CLEAN ROOM FOOD PROCESSING SYSTEMS, METHODS AND STRUCTURES
First Claim
1. A food processing facility for previously processed food products, the facility comprising:
- a first region corresponding to a semi-secure area;
a second region corresponding to a secure area accessible from the first region, the second region including a plurality of separate isolated single-line food processing rooms accessible from the semi-secure area, each single-line food processing room being isolated from the other single-line food processing rooms and including a single set of serially-connected food processing elements which is independent of food processing devices in any other single-line food processing room.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Some food pathogens are not well controlled by lethality treatments followed by refrigeration. A food processing facility according to this invention reduces the likelihood that food pathogens will be able to enter the food processing facility, or spread should they be able to enter. The food processing facility is divided into a plurality of area, with different areas having different allowed actions that can be taken on the food product, different rules and/or procedures for persons who are allowed entry, and/or different levels of cleanliness. The food processing facility includes a plurality of separate rooms for processing the food product, each including separate food processing machines, air handling systems, drain systems and/or often-used supplies and tools. Different air pressures within different areas limit the possible movement of airborne food pathogens. Sanitizing stations are placed between various ones of the different areas.
25 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A food processing facility for previously processed food products, the facility comprising:
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a first region corresponding to a semi-secure area; a second region corresponding to a secure area accessible from the first region, the second region including a plurality of separate isolated single-line food processing rooms accessible from the semi-secure area, each single-line food processing room being isolated from the other single-line food processing rooms and including a single set of serially-connected food processing elements which is independent of food processing devices in any other single-line food processing room. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A food processing facility for previously processed food products, the facility comprising:
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a semi-secure area; a secure area accessible from the semi-secure area by a passage, the secure area including a delivery area and a plurality of separate isolated single-line food processing rooms accessible by a passage from the delivery area, each single-line food processing room including a single set of serially-connected food processing elements which is independent of food processing devices in any other single-line food processing room and each single-line food processing room is isolated from the other single-line food processing rooms; and a passage for delivery of food products from each single-line food processing room to a receiving area. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A food processing facility for previously processed food products, the facility comprising:
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a semi-secure area; a secure area joined by a passage to the semi-secure area, the secure area including a delivery area and a plurality of separate isolated single-line food processing rooms each joined by a passage to the delivery area, each single-line food processing room including a single set of serially-connected food processing elements which is independent of food processing devices in any other single-line food processing room. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A food processing facility for previously processed food products, the facility comprising:
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a first region corresponding to a unsecure area accessible from an outside or a second region; the second region corresponding to a semi-secure area accessible from the first region, the second region including at least a portion of a delivery area; a third region corresponding to a secure area accessible from the second region, the third region including a plurality of separate isolated single-line food processing rooms accessible from the delivery area, each single-line food processing room including a single set of serially-connected food processing elements which is independent of food processing devices in any other single-line food processing room. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A food processing facility comprising a plurality of isolated single-line food processing and packaging rooms, each said room having a single set of serially-connected food processing elements which is independent of food processing devices in any other single-line food processing and packaging room from the plurality of isolated single-line food processing and packaging rooms.
Specification