Continuous steam cooker for open cans of fish etc. - has modular construction for range of throughput capacities with fixed cooking time (PT 26.2.82)

摘要

A continuous steam cooker for fish etc. in open top cans or similar containers comprises four modules connected in series, i.e. module 1: automatic infeed section in which trays of cans are transferred from a transverse feed conveyor to supports attached to a cooker conveyor chain. Module 2: a steam cooking chamber through which the conveyor chain carries the cans of fish. After passing through the steaming chamber, the cans are conveyed through a hot air grilling and drying zone; module 3: an automatic discharge section in which the trays of cans of cooked fish are withdrawn from the cooker chain supports and placed on a transverse discharge conveyor which passes the cans to a lid seaming machine. Module 4: a washing section for cleaning the chain supports before they are reloaded. The washing module is in a passage located underneath the cooking module. The passage houses the return run of the cooker conveyor chain between the discharge and in feed modules. Pref. the discharge module is of similar construction to the infeed module and both employ mechanical linkages actuated by pneumatic cylinders. Each module can be constructed to different lengths to provide cookers of different throughput capacities which still give the same cooking period.