Apparatus and method for mass sterilization and pasteurization of food products

摘要

An apparatus and method for processing food products is provided. The product conditioning system includes an inlet assembly, a pressurizeable tunnel and an outlet assembly. The inlet and outlet assembly pressure vessels include a pair of vertically extending parallel screws for transporting food products from one end of the pressure vessel to the other. The pressurizeable tunnel includes a heating stage having microwave sources for irradiating food products so as to pasteurize or sterilize prepackaged food. The pressurizeable tunnel further includes a heat maintenance stage and product cooling stage. Both the heat maintenance stage and product cooling stage include vertically extending pressure vessels. Within each pressure vessel, two pairs of parallel rotating screws are positioned for moving food products through a liquid environment at a desired temperature for continued pasteurization or sterilization in the heat maintenance stage, and product cooling within the cooling stage.

主权项

1. A screwstack prepackaged product transportation system comprising:
a first hollow vessel having first and second ends, and having an inlet at said first end for introduction of prepackaged products and an outlet at said first end for the expulsion of prepackaged products; and a first pair of parallel screws positioned within said first hollow vessel for receiving prepackaged products at said first end and for engaging and transporting prepackaged products from said first end to said second end; and a second pair of parallel screws positioned within said first hollow vessel for receiving prepackaged products at said second end from said first pair of parallel screws and for engaging and transporting prepackaged products from said second end back to said first end for expulsion from said outlet.