprises a number of discrete openings extending from the fluid chamber to the contact passage.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the discrete openings have a maximum transverse dimension large enough for enabling a fluid in the fluid chamber to flow into the contact passage to effect a desired contact with the foodstuff in the contact passage, and small enough for inhibiting the foodstuff from flowing therethrough.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid communication arrangement comprises a porous and permeable material interposed between the volume of the fluid chamber an d the contact passage.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contact passage minimum transverse dimension is substantially equal to a dimension of the pieces of material making up the comminuted foodstuff.

9. An apparatus for exposing comminuted foodstuffs to a fluid, the apparatus including:

(a) a contactor body including a foodstuff flow passage;

(b) a contact passage comprising a portion of the foodstuff flow passage through the contactor body, the contact passage being defined between opposing contact passage walls; and

(c) a fluid communication arrangement providing fluid communication through the contactor body to the contact passage.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further including a fluid chamber located within the foodstuff flow passage, and wherein the contact passage comprises an annular area defined between a fluid chamber outer wall and a contact passage inner wall.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further including a fluid chamber within the contactor body and located outside of the contact passage, and wherein the contact passage is defined between two substantially planar and parallel contact passage walls.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the fluid communication arrangement provides fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the contact passage through both of the substantially planar contact passage walls.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the fluid communication arrangement comprises a number of discrete openings extending into the contact passage.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the discrete openings have a maximum transverse dimension large enough for enabling a fluid in the fluid chamber to flow into the contact passage to effect a desired contact with the foodstuff in the contact passage, and small enough for inhibiting the foodstuff from flowing therethrough.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the fluid communication arrangement comprises a porous and permeable material interposed between a fluid chamber and the contact passage.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the fluid communication arrangement comprises a number of discrete openings extending from the fluid chamber to the contact passage.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the discrete openings have a maximum transverse dimension large enough for enabling a fluid in the fluid chamber to flow into the contact passage to effect a desired contact with the foodstuff in the contact passage, and small enough for inhibiting the foodstuff from flowing therethrough.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the fluid communication arrangement comprises a porous and permeable material interposed between the volume of the fluid chamber and the contact passage.

16. An apparatus for exposing comminuted foodstuffs to a fluid, the apparatus including:

(a) a contactor body including a foodstuff flow passage;

(b) a contact passage comprising a portion of the foodstuff flow passage through the contactor body, the contact passage being defined between two opposing and substantially planar contact passage walls spaced apart by a contact passage dimension;

(c) an inlet end section having an inlet flow area reducing from an inlet dimension to the contact passage dimension;

(d) an outlet end section having an outlet flow area reducing from an outlet dimension to the contact passage dimension;

(e) a fluid chamber included in the contactor body adjacent to the contact passage; and

(f) a fluid communication arrangement providing fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the contact passage.

20. A method for exposing a comminuted foodstuff to a processing fluid, the method including the steps of:

(a) producing a flowing sheet of the comminuted foodstuff, the flowing sheet having a minimum transverse dimension determined by the size of the pieces of material making up the comminuted foodstuff; and

(b) enabling the processing fluid to contact the flowing sheet of the comminuted foodstuff within one of the major surfaces of the flowing sheet of material.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the minimum transverse dimension of the flowing sheet of comminuted foodstuff is substantially equal to a dimension of the pieces of material making up the comminuted foodstuff.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of enabling the processing fluid to contact the flowing sheet of comminuted foodstuff includes directing the processing fluid through a number of discrete openings extending through one of two opposing surfaces that define a flow area for the sheet of comminuted foodstuff.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of enabling the processing fluid to contact the flowing sheet of comminuted foodstuff includes directing the processing fluid through a porous and permeable material included in one of two opposing surfaces that define a flow area for the sheet of comminuted foodstuff.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of enabling the processing fluid to contact the flowing sheet of comminuted foodstuff includes directing the processing fluid through openings in both of two opposing surfaces that define a flow area for the sheet of comminuted foodstuff.

25. The method of claim 24 further including the step of supplying the processing fluid from a processing fluid chamber having a portion adjacent to one of two opposing surfaces that define a flow area for the sheet of comminuted foodstuff and a portion adjacent to the other one of the two opposing surfaces that define the flow area for the sheet of comminuted foodstuff.