Methods and apparatus for validating wash processes and related operations for food processing, including preventing undesirable deviations in such food processing. One example method for validating a process for a food processing system generally includes: operating the food processing system on a food product according to the process, wherein the operating is performed for at least a validation period; measuring a process metric at multiple times during the validation period while the food processing system is operating according to the process, wherein the measuring generates a set of process metric measurements; and determining whether the process for the food processing system is valid, based on the set of process metric measurements.

An xenon lamp power supply, a purification device, and a refrigeration device are provided. The xenon lamp power supply comprises: an input circuit, a coupling assembly, an output circuit, and a control circuit. The input circuit comprises an alternating-current input end and a direct-current output end, and the input circuit is used for converting alternating current input by the alternating-current input end into direct current output by the direct-current output end. A first end of the coupling assembly is connected to the direct-current output end. The output circuit comprises a xenon lamp power supply circuit, and the xenon lamp power supply circuit is connected to a second end of the coupling assembly, so as to convert electric energy from the second end into direct-current power, and then supply power to a xenon lamp.

A method and system for forming a packaged product (100) and ensuring that the packaged product (100) is adequately filled. In one aspect, the method includes forming a product (101); introducing the product (101) into a package (103), thereby forming a packaged product (100); obtaining an x-ray image (201) of the packaged product (100); analyzing the x-ray image (201) utilizing a processor (118) to identify whether bounded contours (200) exist in the x-ray image (201) for each of the bounded contours (200), the processor (118) determining whether the bounded contour (200) is a threshold defect based at least in part on bounded area (208) of the bounded contour (200) for each of the threshold defects, the processor (118) classifying the threshold defect as one of a plurality of pre-determined defect types; and determining a source of at least one of the threshold defects in the packaged product (100) based at least in part on the classification of the at least one of the threshold defects.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for mitigating finished product temperature transients caused by changes in product flow, raw product temperature, or other disturbances in an aseptic sterilization process. The methods and systems include applying an energy balance feedforward control scheme to the aseptic sterilization process to compensate for raw product temperature changes and changes in product flow. The methods and systems prevent damage to a finished product from occurring based on adverse transient temperature responses of heaters and coolers in an aseptic sterilization process.

An automated, unmanned continuous system (200) for packaging flowable food products at elevated temperatures and pressures includes an upstream thermal processing station (202) to heat the food products and direct the heated food products to a pressurized unmanned filling station (204), whereat containers (242) are filled with the heated food products within a pressurized housing (232), and then transported to a pressurized and unmanned sealing station (206) where the containers are sealed with a lid or cover (283) within a pressurized housing (282). Thereafter, the filled and sealed containers (242) are routed from the pressurized housing (282) through a pressurized transfer tube or passageway (208) for further processing at a downstream thermal processing station (210).

A system for irradiation of grain foods using one or more ultraviolet emitting sources is provided. The system includes an irradiation region in which the grain foods are irradiated by ultraviolet light. The system can include means for moving the grain foods through irradiation region, means for detecting the flow rate of the grain foods moving through irradiation region, and a control system for adjusting power provided to the ultraviolet emitting sources based on the flow rate of the grain foods.

A container-processing apparatus includes a pasteurizer with plural zones, and a transport element. The zones, which follow one another in a transport direction, include a preheating set, a cooling set, and pasteurizing set. The transport element moves containers through the sets, where they are subjected to a treatment medium at different treatment temperatures. Treatment temperatures in zones in the preheating set rise in steps from zone to zone. In the pasteurizing set, treatment temperature is maintained at or above pasteurizing temperature. In the cooling set, treatment temperatures decrease in steps zone to zone. The transport element transports containers in the pasteurizer at a changeable transport speed that is subject to continuous control.

An appliance disinfecting device with monitoring and safety interlock system that utilizes user detection and sensors to detect touch and can provide user feedback and decorative features. The device can include a UV transmissive material that provides disinfection of hard to reach surfaces or areas safely. The appliance disinfection device can include an automatic interlock to protect a user from UV exposure. The optics used for the UV disinfection allow the device to become a human interface. The device can be connected to the appliance control system which can be connected to a network and cloud interface.

A perishable storage unit with means for sanitizing food stuffs having a sanitization unit. The storage unit provides a storage body, a door, and a cooling system, wherein the cooling system is integrated with the storage body to maintain a cooling temperature when the door is in a closed position. The sanitization unit includes a light assembly and a switch, wherein the switch is integrated with a peripheral edge of the storage unit such that the door engages the switch when in the closed position. The light assembly is configured to emit sterilizing wavelengths of light, such as ultraviolet light, and is operably coupled to the switch, such that when the door is actuated from an open position to the closed position, the light assembly is switched from an off state to an on state.

A method utilizing a digital twin instance in relation to food to query current/future properties thereof. A digital twin instance representing the food is generated from a digital twin template. The digital twin instance has assigned thereto, for a first target variable describing a food property, a mathematical model with a model parameter and an environmental parameter. The digital twin instance has a probability distribution for the model parameter of the first target variable. In the course of the handling of the food until it reaches a shop and/or at the shop, a measurement of the parameter is made, the values thereof being stored and assigned to the twin instance. The mathematical model of the first target variable, the probability distribution of the model parameter and the values of the environmental parameter are used to ascertain a probability distribution with respect to the target variable.