Thermal measurement and process control

摘要

A thermal processing and control system (300) includes a thermal processing station (312) for receiving food products (14) being carried on a conveyor system (316). A first scanning station (318) is located upstream from the thermal processing station (312) for scanning the food products being carried by the conveyor (316). An actuator (420) automatically connects temperature measuring devices (402) with selected food products (14). A diverter conveyor (324) diverts selected food products (14) from the conveyor (316) to a transverse conveyor (326) for either further processing or alternative processing, depending on how system (300) is configured. The temperature measuring devices (402) are automatically removed from the food products at station (329).

主权项

1. A method of measuring the internal temperature of discrete food products thermally processed in a thermal processor while being conveyed by a conveyance system, comprising:
(a) physically characterizing the food products being conveyed on the conveyance system; (b) based on the physical characterizing of the food products selecting sample food products for temperature measurement; (c) based on the physical characteristics of the selected sample food products, determining one or more locations on the selected sample food products that are expected to give a representative temperature at which to measure the internal temperature of the selected sample food products; (d) inserting temperature sensing devices into the selected sample food products at the selected locations using a powered insert apparatus and then retracting the powered insert apparatus away from the temperature sensing devices, the temperature sensing devices traveling with the selected sample food products on the conveyance system through the thermal processor as the food products are being processed; and (e) monitoring the temperatures sensed by the temperature sensing devices, including during the thermal processing of the selected sample food products.