Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for irradiating food products

US4974503A · kind A · utility

41Cited by
7References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 10, 1990
Grant dateDec 4, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 10, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S99/14
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for uniformly and rapidly heating, pasteurizing and/or sterilizing food products which comprises a conveyor on which the food products are conveyed and a source of radio-frequency radiation which is directed at the food products. The source is connected to shaped electrodes, the shaping of the electrodes and their spacing from the food product being selected in dependence upon the configuration and irradiation required of the product being treated. The food product may be a pre-cooked meal comprising a plurality of constituents and the electrode is then shaped to take into account the geometry of the different constituents and in combination with the spacing of the electrode from the product, takes the heating requirements of the individual components into account.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.