US3774524A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for handling food products and the like
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-02-11
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1992-02-11
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for handling food products and the like, said apparatus comprising a first substantially closed compartment containing a reservoir of liquid coolant and a continuous multisectional, mesh-type conveyor having a lower portion extending below the surface of the liquid coolant and adapted to advance potatoes or other products under the liquid and deliver them to a second conveyor which extends through a second compartment containing means for re-heating the product and boiling off the liquid coolant remaining thereon. The first and second compartments are provided with banks of condensation coils for recovery of coolant in the gaseous state. Uncondensed gaseous coolant is recovered through a vacuum system which includes liquid seals on the inlet and discharge of the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 H Howard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:32
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/80; A23B2/85; A23B2/88; F; F25; F25D; F25D13/00; F25D13/06; F25D2400/00; F25D2400/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for handling food products and the like, said apparatus comprising a substantially closed housing having first and second portions and including an inlet for receiving the products and an outlet for discharging the products, conveyor means in said housing for advancing the products at a controlled rate between the first and second portions, reservoir means in said housing for containing a liquid coolant for cooling the products advanced by said conveyor means, a portion of said conveyor means extending through said liquid coolant reservoir for passage of the products therethrough, heating means in said housing and remote from said liquid coolant reservoir for heating the products subsequent to cooling in said liquid coolant reservoir and boiling off the coolant adhering to the product, and condensing means in said housing extending generally above said reservoir and said conveyor means for condensing the boiled off coolant for return to said reservoir.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for handling food products and the like, said apparatus comprising a substantially closed housing having first and second portions and including an inlet for receiving the products and an outlet for discharging the products, conveyor means in said housing for advancing the products at a controlled rate between the first and second portions, reservoir means in said housing for containing a liquid coolant for cooling the products advanced by said conveyor means, a portion of said conveyor means extending through said liquid coolant reservoir for passage of the products therethrough, heating means in said housing and remote from said liquid coolant reservoir for heating the products subsequent to cooling in said liquid coolant reservoir and boiling off the coolant adhering to the product, and condensing means in said housing extending generally above said reservoir and said conveyor means for condensing the boiled off coolant for return to said reservoir.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 further including liquid-type seals communicating with said inlet and outlet to isolate the interior of said apparatus from the ambient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said liquid-type seals comprise a vessel containing a liquid through which said products pass submerged prior to entering said inlet and following discharge from said outlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said liquid is water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes first and second substantially closed compartments, an inlet opening in said first compartment near said first portion for delivering the products to said conveyor means from a remote location, a communication passage between said first and second compartments and an outlet opening in said second compartment near said second portion for the discharge of the products from the apparatus, said liquid coolant reservoir being located in said first compartment and said heating means being located in said second compartment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said apparatus indludes means in said second compartment for returning the recovered liquid coolant to said liquid coolant reservoir.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for returning the recovered coolant to said liquid coolant reservoir includes an inclined floor mounted in the lower portion of said second compartment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor means includes a first continuous conveyor comprised of a plurality of product-carrying sections defined by partitions extending at an angle to the direction of travel of the first conveyor, each product-carrying section being at least momentarily completely submerged in the liquid coolant during advance of the first conveyor such that the products are completely submerged in the liquid coolant thereby completely exposing their outer surfaces to the liquid coolant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The structure set forth in claim 8 wherein said first conveyor extends past said entrance opening for receiving the products therethrough, said first conveyor being a first substantially horizontal position when passing said entrance opening and being in a second substantially horizontal position inverted from said first substantially horizontal position when passing through said liquid coolant reservoir to force the products down into the liquid coolant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure set forth in claim 9 wherein said conveyor means includes shield means extending parallel to the path of traveL of said first conveyor as it passes through said liquid coolant reservoir for substantially closing each of said product-carrying sections to prevent displacement of the products therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
The structure set forth in claim 8 wherein said conveyor means includes a second continuous conveyor extending through said second compartment to move the products from said communication passage to said exit opening, said first conveyor being oriented to discharge the products carried thereby to said second conveyor, a major portion of said second conveyor being in said second compartment such that it will not significantly heat up said first compartment, and a major portion of said first conveyor being in said first compartment such that it will not significantly cool said second compartment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure set forth in claim 11 wherein said heating means is located adjacent said second conveyor to rapidly heat the products passing thereby.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure set forth in claim 12 wherein said apparatus includes liquid-type seals on said inlet and outlet for isolating the interior of said apparatus from the ambient and vacuum means for removing uncondensed coolant gases from said housing and returning said gases to said liquid coolant reservoir.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for a potato sugar leaching process, said apparatus comprising a substantially closed housing including first and second compartments, said first compartment including a liquid coolant reservoir for surface freezing the potatoes, said second compartment including heating means for reheating the potatoes subsequent to the surface freezing and boiling off liquid coolant adhering to the potatoes, and conveyor means for advancing said potatoes at a preselected rate through said liquid coolant reservoir in said first compartment and past said heating means in said second compartment.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for a potato sugar leaching process, said apparatus comprising a substantially closed housing including first and second compartments, said first compartment including a liquid coolant reservoir for surface freezing the potatoes, said second compartment including heating means for reheating the potatoes subsequent to the surface freezing and boiling off liquid coolant adhering to the potatoes, and conveyor means for advancing said potatoes at a preselected rate through said liquid coolant reservoir in said first compartment and past said heating means in said second compartment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure set forth in claim 14 wherein said apparatus includes condenser means for condensing boiled off gaseous coolant in said first and second compartments for return to said liquid coolant reservoir.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure set forth in claim 15 wherein said condenser means includes inclined banks of condenser coils extending generally above said conveyor means in said first and second compartments.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure set forth in claim 14 wherein said apparatus includes means for isolating the interior of said compartments from ambient and further includes vacuum means for removing uncondensed coolant gases from said housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure set forth in claim 17 wherein said means for isolating the interior of said compartment comprises liquid-type seals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure set forth in claim 14 wherein said conveyor means includes variable speed drive means for controlling the time the potatoes are submerged in said liquid coolant reservoir thereby controlling the depth of surface freezing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure set forth in claim 19 wherein said conveyor means includes a first conveyor located substantially in said first compartment for advancing the potatoes through said liquid coolant reservoir, and a second conveyor located substantially in said second compartment for advancing the potatoes past said heating means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
The structure set forth in claim 20 wherein said first conveyor is comprised of a mesh-type belt and a plurality of spaced partitions extending at angles from said belt to define potato-carrying sections, said partitions extending downwardly from said belt where said first conveyor passes through said liquid coolant reservoir and being effective to advance the potatoes through the coolant reservoir toward said second conveyor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure set forth in claim 21 wherein said heating means is located adjacent said second conveyor said second conveyor including a mesh-type belt to permit passage of the liquid coolant and heat energy therethrough.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1907649A
Cited
US3368363A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |