Atmospheric control valve device, part of an atmospheric control system built into a refrigerated container, whose installation requires minimal intervention and is self-sufficient, compact and reusable due to its long, cylindrical body that includes a battery compartment. The body also has a compartment for the electrical, electronic and sensor elements; a handling compartment for the elements that handle the device; a cover area to cover the container after removing the device; and a gas exchange compartment for two-way gas exchanges, controlled by a solenoid valve and by the differences in pressure that occur naturally within the refrigerated container.

A bulk fluid monitoring system and method for monitoring milk is provided, including a plurality of sensors for providing information in relation to properties of a bulk fluid, a memory for holding data parameters including information provided by the sensors and a predetermined time-and-temperature curve for a fluid, a processor for determining whether the information in relation to properties of the bulk fluid is within the bounds of the time and temperature curve for a fluid.

A method for the thermal treatment of bulk materials in a rotary tube with at least one infrared light unit. Bulk material is introduced into the rotary tube, which is provided on its inner wall with at least one mixing element and in the interior space of which the pressure of the ambient atmosphere prevails. A heat treatment of the bulk material is performed by at least one electrical infrared light unit, which is arranged at the center of the rotary tube and the light cone of which is directed onto the bed of bulk material that lies on the inner wall of the rotary tube. The bulk material is discharged from the rotary tube. Water vapor is directed onto the surface of the bulk material. The vapor is introduced into the interior space of the rotary tube through a nozzle tube.

Methods and apparatus for electrostatic dispensing fluid onto food products are disclosed. An electrostatic dispense system includes a material supply, a voltage block, and a power supply to electrostatically charge a coating material. The electrostatic dispense system further includes a dispense assembly, a conveyor through or by which a food product is configured to be conveyed, and a support that supports at least one liquid outlet of the dispense assembly. The dispense assembly dispenses the electrostatically charged coating material from the at least one liquid outlet onto the food product. The voltage block provides electrical isolation, and includes a pump that pumps the electrostatically charged coating material to the dispense assembly.

A vacuum pump, particularly for apparatuses for food preservation, which includes a pump body, the peculiarity of which is that it includes a permanent-magnet motor with variable rotation rate which is adapted to control the pump, and an electronic power and control board, controlled by the permanent-magnet motor with variable rotation rate.

A freeze vacuum drying apparatus includes: a spraying unit; a pipe unit; a heating unit; and a collection unit. The spraying unit sprays a raw material liquid into a vacuum chamber. The pipe unit has a non-linear shape, includes a first opening end and a second opening end, and traps frozen particles via the first opening end, the frozen particles being formed by self-freezing of liquid droplets formed by spraying the raw material liquid into the vacuum chamber. The heating unit heats the frozen particles in the pipe unit for sublimation drying, the frozen particles moving in the pipe unit from the first opening end toward the second opening end by kinetic energy produced during spraying. The collection unit collects dried particles that are formed by sublimation drying of the frozen particles in the pipe unit and released from the second opening end of the pipe unit.

An ultrasonic freezing equipment, which includes a casing, a circulating pump system, an ultrasonic generator, a vortex-tube freezing device and a temperature-measuring device. A vertex tube is configured for refrigeration. A circulating salt solution inside the casing is configured to quickly and uniformly take away a heat of a food to be frozen, so as to efficiently freeze the food. A freezing method using the ultrasonic freezing equipment is also provided.

In an embodiment, an apparatus for heat treatment of food product by radio frequency (RF) includes a transmission line having: a center conductor that includes a stack of food product packages, and an outer shield that at least partially encloses the center conductor. An RF connector is electrically coupled with the center conductor and with a source of RF voltage.

A food thawing apparatus includes a cabinet structure defining a thawing chamber, and at least one air mover and associated air flow structure for causing an air flow through the thawing chamber. At least one air heating element is positioned for heating the air flow. At least one shelf is positioned within the thawing chamber for supporting a food product in the thawing chamber, the shelf including at least one integrated shelf heating element. A control system is configured for controlling the air mover, the air heating element and the shelf heating element so as to thaw the food product.

Provided is a method of fresh preserving meat products by controlling the intake process of the packaged meat, storing the meat in a temperature-controlled environment the keeps the meat at or near the freezing point of the meat without forming or growing ice crystals, and shipping the meat at a time where the seasonal price of the meat is favorable.