Abstract

A food processing vat is provided with blade assemblies that extend from opposing sides of a rotating shaft. The blade assemblies may be curved or otherwise face different directions at different locations along their respective lengths. The vat may have a pair of rotating shafts and the rotation of the shafts may be timed so that the blade assemblies of the shafts simultaneously travel through a common swept volume. The blade assemblies may be positioned on the shafts so that they intermesh through each other while simultaneously moving through the common volume.

IPC Classes  ?

• B01F 7/00 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
• B01F 7/04 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis with paddles or arms
• A01J 25/06 - Devices for dividing curdled milk
• A47J 43/07 - Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
• B01F 15/00 - Accessories for mixers
• A47J 43/044 - Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the top side

Abstract

A food processing vat is provided with a zoned heat transfer system that provides zoned temperature control to the vat. The zoned heat transfer system selectively transmits heat to or removes heat from different portions of a bottom wall and/or side walks) of the vat. A heat transfer fluid may be directed through the zoned heat transfer system along a flow path that is selected based on a target size and/or a target temperature of a batch of food product being processed in the vat.

IPC Classes  ?

• A23C 3/03 - Preservation of milk or milk preparations by heating the materials being loose unpacked
• A23C 19/00 - CheeseCheese preparationsMaking thereof
• A23L 3/36 - Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
• A23L 3/00 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
• A23C 3/04 - Preservation of milk or milk preparations by freezing or cooling
• A23C 19/097 - Preservation
• A01J 9/04 - Milk receptacles with cooling arrangements
• A01J 25/00 - Cheese-making
• A23L 3/16 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by heating loose unpacked materials
• A01J 25/02 - Cheese basins

Abstract

A food processing vat is provided with a zoned heat transfer system that provides zoned temperature control to the vat. The zoned heat transfer system selectively transmits heat to or removes heat from different portions of a bottom wall and/or side wall(s) of the vat. A heat transfer fluid may be directed through the zoned heat transfer system along a flow path that is selected based on a target size and/or a target temperature of a batch of food product being processed in the vat.

IPC Classes  ?

• A47J 39/00 - Heat-insulated warming chambersCupboards with heating arrangements for warming kitchen utensils
• A23C 19/00 - CheeseCheese preparationsMaking thereof
• A01J 25/00 - Cheese-making
• A01J 9/04 - Milk receptacles with cooling arrangements
• A23L 3/00 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
• A23L 3/16 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by heating loose unpacked materials

Abstract

A food processing vat is provided with a vent that can be automatically cleaned in place, without requiring manual cleaning by a technician or removal of the vent from the vat. A nozzle is mounted to at least one of the vent and the vat and has an opening(s) that is posited with respect to the vent to direct cleaning fluid into the vent. The vent may include a canister that concentrically surrounds at least a portion of a vent tube that is fluidly connected to the vat, which collects cleaning fluid and/or condensate from gas that enters or exits the vat.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65D 90/34 - Venting means
• B08B 9/093 - Cleaning of containers, e.g. tanks by the force of jets or sprays
• B01F 7/02 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis
• B01F 7/04 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis with paddles or arms
• B08B 9/00 - Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto

Abstract

A food processing vat is provided with a zoned heat transfer system that includes a heat exchanger with a baffle that extends between a pair of spaced apart sheets. The baffle directs a flow of a heat transfer fluid through a void space between the sheets of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may also include multiple spaced apart posts that extend through the heat exchanger and around which the heat transfer fluid can flow. The posts and/or baffle may be defined by welded points of joinder between the sheets, and the sheets may be inflated to provide the space therebetween, such that the posts and/or baffles extend as webs of material that connect the sheets of the heat exchanger.

IPC Classes  ?

• A23C 3/02 - Preservation of milk or milk preparations by heating

Abstract

A shaft bushing is provided that can be automatically cleaned in place, without requiring manual cleaning by a technician, and that can be used with food processing equipment. The shaft bushing has a body with a circumferential sidewall, opposing ends, and an opening in at least one of the ends the can accept cleaning fluid thereinto. The opening may be defined by ends of longitudinal grooves that extend along the bushing and that may direct the cleaning fluid between the bushing body and the support structure, and/or the bushing body and the shaft.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16C 35/073 - Fixing them on the shaft or housing with interposition of an element between shaft and inner race ring
• F16C 35/077 - Fixing them on the shaft or housing with interposition of an element between housing and outer race ring
• B08B 3/02 - Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays

Abstract

A rennet injection system is provided for use with food processing or other equipment that uses rennet as a processing ingredient. The rennet injection system includes at least one injector that has multiple openings for delivering rennet to multiple rennet delivery locations that are spaced apart from each other within the food processing or other equipment. The injector may include a nozzle with a middle bore and angled bores on opposing sides of the middle bore that face away from a direction that the middle bore faces.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01J 11/00 - Apparatus for treating milk
• B01F 7/04 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis with paddles or arms
• B01F 7/00 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
• B01F 7/02 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis
• B01F 15/00 - Accessories for mixers

Abstract

A temporary shaft support system is provided that can be used with an enclosure such as food processing equipment. The system may include a holder for engaging a shaft to be supported, and a lift that is supported from the food processing equipment at a position that is higher than the shaft to allow the shaft to be suspended and supported without occupying floor space of the food processing equipment. The lift may be supported by a top wall of the food processing equipment or may be supported by a drive mount that attaches a shaft-rotating drive to the food processing equipment.

IPC Classes  ?

• A47H 1/10 - Means for mounting curtain rods or rails

Abstract

A food processing vat is provided with blade assemblies that extend from opposing sides of a rotating shaft. The blade assemblies may be curved or otherwise face different directions at different locations along their respective lengths. The vat may have a pair of rotating shafts and the rotation of the shafts may be timed so that the blade assemblies of the shafts simultaneously travel through a common swept volume. The blade assemblies may be positioned on the shafts so that they intermesh through each other while simultaneously moving through the common volume.

IPC Classes  ?

• B01F 7/04 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis with paddles or arms
• A01J 25/06 - Devices for dividing curdled milk
• B01F 7/00 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
• B01F 15/00 - Accessories for mixers

Abstract

A manway is provided that can be used with food processing equipment. The manway may be provided at an intersection of a top wall and an end or side wall of the food processing equipment. The manway may extend angularly with respect to the food processing equipment so that a passage extending through the manway extends into an inside space of the food processing equipment at an angle. A nozzle may be mounted so as to position an opening(s) of the nozzle in a direction that faces the passage of the manway, and the nozzle may deliver a cleaning fluid so that the manway can be automatically cleaned in place.

IPC Classes  ?

• B08B 9/00 - Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
• B01F 7/02 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis
• B01F 7/04 - Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis with paddles or arms
• B08B 9/093 - Cleaning of containers, e.g. tanks by the force of jets or sprays