Apparatus for reducing microbe content in foodstuffs by pH and physical manipulation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for reducing microbe content in comminuted foodstuffs, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a pH modifying arrangement for modifying the pH of a comminuted foodstuff to be processed to produce a pH modified comminuted foodstuff;
(b) a freezer for cooling a workpiece of the pH modified comminuted foodstuff to a temperature below the freezing point of the pH modified comminuted foodstuff; and
(c) a manipulating arrangement for manipulating the workpiece to produce relative movement between points throughout a portion of the workpiece while the workpiece is at a temperature below the freezing point of the pH modified comminuted foodstuff.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A manipulating apparatus (10) receives a plurality of previously frozen pieces of pH modified foodstuffs or workpieces (23) and physically manipulates or stresses the workpieces while they remain in a frozen state. The physical manipulation causes relative movement between various points within the volume of the workpieces (23) and kills microbes within the foodstuff . One preferred pH modifying arrangement includes a supply of NH3 gas (11) and a pump (9) for placing the comminuted foodstuffs to be processed and the NH3 gas together under an operating pressure for a period of time sufficient to increase the pH of the foodstuffs.
73 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for reducing microbe content in comminuted foodstuffs, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a pH modifying arrangement for modifying the pH of a comminuted foodstuff to be processed to produce a pH modified comminuted foodstuff;
(b) a freezer for cooling a workpiece of the pH modified comminuted foodstuff to a temperature below the freezing point of the pH modified comminuted foodstuff; and
(c) a manipulating arrangement for manipulating the workpiece to produce relative movement between points throughout a portion of the workpiece while the workpiece is at a temperature below the freezing point of the pH modified comminuted foodstuff. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
(a) a manipulator temperature system for controlling the temperature of the surfaces of the manipulating arrangement which come in contact with the workpiece.
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3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the manipulating arrangement comprises:
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(a) a first roller, (b) a second roller having a rotational axis substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the first roller, the second roller being spaced apart from the first roller such that the clearance between the first roller and second roller is less than the initial thickness of the workpiece so that the workpiece is compressed and allowed to expand laterally as the workpiece is drawn between the first roller and second roller; and
(c) a drive arrangement for driving at least the first roller about its rotational axis toward the second roller.
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4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:
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(a) the drive arrangement drives both the first roller and the second roller in a counter rotating fashion; and
(b) the surface of the first roller and the second roller each include circumferentially spaced apart longitudinal ridges, each ridge on the first roller registering with a space between adjacent ridges on the second roller as the rollers rotate about their respective longitudinal axis.
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5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the workpiece has an initial thickness of between 0.25 inches and 0.125 inches and the clearance between the first roller and second roller is approximately 0.10 inches.
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6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the temperature at which the workpiece is manipulated is no greater than 28 degrees Fahrenheit.
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7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the freezer brings the temperature of the foodstuff from an initial temperature above freezing to the temperature below the freezing point of the pH modified comminuted foodstuff in no more than thirty minutes.
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8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pH modifying arrangement includes a supply of pH increasing material and an application device within which the comminuted foodstuff to be processed is exposed to the pH increasing material for a period of time sufficient to raise the pH of the comminuted foodstuff.
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9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the pH increasing material comprises NH3 gas.
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10. An apparatus for manipulating discrete pieces of comminuted foodstuffs to decrease the microbe content thereof, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a pH modifying arrangement for modifying the pH of a comminuted foodstuff to be processed to produce a pH modified comminuted foodstuff;
(b) a freezing and forming device for receiving the pH modified comminuted foodstuff and producing a plurality of workpieces, each workpiece comprising a discrete piece made up of a quantity of the pH modified comminuted foodstuff at a temperature below the freezing point of the pH modified comminuted foodstuff; and
(c) a manipulating arrangement for receiving the plurality of workpieces and for manipulating the workpieces to produce relative movement between points throughout a portion of each workpiece while each respective workpiece is at a temperature below the freezing point of the pH modified comminuted foodstuff. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
(a) a press having a first plate in a spaced apart relationship with a second plate and also having an actuator system for decreasing the distance between the first plate and second plate to manipulate the workpieces.
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15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the pH modifying arrangement includes a supply of NH3 gas and a device through which the comminuted foodstuff to be processed may be exposed to the NH3 gas for a period of time sufficient to raise the pH of the comminuted foodstuff.
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16. An apparatus for reducing microbe content in comminuted meat products, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a pH modifying arrangement for modifying the pH of a comminuted meat product to produce a pH modified comminuted meat product;
(b) a freezer for cooling a workpiece of the pH modified comminuted meat product to a temperature below the freezing point of the pH modified comminuted meat product, the workpiece comprising a piece of material made up of a quantity of the pH modified comminuted meat product; and
(c) a manipulating arrangement for manipulating the workpiece to produce relative movement between points throughout the workpiece while the workpiece is at a temperature below the freezing point of the pH modified comminuted meat product. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
(a) a first roller, (b) a second roller having a rotational axis substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the first roller, the second roller being spaced apart from the first roller such that the clearance between the first roller and second roller is less than the initial thickness of the workpiece so that the workpiece is compressed and allowed to expand laterally is the workpiece is drawn between the first roller and second roller; and
(c) a drive arrangement for driving one of the first roller or second roller about its respective rotational axis toward the other one of the first roller or second roller.
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19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the manipulating arrangement comprises a press having a first plate in a spaced apart relationship with a second plate to define a working area in which to receive the workpiece together with a plurality of additional workpieces, and also having an actuator system for decreasing the distance between the first plate and second plate.
Specification