초록 ▼

A food processing unit and method of processing food uses a housing which receives vertically disposed layers of food product. The temperature of the fluid within the housing is controlled to process the food product. A pressurized fluid is supplied into the housing and the fluid within the housing

A food processing unit and method of processing food uses a housing which receives vertically disposed layers of food product. The temperature of the fluid within the housing is controlled to process the food product. A pressurized fluid is supplied into the housing and the fluid within the housing is then induced to circulate by directing a flow of fluid from the pressurized fluid in a substantially horizontal direction through spaces between layers of the food product. The directed fluid flow may be distributed within the housing so that heat transferred in zones from the fluid throughout the layers of food product or the directed fluid may be redirected to flow in those spaces adjacent spaces through which the fluid is initially directed so that the flow of ambient fluid within the housing is induced to circulate around each layer of food product.

대표청구항 ▼

A food processing unit, comprising: a housing adapted to receive vertically disposed layers of food product; heat transfer means for controlling the temperature within said housing when processing the food product; means for supplying a pressurized fluid in said housing; directing means for directin

A food processing unit, comprising: a housing adapted to receive vertically disposed layers of food product; heat transfer means for controlling the temperature within said housing when processing the food product; means for supplying a pressurized fluid in said housing; directing means for directing a flow of fluid from said pressurized fluid supplying means in a substantially horizontal direction through the space vertically located between the layers of food product, said directing means including a plurality of nozzles disposed in rows along a side of the layers of food product, the nozzles being disposed to direct the fluid in the horizontal direction, the rows being displaced from one another by a distance of two layers of food product, and the nozzles of each row having approximately the same size outlet opening; and means for distributing the flow of directed fluid to induce circulation of the fluid within the housing such as to provide zones of controlled heat transfer to the vertically disposed layers of food product throughout said housing.