APPLICATION SYSTEM WITH RECYCLE AND RELATED USE OF ANTIMICROBIAL QUATERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUND

摘要

An apparatus for applying a dilute antimicrobial solution to workpieces, such as raw poultry, includes a housing and a sprayer positioned to direct a first volume of dilute antimicrobial solution onto workpieces conveyed through a passage of the housing. A portion of the first volume that does not adhere to the workpieces is collected at a lower portion of the housing and passed to a recycle tank. Solution is transported between the recycle tank and sprayer and includes a supply segment to receive solution from the recycle tank, an application segment to receive the first volume from the supply segment for passage to the sprayer, and a bypass segment, separate from the application segment, to receive a second volume of the solution from the supply segment for return passage to the recycle tank without passage through the sprayer.

主权项

1. An apparatus for applying a dilute antimicrobial solution to workpieces of raw poultry, the apparatus comprising:
a housing comprising a passage configured to receive a conveyer for moving workpieces through the housing; at least one recycle tank for holding a supply of the dilute antimicrobial solution; a sprayer positioned at least partially in the passage, wherein the sprayer is configured to receive and direct a first volume of the dilute antimicrobial solution onto workpieces conveyed through the housing, and wherein the housing includes a lower housing portion configured to collect a portion of the first volume of the dilute antimicrobial solution that does not adhere to the workpieces and pass the collected portion of the first volume of the dilute antimicrobial solution to a drain disposed along the lower housing portion for return passage to the recycle tank; a feed line extending between the recycle tank and the sprayer, wherein the feed line operatively couples to a pump for transporting the dilute antimicrobial solution therethrough from the recycle tank, and wherein the feed line comprises
a supply segment coupled to an outlet of the recycle tank and configured to pass the dilute antimicrobial solution from the recycle tank toward the sprayer,an application segment extending from the supply segment, wherein the application segment is positioned to receive the first volume of dilute antimicrobial solution from the supply segment for passage to the sprayer, anda bypass segment extending from the supply segment and separate from the application segment, wherein the bypass segment is configured to receive a second volume of the dilute antimicrobial solution from the supply segment for return passage to the recycle tank without passage through the sprayer.