Method of sterilizing an edible substrate with UV radiation
First Claim
1. A method of sterilizing an edible substrate comprising conveying the substrate in a non-wrapped state into a treatment cavity and subjecting substantially the entire surface of said substrate to UV irradiation, said method further comprising (i) conveying the substrate into the treatment cavity by a conveyor means which supports the substrate at regions of contact and which comprises a metal mesh conveyor belt that carries the substrate in a conveying direction, and (ii) displacing the substrate transversely of the conveying direction by contacting the substrate with at least one baffle as the substrate is conveyed by said conveyor means such that said regions of contact on the substrate are changed as the substrate is being conveyed, whereby said regions of contact do not escape irradiation.
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Abstract
An edible substitute is conveyed on a metal mesh conveyor into a treatment cavity wherein all surfaces of the substrate are subjected to UV radiation to sterilize the substrate. A sterilizing unit containing a plurality of UV sources within a tunnel is also provided.
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Citations
3 Claims
- 1. A method of sterilizing an edible substrate comprising conveying the substrate in a non-wrapped state into a treatment cavity and subjecting substantially the entire surface of said substrate to UV irradiation, said method further comprising (i) conveying the substrate into the treatment cavity by a conveyor means which supports the substrate at regions of contact and which comprises a metal mesh conveyor belt that carries the substrate in a conveying direction, and (ii) displacing the substrate transversely of the conveying direction by contacting the substrate with at least one baffle as the substrate is conveyed by said conveyor means such that said regions of contact on the substrate are changed as the substrate is being conveyed, whereby said regions of contact do not escape irradiation.
Specification