SYSTEM FOR, AND METHOD OF, IRRADIATING FOOD PRODUCTS

摘要

A food product (11) (e.g. meat) is ground, blended, accumulated and leveled to a particular thickness and then irradiated. The leveler (108) may be formed from two (2) spaced members (e.g., closed loop belts) spaced from each other by a distance defining the particular thickness. This distance may be adjustable to define any particular thickness for the food product. The belt (22) carrying the food product with the particular thickness past the radiation source (118) deposits the irradiated food product in a receptacle. The leveler and the radiation source are disposed in a chamber providing shielding against radiation. A transport mechanism (e.g. auger) transports the irradiated food product, without exposing the food product to harmful bacteria, to a former (152) which forms the food product into individual configurations (e.g. hamburgers, chubs and case ready). The former is preferably disposed in an environment which prevents the formed food product from being exposed to harmful products. The formed products are thereafter stored in an environment which excludes harmful bacteria. The belt carrying the food products may be reversed in direction when the radiation from the source is interrupted. The food products are then deposited in a second receptacle and are discarded.